Authors: DD Prince
Kyla chewed the inside of her cheek.
“It’s unbreakable. It’s for the vampire’s benefit, of course, because the human is bonded to him, becomes his. She wants to feed him, only him. From what I’ve heard you’d fight to the death rather than let someone else feed from you and if you can’t feed me you’ll have withdrawals. We know that started to happen upstairs for you. Regular people will let any vamp feed. It gave me a feeling of peace when it happened…that moment when you fell apart and I knew my suspicions were right and you’d become mine. But then you pulled back afterwards. Then you ran. That peace disintegrated when you ran. It made me question all of this. But what I’ve felt coming from you the past few days…I’m sure that this is it and that your blood
is
enchanted. You’re stubborn and you needed that time alone to help you realize that. Maybe your resistance comes from the same reason you aren’t entranced. Whatever that reason is… All of this isn’t exactly textbook. The blood reactions are, the cementing of the bond, but everything I’m feeling from you, the fact that you’re not entranced, none of
that
is textbook. Not from anything I’ve learned, anyway.”
She took a deep breath.
“I’m glad you’re not entranced. If you were, maybe your feelings for me would be just the bond. But you’re not in a trance. They’re real. I feel them.”
She felt invaded but relieved at the same time. She didn’t want to have to articulate how she felt. If he felt it that’s why he’d forgiven her. But knowing that some chemical mystical reaction was probably responsible for some or even all of these deep emotions? That was unsettling; more than unsettling.
He continued, “Some things are going on right now, too, that complicate things further. As if we needed things to be more complicated, right? I’m hosting a party and conference here in a few days for some powerful vampire colleagues. I can’t cancel. It’s my first conference since my promotion to president of the company so all eyes will be on me. I have to keep you hidden and hide the changes in myself. I have to let my men think you’ve been...”
Kyla sighed, “Broken? I have.”
“No, no, don’t say that,” he squeezed her hand, “I don’t want that; I really don’t. I’m crazy about your personality, who you are. But can you please PLEASE cooperate? For the sake of your safety as well as my sanity?” His eyes pleaded with her.
“I think you
did
mean to break me,” she muttered bitterly, “You left me alone knowing what I was going through. Made me beg for you. Did it make you feel powerful? Justified?”
He closed his eyes and sighed, “Maybe. And yeah, that makes me a monster. But maybe you needed that, needed to know what we have is real. Now we can move forward, on the same side.” He pulled her so that she landed on his lap, “I’ll learn more, figure out what to do.”
“What if you drink too much? What if you drain me?” Her voice was barely a squeak. He nuzzled her throat.
“Baby, I will do everything I can to
not
hurt you. You still don’t get it. You are such a breath of fresh air. To be with a girl who is actually there, with me, really with me? When you say my name it reminds me that you’re really there, not just a shell but a person. That I’m really here. You have no idea how powerful an effect you’ve had on me. I feel alive. Like I’d been walking around numb before I met you. It’s not just about your blood. It’s you.” He reached caressed her cheek, “I won’t risk your life. I won’t risk losing this feeling. The way it feels this soon? I can’t wait to see what this feels like a year from now, ten years from now. I’m strong. I have control. I’m not just a turned vampire, I’m part vampire in my DNA. That makes a difference to my control, my abilities.”
She pulled back but he didn’t let her up, “But…I keep pissing you off and when you’re angry. You’ve already lost control with me…” Kyla reached for and poured more wine in both of their glasses and then stared into her glass, swirling the liquid around.
A year, ten years? Wow.
“I’m stronger since then. I didn’t know what was happening. Now that I do, I can control it.”
“What do you mean your DNA?”
“There are vampires in my bloodline. Most vampires are vampire because they were turned. My bloodline is what makes me the vampire royalty, the super vampire. When I was turned it flipped a switch in me. I have control; I promise. Each feeding from you makes me stronger, enhances my abilities and my control. Stop trying to escape. That’s what I really need from you.” He kissed the back of her neck, “Okay?” He asked.
“What about me? What about my actual life, my plans for my future? Does it all just get swept under the rug now because you like the way my blood tastes? Because you like the way you feel? Because of sex?”
“That hurts.” He had a wounded look on his face, “Man, you’re stubborn. Am I not getting through to you? It’s not just blood and sex, it’s this connection. Don’t you feel different, too? Like meeting me, like the things you feel might mean that your future could change and that it wouldn’t be so terrible if it did? My future looks different to me since meeting you and I don’t look at that as a bad thing. Who says that a future with me would mean you couldn’t be happy? I could make you happy.”
She didn’t know what to say. It had been an emotional roller coaster so far, “We don’t even know each other. We’re from two different worlds. You’re so out of my league and if I have to spend my life hiding in your bedroom…”
Tristan got to his feet and held her shoulders, “We’ll get to know one another. Let’s just take things one day at a time for now, okay? You won’t have to hide forever. Somehow I’ll fix this. And you’re out of
my
league. Stop seesawing and pulling away from me. It hurts. I haven’t dealt with hurt in a long time. I don’t like it.”
Guilt swept through her, “I’m sorry.”
“Just because you didn’t choose this doesn’t mean it can’t be the best thing that ever happened.” He looked downtrodden.
He was right.
“What’s the story with the guys?” she added after a moment.
He shook his head, “The other day I had a newbie here. Turned just a year ago. The day I hurt you and had to bandage your throat he had a freak out at the scent of your blood, through the door. He wasn’t gonna stop until he got through the door. I have him caged and shackled downstairs while I figure out what to do. I had another staff member go mental at the door, too when you had that open throat wound. I’m concerned about Joe. He’s been a vampire for 8 years, has more experience, more control than the other two but the smell of your blood put him off kilter. I’m not liking the vibe I’m getting from him. He’s different since smelling your blood. I’m playing things carefully. They think I’m having fun breaking you in. It’s not unusual to keep a…” he stopped.
“Blood slave? Human blood bank?” Kyla mumbled, “Do you have a dungeon or something?”
Tristan looked at the floor and nodded, “Basically.”
“Maybe I do have a disease; maybe I’m sick.” She was crestfallen. Whether she was sick or Tristan was on the verge of losing control and draining her dry neither sounded like it’d have a happy ending. She was grateful he didn’t stick her down in a dank dungeon while he was mad at her, at least.
“I don’t think so. You seem very healthy to me. I can detect illnesses in the scent and taste of blood. I don’t sense anything and even if you were infected with a disease or had drugs in your system that wouldn’t explain this connection. That’s something else entirely. Anyway, Sam is a different story. He’s my right hand. He’s asking some questions but I’m playing my hand close to the vest for the moment and I’m feeling okay about the vibe with him. I’ll figure this out. Don’t stress, baby.”
They sat for a moment, contemplative, until he broke the silence, “Let’s go to bed,” he said and draped his arm over her and leaned in to her ear seductively, “I’m starved.” Her eyes widened.
“I’ve got this,” he flashed dimples at her, “I’ll clean this mess up later. Let’s go. Trust me?”
Who could resist those dimples? She followed him back into the house and up the stairs, feeling like everything was up in the air with her life, her safety, and her future. When they reached the bedroom he took her hand and kissed it, “I’ll take good care of you. Don’t worry.”
Warmth washed over her. Anxiety did, too. She hoped she’d feel that euphoric sensation while he drank, not that other sensation. She hoped that he was right in that he did have enough self-control.
He peeled her clothes off of her and as she stood, naked, he kissed her all over her neck, her shoulders, her breasts, her back. He ran his hands up and down her torso as he did. She touched his shoulders, the solid muscle, as she pushed his shirt off of him. Damn, he was sculpted like no man she’d ever touched before. Her body hummed as his lips feathered soft kisses all over her neck and shoulders, making goosebumps rise and tingly shivers climb up her spine. He called himself a junkie for her blood but as she looked at him she felt like he, too, was like a drug for her and right now she was as excited as a junkie about to get a fix would probably be.
Vampire heroin.
If that’s what she was to him, he was something similar to her.
He walked her over to the bed and as they lay down together, he stared. She wanted to melt; the passion was so evident in those eyes, “You, gorgeous girl, you make me feel alive. I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered this. When he pushed into her, he lifted her part way up in his arms and then as he eased out and sank his teeth into her throat she fell back against the pillows and arched her back.
She knew she wanted those teeth on her almost as bad as she wanted him inside of her. It was like his teeth had become an extension of the sex, especially now she knew that his feeding from her gave her insight into how he felt about her. It had been days since he’d fed and she’d been craving that feeling. He licked and then moved down to the crook of her arm and sank in again there. She watched, fascinated. His face, as he drank, looked like a man having an orgasm. It was so sensual to watch. It felt so different from the other night when he bit her here, meaning for her to feel his anger. She didn’t feel anger this time. Instead she felt something sweet and serene flow through her. She could only describe it as bliss.
He looked up at her and his fangs receded. He licked the spot slowly, then caressed her cheek. It was like he was trying to undo the bite he’d given her on this spot the other night. She kissed his palm, astounded that this felt so intimate, not like a horror movie.
He moaned and then gently eased back inside of her. Then he started to move, pushing deep but slowly, staring directly into her eyes, holding her face in his hands and staring directly into her eyes. It felt amazing. Kyla grabbed his shoulders, trying to pull him closer, feeling like she couldn’t get him close enough to her, and he started to tongue and suck her earlobe. Then he nipped a little and she squirmed, “Ouch”. He let out a sexy little growl and then his teeth clamped onto her throat.
She grabbed his rear end, helping him drive into her repeatedly. The sensations were rising, building, higher, higher. She was panting and clawing at him.
“I’m so happy, baby.”
“Oh Tristan…” she shuddered and moaned and then whimpered, digging her nails into his back. He came with her then, arching his back, his eyes blazing brilliant blue. He ran his tongue over her throat and then kissed it and collapsed beside her and they both stayed there, breathless, staring at the ceiling.
“Wow.” Kyla muttered.
“Wow.” Tristan agreed, “Quick but still wow.”
“Wham bam, holy fuck.” Kyla mumbled.
He laughed a big belly laugh and kissed her hard and fast on her mouth, her left cheek, her right cheek, her forehead. Then he let out a deep exhale and let her go, “Give me 10 minutes and I’ll be good to go again.”
She laughed.
“I’m serious,” he said with conviction.
“Goodie,” she stretched and curled up close to him, putting her hand across his belly, her lips to his shoulder.
For a few minutes they both laid there in amicable silence, but for their ragged breathing. Suddenly Tristan jumped up seemingly energized. Kyla, on the other hand, felt her eyes drooping.
“I need to go. I’ll be back. Don’t leave the room, just in case someone comes back. Should I get you something to drink before I go? I should order a fridge for this room. Yeah, I’ll do that tomorrow.”
She shook her head, amused at his burst of energy. It was like he’d just downed two Red Bulls. “No. I’m okay. Where are you going? Stay with me?” she said shyly.
“Just for a run. I just need to run some energy off and then I’ll hold you all night long. And we’ll have round 2. Or is it 3? Then maybe round 4!” he kissed her forehead, “Can I trust you to stay here, honest? No locks, no gates?”
“Honest.”
“You won’t try to leave me?” he asked, his eyes pleaded with her.
“I won’t,” she meant it. Kyla tried to push away a pang of jealousy but couldn’t help it. Tristan got into a pair of shorts and socks and put on a pair of runners.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, quickly tying shoelaces.
She shook her head and squirmed into the pillow and squeezed her eyes tight.
“Kyla? Words, please.”
“It’s just…I’ve been dying for a good run, too. I used to run every day and I feel itchy for it.”