The Shifter’s Nanny

by T. S. Ryder

  Of course, he had drunk her blood before. Just not from the vein, as that would make things too heated to resist. Imagining it fresh, warm and sweet on his tongue made him ache with desire. The night couldn't come soon enough…

  "Sir, there is a protest at the gates," his PA said. "The numbers are slightly larger than we expected."

  Aaron rolled his eyes. Ever since his engagement to Sofia had been announced, there were protests. Apparently, some people didn't think that it should be legal for a vampire and human to marry–but there were always people like that, and as the king, Aaron couldn't let cries of disgust get in the way of other people's rights. After all, it was Sofia's choice to marry him, just as it was his choice to marry her. The protesters would just have to deal with it.

  "Increase security at the walls, and make sure they're on high alert for possible magical plots," he said. Nerves were itching at the bottoms of his feet and he swallowed hard. There was still half an hour before the ceremony would take place in the grand hall. "Everybody out. I need to meditate."

  His PA opened his mouth to protest, but a glare from Aaron stopped that. Everybody streamed out of the room, leaving the king alone with his thoughts. Only then did he allow his nerves to come to the forefront. He paces the room, wringing his hands. Rereleasing his nervous energy felt good.

  It wasn't that he was doubting his decision to marry Sofia, nor was he worried that she would change her mind. It was the production of it all. She had scolded him for spending so much money on the wedding, and now that it was almost time for her to walk down the aisle, he was wondering if he had made the right choice by making it so big.

  This wedding wasn't for him and Sofia. It was for the eyes of the world that were on them. And that was what was making him so nervous.

  Aaron closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, remembering the moment that he had first told Sofia he loved her. They had gone for a picnic and were laying in the sunlight after a delicious, satisfying meal.

  "I love you," he said, raising his face to the warm light.

  Silence.

  Aaron opened his eyes and glanced over at the human he had spent almost every moment with for the last three months. She was staring at him as though he had begun stripping naked while dancing to an eighties rock song. One of her hands went to her mouth and she began chewing on her nails.

  "Sofia? I love you."

  "It's only been three months."

  "I know. But I love you."

  Sofia's eyes narrowed. "If this is you trying to convince me to sleep over in your bed—"

  Aaron grinned. "No. It's not me doing anything but saying I love you. And I want to marry you. How about it?"

  "Well. That's not a very romantic proposal." She grinned and threw her arms around him, kissing him hard. "Yes. I love you, too. Let's get married."

  Somebody started talking just outside his door. Aaron's eyes snapped open. He glared at the door. What was the point of telling everybody to leave if they were just going to stand outside his door and talk to each other at the top of their lungs? Maybe he should have been more forceful in his orders.

  "I tell you, he's one lucky man," the man said. "I'd give a whole month's pay for a woman that looks like that."

  Whoever the man was talking to snorted. "She's too fat for my tastes."

  "You can't get breasts and an ass like she's got on her without getting the full package," the first man said. "If he wasn't the king, I think I'd have a go at ramming her. Just thinking of her—"

  Aaron hadn't even realized he was moving until he tore the door off its hinges. The two men just outside the room started in surprise. Their faces paled and they stepped back, but the king moved faster than both of them. He grabbed them both by the collar and smashed their heads together. His fangs flashed as he released one to pummel the other.

  "If I ever hear you speaking so disrespectfully of your queen again, I'll take off your head!" he shouted.

  "My lord." His PA appeared behind the two guards. "My lord! You've torn your jacket, your bride is going to be angry! You know she doesn't like you fighting, especially because of her."

  Aaron punched the guard one last time before he let the vampire drop. Another growl rose from his throat as he inspected the damage he'd caused to his jacket. Both shoulders seams had popped. Great. He poked at it and shook his head.

  "Can it be fixed before the wedding?"

  "No." His PA shook his head. "I'll send for one of your other tuxedos, and I'll inform the wedding party that things will be slightly delayed."

  "And get these two posted to wall duty," Aaron added, gesturing to the two vampires. "I don't want to see their faces again. Ever."

  The two guards, one whose face was bloody and bruised, both bowed and slunk off behind the PA. Aaron lifted the door back into place, although it was going to have to the replaced, along with the doorjamb. Of all the days for this to happen… Maybe he could think up an excuse for Sofia when he confronted him about it after the wedding. Although the truth would probably be better. It usually was.

  Moments later, the door fell down. Aaron turned to see his bride striding into the room, a look of disappointment on her face. He winced. Maybe he ought to have gone with his PA to go get his tux. He dropped his gaze.

  "You wanted me to wait until you walked down the aisle to see you in your dress."

  "I did. But I wanted to know what happened myself, instead of listening to the lies everybody kept telling me. You lost your temper again, didn't you?"

  With a sigh, Aaron explained what had happened. By the time he was done, her shoulders were stopped in her strapless dress. He still didn't look at her. It was partly out of shame, but it was also because he didn't want a good look at her. When she walked down the aisle to him was supposed to be a glorious moment…

  "I know that you're the king and that sometimes you have to fight," Sofia said quietly. "But ripping doors off their hinges? What was it for this time?"

  "They were speaking disrespectfully about you."

  Sofia shook her head. "While I appreciate that you want to protect me, this is too much. I told you that when we first started seeing each other, I didn't want a man in my life that thinks he has to police everybody around me."

  Aaron shrugged. "It's just hard, trying to overcome hundreds of years of social training. The world I lived in for most of my life is far different than it is today. And that's a good thing. Society is much better than it was even fifty years ago. But it's hard to keep up."

  Sofia stepped up to him and brushed her fingers against his face. "I know. And I want you to know that you are doing great. I can see how hard you're trying, and I really appreciate it. But just before our wedding?"

  "I know. I'm sorry."

  Aaron clasped her hands in his and let his eyes trail up her body. The dress was ice-white, the color brilliant against her skin tones, with a ball gown silhouette. The sweetheart neckline showed just the right amount of cleavage, and the lace overlays on the chiffon material made her look like she had just stepped out of a 1950s fairy tale. A beautiful white gold tiara was fixed on her head, matching a jeweled belt around her waist.

  "Wow."

  Sofia grinned. "Like what you see?"

  "You're so beautiful. And I think I'm glad you came here. Now the first time I saw you as my bride, it's just the two of us, instead of us sharing the moment with the whole world."

  Sofia ducked her head. When she looked up again, there was a coy smile on her face and a twinkle in her eyes. "Just wait until you see what I'm wearing under the dress."

  Aaron's eyes brightened when he imagined it. Sofia gave him a saucy smile as she sauntered out as his PA rushed back in with the attendants to hurriedly ready him again. The king forced himself to relax. Soon, he and Sofia would have everything they wanted.

  Chapter Four – Sofia

  The wedding and following reception were both magnificent, but Sofia was glad when she and Aaron finally retired to their new, shared apartment in the
palace. It had been custom-built for the two of them, but Sofia didn't pay attention to any of the fineries that Aaron had stuffed into it. At the moment, she only had eyes for her new husband.

  A grin spread over her face as he carried her through the doors into the bedroom. When he set her down, he pressed his mouth to hers. She eagerly responded. Though her feet ached and her back hurt, heat swirled through her, making her body feel ten times lighter. For the first time, she didn't have to hold anything back, and she was determined to take advantage of her new-found freedom.

  "Wait, I forgot to tell you!" Sofia pulled away abruptly, shaking her head. "My friend, Gloria, she found a potion that will allow me to get pregnant with you."

  Aaron's eyes widened. "What? How?"

  "I…" Sofia ducked her head. "I guess I didn't really think about that. I was just so excited… I meant to talk to you about it before, but we were never alone together. But I made the potion last night and I—"

  "Don't tell me you took it."

  "I… did."

  Aaron closed his eyes and shook his head. "How long have you known about this potion?"

  "A few days… I was just so excited. I know we agreed to adopt, and I want to adopt, but I just thought… having one child that I carried and gave birth to… it's something I've always wanted, Aaron. And you were busy, and whenever we were together we were busy planning wedding stuff and there were other people, and… I guess I should have waited."

  The king turned away, sighing. He shook his head. "Well, at least it didn't poison you. I wish you have let the physicians run some tests on it first, though. I would love to see you swell with my child, but I would rather make sure you're safe and whole. Drinking strange potions—"

  "Gloria is a good friend. She wouldn't recommend anything that might hurt me. Besides," Sofia added with a grin, "this gives us an extra excuse to lock ourselves away for a few days. The potion only lasts a week. So you will have no time to waste on running your kingdom."

  Aaron sighed again, but his grin soon echoed hers. His mouth returned to hers, causing the familiar sparks to explode in her brain. She moaned, pressing herself to her toes as her bounteous skirts crushed between them. He ended the kiss with a quick nip to her lower lip. His eyes were dark as he brushed her hair off her neck.

  "Let's get you out of this dress," he murmured, his voice husky. "Wouldn't want to stain it."

  Sofia nearly moaned again as she nodded. Aaron kissed her deeply again, his hands tracing the curve of her hip. They moved to her back, where his fingers found the silky laces of her dress and tugged them free. Sofia felt her body decompressing as the tight garment slid off her, letting the heat that was building in her core flare to the rest of her.

  "Oh, wow." Aaron's gaze trailed down her body, eyes widening. "You were like that the whole time?"

  Sofia grinned as she stepped back, revealing the black lacy garters keeping her white stockings up… and nothing else. She giggled. "I thought it added a bit of a naughty touch."

  "Naughty indeed." Aaron loosened his tie. "Lie on the bed. I want to do something I've been dreaming of since the moment I laid eyes on you."

  Still giggling, Sofia ran to the bed and threw herself onto it. Her heart pounded hard in her chest, her hands trembling. She was excited to experience her husband drinking from her. But there was also trepidation. Having his fangs sink into her neck was going to hurt, no matter how blissful she assured the aftereffects were. Could she handle the pain?

  Aaron tossed off his jacket as he stalked towards her, a predatory gleam in his eye. He stopped when he was standing over her, a grin on his face as he very, very slowly removed his shirt. Sofia propped herself on her elbows, enjoying the show he was giving her.

  But after he tossed his shirt aside, he didn't go for her neck like she expected. Instead, he gripped her hips and pulled her to the edge of the bed before kneeling. Something inside her clenched as he kissed her thighs, separating them.

  "Not that I'm complaining, but why not drink from me first?" she asked.

  "You can't go straight to the orgasm without the foreplay, my sweet." His head lowered.

  Sofia's spine arched, little explosions of fireworks working up and down her spine. Heat pooled in her belly and she fell back, moaning. Her eyes slid shut. She grasped the blankets beneath her, digging her fingers into the bedding. She tried to move past the pleasure that was already burning through her, brought quickly to a peak by Aaron's expertise, and tried instead to focus on him. On the sounds of satisfaction he made, the feeling of his hands on her thighs, the chuckle he gave when she rolled her hips, increasing contact.

  "That feels good," Sofia blurted, wanting to stay connected to sanity somehow... a shudder rocked her body. "Aaron!"

  A chuckle answered her. He trailed his kisses up her bare body, his fingers taking over the work his mouth had been doing. Sofia clung to him, whimpering as everything tightened inside of her. Aaron's fangs skimmed over her throat.

  "Drink from me," she gasped. "Please! Do it now!"

  "Give me a moment," Aaron murmured into her skin.

  Sofia moaned in impatience, then cried out in protest as he moved away from her. She reached for him, trying to follow, but he put his hand on her sternum and pushed her back down firmly. Kneeling on the bed, he removed his trousers. Sofia admired his body for a moment, her eyes tracing the contours of his muscle, his firm abs, and that delicious V that made her pulse quick every time she saw it when they were swimming.

  The king laid over her, nudging her thighs further apart with his knees, and grinned. "Are you ready for me?"

  "Yes."

  His lips caressed her throat. "Good."

  He entered the same time as his fangs sunk into her throat. There was a sharp sting from both points, and then nothing but pleasure. The tightness that was already on the point of snapping burst into flame, sending floods of fire throughout her body. Every inch of her shuddered, her limbs moving on their own accord, her head flailing this way and that. She pushed her body against his, grabbed handfuls of his hair, pulled him closer to her, arched her back, and screamed.

  Sofia didn't know how long it lasted. She ran out of breath and lay there, gulping in deep, deep gasps, hardly aware that Aaron was withdrawing. She blinked and brushed some hair from her eyes and mouth.

  "Was it good for you?" she blurted.

  Aaron cuddled her, his fingers trailing up and down her spine. The gentle touch had her body, wound tight with the pleasure she had experienced, turning to putty. "It was amazing, Sofia. I've never felt this way about a woman before. I've tried. I tried so hard."

  Sofia's eyes fluttered closed as she hummed. Her vampire king had told her about his past affairs, all right, but she had long since stopped being jealous of the women that would never have him again. He was hers, and that was all she cared about. It was ridiculous to think that a vampire as old as him wouldn't have had many loves before her.

  "And what about you? Was it good for you?" Aaron asked.

  "It was better than I imagined. Even though I think I missed most of it. I didn't even realize you were actually moving." She giggled, a little embarrassed, but snuggled closer and kissed his jaw. "So I guess you're just going to have to show me what you did again…"

  Aaron grinned, his eyes twinkling. "I'd like that."

  ***

  Five Months Later

  Sofia trailed her hands over her swelling belly, grinning as she waited for Aaron to join her. Even now she could hardly believe that Gloria's potion had worked. She was pregnant. The child that she and Aaron had longed for was growing inside of her, and she couldn't be happier.

  Actually, that wasn't true.

  The smile faded from her face when Aaron entered the room. He smiled wanly at her. The stress of the radical witches' increased attacks on humans and vampires alike was getting to him. He wasn't sleeping at night. His already pale skin was translucent. The sparkle was gone from his eyes, and he needed to drink several pints of blood every
day. If he wasn't a vampire and immune from disease, she would have suspected that he was sick.

  "Are you feeling okay?" she asked him worriedly, moving to her husband and gripping his hands. "The announcement can wait."

  Aaron shook his head firmly. "I'm fine. And we need to make our announcement before I start attacking all those tabloids that claim to have insider knowledge that you've cheated on me. We will tell the world what the truth is, and then… Then maybe I'll take the rest of the day off and go have a nap."

  Sofia's brow furrowed, not liking the way Aaron's eyes slid in and out of focus. She reached for him. "Aaron, I don't think you're well."

  "Nonsense." He grinned.

  And collapsed.

  Chapter Five – Aaron

  Aaron rubbed his eyes, hating how weak he felt. He had been noticing that he wasn't as steady as he normally was, his thoughts a little more scattered, with a deep thirst that couldn't be quenched, for several weeks now, but he had just assumed that it was just stress. The radical witches had stepped up their ante, going from sneaking around in the shadows to causing havoc in the streets. The anti-magic hysteria was reaching new heights as well. It was a lot to deal with.

  But none of that explained this. He was a vampire. Stress or no stress, he couldn't get sick. And yet he felt feverish, his skin was clammy to the touch, and there was a pounding headache shooting through his head to his spine.

  His physician clucked her tongue as her hands hovered over his body. A green glow surrounded them. Sofia sat beside him, resting her hand on his arm. Her expression was anxious, eyes wide, chewing on her lower lip.

  "What's wrong with him?" she eventually asked, apparently tired of listening to the witch's clucking.

  "I'm not sure. I've never seen anything like this before. I'd like to take some tissue samples to run some spells on. Have you been drinking your wife's blood, sir?"

  Aaron shook his head. "Not since you confirmed she was pregnant. We didn't want to do anything that would risk the baby."

  "Hmmm. What have you been drinking?"