Just One Golden Kiss

by M. A. Thomas

“She doesn’t matter,” he said.

  “How do we fix this?” She loved him. And she was not ready to give him up. In her soul, she knew he was kind and that he loved her.

  “Can you forgive me?” he asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  Forgive him for not telling her he was the prince of the Barmoth vampires. Forgive him for not telling her he had arranged for her mother to offer herself to his kind in return for Lela’s safety. Forgive him for not telling her he knew who she was the day he pulled her out of the well. No, she did not know whether or not she could forgive him.

  But, there was one thing she knew without a single doubt. She loved him. Yet, she did not regret her sexual encounters with Xavier. Just two and a half months ago she was a princess living in a castle with nothing more to do but wander the forest aimlessly as if she were seeking something more, something adventurous, as if she were seeking love, yes love. And here she was, completely in love with a vampire. And here she was, a woman having had sexual experiences, having suffered loss, having suffered betrayal. She was alive, and free, and ready to take on whatever lie ahead for her. She’d hold her head up high and walk with no regrets.

  If Eldrich truly loved her, he’d have to accept her as she was, a woman whose blindfolds had been removed, a woman who longer suppressed her desires, a woman who had made mistakes and would make many more. In return, she would accept him, despite his past, despite the secrets he kept from her, despite everything, she would love him, truly love him.

  “Do you still love me?” he asked, his eyes bloodshot.

  “With all my heart,” she said.

  “I will never keep anything from you again,” he said, taking her hand.

  She embraced him. “I love you, I can’t deny it.”

  “Lela,” he whispered. “I’m yours, only yours.”

  “And I’m yours,” she said. “What now? Where do we go from here?”

  “Wherever you want, I’ll follow you to the end of all the kingdoms.”

  He kissed her. Oh how she had missed his touch. Her very soul cried out with happiness. Godfather Death had returned her to the place her heart craved.

  “Will you follow me upstairs?” she asked, leading him to the staircase.

  “Only if that is what you desire.”

  “I missed you. I tried to replace you.”

  “Did you succeed?” he asked, once they were standing at the top of the stairs.

  “I made myself believe I had.”

  “And now?” he asked.

  She pushed the door open to her bedroom. “I can never replace you.” She sat on the edge of the bed.

  “I have to tell you something,” he said.

  “Can it wait?” she asked. She wanted to fall asleep in his arms.

  “Your mother’s spirit visited me last night. She had a message for me…for us.”

  Lela inhaled and then released a long breath. “What did she say?”

  “The God of the Sea has returned the golden ball to land.”

  Blood rushed from Lela’s heart. Holding her chest, she said, “How long do I have before it finds me, before vampires come for me?”

  “Not long.”

  Pacing the room, she said, “Where should I go? Blessed Gods, I need to formulate a plan.”

  Wicked golden ball was intent on finding her. And once it found her, vampires would come for her…drain her, believing that her blood could make them human again. Sweet Gods, she was in trouble!

  “You need to get some rest,” Eldrich said.

  “What? How can I rest?” Oh, but she was exhausted.

  “If we’re to fight my kind, you’re going to need your strength. Do as I say and get some sleep. I will wake you in two hours.”

  “I’m scared,” she said.

  “As am I.”

  “Are we together?” she asked.

  “Forever,” he said.

  “Two hours of sleep and then what?” she asked.

  “Then we’ll walk together. We’ll fight together.”

  She nodded. “I love you.”

  “And I love you. Now sleep,” he said, shutting the door behind him.

  She was the queen of Barmoth now and he was the prince of the Barmoth vampires. Their lives together would not be easy. The path ahead would present many obstacles, ones that would prove difficult to overcome. But she would listen to her heart, now more than ever. And her heart wanted Eldrich.

  Sleep and then the battle begins.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The full moon brightened the forest as Lela and Eldrich hastened to the ocean.

  Hours earlier, Eldrich had told Lela that the God of the Sea had returned the golden ball to land which meant that vampires could once again claim her blood.

  Vampires believed that since the golden ball had chosen to follow Lela, her blood could make them mortal again, something that vampires desired more than anything.

  Lela swallowed and interlocked her hands. She’d pray to the God of the Cross, despite her father having banned prayer to him. She was now the Queen of Barmoth and she’d pray to whichever god she felt could help her. And right at this moment, her instincts told her she needed the God of the Cross on her side.

  “Oh, blessed God of the Cross, please look down on us and help us. I implore you,” she said, breathing heavily.

  Eldrich glanced at the dark sky. “He won’t help us. I’m a vampire and you’re human. He’s the god of angels,” he said, increasing his pace.

  “Gods have the freedom to help any creature they want. That’s what makes them gods,” she said, leaping forward to catch up with him. If he didn’t slow down, she’d run out of breath and collapse. She often wondered if Eldrich had moments when he’d forget she was human and not as fast or strong as he was.

  She suspected he had other strengths which he was choosing to keep concealed. The vampires they had encountered in the mountains when they were searching for her father could all fly. Eldrich had denied flying abilities, claiming that all vampires did not share the same gifts. Ah, yes, her relationship with Eldrich was anything but normal.

  Bloody hell, she didn’t care he was a vampire or that a witch had once turned him into a frog because he’d refused to have sex with her or that he had kept secrets from her, secrets which nearly destroyed their love for each other. She knew she was in love with a man she had yet to fully understand. But she also knew he loved her and would do anything for her.

  “You’re being naïve,” he said.

  “And you’re being stubborn,” she said, finally catching up to him.

  He came to a stop. “Bloody hell, don’t you understand?” he said, his voice elevated.

  “Help me understand,” she said. Even though she knew vampires were after her, she appreciated the resting period.

  He sighed. “The God of the Cross will never help vampires. We nearly destroyed his children…his angels. Until we met Xavier, I honestly believed we had killed every fallen angel in all the kingdoms.”

  Lela had not pressed him to tell her about the war between angels and vampires; having only learned about it recently, she wasn’t entirely sure she believed it ever happened. No such war was mentioned in any of Barmoth’s history books. But then, neither were vampires.

  She couldn’t hold her tongue any longer. She had to broach the matter; she simply had to know what happened between angels and vampires. For goodness sake, vampires had nearly wiped out angels. How had Xavier survived? Despite her love for Eldrich, Xavier was never really far from her thoughts. After all, they had had sex multiple times and he had helped her find her father and for bloody hell’s sake, she had saved Zel, his lover, from the same witch who had turned Eldrich into a frog.

  Yes, Xavier and she would always share a special bond. Even though her heart and soul did not belong to Xavier, she did care for him deeply and always would. And if she were to be truthful she had moments when she imagined herself in his arms with his huge cock inside of her, rocking her slowly at
first and then faster and faster.

  She had to get him out of her mind, forever. For goodness sake, what was wrong with her? How could she be so in love with a man yet still ache for another?

  Inhaling and exhaling rapidly, she asked Eldrich, “What caused the war?”

  Resuming walking, he said, “This is not the time to delve into details. We need to move faster.”

  “Then I shall pray to whatever god I want.” As much as she adored him, his holding things back from her infuriated her. If they were truly a couple, they needed to start trusting each other more. Ah, but she could not ignore the pang in her stomach which signaled that despite everything they had been through all was not entirely well between them. Yes, they loved each other; there was no denying that. But during the short time they had been together, their love for each other had been tested more than once. No matter, she wanted to be with him. She could not imagine her life without him.

  “Do as you please, but know that he will not help you,” he said.

  Here she was racing to the ocean with the Prince of Barmoth vampires because his kind would soon be after her if they weren’t already. It was comical that a queen should be running from anything let alone with a vampire.

  She couldn’t help questioning her decision to run away after learning that the golden ball was once again on land. But how could she fight off vampires? No, she couldn’t risk leaving her people without a queen. Her mother was dead, drained by vampires, and her father vanished to the Kingdom of the Dead forever. If she died too what would become of her kingdom? Oh Barmoth, forgive me, I have not abandoned you.

  “I’m not a vampire,” she said. “He should have no quarrel with me.”

  “You’re in love with one,” he said, gripping her hand and urging her to pick up her speed.

  Lela sighed. She was more than in love with him. She had given her soul to him. Her everything belonged to him. Damn you, sweet prince of mine.

  “Hmm, then yes, the God of the Cross won’t help me, indeed,” she said with a slight giggle.

  “You’re doomed,” he said, laughing.

  “It appears in more than one way,” she said. “What if the God of the Sea won’t help us?”

  For a reason unknown to Eldrich and Lela, the God of the Sea had returned the golden ball to land. And now they found themselves rushing to the shoreline to plead with the God of the Sea. Absolutely ludicrous!

  She halted.

  “What are you doing?” Eldrich asked, also coming to a stop and turning to face her.

  “It’s quite possible I may die tonight,” she said.

  “What? Come, we need to keep moving,” he said, extending his hand to her.

  She lifted her dress.

  “Lela, you’re being ridiculous.”

  She slipped her fingers inside of her vagina and slowly, oh so slowly, began to moan. “I know what I want,” she whispered.

  “Love of mine, we cannot. Not now.”

  “I want to feel you inside of me.”

  “You’re in danger. I can’t do as you ask. We need to keep moving,” he said, looking away for a moment.

  She needed him, all of him. Oh, how she craved his body, his mouth, his touch and his wonderfully delicious cock. She’d not die without having had him once more. Since she had returned from the Kingdom of the Dead, she and Eldrich had not indulged in each other. Her sexual thoughts still remained with Xavier. She could still feel Xavier inside of her. And that very knowledge broke her heart. She needed to make it right between her and Eldrich.

  “Do you not want me?” she asked him.

  “Sweet Gods, I want you more than my soul can bear,” he said.

  “Then do as I say, love, for your soul and mine.”

  He flew to her and slowly started kissing her neck. “I missed you,” he whispered.

  “Are you mine?” she asked, feeling warmth between her legs.

  “Yes, oh, yes, sweet queen.”

  The feel of his tongue on her skin made her squirm and she could hardly contain her desire for him.

  “I love you,” she said.

  He moved his mouth to hers and kissed her gently.

  “I love you,” he whispered. “My everything belongs to you.”

  “I want your cock inside of me.”

  “And you shall have it,” he said, unbuttoning his trousers.

  Then he lifted her and pressed her against a tree.

  She gasped at the sight of his throbbing cock. It was as if she was seeing it for the first time and oh my, how she salivated for it.

  There, Eldrich stood, holding his gorgeous cock. She lunged for it.

  Sucking it and licking it, she climaxed almost immediately.

  “Keep going,” he whispered. “Oh how I missed your mouth.”

  Softly, she took his cock deeper into her mouth, enjoying and savoring every moment.

  She was exactly where she wanted to be doing what she wanted to be doing. And she was not ashamed. This was the man she loved and she’d pleasure him until he fainted.

  She removed her mouth from his cock and said, “How do you want me?”

  He raised her and turned her around.

  Sweet Gods, he wanted her ass!

  “Not too hard, my love,” she said. She’d let Eldrich have his way with her even if meant experience a bit of pain. She knew she was safe with him and he would never take their sexual escapades too far. Lela still had a lot to learn when it came to sex and she wanted to try everything with Eldrich. And while they had had anal sex before, she craved more adventure. While her body had given into Eldrich’s sensual touches, her mind still wavered. If she could only learn to quiet her mind and surrender completely to Eldrich during sex…

  “I would never hurt you.”

  He entered her oh so gently. She raised her arms above her and clung to the tree for life.

  Nipping her neck, he plunged into her.

  “Drink,” she said.

  He sank his fangs into her skin and drew her blood. She exploded and nearly fainted from ecstasy.

  The sexual moments she had had with Xavier rushed out of her mind. Her thoughts were now only with Eldrich. And she smiled as he continued thrusting into her…as he drank from her. Yes, my love, I’m yours.

  “I want to release inside of you,” he said. “I need to reclaim you.”

  Eldrich knew about her time with Xavier and the way he was thrusting into her, made her think he was punishing her for having had sex with someone else. If he needed to punish her to make things right between them, then so be it. Had he forgotten that he had also had sex with someone else? The wretched witch, Stiltz, had gotten what she wanted all along.

  He pushed into her one last time, slightly causing her pain. Have your way with me, love. Do what you will.

  When he was done, he fell on his knees and took in a deep breath.

  “Are you mine?” he asked.

  She turned around and looked down at him. She felt the oncoming of tears. Were things now right between them? Her heart hurt for them. Their love for each other was constantly being tested and she was so afraid for them. Afraid that in the end, they would not make it as a couple. Did she regret chasing after the golden ball? If she had never gone after it, she wouldn’t have fallen in the well and she and Eldrich would never have met.

  No! The thought of Eldrich not being in her life cut her very soul. She was his and he was hers. She accepted that their lives together would never be normal, that she would never lie in the sun with Eldrich by her side, that she would never have Eldrich’s children, and that someday, Eldrich would watch her die. My poor sweet prince. I will grow old and you will always remain young and beautiful.

  Wiping tears, she said, “I will always be yours.”

  Still kneeling, he wrapped his arms around her waist. “I love you. I can’t exist without you.”

  Her beautiful prince was crying.

  “We belong to each other,” she said, running her fingers through his hair. “Always
and forever.”

  He kissed her hand and then stood.

  Quickly, they gathered themselves and made for the shoreline.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Once on the beach, Lela looked over her shoulder expecting to see vampires emerging from the trees. She saw no one which scared her even more. If vampires were after her, she’d rather they make themselves known to her right then and there.

  Knowing they were lurking, teasing her, made her want to vomit. She admitted to being completely terrified.

  “They haven’t found us yet,” she said to Eldrich whose eyes seemed locked on the dark water ahead.

  “If they were here, I’d know it,” he said, dropping to his knees.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. He couldn’t be preparing to pray to the God of the Cross. Not after the lecture he had given her.

  “Quickly, get on your knees,” he said, grabbing her arm and pulling her down.

  Such hypocrisy! He actually intended to pray to the God of the Cross. No matter, she was glad he had changed his mind. Exhaling she said, “Oh, God of the Cross, hear us—”

  “No, you will offend the God of the Sea,” he said, covering her mouth with his hand.

  “Forgive her, dear powerful God of the Mighty Sea,” he said.

  “Perhaps you should let me in on what exactly it is that we’re doing?” she said, completely annoyed. She had misunderstood him. He had not intended to pray to the God of the Cross.

  “I’m sorry, love.” He gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

  Despite the way his touch and kisses made her feel, she needed to keep her focus on what they had come to the beach to do. And having sex with Eldrich again minutes after they had indulged would not help her escape vampires bent on draining her! Oh, but they had never had sex on a beach and the thought of it sent fire down to her vagina. Focus, Lela, for the love of all gods, keep your focus.

  “Sweet queen of mine,” he said, “we need to call out to him and hope he grants us an audience.”

  “And if he does not?”

  “He will.”

  Lela stood. If she was now begging yet another god to help her, she’d not do it on her knees.