The Most Special Chosen
Page 32
Hey, I forgot to ask Aly for her #. Could you give it to me? I need to call her. Thx
His response is nearly instant:
I asked her to call you.
Thx
My phone rings seconds later. “Hello, Aly?”
“Hello, Lys. Damien mentioned you need to speak with me. Is there a problem?”
“No, no problem at all. I just realized I never thought to ask what time I need to be there tomorrow. I thought you would probably know.”
“I plan to pick you up tomorrow around noon.”
Phew, good thing I called. “That’s not going to work. I have a mid-day class.”
“Mince! That does complicate things. What time does your class start?”
“It’s from noon to three.”
She sighs. “Very well, I will pick you up at nine tomorrow morning. That should give us enough time in the morning, and I will pick you up at three after your class. We’ll have to hurry through the afternoon.”
“Sounds like it will be a busy day.”
“Yes. Mother and I will need to revise the schedule, but we will make it work.”
“Okay. Do I need to bring anything?”
“No, we have everything you will need, Lys.”
“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
“Very well. Good night, Lys.” I hang up, then take a long shower, taking extra care with my hair. I really want it to shine; it’s my defining feature. When I’m done, I go to bed and fall asleep quickly despite my growing excitement.
CHAPTER 22
Aly arrives at precisely nine the next morning. She’s dressed plainly, but still manages to look every inch the princess she is. “Aly, come on in. Would you like a drink?”
“No, Lys, we should get going. We are meeting Selene.”
“Oh, okay. Let me grab my things.” I say bye to Shawn on my way out and lock the door behind me. “Nice car. I love the color.” It’s sky blue, and very sleek.
“Thank you. It was a gift from Damien. Speaking of him, are you nervous about your Bonding?”
“He has great taste in cars. And no, not really. Just excited. I have no doubt that Damien and I are perfect for each other. And I’m looking forward to the end of the cleansing.”
Aly smiles. “Yes, that must be especially difficult for the two of you.”
“More for Damien, I think.” I look around, finally paying attention to where we’re going. I don’t really recognize where we are. I’d expected a trip to the hairdresser or nail salon, but I have a sneaking feeling that’s not the plan. “Um, where are we going?”
“As I said, we are meeting Selene.”
Her grin makes me nervous. “Where?”
“We have something to shop for.”
“Flowers?” I ask hopefully.
“Not exactly.” A few minutes later, Aly pulls up in front of a place called Boudoir. Selene is standing outside, and smiles when she sees us.
She comes around to my door. “This will be fun! Come along, Lys.”
“Selene, Aly, is this a lingerie shop?”
They share a conspiratorial grin. “Finest French fashions,” answers Selene. “It’s about the only type of garment Hilda doesn’t make for us. Aly and I have been here often in the past year.”
“We need to get something for under your Bonding gown and something incredibly special for tonight, or, technically tomorrow morning.”
“Madame Trouvais has excellent taste, and was kind enough to open her store early for us. Now, in you go.”
Bewildered, I let Selene push me in the door ahead of her. I’m not exactly against the idea of the shopping trip, but I really don’t know Aly and Selene all that well, and this is personal.
You wished to know them better. Use this time wisely.
All right, Nyx knows best.
My companions flit around the store with the comfort of regular customers, speaking with an older woman about different designs. I follow them around quietly, deciding to let them have their fun, since I’m not familiar with stores like this. I do, however, pick out a red, lacy set that catches my eye as we head into a private dressing area. The room houses four closed stalls around a central sitting area with mirrors.
“Make sure to leave on underwear. If you have any questions, please ring this bell.”
“Merci, Madame Trouvais.”
We each choose a stall and I decide to do as Nyx suggested. “So, I hope I’m not being too personal, but why have none of your family been bonded yet? Is it because you’re royalty?”
Aly answers first. “Vampires mate for life. Once we find our mate, there is no other. Therefore, there is an emphasis placed on being 100% certain that you bond with the correct person. You must take your time. I have known mates who dated for a decade before making the decision to bond. And, of course, we have much more time to find someone. Our parents were not bonded until my mother was nearly 150. I have dated, but not someone I am truly compatible with. I would never bond with anyone I am not deeply in love with.”
“Oh, okay, I can understand that. Do you wait that long for . . . everything?”
“Whatever do you mean?” asks Selene, sounding far too innocent.
“It seems an awful long time to remain . . . um . . . innocent.” I choose the least offensive word I can think of.
“Oh, Lys, who said anything about innocent?” I can hear the laughter in Selene’s voice. “We love our fun as much as any human. Because of our inherent sensuality, especially with how humans react to us, vampires are more open about sexual matters than our human counterparts. We are not expected to remain virginal until our bonding. It does not hurt that we are immune to all sexual diseases.”
“So, you’ve both had sex?” I almost clamp my hand over my mouth. I can’t believe I’ve just asked that.
“Oh, yes, but come out, let us see.”
“I need to show you?”
“Yes, why ever not? How shall we tell you our opinions if we cannot see you?” Aly has a point.
“I just . . . this doesn’t cover much.”
“Lys, you have nothing we have not seen on ourselves. There is no reason to be embarrassed.” Another good point. I nervously step out of the dressing room in the blue lacy set I’ve chosen to try on first as it has the most coverage. I only realize as I look in the mirror that the cups are completely see-through.
“That is pretty Lys, but it’s not special enough for tonight. You may want to get it anyway, though.” Aly is wearing a tiny black number that looks stunning against her pale skin, while Selene wears a white lace negligee that makes her look like an angel.
“Do you think Shawn would like this?” she asks.
“Um, that’s not exactly something we’ve talked about. I’ve never had a reason to buy that kind of thing, so it’s never come up. Although I’m willing to bet he’d like you in anything that shows that much skin.”
Selene considers that comment for a moment. “Really? We will need to get you some negligees.” She admires herself from all angles. “Maybe I’ll go for something less demure,” she says, with a wicked smirk. “Oh! He’s not still . . . ” Her voice trails off, but I know exactly what she’s asking.
“Oh, no! Definitely not! He lost his v-card at the beginning of freshman year.”
She releases a breath. “Oh, thank goodness. I would hate to be the teacher. I firmly believe in being on equal footing in the bedroom.”
“I can’t believe I’m talking about Shawn like this, but I’m fairly certain he’ll live up to your expectations.” My face is crimson with embarrassment remembering some of the sounds I’ve heard coming out of his room over the years.
Aly claps her hands, catching our attention. “Okay, girls, round two.” We return to our stalls to try on the next sets. I decide to be a bit more daring and grab the black lace thong and matching bra. Once I have it on, I appreciate how good my boobs look. I’ll definitely have to get it, even though the thong is a little small for my taste.
“I met this gorgeous vampire in Venice when I was 30. I was having a bit of a rebellious streak, and Alejandro was the quintessential bad boy. That he wanted me was such a rush! So, I decided to sleep with him. It was a fabulous night.” I can picture a dreamy sparkle in her eyes.
“Alejandro was so talented! He could do things with his tongue I’ve never felt since.” My face heats. Selene is more open than I expected. “He was also huge! If it wasn’t for my vampiric healing abilities, I’m certain I wouldn’t have been able to walk properly for a week.
“And stamina! I didn’t sleep a wink that night. By the time he was finished, I was exhausted. I do wish he’d stuck around for a while. I doubt I would have tired of him for a long time. But after we parted ways that morning, I never saw him again. I learned a lot from that night, in more ways than one.”
I feel like I’ve just intruded on her personal moment, but I have to say something. “That must have been difficult.”
“Oh, yes, it was devastating at the time. But I’ve long since gotten over it. I see it as nothing more than a life lesson.”
In need of a mirror, I step out of the stall and am joined by the other two moments later.
“Getting closer, Lys. That’s a possibility for your Bonding night.” I grin at Aly, agreeing with her opinion.
“Oh, Lys, try that red one next, I didn’t really get a good look at it.” Selene spins around, admiring her perfect figure. “Aly, I really like this one. I’ve always looked good in pink.”
She’s right, she looks amazing. She’s wearing what looks like a long, see-through corset with straps to hold stockings.
“Aly,” I ask, “what was yours like?” We return to the stalls for round three, and I start thinking she isn’t going to answer.
“My first time was rather boring. I was very proper when I was younger. I’d been courting a young vampire for many years. I suppose you could say he was like a high school sweetheart. It just seemed like it was time to take the next step.” She sounds almost embarrassed.
“You must understand that while it is almost unheard of to wait until bonding before having sex, we are encouraged to wait until we feel ready. When you are to be with your mate for hundreds of years, it is important to be certain you are compatible in all aspects, and that includes being accepting of your mate’s needs.
“Despite being of one of the first families, Arthur was so shy. He was also rather in awe of my position, and, most likely counseled by his family not to do anything which might upset me.
“I believe there was a grand total of ten minutes of basic missionary thrusting, two of which were rather painful for me, before he was done. Poor Arthur, he was so pleased, but I was so very disappointed. I was convinced we were not meant to be, and we parted ways soon after. Thankfully, I’ve been with men much more adventurous since then.”
We’re laughing as we leave our stalls. I chose the red set this time. “Lys, that’s perfect! It’s ideal for under your Bonding gown.”
“Thanks, Selene. I like yours, but I think the pink was better. Aly, that’s my favorite so far. You look great in green. And, not to pry, but what do you mean by adventurous?”
“Oh, there was Pietro who enjoyed being tied down. That was rather interesting. And Stephan was determined to add another person to our fun, be they man or woman. And Antonio! He was so dominant. He knew exactly what he wanted, but always made sure I was satisfied as well.”
In well over my head, and blushing over most of my upper body, I simply turn around and go back into my stall for the final round, trying to ignore Aly and Selene giggling.
“Lys, what about you?”
“Selene, you want me to tell you about your brother?”
There’s an embarrassed pause. “Damien was your first?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, then nothing explicit, just your general opinions.”
“We went to the beach, and things got . . . heated, but I wasn’t sure I was ready for that next step. He came by my house that night at one in the morning and showered my window with pebbles to wake me up. We ended up leaving to avoid waking Shawn and went to this marketplace with a private room.”
“You’d better never mention that to mother or father,” says Selene, sounding scandalized. “That’s their room. Only Damien would dare.”
“Oh. Um, our little secret, then. It was amazing, though. He offered me the chance to just dance the night away. He wanted to be sure I wasn’t being pressured. I think I slept maybe an hour that night. I’ll tell you, it was most certainly not boring.”
My last ‘outfit’ is leather with lace accents. The moment I step out and see myself in the mirror, I know I’m buying it.
“Yes, I can imagine you had fun—Lys! That’s gorgeous!” Selene gushes.
“I agree. It suits you.”
“Selene, what exactly did you mean?”
“That it’s gorgeous?”
“No, that you can imagine I had fun.”
She blushes. “Damien may be my brother, but I can easily admit he has ‘dark and dangerous’ written all over him. And those are always the most fun.”
And the ones with the most experience. We retreat to our stalls to change back into our clothes, and I ask the question that has been on my mind since we started this conversation. “What about Damien?”
“Are we supposed to know about our brothers’ sex lives?”
“I imagine you’d know something.”
“Aly, don’t torment her. Lys, you’re his Chosen. I think you know what that means.”
“I do, Selene, but lack of true desire doesn’t exactly equate to lack of curiosity. Besides, he seemed very . . . sure of himself.”
“Only one person can answer your questions for sure, Lys, but I’m betting he’s just an . . . avid reader.”
“So, you don’t think he’s extremely experienced?”
“No, I don’t. Our other brothers often boasted of their conquests, but he never did.” I sigh, pleased, and somewhat surprised. Damien was so good for someone without much experience. Then again, considering his age, he’s sure to have more than an average share of women under his belt, even without being considered ‘experienced’. No pun intended.
We leave the store with our chosen purchases. I’m most excited about my leather ensemble, although the knowing look Madame Trouvais gave me was a bit embarrassing.
“Are there anymore unplanned stops, Aly?”
“No, we need to get you to class.” I look at my phone and am surprised to see it’s well after eleven. It’s a good thing the campus turns out to be so close. Aly drops me off to suffer through my class.
Classes have been boring this past week, as we review for finals next week. But, this is it, my last term, so I’ll be done soon.
Aly’s waiting in the parking lot for me when class is over. I climb in the car, wondering when I’ll get to see Damien.
“Now, I’m sure you’re hungry, and unless you eat now, you won’t get another chance until after the ceremony. We’re a bit behind schedule, but we can make time for your lunch if we hurry. Do you have any questions at the moment?”
“Will the Bonding be publicized? I mean, with Damien as the heir . . . ”
“No, Father does not wish to make it known until we return home and can hold a proper conference.”
“Oh.” That wasn’t the answer I was expecting.
“Is that a problem?”
“No, not at all. It’s just amazing to me that he can do that. This is so different than royal weddings for humans.”
“That’s because this is not a wedding. It’s a Bonding. Bondings are more intimate. Remember, Mother mentioned that only immediate family is typically invited. You will have your wedding later.” Aly grins at me as she pulls into the driveway. “And it’s certain to rival that of any human royalty. There will simply be a .
. . different audience.” I gulp, but follow her inside. “Damien, we’re home, stay away,” she calls out.
“Stay away?”
“He can’t see you until the Bonding.”
“I thought that was for weddings.”
Selene suddenly appears around the corner. “Where do you think that tradition came from?” she asks. “Now, come along for lunch.” While I eat, we discuss hairstyles and settle on Selene’s idea of leaving my hair down, but curling it slightly and threading pearls through it.
“It will look like the night sky,” she explains.
“You’re brilliant! Nyx will love it.”
“But will you?” asks Aly.
I set aside my cutlery and wipe my mouth. “Of course.”
“Then let’s go. It’s already four.” Aly leads me down the hall. “You’re nearly two hours behind schedule. Thank goodness we planned to have you leave for the park so early.”
“What is the schedule?”
We step into a smallish room with some massage tables set up as she answers. “From 2:30 to 3:30 you were supposed to get a rose oil massage, as that is our Goddess Nyx’s favorite flower. Then 3:30 to 4:30 was a deep cleansing mask and mani-pedi. Then we’ve got you down for a waxing session from 4:30 to 5:00, if you need it.”
“No, that’s taken care of.” I’m standing behind a screen putting on some miniscule undergarments for the massage.
“Good, that will help get us back on schedule.”
“That’s good.” I come out from behind the screen and lay down on top of the massage table. I’m relieved when a female masseuse comes in. “So, what’s the rest of the schedule?”
“Right,” continues Aly from behind her own screen. “Well, 5:00 to 6:00 is your makeup appointment. I know it may not take that long, but you haven’t decided what you want yet. 6:00 to 8:30 is for your hair, including the deep conditioning treatments. Then 8:30 to 10:00 is to get your bag packed and get dressed, including making last-minute alterations. At 10:30 we’ll leave for the park. You’ll get to relax once we get there, as the ceremony starts at precisely midnight.”