Wicked Souls: A Limited Edition Reverse Harem Romance Collection

by Rebecca Royce

  I moan against his mouth. “I really need to go, babe. I want to check on the baby. Antoine is there, but he never knows what to do if the baby starts crying.”

  He nods and kisses me one last time before I get up from his lap and circle around to wave goodbye at Simon. He waves back before being tackled down by one of the bodyguards.

  Three

  Little Sammy’s almost four months old. At that early age, babies want to sleep and eat. Our little one wasn’t an exception. Still, we often worry about him, and Mrs. Fable found us a babysitter to take care of him during the party so we can relax and have fun.

  Speaking of Mrs. Fable, she’s the one working more for this party. She requested the help of two of her nieces, so all was cleaned and prepared in time to receive the guests coming to our party.

  After checking on the baby and flirting with Antoine for a few minutes, I stroll around the mansion as I open the doors to our guestrooms and see how everything is neatly clean. The beds smell of fresh linens, and the rooms exhibit beautiful flower bouquets that bring the garden inside the house.

  When I enter the kitchen, I find Susana accompanied by a handsome guy wearing a white uniform.

  Did we hire a chef?

  “Hi!” I greet since they seem unaware of my presence.

  Susana looks at me and leaves the preparing station where the flour has dirtied her hands and covered her apron. “Mis… Emily, this is Cameron, the baker from the Sugar & Cinnamon Bakery in town.”

  I look at Cameron, who stopped kneading the dough and smiles at me. “Hello. Nice to meet you.”

  Before I can ask, Susana explains, “One of his ovens still doesn’t work. I brought him here so he could bake the cupcakes in our kitchen. His staff is taking care of the rest.”

  I look around at the number of ingredients that are scattered on the countertops. “Are you also mixing the ingredients here?”

  “Yes, it’d be easier to bring the ingredients and prepare everything here.”

  I arch an eyebrow and check Cameron’s imposing figure. “Have you asked for permission from Mrs. Fable?”

  “She said it would be fine. I just didn’t want you to be disappointed for not having your Halloween themed cupcakes.”

  I look from Cameron to Susana and then back to Cameron. Pacing to the counter, I smile at him. “That was kind of you to come all the way back here to bake me my cupcakes.”

  “I didn’t want to disappoint my biggest client.”

  I inspect the bowls with the eggs and the flour and then the dough. “What else are you baking besides the cupcakes?”

  “Cinnamon rolls. Susana said that she loved them. I thought it would be a great addition to the menu. I’ll make them on the house as an apology for what happened.”

  “Are you sure that your staff won’t miss you in your kitchen?”

  “They are perfectly capable of working without my supervision,” he assures me.

  I grin at him. “Do you want to stay for the party? Or do you have somewhere to be tomorrow?”

  “Emily!” Susana grabs me by my shoulders and pushes me until we are outside the kitchen. Lowering her voice, she reasons, “Mistress, the house will be filled with immortals and shifters. A human who knows nothing about this world is an easy target.”

  I ignore everything she said. “He’s hot! You didn’t tell me the baker was so hot.”

  She frowns. “What do you mean? You want him?”

  I laugh. “Me? No, silly! It's not at me that he’s looking. He came here because of you.”

  She rolls her eyes. “You’re seeing things where there’s none.” Glancing back at the closed door, she lowers her voice even more. “He doesn’t want to lose a client. I was the one who suggested he come here and help me with the cupcakes. We have three ovens and plenty of space in the kitchen.”

  Squinting, I ask her, “Does he please you? I mean, would you bang him?”

  She coughs and leans her back against the wall. “He’s human!”

  “So?”

  “I’m a witch.”

  “You can have fun as much as you want,” I tell her.

  She folds her arms with an offended face. “We’re here to bake, not to flirt.”

  I lean closer to her. “Bake and then show him the mansion. Especially your bedroom.”

  She frowns with puckered lips. “Do you think he’s really into me?”

  I shrug. “Smile at him while you’re working. Lean closer and touch him as much as you can. If he touches you back, he’s interested.”

  “If he’s interested, do you want me to share him with you tonight?”

  I grin at her suggestion and kiss her lips. “No, baby.” I caress her hair and place a strand behind her ear. “Have some fun with him if you want. We can reschedule our night with Richard. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a hot man giving you all his attention?”

  She nods. “But…”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Her arms entwine around me, and she glances up. “I’m not sure if I feel safe inside a bedroom with a man.”

  “Doesn’t Richard make you feel safe when he’s with us?”

  She nods. “It’s different. You’re there with me too. Not all the men are like your knights.”

  “I know, sweetie. But you’ll have to surpass that fear if you plan to give your heart to someone in the future.”

  “My heart is already yours.”

  I kiss her again, harder this time. “It’s easier to love someone when you think you can’t get hurt.”

  I hear footsteps in the kitchen, and I step back from Susana before we’re caught by Cameron making out.

  “Susana,” he calls, striding into the corridor. His eyes look from me to her and focus on her red cheeks and puffed expression. “Is everything okay?”

  “She’s just tired because she had to run upstairs to check on the baby,” I tell him.

  “Oh, right! You and Mr. Heavenly have a child. I hope I’ll be your first option when it’s time to celebrate his birthday. We have the most adorable party themes ideas.”

  I grin at him. “Your store is new in town, right? What made you move here?”

  “There was no competition.”

  I laugh at his answer. Moving forward, I rest my hand on his chest. He frowns but doesn’t step back. “If you can bring to life the best cupcakes for tomorrow’s party, I’m sure that we’ll be ordering from you a lot more.”

  He looks at Susana and steps back this time. “That’s why I’m here. Susana left, and I have no idea where the utensils are in the kitchen.”

  I glance at my sexy witch. “I’m sure Susana will be more than happy to show you where everything is.”

  Turning around, I wave and leave to the first floor.

  Antoine is coming down the stairs when I reach the foyer. “How’s the baby?”

  “Mrs. Fable is with the new nanny, and they are changing his diaper,” he informs, stopping and waiting for me to meet him halfway.

  “You didn’t want to stay and watch?” I tease, knowing well that he doesn’t like to change diapers.

  “I’ll leave the little poop machine for the specialists to handle. What were you going to do upstairs? Did you miss me?”

  “I miss you often, but it’s almost time to breastfeed him. I didn’t do it in the morning, so I was hoping to do it now.”

  “Mrs. Fable is assessing the nanny’s skills, so you should feed him some other time. Besides, he drinks formula in the afternoon.”

  I rub my breasts. “The nipples are hurting a bit. I guess I’ll just pump the milk out for now.”

  Grabbing my arm, he rushes down the stairs with me. “Let’s go take care of that.”

  “Wait. There’s someone in the kitchen that would see us like this.”

  “Like what?”

  “Holding hands.”

  He stops in the middle of the corridor and arches an eyebrow. “Who?”

  “The baker from town. Susana brought him here because their oven was
n’t working.”

  “Do we know all about him to let him enter our home?”

  I shrug. “We’ve been ordering from him for the past five months, and nothing ever happened.”

  “He never came here either. All the orders are left at the gate.”

  Moving closer to Antoine, I wrap my arms around his neck. “Don’t worry too much. He’s here because he’s into Susana, and I want my sweets ready for tomorrow.”

  “Susana?”

  I nod.

  “Are you okay with that?”

  I grin. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Are you planning to join them if something happens between them?”

  I shake my head. “I already have you three to deal. I think I’m good.”

  He pecks my lips. “I don’t want anyone else to come and disrupt our happiness. Simon is finally calming down and not monopolizing all your time. I’m enjoying our nights together and our reading sessions during the weekends. We have the baby…”

  I kiss him to hush him. “I know, my love. It’s too soon to increase our family. Let Susana have some fun.”

  “Now, I’m curious about who this guy is.” He squints. “Do you want to check what they are doing in the kitchen?”

  “I don’t want to interrupt them.”

  He shakes his head with a mischievous grin. “We can check on them without them seeing us.”

  “Oh, the famous secret passageways that only a few know about.”

  He nods. “Exactly.”

  “I doubt it will be that interesting. Susana doesn’t seem to be that into him. He also looks rather prude and someone who wouldn’t fuck someone on their first date.”

  “All men fuck a woman on their first date if she’s willing,” Antoine argues. “Unless they aren’t into women.”

  I nod, having to give him credit. “Okay, let’s go. I want to know exactly where I can find those secret passageways through the house.”

  “Are you going to start spying on us like Simon did?”

  I grab his face between my hands. “Are you doing something I can’t watch when you’re not with me?”

  “Of course not.”

  I kiss him. “Let’s peep on Susana and the hot baker, then.”

  Four

  The passageways are narrower than I hoped for, and the peepholes are lower. We have to crouch or sit down to be able to see anything through the holes. Finally, I manage to sit on Antoine’s lap while we share the two holes.

  “I’m almost falling asleep,” Antoine complains after ten minutes of nothing happening.

  “I told her to smile at him and touch him,” I whisper back.

  “I thought you said that they were into each other,” Antoine says.

  I shrug. “I thought he was into her, but he’s acting extremely professional and patient.”

  “It doesn’t help when she evades any attempt of him getting close. She can’t flirt to save her life.”

  I giggle against his shoulder, so my laughter is muffled by his clothes. “Hum. You smell so nice.”

  “I can’t say the same about this hallway between the walls.”

  I giggle again. “Stop it, or they’ll hear us.”

  “We’re whispering so low that only another vampire can hear us. I don’t believe our baker is a vampire. He smells and looks human to me.”

  “Maybe all she needs is a human to restore her faith in love.”

  Antoine adds with sarcasm, “And cure her crush on Richard.”

  I slap his shoulder. “Don't be mean. It’s my fault, and I can’t blame her. Richard is crazy hot and super sweet.”

  He pouts. “I’m sweet too.”

  “You’re more than sweet. You’re sexy and amazing. You know I can’t live without you.”

  He grins and pecks my lips. “You’re good at stroking my ego.” He glances back. “Let’s see what we’ve missed.”

  We lean down at the same time and peek.

  I was going to lean back when he grabs my hands. “Wait, some progress. He’s teaching her how to knead the dough. Hum. I might need a cooking lesson from you if you think this is hot.”

  I muffle my need to laugh and watch as Dominic moves behind Susana and places his hands on hers.

  “Kneading is all about pushing the dough away with the heel of your palm, folding it over itself by using your fingers, and then pulling it back,” Dominic explains. “Well-kneaded dough will have a smooth surface and tight crumb.”

  “Okay,” Susana replies. “I think I got it.”

  I roll my eyes.

  “This is painful to watch and not sexy at all,” Antoine whispers.

  “You smell nice. What perfume do you use?” Dominic asks without removing his hands.

  “I’m not wearing perfume. Maybe it’s my shampoo.”

  Things get hotter.

  “Let me check.” Dominic leans closer to her and smells her hair.

  I muffle a scream and slap Antoine’s shoulder, approving Dominic’s smoothness.

  Susana stops kneading. “I think it’s done.”

  He moves from behind her and grabs the dough, placing it on his station. “It needs a bit more love.” He glances at her as she cleans her hands. “What are you doing tonight?”

  “Sleep.” She looks at him. “Why?”

  “I thought you might want to grab a coffee with me and talk for a while.”

  “Don’t you have other orders to get ready for tomorrow?”

  “Yes, but I can stop for an hour to have coffee with you.”

  She cleans her station. “I never go to town at night.”

  “Why not?”

  “We always have a lot to do here. When we want to have fun, we go to the city.”

  “Oh, that must be why I never see you at the local pub.”

  Susana glances at him. “I don’t drink alcohol, and they don’t like to go out in town. People talk too much about what they don’t know.”

  Dominic nods. “I’m sure they do. Everybody talks about…”

  She frowns. “About what?”

  “About how rich Mr. Heavenly is and how lucky Mrs. Heavenly was in marrying him. That no one knew they were dating before they announced her pregnancy and got married in just a few weeks.” He shrugs. “Small towns like gossip.”

  “Hum. I guess Emily was lucky. Richard is an amazing man. They all are.”

  He stopped kneading. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that we’re happy here. I don’t really think I should leave my mistress to go and have coffee with you. At least not tonight. Tomorrow is a big day here, and we need everything ready.”

  “I understand.”

  Susana bites on her lower lip. “Though, mistress said that I could show you around if you want. We can put everything in the ovens, set the alarms, and I can show you the mansion. Would you like that?”

  “I’d love it,” he beams. “I’ve been very curious about what’s happening behind these walls.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s a huge property, and I love old houses.”

  Susana helps him with another batch of dough. Their hands work together as they talk. “Have you ever been to a themed Halloween party?”

  “Depends on the theme,” he claims. “I’ve been to many parties. But I’m sure that a party at the Heavenly Mansion is something out of this world.”

  “I don’t know. It’ll be my first time spending Halloween here.”

  “How long have you been here?”

  “Almost a year. We didn’t celebrate Halloween in my other…family.”

  He glances at her. “Why not?”

  She shrugs. “They were really strict.”

  “Oh. I understand what that is. My parents were also rigorous. But it’s been a few years since I gathered my own team and cut ties with my family. I’m doing well on my own.”

  “Does baking make a lot of money?”

  “I make enough to have a good life and do what I love.” He pauses and looks at her. “What about yo
u? What do you like to do? What do you do in this house?”

  “I’m Emily’s cousin,” she lies.

  “Why did you move in with her? Did you come here to help with the baby? Is it true that her parents rarely visit?”

  “Mistress…”

  “Why do you keep calling her that?”

  Susana smiles and moves to the sink to wash her hands. “I like to joke with my cousin, and this is a way to tease her. Now that she’s become rich, I like to remind her by calling her mistress.”

  “It sounds more like she owns you or something. That’s wrong. You should call her Emily. You’re family.”

  “Come and wash your hands. I’ll show you around the mansion,” Susana says with a friendly smile.

  I huff at the lack of sexiness that came with the boring conversation between them. Panting, I ask, “Antoine, what are you doing?”

  “You were leaking,” he mumbles as he sucks on my boob. He had pushed the corset down my chest and was having fun while I watched Dominic and Susana failing at flirting. At least they were getting to know each other.

  I moan as he keeps sucking and playing with my breasts. “This isn’t the place to do this.”

  “This is the perfect place to do this. It’s secluded, no one can see us, and you needed to pump the milk. Your milk is delicious, no wonder the baby likes to suck for so long.”

  “Do it to the other one now,” I request, holding on to his head and enjoying it. “I should ask Dominic to come to the party tomorrow. What do you think? Richard said he would introduce Susana to a few of his friends, but she seems to like the baker. It would be nice if she dated someone closer to home.”

  Antoine pauses the suckling. “He asks way too many questions.” He takes my boobs between his hands. “We should go to the nursery so you can pump them. The milk keeps coming out.”

  “You’re right. It’s too dirty here. Someone should tell Mrs. Fable to clean here.”

  “No one but us know about these passageways.”

  “Oh. Can we see into Susana’s bedroom?”

  “Why? Do you think she’s going to show him her bedroom and go for a quickie?”

  “That would be fun to watch, but no. I’m just wondering if there’s a peephole into her bedroom and if one of you have been watching us.”