Roman (The Clutch Series Book 1)

by Heidi McLaughlin

  “What if someone wants to feed off me?”

  “Absolutely not,” Roman says. “I won’t allow it.”

  “What if I want it?”

  “Then you don’t want me. I don’t share, Fiona. You’re not some shiny toy I want to pass around.”

  “But you share these women,” I point out.

  “That’s different. The mindset is different.”

  “I see.” Except, I don’t. “Do you sleep with the women here?”

  I think if Roman could breathe, he’d let out an exasperated sigh right about now. “In the past, yes, but not since I’ve met you.”

  A vampire and an overly giggly woman brush past, taking the room right behind us. They don’t bother to shut the curtain, letting anyone passing by watch what they’re about to do. He kisses her, groping her breast and grinding against her. His mouth leaves her and trails toward her neck.

  Her eyes flash open, and then a soft, satisfying smile appears. She looks elated that he’s sucking the life right out of her. Completely content with what’s going on. I look away and place my hand on my stomach, waiting for dinner to work its way back up.

  “They’re together,” Roman says.

  “How can you tell?

  “Vampires see bonds between a vampire and a human consort. If another vampire were to bite her, her mate has every right to kill the other. He’d likely kill his mate too for betraying him.”

  “So what you’re telling me is, if you bite me, I can only be with you.”

  “No, bonds can be broken. They just don’t happen often.”

  “I feel like there are so many rules, and yet I know none of them.” I turn and leave Roman in the hallway, I make it about three feet before Roman’s chest is pressed against my back and his arm is around my waist. His lips trail from my collarbone to my ear, in a languid motion. Each kiss meant to turn me on.

  “Dance with me, Fiona.”

  It’s not a request, but a demand. A damn sexy one at that. Roman leads us to the dance floor and starts moving our bodies to the beat. I can feel his need for me growing, and I find myself pushing into him. His mouth is everywhere along the back of my neck, and his hands move freely along my body, massaging my breasts. As I look around, I expect people to stare, to gawk, but they’re all focused on whoever they’re with. No one here gives a shit what the other person is doing, and I find myself not caring that Roman is dry humping me in the middle of a crowded bar. There’s something seriously wrong with me right now.

  Roman’s hand snakes under my blouse, and his ice-cold hand gropes my breast. I lean into him, turning my head. “Not here, Roman. Not like this in front of everyone.”

  “Your home is not safe for me. Can I take you to mine?”

  “Are there coffins?”

  His laughter vibrates against me. “No, darling. There are no coffins, bats or any of the other folklore you may have read.”

  “What about faeries and werewolves?”

  Roman stops moving. I turn in his arms and place my hands on his cheeks. “Roman?”

  After a long minute, he winks. “You read too many books.”

  17

  Roman

  Swiftly, I take us to my home, which isn’t far from hers. In front of my door, she leans into my back as I insert the key into the lock. I can sense her anticipation as well as her reservation; she knows why we’re here. She knows what we’re about to do. Her hands are running along my sides, teasing me. In one smooth motion, I pull her into my arms, cross over the threshold and slam the door, pressing her against it.

  “Roman,” she breathes out as I press my body against hers, my hands roaming, touching everywhere they can before she tells me to stop.

  “Fiona, do you want this?” I ask again, needing her assurance. I won’t make her do anything she doesn’t want, and I need her to tell me what she wants, what her desires are.

  As I snake my tongue along her jaw, inhaling her scent, she lets out a slight gasp. Her body is warm and soft; she melts into me. “I want you, Roman,” she whispers.

  I step away, grabbing her hand, pulling her across the open layout of my home toward the bedroom. She glances around the room, probably looking for something that screams vampire, which I find mildly amusing. She’s been fed a lot of garbage propaganda about vampires, which is clear.

  “Do you need anything?” I ask her before we reach my master suite.

  Without a word, she shakes her head. I pause for a moment, just taking her in. She’s beautiful, and even though I’m not her first, there’s an innocence behind her eyes I can’t get enough of. I pull her to me for a kiss. It’s slow and soft at first but escalates quickly as she slides her tongue along my teeth, gently biting my lower lip. I can’t resist any longer and use my abilities, I launch us to the bed. We lay side by side, and while she looks startled at first for a moment, she quickly smiles and begins to plant kisses on my neck. Her movements are fluid and sensual. With nimble fingers, Fiona begins to unbutton my shirt with one hand.

  I roll over, caging her beneath me, propped on my arms and take her in again. I need to make sure there’s no apprehension before this happens. Once I bite her, we’ll be bonded for the rest of her life or until either of us sever the bond. As if she’s reading my mind, she says, “I want you to bite me tonight, Roman.”

  A grin spreads across my face knowing she can see my fangs now. The anticipation of biting her, of tasting her blood for the first time is almost too much to bear. My cock becomes harder and presses against my jeans almost painfully. “I won’t hurt you, Fiona,” I promise.

  “I know you won’t.” She pulls me toward her for a kiss.

  I do plan to bite her tonight, drinking her in. I fully intend to finally satiate my thirst for her. But first, I need her to let go. I want to pleasure her, I need her to come undone for me. Our kiss becomes more passionate, and I can feel she’s ready for me to lead this moment. Without wasting any more time, I gently pull her up to her knees with me on the bed, staring into her eyes. She waits for me to undress her with expectancy. A slight coy smile forms across her lips as she watches me take the hem of her shirt and slide it up and over her head. It’s times like these when I wish I were human so I could remember what it felt like to gasp at the woman in front of me with her beautiful breasts and soft curves.

  Her heart is beating faster than normal, forcing the blood through her body like rapids, and I swallow hard at the thought of her blood trickling down my throat. She’s wearing an insanely sexy black bra with lace that barely covers her tight nipples, which I have no doubt desire my attention. Fiona runs her hands along my chest, kissing and nipping at me, leaving me no choice but to finish what she started. Instead of working the buttons of my shirt, I rip it from my body and throw the remnants onto my bedroom floor.

  My need for her grows. I need her beneath me, on top of me, anywhere gravity allows. I scoop her into my arms, laying her down, and practically rip her pants off. This lead up is making me insane, and when I see her lying on my bed in nothing but her sexy lingerie, I’m done moving slow. I’d done being patient. Moving on top of her, I slide the strap of her bra down, revealing the pale pink nipple of her breast and run the pad of my thumb over it, causing her breath to hitch. I do the same to the other before taking one into my mouth, rolling my tongue around it. She moans in pleasure, grabbing my hair and bucks her hips slightly. Her hands are frenzied, trying to get my pants undone. I do my best to help her, but honestly, I’m too focused on getting her remaining garment off. I want her naked and spread out on my bed, ready for the feast. Fiona manages to get my pants pushed over my hips, and my cock free.

  If Fiona has any qualms about what’s about to happen, she doesn’t say a word. Instead, she wraps her legs around me, looking up at me through her lashes. “You’re beautiful, Fiona; I want you so badly.”

  “Take me, Roman; I’m yours,” she whispers through heavy breaths. So I do. I make her mine.

  For a man who never has to blink and who h
as to force himself to have human habits, there’s nothing making my eyes roll back into my head except for the pure unadulterated pleasure I feel having Fiona wrapped around me. She rocks against me, urging me to make love to her. Who the hell am I to deny this woman? I’ve wanted her, courted her and finally have her in my bed, and yet I’m frozen, unable to move. Her feather light kisses bring me to my senses, and my hips start thrusting forward, pushing deeply into her core. We make love, exploring each other, being one with each other.

  “I want to feed you, Roman.”

  I’m so lost in her, I don’t ask for confirmation but pull back to look in her eyes. She nods at me with no apprehension, and I bare my fangs to her. Her eyes light up, and her legs tighten around me as I move in on her neck. Before I allow my animal instinct to kick in, I drag my tongue along the spot I intend to leave my mark upon her pristine flesh. Still making love, her nails dig into my sides as I sink my teeth in and she cries out, freezing up as I start to drink her in.

  Her pain lasts only a moment, and as her body softens, I pull her tight to me. I failed to mention to her that the initial pain would subside quickly, as the saliva from a vampire paralyzes the nerve endings around a bite. She begins to moan loudly, rocking into me, as I’m latched onto her, the warm blood coating my throat as I drink. Her nails dig deeper, and she begins to climax under me. Her sounds become louder, and when she screams my name out, I let go as well, finishing with her and watching a small drop of blood stream down her neck from each of the holes I’ve caused.

  Still panting, she comes down from the high and meets my gaze. “That only hurt for a second,” she says, sounding surprised.

  “I know, baby,” I reply, smiling. I lean down to lick up the blood that’s escaped my bite mark and savor the sweetness. I’ve said to her several times that feeding isn’t erotic, but that’s not entirely true. With someone you have an emotional attachment, it’s the most sensual and intense connection possible.

  I roll to the side and inspect where I bit her closely, before taking her hand in mine and bringing it to my lips. With her other hand, she touches the bite and inspects her fingertips. “I’m not bleeding?” she asks.

  “No, sweetheart. You won’t bleed afterward.” I wait for more questions, but she remains silent. “Are you all right?” I ask.

  Letting out a slight laugh, she turns on her side to face me. “I’m fucking great. How about you?”

  I can’t help but to laugh; that isn’t the response I was expecting. Somehow I thought she’d have more questions, or would want to talk about mechanics of the moment or something. She continues to be full of surprises.

  “I’m good, Fiona. That was amazing.” Not only was the sex incredible, we fit together so incredibly well, in sync with each other’s needs, but her blood is magnificent. I could taste the slightest bit of the alcohol she’d had tonight, but it was all I had hoped it would be. I wasn’t quite ready for a feeding. I typically wait until I have to feed, but drinking from her was like having an extravagant dessert.

  “Was it? Am I delicious?” she asks, completely serious.

  I want to laugh. I’ve never been asked a more hilarious question in all my life, but she means it with such innocence, I don’t dare mock it. Instead, I bring her face to mine and plant a small kiss on her lips. “I could never get enough of you, Fiona. You’re the most exquisite thing I have ever tasted in my life.”

  Seemingly pleased with my answer, she smiles and rests her head on my chest. While I stroke her hair, I think about what’s next. I want to enjoy the moment, relish in it. But I know we’ve got many hurdles to overcome, and the sooner we handle them, the better. I know it’s not the time to discuss it, so I lie there, holding the woman I’m definitely in love with, listening to her breathe.

  “Roman, how often can we do that?” she asks, still resting on me.

  “Do what, sweetheart?”

  “How often can you bite me without killing me?”

  I don’t want her to think I could ever kill her, but it’s actually a good question. There have been accidents in the past, where a vampire and his or her consort didn’t manage the vampire’s thirst properly, and things got out of hand. “We wouldn’t want to do it every day. It would make you too weak. I don’t need to feed every day anyway,” I explain.

  “I don’t want you to feed on anyone else anymore,” she says quietly.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it,” I squeeze her, brimming with satisfaction. She’s mine now. She wants to be mine.

  “I don’t think this is going to be easy for us, Roman.”

  “No, I don’t suppose that it is,” I reply with as little emotion as possible. I know she’s referring to her father, who I’d just as soon kill after our initial introduction than work with at this point, but I’m aware of human relationships and their importance.

  Silence falls between us, and as I wait for her to fall asleep, she squeezes me. “That was really fucking good.” She chuckles.

  Unable to help myself, and happy that our conversation had lightened up a bit, for now, I reply. “There’s a lot more where that came from, babe. You’re mine now, and I’m going to worship you.”

  She lets out a sigh, and I can feel that sleep is taking over her body. I wait patiently, enjoying the moment, satisfied with the end of an incredibly rocky day.

  18

  Fiona

  Growing up, I spent my summers with my grandparents, working at their campground. My job was to run the general store under the watchful eye of my grandma. I used to love checking the campers in and helping them with their inner tubes and kayak rentals. There was one family in particular who I waited for every year. They had a son two years older than me, but sometimes we’d hang out on the swing set together or get some ice cream when the ding dong cart would drive by.

  The year I turned thirteen, I swore I was going to kiss him. I was determined to be carefree and enjoy my first summer as a teenager. His name was Charlie, he was so cute, and by the end of the summer, he had this fantastic tan. I remember waiting for his family to show up, and when they didn’t, I checked the books to see if they had a reservation and nothing. My grandma didn’t know why they chose not to come back. It indeed wasn’t the first time this had happened.

  Still, the next year I waited and the year after that. It wasn’t until I was eighteen and spending my last summer working at the camp that Charlie showed up, this time with a wife and a baby. I feigned recognition of him, even though I knew who he was as soon as he stepped out of his car. I wanted to ask him what happened, find out why they stopped coming, but it wasn’t my place. Any feelings I had for him were long gone, plus he had a wife.

  It was as if things hadn’t changed. At night, Charlie was on the swing set all by himself, and when I sat down, he started telling me what had happened. A vampire had killed his mother, and his father was jailed for crimes against inhumanity. He had to go live with his aunt, which meant the end of his trips here. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing because surely the laws were in place to protect humans. We had vampires staying at the campground and never had any issues. None of this made sense to me.

  When I went back home at the end of summer, I told my father, who detailed horror stories of vampires and how they kill humans for fun. Little did I know, Charlie’s parents were friends of my dad’s, and my father took the death and subsequent imprisonment of his friend rather hard. He told me I was never ever to associate with the undead, under any circumstances.

  My circumstances have changed. Sure, I could’ve told Roman to leave me alone, to stay away or find some voodoo bullshit to banish him from my life, but I didn’t. Not because I’m in the business of pissing off my father, but because I like Roman. I like him a lot. The only downfall is he’s a vampire, and while I don’t mind it, others in my circle do and will. Being with him is going to cost me.

  How much, I’m not sure, but I’m willing to take the gamble so to speak. I don’t think my father will disown me as he says becau
se I have too much dirt on him. I could destroy his empire with one phone call. He may think of me as a tart, an airhead he employs to bring in business, but my notes are meticulous and damaging.

  Then there’s Leslie. Once she finds out I’ve slept with Roman, our friendship is over for sure. Thing is, I can’t let her find out, not just yet, and I also can’t keep ignoring her because she’s liable to show up at my apartment, and when I don’t answer the door, there will be a barrage of questions, like where have you been.

  At Roman’s, being thoroughly fucked. I can easily say I’m a proud member of the once you go vamp, you never go back club, and will be leading the charge as president. Lana did not go into detail about what sex is like with a vampire. Although come to think of it, I doubt I would either. There’s no way I’m sharing details of what Roman and I do in his bedroom.

  The black scarf I tied around my neck hides the leftover bruising. It’s faint but still visible, and today I’d rather not comment on my sex life. Over the silk material, my fingers rub where the marks have healed, closing my eyes as I recall the moment Roman’s fangs sunk into my skin.

  The instant rush of adrenaline was something I’ve never felt before. My fight or flight kicked in, and I chose to stay, and let him feed on my vein. Of course, the fact that he was deeply embedded inside of me, making me feel like nothing I’ve ever felt before did help the situation. Having him fill me, stretch me to encase his girth has left me yearning for more. It’s all we’ve done for the past few days, in every room of his house, on every surface. I’ve let him command me, control me, and in return, he’s given me the most delicious orgasms of my life. The biting put me over the edge; giving me this endorphin I didn’t know existed. I’m addicted, and I want more.

  Thankfully, I won’t be the only person in hundred degree weather trying to cover up. It’s a common thing these days, but still not favorable to a lot of humans. Without a doubt, I will get stares and snickers, and you know what sucks to be the person not on the receiving end. Giving myself to Roman has been the most glorious thing I have ever done. Lana’s right; don’t knock it until you try it.