Oh, hey. So, I’m a vampire. No big deal. It’s unlikely I will ever love you, unless you’re my mate, which you’re not. And on that note, my mate’s going to show up one day, so even if I could have a relationship with you—which I can’t because the vampire king, my brother, is dying, so I’ll have to become king soon—when she turns up, I’ll have to break your heart, anyway.
But I still think I need to have lots and lots of sex with you for a few days. Then I should be okay.
“Don’t come in here!” she yelled from the bedroom. “See yourself out. I’m saying goodbye from here.”
The fuck she was.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Brayden ignored her and stepped into the bedroom doorway.
“Willow,” he said in warning.
“Please, just go. We both want different things. The sex is amazing, but I’m not a consumable you can use until you’re done.”
She tried not to stare at the dark and sexy man standing with his bulging arms crossed. His swirling silver eyes pierced her with his frustration. Her body heated regardless. As if in reaction, those eyes suddenly narrowed in question, then heated, his pupils flaring.
“There’s one thing we both want, though, isn’t there, Willow.” She shook her head, trying to deny it.
He took a step toward her. Moisture pooled in her panties. She looked down and saw he was hard.
“Let me have you again, and then you can decide.”
She could barely hear his words as her nipples hardened. He was a foot away from her now. “Perhaps you just need to find someone else to have sex with?”
“No.” He shook his head. “It’s you.”
“You should leave.”
“Take off your dress.”
Lost for words, her mouth fell open then shut.
“I want you.” He unzipped his pants and tore off his shirt. “You’re mine, Willow. I said, take off your dress.”
She kept staring, her body an inferno of need. Fighting what she wanted, she shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut. “No, Brayden.”
Her nipples were hard, the drum of her core thumping with the need of his touch. When she opened her eyes, she took in the large, now naked body in front of her.
He stood with his legs apart, cock jutting out as he stroked it.
“I can’t keep doing this,” she whispered.
“You have three seconds before I take what is mine,” he growled low.
Her body flared with a powerful desire she’d never felt before. She wanted to be possessed, wanted his strong, dominant hands on her. Wanted to be controlled by this man.
Knowing there was no way she could deny him, she unzipped her dress. It fell to the floor, and she stood in the black lace teddy and black heels he’d chosen for her hours earlier.
Brayden took a step forward and gently nudged her onto the bed.
“Lie back.”
He kneeled and undid the snaps, placing her legs over his shoulders. Watching her, he ran his fingers through her folds, then licked her. Her body roared. His thumb edged closer to her rear, and she gasped.
“Relax, baby.”
Willow knew what he was going to do, and she wasn’t ready. She’d never done it before. “I’m-I’m not sure.”
“Do you trust me?”
She didn’t. He wanted to take her places she hadn’t gone yet, which she knew required trust. She sat up on her elbows and looked at him, chewing her bottom lip.
He nodded briefly. “You will trust me someday.”
Lowering his head again, he continued sucking, lapping, and flicking his tongue until she lost control. He didn’t give her the release she wanted; instead, he stood and pressed into her. One thrust, two, and he filled her completely.
She cried as he threw his head back and clenched his teeth.
“Willow, Jesus.”
He laid over her, pulling her legs around him, claiming her lips. She dug her nails into his arms, encouraging him to go faster. Brayden licked and bit her bottom lip, a small grin teasing her. She groaned, arching into him, and his smile faded.
He pounded hard and fast as the fire built in intensity within them. Deeper, harder, desperate, they clung as she tightened around him. A million stars exploded within as she combusted.
Finally, she opened her eyes and found a pair of silver ones bearing down on her, intense and blazing.
He placed a hand on her cheek. “Give me a week. Just one week.”
The need in his voice was one she felt instinctively was out of character for him. He had a powerful alpha-like energy about him. Bossy, demanding, and jealous. The request threw her.
It was his eyes, however, which spoke to her. They burned into her with a depth she’d never felt from anyone. She knew this relationship was not going anywhere. She knew she would hurt at the end. Yet, her heart felt connected to this man in a way that demanded she follow it.
What could a week hurt? She already knew it was going to be hard to say goodbye to him.
Great sex for a week with a protective, gorgeous man who made her laugh and have multiple orgasms? It was hardly a chore.
“Alright, a week.” She nodded.
Brayden took possession of her mouth, and she pushed on his shoulders.
“But”—she held his gaze—“I want you to let me into your life, not just have sex.”
“Willow,” he growled.
“That’s my offer, or nothing.”
Brayden dropped his head into her neck. Her heart cracked, wondering what was so very wrong with her that he didn’t want her in his life. He sat up suddenly. “It’s not you, Willow. It’s my complicated life.”
“Are you a mind reader?”
“Kind of.” He sighed. “God. I don’t think I can walk away from you anyway, you beautiful little witch.”
“So, that’s a yes?”
He nodded. “During the day, I work. In the evenings, I am yours.”
She smiled.
Brayden carried her to the shower, and they stood under the water facing each other.
“Mine for a week,” he said, running a soapy hand over her back, repeating the words as if they were a mantra.
Back in bed, wrapped in his arms, Willow could barely keep her eyes open. She remained aware, however, that she was risking her heart by allowing Brayden to stay in her life. Even if just for a week.
She guarded her heart powerfully, a heart which had only just begun healing, and yet, somehow, this domineering and sexy man had pushed into her world and burst it open.
There was no way this would end well. She’d deal with it when the time came.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Brayden left Willow a few hours later, knowing she was in a deep sleep and needed the rest.
He arrived back at the enormous property with mixed emotions; joy at the idea of spending a week with her, enjoying her body, and trepidation in allowing a human into his world.
The fact was, he couldn’t.
He flashed into his home and changed. He could never bring her here, where dozens of vampires wandered around. She would be safe with him, but there would be no hiding who they were.
Even sex with her was a risk at this point. The way it felt when he entered her, the noises she made, caused his cock to get so damn hard it was becoming near impossible to keep from baring his fangs. He’d nearly bitten her twice last night.
There was no way he would risk it.
One bite, and the vampire change process would begin. The blood link would connect them and that was appealing, his need to protect and dominate her making his cock twitch. Of course, it was much more complicated than that, but it would expose who he was, and he’d have to wipe her memory and leave her.
Or he could change her and keep her. But that was something he would never do.
When he let her go, she would be free to mate with another man. Anger flared within him just thinking of it. Shaking his head, he pushed away the thoughts, frustrated by the way they consumed him.
&nb
sp; He had no fucking choice. One day very soon, he’d have to let her go. But not today.
No, not fucking today. Or tomorrow.
He’d written his cell phone number on a piece of paper and left it beside the bed, something he’d never given to another female.
While vampires could speak telepathically with each other, it was only possible with those you had swapped blood with. That took trust. Or dominance.
For example, with Craig, it was easy. They had a powerful bond, a trust that had formed from a history neither of them could change.
With his next tier of command, he had demanded it. While it still required trust, none of them would be in their roles if trust hadn’t existed from his part or from any of them. They all desired to serve him and the king.
As blood brothers, the Moretti princes had connected the moment Brayden was born. Their blood was potent, creating an immediate telepathic bond.
Now Kate shared their blood as their queen, and she too could connect with them. She was a Moretti.
Willow would wake up to find the note in a few hours. He smiled, knowing it would make her happy. It also pleased him to know, if she needed anything, she could reach him. Though he wouldn’t be able to go to her if it were daylight, and that bothered him.
He shook his head.
In a week, he had to let her go. With an imminent move back east and his ascension to the throne, he’d soon be distracted and forget all about the beautiful human. Once home, Brayden could have all the females he wanted.
They would be treated as concubines unless it was his mate. Then it was a whole different matter—the path to becoming queen was a complex and serious endeavor. Rich in tradition, like all royal families, when a female was identified as a king’s mate, they were taken under the wing of the family and groomed for their new position.
Vincent and Kate had been in a unique situation when they bonded. He’d just been crowned king in the wake of their parents’ deaths, and she had been a young vampire already a member of the court. She had escaped much of the tradition due to Vincent’s denial of her as his mate until he couldn’t any longer. It had been a source of much amusement for Brayden and Craig. Less so for the queen herself.
He cringed mildly at the memory.
While Kate was his queen, as second in line, Brayden remained her senior. Brayden’s position was his birthright, one which would only change should his brother produce an heir of his own, and then only once the child reached its one hundredth birthday.
While there was some speculation as to the reason for the lack of heirs—as in zero—from the royal couple, vampires didn’t reproduce at the same rate as humans or animals, so the expectation had not yet peaked. Now though, with his brother’s declining health, he hoped they were mating like rabbits to produce a little vamp or two.
Even if it didn’t mature before Vincent had to step down—or worse—Brayden could take care of the role in the meantime. It was the best option. He was unable to produce an heir until he met his mate. There were no accidental pregnancies in the vampire world—females could only get pregnant once they mated and their cycles kicked in. And thankfully they couldn’t impregnant humans, so there were no half vampires running around the world.
If the royal couple were able to get pregnant, it would mean there was an end date to sitting on that damn throne.
As in, not for-fucking-ever.
He felt sick to his stomach. All he could see was an endless future with carefully chosen whores, paperwork, and politics. Yawn-fucking-yawn.
His role for hundreds of years had been as captain of the Royal Army. He had no desire to change that. He excelled in it and was born for it.
Even before their father’s death, he’d been in his role, while Vince was the one pushing papers around the desk. He didn’t disrespect the kingly duties; they were simply different. The brothers were close, and while they’d disagreed on many things over the years, the tension between them right now was unique. It had never occurred to him he would become king.
Brayden stepped out of his rooms and made his way across the courtyard while the sun remained hidden from view.
“Bray,” Craig said, the guy’s voice deep.
“Hey.”
“Where you been? Let me guess, living it up between those juicy breasts.” He grinned.
Brayden growled and felt his fangs slip out from behind his lips.
“Jesus.” Craig’s brows drew together, and he took a step away. Not much surprised the dark and dangerous vampire.
Brayden coughed, clearing his throat, trying to pretend it hadn’t happened.
But it had. Shit. He rubbed the back of his neck.
“Dude, have you...?”
“No. Fuck. No. Nope.” His reaction had been reminiscent of a bonded male. Thank God it had happened in front of his trusted friend and not anyone else. “Keep this to yourself, you hear me.”
Craig held up his hand. “Sure, just keep it on the down low or...”
“I hurt the human. All I’m doing is making sure she’s okay,” he snarled. It was a lie, and they both knew it.
What hung delicately in the air between them was the fact that as a royal son, it was expected he brought his soulmate into the family immediately. If Vincent got even a sniff of who she might be, he would demand it.
And it would be forever.
It was said to be for their protection and immersion into their culture as the mating unfolded, but that was bullshit. As the mate of a royal member, you became the possession of the royal family because you could breed. It was about survival and longevity of the royal blood. Simple as that.
Kate had already been a vampire and a member of the royal court, so there had been little fanfare in that regard.
Brayden imagined Willow being dragged into his world, and felt sick. She’d be terrified.
His mother had been one of those possessions, the choice taken away from her. Frances, his father, had already been king, and she just a young, virginal farm girl. Not a gentle man, his father had taken her and turned her against her will.
It was said she had screamed and cried for one hundred days and nights. Eventually, she had forgiven him, been crowned queen, and birthed the two princes.
During the nearly one thousand years he had shared with his mother, Guiliana had told him of the lingering sadness she always felt at losing her humanity. She would speak of the sunshine on her skin, of bright blue days spent splashing in the sea and making sandcastles. They had taken the choice from her.
The resentment he’d seen flashing across her eyes when they spoke privately had not sat well with him. For a long while, he had harbored his own resentment toward his father, until his mother had asked him to forgive and let it go.
He had, but not until he’d made a vow to his future mate; should she be human, the choice would be hers completely. Brayden would never force the change.
Of course, there were consequences in doing that. If said mate walked away, their memories were taken from them, and for the rest of their life, they would suffer unexplainable heartache, one likely to be explained away as depression by the human medical doctors, and medicated. Or worse. He’d heard the stories of suicide and broken hearts. Literally, humans suffering heart attacks.
Vampires only had one mate. If you were lucky, you met them early on in your long life. In Brayden’s case, he had filled the time getting lots of practice in among the human and vampire races. Nothing like meeting your mate with a bag full of experience, he figured, all of which was a load of rubbish. He loved sex, as did most vampires.
So, while the human’s life was filled with anguish, depression, and unexplained heartache, the vampire also suffered.
Their selfless choice of letting their mate go came at a cost. They would never love again. They remembered every single detail of their mate and the love shared between them. Theirs was a long life, and the memories never faded, the loss deep and painful enough to send even the strongest vampire into a despon
dent darkness.
Still, forcing someone to give up their humanity and watching them hate you for eternity? He pictured Willow with that look on her face and shivered.
Not that she was his mate. Just as an example.
The bonded connection was for eternity, and mates could communicate through telepathy and call for each other through the blood bond.
He had faith in his mate, whoever she ended up being. She would choose him. It would be fine. His challenge would be when he finally met them, keeping their relationship a secret so they could do things in their own time. Heck, it could happen any day now or in two thousand years.
With more eyes on him as Vincent’s disease progressed, it made things more difficult. If he were king, it would be near impossible.
He shook his head and slapped Craig on the back. “Come on. We’re late for the meeting.”
They wandered across the courtyard talking shit, which suited him just fine. He knew his longtime friend and second in command would have his back and give him space. For now.
It was no biggie. Willow had agreed to a week of delicious sex, and he was going to enjoy every single day. He just had to figure out how to show her his world...without showing her his world.
Right now, he had to pull up his big boy pants and be the king’s brother.
Or more accurately, Prince Brayden.
They walked into the hall, which acted as their royal throne room. It looked more like a corporate boardroom set up for a video conference where the event planner had mistakenly ordered two misplaced chairs.
The two red and gold thrones sat at the front of the room facing a long rectangular board table. Vamps milled around the room, pouring glasses of blood and talking shit.
His soldiers stood guard at the door in their black Moretti uniforms, looking like ninjas. The royal logo was visible on their chests. Trained to protect the royal family, the soldiers would kill or maim as necessary without conscience.
“My lord.”
The one he was looking right through, lost in thought, nodded to him before he glanced away. He gave the guy a brief nod and wondered what Willow would think of him being a referred to as a prince or lord. She’d likely laugh.
The Vampire Prince Page 5