by Sophia North
Penny was thrilled by the idea she'd outdone the Shifter. "Where did he lose me?"
Vlad paused and pretended to think about it. "Somewhere between your gym and Sainsbury's, I believe."
"Hah!" She laughed triumphantly. "He'll be most upset to learn he's been bested by me again. And I definitely want to be there when he does. "
Whew, that was close. Honestly, the lies. They really did just fall from his lips.
For a brief moment, Vlad forgot to be cross and enjoyed the intimacy of having her in his quarters. He was also very aware that he was standing half-naked in front of her, with only a thin sarong covering him.
Penny was very aware of his state of nakedness too. Licking her full lips, she let her gaze wander up and down the length of him. He wore the sarong well. And far from being feminine, it made him look sexy as hell.
"You're dripping on the floor," she whispered.
Vlad swallowed. Hard. "I wasn't expecting visitors," he replied huskily.
Penny swivelled her head around. "This is not exactly a wine and dine kind of place, but it does have some advantages." Pressing her cheek to a wall, she smiled seductively at him. "The walls are nice and thick."
Vlad's heart skipped a beat. Her pose revealed that the demure dark grey trench coat she was wearing was anything but. Scarlet red stilettos peeked from beneath its long hemline, screaming danger ahead.
Yet Penny, being Penny, would never settle for just the titillation of sexy footwear. Oh no, she'd also added a brightly patterned Hermes scarf to the mix. A Hermes scarf he remembered well.
"Do you recognise this?" she asked seductively, touching the silken texture of the scarf after noticing his eyes lingering on it. "You should, it's the same one you tied me up with the night you rescued me after I pissed off Anton on-air during Simone's tribute radio show."
"Yes, Dragon. I recall the evening in question," he replied softly.
She'd moved on from toying with her scarf while he'd been talking and had now placed her fingers on the belt of her coat. "And last week, do you recall our evening together then?"
He'd been tormented by it ever since.
"Vividly."
"Me too," she agreed readily. "Wow, we have a lot in common so far, don't you think? But wait, here's where we start to deviate from the script."
Swish, the belt was off.
Penny pressed on. "After giving me the most incredible orgasms of my life, I went to sleep that night thinking we'd taken a massive step forward. Whereas you...well, how can I put it? Basically, between leaving my bed and, who the fuck knows, you came up with the idea to declare our relationship over...by text, no less."
"Penny..." Vlad tried to intervene.
"Oh no, love," she said, parodying his favourite turn of phrase. "You don't get to talk."
She dropped her coat to the floor. "Tonight, you listen."
At the sight of her decked out in all her scarlet glory, Vlad's eyes nearly fell out of his head. Her flawless alabaster skin begged to be touched, to be kissed.
"Jesus wept, Penny!" Vlad cried out.
Smiling sweetly as she untied the scarf at her throat, she replied, "And all the angels did too. But I'm not here for angels, I'm here for you. My blonde devil."
Penny advanced towards him, seductively trailing the brightly coloured silk between her fingers. Vlad watched the motion with keen interest, wondering what she intended to do with it. He had a few ideas and knowing Penny as he did, he'd put a lot of money on her knowing what they were too.
Looping the object of his fascination around his neck, she tugged firmly at either end to draw him down for their first tentative kiss. Brushing his lips gently with hers, Penny pushed him back when he tried to deepen their kiss.
"Ah, ah, ah. You follow, not lead."
Taking his face in her hands, Penny kissed him with every ounce of longing she felt. Devouring his lips, she coaxed him into playing with her tongue, as she plunged hers into his mouth.
"Show me your true self," she demanded.
Vlad knew what she meant, yet held back. He'd never shown Penny his vampyre side and didn't want to frighten her.
"I'm not scared," she whispered in his ear, as if reading his thoughts. "Show me."
Extending his fangs, he saw her eyes widen slightly at their appearance. However, there was no fear in their blue depths, only desire. "So, beautiful," she murmured, touching a fingertip to one of them. "You would make angels weep in envy."
Drawing him close once more, she used her tongue to trace along the length of his extended fangs as she kissed him. One false move and she'd pierce her tongue, allowing her blood to fill his mouth. The darkest of kisses.
Slowing their embrace, she tied the silk scarf around his wrists. "We both know you can break free anytime you want," she whispered in his ear, trailing her tongue along its shell-like shape. "But...you turned the tables on me the other night. It's only fair I get my chance to retaliate."
Vlad clenched his fists, the desire to tear himself free and take her against the wall overwhelming. "Baby, I want you so much. But we cannot be together..." he gritted out.
Penny drew her tongue over his firm nipples. "You're right...for the time being. And no matter how much you may beg for it, you won't be fucking me tonight."
Licking her way down to his six-pack, she went under his sarong to cup him. Vlad drew in a sharp breath. "No, tonight, I'm in control," she finished.
Undoing the knot of his sarong, she let it fall to the floor and took hold of his large, erect cock. "Remember what you said: sometimes there is more pleasure in being the giver." She drew the tip of him to her mouth and circled it with her tongue.
Vlad's resistance melted away. The feel of her mouth on him was fucking amazing. "Yes, baby. Yes," he hissed, urging her on.
She took him deeper into her mouth, loving the way he twitched in response to her licking and sucking. Penny had never given a blow job to an unsheathed dick before. Her paranoia over getting pregnant meant she always practiced extra, extra safe sex. But with Vlad she had nothing to fear. He could never get her pregnant.
The knowledge gave an extra boost to her performance. Making Vlad lie down on his bed, she took her time lavishing attention on every inch of his chiselled body. She tried things she'd never have dared try with a man. And throughout it all, Vlad submitted dutifully to her.
At no point did he try to break free from his restraints and take over. He couldn't have, even if he'd been so inclined.
Functional thought patterns had ceased the moment she walked through the door of his chambers. His feelings for this incredible, molten haired beauty, robbed him of any and all sense. There were no thoughts of vows or whatever fucked up fear he harboured over being with her, just desire.
Vlad wanted nothing more than to bury himself deep inside of Penny and show her exactly how much she meant to him. Stroke by stroke.
When she started to ride him through her red lace panties, the feel nearly drove him insane. She refused to let him penetrate her. No matter how much he begged, which he did many, many times.
In the midst of breast fucking him with her large perfect tits, he cried, "Baby, I'm going to cum!”
She took his cock into her mouth and finished him off. His, "Holy fuck, yes!" reverberated throughout the room.
Chapter Thirteen
LYING IN BED, WITH Penny snuggled against his chest, he lightly traced his fingers up and down her arm. Their bodies entwined, Vlad couldn't remember a time when he'd ever felt so content. It made what he had to do that much harder.
"Penny, you’re incredible," he softly murmured, pressing his lips to her brow.
Shifting against him, she smiled up at him. "I prefer 'extraordinary'," she said teasingly.
"Yes, you are definitely that too. I cannot remember the last time I..." Vlad didn't finish the sentence. He felt stupid even bringing up the subject.
Penny looked at him questioningly. "The last time you what? Had a woman have her way with yo
u? Here's a hint. The answer is not since the moment we met."
Vlad chuckled. "It's been a bit longer than that, love," he replied mysteriously.
Propping her chin on her hand, she met his gaze. "Longer than a year? Really? I'm surprised you don't have calluses. Tell me, how long has it been?"
"This is silly. And I need to get you home. There is already going to be hell to pay for your presence here in Lowerton. I'd rather not tempt fate by lingering any longer."
But Penny was not going to quit. She'd always been under the impression vampyres were highly sexual beings. So how long could one really go without carnal satisfaction?
"Please, Vlad. I’m intrigued. And to make things easier, I'll confess my longest time ever too."
"You first," he replied, wrapping an arm around her to draw her closer. He reckoned another few minutes wouldn't add much more damage to his forthcoming reprimand. He might as well enjoy the moment while it lasted.
Penny gasped when she felt him stir against her leg. How could he have gone without sexual contact for over a year when he was already hardening again?
"I'm waiting, love. Or have you forgotten the question?"
He thought he was so clever. But she could give as good as she got. Pretending to get more comfortable, Penny lifted her hips and settled her mound on his growing erection and topped it off by grinding against him, as if she was searching for the perfect position.
"Easy, baby. There isn't time for round two."
Really? She'd be sure to test this theory of his...momentarily.
"Eighteen months," she announced. "It's been eighteen months since I've been with anyone. Now, you."
Vlad closed his eyes. The faint tick of a clock echoed as he took his time answering.
Penny smacked his chest. "Vlad! How long?"
"Shush love, I'm doing the math," he teased, keeping his eyes closed. "One hundred, thirty-seven years and eleven months," he eventually announced.
"Are you seriously telling me the last time you had sex was in... May 1881!" Penny exclaimed, after quickly doing the calculation in her head.
Vlad didn't know what he wanted to do first. Kiss her senseless for her mathematical genius or give her the answer he knew would put an end to their relationship.
"No, that was the last time I allowed myself to truly find release with a woman. But if you mean sex, I had a charming brunette just before you arrived," he replied, like it meant nothing to him. "But she wasn't nearly as inventive as you, love."
Stunned by his answer, Penny's heart broke into a thousand pieces. How could he be so cruel, did she really mean so little to him?
"Then I suppose I must thank her for warming you up," she remarked as casually as she could muster. Getting up from lying on top of him, Penny walked woodenly to collect her coat and leave.
Vlad's heart sank. He hated to hurt her, but there was no alternative. He'd again come so dangerously close to going all the way with her. It was only a matter of time before he'd lose the battle. And as much as he was in love with her, he couldn't risk the consequences.
Bang, bang, bang.
Not fucking again. He was going to have those two imbeciles' heads.
"Penny, get dressed. Immediately," he barked, donning his own clothes in a few seconds. "Then go into the bathroom and await my command to come out. I'm going to have their fucking heads on pikes for this - fucking recruits."
Await his command, was he having a laugh? Penny was about to tell him what he could do with his 'command' when he shoved her trench coat, stilettos, and eventually her, into the bathroom off his main chamber and closed the door.
With Penny tucked out of the way, Vlad strode to the door and whipped it open. "For fuck's sake, Keepers. Since when do subordinates take it upon themselves to constantly disturb their superiors!"
"Well, you may like to think you're higher in the pecking order but let's face it, I'm much better looking," Darius commented dryly, leaning against the doorframe.
Of all the fucking vamps to show up at his door, Vlad could not have chosen a worse candidate. The last thing he needed was Darius poking around.
"Aren't you going to invite me in or have you lost all semblance of civility? I told you too much time in the Archives would fuck you up." Darius's dark eyes swept the limited view on offer of Vlad's quarters, as if he expected to see something...or someone.
Vlad had hoped Penny's presence would amount to nothing more than rumour and speculation. Obviously, he was wrong.
"I'm not in the mood, brother. Is there is a reason for your visit?"
"Jesus, what crawled up your ass? Come on, let's have a drink and make up. You've been avoiding me and I want to know why."
Shit. Vlad couldn't exactly turn him away without causing further suspicion.
"Fine, one drink. We need to be quick though, I've got shit to do." Like figure out how the hell he was going to extract Penny from Lowerton without causing too much of a fuss.
Darius nodded and pushed away from the doorframe to enter his chambers. "I can't imagine what is so urgent that you balk at having a drink with me," he speculated as he passed by Vlad.
The fucker was fishing. Or perhaps Vlad was giving him more credit about what he knew was going on in his rooms.
Unfortunately, the jig was up within moments of him closing the door. Bursting out of the bathroom, Penny made the possible rumours of her presence an absolute fact.
"Good evening, Darius. Fancy meeting you here," she announced gaily, clueless to how delectable she still appeared following their recent amorous pursuits. Her thick unbound red hair tousled, her full lips bruised from kissing - it wouldn't require a genius to work out what had been going on. The bright silk scarf on the floor by the bed was also a dead giveaway.
Two pairs of male eyes stared at her. One pair warmed at the sight of her, the other shot daggers.
"Fuck, Penny. I told you to wait until I summoned you," Vlad growled.
Darius's smirk of satisfaction quickly grew into a wide wolfish grin. "Ah, so the rumour is true. Tsk, tsk Vladimir. A human woman in your chambers, aren't you the rule breaker? And an Elder too! The council will have plenty to say about this, methinks."
"Shut up, Darius. We both know this is a serious infraction. I need your help, not a fucking sermon," Vlad spat.
Penny had heard enough. "A serious infraction for a piece of ass? Albeit a human one, not that there seems to be much difference I'm told," she fumed. "Although I find it amazing to learn there are such strict vamp rules about fornication. Who knew vampyres could be such prudes?"
"You are more than a piece of ass to Vlad, my dear," Darius quipped knowingly.
"No, that's where you’re wrong, Darius. Apparently I’m nothing to him."
Vlad needed to calm the situation down. Penny was straying into some very dangerous territory. If she said the wrong thing right now, there could be consequences. He'd seen Darius's eyes light up at her declaration that Vlad may no longer have a claim on her. Such words in their world could spell serious trouble.
"She is mine, Darius," he declared, threateningly.
Darius stroked his chin, as if contemplating Vlad's sudden pronouncement of ownership. "As Simone was once yours, my friend?"
Vlad silently cursed. During the war with Haan and Anton he'd helped Dante smuggle Simone into a vamp meeting by pretending she belonged to him. It was low of Darius to draw the comparison between the two situations. What the fuck was Darius playing at?
"Fuck off, mate. You’re just manipulating the past." But it was too late, the damage was done. Penny heard every word of it.
And the inevitable question followed: "Vlad, what does he mean? How was Simone yours?"
As expected, Darius the Cunt, replied. "You mean you've never heard the story? Why, he stood before a theatre of vamps and declared she was his property. Then followed it up for good measure by sticking his tongue down her throat."
"You kissed my best friend...as a show for your vamp friends?" she accus
ed him coldly.
"Penny, it's not as you believe. Dante asked me..."
She cut him off. "Oh, so it's regular practice for vamps to share their women like common whores! Hey, Viking! Guess what? This time it really is over. I am not yours, nor will I ever be!" she shouted.
Fuck no, she'd just given Darius the opening he'd been aiming at.
"What's that, my sweet? You say you’re done being Vlad's plaything?" Darius asked innocently.
"I warning you, Darius. Don't even fucking try it," Vlad hissed ominously.
Penny watched in fascination. She had no idea what was going on, but seeing how unhappy it made Vlad did soothe her temper. Somewhat. But she wanted him to hurt as much as she did.
Darius approached her. "Penelope MacGregor, would you do me the honour of agreeing to allow me to Court you?" he asked, bending down on one knee.
Right, this was a rather unexpected turn of events. "Court me?" she laughed. "What the goddess do you mean by that?"
Darius took her hand and pressed a soft kiss. "Surely the art of seducing the woman who will bear one's future children has not gone out of fashion?" he whispered back.
"Get off your fucking knees and cease this nonsense. Penny, he's not being serious," Vlad barked out.
But rather than being offended, Penny was actually touched by Darius's offer. "You’re very sweet, Darius. But I'm afraid what you ask for is not something I can deliver. You see, Simone ran some tests the other week and it turns out I am not a vamp gene carrier."
"What?" Vlad rasped. "No, that cannot be."
Darius also looked equally alarmed. "Simone is running genetic testing?"
Confused by their reactions, Penny looked to Vlad. "I've been trying to tell you for ages. But why is this so upsetting? I thought you'd be relieved. It's no secret neither of us has ever wanted children."
"How long has Simone been running these tests?" Vlad asked, glossing over her confession. He was reeling over the news of her not being able to have vamp babies. It couldn't be true. She was his Mate, he felt it with every fibre of his being.
