Yes. “Oh bite me.” Aureliann wasn’t about to allow herself to be bulldozed into anything by a bossy vampire prince.
“I would love to,” Valdemar responded, his eyes hot and passionate on hers as he moved toward her. “I crave it. I need to taste you fully.”
Aureliann wiggled backward on her ass, clutching the cushion to her for protection.
“You put fang marks in me, prince, and I’ll kick your royal butt.” She was in a dangerous situation. He was a man who could quite easily overpower her and do whatever he wanted and it would probably turn out to be something she would enjoy. But agreeing to anything in the throes of passion was not something she wanted to chance. “I’ve read the book, remember. I know what happens when you bite me.” Valdemar would lose his immortality and she would be bound to him for life. It was way too soon to be thinking about any of that.
“Do I mean anything to you?”
When he looked at her with such soulful eyes she wanted to agree that he meant more to her than she could ever imagine anyone ever could. But Aureliann also needed time to think. In a matter of hours she had gone from dreaming of him to the reality of him and she wasn’t at all sure what her own reality was at that moment.
“I just frigging met you.” Her head was spinning from him.
“So you would do this with any man?”
Aureliann snorted. “No, but that’s not the point.”
Valdemar ran an agitated hand through his hair. “What’s wrong with you, Aureliann?”
“Me?” She was affronted he was arrogant enough to suggest she was somehow to blame for whatever this was between them. “You knew I was hot for you because of that book. You deliberately planned to sweep me off my feet because you thought I would be desperate and grateful enough.” Admittedly it took very little to seduce her. He was so damned sexy and she had fallen in love with him as a character in a book. But reality, such as it was at that moment, did not have her about to declare love for him and to willingly fall in with whatever his plans were.
Valdemar looked angry. “There was nothing deliberate about it. We were meant to be together. It was fate but you’re too stubborn and stuck up.”
“Fate, my ass,” Aureliann snapped out as she maneuvered herself to stand up. “And you can call me whatever names you like, my lord, but I’m not marrying you just because you say so.” She pulled the cushion from her body. Let him look. It was the last time he would be allowed to. “I don’t know what women in your country are like but we Brisbane girls don’t follow orders. And you may be as sexy as hell but even I’m not that desperate.”
Valdemar’s eyes roamed her body before stopping to rest on her face. “Weren’t you?”
“What? You don’t learn manners at prince school?” Arrogant sod. Okay, yeah, maybe he was right. That was what pissed her off. There had been an element of desperation but it was tacky for him to bring it up. Aureliann knew Valdemar had just said it to annoy her.
He smiled. “And here was me thinking you were sweet.”
“I am but just to people I like.”
“I think you’re a coward, Aureliann O’Neal.” Valdemar’s words were direct and to the point.
“And I think you should haul your tattooed ass out of here, your highness.”
Valdemar did not move, instead crossed his legs. “I’m not leaving.”
“Well, floor or sofa then?” Aureliann smiled over-sweetly when he swore under his breath. When he rose up to his full height, it took everything she had not to back away from him. Prince Valdemar was one hell of a man and naked he was mind-boggling.
“This was not how my ancestors had mated surely.” He snatched up his trousers. “I need to go out.”
“Who’s stopping you?”
“Certainly not you.” Valdemar disappeared.
“Bloody hell what am I doing?” Aureliann slapped her forehead. One minute she could not get enough of him and the next she was kicking him to the curb. This was the man she wanted and dreamed of, yet she was scared that he was finally there in her life. It was one thing to want from afar but another to be up close and personal talking about commitment. That’s what marriage was to Aureliann. Maybe celebrities could meet someone and get married the next day but she was not like that. Marriage was for life. Before her parents died she experienced that. They would have grown old together if not for the car crash.
The problem was Aureliann liked the idea of forever when it was a faraway concept that was unlikely to touch her world.
“I don’t want him, yet I want him.” She blew out a sigh and put her head in her hands. “That’s real rational, Aureliann.”
* * * * *
Valdemar was as angry as hell. She didn’t want him. No woman had ever denied him. He was a prince, a nobleman, a vampire. Women in his own country lusted after him. He was a prize, a catch. He could marry any woman he wanted. He did not have to follow tradition. That some pipsqueak of a woman told him “no” maddened him. Who was she to deny him what he wanted? He stopped and thought about Aureliann. You put fang marks in me, prince, and I’ll kick your royal butt.
Valdemar smiled as he remembered her words. No woman had ever said that to him and as much as it irritated him, he also liked it. Aureliann was no pushover. She did not want him because of what he was—a prince or a vampire. In her eyes he was just a pushy man and she was not going to play by his rules. She was hot, feisty and he wanted to turn her over his knee and spank her then make love to her until the only answer from her lips was, “Yes, Valdemar, I will marry you”. He loved her. He did not doubt that. He now had to make her believe that life and love could come from the pages of a book.
While Aureliann was a realist, she was also a dreamer. That she had avidly read the book told him that. “So how do I make her believe her dreams can come true?” Before he could think further, a high-pitched scream of terror broke into his thoughts. Valdemar walked swiftly in the direction of the cry. Whoever it was sounded like they were in great distress. He turned a corner and saw a man beating a woman up. Men in his country did not act this way. They had more honor.
Valdemar launched himself at the man, pulling him from her with one heave. “Are you okay?” he asked the woman. The man charged him. Valdemar smacked him in the jaw and knocked him down. The woman nodded, staring in amazement at the half naked man with the flowing hair. “Leave us,” Valdemar told her. He watched as she hobbled away, looking back only once as if amazed at her luck. Valdemar deflected another blow the man aimed at him. He knew this type of man. He was a lowlife who used and abused for his own gratification.
“Who the fuck are you?” the man asked as he reeled under the blows.
“That’s not your concern.” Although Valdemar could the feel the waves of evil coming from the man, he was useful to him. He needed blood and Valdemar never took anyone innocent. He grabbed the man by the neck.
“What are you doing?”
Valdemar allowed his fangs to appear. He saw the fear in the man’s eyes. It would have been a similar fear to what his female victim would have felt. “I’m going to use you and discard you without a backward glance. I believe it will give you some idea of how your victims feel.” As his teeth sunk into the man’s jugular, Valdemar forgot whose throat he sucked as the life force of blood rushed through his body, revitalizing him once more.
* * * * *
Victor did not have to go inside the woman’s house to know that his cousin was fucking the woman senseless. It was exactly what he would do given the invitation from the curvaceous Ms. O’Neal. Victor could have slipped quietly into the house and watched but he knew his cousin would have felt his presence if he got too close.
“Though he would be stupid to think I am not following him.” And he knew Valdemar was anything but. He was surprised when his cousin appeared suddenly outside, half-naked, hair abound, as if he had stormed out in a rush or been thrown out. It was funny to think that a woman would deny his cousin. Few did. “Interesting.” Valdemar looke
d pissed off. The woman clearly wasn’t as enamored of him as he was of her. But then Valdemar always was the romantic one, throwing his heart and soul into everything. Victor smiled as his cousin disappeared just as quickly. He knew he would be needing blood, especially if he had been shagging that woman. It gave Victor an idea.
“Hello,” he greeted the woman as he appeared in her home.
Aureliann looked at him. “What are you doing back here?” She had put on a robe and was sitting hunched up on the sofa.
“I could not leave things as they were.”
“No,” she agreed as she stood up.
“Come to me, Aureliann.” Victor held his hand out to her.
Aureliann looked at the hand that was reaching for hers. The veins stood out harsh and gnarled on the pale skin. The fine hairs on the back of her neck prickled in awareness that something was not right. She looked up into the green eyes that stared back at her. Aureliann saw no love or passion within. Those eyes were dead. Though this man was almost the spitting image of Valdemar, he was not the prince she knew.
“Victor.” The evil cousin. Cue the dramatic music. It was like she had walked into a soap opera.
He smiled. “Very good, my dear.”
It was exactly how she expected a snake to smile. “Where is your cousin?” If he was here and Valdemar wasn’t then that didn’t bode well. The thought that Victor could have done something to Valdemar made Aureliann angry. While it was true that she found Valdemar’s presumptions arrogant, she did not want him out of her life just yet. There were things about him that she needed to get her head around.
“Hmm, let’s see,” Victor murmured as his eyes raked her body with an insolent glare. “You threw him out.”
“As I will you.” Aureliann re-tightened the robe around her body. The way he leered at her made her sick.
Victor laughed at her words. “Oh, I’m not my soppy cousin who allows himself to be pushed out the door. I plan to stick around and have some fun.”
Aureliann knew what that look meant and if he touched her she would fight like a woman possessed. “You can’t have me. I belong to your cousin. We bonded.”
“There are no marks on your neck.” He started to circle her like a predator looking for weaknesses. “You may be bonded by sex but not blood. That’s a big difference.”
She made sure she did not have her back to him. Where was Valdemar? How the hell do I deal with this pretentious prick? In her mind she called to Valdemar. Surely if we are connected he will come to me.
“Touch me and I will scream and I can scream really loudly.” She looked at him in distaste as he laughed at her words. “Maybe that won’t save my life but it’ll give you a really bad headache.”
Victor looked amused at her threat. “Deny me, woman, and I will make you suffer.”
“And I will kill you.” Valdemar appeared suddenly in the room.
Aureliann did the girly thing and ran to him. She had been worried about his safety and his strength renewed her own.
Valdemar arched his eyebrow as he pulled her to his side for protection. “So you want me now, lovely?”
“Shut up.” She was glad to see him but he still annoyed her. “How did you know I needed you?” Had the mind thing worked?
“We are linked and nothing can break that.” He turned to his cousin. “What do you want, Victor?” Valdemar’s voice was harsh.
Victor laughed in contempt. “Cousin, you know what I want. I want everything you have, including the woman.”
“Oh puke,” Aureliann muttered in disgust. “’Like I’d go for sloppy seconds.”
“Bitch,” Victor snarled.
“Wannabe,” she retaliated.
Valdemar silenced her with a look. “You know that will never happen. You cannot have what is mine.”
“Then I will destroy you and you know I can. Besides, this woman is not fully yours and you only have a short period of time to make her so. From what I can see this bitch may want your cock but she wants no part of your life.”
“Oh you pus bucket of scum—” Aureliann struggled as Valdemar held her back from launching at Victor’s throat.
“If you want a fight I will meet you on home soil and do it.” Valdemar’s mouth was tightened in anger.
Victor bowed. “So be it. I wonder how dear Thomas will feel when I dump your broken body before him? He does seem like the sensitive sort to me.” He waved his hand and disappeared.
“What an asshole.” Yet because of him Aureliann’s mind was churning. Valdemar’s life and the future of the people he loved were at stake. She could help him but the cost scared her.
“Him or me?” Valdemar quipped in wry amusement. “You didn’t like me before.”
“Because you were being pushy.” She moved away from him. Aureliann needed time to think and touching him discombobulated her thought processes.
Valdemar nodded in acceptance of that fact. “How did you know Victor was not me?”
“I just knew by his hands, manner and the hard look in eyes.” Because I know you as I know myself. But Aureliann wasn’t about to say that as it would give the man ideas. “You may be almost identical but your cousin is a pale imitation of you.”
“Aureliann, I don’t want to lose you.”
The quiet look of desperation in his eyes was almost her undoing. “Or is it more you don’t want to lose power?” It was a hard thing to say but she wanted to know the truth. Where do I stand with you? Make me believe that this is more than just one crazy moment in my life.
Valdemar sighed and sat down on the arm of the sofa. “While it’s true my people need me, I would not take from you what you do not want to freely give me. If you doubt my love for you than I cannot make you love me.”
Her heart flip-flopped at the sincerity in his voice. If Aureliann was honest she was already in love with the man. The character from the book was just that. Loveable, sexy and strong as was the real-life man. But Valdemar was more than that. He was also vulnerable and not afraid to show it. That he could be himself around her without any pretension showed great strength and Aureliann admired that.
“So if I let you bite me I’m stuck with you for life?” That thought was not unpleasant—more scary. If she was honest it was not the possible pain of being bitten, it was the giving of herself totally to one person. She had no practice at doing that.
Valdemar smiled softly. “It could be worse and I think we’d have a lot of fun.”
Yes they would. Aureliann could feel that. In the short period she had known him, she had enjoyed herself more than she had in a long time. “But you would become mortal and that would weaken you.” And she knew Victor would take advantage of that.
He shook his head. “No, it actually works in the reverse. Your bond with me strengthens me.”
Aureliann understood that. She felt strong with him beside her and she was not someone who had ever needed a crutch to lean on. But there were other types of strengths. “What about the vampire thing?”
“I am who I am, that does not change.”
“So you still go around biting people?” I’m not sure that I like that.
“While I do lose my immortality, I still rely on a small amount of blood.” Valdemar looked her straight in the eyes as if wanting Aureliann to understand what she was letting herself in for. “I would rely only on you for sustenance in times of stress.”
“O-kay.” Aureliann pondered that for a moment. It was weird yet there was also a rightness to it that seemed logical to her. A week ago she was wondering whether to buy new brown shoes or new black shoes, and here she was deciding whether to throw her lot in with a vampire prince from a storybook and she still hadn’t decided on shoe color.
“The women of my family are the power behind their men. There is no question of that. We as men know it. They give their blood with love because they love their men. If you cannot do this I would not ask this of you, Aureliann. It’s a big step for a mortal woman to take.”
She
realized the only pressure she was getting was from herself and that was led purely by fear. Two things were in her mind. One was the definite realization that this man, this vampire prince, was the love of her life. While it was madness to fall so fast it did not mean it was not real. The other was that she had no one or anything of note to leave behind her.
“What if—”
“What?” Valdemar stood and waited for her question.
“What if you get sick of me? I’m not the most placid or easy person to live with.”
“Really? I cannot imagine that.” Valdemar grinned at her words. “Seriously? That would never happen, lovely.”
He had the sweetest smile. “What if I get sick of you and want to leave?” Even as she said the words Aureliann knew in her heart that would never happen either.
He shrugged his shoulders. “I could not stop you.”
“Right,” Aureliann murmured as she looked at him thoughtfully. She had an escape clause. And I don’t want one. Most confusing. So why am I holding back? Great sex, a new life with a gorgeous man who wanted to cherish her. What more do I want?
“I love you, Aureliann. I know what I ask is too much and you have every right to say no.” Valdemar turned to leave. “I’ll leave you in peace.”
Chapter Six
Aureliann sucked in a deep breath. “Bite me.” There was only ever one decision she could have made. She wanted Valdemar for better or worse.
Valdemar swung around and looked at her. “What?” There was hope mixed with disbelief in his eyes.
“You heard me, prince.” Aureliann pushed her hair back to expose her neck.
“Why?” He came to stand before her, his eyes searching hers for answers.
“What do you mean why? I have to save your tattooed princely ass.” There were other reasons but hiding behind flippancy was safer than analyzing the whys and wherefores. “Besides I can’t have creepy Victor winning. That’s against all soap opera rules.”
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