by Buff, Annie
Lachlan shook his head in disbelief and handed his pack to Vlad.
“So my friend, I know you two didn’t start the process, but what did happen? I could feel your pain.”
“Aye, you too.” Vlad had an odd look on his face for just a moment and then reality hit. “She is gifted isn’t she?”
“Aye, she is. Her empathic abilities are amazing. She can read me verra well.”
“I’ll have to test her, see if she can read me. I’ve had a few more centuries of practice.”
“Practicing what?” It came from a sweet feminine voice. Annalese.
“Good evening, Annalese.” Vlad spoke first. “Lach was telling me about your gifts. I hope that does not disturb you.”
“Oh no. I used to hate it, having them. But I’m coming to terms with them.”
“Them?” Lachlan asked.
“Yes, them. I found out not too long ago I’ve got some telekinetic abilities. I can move small objects by willing them.”
“Lese, why didna ye tell me this?”
“Well, Lachlan, it’s pretty new and it has only happened twice. I’m still kind of freaked out about it.”
Vlad stepped in. “So Annalese, I’d like you to read me.”
“Huh?”
“I think you may be a huge asset. Your abilities would be very helpful to me. I want you to read me.”
“OK Vlad. Are you sure? I don’t get to pick what I see.”
“Yes, do it.”
Lese walked over to Vlad and put her hand on his arm and closed her eyes. She saw flashes of his life. The barrage of emotions hit her like being punched in the gut. Two stood out though. The love and desire he had for Sophie and the complete ire he held for this Percy character.
She opened her eyes and gently removed her hand from his arm.
He smiled. “Well, little empath, what did you see?”
She told him about the flashes, then the emotions, and finally, “Oh, and are human intestines really strong enough to hang someone from a tree with?”
Oh shit, Lachlan thought, she really is good. She read Vlad well, or he let her. Hard to know with him.
“Oh they are. I have first-hand knowledge of this.” He grinned. “And you’re very good. I didn’t try blocking you, but I didn’t open up either. I think we should work with you, train you. It will help keep you safe in this world.
“OK, and gross Vlad, really gross!”
Vlad just chuckled and left the two alone on the balcony.
“Are ye cold, lass? We could go in.”
“No, I like the cold. It’s soothing, don’t you think?”
“Aye, lass.” He pulled her to him and held her as tight as he could and not hurt her. He held her all day as they slept; and deep in his vampire heart, he knew he’d never get enough of her. Even in the cold of Romania, she still smelled like honey and sunshine. She smelled so good—heavenly. There went his erection again. Crap. She was bound to feel it. Vampires were extremely endowed. And he was so hard, he thought it could break through the zipper on his jeans. Probably time to go sit in the snow. She was gonna be the death of him.
“Um, fang boy?”
“Lass,” he replied.
“What exactly is that I’m feeling poking my ribs. Because if that’s what I think it is, there is no way, and I mean no way, that’s gonna fit anywhere on me.”
“Oh lass, it’s exactly what you’re thinking it to be. I’m verra sorry. I canna help it when ye are close. And it will fit as ye put it. Ye were made for me. Our bodies will fit together perfectly, when that time comes.”
She snuggled closer to him. He was strong and warm and safe. Annalese thought to herself that nothing in this world could feel better than Lachlan McCain.
“Lachlan?”
“Hmm,” he answered.
“Tell me something?” she asked so sweetly.
“Anything, lass.”
“Do you have a middle name?”
“Aye. Michael. Lachlan Michael McCain. Why do ye ask?”
“I just wanted to know. I want to know everything you’re willing to tell me.”
He knew at that moment, he’d tell her everything he’d ever done or thought in his life. Was this how Vlad had felt when Sophie stole his black heart? Must be, because Lachlan could barely breathe. He loved her so much, it hurt.
“Lass, last night when I explained the mating—it’s not written in stone. Ye don’t have to do it unless ye really want to. I mean I really want you to want it, but if ye donna want me, I’d understand.”
He would, too. Lachlan knew if she walked away, he’d understand. He’d hate it with every breath, but he’d understand. His world was violent and harsh. She was soft and kind. “Please, Goddess,” he silently prayed. “Let her stay. Let her love me just a little.”
Vlad’s voice brought Lachlan back to reality. “You two gonna stand out there all night to freeze, or are you coming to eat? Marcus has outdone himself.”
Lachlan kissed the top of her head. “Well, we need to go in. You need to eat and I need to talk to T.”
Lese just looked up at him and nodded. They were just about to step inside, when she stopped him. “Lachlan wait.” She had his arm, stopping the big Vampire in his tracks.
“What’s wrong, lass? Didna say anything wrong, did I?”
“Oh no, you said everything right. I just wanted to kiss you. Is that okay?” She had a scared look on her face.
“Aye, Christ lass, you’re gonna be the death of me.” And with that, he pulled her into his arms and crushed his lips to hers, tongues dancing perfectly in sync. Lachlan held her tighter than he should, sucking on her bottom lip and letting his mouth travel to the hollow behind her ear.
She felt his erection again as he held her. This time, she smiled. “Hey, Vampire, need a cold shower?” She giggled and left his arms to join Vlad and Sophie.
Lachlan looked down, painfully aware of a certain part of his anatomy. “Damn ye, ye little fucker. Jest once canna I hold her without ye thinking you’re involved here?” He left the balcony to join the rest of the group.
The Plan
The girls spent the entire meal chatting about everything from Sophie’s favorite Versace shoes to loving a Vampire. The men were involved in a very intense conversation, so Sophie decided to grab Annalese and move to the sitting room where they could talk without disturbing her Vampire or Lachlan while they were plotting.
“OK, so tell me,” Sophie started. “Do you love him yet? He’s a good man.”
“Yes, I know. He keeps asking me if I’m going to run? Why would he ask me such a thing?”
“Oh,” was all Sophie said for a few minutes.
“Sophie what does he mean ‘run’?”
“Lese, I think what he means is that because of what he is and the things he’s done, you may not be able to handle it. He’s deeply in love with you already. Anyone could see that. You’re perfect for him. And, oh honey, let’s face it, he’s very easy on the eyes. Just don’t tell Vlad I said that,” Sophie laughed.
“They can be kinda, um, intense can’t they?” Lese laughed herself this time. “But he’s been so sweet. He let me read him. Vlad too.”
“Vlad let you in his head? You are special.”
“I think it was a test to see what I can do. But really Sophie, I think—no wait that’s not true—I know I’m falling in love with Lachlan. He’s incredible. He’s trying so hard to keep a promise to me to be a gentleman. I think the poor guy has had a lot of cold showers. He told me he’s sit naked in the snow to keep his promise. I’m not sure anymore if I really want him to stay gentlemanly. Do you know what I mean?”
“Oh yes, I completely know,” Sophie responded. “Maybe what you need to do is help him not be gentlemanly. Did you bring anything sexy with you? I have an idea!”
The girls spent the better part of the evening working out Sophie’s plan. Lese was shocked at her new-found friend’s plans. She told Lese she’d get Vlad to agree to Augustino’s, Sophie’s favorite restauran
t. Vlad would tell Lachlan they were all going and Sophie would help Lese dress for Project Seduce Lachlan. It was masterful how devious this little pixie was, and Annalese knew, no matter what, she and Sophie would always be friends.
Vlad found Sophie in their bed chambers shorting through dresses. He came up behind, wrapping his large arms around her waist.
“Mmm, Vlad I missed you today.”
“Are you match-making, my little pixie?”
“Maybe a little bit. Lachlan needs a push.”
“Sophie….” Vlad started to protest, but she just put up her hands.
“Vladislaw, don’t! I know what I’m doing. Lachlan is trying desperately to be a gentleman. He’s doing it, but see, the thing is, she wants him to be ungentlemanly. Get it? She wants him and all I—we—are going to do is set up the romance. I’m going to loan Annalese the right dress, shoes, and something sexy for later on. The rest is up to Lachlan and Lese. Please, Vlad.”
“Ah, fuck.” Vlad gritted his teeth. He never could refuse his pixie. He’d do whatever she asked. And right now she was asking to help her new-found friend. How could he ever refuse her?
“OK Sophie, we can do this. I’m going to find Lachlan and tell him you want Augustino’s. Where’s Annalese now?”
“I’ll go get her. She was in the kitchen bugging Marcus about his quiche. She fell in love with it.”
“Well, she has good taste,” Vlad said on his way out of his chambers. He found Lachlan in the library going over the plans they’d laid out to trap Percy.
“T, what are ye doing up? It’s almost dawn. I thought ye and yer pixie would have bedded down already.” Lachlan looked back to their plans. “I’m worried about using Lese as bait. She’s my angel, and I donna know what I would do if something happened to her.”
“She’s going to be fine. I’d never let anything happen to her. I swear on our blood bond that I’d die first. I’m not just your sire Lachlan, I’m your friend. The best one I’ve got and I’d never do anything that would harm your mate. Lachlan, I’ve never told you this, but I’ve never sired another. Not before you or after you. You’re very special. I trust you with my life. More so, I trust you with Sophie. So trust me with Annalese.”
Lachlan was shocked. He had no idea Vlad had never sired any but him. He felt honored. “T, damn, I had no idea. I guess I never thought about it. Thank you.”
Lachlan embraced Vlad like a brother would to say thanks. Vlad accepted and returned it. “OK, enough man-hugging,” laughed Vlad. “Sophie wants Augustino’s for our meal tonight. She said to tell you to clean up.”
“Damn, I love that place. Yer on. What time should we be ready? I need to tell my angel.”
“No need, Lach. Pretty sure Soph already told her and probably has her salivating over cannoli.”
Lachlan shook his head. “She’s not the only one. I could eat a dozen of those things. I like them verra much.”
About that time Sophie and Lese appeared in the doorway of the library. “Hey boys, sun’s coming up.” Sophie looked at Vlad and he knew what she wanted.
“Five minutes, Pixie. I’ll be up.”
Lachlan followed suit. “Yeah, just five minutes, angel, and I’ll be up too.”
Lese just smiled and headed for the stairs with Sophie. At the top they hugged. “Thank you Sophie. You’re a good person and I’m so glad all this happened. I do understand it’s a crazy world, but one I very much want to be a part of.”
Sophie kissed her cheek. “Thank you for loving Lachlan. And yes, I know you do. He’s a really good man and he deserves a good woman. He deserves you! Now off to bed so you can steal what blankets you want.” Sophie giggled and paddled down the hall.
The more Lese thought about it, the more she knew. Sophie was exactly right. Lachlan was a good man, probably a great one, and there was no way she was letting him slip through her fingers. All she had to do was keep her hands to herself tonight when that gorgeous blue-eyed Vampire lay next to her. Oh boy, this was going to be torture.
Percy
He had a plan to draw out Lachlan’s girl. He was fairly certain she was something special. Lachlan had never taken to a female like this. He’d known him close to two centuries, and Lachlan had never been close to anyone other than Vlad. Which was odd. Vlad, nephew of the Impaler, didn’t trust anyone. Well, anyone aside from Lachlan.
Percy couldn’t figure out what it was with those two. For a while he’d thought they were lovers. Vampires, being very sexual beings, didn’t always take a lover of the opposite sex. Considering Vlad was now mated, it couldn’t be sex. Whatever it was, Percy had quit caring. He wanted Lachlan torn to pieces in a bad way, and he’d just found the ace in the hole so to speak.
Percy began laughing—a very evil laugh. He just loved it when a plan came together. And it was coming together quite nicely.
The Seduction Of Lachlan
Sophie had fixed Lese’s hair into a chignon knot at the base of her neck, letting a few curls spill around her face. Lese was curvy, much more so than Sophie. Sophie had called her favorite boutique, and the packages had arrived right before the girls started primping.
“How will I ever fit in your clothes, Sophie? You’re so tiny, and I’m not. ”
“Oh Lese, what I wouldn’t do for those.” Sophie pointed at her chest. “And a butt like that. You have every man’s dream body, girl. Don’t you know that? And besides, I called the boutique. They sent over exactly what you need.”
Sophie opened the largest box first and pulled out a black silken gown, backless with a split up to… . Oh boy! The front fit up around the neck like a choker, and had emerald-colored jewels sewed in. The floor-length dress probably cost as much as Lese earned in an entire year.
“Oh my goodness, Sophie! It’s stunning, but I can’t… I mean, how can I ever pay for that?”
“Oh, my new friend, you can and you will. Vlad has more money than God. He said, and I will quote the big guy, ‘OK Sophie, get what you need. I cannot ever refuse you. Now come here and don’t refuse me.’ So, my friend, let’s make you perfect.”
Lese stood in front of Sophie’s full mirror staring at the vision she was seeing. She was beautiful. She had no idea how Sophie had done it, but she had.
“Oops, one last finishing touch.” Sophie handed her emerald-cut emeralds for her ears. The two women looked in the mirror – Lese in black – Sophie in red, which she was told was Vlad’s favorite color.
Well Lese, ready for Project Seduce Lachlan?” Sophie giggled.
Lese reached out to hug her. “Thank you Sophie. I have no other words besides thank you.”
Sophie smiled. “None needed. Just remember, Vampires have extremely good hearing, so be loud enough so Vlad can give me all the sordid details.”
They both laughed.
“Oh, one more tidbit of info. Vampires are extremely, uh, well–endowed. And I do mean extremely!”
“Yeah, I felt it when he was holding me. I have no clue how it’s going to fit.”
“Oh, it will. You two were created for each other. Your bodies will fit together perfectly. I know first-hand. When I first saw Vlad naked, I was terrified he’d hurt me. It’s kinda crazy how big it is, but I know Lachlan, and he will take it slow. He loves you and he won’t hurt you. Okay?”
“Let’s do this.”
They left the room arm-in-arm. When they started descending the grand staircase, the men looked up. Vlad grinned. Lachlan, however, almost fell over. He was sure his heart had stopped. She looked beautiful—like an angel wrapped in sin. Oh, goddess help him. He was going to lose it. That dress hugged every curve she had, and she was smiling at him. He was so hard it hurt. How could he keep his hands off her when she looked like that, and looked at him like that?
They arrived at Augustino’s at 9:30 and were immediately greeted by the owner, Augustino Romano.
“Vlad, Sophie, wonderful to see you. Mr. Lachlan, it’s been too long. I should have made more cannoli for you, say two dozen.”
Lach laughed. “Ye might as well, I do love those bloody things.”
Dinner was just as wonderful as Sophie had said it would be. Lese was so full, but she heard cannoli, and damn, if they weren’t a favorite of hers, too.
There were a few couples dancing to the band that was playing, and Lese thought it was time.
“Lachlan,” she whispered.
“Aye, lass.”
“Dance with me.”
Oh shit, he thought. Her in that dress held tight against him….He’d be lucky if he had enough resolve not to take her on the dance floor. But she’d asked, and he couldn’t tell her no. Instead, he took her hand and led her to the wooden floor. He had her in his arms. God, she felt like every fantasy he’d ever had. She smelled like jasmine. It must be his imagination. He hadn’t smelled anything so sweet since his young days in Scotland.
Lachlan swore he saw Sophie grin. About the same time, he felt Lese kiss the scar on his check, not just once either, and then her lips were at his ear.
“Lachlan, look at me.”
He did.
“I have been thinking a lot.”
“Aye, thinkin’ about what, lass?”
“Mating with you.”
They stopped dancing and he stared into her eyes.
“What, lass?” He asked, loud enough for several heads to turn. Grabbing her hand, he said, “Come with me.” He led her to a balcony used in good weather for dining, but since it was the end of November, it was unoccupied.
“OK, lass. Say again.”
“Lachlan, I said, I’ve been thinking about this mating thing a lot. Sophie explained a lot of things to me. Things I never thought to ask you.”
Lachlan couldn’t breathe. What was happening? Was this the end? It had to be. She was gonna run, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it.
She was touching his face, his scar in particular. “Lachlan, I’ve known you for five days, but it seems like years. You know all my secrets, and I know a lot of yours. Every time you leave my side, I ache. I feel cold and very empty, like I’m missing a piece of myself. I had no idea why. Sophie told me why, and you know something?”