The Executive's Red, #1

by Leeanna White

  He sniggers faintly, peering sideways. “You really are something else. You still want to stick around? You do know what I did to you in that room?”

  I have come to the conclusion that room was designed for a specific purpose. He wanted to taste me and was afraid to tell me the truth. It was a depraved thing to do without me being fully aware. But he didn’t hurt me or leave a mark. He got sick and beat himself up over it. What happened in that room, brought us to this moment. He’s sharing his dark secret with me, because he trusts me.

  “It was no better than rape, Elizabeth,” he utters in disgrace.

  “No, you’re wrong. I think even if I knew what you were back then, I would have still allowed you to do it.”

  “Why, are you crazy?”

  A heat rushes through me. I’m trying to be brave enough to say what’s going through my mind. “I can’t explain the ways in which... in which I need you. It’s weird, but I’m connected to you somehow.” My heart dithers in trepidation. “You only wanted to test me out on your palate. So did I suffice?” For some bizarre reason, I have to know this.

  His brow wrinkles as he glares at me. “I won’t answer that.”

  “You have to.”

  He sniggers then hums out deeply. “You have no idea how you enthused my taste buds, or what my body experienced.” He draws in his rouge bottom lip, reminiscing. “But it was meaningless, because the hatred I have with myself for doing it, will haunt me always.”

  “Adrien, it’s okay.”

  “It’s not okay.” He stares at me, and I have to catch a breath. “I will never truly be able to give you what you deserve. Don’t you understand? I cannot give you a family. I cannot offer you normality. Outside appearances are deceptive, and I have been deceiving you. I exist on the edge of a darkness, Elizabeth. I’m supposed to be in charge here, but for you I’m willing to throw it all away.” He arches over. “I thought that telling you everything would make you leave. In a way, I was hoping you would.”

  “You know I can’t.”

  I stand up and step before his stooped back. He has activated the raging desire in me, and I’ve lost myself to him again. His tempestuous eyes move up my body and set-off my need to seduce.

  “I never asked you to give me anything but yourself,” I say delicately as his hands slide around my waist to pull me to him.

  I climb and straddle his lap, resting my head on his. He routes his fingers up the contours of my thighs, resting them firmly on my backside. He rubs his nose against mine and bites down on his bottom lip in agitation. My belly flips over as I draw in air, my hands caressing his fine chiselled body. I lean and toy with his cool mouth lightly.

  How can this not be right? This is so right and good, it’s damn holy.

  He tugs my dress over my shoulders as he kisses the flank of my pounding neck. But he stops suddenly, and slants back. Oh shit. I forgot I’d stuffed the contract down my bra.

  His forehead lines as he lifts it out. I press my hands over my face in humiliation. This has definitely taken the heat out of the moment.

  “Elizabeth,” he says as I force one eye open to see his compelling smile. “Fuck the contract. It’s meaningless.” He tosses the paper across the room. “It’s meaningless, because I’m in love with you.” He pulls my hands away from my face as I gulp down the swell of emotion. “So?” He waits for me to return the feeling.

  “I... I love you.” I feel the weight lifted off my heart.

  He kisses me zealously. I feel so weak and damn emotional as he holds my body then flips me over on the bed.

  “Let me show you just.” He kisses my neck. “How.” He moves up to my cheek. “Much.” His deep voice at my ear makes me purr with need.

  Chapter 24

  Elizabeth

  “Mr Knight... Mr Knight!”

  Adrien growls as his fingertips delicately comb through my hair. We’ve been locked up in this room all night in our own wonderful world, and now Sara is pounding on the door, ruining it.

  I slide my head against his bare chest to see his face. His elbow rests over the crown of his messy hair, and he’s clearly pissed-off that we’re being interrupted.

  “Mr Knight.” She bangs again.

  He peers down and kisses my head. “Not one fucking day am I free.”

  “She has a key?” I pout.

  “Yep. Which I’ll be taking off her soon enough.”

  He shuffles to the edge of the bed and picks up his jeans. He heaves and wiggles his superb butt cheeks to cover his naked flesh. I wriggle and turn over into the foetal position. I don’t want to leave this room. I don’t want to have to walk out of that door and have the reality of what he is, slap me in the face again.

  “Get some sleep,” he says, thoughtfully tiptoeing through the door panel.

  I don’t want to sleep. I want him back here with me. To forget what he told me, and pretend it never happened.

  I’M UNSURE WHAT TIME it is. I’ve been suspended in serenity and have lost all notion of time and space. It’s Adrien’s voice that eventually cajoles me to sit up. He’s yelling brash then low, like he’s trying not to disturb my non-existent slumber.

  Great. Last night, his admission, it’s all returned to haunt and quiz my own sanity. I mean, Sara must know what he is. She used to be Laurie’s red, according to Dom. Which also means that Laurie is a vampire. I shudder my shoulders, hoping to shake Laurie from my thoughts. I didn’t like him when I thought he was human, now I know he’s a vampire, he scares the shit out of me.

  I stand up with the bed sheet draped over my arms, thinking. Okay, maybe what Adrien has told me has to remain between him and I. The best thing to do is to act ignorant. To be my simple self in front of Sara.

  I slip my black dress up over my shoulders, pull out my hair, and creep through the wall panel.

  Adrien has his back arched over, reading a piece of paper on the kitchen counter. Sara aims her nasty eyes at me. I’m not going to let her bother me. I’m here on Adrien’s wishes, not hers, and I don’t really care if my presence is putting her nose out of joint.

  I repay her daggers with a condescending grin and subtle wave. “Morning.”

  Adrien looks over his arm at me then hands the paper to Sara. “This can wait,” he says. “It’s new year’s day, Sara.”

  I hang back with my hands held before my waist. She’s still staring at me, and now everything has gone awfully quiet. I look to the window, awkwardly.

  “It’s fine Elizabeth,” Adrien says. “She knows what I’ve told you.”

  Oh crap. Why am I blushing? It could be because I haven’t quite registered the truth yet myself. I feel very similar when the topic of my mum’s sex toy shop comes up. Like it’s some dark secret that I don’t want to even think about.

  “And you?” I ask nervously, because frankly I cannot say the V word again.

  “Yes, I’m a vampire, Miss Lovell,” she says sharply.

  “Sara,” Adrien snaps.

  Well, I guess I should have known the bitch wasn’t human in the first place.

  “Sorry,” she grumbles. “But do you think it’s a good idea her knowing all this. I mean, you destroyed the contract.” She moves by the island, closer to me. “Maybe it would be best if we... well you know.”

  I take several swift steps back, ready to run. Adrien grabs her black sleeve as I recoil, noting a darkness in her eyes.

  “I will kill anyone who touches her,” he warns. “That includes you, Sara. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, of course.” She smiles nervously.

  Oh my god. This is nuts. I’m shaking.

  “Elizabeth.” Adrien gestures his head at me as I gawp. “You okay?”

  “Hmm-hmm.” I exhale the terror.

  “Sara, get hold of the covens,” he orders. “Tell them tonight we are holding a get together at The Mill. All drinks are on the house. I want to introduce Elizabeth to everyone.”

  Coven? I thought that was a witch thing. Hell, I think I’ll just
get back into that bed and hide beneath the sheets. My freaky dreams of clowns and red balloons are easier to condense than this.

  Sara picks up her things and heads toward the door, but then she stops next to me and side-glances.

  “Miss Lovell.” I fidget and slowly turn, ready for her caustic lashes to hit me. “Happy new year.”

  “Happy new year,” I mumble as she walks away.

  I TAKE MY PHONE OUT of my bag and sit on the bed. I have twenty-six missed calls, and seven text messages. The first message is from my mum, asking me why I haven’t called. Then another, wishing me a happy new year. There are two from Cate. One telling me to call Nathan because he’s lost it, and she’s going to Pete’s because he has kicked everyone out of the party. And the second, she thanks me for leaving her alone. Then I see his name, Nathan. He sent it at 11.30p.m. There are slurred words, well this is a slurred message. I get the gist of it straightaway. I’m a total mind-fuck. Why did I kiss him? Do I have any idea how he feels? Yadda-yadda-yadda. I toss my phone on the mattress as Adrien enters.

  “You don’t have to go,” he says as I massage my temples. “I’d like you to stay. I’ll have a change of clothing brought for you.”

  “I have my own clothes. Besides, I think I need a timeout.”

  “You don’t want to meet my coven?” He looks disappointed.

  “Yes,” I say in a deep breath. “I think.”

  “Okay, have your timeout. I’ll be waiting outside your apartment at eight thirty.” He smiles. “Then I’ll show you what I do. Show you that you have nothing to fear.” He holds a tonic out to me.

  I frown at him. Not more revelations, surely.

  “What you do?” I take the bottle of tonic and toy with it.

  He walks into the wet-room and turns on the shower. “Yeah, besides my own real-estate business. Now drink up.”

  “Okay, can you explain to me what’s in this stuff?” I swish the liquid around. “I’m guessing it’s not a vitamin supplement.”

  “It’s supposed to decrease the scent of blood pheromones that come from your pores. Some kind of herbal recipe created centuries ago,” he explains. “Makes you less tempting to vampires. It’s harmless to you.”

  “And it works does it?”

  “For me, no. You’re always tempting to me,” he says with a shrewd ray over his lips. “But for others it will.”

  I go silent. I have to. All this is too much to take in. He wants to introduce me to all his vampire friends. Shit, I’ll be walking around The Mill like a goddamn appetiser.

  “I’m pushing this too far aren’t I?” He sighs, noting my lack of enthusiasm as he sits down beside me.

  “You think.” I grin faintly.

  He lifts me onto his lap so I’m kneeling and we’re nose to nose. He places his hand delicately against my neck and gazes completely into me.

  “I’m in love with you. If I’m going to be with you, I need you to know everything about me.” He kisses my lips. “Now, take a shower with me.” He beams a smile, his nose brushing over the tip of mine.

  He cranes me up high from beneath my arms. I’m awestruck how strong he is. He has just lifted the whole one hundred and fifteen pounds of me, as though I’m as light as air. And now he’s running his mouth up my belly and between my breasts. He has superhuman strength.

  With my feet back on the floor, I stand before him as his fingers slope around my hips. He chuckles at my amazed expression.

  “Elizabeth, I don’t need to hide who I am from you now.” He winches my submissive body up again, nibbling my lips as I bind my legs around him.

  Chapter 25

  Adrien

  I make my way over to the booth, watching my coven whispering, wondering why I’ve called them here. On a normal vampire gathering, I wouldn’t bother setting new rules. I’d let them drink blood at the table. I’d let them help themselves to all the blood here in storage to celebrate. But I need to make things very clear to them all, that I will not have Elizabeth thrown into the deep end of my world. She’s accepted me, so I will be courteous and ease her in slowly. Show her that we are not all murderous monsters of darkness.

  Ben strolls from the bar, carrying a tray of drinks. I see Sara talking with Conner, as Dom struggles to sit up in his seat. I grab Dom’s shoulder and he looks up at me with his drunken eyes.

  “Hey boss. Happy new year!”

  “Dom, you better not make a fool of me tonight,” I warn.

  Dom smiles at me, and I fall for it every time. He’s like the mischievous little Brother I never had, and probably one of my loyalist soldiers. I pat his back, nudging him up so he doesn’t fall over.

  Ben sets the drinks down on the table, and holds a double whiskey and ice out to me. I take the glass and put it down, without drinking. For the time being, I need a clear head.

  I remain on my feet, noticing Laurie is missing.

  “Where is he?” I ask Conner.

  “Beats me,” he replies, then drinks from his beer bottle.

  “Hopefully someone has come to their senses and killed him,” Sara scornfully adds, twirling her wine glass around.

  I ignore Sara’s pissed-off temperament and sit down, looking at my watch. Laurie should be here. I made it clear to him on the phone I want everyone present.

  “Last I saw, he said he had to go pick up a gift, for tonight,” Ben says, rolling his eyes.

  I decide to get started without him. “Sara, have you informed all covens that under no circumstances, live donors will not be fed off tonight?”

  “Yes, they swear to be on their best behaviour,” she says, downing her full glass of wine.

  “Tonight I want Elizabeth to feel comfortable, so keep any awakening stories to yourselves,” I add.

  “Can you not relax?” Ben asks. “You have finally decided you want the girl, and now you’re doubting yourself, and us. Not one of us is the slightest bit interested in her blood. She’s a nice girl; too good for you,” Ben chuckles, patting my back as he sits down. “Nothing bad is going to happen. Besides, we know why you’re doing this?”

  “And why’s that?” I frown.

  “No one will mess with you if they want to keep their head. You need to make every coven aware that Elizabeth is out of bounds. She is yours,” Conner answers. “It’s a silent threat to all others, before they find out for themselves about the girl who has softened your dead heart.” He grins at me as Sara chuckles beside him.

  “This is no fucking laughing matter,” I bark, slamming my hand down on the table.

  They all seem to find this funny, and even though they are right, I want this taken seriously. The reason I’m introducing Elizabeth to them and the other covens, in a more casual setting, is to make it known that she is not to be touched. If say for instance, any other vampire came into contact in the outside world with her, they will be aware after tonight, that if one hair on her head is out of place, then I would bring that coven down permanently. Perhaps I am being over the top, but that is how it needs to be. Elizabeth is mine.

  “Sorry,” Conner says, waving his hand. “Just saying you have nothing to worry about.”

  “And does that come from all of you?” I ask.

  “Yeah. I feel sorry for her more than anything else,” Sara says.

  “And you know I’m by your side,” Ben states, clinking his glass against mine on the table.

  “Good. When I bring Elizabeth here tonight, I’m going to show her downstairs. Explain how our system works.”

  “Jeez, we don’t care. Let’s just celebrate the new year,” Dom makes his useless drunken contribution.

  “What the hell is he doing?” Sara mumbles, her wide eyes aimed over my shoulder.

  I turn my head slowly, picking up the living heartbeats of at least a dozen people.

  Laurie struts through the doors, and with him are warm blooded humans. Donors who have come here before, and been paid for live feeding. In a rage, I flit across the room, grab him, and thrust him against the bar, f
angs out, claws out, ready to rip him apart.

  “Whoa... whoa,” Ben yells, clutching my elbows as I hiss down in Laurie’s face.

  “This is your gift!” I shake Laurie.

  The room is silent, and I become aware I have possibly overreacted. Or not. Fuck. He’s really pushing me lately.

  I shove him back and step away, trying to hold my shit together. I turn my back and pace up and down until my fangs tame.

  “What is this?” I say, turning to watch him straighten up.

  “It is a good job I love you!” Laurie tugs down his jacket. “What do you think this is?”

  “Looks like Laurie didn’t get the psychic memo.” Dom laughs loudly.

  “You expect all the covens to come and not provide any treats?” Laurie yells at me.

  “Yes Laurie, I fucking do!”

  My eyes circle around to each one of them, then land on the donors. They are terrified of me. Even though they know what I am, and who pays for their blood, they never expected to see the true light of a vampire.

  “Ben, Connor, take these generous people downstairs. Give them a drink and pay them double what was promised.” I see the terror in their eyes gradually replaced with glee. “Then you’re free to go. We do not need your blood tonight. Sara, take Dom back to yours and sober him up.”

  I keep my eyes on Laurie as the room slowly empties. Laurie seems more interested in watching Sara’s ass walk through the doors.

  “What’s going on Laurie?”

  He turns his head to me. “I’m not the one who has changed beyond recognition. How was I to know this party you’re throwing for the covens would be unlike the others. This is what I do every time. You changed the gameplay!”

  “God,” I growl into my hands. “You are right.”

  “Look, no harm done. You want Elizabeth to fit in, I understand. With her being your red, I thought everything was out in the open, but clearly not. Like with Sara. She was fine when we had these little get-togethers.”