by Eve Newton
However, I have been so busy lately, I just have Devon and my sire, who sadly lives on the other side of the World.
Let me tell you more about my own sire. Constantine Kaius Anasetti D’Arcangelo, or CK as I call him, lives in Italy, which is a huge pain in my arse. We meet up once a month or so to engage in activities which make my body light up like a Christmas tree. My heart, on the other hand, breaks every time I have to leave him again. I love him deeply. He can terrify the knickers off me, but I do love him. Not in the same way as I love Devon. Devon is mine, one that I chose, but I am CK’s, the one that he chose. He is very protective of me and while I gave up trying to convince him that I could look after myself ages ago, I know he will always be watching out for me. He fully believes it is a sire’s right to be overbearing and controlling and while I try not to be, the same can’t be said for CK. My bond with him defies space and time. I can feel it from across a room and when he touches me…I lose all reason. As with Devon, our ‘I love you’s’ are not so much declarations of love. Not anymore – at least not from him.
Too much time, too much history, too many wrong moments. But I am in love with him. I always have been, and I always will be. I just don’t want him to know it. I won’t be just another sappy admirer that he indulges. Devon is convinced that CK is still in love with me as well, but I’m not so sure. All he has to do is say the word and I would be with him, refusing him has never been my strong suit, but he never does. He has always had other lovers, even when I was new and completely devoted to him. It crushed me then, but not so much now. I was so in love with him after he first turned me, he was my whole world. Sometimes, in my dreams I want that again, but I know that he can never give me what I want from him.
CK is ancient. Even more ancient than me. He is one of the four Initial Vampires, as the name suggests they were the firsts, which make up The Council. Well, actually only three members sit on The Council now as the fourth one dropped off the grid millennia ago never to be seen or heard from again.
As a Master Vampire, I am pretty powerful, especially as my bloodline is the oldest of the remaining three Initial Vampires. Even my age alone is daunting to a lot of other Vampires as the older we are, the stronger we get, but that doesn’t put me on a par with the Initials. I don’t see how any ‘lesser’ Vampire would hold the same sway, as that is all they are: Lesser. Devon is a Greater Immortal. If he ever sired, they would be a Lesser Immortal. After that, it’s just ‘Vampire’.
Centuries ago, I remember Constantine telling me about some dumb prophecy that a fourth member would be ‘Chosen’. He was vague with the details, but it never interested me. Between the three of them, they have so far vetoed any contender who has put themselves forth. Often with the death of the individual involved if need be. It’s quite frightening, the lengths they will go to, to remain at three.
Devon often jokes I should try and gain it for myself, as my sire holds an affection for me that borders on obsessive – his words not mine – but I have no interest in it, or in dying for my efforts. My sire loves me, but Gregor and Eloise, the other two members, are dreadful creatures that I haven’t seen for centuries and I quite like it that way, as I’m sure they do as well. I don’t like to use the word hate, but yeah, I hate them, as they do me.
“So, that actor guy you were flirting with earlier? Is he your next victim?” Devon asks with a sly grin, forcing me to bring my thoughts back to the present.
“I certainly hope so,” I murmur.
Devon turns to look at me at the seriousness of my tone. “Really? A smitten kitten, are you?”
“Maybe,” I reply in a noncommittal manner, looking away. Truth is, I am. It’s that destiny thing. It’s a little disconcerting.
“Hm, this is unusual.” He wants to probe further, I can tell, but I'm not talking. Not until I figure this out first.
“Thought you were of the use 'em and lose 'em mindset?” he carries on.
“Not this one if I can help it, okay? There’s something different about him. I can’t place my finger on it,” I snap and then glare at him as he made me reveal more than I wanted to.
Jerk.
He backs off, knowing he has pissed me off and we sit in a much-loathed-by-me awkward silence for the rest of the trip home to Malibu.
Grayson, my driver, also a Vampire, pulls into my driveway and punches in the security code. The gates open and we drive up to the ten-bedroom mansion that Devon and I share.
Yes, we live together but in separate bedrooms. I don’t want to be far away from him, and I know he wants to remain as close to me as he can. Not only for his well-being as a Vampire, but for other reasons as well.
A s we head to the bar area, my phone rings. It’s an unrecognized number, so I know it has to be Cole.
My heart starts to pound slightly when I answer. “Hello?” I ask innocently.
“Hi, Liv?” comes the reply.
“Yes, Cole, it's me.”
No response.
“Cole?”
“Yes, I'm here, just slightly intimidated. When we spoke earlier, I didn’t realize who you were...exactly.”
“Who did you think I was?” I ask.
“Um, I thought I recognized you, somehow...” he trails off. “I could have sworn we’d met before, but I’m fairly sure I would have remembered meeting the head of the studio I work for, who is in fact a young, beautiful blonde and not a middle-aged, fat guy named Edward.”
I laugh. “It’s an investment thing. No one who is anyone meets me,” I say. “Edward likes it that way.”
“Well, I would rather have met you sooner than him,” he says. “So, that guy you were with tonight… is he your husband?”
I smile at Devon. He can hear this entire conversation with his excellent Vampire hearing.
“No, just a friend,” I say.
Devon rolls his eyes at me. I stick my tongue out at him as he knows he is my darling boy.
“Good,” Cole says, his relief evident. “Have dinner with me Friday? I'll pick you up at eight?” he asks.
“Dinner yes, but I will meet you at eight. I’ll message you the details,” I say decisively.
“Okay, until then,” he says.
“Until then,” I repeat.
“Oh, and by the way, your British accent is quite charming,” he says and hangs up.
I mentally falter at both the compliment and the fact that he dared to hang up on me. The compliment is simple enough, but he caught me off guard. I have fought a long hard battle to retain the upper middle class accent I perfected centuries ago. We have been in America for over a century now, Devon and I, and while he has adapted, I have chosen not to.
Recovering, as I sense Devon watching me, I turn with what can only be described as a goofy grin on my face as I think back to our conversation. Devon stares at me, as I don't do goofy grins, but something about this man, this human, has turned my head in a way that it hasn’t been turned in a good long while. It’s dangerous and scary, but also exciting and daringly familiar. It pushes all lingering thoughts of CK out of my mind as I think about the handsome actor, while staring at Devon as he stares back at me in confusion.
“Smitten kitten,” Devon says again, laughing at me and this new nickname he has come up with.
“Fuck off,” I throw back at him with a menacing glare.
“Oh, feisty tonight,” he retorts.
He comes closer, his blue eyes staring right into mine. He leans down and kisses me deeply. I feel our bond light up at this intimacy and I forget about my sire, and Cole O’Dell, as I lose myself in my beautiful, perfect charge.
With his deft hands, Devon unzips my dress and it pools on the floor at my stilettoed feet. Underwear-less as preferred, I stand before him naked and full of need. With his hands in my hair, he whispers, “Shift”.
He steps back as I Shift into Elizabeth, his true sire. He sighs and once again resumes this thorough exploration of my mouth.
After five hundred and six years, he still
turns me on. I don’t get bored with him at all. I feel myself getting wet in response to his tongue pushing against mine. I slide my hands up his chest and remove his jacket, letting it drop to the floor alongside my dress. He pulls me to him and picks me up, roughly pushing me against the wall, still kissing me, tugging on my raven hair hard enough to make me yelp with delight.
I wrap my long, lean legs around him while he undoes his pants. His enormous cock springs free and I gasp with the anticipation of what's to come. He knows exactly what to do to drive me wild. His fingers come up to play with my nipples, tweaking them into two hard nubs, tugging hard, making me moan in pleasure.
“Just fuck me,” I manage to get out around his mouth on mine.
He growls in response and with one swift thrust, he is inside my slick pussy. Our bond is there, I can feel it on fire, beautiful and unbreakable, spurring us both on. Thrust after hard thrust, I feel him bringing me closer to the edge. He can feel it too and tilts my head to the left exposing my neck. He nuzzles me affectionately before he viciously sinks his fangs into my flesh. I explode with ecstasy around him with a loud cry, clutching at his cock, desperately asking for more. I hear him groan deep in his throat. He retracts his fangs and licks my wound, which has already mostly healed. With one last forceful push, his hand tight around my throat, he pumps his come into me as he stares deep into my blue eyes.
We kiss again and I grab a fistful of his hair to tilt his head to the side, exposing his jugular. My fangs descend at the faint scent of his delicious blood. I pierce his vein, drinking deeply from him. I love the way he tastes. His blood gushing into my mouth soothes my clawing hunger. I release him and with a quick lick, I say, “I love you.”
“Love you back,” he says with a smile.
I drop my feet to the floor and saunter over to my abandoned dress, knowing he is watching my every move as Elizabeth. I bend down to retrieve it and then look back at him over my shoulder, crooking my finger at him. In a flash of Vampire speed, he has me in his arms and up the stairs to resume this in the bedroom.
CHAPTER TWO
T he sunlight streaming in through the bedroom window wakes me and I groan. Monday came around too quickly for my liking. I sit up and stretch. Devon senses my movement and reaches for me. His enchanted Faerie silver ring flashes in the sunlight. I grab his hand and twirl the ring round musing on its purpose. Devon and I are two of the many Vampires out there that can be in the sun. However, there are probably more Vampires out there who are still confined to the shadows, than there are who can blend into the human World.
“Not yet,” he murmurs.
“We have work,” I remind him.
His blue eyes open, finding mine. I could stare at him forever. Centuries-old feelings start to bubble up and I look away before I say something that I might regret.
“You're the boss, we can skip a few hours,” he cajoles.
“Hm,” I murmur against his delicious mouth as I bend to kiss him lightly. I feel him respond with a growl.
“Show me how much you want me,” I whisper to him.
He rolls on top of me and kisses me. “I want you as you are,” he says in between kisses, surprising me with his unexpected request.
He flips me over face down and pushes me into the bed. I could easily overpower him, but I let him have his fun. He climbs over me, knees on either side of my hips and pulls my head back to feed. He very rarely gets me in such a submissive position, so he revels in the triumph, biting me viciously. I’m so turned on now. He knows it and chuckles.
“See, she does like to be played with,” he gets out before I grab his arm and flip him over to his delight.
“Work,” I say and then leave him to stare after me, open-mouthed, as I get up and walk away.
So, my real job is in real estate. Boring, but lucrative.
I drove us this morning and as soon as I cut the engine, Devon hangs up his phone and checks his watch. He is my CFO. Astonishing with numbers, he makes even my head spin. A lot of my wealth and success has been down to him. Well, him and centuries of good investments, of course.
He leaps out of the car, his eagerness to get to his office making me smile.
“Hurry up!” he shouts to me, already at the elevator and flashing his ID card to the scanner to call it down.
I trudge to the elevators in his wake, wishing I could flash over with my Vampire speed, but sadly that would be a big, fat error in judgment. We are a secretive society with dire consequences at being found out. Ask my sire, he does love a good Reckoning.
“All right, keep your pants on,” I grumble, mentally picturing him without his pants on.
Oh, the old gods! What is it with me? I can't get enough of him lately. That usually means it is time to make room for one more. I wouldn’t want him getting the wrong idea, after-all. My thoughts immediately return to Cole, hoping that won't be a problem after Friday. I saunter into the elevator, rolling my eyes at Devon's impatient, tapping foot.
“Some of us have work to do, you know,” he says pointedly.
Turning to him, I move closer, looking up at him from my much shorter stature, even in my heels. “If I recall, it wasn't me who wanted to stay in bed this morning,” I say quietly, shifting my gaze from his eyes to his mouth and back again. It has the desired effect and lights a fire in his eyes. He parts his lips with a soft hiss.
“Ding!” goes the elevator as it stops at the lobby to let my worker bees in. I subtly step back with a hint of a smile knowing he is frustrated and somewhat pissed off about my tease. But I love a good tease. The thrill of it makes my blood race that bit quicker.
When we reach Devon's offices, he stalks off in a huff. Unable to keep the smile off my face, I wave at him as he looks back and the doors close to take me up one to my top floor office.
Devon and I try to maintain a professional relationship here. All of the staff are aware that we are close friends, but the rumor mill is always hard at work regarding our physical relationship. Along with super healing, super strength and super speed comes super hearing. We pay it no mind though, and no one dares ask us outright if we are screwing.
As I've mentioned, Devon is six feet of gorgeousness. The ladies throw themselves at him and he enjoys it. He has a reputation and he does nothing to quell the gossip. I try to be subtler and stay out of the limelight where possible, but it's difficult.
How we will get around Devon's notoriety when it is time to move on to a new life, seeing as we never age, is an issue that plays on my mind, but he is a live-in-the-now type. Always has been. This company – my company – Saxon Enterprises, has been around for hundreds of years in some form or another, moving with the times and adjusting our service. It has only become the empire it is now in the last hundred years or so. We've moved HQ from city to city, which has deflected most of the attention away from its owner, being thousand-year-old me. The current story is that eight years ago, I inherited it from my late aunt (also me), when I was eighteen. The facts are buried so far under a mountain of paperwork, it would take someone decades to find the truth. If someone were so inclined to, that is. So, we've been in L.A. for eight years, making me ‘twenty-six.’ I like to think I look about twenty. I was turned when I was sixteen, but times were harder back then. Devon was twenty when I turned him. He likes to think he passes for twenty-eight. He does, just barely.
Fingering the ‘C’ on my charm bracelet, I think of Constantine. He tells me he was also twenty when he was made; ‘turned’ is not the right word for him. Them. The making of the Initial Vampires is shrouded in secrecy. I think it’s so that no one else will try and make another one. It’s as good a guess as any. There is no written record of how or why they were created, and they don’t share, so it remains a mystery. Not one that overly bothers me though. They have the weight of the Vampire population on their shoulders and that just sounds like far too much hard work. Part of the reason he stays out of the public eye is so he can move on easily the next time. Although, The Council in ge
neral are an elusive bunch, preferring to keep themselves to themselves. In fact, with the exception of their own charges, of course, it is rare for the rest of the Vampires to even see one, let alone meet and hang out with one.
Devon and CK have met, of course, but there is no love lost there, which upsets me. I would love nothing better than for them to get on and complete my little family unit. Having them both separate is hard fucking work. Oh, how I dream of a time when we will all live together and share a bed together... Slowly circling the pattern of the ‘C,’ I sigh. He gave the bracelet with the charm to me a few years ago, “to always keep him close,” he said. I have no doubt it is also his way of staking his claim on me, but I don’t have a problem with that. Devon was less overt and gave me an ‘S’ charm to add to it. The ‘S’ standing for Saxon, this company, we built together from the ground up. I have added a few more as the years have gone by. My favorites are the purple flowers, representing the Flower of Scotland, always close to my heart. Brushing that painful thought aside, I idly tap my pen. I try to bring my attention back to my work, but I am in full reminisce mode.
A knock at the door drags me back into the present. It's Scott, my executive assistant. He is human, but fully aware of our true nature.
“Morning, Liv,” he says, handing me a cup of green tea with one hand and a stack of files with the other.
“Morning, Scott, thank you. Anything I need to know?”
He shakes his head. “All covered."
“Excellent.” I nod appreciatively. I have given Scott a lot of autonomy and it makes my job a lot easier. He is intelligent, organized, a whiz with numbers, a speed reader, has a photographic memory like me, is street smart, knows everyone and everyone knows him, and he is highly, deductively intuitive. It's almost like it's a paranormal thing.