Rose: A Standalone Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance (Jewels Cafe Book 12)

by Jewels Arthur

  “I’m going to miss that,” Sebastian comments quietly.

  “What?” I reply, looking up at him.

  “You blushing all the damn time. It’s cute.” He chuckles as he pushes my hair out of my eyes. “Though, I won’t miss how fragile you were.” His eyes heat as he says the last part and I can’t help but squirm in my seat.

  “So what now? I’m a vampire? What does that mean?” I question, changing the subject before I start rubbing against him.

  “Well, it means you can’t spend as much time in the daylight. We can tolerate it as long as we’re covered, so no more of those sexy dresses you wear,” Finn responds with a wicked smile. “At least not outside anymore.”

  I nod. “Okay, that’s not too bad. Working at a bar, I’m not out during the day much anymore anyway.”

  “You also need blood,” Dean adds, still sounding concerned. “You will have to find humans to drink from, or in today’s case a willing shifter. That’s why we normally bring women up here at night, to feed on them. It’s a very convenient cover, the women leave thinking they just had a night of fun with us and we have nourished our thirsts.”

  “So you don’t have sex with them?” I challenge accusingly, causing all of them to look sheepish.

  “Well, we do,” he hedges, avoiding my gaze.

  “Hmm. So I’ll have to bring men home to feed on how often?”

  “You aren’t bringing men home,” Finn growls.

  “Excuse me? How’s that fair? How will I feed?” I ask angrily.

  “We’ll figure something out,” Finn replies stubbornly, sitting down on the other side of me.

  “Is everyone here supernatural? The patrons? Reg?” I begin questioning everything I have known to be true. The guys are vampires. Randal is a shifter. Is this whole fucking town filled with supernaturals?

  “Some of the patrons are supernatural, but a lot of them are human. Reggie is a vampire as well. There are some others in town that are also not human, which I’m sure you will start noticing now that you’re a vampire,” Dean explains.

  “Who else in town?” I press, a little louder than intended, unable to hide my excitement.

  “Oh, well, there’s Amber and her three mates. Ruby, the woman working at the shoe store in town. Darcy at the vet’s office. That woman, Sapphire, is a vampire too and her mates Ford and Wim, are shifters. She has a human mate too though, Bob, I think. The Dregers…” Dean trails off as he continues to think.

  “Amber has three mates? Julian and those two roommates?” I yell in shock. Holy shit, go Amber. “What is Amber?”

  “She’s a chameleon. Her mates are a witch, bear shifter, and…” Sebastian pauses in thought. “A bunny shifter, I think.”

  “Wow. This town is fucking weird.” I chuckle. “So, Amber’s three mates, is that typical?” I bite my lip as I await their answer.

  Finn scoots closer to me, pushing my hair over my shoulder so he can get closer to my ear. His breath on my neck causes me to shiver. “It wouldn’t matter if it wasn’t typical, you are ours,” he growls.

  Holy hot damn.

  “Yes, Rose, it is pretty typical in the supernatural community to take more than one mate. The women tend to be more, well, insatiable than human women. It takes multiple mates to satisfy her,” Dean rationalizes.

  “Interesting.” I smile at the thought. More than one man? To worship and satisfy me? This is fucking awesome!

  Finn is suddenly back at my ear. “Lucky for you, your harem comes prepackaged,” he purrs. I snuggle into him, causing Sebastian to whimper a bit at my absence. I beam.

  “Lucky me, huh?” I try to make my voice as sultry as possible.

  “You do get to make your own decision. We won’t force ourselves on you,” Dean assures me.

  “I may force a bit,” Finn growls again.

  “I guess you’ll just have to woo me then, since I have all these options open to me now.” He freezes slightly at my words and I giggle. “Well, I’m going to take a shower while I think over my choices. I need to wash Jason and that house off me.” I wince at the thought.

  “That’s fine, take your time. But please, take your shower here. You don’t have the strength to walk back to your apartment and I would prefer if you stayed here for the time being,” Dean requests, placing his hand on my shoulder.

  “Stay here?” I ask, surprised. We aren’t even dating and they are already asking me to move in? Talk about fast.

  “Yes, we’ll give you your space. No pressure. I’d just like if we could keep an eye on you while you adjust to your new life,” Dean reasons, and Finn and Sebastian nod eagerly beside him. “No pressure.”

  “Okay… I guess it’ll be convenient to live above my work. Thank you, guys,” I reply as I walk toward the bathroom. I hear the men begin talking quietly as I shut the door, but I decide to pay them no mind. I think this shower is going to be a bath instead, because a moment to myself sounds delightful.

  Finn

  “What’s all this no pressure shit, Dean? She’s ours,” I snap angrily at my brother. I know I’m being a prick. I’m fully aware. But the thought of Rose being with anyone else besides myself and my brothers makes me want to destroy shit.

  “We can’t force her to be with us, Finn. She gets to make her own choice,” Dean reminds me, looking pained at his own words.

  “But she will choose us. Right? I mean, we know she liked us before, and she seems to still like us,” Sebastian muses hesitantly.

  “I hope so,” Dean answers, patting our brother on the shoulder.

  “Of course, she will. How many times do I need to say it? She is ours,” I rumble.

  I listen to the bathroom as I hear water filling the bathtub. Guess she isn’t taking a shower, and I was really hoping it’d be a quick one. Now that I have her back, I don’t want to spend a moment away from her. Those days without her were some of the hardest I’ve ever experienced. Just thinking about her with that fucking freak pisses me off. I’m still mad at myself that it took me so long to find her. That we allowed her to walk home alone and get taken by that monster. Although, him changing her does seem like a good thing, I think she wouldn’t have remained human for much longer. Dean had finally broken down and had his moment with her. When I caught them in the storage room, I think that if they were left alone a few minutes more, I would have walked in on them having sex and not just making out. My cock hardens slightly at the memory of her flushed and panting with her legs wrapped around Dean. I want her in that exact position with me since, I’m the only one that hasn’t broken Dean’s precious rules.

  “She seems to be okay with all this. I’m surprised she isn’t freaking out more,” Sebastian comments.

  I shrug. “It’s not that surprising. I mean, look at the books she read before this, and the movies or TV shows she watched. Her obsession with True Blood always made me believe she would be accepting of this. I feel like it’s a dream come true.”

  “We may run into a point where it all finally clicks and she begins freaking out. It’s a huge change, even for someone who loved the idea of vampires to begin with,” Dean admonishes.

  I hear the water turn off and think about the fact that our woman is now in our bathroom, naked and in the tub. Fuck, this is hard, and I’m not just thinking about my cock. I normally have this kind of asshole façade except when it comes to Rose. I want to go in there, not just because I want to fuck her until she screams, but because I want to be in her presence. Fuck, I’d go in there to wash her hair just to be near her.

  “I’m gonna go,” I announce suddenly, causing both of my brothers to look at me strangely.

  “Where on earth are you going?” they both ask at once.

  “I just gotta pick up some things. I’ll be back before Rose gets out of the bath.”

  They continue to stare at me strangely but nod. I slip my shoes back on and walk toward the stairs to leave.

  I step out into the cold and immediately realize I didn’t grab my jacket. I
don’t need it, but it’s still good to have to avoid the question as to why Finn Whitaker is walking around outside in freezing temperatures in a short-sleeved tee. Oh well. I walk in the direction of Rose’s apartment on a mission. Get Pumpkin. I know that having her cat in the loft will make this transition much easier for her. I’m not a huge fan of the cat, and I’ve only met it a couple times—once in Rose’s apartment when I took something to her that she’d left at the bar, and once when she was walking the cat through town. Yes, walking a fucking cat. This fat orange cat was being led around town on a pink, sparkly leash. I even felt sorry for the poor bastard, that is until he hissed and swatted at me. I just don’t like animals and they don’t like me. I’d say it’s a vampire thing, but neither Dean nor Sebastian experience it. Fuck, when we found that stray puppy in the alley behind the bar, Dean and Sebastian were all for keeping it, until I nipped that on the bud. I was grumpily pushing it away from the door when a few guys stopped, one just happened to be looking for a puppy for his girlfriend, so I gladly gave it to him.

  Bullet dodged.

  Overall, it’s very surprising that I’m the one heading to Rose’s to get her cat, but I would honestly fill our house with cats if it made her happy. I just fucking hope she never asks that of me.

  As I walk past the café Rose loves, I see some of the pieces of her phone on the ground and it reminds me of how we failed her. Okay, well now I’m making three stops. Cell phone store, café, and then Rose’s apartment for devil cat, er, Pumpkin.

  I quickly rush through the tasks, grabbing an upgraded version of Rose’s old phone, rushing into Jewels Café to grab Rose a coffee, and then into the dungeon to grab Pumpkin. I walk into her apartment after grabbing her spare key above her doorframe and I immediately relax as her smell fills the entire area. It’s slightly messy, but in a way that shows it’s lived in. I search around for the cat, but only find its food bowl and litter box. Things I’ll also need. I should have brought the fucking car. I dump the litter box and throw it in a trash bag and put it by the door. The smell of her White Chocolate Mocha fills the room and makes my mouth water slightly.

  “Pumpkin. Puuuuumpkin. Come here, you bloody devil cat,” I yell throughout the apartment, hoping the damn thing will just show himself so I can get back. I assume Rose will take a long bath, but I don’t know how long. I’d like to be there when she gets out. “Come on, you fucking thing, let’s go see mommy!” I shout again, and the little monster appears when I say the word ‘mommy.’ Spoiled little thing. I grab him and shove him into the carrier in the closet, ignoring his loud howls as he tries to claw his way out of the tiny prison.

  “Oh relax, will you? I’m not carrying you the whole way there and letting you claw me up. No, you’re just fine in there,” I growl at the orange creature. I continue to snatch up some of its things, along with some of Rose’s clothes and other essentials. I find one of her large suitcases and start throwing stuff in there, until it’s too stuffed to fit anything else.

  I juggle the cat, suitcase, coffee, and bag with the damn poop box down the stairs and walk back toward Vee. We were closed yesterday and will continue to be closed tonight while we allow Rose to settle into our home. One of us could probably go down and run it on our own, but I know none of us will want to separate from her.

  When I get to the top of the stairs leading to our loft at Vee, I see that she’s already out of the bath and sitting on the couch in a robe. My robe. Her legs are crossed, allowing the robe to split in the middle and give me quite the view of her gorgeous legs. I drop the cat carrier at the sight, earning another loud yowl from Pumpkin. The noise draws Rose’s attention and she runs over to me and her cat. She gets on the floor and pops open the carrier door, letting Pumpkin leap out and into her arms. The cat purrs so loudly, I’m sure people outside can hear.

  “Ohhhhh, my baby boy. I missed you so much!” she coos, littering his head with kisses. She looks up at me with a huge smile on her face. “Thank you so much for getting him for me, Finn.” Her face glows with happiness, and I can’t help the dopey grin that crosses my lips.

  “No problem, babe. I also got you coffee and a new phone to replace the one that broke.” I hand her the two mentioned items and then carry her suitcase toward my room. “I’ll go ahead and put this in here, you can go through what I brought later.”

  Dean and Sebastian quirk their brows at me suspiciously. “You know, of all the places I thought you might go, to get Pumpkin was definitely very low on the list,” Dean says to me with a smile.

  “And who says she’s sleeping in your room, Finn?” Sebastian challenges in a very out of character tone.

  “Well, since I went and got all the stuff, it only seems fair.” I grin widely, my eyes coming back to the woman in question. She smiles at me, still squeezing the damned cat.

  “I think that would be alright,” she replies quietly. “As long as you’re okay with Pumpkin sleeping with us.”

  Like I would say no, even if I do dislike the little monster. “Of course, that’s okay.”

  “I think Finn would let one hundred cats sleep with you two, if it meant you slept in his bed,” Sebastian mumbles under his breath.

  “Ohhhh, I like the sound of that,” Rose exclaims, standing up and allowing Pumpkin to leap out of her arms and start exploring the room.

  Sebastian laughs and then walks up to her, wrapping his arms around her. “I need to remember that you have much better hearing now.” He presses his lips to hers, and she sinks into him as he kisses her. When he pulls away, she has a dazed look on her face.

  “How are you feeling, Rose?” I inquire, hoping to draw her attention back to me. I get my wish as she slowly turns her eyes to me, still wearing the dopey smile.

  “I feel good, your bathtub is amazing. I’m even happier now that Pumpkin is here, thank you again for that, Finn. I never would have expected you to go get him. I thought you didn’t like cats.”

  “Oh, cats are fine,” I reply, walking over to her and pulling her into my arms. “I would sleep with one hundred cats for you,” I whisper into her hair, and feel her shiver slightly in my arms. I love the effect I have on her. “So, have you decided whether or not you’re truly ours, my dear?”

  Dean growls at me. “Finn, what happened to giving her some time?”

  “What can I say, I want what I want,” I counter unashamedly.

  “I’m yours,” Rose replies, burying her face into my chest, avoiding my gaze. “I wanted you all so much before I became a vampire and that hasn’t changed. I’m just glad it was my species that stopped you all from taking me and not me.”

  I grab her chin and pull her face up to mine, capturing her eyes with my own. “There is not a single thing about you that I don’t want. Even with you being human, I still wanted you. You are beautiful and amazing, Rosalie. I don’t want to ever hear you question that.”

  I smash my lips against hers and take my very first kiss from her. Fire burns on my lips and throughout my whole body as I move my mouth against hers. Her tongue darts out and plunges into my mouth, surprising me for a very short time before I take advantage of her open mouth. She moans into the kiss and that only fires me up more. I pull her body into mine forcefully, unafraid of hurting her now that she is no longer human. My hands slide down to her ass and lift her up onto my body so she can wrap her legs around me. She grinds her sweet pussy into my hard cock, causing me to groan loudly. Her hands slip into my hair and pull slightly, driving me wild with lust.

  When we break our kiss, it’s only to find Sebastian and Dean staring at us. Their eyes are black with lust and their fangs have dropped slightly. My tongue drags along my own teeth to find that my fangs have also extended. I want nothing more than to sink my fangs into her as my brothers and I take her.

  Rose

  I’m a vampire. I’m a motherfucking vampire! This is all still so strange to me, but I can get over all that. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Because with me becoming a vampire, I get what I’ve wanted fo
r so long.

  These men stare at me like I’m the most delicious snack they have ever seen. That means so much more now that I’ve tasted blood, because that’s truly the most delicious thing, but their eyes burn for me. I look at their extended fangs and drag my tongue along my own to see if mine, too, have extended. They are sharp, but not as long as theirs. I want to bite them, and I want them to bite me. The thought both surprises me and turns me the fuck on. My legs are still wrapped around Finn, and the kiss we just shared… holy shit, it was good.

  I want more.

  I bite my lip as I stare at them and my fang punctures my flesh, and I feel blood welling at the wound. I release my lip only to feel Finn’s tongue take its place as he licks the blood from my mouth.

  “You are delicious. My only regret is that I wasn’t able to taste you as a human,” Finn growls into my ear, before dragging his teeth gently along my neck. I feel my pussy become even wetter as I grind it against his cock to lessen the pressure. I want him so badly. All three of them.

  “You’re killing me, Finn,” Dean rasps, emitting a groan from the other side of the room. He and Sebastian are locked in their spots, not moving an inch. If it weren’t for their black eyes and their cocks bulging in their pants, I wouldn’t think they were interested at all.

  “Then why are you fuckers still over there?” Finn growls, before squeezing my ass tightly with both of his hands and carrying me toward his room. “Oh well, more for me.” He chuckles darkly.

  A pained whimper comes from Sebastian. “We are trying to…well, we are trying to be gentlemen.” Sebastian utters the words as if getting them out truly pains him.

  “I’m not looking for gentlemen,” I purr, looking over Finn’s shoulder. “Feel free to join us, boys.” I lick my lips slowly as I stare at them, and Finn begins walking toward the bedroom again. Shyness is a thing of the past. I summoned more bravery than I ever have with them, when I came out of the bath in only Finn’s robe. Now, all I can think about is how much I want them.