The Power of One (The Forever series Book Two) (4 page)

He nods but this time he hears me. “I’m sorry, I thought I
had more control.”

“Oh baby, no new Vampire can be that controlled. It’s a hard
battle, one you must fight. One I will teach you and help you with.”

“Okay,” he says, determined to make me proud of him.

I lead him to the bed and scoot up to the middle, pulling
him with me. “Touch me,” I whisper. “Kiss me everywhere. Please me three times
before you please yourself.” It’s a great lesson in self control that he looks
less than happy with but he will do because I ask it of him.

Parting my legs, he rubs his fingers over my clit as I lean
back and let the pleasure take me over. I feel him move and then his mouth is
on me. Thrusting his tongue into me I gasp and I hear him groan with lust.
Swapping his tongue and fingers, he inserts two inside me, then three, pulsing
in and out, his tongue expertly flicking and licking me. I come abruptly and I
feel his grin against me. “That’s one!” he says with delight. I smile at his
tone.

Inhaling my scent deeply he sighs and resumes his task.
After a few moments he growls in frustration and I feel his fangs drop against
my skin, and he bites me, drawing my blood from my femoral artery. I gasp in
surprise at his boldness but I am so aroused at the same time. He pulls back
murmuring, “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself,” not actually sounding all that
sorry at all!

Oh, he’s going to pay for that, I think with delight as I
pull his head up with a fistful of hair. Staring innocently into my
mock-furious glare with those perfect deep blue eyes, I crush his mouth to mine
drawing his body over me. I flip us over so I am straddling him. I can feel him
rock hard against me but make no move to join us together. I push him back
roughly and wiggle down him until my mouth is right over his tip. “Remember,
you have two more to go before you can please yourself,” I say mercilessly
before plunging my mouth over his cock.

He cries out, “No Liv. Please don’t. I can’t stop myself.”

“Yes, you will,” I demand before sliding my tongue all the
way down him, tip to balls as slowly as I can. He tries to squirm away but I
hold him in place. “Please, Liv, please,” he begs. Relenting on my arduous
torture, he pants in relief. “Let me please you again,” he murmurs. Smiling
seductively I crawl up and lie next to him. He turns and kisses me, hesitantly.
As I open my mouth to him he deepens the kiss and brings his hand up to my
breasts. His touch is driving me wild and I want him inside me, but my sire
self wants him to know I have control, as I do with Devon, as Constantine does
with me.

He moves his mouth along my jaw kissing me softly, pausing
for a second at my neck, but he steels himself and moves his kisses down to my
nipples. Taking one in his mouth he teases me and I feel it all the way down my
body. Encouraged, he trails his hand down to my clit, flitting his fingers over
me so lightly. He does it again before he pushes them onto me. His teasing has
been my undoing though and I surrender for the second time. Lifting his head up
from my nipple, a confident grin on his face, he says smugly, “That’s two. The
next will be done properly.” Before I can say anything to that he thrusts
inside me. I don’t push him away, as I want him too much. He is so hard he is
hitting my G-spot perfectly with every stroke and within seconds I am coming
around him, thudding against him.

“Oh fuck!” he cries out as he comes inside me then. “Oh
fuck, I need you,” he says quieter. “I love you,” he whispers as he stills.

Still feeling the effects of my mind-blowing orgasm, I kiss
him passionately. “I love you too,” I murmur and he is content, happy that he
has pleased me, done as I asked, happy that I am holding him and kissing him.
He snuggles into me, unable to let go and turning us to the side he falls
asleep, still deep inside me, muttering, “I want to stay like this forever,
Forever
.”

XXXXX

I awake from a deep sleep by a loud knock at the door.
Glancing at the clock it says 7 AM Ergh. My head is pounding from a lack of
human blood now and my eyes are really sensitive to the light.

More knocking occurs.

I untangle myself from Cole who is wrapped around me like
ivy, and I smile at my newest creation. I pull on my robe and clutching my
head, stagger to the door. “What?” I snap as I pull it open.

It’s Nico. With two other people I don’t know. A man and a
woman.

“Good morning Liv,” he says briskly.

“Nico. What are you doing here? Is CK here?” I ask peering
around him.

“No. May we come in?”

Disappointed not to see my sire, I still let them in. I
close the door and turn around. All three of them are staring at me. It’s then
I realize I had forgotten to tie the robe when I pulled it on. I nonchalantly
pull it closed over my naked self in the act of crossing my arms. “What are you
doing here?” I ask again.

Nico snaps his eyes back up to mine from the general region
of my tits and I'm surprised to see the look of desire in his eyes.

“Feeders,” he states abruptly his eyes going cold again.
“Mr. D’Arcangelo asked me to bring them to you.”

I nod and wave for them to sit. I go back to the bedroom to
get Cole. He’s still flat out. “Cole, baby, wake up,” I shake him gently. He
wakes at my voice and touch, turning towards me.

“Hey,” I say with a smile.

“Hey,” he croaks before clearing his throat. “Hey,” he says
again.

“Get dressed. Nico has a feeder here for you.”

He nods and I can see he’s hungry. “You go first and I’ll
stop you at the limit. Try to recognize the sign of it, okay?”

“Okay,” he says while pulling on shorts and a t-shirt. He
fiddles with his ring as he avoids the sunlight streaming into the room. It’s
natural. It’s something that also takes getting used to even with the
protection of the Faerie Silver ring, that has been crafted and enchanted to
allow us to be in the sun.

“Step into it, baby. You’ll be fine,” I coax, standing in it
myself with my hand outstretched. His desire to touch me wins out over his fear
and he grabs my hand and I pull him close. He flinches but once he realizes he
is protected not going to go up in flames he relaxes with a soft smile. I pull
his head down for a quick kiss, which he deepens because he can’t help himself.
Pulling away I say, “Feed,” and he nods.

Strolling hand in hand into the sitting area the two feeders
go on alert. I lead Cole to the woman, thinking he might be more comfortable.
She stands and turns around. Cole’s fangs are already down as he can smell and
sense the blood pumping through her veins.

“Slowly,” I murmur, standing at his side. He grips her arms
too tight and I tap his fingers. He lets go a little bit and drops his mouth to
her neck. He bites down and starts to feed. After a few seconds I say to him,
“Pull back. Slowly.” I place my hand on his waist and it distracts him enough
to pull away.

“That’s good, my love,” I say quietly and he beams at my
praise.

“Nico. Take her outside while I feed, please,” I say. He
understands it’s for her own safety and doesn’t hesitate.

I move across to the man who remains seated and I walk
around to the back of his chair.
”No!” Cole says suddenly.

I look up, startled. “What is it?” I ask.

“I don’t want you to feed on him,” He says, almost in pain.
“Just feed from me. You said you could survive that way.”

I glance apologetically at the man to wait one minute and he
shrugs. He gets paid enough for his donation to sit here all day if necessary.

“Cole, when I told you that, I had not fed from a human in
many months. But when I bit you the cravings started again. The need for human
blood is a strong one, my love, and when I took most of yours yesterday it
awoke the bloodlust, as I haven’t been used to it. I need this. I need this to
stay in control,” I explain, not expecting him to understand.

He looks pained but accepts my explanation without
questions.

I move back to the man and drop my fangs. I drink deeply and
I can feel the headache retreat instantly. Taking my fill I pull back and
retract my fangs. Cole watches jealously from across the room, but he’s in
control and that is good.

The man beats a hasty retreat now knowing there are two
potentially dangerous Vampires in the room with him and he bumps into Nico on
his way out.

“Thank you, Nico,” I say gratefully. He nods and says, “I’d
better get back. Mr. D’Arcangelo said he would see you around lunchtime with
news.” I nod my thanks and he leaves in a swish of his duster coat.

“Feel better?” I ask Cole who is still sulking in the
corner.

He nods. “Good. So do I,” I say pointedly. Immediately he is
at my side, a look of concern on his face. “Are you okay?” he asks.

“I am now. The headache has gone,” I reassure him and he
pulls me into a deep hug.

XXXXX

Soon after Devon pitches up ready for the Qualifying round
of the Grand Prix, with some bimbo he clearly “released” on last night on his
arm looking like the cat that got the cream. The bimbo, not Devon, just to be
clear. No, he only has eyes for me.

I raise an eyebrow at him and he shrugs and lets her go.
“How’d it go Kitten?” he asks quietly as he hugs and kisses me.

“Good. Wonderful in fact. He’s so controlled,” I say in
wonder. “I thought there would be more rampaging,” I add with a smirk.

He chuckles. “It’s your age, you ancient crone,” he teases
and I punch him on the arm.

“Hey, ow, no fair,” he complains good-naturedly.

“You are not too old to have me smack you down, my boy, you
know,” I chuckle.

His eyes narrow as he steps closer and tilts my chin up. He
leans in close and whispers against my lips, “Bring it.”

My knees go weak at his close proximity but remembering
myself, I raise a hand to his chest and gently push him away.

“Maybe next time,” I croak.

“Promises, promises,” He teases softly and we giggle
together and turn arm in arm to go to the terrace to continue with our
race-watching.

Cole is glowering at us from the shadows. Uh-oh. I feel a
serious conversation coming on. I sigh and Devon looks at me, and then follows
my gaze to Cole. “I’ll be outside. Holler if you need me,” he says and beats a
hasty exit.

I motion for Cole to join me in the bedroom. He follows
slowly, unsure.

He closes the door and turns to me. A mixture of anger,
jealousy, and something else I can’t quite place. “Are you sleeping with him?”
he asks suddenly.

Not entirely taken aback, I pause and weigh my options.
Either lie and save his pain now, but be caught at some point down the road
when he feels strong enough to leave me, or tell the truth now when I know he
will be hurt but stay because he won’t be able to leave.

Steeling myself, I take a deep breath, “Yes.”

He flinches and the previously unknown look flashes and its
fear and pain. He looks away from me. “I see,” he says quietly. “I knew it
somehow, deep down, when you were talking about him the other night. All this
time?”

“For 506 years, my love,” I say. I need him to understand. I
take his hand and he doesn’t resist, he can’t, and I pull him to the bed and
sit. He sits too. “You said in the chapel that you understand what he feels for
me, and I explained to you what I feel for him. It isn’t something we can push
away. We have tried, both of us, in the past. He left me and I let him go, but
we will always find each other again.” I pause to take a breath. “There will come
a time when you will leave me, but we too will always find each other again.”

He looks at me with a lack of understanding on his sad face
and shakes his head. “Yes, my love, you will. ‘Charges always leave their
sires,’” I quote my own sire’s words to him. “I left Constantine and Devon left
me. You will too. A hundred years from now, two hundred years from now, who
knows, but you will go, and you will come back. It’s what we do. It’s who we
are. The bond between us is too strong to deny or fight or ignore.”

Silence.

Sighing, I make a decision. “Cole, I love you. I love you so
much that I wanted to turn you so I could always love you. You wanted me to
turn you so you could love me forever. That will never, ever change now, but I
understand if you don’t want to marry me anymore.” I take off my beautiful,
precious to my heart ring and hold it out to him.

Surprised, he looks from my eyes to the ring and back again.
“Is that what you want?” he asks sadly.

“No!” I shake my head vehemently. “I want to be your wife. I
want to be yours in every possible way.”

He looks at me unconvinced and undecided. I start to feel a
mild panic. He takes the ring from me and my heart sinks. He stares at it for a
long time and just as I am about to give up and walk away he speaks, “I gave
this to you because I wanted us to be together forever. I still want that.” He
pauses and my heart leaps. “You say that I will want to leave you one day, but
I can’t imagine that. I don’t want that. Bond aside, I meant it when I gave
this to you. Are you only accepting it because you think one day I will leave
you and you will be free again?”

My mouth drops open, “Cole, baby no. God no. I don’t want
you to leave me. It’s just… inevitable. I want you by my side forever.” I try
to reassure him.

He nods. “And what of Devon?” he asks slowly.

I hesitate and he nods again, saying, “So you can agree to
be my wife, but still be happy to have sex with someone else.” It’s not a
question, so I don’t answer. He snorts then, “Some
one’s
, really isn’t
it?” That is a question and I can’t avoid it.

“Yes.” And he stands abruptly.

“Of course you are,” he says almost to himself. “How could
you not be with him?” Sighing he turns to me, “Is this how it is with all of
you? All of us?” he corrects himself. “Just fucking about all over the place?
If so, can I do it too?” he challenges me.