by Eve Newton
He’s looking out of the window as I walk in, startling him when I close the door.
Grinning at me, he gestures to the window. “Nice view,” he says.
“Yes, it is,” I say seductively, staring at his handsome face. He is surprised by my tone, but the penny drops, and he smirks at the compliment.
“To what do I owe the surprise visit?” I ask.
“I was in the neighborhood,” he shrugs. “Was curious to see Liv HQ.” He chuckles. “Your assistant is quite the guard dog. Good thing he saw our photo on social media or I’d have been kicked to the curb.”
“And what do you think?” I prompt, with a small laugh.
“It’s quite impressive, but then everything about you is impressive.”
I walk over to him and then tilt my head up for a kiss. He obliges me, softly at first, but then it gets more heated. Teasing me, he again runs his tongue over my top teeth. I pull back and stare pensively into his guarded blue eyes. I open my mouth to ask the inevitable question when Devon barges in, interrupting us. We jump apart, relief etched on Cole’s face.
“Okay, then,” Devon says sarcastically. “I’ll just come back.”
“No!” I say a bit too loudly.
He raises an eyebrow at me. “Okay, well, we really need to discuss the Harper project,” he says.
“Yes, sure, no problem,” I ramble. “Cole, will you wait?”
“Actually, I have a meeting to get to. I just wanted to stop by to see you,” he says.
I nod. “Okay. I’ll see you later then, at home?”
“Yes, my love,” he whispers as he bends down to kiss me goodbye.
“Devon,” he nods as he strides past.
Devon nods back and I roll my eyes.
“What was all that about?” he inquires.
“I really don’t know,” I say truthfully. Suddenly, I’m exhausted with all of this, so I flop ungracefully into my chair.
T he atmosphere is tense later that night. I just can’t take it anymore and say so. Cole grimaces at my tone but agrees to step into my office to talk.
“Cole, I’m just going to come out with this. You keep teasing me and it’s driving me crazy. Do you want me to bite you?”
There, I’ve said it: Ball. Court. Him.
He doesn’t look surprised by the question, more thoughtful, really. “Do you want to bite me?” he asks after what seems like hours.
“Yes,” I reply bluntly
“Then, I want you to,” he answers slowly.
Relief floods over me and I let out my breath.
I grin at him. “Okay, then.”
He grins back. “Okay, then,” he says. He looks around the office before asking, “Now?”
I giggle. “No, not here. Later, in bed,” I decide.
His eyes cloud over with lust and anticipation. “Going to make me wait?”
“It’ll be better then,” I say softly, hearing his breath catch in his throat.
Dinner is interminable. I’m getting more and more turned on at the thought of my fangs sinking into him.
Finally, I can’t wait any longer and bid Devon goodnight with a quick hug and kiss that makes him sigh softly. Dragging Cole upstairs, I once again curse the number of the damn stairs. Pushing open the sitting room door, we both rush to the bedroom, shedding clothes as we go, leaving them in forgotten heaps.
Cole is now eyeing me warily. I think he’s expecting me to bare my fangs and pounce. I smile to show him my regular teeth and he relaxes a bit. He takes me in his arms and kisses me hard. I respond, already aroused by the wait. His hands move over my naked breasts and he tweaks my nipples. I emit a groan of appreciation. He kisses me even harder. I push him to the bed, my Vampire self, aching to dominate. He falls back and I’m on him in a flash. He groans and pulls my mouth back to his. He runs his tongue over my teeth, and I hiss at the slight ache.
I pull back and whisper, “Let me know when you are ready.”
He nods but doesn’t say anything. I kiss him again and position myself over him. Hands on my hips, he pulls me down roughly onto him and I gasp. He is rock hard, clearly as turned on by the wait as I am. I quickly find a rhythm. With my hands on his chest, he laces his over mine and whispers, “Do it.”
I nearly come on the spot but push it down. Gripping his shoulders, I pull him up so he’s sitting upright. His hands return to my hips, pushing himself further into me. I glance quickly into his eyes, now a blue so dark they look black. “Do it,” he whispers again.
Apparently needing to be told twice, I nod and drop my fangs. He gasps in wonder as he sees them for the first time. I lower my mouth to his neck and tilt his head to the side. I nuzzle him, breathing in his delicious scent, feeling his pulse beating against my lips. A quick, sharp bite down has him hissing. He tenses at the pain, but then he soon relaxes as the pleasure takes over. I suckle gently, coaxing his blood into my mouth. I growl deep in my throat at the taste of his blood pouring into my mouth, making me stronger. Oh, it’s been too long since I fed on human blood. I can feel the difference in me already. He moans and encouraged, I bite a bit harder, gripping his shoulders, never stopping the frantic rhythm of my hips. Reluctantly, I release the bite and lick over the puncture marks, which heal over slowly. Looking back into his eyes, my orgasm bursts out, shoving me over the cliff of ecstasy.
Retracting my fangs, I kiss him. He finishes, pumping his cum inside me, gripping my hips to him. I release his shoulders and he slumps back to the bed.
“Holy fuck!” he says in amazement, looking at me with wonder. “That was incredible.”
Basking in the afterglow of fresh human blood, amazing sex and the compliment, I grin smugly. “I told you it would be.”
“Yeah, you did. Fuck me. I’ve been imagining this for days now. It never went like that,” he admits shyly. “Can we do it again?” he asks suddenly.
My awakened need for human blood cries out to me, but I crawl off him holding up a hand. “Slow down, cowboy. I’ve taken enough for one night.”
Looking disappointed, he asks, “Tomorrow then?”
I nod slowly and he smiles again. “I love you, Liv. That was the most intimate, erotic moment of my life.”
I smile softly. “It was good for me too. I’m glad you liked it. I was afraid…” I shrug.
“Why did you wait so long to ask me?” he asks curiously.
“Why didn’t you ask me? That’s how it usually goes,” I ask back.
He ponders that for a moment. “I guess I assumed you’d just do it.” His turn to shrug.
I frown at that revelation. I shake my head. “I would never do that. I would never take your blood without your permission,” I say seriously.
“Oh,” he says after a pause. “Does that violate some kind of Vampire code?” he chuckles.
I shake my head again. “No. It violates you. Makes you a victim,” I say.
He sobers instantly, making me wish I hadn’t been so harsh.
“Hm, I guess I never thought about it that way,” he says, chewing his lip.
I touch his face gently to reassure him and he smiles that half smile that I love.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
I eventually fall into a fitful sleep. It’s unusual for me to be sleeping at this time and with somebody else no less.
I dream that Cole is in danger. No, it’s not Cole. I can see him clearly in the field. I’m running towards him as fast as I can. “Fraser!” I shout, desperate to get to him. He hears me and turns towards me, but no, it’s not Fraser, it’s Devon. I run and run to get to him, but it’s like running underwater. I’m feet away from him when he turns again and it’s Cole. He shouts my name. “Cole!” I shout back, the fear rising as I see the flash of steel from the blade that Gregor is holding, and I scream…
“Liv! Liv wake up. It’s just a dream. It’s just a dream.” Cole is hovering over me as I blink, awake now, trying to gather my thoughts.
“Are you okay?” Cole asks, concern etched on his face.
“Liv, you were screaming in your sleep and thrashing about. Do you remember what you were dreaming about?” he asks.
Yes. Yes, I remember perfectly, but I can’t tell him that I dreamed of his death by Council member before I could turn him on Holy ground. I shake my head. He takes me in his arms. “It’s okay now. You’re safe here with me. I love you.”
I’m shaking. It’s my worst fear, to have something bad happen to him because of me. I’ve been down this road before with Fraser and it’s not something that I want to relive. I start to seriously consider CK’s warning.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I nod. “I’m fine now,” I lie. “Just hold me.”
And he does.
T he next night, Cole and I are cuddled together on the sofa, while Devon chats away on his phone.
“So, the ‘C’ is for Constantine, right?” Cole asks, spinning the charm on my bracelet.
I nod briefly.
“And there I thought it was for me.” He laughs and I smile distractedly at him. “Will I get to meet him?” he asks casually.
“Erm, maybe sooner than you think,” I say.
Devon pauses mid-sentence, intrigued, no doubt remembering his own first introduction to my formidable sire that is CK.
My sire is very possessive and territorial, which is pretty ironic really. Needless to say, Devon and CK barely tolerate each other and only that much because of me. What happened in my office a few weeks ago was an anomaly that surprised and delighted me.
“Oh? When?” Cole asks, oblivious to the sudden atmosphere.
Devon ends his call abruptly. “Yes, Liv, when is Constantine going to grace us with his almighty presence?”
I glare at him while Cole raises an eyebrow. “Almighty presence? That doesn’t sound intimidating at all,” he jokes.
“He’s not coming to L.A.,” I say through gritted teeth at Devon. “Cole, I was going to ask you later, but seeing as it has come up now…I have annual seats at the Monaco Grand Prix in a couple of weeks. I would like you to join us. Me and Devon that is, and Constantine, apparently,” I add with a sigh.
“Wow, really? I would love to. Thank you.” He smiles warmly at me.
My heart flutters at the acceptance of the invitation and the sincerity of his thanks.
“I’m heavily invested in the sport,” I tell him. “It’s a passion of mine.”
“I love F1,” he says. “It’ll be fun.”
Devon pipes up then, “Constantine is leaving Italy to go to Monte Carlo? Seems odd.”
I glance at Cole and he catches on, quick as ever, my boy.
“Ah, I see,” he says quietly. “Well, Cole, seems you’ve made it onto the radar. Congrats.” A sneer if I ever did see one crosses his handsome face.
Looking slightly puzzled, Cole looks at me. “Radar?”
I sigh heavily again. “Radar,” I confirm and leave it at that.
“I’m not sure I want to meet this guy,” he says wryly after a beat.
I’m with you on that one. “It’ll be fine,” I reassure him. “He’s a lot of bark.”
“What and no bite?” he snickers.
“No, he’s a lot of bite too,” I giggle, and he blanches. “But don’t let him intimidate you. If he senses fear, he will pounce. Figuratively,” I add hastily.
“How did it go when Devon first met him?” he asks with a quick look at my charge.
We both sigh and I snuggle into Cole as he pulls me closer. “Not well, but he wasn’t prepared. Neither of us were.”
Tracing small circles on his chest, I recall the circumstances of my sire and my charge’s first encounter.
Versailles, France, 1691 - Élisabeth
I t was the reign of Louis XIV and a great time to be in France. Devon and I had travelled from England in 1640 during the reign of Louis XIII. I was quickly spotted about Paris and was asked to attend court at Versailles as what the Italians called a ‘cortigiana onesta,’ meaning an honest courtesan, one who was cast as an intellectual, well-educated and worldly. Such a request was quite the honor and I accepted the role readily, bringing Devon with me to the palace.
As it turned out, the French Aristocracy were quite aware of Vampires, so we were quickly accepted and almost revered. I was very popular, as the oldest Vampire they had come across and was kept busy most days teaching the younger nobles reading, writing, and arithmetic. Most nights, I was kept busy with the noblemen who liked a bit of bite with their sex along with the added bonus of no bastards being conceived in the process. It was accepted that we didn’t age and was probably France’s best kept secret that we served at Versailles for over fifty years.
Devon was kept busy himself with his good looks and charm. He was very popular with the noble ladies who liked a bit of bite with their sex along with the added bonus of no bastards being conceived in the process as well. It was due to this hectic schedule that we didn’t see it coming. I had told Devon all about Constantine over the years. After he left me in Italy, I had hoped to not see him again for several centuries and had done a good job of avoiding him thus far, always moving on when word came that he was close by. However, it was inevitable he would catch up with me.
He did in 1691.
King Louis was holding a lavish party for visiting Italian nobles. That should have been my first clue. These types of affairs kept me busy, as the planning was immense, not to mention the actual running of the show. Several days of wine, food, music, poetry, dancing and orgies – drunken nobles fucking everything in sight was quite the spectacle, it had to be said.
It was the first night and the masquerade ball. A night of anonymity where everyone, men and women, threw caution to the wind. I had long since lost track of Devon to a bevy of beautiful Italian noble women and in a moment to myself, I went to get a glass of wine. As a courtesan, I was masked, but only with half a mask so I could still be recognized and called upon. Gulping down the wine, I felt a tingle on the back of my neck. Recognizing it at once, I spun around, eyes frantically searching the crowd. He must have felt it too, even though I was in the guise of Élisabeth, having adopted the French version of Elizabeth, he would still know me. I felt his eyes on me from across the room and I easily picked him out of the mass of people. Turning on my heel, I headed into one of the back rooms where plenty of couples were blatantly fucking and drinking. Dressed in a loose-fitting gown for the occasion, I made my way over to an Italian dignitary who’d caught my eye and beckoned me over. I was hoping my sire would leave me be, but I should have known better than that. He intercepted me before I had even taken two steps. I jolted to a halt and faced him, unmasked, and my breath caught in my throat. Damn him, but I missed him. I missed his touch, his smile, his eyes that were now boring into mine like two hard flints.
“Aefre,” my heart thudded as he used my first name, “you have been most difficult to find, my sweet.” He smirked.
Pulling myself together, I said shortly, “I didn’t want to be found.”
He chuckled.
Cursing myself as I did, I asked, “Why were you looking?” He cocked his eyebrow at me, but I continued. “If I recall, you left me a hundred and eighty-five years ago, for no apparent reason,” I added, the hurt was still so close to the surface now I was facing him.
“For no apparent reason?” he repeated incredulously, his face like granite. “I recall a very good reason in the guise of Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarotti Simoni.”
I stared at him, bewildered. Yes, I had been with Michelangelo, but Constantine knew that at the time. “That’s why you left me? Because I was with Michelangelo?” I asked, my tears close to falling. I didn’t want to cry in front of him. My anger took over and pushing the hurt aside, I glared at him. He remained impassive, saying nothing, just looking at me with those hard, almost black eyes, quizzically. Gathering my resolve, I hissed and turned to leave.
&nbs
p; “Not so fast, my sweet,” he said, gripping my arm in his vice like hold. “Word around the palace is that ‘Élisabeth’ is the best courtesan Versailles has ever seen,” he whispered harshly. “So, court me.”
I shivered at his tone. It was a mix of fear and pleasure at his touch after so long.
I tried to pull away, but he gripped me harder, hurting me. “You wouldn’t want your benefactor knowing you refused one of his important guests, would you now, Élisabeth?” He said my name in an icy voice. He tightened his grip even more at my silence, at my glare, at my defiance of him. His handsome face became cruel and I felt a frisson of fear slice through me. “I could take you by force, if I choose to,” he whispered menacingly, snaking his other hand down over my hip to bunch up my dress in a tight fist. I caught my breath, unable to move. I sensed Devon before I heard him speak and I turned to stop him, just a fraction too late.
“I believe the lady doesn’t want you,” he said, just as I said, “Devon, don’t.”
Ever so slowly, Constantine turned his head in Devon’s direction, to meet the furious blue eyes of my charge, ever my protector.
I sighed inwardly and said, “Devon, all is well. I am well. Leave us.”
Cocky as ever, Devon never took his eyes from my – now livid – sire’s black ones. “Not a chance, my love. Remove your hand, or I will remove it for you,” he threatened Constantine. Constantine’s gaze shifted back to my panicked blue stare with a murderous look in his eyes. He inhaled deeply as he closed his eyes briefly, and said so softly, “Tell your boy to leave before I rip his head off.”
I gulped. He knew. Of course, he knew. “Devon, leave us,” I said again.
“No.” Stubborn to a fault, that boy.
Letting go of me, Constantine turned his full attention to Devon, who to my absolute pride as his sire, didn’t flinch under that terrifyingly icy stare. Constantine’s whole body was coiled, prepared to pounce. I put my hand on his arm, “My love, please. He’s just protecting me,” I pleaded.