Lucian ran an exasperated and abashed hand over his face.
“The doors should not have been locked.”
“Well, they were, trust me I know.”
“No, no, I believe you. Mr. Jones usually ensures the building is secured during the day. It is my error for not instructing him to leave them unlocked,” he shook his head and looked apologetically at her. The look of honesty took the wind out of her sails instantly.
“It was just a mistake? You made a mistake?” Katherine questioned.
“Yes, as much as I don’t like to admit it, I made a mistake. Please, Katherine, accept my sincerest apologies. I never meant for you to feel like you were imprisoned here with me.”
“Aren’t I though?” Katherine countered, not quite ready to accept his apology.
“What do you mean?”
“I am under contract to stay at Tumbricane for two months, or until my father comes up with the goods, which let us be honest; isn’t likely to happen in that time. You’ve effectively forced me to put my life on pause while we wait for him to sort his mess out. I have none of my own things, I am unable to do the things that I want to do; like continue my studies, or do the stuff I enjoy,”
“What do you enjoy?”
“I don’t know,” Katherine threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. “Going for a run, watching a movie. The point is Lord Nightingale: I may have a comfortable bed, I may get fed delicious pancakes for breakfast, I may receive the most mind-blowing orgasms of my life, but I’m still not free to live my life. I am still being punished for the actions of my father.” She looked away into the fire that burned in the hearth, “It feels like no matter what, I am always going to be punished because of my parents.”
The silence stretched between them for a long minute, while Katherine held a deep breath. She was tired. So very tired and honestly couldn’t face fighting with him anymore.
“If you’re planning on biting me and drinking my blood, can you either get it over with or can we postpone it until tomorrow? I’d like to return to my room now, please.”
“Of course, Katherine,” Lucian said quietly, standing to offer her his hand to help her rise from the bed.
She took his hand, feeling like there was little point in being stubbornly resistant anymore. They both knew he could charm his way around her willpower, much to her own self-loathing.
They walked in silence as Lucian led her down a spiral stone staircase that brought them to the heavy tapestry in the great hall. He held the fabric aside as he guided her out into the hall.
So that’s where it led to. Katherine mused absently as she followed where Lord Nightingale led her across the room.
“The doors will not be locked tomorrow, I give you my word,” he vowed from beside her.
She glanced his way not sure whether to trust him on his word, only to frown at his appearance. He remained shirtless, his hair still mussed up from where her hands had tangled in the long lengths on top during the aftermath of her pleasure.
“Aren’t you cold? You should probably put something on, after cleaning that wound up, that is,” she suggested quietly, trying to forget their moment of passion.
“I am cold, but it doesn’t bother me so much. As much as I appreciate your concern, I do not feel as though I deserve it. Please, do not worry yourself anymore with my injury, as I said; it’ll be fine,” he replied as he gestured for her to ascend the stairwell that led to her room, ahead of him.
“Do you need to feed or something for it to heal?” She asked, relying heavily on what she’d seen in horror movies.
“I have already fed. I did so while you slept.”
She spun around to face him, he gazed up at her from the steps below where she stood, a look of sadness in his eyes.
“You fed on me while I was sleeping?”
“No, Katherine, I have a regular supply of prepackaged blood available to me. I do not need to feed directly from humans. My kind has developed a more sustainable and, I suppose you could call it humane, way of sustaining our diet.”
She raised a curious brow but turned and continued walking. If he wasn’t really going to feed on her, why was he trying so hard to scare her away earlier?
“So what, you guys just rob blood banks or something?”
“We do not rob. We are, for the most part, wealthy individuals who are capable of providing a financial reward for those who would give their blood to our cause.”
“And what about those of you who aren’t living it up in some castle in the hills?” Katherine asked as she paced along the balcony overlooking the great hall below.
“There are enough wealthy contributors to ensure the charitable arm of the business is able to provide affordable or indeed free, nutrition for those less fortunate,” Lucian explained quietly.
“Why?” Katherine spun round to face him when she reached her door. “Why would you do that? Wouldn’t it be easier for these people to simply hunt humans the old-fashioned way?”
“Many, indeed most of my kind do not enjoy being beasts forced to feed on terrified victims. Many did not sign up for becoming a vampire and resent the thirst with which we live for the rest of eternity. When it became apparent that there were other, more agreeable methods of feeding, those fortunate enough to be in a position of power and influence, sought to make it available to all who required it.”
“So I’m supposed to believe that vampires are upstanding members of the community, who pay their taxes, keep their lawns neat, and don’t hold innocent young women against their will?” She folded her arms over her chest and glared at him.
“For the most part, vampire society is quiet, conservative, and law-abiding. Although, there are the occasional few who prefer to keep to the old ways.” Lucian explained, folding his arms to match her defensive stance.
“And which kind are you?” Katherine asked.
Lucian sighed and looked to the side.
“I always thought I was the former, but perhaps I was mistaken. Goodnight, Katherine,” he turned and walked away from her, and for some reason the sight of his retreating back caused her heart to ache.
“Lucian,”
He turned at her call and stood firmly, waiting for her to continue.
“Thank you.”
A frown creased his brow.
“For what?”
“For coming for me. For saving me from being taken by that dragon. For sharing the truth with me.”
“You seem to live with the expectation that there are deceptions in everything that surrounds you, as though you need to exert your control and hide your vulnerabilities in order to survive. I do not wish for you to be that way with me, but change needs to be reciprocated. I promise to give you upfront honesty from now on, I don’t want you to have an opportunity to see ulterior motives in what I say or do,” Lucian walked forward, returning to stand before her.
“Why? What does it matter what I think?” Katherine asked, a nervousness creeping into her.
“Because you deserve to have the freedom to let your guard down, to have the confidence to trust,” Lucian said, his eyes holding hers once more.
She was already starting to recognize how her body relaxed as though it knew it was safe whenever he looked at her. Something in her was loosening with every shared look. She swallowed past some unidentified lump in her throat as he gently raised her hand to his lips to press a soft kiss to her fingers.
“Goodnight, Lord Nightingale,” she whispered.
“Pleas,e Katherine, call me Lucian. I love it so much when you do,” he replied, keeping his lips close to her fingers, the promise of another kiss hanging between them.
“Well,” Katherine smiled. She actually smiled, the feeling was oddly light and pleasant. “Goodnight then, Lucian,”
He pressed his lips to her fingers and returned her small smile.
“Goodnight, Katherine.”
Chapter Eight
Lucian
Lucian stormed into his suite fill
ed with self-loathing. She hated him. She had told him as much and he didn’t blame her. He was keeping her with him against her will, she wanted to be free to live her life. A life that he had no understanding of. A life that her father seemed to disregard on a regular basis and now Lucian was guilty of the same crime. He hadn’t stopped to think that Kyle Daxton’s daughter would be leaving things behind to give her father a chance to repay his debt. He may have been born in the Seventeenth Century but he was acutely aware that times had changed. He did his utmost to keep up with emerging technologies and trends and yet he had neglected to recognise that Katherine had her own life and was not, and should not be at the beck and call of her father. Nor at the beck and call of him.
Lucian cursed and landed his fist squarely into the plaster of the wall, the surface of the wall crumbling upon impact. Lucian sighed as he looked at the damage. You’d think after two hundred years or so, he would’ve learned to temper his strength, especially when in a foul mood. He’d have Mr. Jones fix it tomorrow, he thought as he shook the dust from his hand and stormed into his shower room.
He needed to wash away the poison from Etienne’s talons that was oozing from his skin. He needed to clear his head before he figured out what he was going to do next. He stripped out of the remainder of his clothes and stepped into the shower, his hand waving lazily to turn on the hot spray. The instant heat sunk into his tense muscles as he leaned his head forward, allowing the water to sluice over his body.
He should release her from her contract and let her return to her studies, call her father back to Tumbricane. But if he did that, the man could rightfully claim a breach of contract and he would get away with not repaying his debt as agreed. Then when would his recklessness end, how far would he go in his gambling and scheming to secure the lavish lifestyle that he so clearly craved? When would he stop relying on Katherine to clean up after him?
Lucian’s mind raced. If he let her leave but under the condition that she did not tell her father, perhaps he would still seek to repay the debt within the two months agreed. How could he know for certain that she wouldn’t tell him that she’d been released? He couldn’t restrict her ability to communicate with others, or to be seen in public, it’d be as unjust as having her stay with him at Tumbricane and he knew now that he should do the decent thing and let her go.
But God, he wanted her to stay. Lucian braced his hands on the tiles in front of him
He didn’t want to even think it but the truth was there staring him in the face. He had feelings for the woman. She was smart, stubborn, challenging, and for some reason unknown to him, she seemed to care for him too. His mind returned to the fight with Etienne in the forest, she had refused to leave without him, she had thrown herself in harm's way to foolishly attempt to get to him when he had been thrown across the clearing. She had demanded to see to his injury while in his room. She had stood firm in the face of his deliberate intimidation and instead of cowering before him, she’d risen to meet his challenge and demanded he kiss her. A kiss that he would replay in his mind for the rest of his long existence.
There was a fierce attraction between them, he knew he wasn’t alone in his desires. The constant back and forth dance that was their unspoken power struggle was a strong aphrodisiac for them both. Arguing with her was one of the most enjoyable experiences of his life, each of them looking for gains wherever they could, each of them dipping into an internal toolbox of tactics to go for the win. It was like a never-ceasing type of foreplay. Lucian didn’t even mind making a few losses, he still enjoyed seeing her glow in her victories.
He wished he would see more glimmers of that passion within her. She held so much in check, but every little involuntary gasp, moan, or cry she had made as he pleasured her, was a little victory to him. Each moment bringing her closer to letting herself go and trusting him with her vulnerability. He’d never wanted anything so badly in his life. He wanted her fragile trust, he wanted to take it and pour every ounce of his strength into it so she’d allow herself to flourish, instead of being so guarded.
She was clearly the type of person who pushed herself towards excellence constantly as deep down she felt as though her performance would never be enough. When in truth even her ‘mistakes’ or slip-ups were a credit to her. Most people wouldn’t achieve what she already had in her 26 years, and most people wouldn’t have had the kind of disruptive upbringing that she had lived through.
Lucian pushed away from the wall and ran his hands through his hair. He wanted to go to her again, demand that she let him in. He would love her so thoroughly that when she next gazed into his eyes as she shattered, there would be no shields up, no battle of wills, no defiance, just pure and unbridled passion in her golden eyes. The thought of sharing such a moment with her as he buried himself deep within her soft body was too much.
He gripped his aching length in his hand and began stroking himself to the image in his mind of having her spread out before him, her legs wrapped around his hips as he thrust deeply into her. Lucian huffed out a breath as he imagined her pleasured moans filling his ears as her eyes looked at him like he were everything, chasing away the loneliness that followed him everywhere.
He stroked his hand faster as in his mind’s eye he watched her pulling on the silk ties that held her hands above her head, her hips slamming against his as she met his demanding thrusts. His hands would hold her waist firmly as she arched her back in pleasure, he’d pull her down onto him as he pounded into her, her slick, hot channel taking everything he had. Her chin would be tilted in defiance but her eyes would tell him she was his; all his and gladly so. She’d cry out his name as her climax tore through her and pulsed heavily around him.
“Katherine,” Lucian choked out, as his own release rushed from him.
He splayed his free hand against the tiles and continued to pump his fist until the shame of his dirty, selfish fantasy crept up to chase away the euphoria of his orgasm.
What kind of a beast was he?
She wanted to leave but he was desperate for her to stay. Why? Because he wanted her. He wanted to feel something beyond the constant suffocating darkness that was his long and empty existence. He wanted to share something with a woman who was too guarded to show any weakness for fear of being hurt. He wanted to prove to her that it was worth taking a risk and letting someone in. He wanted to be the person she could trust to cherish her fragile vulnerabilities. She deserved to have that kind of trust in her life. But the thought of her opening up to someone who was unworthy, who would ultimately let her down just like her parents had, made his blood rage. The only way to ensure that wouldn’t happen was to make certain the person she would trust, would be him. He might not be able to control the actions of others, not all the time at least, but he could control his own.
With his mind made up, he strode from the shower room in search of clean clothes. The night was still young. He had time.
She had said she didn’t want a stranger going through her things. He would honour that, but he couldn’t allow her to leave. He would fetch her belongings himself and return to Tumbricane before the dawn.
Chapter Nine
Katherine
It was close to midday when Katherine finally felt ready to wake. To say that she had been exhausted when she’d turned in for the night was an understatement.
What did you do last night, Katherine? Oh you know, fought a dragon, was rescued by a vampire, then was pleasured senseless by said vampire, and then turned in for the night; just an average Thursday night.
All things considered, Katherine felt she had mentally coped pretty well with everything she had encountered. She didn’t particularly feel worried about the fact that dragons and vampires and goodness knows what else, existed. It appeared that these creatures were quietly getting on with their lives and had next to zero interest in destroying humankind, at least that was the impression she had gotten from what Lord Nightingale had said.
Lucian. She corrected herself. He preferred
to be called Lucian. Well, he didn’t say he preferred it, he said he loved it when she called him that. A small smile tugged at her lips.
OK, so she liked him. More than just physically so. Although she couldn’t ignore the fact that she now knew that under his formal attire, he hid a body to die for. There was no way she could deny her attraction, not after the dirty dreams she had enjoyed last night, of which he played the starring role. But he was also brave and smart. He had come for her after she had run away and instead of being angry that she had left, he had been concerned about her wellbeing. He’d protected her, and fought a dragon for her and he had carried her back to his room for her to recover. They argued like cat and dog, but whereas before she was convinced his motives were simply an egotistical power trip, now she was beginning to wonder if he were genuinely interested in her. Wanting the best for her.
Don’t be stupid- err, hello Stockholm syndrome? Her rational mind cut in over her soft musings.
She needed to look at the facts. She had tried to leave and he had corralled her and brought her back. She had said she wanted to leave to go get her things at the very least, he still hadn’t said that she could. She was still his prisoner. She just knew a little more about the true nature of her jailer. He was still the enemy.
Although, he had also apologised to her for the main doors being locked yesterday, and assured her they would be left open today.
Katherine threw the bed covers off and strode towards the door. It was time to see if Lucian was as good as his word. She opened the door wide and jumped back as Mr. Jones stood outside with a tray of food held out in front of him.
“Your lunch, Miss. Daxton,” he held it out to her, his slightly glazed eyes, looking at a spot over her shoulder.
Mr. Jones gave her the creeps. There was something very odd about him that she couldn’t put her finger on, but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t be nice. If anything, he was the only other person living at Tumbricane from what she could make out, it would probably pay to make a friend or at least an ally.
Escaping The Beast: A Darkhills Romance (The Darkhills Series Book 2) Page 7
