by J. E Hanson
Saber cuts me off, “I’m sorry about what happened to your sister, but you have to understand that revenge is never the answer. I love you enough, to make sure you stay out of this battle. Christian only wants the same things as me. We equally care for you, and we want what’s best for you. I blame the blood bond that you two are sharing between each other. A blood bond can do peculiar things, to both the vampire and his human companion. I anticipate more arguments in the future from you two. My best advice is to be careful with what you do. I know that blood bonds will trick your mind into doing things that you wouldn’t normally do. You need to distinguish between what’s real, and what’s fantasy.”
“I understand perfectly, so how do I fix it?”
“You tell him that you’re sorry in person, and not on a device.”
“I’m truly sorry and I wasn’t thinking. I allowed what isn’t real, to get the better of me.”
“You need to be careful with your actions, and not give in to your blood bond. I know it has a mind of its own at times. Please, give all of them the same respect they deserve. Is there anything else, I can help you with?”
“I wish I could go to Harvard, but I guess that isn’t going to happen?” I try, to squeak in a question.
“You can start college next year, but it will be on this island. Now, is there anything else, I can help you with?”
“Thanks for answering my question about college.”
“I know you worked hard in high school, but right now, it’s too dangerous for you, to attend a mortal college—or any college in general. You will attend college, once we know Khan is weak. I’m so sorry to disappoint you. I knew you were looking forward to college. Right now, it isn’t appropriate at this time.”
“I’m so sorry, Grandpa. I want to say thank you, for your words of wisdom, and I love you very much.”
My grandfather freezes on the phone. I swear that he’s in shock. After five minutes of patiently waiting, he finally responds, “I love you too, but make sure you apologize to Christian in person.”
“I will, and goodnight”
“Goodnight, my young granddaughter.”
We say our goodbyes, and I feel relieved.
Chapter 10
The buzzing on my alarm clock sounds, but I’m already up. To start the day, I switch to a tank top with shorter shorts. I pull my hair in a ponytail. I layer my tank tops, and then I left the bedroom with my iPod in hand. Once again, I make it to the dining hall by myself. The doors are open, and I can feel that Christian is home. Sophia serves me breakfast.
Sam greets me, “How are you feeling today?”
“I’m okay, I guess.”
“Good… because, today is another long day.”
From the moment, he says that, I knew I’m done for. After breakfast, I cautiously follow him outside.
“You already know, what you need to do—get busy.”
His obstacle course is brutal. The course commences with a hard run. I’m getting ready, to leap over a fence, when someone catches me, by my neck, while I’m in midair.
A huge rogue has me in a firm chokehold. I wince in pain, with one of the rogues shouting, “We got the bitch!”
My mind races with panic, and I try to think of what to do next. They throw me to the ground and it hurts. I cry out in pain. Another hand grabs me, and places me directly behind him. Christian is fully alert standing directly in front of me, growling. His fangs click, and this won’t be pretty.
He snaps, while growling, “Stay down, Jeannie!”
In five seconds, he dismantles the three rogues. My knee throbs from the pain. He appears wet from a shower, and he’s wearing a pair of indigo basketball shorts with ivory tennis shoes.
He squats right beside me. “Are you hurt?” he asks, while he removes my hands, to examine the damage. He found the spot that throbs. He felt my knee, and then my leg, “They snapped your leg”
Out of stubbornness, I attempt to walk away, but I couldn’t. He catches me in his muscular arms, and picks me up against my will, to carry me inside the castle. There’s no way, I can continue to fight with him, since he helps me. The pain is unbearable.
Sam apologizes to him repeatedly. “Stop apologizing to me! You need to apologize to the one, whom you chose to leave, to call your fucking girlfriend! I already jumped Louie for doing the same fucking thing!” Christian snaps at him.
Christian carries me to the library, he sits me down on the mahogany library table, and the Enforcers gasp with horror.
His fangs remain out. “I will have to give you another dose of my blood. This is the only way you will heal. Do you want my blood—or not? You are in no shape, to contest my blood at this time. This will seal our bond permanently. Do I have your approval?”
My head nods quickly at him with my approval. He bites directly into my leg. He shifts rapidly, and then he bites into his own wrist. He hastily pours a large amount of his thick blood inside my wound. The pain eases in five minutes. In my head, I automatically add another twenty years. The total is now up to sixty years. I will be an old woman in a wheelchair now. The thought of Christian protecting me as an old woman—amuses me. I wonder if he will continue to save me, when I’m seventy-eight years old. This revelation causes laughing fits.
He stands right by my head. “What is so amusing?”
“When I’m seventy-eight years old, will you help me out with arthritis? Will you still be around?”
He cracks a smile, and he laughs with me for a change. I immediately have to apologize to him, “I’m sorry for what happened yesterday. Will you please forgive me?”
He starts to pick the leaves out of my hair. “I already forgave you, but it is nicer to hear your apology in person—versus technology.”
I hug him tightly. My soul and body desires him. He returns the affection with a quick peck on my cheek. He caresses my cheek, immediately making me feel comfortable around him. I miss his gentle touch, no matter how small his touches are.
“I need to finish my shower. Brennon and Brannon should be patrolling the area, if you want to still work out—you can.”
“I wonder if you’re tired of saving me now.”
Christian tilts my head. “I have a purpose, and I enjoy playing the hero. It has been an incredibly long time, since I have played this part. Let me enjoy it for as long as I can.”
I wink at him and reassure him. “You have my word, and I enjoy being the damsel in distress. You can’t be GI Jane every day.”
The men in the room laugh at my joke. Christian shakes his head with amusement in his eyes. He gives me one last kiss on the cheek, before he leaves. I watch my white knight in shining armor leave the library, to do what every hero in a story does best. My hero left me to take a celebratory shower.
Charlie helps me off the table, and I’m able to walk. Charlie grins from ear to ear at me.
I left the library, to deal with a guilt-ridden Sam. “I’m so sorry, Jeannie! I think we need to continue our session in the gym for the next couple of days. Please, forgive me, for my incompetence.”
“I’m okay Sam, and accidents happen. All I want to know is how those guys broke through security.”
“I promise it won’t happen again! We will find out what exactly happened.”
~~~***~~~
Sam keeps me inside the gym for the next couple of days. He refuses to let me out of his sight.
Christian starts to come around more often. He takes over for Sam, while he has to run a few errands at Meropis University. My sense of humor causes him, to laugh a few times. We are comfortable around each other again.
“We have another meeting tonight, and you ought to be ready by eight,” he reminds me.
“Let me finish my one thousand squats, and I will meet you there with a few ice packs. I may smell like Icy Hot.”
“Meet me upstairs and try, to look somewhat presentable.”
Christian is the god of perfection. He left the gym looking sexy in his solid charcoal gym shor
ts. It is hard not to gawk at him and feel something. After he leaves, I finish my workout session. I left the dining hall in a hurry, and run smack into Erik.
Erik snarls at me. “You need to watch, where you’re going, Princess.”
My eyes stare through his tough exterior. “I am… I’m sorry, Erik! I will pay close attention. Once again, I’m so sorry, for not looking where I’m going.”
Erik glances at his watch. “Go… run along. I would hate for you, to be late for Christian.”
I turn around and walk backwards, but I run into Ian. “Shit! I’m so sorry Ian! I’m leaving, and I’m sorry guys!”
Ian chuckles at me, and he shakes his head. “It will be okay, chick, but you need to hurry.”
I left them in a hurry, and run to my bedroom. Without missing a beat, I shower and change into my business attire. In record time, I meet him in the foyer. We left together in his limousine. We attend his business meeting with five minutes left to spare. He wears a gray double-breasted suit, and he remains the business shark that he is.
Shelly tries her best to rub her breast against him. I try hard to ignore it, but pangs of jealousy escape me. I thoughtfully imagine what it would feel like, to throw her out the floor window. He cocks his head, and he immediately turns around to me. He smirks at me with amusement in his eyes. I remember what he told me about our blood bond. I mouth the word “fuck,” to him. He lets out a small chuckle. Shelly tries to lean over him again, and this time he moves back. To my absolute surprise, my instant messenger flashes across the computer screen. “Is that better?”
My mind struggles to think of what to type him in return. Is he flirting with me? I shake my head no, and not attempt to entertain that idea. Instead, I wrote him back. “Much better and thanks.” Christian and I sent instant messages to each other during his business meeting. Either they are things of importance, or he sent me instant messages of flirtation. I notice another instant message flash across the screen that I never expect to see.
Hottwin2: I want to inform you that I thoroughly enjoyed the kiss from last week. I am sorry for my shitty reaction. Do you have any left to offer me?
This sends shock waves to my central nervous system. Paul hands me a cup of cool water. I try to think of what to type to him. I summon all my vampire courage, to send him a reply.
Vampprincess1: I thought you were against discussing feelings on communicative devices. To answer your question, yes. There are more to give, but only to willing participants.
I click send and wait impatiently for his response. My face instantly blushes at what I typed to him.
“Are you feeling okay?” Paul whispers to me.
With a click of a button, the instant message now hides at the bottom of my computer screen. I quickly avert my attention to his projects. My mind swirls with what he has typed me. I nod yes at Paul's question. After five additional minutes, my messenger blinks. I inhale and maximize the screen.
Hottwin2: I am a willing participant, but you need to be careful with Paul. He is looking down your blouse right now. I find that highly disrespectful to my Princess.
I casually glance over at Paul and Paul quickly shifts his head away. I frown and immediately pull my blouse up to hide the girls. I shift my weight away from Paul and fire another message to Christian.
Vampprincess1: You didn’t want to be a willing participant last week. Thanks for the warning with Paul, and I’m readjusted now.
Christian lets out a low groan. He shakes his head no at his computer. The feeling of annoyance courses through my veins with my last message. My messenger continues to blink again. I read what he has to say.
Hottwin2: I apologize for my overreaction. Normally, the man kisses the woman first in my generation. I had time to think about it, and I would like to steal some of your sweet kisses.
He taps his fingers on the oak table, and waits for my response. I need to think about it for a minute. I blush with embarrassment.
Vampprincess1: I’m waiting for you, to make the first move, since I did step out of line last time. FYI, you’re up to bat with your presentation.
They call on him again, to grab his attention. He straightens up and stands in front of everyone to give his thirty-minute presentation. I listen carefully to all the questions the other vampires have for him. My emotions try to stay calm, but they creep back to the surface, with Christian feeling them. A few times, he flashes a small smile in my direction. I try to ignore him, but it’s impossible. The sea of lust grips me hard, and starts to strangle me. He gazes right back at me. The lust lasts until the end of his presentation. The pangs between my thighs light me up inside. The lusty stare returns with equal pain.
He wrote back to me, and I gasp as the flirting turns sexual.
Hottwin2: Thanks for telling me. If I make the first move, it will turn into something more. I can slide my tongue in other places if you like.
I purposely drop my pen, and slowly pick it up in his vision. He will get me back for revealing my cleavage to him. I type him in return.
Vampprincess1: We are not dating. I enjoy this, but you’re evilly teasing me. My thoughts of you, are no longer decent these days either.
Shelly glances over at Christian with wonder. He chuckles at my last message. She focuses her attention on me, and shakes her head in disgust. He types me something, but he keeps staring in my direction. He taps his fingers on the oak table again.
“So… what are you doing next weekend?” Paul whispers to me.
My head jerks in Paul’s direction. I know he’s not a vampire, or a hybrid of any kind.
“I’m not doing anything. Why are you asking?” I whisper to him.
Paul responds, whispering, “I wonder, if I can take you out this weekend? Would that even be possible?” Paul scratches his head and readjusts himself. The vampire women smile affectionately at him. Christian doesn’t like Paul's question. He types something on his keyboard. I wait patiently, to see what he types me next, and I’m in shock.
Hottwin2: I believe we are breaking one of my rules. There is a ‘no dating’ policy. I will break my rule, but only for me. Let me know, if you want to date me. I am willing, to see how things work out between us. PS: I really enjoyed the view.
The message returns, to Christian and I gave Paul his answer, “I’m sorry Paul, but I’m seeing someone already.”
Vampprincess1: The jealousy is unbecoming, but you already have me. I will be more than happy to date you. I’m glad you enjoy the view. There’s more, to come in the future with less clothing.
As I wait for his reaction, I organize his reports for him, since that’s the last thing for me to do. My messenger flashes with another message from him.
Hottwin2: You are turning Paul down, who is mortal. You realize that other male mortals want you too. I want you to notice that. Paul will give you what you need.
He writes me a crappy message. “On second thought, what do you want to do this weekend?” I whisper back to Paul.
Paul grins, because he’s happy. “I know of a great place we can eat at. We can even catch a movie.”
Christian isn’t exactly happy with my response to Paul. He’s rather upset. I wrote him a message of frustration.
Vampprincess1: If this is what you want for me, then I will go on a date with him. I’m only doing this, to save you from having, to make that decision. I wouldn’t want you, to put yourself OUT any more than what you have done for me already. If this is what you truly want for me, then I will date only mortals.
Paul hands me a note of the place and time to meet him. I deliberately ignore the last couple of messages from Christian. I smile at Paul warmly. We left the meeting and pile into the elevator together. After the silent elevator ride, Christian and I sit inside his limousine in complete silence. He’s not happy with my decision, and I can feel him brood through our bond. He had his chance, but I refuse to play mind games with him.
As soon as the limousine stops, I jump out. The castle door slams be
hind me, and I run past the men to make it inside my bedroom in record time. My business clothes drop to the floor. For the first time, I cry from the bottom of the shower floor. I silence my sobs quickly. I try not, to give him any hint of what I truly feel inside my heart. Another one of my old shirts turns into an excellent nightgown. My body and mind demands sleep, except I have a visitor.
There’s a loud bang on my bedroom door. “You can come in,” I yell at the door.
Ian enters my room, and he shakes his head at me. “I just want to say one thing to you. You did a great fucking job, pissing my boss off! He ordered all of us, to go on reconnaissance. Thanks for that delightful and inspiring fight that you had with him tonight.”
“I didn’t have a fight with him! I will do what he wants me to do! He wants me to stick with mortals, so that’s what I’m doing! There was no fight,” I yell back at Ian.
Ian opens up my laptop, and he directs me to the messenger in five seconds. He makes me read the last two messages, Christian sent me.
Hottwin2: Do not put feelings inside of me, which are further from the truth! You will piss me off, if you do that! I am trying to keep you alive. My feelings for you do not matter, when it comes to your safety.
