Dark Obsession: A Vampire Romance (Vampire Royals of New York Book 3)

by Sarah Piper

  Charley bit back a smile. She’d never seen him so off-balance before.

  When he finally looked at her again, his cheeks had taken on a deep red blush.

  “Sasha deserves to learn on a nice set, not some cheap plastic knockoff. That’s all.” He brushed off a bit of microscopic dust from the board, then rearranged some of the pieces, turning them just so. “I set it up last night. I want it to be ready for her when she comes back to us.”

  When, not if.

  One little word, and it made all the difference.

  “She’s going to love it, Aiden.”

  “Yes, well… I just thought you should know we’ve all got an incentive to bring Sasha home safely. I can’t very well play chess on my own, can I?”

  The tears fell again from Charley’s eyes, but now she was smiling, drawing Aiden in for a warm and grateful embrace. “No, Aiden. I suppose you can’t.”

  “Right, then.” He held her for just a moment longer, then pulled away and said, “Better get you back before that boyfriend of yours starts missing you and tears down the whole bloody east wing in a fit of love-induced psychosis. He really is a bit mad for you, isn’t he?”

  Charley bit back another smile. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Alone in Dorian’s bedroom, Charley stared at the money she’d stacked on the dresser.

  Five thousand two hundred and thirty-nine dollars.

  Along with a hastily packed suitcase full of her remaining clothes, the tampon box where she’d stashed the money was all she’d grabbed from home the day Dorian had taken her into the city for her gear.

  She didn’t plan on returning to the penthouse without her sister. And when they did return—together—Charley would be damn sure she could take care of them.

  The money was just a start.

  “I hope you’re not planning to keep that under the mattress,” Dorian said, entering the room with a curious grin. “Do I even want to know where that came from?”

  “I earned it,” Charley said, with more than a little pride. “Rudy canceled my credit card, so I sold all the couture stuff in my closet. Not a bad haul, considering.”

  “What? When did this happen?”

  “I found out that day I took Sasha to the movies—my cards were declined.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve—”

  “That’s exactly why. You would’ve. And I didn’t want you to—not with this.” She sat on the edge of the bed, and Dorian sat next to her, his eyes full of concern. “It’s not like I was going to let Sasha starve or end up on the street. I would’ve asked for help if things got that bad.”

  “I don’t want things to get anywhere near that bad, Charlotte. You could’ve come to me with this. You can come to me with anything.”

  “I know—and I love you for that. It’s just… It’s hard to explain, but I knew if I dug deep enough, I could figure something out. And I did.” Charley looked over at the pile of money. “I know it’s not much—probably not even enough to cover the damage I did to your cars. But it’s—”

  “Bloody brilliant, is what it is. What you are.” He smiled and reached for her face, gently running his fingers along her jawline. His touch was electric, and she shivered in its wake. “You’re so much stronger than you give yourself credit for, Charlotte. I’ve always known it about you.”

  Charley shrugged. “Before I met you, I don’t think I would’ve been able to do it.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I’ve never considered myself particularly strong or clever. Sure, I know how to plan heists and run a good con. But to actually take a stand—no matter how small—against someone like my uncle? To find my way out of a jam? Forget it. I was always too scared and insecure to even try.” She gazed into his honey-brown eyes and smiled. “The thing is… You’re right. I am strong. I’ve always been strong. Maybe it was something I learned by necessity after my mom left, or from growing up without money, or maybe I was just born to fight my way through life, regardless of the circumstances.” She closed her eyes and shook her head, the old shame creeping back in. “Then I started working my father’s game, and every damn time I put on one of those outfits—one of those costumes—I took on a new identity, and I lost another piece of myself.”

  Emotion welled inside her—a lifetime of regret bubbling back to the surface, no longer content to stay locked in its box. Part of her was terrified even this was another game—that she’d open her eyes and the manor would vanish around her, as if falling in love with Dorian had been nothing more than a role she’d played for someone else.

  But when Charley opened her eyes again, the manor didn’t disappear. She was still here, sitting on the bed with her vampire king, who looked at her with a mix of love and admiration that brought tears to her eyes.

  “I thought I’d truly lost myself, Dorian,” she said. “But you saw me—the first time you looked at me across the lobby in the Salvatore. It was in your eyes—that moment and every time you’ve looked at me since. You see me. You helped me find my way back.”

  “I will always see you, Charlotte. And if you lose your footing again, I will always help you find your way back.” He took her face between her hands and drew her close, lowering his mouth to hers in a kiss that sealed his promise, warm and soft and decadent, every hot breath a reminder that this wasn’t a role or a game. It was real, it was hers, and she wanted to hold on to it forever.

  But it wasn’t enough to simply want it.

  The odds were stacked against them, and every day, they took another hit. Sasha’s kidnapping. The Estas and Rudy connection. The grays and the dark witches working with Dorian’s enemies. The mysterious blade of Azerius. Silas and Malcolm’s newfound bromance. The demon lord who’d marked her.

  Charley pulled back from his kiss and met his gaze again, knowing she couldn’t put this off any longer.

  She had to tell him what she’d been thinking about.

  What she wanted.

  Before she said another word, Dorian was grinning at her as if he already knew.

  “And there it is,” he teased, tracing his thumb across her eyebrow. “You’re having a think about something.”

  “Busted.”

  “Tell me.”

  She climbed into his lap and straddled him, looping her arms around his neck. “I’ve been thinking about superpowers.”

  “Superpowers?”

  “Yeah, like how you’ve got the whole compulsion thing going on, and the blurring, and vampire super strength.”

  “Don’t forget I’m devilishly charming,” he added, leaning in to nuzzle her neck.

  “Oh, and humble too!” Charley ran her hands through his hair and gave it a gentle tug, forcing him to meet her gaze again. “You know what my super power is?”

  “Do you need a list, then?” Still grinning, Dorian ran his hands along her thighs and said, “All right. You’re the smartest woman I know—I think we’ve covered that already.” He kissed her forehead, his lips making her skin tingle. “You’re incredibly brave—a quality I deeply admire, even when I’m scolding you for being reckless.” Another kiss, this time on her temple, lingering just a bit longer than the last. “You drive like you’re on the racetrack, and you can crack a safe like nobody’s business—a thing I’ve only just learned about you.” His mouth grazed her ear. “You’re passionate, funny, and devastatingly beautiful.” Slowly, he kissed his way to her lips, his hot breath teasing her for just a moment before he claimed her in another kiss, deeper this time, a low moan vibrating from his chest. When he finally pulled back, his eyes were glazed. “And you do this thing with your tongue that I…” He blinked rapidly, his mouth curved in a seductive grin. “I’m sorry. What was the question?”

  Charley laughed. “We were talking about my superpower, and then you got completely distracted.”

  “Maybe that’s your superpower. Distracting me until I’ve melted into a useless puddle, then havin
g your way with me.”

  “Good guess, but nope.”

  “What is it, then, Charlotte D’Amico? What is your superpower?”

  Charley rose up on her knees and pushed him backward on the bed, pinning his hands above his head and collapsing on top of him. “I adapt.”

  “Hmm.” He lifted his head just enough to bite her lower lip. “I rather like this adaptation.”

  Charley let out a soft sigh of pleasure. Dorian was rock-hard beneath her, and she wanted nothing more than to give in to the ocean tide of his impossible magnetism. She wanted to kiss her way down his incredibly sculpted body, take him into her mouth, and suck him until she’d had her fill.

  She wanted to make him lose control, all for her.

  But she needed to get this off her chest first. Needed him to know what she truly wanted—and to hear his real answer—before things got all tangled up in the heat of their insatiable cravings.

  She wouldn’t blur those lines. Not with this.

  It was too damn important.

  Charley rolled onto her hip beside him, and he turned to face her, propping his head up on his elbow, patiently waiting for her to continue.

  “I told you how Sasha is obsessed with vampires, right?” she said. “But there’s one thing that’s always bothered me about all those books and movies.”

  “Only one thing?” Dorian laughed. “I could write a dissertation on the factual errors alone, not to mention the sodding fools they cast in those roles. They wouldn’t last a day against a real vampire.”

  “Agreed, but more importantly…” She blew out a breath, still trying to find the words to express her desires. “The girl—the human—hardly ever gets to choose.”

  “Not true! What about that whole kerfuffle between the sparkly vampire and the teen wolf with the abs? It was practically a national sport. Team Sodding Fool or Team Bloody Idiot… I’m certain Aiden had the T-shirt. Utter embarrassment, if you ask me.”

  “I’m not talking about choosing a boyfriend, Dorian. I’m talking about choosing whether to become a vampire.”

  “But the human never has to choose in those stories. Someone always turns her in the end.”

  “That’s my point. They turn her because she’s on the brink of death and there’s no other option. Or the enemy turns her against her will. Me? I’d rather have the choice.”

  His eyes turned serious, and he threaded a hand into her hair, gently stroking her head. “I won’t let it come to that, love. No one will bring death to your doorstep.”

  “How can you make that promise?”

  “I… Well, that is to say… I mean…” Dorian opened and closed his mouth a dozen times to answer, but there was no answer. Not for this.

  “I want a choice, Dorian. Not when I’m taking my last breath. Not when I’m being chased by some insane enemy, whether it’s a gray or a demon or even my own flesh and blood. I want the choice right now.” Charley rose from the bed, her nervous energy making it impossible for her to stay still. “And I’ve already made it. Adapt or die, right? I’m choosing to adapt. I always adapt.”

  Dorian sat up in bed and met her gaze, but his thoughts were guarded. “Adapt to what, exactly?”

  He knew what she was asking. He had to know. But he was going to make her say it out loud.

  He was going to make her be brave.

  Charley took a deep, steadying breath and got on her knees before him, taking his hands and lacing their fingers together. She knew that once she said the words, she wouldn’t be able to take them back.

  Whether he agreed with it or not, her desire would be out there in the ether.

  Voiced.

  In so many ways, confessing it out loud felt like blowing out the candles on a birthday cake, and both of them held their breath, waiting for it.

  I wish, I wish, I wish…

  “I want to become a vampire,” Charley finally admitted. “I want you to turn me.”

  He stared at her, unblinking, the intensity in his eyes boring deep into her soul. He was silent and motionless for so long her knees started to ache, but Charley didn’t dare move.

  In all their late-night conversations, the whispers in the dark, the declarations and promises, this was the one thing they’d managed to avoid talking about. The one thing that probably mattered more than anything else.

  It carried the risk of death and the promise of eternity in equal measure, and it was terrifying and life-altering, miraculous and impossible.

  The night Silas assaulted her, Charley had said she was afraid to let the vampires heal her with their blood—afraid it might turn her. But deep down, she wasn’t afraid of turning.

  She was afraid Dorian wouldn’t want her to turn. That he’d see her as this eternal burden—an immortal commitment he’d never signed up for.

  But she knew—her heart knew—that wasn’t the case. Whatever the reasons for his silence now, it wasn’t because he didn’t love her.

  For however bloody long eternity lasts…

  When Dorian finally spoke again, his voice was low and dark. “There’s a human saying,” he said. “Something about how it’s only in the worst hours of our lives that we discover who we truly are.”

  “I’m familiar with it.”

  “It’s bullshit, Charlotte. The worst hours utterly shatter who we truly are. Then we spend the whole of our existence trying to crawl back to some semblance of our true selves. Putting the pieces back together? That’s what shows us who we really are—the rebuilding of a life from its smoldering ruins. So what you need to ask yourself is this: You’re on your hands and knees, love. Now how much fire and broken glass are you really willing to crawl through to get back?”

  “As much as I have to, Dorian. Because this is the worst hour of my life. My sister’s been kidnapped by the man who murdered my father, my soul’s been claimed by a demon, and the man I love—the vampire I love—is facing threats from supernaturals I didn’t even know existed a month ago, including one of his own brothers.” Charley released Dorian’s hands and cupped his face. “I am in love with you, Dorian. I’ll stand by your side through anything, no matter what I have to crawl through to get there. After everything we’ve been through, how could you even doubt it?”

  “I don’t doubt your heart. I just don’t think you realize what you’re asking.” He pulled away from her touch and rose from the bed, crossing the room to the windows.

  She stood, watching him in silence as he stared out across the lands of Ravenswood.

  “I think having a choice is better,” she said.

  “I know you do, but—”

  “No, Dorian. Those were your words. When you told me about what happened with Adelle, you said you’d wanted to give her the choice about whether to turn. You wanted to honor her wishes.”

  His shoulders tightened, and he let out a deep sigh. “That was different.”

  “Why? Because I don’t deserve the same choice? Because I’m—”

  “Because what I felt for her doesn’t even come close to what I feel for you.” He finally turned to face her again, his eyes blazing. “Loving you… It consumes me. I can’t lose you. I can’t watch you go through the change, knowing there’s even a chance you won’t come out on the other side.”

  “Then I guess that makes you a fucking hypocrite, doesn’t it.” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him, heat rising inside her like a teakettle about to blow.

  “I beg your pardon, but—”

  “You don’t get to tell me you’re ready to sign away your soul and follow me into the depths of hell over some alleged demon contract, but then turn around and say I can’t follow you on this path—a path I’m actually choosing.”

  The fire in his eyes dimmed, but only a fraction. “You’re looking for a way to beat your uncle, and I understand that. Being a vampire would give you the advantage. But—”

  “This isn’t about Rudy! Don’t you get it? I’ve spent my entire life playing by other people’s fucked-up rules.
You made me realize it’s okay to want things for myself. And what I want—not because of my uncle, not because of some demon lord—is to be with you. Not as a weak, terrified human who’ll one day die and leave you behind, but as a vampire.”

  “Charlotte, you can’t just—”

  “You said signing your soul away to follow me to hell would be your very last act on this earth. Well, maybe becoming a vampire is my very last act.”

  “Wonderful. And if the demon comes to claim your soul next week?”

  “Then I would’ve gotten a whole week to live under my own rules. To be something I wanted to be. To claim something all for myself.”

  All the fire returned to his eyes, and he shoved a hand through his hair, pacing the room like a caged beast. “Have you given this more than a moment’s thought? Do you have any idea—any bloody idea—what your life would be like as a vampire? You can never have children, or—”

  “I’ve never wanted children.”

  “What about the part where you have to drink human blood to survive?”

  That particular detail still made her a bit queasy, but she shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “It’s a food source like any other.”

  In a blur, Dorian was in her space again, gripping her arm and jerking her wrist against his mouth.

  Charley gasped at the sudden contact, her heart thudding, her skin heating at the touch of his lips.

  The memory of the last time he’d bit her filled her with a dark, delicious ache.

  “Do it,” she whispered, daring him, begging him, trembling in anticipation of his exquisite bite.

  Dorian dragged his lips over the sensitive skin, his tongue darting out to tease her. Then, with a wicked gleam in his eye, he whispered, “Are you certain?”

  “I… I’m…” Charley closed her eyes, momentarily disoriented by the sudden shift in his mood, the air crackling between them. “Dorian, I… Yes. Just fucking do it. I’m—”

  A sharp, unmistakable pain pierced her skin, and she cried out and opened her eyes, crimson blood dripping from her wrist.