Authors: DD Prince
She twisted a curl nervously, “I
am
afraid of you, of how you make me feel, and of what you might be capable of. Part of me wants to run and hide. Part of me wants to run straight to you and I don’t know how to deal with those conflicting emotions.”
“Afraid? You do a pretty good job of hiding your fear. If I couldn’t see past that armour…”
“But when you’re not mad at me and you eye fuck me and…”
He looked at her, head tilted, a little smirk spreading across his face and lighting up his eyes.
She clarified, “You hold me prisoner with those blue eyes and I just --- I melt.”
He chewed his cheek for a second, “Talk like that and we won’t finish this conversation.”
She shrugged, “I belong in an insane asylum.”
He let out a whistle and strolled to the dresser and poured drinks,
“Ditto. You’ve avoided emotion, I’ve been incapable of feeling emotion. It’s been so long since I’ve been like you. I forget. I’ve forgotten how scary it is to learn about things in the world you’ve been taught were just myths. I’m so used to people bending to
my
will and you’re just so…” He didn’t finish, “But that’s awesome, too, and is part of why I’m so affected by you. I’m having trouble explaining this because it’s unfamiliar to me. I have this ego, this sense of entitlement that’s part of me due to what I’ve lived for the last decade. I know I sound like an elitist but I’ve been groomed to be this way, entitled, arrogant, a megalomaniac, as you’d put it the other day. But cold and unfeeling, never happy. But I’m changing ever since you. And I feel your feelings all the time. Almost every minute of the day. I’m dealing with all these new emotions. I feel you and I feel me and I… you only seem to feel me when I feed but I feel you every minute that I’m awake. Sometimes when I’m asleep, even.” He made a pained face, “I’m trying to not let it drive me crazy, Kyla, but sometimes it comes damn close, this feeling things so deeply. I haven’t truly
felt
much of anything in a decade. Now I feel so much.”
Tristan passed her the glass and continued, “All this is a lot for me to deal with, too. I always get what I want without having to even crave it and feel almost nothing. Not joy, not satisfaction. My life as a vampire has been busy, learning my role, fulfilling my duties, but all while trying to satisfy my urges. I kept craving, not knowing what I was craving and not finding anything to sate my cravings. But then I tasted you. And you satisfy me. For the first time in ten years I find what I need. So I crave you. I want you. I feel you. I need you.”
They were both silent for a second. Then he took a deep breath, “I’m now in a position where I have to play a very visible leadership role while I also deal with the reality of you and your blood and staying in control with all these new emotions and what this all means. You need to try to understand that your life will be in danger if this gets out. Mine, too. I need you to let me protect you. You have to trust me. Surrender to what you’re feeling, to me; listen to your heart. Stop fighting what we both know you’re feeling so that I can do my job of keeping you safe while I also do what I need to do. If I don’t know that you’re safe it’s like a panic alarm in my head blaring at me. When you get your flight or fight response and I can’t see you it does crazy things to me, it makes me afraid. I have very little frame of reference for fear and it does things to me… ”
Surrender to him?
A sensation like hot liquid coursed through her shoulders. She shook her head, “You knew what I was feeling, felt all of what I felt and yet you…you left me to wallow for that long? Did it make you feel awesome, knowing I was chained to your bed in agony? Because you craved, you wanted me to crave. That was heartless.”
He blinked at her and caressed her cheek, “I wanted to come to you a hundred times. Twenty times I stood right outside that door. I couldn’t. I felt everything, princess. All of it. Last night you screamed for me and it shredded me. I knew you were ready so that’s why I’m here. You needed time to process this. Look where we are now. Listen to you talking to me! I needed time, too. And each day I’m with you I think I get a little less heartless.”
She was reflective for a moment, “What now? Where are we now?”
“You, us, this thing between us…it’s turning a soulless vampire into someone who feels. Be patient with me, please. Please. For now just let me protect you. We’re both adjusting to feeling new things so let’s both try to remember that while I try to suss out this situation we’re in. I have things to tell you, to help you understand the gravity here.”
“The stuff vampire legends are made of. Explain what that means, please.”
He let out a deep breath, “Come. Let’s go have dinner downstairs. We have a lot to talk about.”
“But… the guys?”
“They’re both out tonight. It’s just us.”
“You said you needed to feed…”
“Mmm, anxious?” He smiled, “I’ll wait. You need to eat a real meal. Let’s get your strength up. You’ll need it later.” He winked then added, “And you probably need to be out of this room for a little while, too.”
Kyla’s belly took a nosedive at the idea of what could be in store for her later. She followed him out of the master suite. She felt like something was blossoming inside of her. It felt good. She was still unsure about so much but at least she felt like she was headed in the right direction.
The idea of leaving the master bedroom made her uneasy. Maybe because the last two times she did there weren’t exactly positive outcomes. He took her hand and led her down the hall. Her wrists tingled, thinking about the shackle and thinking about his insight into her brain.
Invisible shackles.
She pushed that unpleasant thought away.
He stopped and pushed her up against the wall by the gate and ran his fingers through her hair and then pinned her with his hips. He looked down into her eyes,
“Hey…”
She lifted her chin to look up at him.
“You own me, too,” he said and tasted her lips briefly and then put his arms around her and embraced her. She sank into his chest and breathed in the comfort his scent gave her but said nothing. After a beat he took her hand and walked down the stairs with her. Her fingers tingled at his touch.
The house was definitely beautiful, she felt slightly more at ease with appreciating it. It felt like a Tuscan villa with all the iron work, stone, and arches. She followed him through an archway into a huge kitchen that blended the old world look with some modern touches. It had a stone exposed wall and a big fireplace but it also had stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. The vaulted ceiling had exposed beams. It was the biggest kitchen she had ever been in.
“It’s a nice night; I thought we’d eat in the courtyard. If you wanna go sit outside I’ll bring out the food.” He motioned toward arched double glass doors covered in ironwork that opened out into the courtyard.
She shook her head, “Let me help.”
Tristan smiled, “It’s all done. Just needs to be carried.”
He opened the oven and lifted out a large deep casserole dish on a tray. The tray was steaming and she stared dumbfounded at the fact that he wasn’t using oven mitts.
“It’s prime rib with roasted vegetables. Is that good?”
She nodded, feeling her mouth begin to water.
“You could help me set the table?”
She nodded again and then he motioned with his chin toward frosted glass cupboards.
She walked out into the courtyard with plates and cutlery toward a patio table big enough to seat 12, poolside. There were other entrances into the courtyard from this level, too. Kyla put everything down on one end of the table and sat. Tristan had already deposited dinner and was now coming out with a bottle of wine and two glasses.
He looked casual, gorgeous, wearing dark jeans and that wine coloured collared shirt that was loose and the first few buttons undone, the collar pointed up toward his ears. He was barefoot and had a bit more than a 5:00 shadow and it looked so rugged and sexy. He looked like he belonged in a jeans commercial or a cologne ad.
Kyla was keenly aware of how very underwhelming her own attire was. She was in purple capri track pants, a purple and black camouflage patterned racer back tank top, had damp hair, and fluffy chenille striped white and orange socks. Talk about underdressed and a fashion victim! She was sure she was even paler than usual and that her eyes were probably still swollen from crying…she’d done so much of it in the past few days.
She accepted the wine and smiled at him as he started to slice the meat and then served her a piece.
“Mine is quite rare, yours isn’t so much.” He sliced from the end of the roast for her and took a very pink middle piece for himself.
The food was delicious and it was beautiful in the courtyard eating poolside. It was a starry night and the patio lighting gave off a warm soft glow. Kyla was enjoying the much-needed breath of fresh air. She still felt her mind whirling around her circumstances. At least things were on speaking terms with Tristan now. She much preferred when he looked at her with passion than with rage or iciness. Heat pooled in her panties at the thought of passion. She shifted and took a sip of her wine. Tristan was smiling at her.
“What?” she asked, feeling like she was under scrutiny. Did he feel that swish she’d just felt? She hoped that if so that he was enough of a gentleman to keep that to himself.
His smile spread slowly into a sexy grin, showing off those dimples, “Maybe I’m just smitten.”
She felt very self-conscious. She knew she looked like a walking disaster. She fretted, wondering how much he could read inside of her head. She felt grateful, though, relieved. She had certainly put him through lot of hassle the last few days and yet he was using words like smitten. It was odd to feel grateful to him considering he’d kept her captive and had chained her for a few days. She tried to push the thought out of her head. Regardless of what had transpired so far she wanted to explore her feelings for him, wanted to let herself feel them.
“Maybe you’re reading my mind. It’s an invasion of privacy, you know. And it’s not fair since I don’t know what you’re thinking or feeling.”
“You get an inkling of what I’m feeling when I feed.”
“Yeah,” she smiled and wondered if what he felt from her was similar, feelings, not clear thoughts.
He was smiling at her.
“I like your dimples,” she added shyly.
His face lit up and he touched one. “I didn’t think I had these any more. I guess you brought them back.”
“So you didn’t know I liked them?”
He shook his head, “Nope. And didn’t know they came back.”
“I guess you can’t read
everything
in my head?”
“I’m still learning to translate what I feel coming from you but I don’t get words, it’s more like a sense of emotion.”
“Hmm.”
She’d pushed emotions away for years. He didn’t feel them. Now, she couldn’t hide from her emotions and he could feel them, too. He was forcing her to feel them.
This, a relationship with him, if that was what you could call it, felt impossible but so possible at the same time. She wanted, no needed, to know more about what danger she was in. She blushed and repositioned the napkin across her lap.
“So, real vampire legends? Spill…”
He winced and then popped the cork on the second bottle of wine.
“I’ll handle it. I have to,” Kyla told him.
“Okay,” he said, as he poured, “A very small fraction of the female population has a certain blood element that can best be described as a highly addictive performance enhancing drug to vampires. Most refer to it as enchanted blood or vampire nectar.” He stopped.
Maybe he was letting her absorb what he’d said, “Put things into context by thinking of it as steroids blended with heroin. I don’t know why it’s out there, but it is, like an elusive four-leaf clover. It’s out there but most vamps never find someone with this blood.”
She sipped her wine and nodded.
“I believe you have this blood. I’ve heard stories about women with this blood. The way I’m feeling, how much stronger I am after each feeding, things that are happening, like some of my strengths being even more acute, and new ones --- it’s the only explanation.”
“Okaaay?”
“Your blood would be in demand if others knew. High demand,” he arched a brow, looking at her with seriousness.
“So you think someone will try to steal me for my blood?”
“And probably kill you.” He said this very matter-of-factly.
“Why, though? Wouldn’t it be more enterprising to hook me up to an IV, bottle it, and sell it to other vampires?”
Tristan took a deep breath and gave her a disapproving look.
“I’m not trying to make light of it; I just don’t understand…”
“Let’s not give anyone any ideas! I’ll enlighten you.” He moistened his lips and then took her hand in his. “There are stories of those who’ve tasted this blood. One I’ve heard is of a vamp who loses a pet with the enchanted blood because she gets stolen and drained dry by another vampire who wants it. The grieving vamp loses it, hunts down the other vamp, they battle to the death. Both die. She kills herself afterwards.”
Kyla shifted uncomfortably. Tristan continued, “Another story tells of a vampire killing an enchanted blooded woman he’d been keeping as a pet by accident, draining her dry out of greed, and then he goes on a rampage and kills innocents because he’s looking for a duplicate of that blood. It was years ago but is still discussed in the media here as a cold case, Toronto Mangler? I’m sure you’ve heard of the case. It’s said to make vampires who have tasted it but who can’t have it maniacal, power hungry, ruthless.”
Kyla’s blood ran cold, knowing exactly what he was talking about. That case was mentioned frequently on the news despite it being from over 20 years ago.
“No one knows who this vampire is. Few vamps even know much about nectar. If the Toronto Mangler is still here and hears rumours of you…” He didn’t finish that sentence. He squeezed her hand and took a sip of wine, “I never gave it much thought.” he said, “Most vamps
I
know don’t even talk about it. It’s sort of taboo because if anyone is keeping a pet secretly with the nectar they’d be worried about their secret getting out. Anyway, the few stories I’ve heard were far removed from me. It was always a friend of a friend kind of thing and never something I had experience with directly. Until now. I want to do more research but am trying to find a way without arousing suspicion.”
They were both silent for a moment as Kyla processed all he was telling her, then he asked, “You’ve heard of blood doping?”
“Like Lance Armstrong?”
“Right. So you know it’s something athletes use to gain a competitive edge. The average blood gives a vampire a similar edge. And we can survive without it for a while but eventually start to crave it and get sick and weak if we go too long without it. Enchanted blood is said to be like that but multiplied. Enchanted blood gives a vampire an enormous edge, picture adding a spoonful of baking soda to a glass of vinegar. And every time he drinks it, he gets stronger. Then he starts to crave more. My blood was sent away with yours for testing. It’s all still being analyzed but since drinking from you I’m different. I feel stronger every time I feed. Tried to drink ordinary blood while I was angry with you. It was like drinking dirty water. Did nothing for me.”
“Whose blood?” She knew it was an odd and possessive question as soon as it came out of her mouth.
He looked at her and laughed, hard. She narrowed her eyes at him.
He chuckled, “Just some stored blood, my green-eyed girl.”
Kyla felt silly. She covered her eyes out of embarrassment. He took a hand away and squeezed it, eyes sparkling, lips turned up into a big smile. She flushed and shook her head. Their eyes locked for a moment and then she gave him a small smile and finished the rest of what was in her wine glass, shaking her head.
He refilled their wine glasses, beaming, so obviously pleased that she was being possessive. She felt like she was getting a bit tipsy but she started to fret about his whole “junkie” comment so could use some liquid courage. Would Tristan lose control? That was what happened after the bath the day after they’d met, when she wouldn’t go along with his wishes?
“I need to find out more so I know what we’re facing,” he said, “People in my position should know these things but a decade in this world is still a relative newbie so maybe that’s why I’m not well-versed,” he shrugged, “I do know that no one can find out about this. It would spark far too much interest in you. You could become the target of power hungry vampires who would kill to get to you and probably kill you in the process.”
Kyla nodded, absorbing his words.
Their eyes locked. He leaned over and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, “I’m serious, baby. If I didn’t have the power and control I have I would’ve drained you dry that first night. Power is a hot commodity in my world. I’m already considered powerful and this, this could make me invincible. People in my world would want this. I don’t want anyone to get an opportunity to sink their teeth into you. They might not stop.” Then he added in barely more than a whisper, “And…you’re mine.” He said this with finality, looking her in the eye. Then he downed his wine and put the glass down with something like a stamp on the finality to it. He sounded logical and overly possessive all in that sentence.
Is he going to go all Gollum a la Lord of the Rings on me?
“Because I’m the key to invincibility for you?” she asked accusingly.
“For fuck sakes, Kyla…” he got up from the table and glared down at her.
She winced, feeling regret but not wanting to back down.
He sat down and blew out a long slow breath, “Always looking for ulterior motives.”
“Pretty much,” she sipped her wine, then added, “And I’m yours? It’s done?” raising brows at him.
“Yeah, I haven’t explained that part yet. You
are
mine. In every sense of the word.”
“I don’t know how to respond to that,” Kyla said softly.
“It freaks you out.”
“Uh huh.”
“We’re connected, bonded.”
“I don’t know how to respond to that, either.”
“Part of the legend is that each feeding deepens the vampire’s abilities but also that after several consecutive feedings there’s a chemical reaction that binds the human to the vampire permanently. When you fell apart before you left me it had to be that. I’d been waiting for it, hoping for it, because I suspected your blood was enchanted.”