by Anna Santos
She didn’t hold back in the kiss. She tasted him, engulfing his lower lip and pressing her fingers hard against his chest. Her right hand ran down his body and cupped his crotch, making him break the kiss and moan in pain for what Jade couldn’t perceive.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” she gasped, horrified for hurting him.
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he whispered, but she wasn’t so sure. “And you don’t need to do this. This is about me giving you pleasure.”
He tried to take her hand away.
“I want to touch you, too,” she complained, avoiding his hand and trying to open his pants.
“Have you ever done this before?” he asked, holding on to her hand again and entwining their fingers.
Jade shook her head and bit her lower lip with an innocent face that made his stomach explode with anticipation. He gulped. Kissing and hugging her against him, he rolled on the bed and accommodated her body under his.
They would have other opportunities for her to touch him. At that moment, he just wanted to kiss her and hold her. She was desirable beyond words.
“Doesn’t it hurt?” she asked with a troubled face.
“Oh yes,” he confessed, fondling her breasts and bending down to suck one of her nipples into his mouth. His tongue swirled around her pink bud, making her close her eyes and gasp for air.
“So let me,” she said between pants. “I want to, Daniel.”
He sighed, finding her a total turn on. The simple sound of her voice saying his name was enough to make him get harder.
“Use your hand then. We can try something else another time.”
She nodded, nestling her face against his neck and sliding her hand to his pants where she struggled with the buttons. He helped her with that and, soon enough, her fingers were slipping inside his boxers and grabbing hold of his shaft. Pumping her hand, she squeezed with caution.
His mouth sought hers. While her hand stroked his hard erection, he moaned and gasped, tensing and stiffening against the silkiness of her body.
His jagged moans were the only sign Jade needed to know that she was doing it right. Her heart was racing in her chest because of what she was doing. She found it incredible how hard he was and how thrilling it made her feel to offer him pleasure. She kept stroking him with care, using her thumb to gently rub the tip of his erection.
Unexpectedly, his hand fell over hers, making her stop. Holding her hand, he showed her how to rub it faster and grip tighter.
Jade’s breath halted in her throat when she felt his cock tremble in her closed hand. Daniel kept on groaning her name with his head nestled between her breasts. It was deliciously decadent listening to him while he was drawing close to an orgasm. It aroused her even more.
His mouth moved to suck on her breast, making her core ache to also be touched. She wondered how it would feel if he was inside her, and they were wrapped in each other’s arms.
Her voice came out sultry and needy. “Daniel.”
He raised his gaze at her face. “Are you okay or is this making you feel uncomfortable?”
Jade shook her head with pursed lips. Mustering courage, she asked with a timid voice, “Do you still want to have sex with me?”
Daniel blinked several times before frowning. “No.” His arm pulled her near. “I want to make love to you,” he clarified before the negative answer made her feel uncomfortable.
“Do you want to do it now?”
He didn’t answer. As the silence stretched between them, he continued to look deep into her eyes.
Her voice shook as she asked, “Why not?”
His hand stroked her heated cheek. “I want to. Yet I don’t want to rush things between us. Your first time should be special. I know how to make it special and I don’t want to ruin it.”
“This is special.”
Daniel’s eyes sparkled as he smiled and pecked her lips. “Being with you is always special—”
A loud knock on the door of Jade’s room startled them and interrupted Daniel’s speech.
“One hour until the contest, Jade!” an unfamiliar voice warned and went away.
“It seems we’ve run out of time,” Daniel whispered. “When we make love, Jade, it will be even more special, okay? For now, let’s take a bath.” He kissed her forehead.
Sighing, she crossed her arms to cover her breasts and curled on the bed.
“Stop pouting,” he demanded, sitting on the bed and taking his jeans and boxers off.
Jade’s eyes widened, staring at his naked body. He knew that he was still hard for her and, by the look on her face, she wasn’t used to seeing naked and aroused men. But, he didn’t want her thinking that he didn’t want her. He did. More than blood. More than breathing.
“Bath. Now,” he ordered her, motioning to the bathroom.
She sat up on the bed, staring at the wrinkled dress on the floor that she was supposed to wear that night.
“I thought we weren’t going to have sex,” she muttered, defying his order.
“Do you say those things just to annoy me?”
“Yes,” she confessed.
“Do you want me to punish you?”
“I don’t know. What do you have in mind?” she retorted with a teasing grin.
He smirked. “We will talk about that some other day. Now, Jade,” he said as he softened his voice, moving next to her and grabbing her by the hands so she stood up, “let’s get you clean and ready, baby. We have some stupid contest to attend.”
“Do you know what it is?”
“No. I can’t have a favorite. Therefore, I can’t know anything about the contest so everything is fair to the other two. I really don’t care. Whatever it is, it won’t change the fact that you are going to spend the night in my bed,” he said, emphasizing each word as he whispered them into her ear.
“Only if I want to,” she argued, walking to the bathroom and stopping at the door. She spun around. “Are you coming or what?”
He stared at her with dark eyes and a demonic face, totally aroused by her naked figure.
“I’ll give you a damn good reason for you to want it,” he retorted, speeding his way to her and grabbing her before she could evade him.
She screamed after he let her go inside the shower. The speedy ride could be scary. Her protests ended when he kissed her and let the water fall over them.
Chapter Sixteen: A Special Prize
The crew from the show had erected a portable set in the backyard of Daniel’s mansion. It resembled more a quiz show set than anything else, so Jade assumed that they would be asking them questions.
There were three seats in the center of the stage with touchscreen monitors directly facing each seat. The floor was made of Plexiglas, displaying the logo of the program underneath.
The host stood behind a single podium while the crew checked the sound and the cameras that cruised around, searching for the best angle to record. As his lines appeared on the teleprompter opposite his podium, the host cleared his throat and waited for the director to shout that they were recording.
“Welcome back to the ‘Who Wants to Be a Vampire’ - Special Edition! The number one reality show in America. Tonight, we are recording at our bachelor’s house, the rich and good-looking Daniel Wolfe,” the host said with an excited voice.
He resumed his speech after a dramatic pause, “Yesterday, we’ve met his three beautiful choices of the week. Only one can be the lucky lady who is going to marry him and become his vampire companion for all eternity. But, to get Daniel’s attention, these three young ladies need to fight among themselves for his affection.”
He moved from behind his podium and walked to the seats where the light turned on to illuminate the contestants.
With a happy and casual voice, he stirred up the nonexistent audience around the set. “In tonight’s contest, the three ladies are going to have to survive three rounds of questions. Whoever knows more intimate details about our bachelor wins a romantic dinner in
a tent especially assembled in his garden for this special occasion. May the sound of violins awaken new feelings or…renew the old flame!”
The contestants waited in the seats where the touchscreens turned on. Jade’s attention was on the host while Jenna’s hand was grabbing hers. Her best friend was in the middle which prevented Jade from seeing Emma’s two-faced expression. Even if she tried to stay relaxed and at peace with her soul, the fact was that the organization of the show was giving a head start to Daniel’s ex. It couldn’t be more obvious!
Jade tried to smile at the cameras that kept recording. With no idea where Daniel could be, Jenna’s presence was a relief. He might be behind the set, listening to everything. Earlier, he had left her, so he could get dressed. Then she had to endure the makeup team and the hairdresser around her. The tension was taking over her body because she couldn’t see him. What was he thinking about the contest? He had told her that he didn’t know what the game rules would be, but the point of that contest seemed slanted in Emma’s favor.
The host’s rules were drifting inside her mind, and she only paid attention when the lighting system darkened the set and the spotlight was pointed at them.
“Are you ready, ladies?” the host asked. His sympathetic smile was aimed at the screen where the question was going to appear.
“Of course we’re ready, Simon,” Emma spoke with a beaming smile.
“Pay attention and look at the screen to see the four options for the correct answer. Press the letter to lock the answer of your choice. First question: What was Daniel’s human mother’s name? A: Evelyn, B: Sarah, C: Lindsey, or D: Felicity.”
The ten seconds countdown was displayed on the monitor behind the host while the girls stared at their screens. It didn’t take long for Jade to listen to the first sound of a locked answer and then the second. She was the only one who was taking longer since she had no idea about the right answer. She chose it randomly and stared at the host.
A new sound was heard and the host spoke again, “Some of you were fast at answering and others hesitated. The right answer was Evelyn! Jenna and Emma got it right. Better luck next time, Jade.”
Applauding sounds and happy people cheered. Jade faked a smile and looked at Jenna. If she was going to lose, at least, Jenna should win. Even if she wasn’t so sure that her best friend wouldn’t hit on Daniel if she had the chance.
“For the next question, we are going to reveal something really personal about our bachelor. Something that only his closest friends know, or maybe one of the girls who knows a little bit more about our vampire’s hobbies.”
“Besides breaking women’s hearts, you mean?” Emma teased.
The sound of laughter echoed in the studio.
Emma was either being provocative or following a script.
Jade clenched her teeth and gave her attention to the host, eager for him to reveal the next question and end the anxiety that was overtaking her.
“Daniel is known for his taste in beautiful women, fast cars, and eccentric houses. However, there’s another means of transportation that he likes to build in the comfort of his home. Are we talking about: A: planes, B: spaceships, C: trains, or D: bikes?”
Jade was the first to answer that question. It helped that she had spent time with her brother that day. Then, her body broke out in a light sweat. She hoped that she had picked the right answer. She wanted at least one correct answer. It would be rather disheartening if she failed in all the questions about Daniel. She realized that she didn’t know much about his life, his tastes, and his background. How old was he? Where did he grow up? How did he become a vampire?
Jenna and Emma locked their answers, and Jade waited for the host to end the suspense.
“We have two winners once again! Emma and Jade have the correct answer. Daniel likes to build small scale trains.”
Jade’s heart drummed, happy that she got it right.
Meanwhile, the host summed up what had happened. “Emma is in the lead with two correct answers while Jenna and Jade have one each. If Emma answers the next question correctly or if the other contestants choose the wrong answer, she’s the winner of the romantic dinner for two!”
Music played in the background, providing the drama and the tension while the host made a suspenseful pause.
Cold sweat dripped down Jade’s spine as her stomach twisted. She didn’t want Emma to go on a date with Daniel.
“Daniel is the CEO of several companies. One of his companies is the leader of what best-selling technology? A: a cell phone watch, B: interactive robots, C: glasses with integrated displays, or D: virtual reality headsets.”
Jade stared at her screen with puzzled eyes. She knew that Daniel liked games as any other guy, but she had no idea of what kind of technology his companies were selling. She chose the option D and hoped for the best. She heard a lock sound before she answered and, when she raised her head, Emma was still looking at her screen. Then the actress locked it before the time ran out. The contestants stared at the host who had his lips curled up.
If Emma got it right, she was the winner. If Jenna or Jade got it right, they would be tied up with Emma. Tying meant that they were going to sudden death, which meant that the host would ask several questions until the last girl with more correct answers remained. Jade was sure that Emma would win in a heartbeat. After all, she had dated Daniel.
The suspense ended when the host declared, “None of you got it right. Daniel is selling millions of glasses with integrated displays in all shapes and colors. It’s been a huge hit in Japan and America. It’s selling rather well to help other vampires like him to have a virtual experience of what it is to walk in the sun and have someone doing what they can’t do during the day.”
Jade wanted to face-palm herself for being such an idiot. Daniel had shown her that in his bedroom. She should have remembered it. Now Emma was the winner and was going on a date with Daniel. The actress had already left her seat and was hugging Jenna, expressing her happiness for winning.
Jade couldn’t conceal the grumpy face and murderous eyes on Emma.
“Congratulations,” Jade said to Emma, who gave her a fake smile and a kiss on the cheek.
“No hard feelings,” Emma mumbled in Jade’s ear after patting her back.
“Emma, come and let’s take you on your date. Daniel is waiting for you outside where an exquisite dinner awaits. You two will have the privacy to talk and remember old times. After dinner, you will join him for a carriage ride in the park.”
The host seemed excited with all the amazing prizes that Emma had won. Jade was not. A romantic dinner was already nerve-racking, but a romantic carriage ride in the park was a perk that Jade wasn’t expecting. It hadn’t been mentioned until then.
Jealousy was rising inside her chest, together with rage that she did her best to conceal. She couldn’t believe that Daniel would have to spend his night with Emma. He could succumb to her charm. He could forget about the time he had with her. Jade didn’t want Daniel and Emma back together. Not now that they had shared something that she was wishing she hadn’t shared with him. She had been stupid and naive. That contest was rigged and the next ones would be, too. No one wanted her to be with Daniel. Including the viewers who loved Emma and were most likely rooting for her to get back together with him.
“Is everything okay, Jade?” Jenna asked, squeezing her hand. “We need to go back to the mansion. Dinner awaits us, and the director said we were free for the night while Daniel and Emma are spending time together. The cameras are going to follow them.”
Jade blinked, sucking in her words. “I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well.”
Jenna smirked. “Come on, silly. Don’t be jealous. He will come back to you. It’s just a stupid dinner and a… He will hate it and if he doesn’t, then he’s not worthy of you.” She put her arm around her shoulders, trying to cheer Jade up while walking away from the set. “I bet they prepared us a lot of delicacies to eat. I’m starving, aren’t you?”
“No. I’m good.”
“Stop being so dramatic. It’s not the end of the world. Besides, whatever happens in that dinner will be shown on TV. So you can kick him in the nuts if he falls for her again or does something stupid like kiss her.”
Jade stared at her with wide eyes. “You are not helping! That doesn’t cheer me up at all.”
Guess their night together was out of the question now that Daniel had to entertain his ex. She was envious of Emma because she was going to go on a carriage ride with Daniel.
She balled her hands into fists. “They made it so that we would lose!”
With a shrug, Jenna said, “Yeah, I know.”
Jade turned her head to look at her best friend with furrowed brows. “Why aren’t you mad?”
Jenna paused in the garden and smirked. “I get to spend time with you!” Jade rolled her eyes as Jenna pouted. “Don’t you want to have a girl’s night? Or are you so infatuated by the hot vamp that you don’t care about your bestie anymore?”
“It’s not that.” Jade sighed and held her left arm.
Carrying the wind because of her speed, Sakura appeared in front of them. “Why are you taking so long to come inside?”
“Jade is annoyed because Emma won the contest,” Jenna explained.
Sakura smiled at Jade and held her hands. “There’s a party going on inside. You aren’t going to sulk around while Daniel is away. He doesn’t care about her. You’re special to him, Jade. Now stop brooding. We are going to get drunk!” Sakura squealed, throwing her arms in the air with excitement.
Jade probed, “Do you think that’s wise?”
“It’s more than wise. Tonight, we are going to play games and get drunk!” Sakura stated, grabbing Jade’s arm and pulling her to the house.
“Girl’s night, girl’s night!” Jenna cheered behind them, marching as if she was in a cheerleading parade.
Jade smirked and decided that if she wasn’t going to be with Daniel, at least, she wasn’t going to sit around feeling sorry for herself. Having a couple of shots and partying with the girls was a great idea.