by Aubrey Ross
Chapter Six
Sophie awakened the following evening to a knock on her bedroom door. True to his word, Teladorian had allowed her time and space as she worked through her emotions. Azariel had kept his distance as well, which made her wonder who was knocking on the door.
Easing a tendril of her consciousness through the portal, she scanned her visitor’s mind. Female and human; Sophie was able to determine nothing else. She sensed no threat, so she unlocked the door with her mind. “It’s open.”
The door swung inward and a stout woman with graying brown hair ambled into the room. She carried a tray with two small thermoses and a covered dish. “I know you’re a vampire and all, but I thought you might enjoy something sweet.”
“Are you Rachel?” Teladorian had mentioned a housekeeper, but this was the first time Sophie had actually seen her.
“That’s me, Rachel Taffee. Glad to meet you.” Rosy health crowned her round cheeks and her smile was infectious. She placed the tray on the foot of the bed then stuffed pillows behind Sophie’s back.
“I’m not an invalid,” Sophie protested with a laugh.
“Mr. Haize told me you were taking some time out for yourself, so I volunteered to check on you.” Rachel motioned toward the tray. “I’ve got hot chocolate and coffee, toast and sweet rolls. Pick your poison.”
Many organic vampires weren’t able to eat. Though Sophie would die without blood, she enjoyed food and beverages from time to time. “A cup of coffee would be lovely.”
“Very good.” Rachel filled a mug from one of the thermoses and handed it to Sophie.
“How long have you worked for Mr. Haize?”
“My family has served his family for generations.” Rachel flashed a toothy smile. “Silos thinks you’re the one who will break the curse. We’d both be ever so happy if that were true.”
“The curse? What are you talking about?”
Rachel folded her hands in front of her as a deep flush spread across her skin. “There I go, wagging my tongue without thinking.”
“Well, the cat’s out of the bag, so fill me in. What does your husband expect me to do?”
“Do you know how Mr. Haize was begotten?”
“His father was under the influence of an incubus, which enabled his mother to conceive.”
“Yes, well, the incubus left his stamp on the son he helped father. Mr. Haize is beset by a hunger and that hunger causes women to… lust after him.”
“And this hunger can only be permanently satisfied by his mate?”
“Well, yes. I thought you didn’t know about the curse.”
“You think I’m Teladorian’s mate?”
“Don’t you?” Rachel winked at Sophie and slipped out of the room.
Sophie took a sip of coffee and slowly shook her head. What had she gotten herself into? Her body craved Teladorian. There was no doubt about it. But vampires mated for life.
Did Teladorian think she was his mate? She thought back to their conversation in the car. He’d mentioned his mother’s belief that a mate would free him from the hunger. They’d talked about so many things. She hadn’t focused on his passing comment.
There was another, even more obvious clue. The barricade within his mind. If this was what he was hiding, she would be thrilled.
Pushing the covers aside, she crawled off the bed. She’d known more pleasure with Teladorian and Azariel than she’d ever known before. She wasn’t sure she was predestined to be their mate, but her heart was open to the possibility.
Their mate, not his mate. She smiled at the unexpected stipulation. When and if they formed a permanent bond, Azariel would be part of the equation.
* * *
“Are you sure this is wise?” Azariel asked when Sophie spent the second night alone in her bedroom.
“I’m not sure of anything.”
The frustration in Teladorian’s expression infuriated Azariel. Teladorian had suffered enough down through the years. These vampires didn’t have the right to drag him into the middle of their foolish war. The rush of anger subsided and Azariel smiled. Maybe Teladorian had rushed headlong into the conflict rather than being dragged, but the vampires were still to blame.
“Wasn’t the council supposed to give Vasco their ruling today?”
“They rejected the petition,” Teladorian told him. “Sophie is ‘impure’ and she wasn’t seriously harmed, so Vasco must find another penalty for Duarte’s aggression.”
“I bet that went over well with Vasco.”
“He’s furious, but he isn’t willing to overtly disobey the council.”
It didn’t take much to read between the lines. Vasco wasn’t about to let the matter rest. He just had to work around the council’s ruling. “So what does that mean to us?”
“He wants me to kill Duarte.”
“Are you going to?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
Teladorian was far from a pacifist. They had fought side by side during several wars and Teladorian wouldn’t hesitate to protect those he loved. This was different. Neither of them had the emotional makeup for assassination.
“I want you to spend the night with Sophie.”
“What?” The suggestion came out of nowhere.
“I can’t be the only reason you two fuck. If there is no chemistry between you…”
“You’ll choose one or the other? Is that where this is going?”
“No. I know how you feel about vampires. I need to know -- I need you to figure out whether or not you can love her.”
The suggestion chafed, but he understood Teladorian’s concern. They were laying the foundation for a long-term bond, not indulging in an ultra-hot affair. “Is this the best time to put my charm to the test?” He tried to lighten the mood with a smile, but it felt superficial.
“It’s the perfect time. She’s feeling confused and overwhelmed. Let’s separate the elements so she can evaluate each one on its own merit.”
“Yes, Professor Haize.” Azariel paused. Teladorian never did anything without a specific purpose and this smacked of ulterior motives. “Where will you be while I play house with Sophie?”
“This isn’t a game, Az. My feelings for Sophie are real and intense -- and I can’t satisfy her alone.”
His words rang true, but he hadn’t answered the question. “I’ll have a full report for you in the morning.”
Troubled by Teladorian’s evasion, Azariel went to Sophie’s room and tapped on the door. No one answered. He knocked harder, to no avail. Fear lanced through him and he unlocked the door with his mind, rushing into the darkened bedroom.
“Sophie?”
“Out here,” she called from the balcony and his heart flipped over in his chest.
“You scared the shit out of me.” He stepped through the open French door and joined her on the balcony.
“Sorry.” She smiled then turned back to the tranquil setting. The balcony overlooked the formal gardens at the side of the house. Silos kept the shrubs immaculately groomed and the flowerbeds continually tended. The inviting scent of roses and lavender drifted in the warm night air.
He leaned his shoulder against the wrought iron railing and studied her delicate profile. She was undeniably beautiful, but Teladorian was right. He knew very little about her, beyond what made her come.
“The council denied your father’s petition.” The fact was far from romantic, but anything else would seem contrived.
“That doesn’t surprise me. I’m organic enough to be a brood mare, but not organic enough to protect.”
“Be a brood mare for whom?”
“According to the Charter, organic females must produce offspring with an organic male before they’re allowed to choose their own mate.”
“What happens if you don’t abide by the Charter?” He was almost afraid to ask.
“They harvest my eggs and impregnate a surrogate.”
He’d expected something along those lines. Vampires weren’t known for their comp
romises. “How exactly do they do that without your cooperation?”
She shook her head and sighed. “Cooperation is relative when you’re dealing with vampires.” Turning from the darkness she met his gaze. “Everyone has baggage. Mine just has fangs.”
Light from the bedroom made her skin gleam and her eyes glow. Warmth expanded within his chest, slow and soothing. He stroked her cheek with his fingertips, amazed by the innocence in her gaze. She was a vampire, yet she was unsullied by her environment.
“We’ll protect you from anything that threatens your happiness. That includes your clan.” Was that throaty whisper really his voice?
“You’re so sweet.” She smiled and glanced into the distance.
Desire shot from his heart to his cock, stealing his breath and freeing his aggression. He grabbed the back of her hair and tilted her head until she looked into his eyes. “I’m not sweet and I won’t be your blood slave. Why did you invite me into the hot tub?”
“I’m not sure.” She licked her lips, her gaze warm and inviting. “You looked so miserable. I wanted to --”
He released her hair and pushed her back. “I don’t want your charity.”
“No, you want Teladorian.”
“This isn’t about him. It’s about us.”
“He is where our paths cross,” she insisted. “Can we really talk about us without talking about him?”
“I want to try.” He needed to lead by example, so he chose his words carefully. “I’ve been drawn to you from the first moment I saw you, but I didn’t want to complicate the situation.”
She leaned against the railing and stared past him. “I’m definitely attracted to you. I’m intrigued by you.”
“But you don’t feel the same way about me that you do about --”
“We’re not talking about him, remember?” A smile curved the corners of her lips and she shifted her gaze back to his face. “I can see into his mind, feel what he’s feeling. It’s not fair to compare that level of intimacy with what I feel for you.”
“Can you sense him right now?”
“Yes. Why?”
“He sent me to you -- which I have no problem with -- but I can’t shake the feeling he’s up to something.”
She closed her eyes for a moment and her expression went blank. “He’s shielding his thoughts from me. He’s not in danger. He seems relaxed, focused.”
“Focused on what?”
“I can’t tell.” She shook away the trance and opened her eyes. “Should we go check on him?”
“No. Just keep monitoring him. If you sense any change let me know.”
“All right.”
“Now, about the link.” He stalked forward and grasped the railing on either side of her hips, caging her with his arms. “I can feel both of you right before I come, then the connection dims, and I’m alone again. Do you know why it goes away?”
“I feed from you each time we fuck. That’s what creates the connection.”
Hearing explicit words whispered in her softly lilting voice never failed to spike his libido. Pressure rushed to his groin and his fingers clutched the railing. His body was more than ready to end the conversation, but there was too much left unsaid.
“Why does it fade?”
She inhaled deeply, her eyelids half closed. Apparently, he was not the only one affected by their proximity. “My blood is required to form a lasting bond. I didn’t want to force that on you.”
“If this is going to work, we have to level the playing field. Right now Teladorian has the advantage.”
“My blood will create a link between our minds, but it will also make you extremely susceptible to suggestion.”
“Yours or any vampire’s?”
“Just mine.”
“Then you’ll have to find a way to convince me you won’t abuse the opportunity.”
Sophie’s heart hammered in her chest. Azariel loomed before her, commanding, yet subdued. Thick hair framed his angular features in golden waves, brushing his wide shoulders. His ink black eyes were all the more striking because of his gilded hair. She’d grown accustomed to his overt masculinity during the past week. He seldom wore more than a faded pair of jeans and encouraged her to wear even less.
Unable to think with his gaze boring into hers, she turned her face away. “This is all happening so fast.”
He cupped her cheek and turned her face back around. “We’re not human. We’re more in tune with our animal nature. We’re driven by instinct and we depend on our senses. What do your instincts tell you about me?”
“That you’re arrogant and aggressive and far too full of yourself.”
He grinned and pressed a light kiss to her temple. “Your instinct told you all that?”
“My mother trusted her instincts and it got her killed,” she explained in a breathless rush, lowering her gaze again.
“You never talk about your mother, at least not in front of me. What happened to her?”
“Organic marriages are almost always arranged, so no one is surprised when they seek out affection in others. My mother was Vasco’s consort for many years. He was so obviously in love with her that it became a point of contention with his wife and her daughter.”
“Do you mean Monique?”
“Yes. She has always resented me. Even my mother’s death didn’t change her opinion.”
“How did your mother die?”
“No one expected her to conceive, but her people have always been fertile.”
“Who are her people?”
“A tribe of feline shifters. They live in a secluded village high in the Cascade Mountains, but my mother was a scout. She was sent to Portland to gather information and assess the development of humans. That’s where she met Vasco.”
“Did her people accept your father?”
“Hardly. She was told she could only return if she left my father. Anyway, she got pregnant again when I was eight and there were complications with the delivery. The vampire healer was unfamiliar with her physiology and by the time Vasco convinced my grandfather to send a healer from the village my mother bled to death.”
“That’s horrible. Did they lose the baby as well?”
“He died two weeks later and Father has never been the same. He’s cold and remote. He hides behind the Charter to make sure he never feels again.”
“And you’re afraid if you choose a relationship that isn’t sanctioned by the Charter, it will destroy him completely?”
“That’s part of it. I’m definitely afraid of his reaction. He might do something rash, like have me kidnapped or… I don’t know. I don’t want to hurt him, but I can’t deny my instincts or my feelings.” She looked back into his eyes as she went on, “I wasn’t looking for a permanent relationship. I certainly wasn’t expecting a ménage, but I can’t ignore how it feels when we’re together.”
“How does it feel?”
“Comfortable. Balanced. Right.”
“But only when the three of us are together?”
She nodded. “I want each of you, but not nearly as much as I want both of you.”
“Then trust us to deal with your father. Our eyes are wide open. We know what we’re getting ourselves into.”
She licked her lips and pushed to the balls of her feet. “Hopefully you’re getting yourself into me.”
He chuckled and nipped her bottom lip. “Your wish is my command.” Taking him by the hand, she led him back into her bedroom and commanded the French doors to close. “Nice trick.”
“Thank you. Want to see another?” She swept her hand down the length of her body and dissolved her clothes.
“Damn! I love that trick.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. Her lips parted for the first nudge of his tongue.
His taste was warm and evocative, unique yet familiar. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stroked his tongue with hers. Strong and firm, his arms pressed her against his chest so closely she felt his heartbeat.
“Can
you shapeshift?” He whispered the question against her lips.
“I haven’t yet, but that doesn’t mean I can’t. My mother was a late bloomer. Now, take off your pants,” she whispered against his lips. “I want to touch you.”
“You didn’t say please.” He cupped her ass with both hands and rubbed her against the front of his jeans.
Heat pooled between her thighs as his cock teased her mound. Her breasts felt heavy, the tips tingly. “Please.” She’d never had Azariel all to herself. It was almost as if this was the first time they’d touched.
He quickly shed his jeans and pulled her back into his arms. His mouth claimed hers in another breath-stealing kiss. She touched him everywhere that wasn’t pressed against her, his back, his ass, his lean hips. She rocked against him, desperate for the feel of his thickness moving inside her.
Dragging her mouth away from his, she sucked in a breath. “Gods, I ache. Has it only been one night?”
With a wicked chuckle, he spun her around and pulled her back into the curve of his body. “I don’t think you’ve earned my cock just yet. Weren’t you going to create a mind link?”
“Can’t we do that after we fuck?”
“I don’t think so.” He cupped her breast with one hand and covered her mound with the other. “I want you in my mind while I fill your sweet pussy with my cock.”
She shivered, easily imagining the fullness. “All right.” Turning within the circle of his arms, she curved the fingers of one hand around the back of his neck and drew his attention to her breast. “Here.” She sliced a small opening above her nipple and pulled him toward the wound.
Pleasure shot through her as his mouth fastened over the cut. His lips pulled and she shivered, persistent tingles racing up and down her spine. The link opened and his presence blazed into her mind. She melded with the heat, following the radiant stream from her mind into his. Brighter and hotter, he burned. She absorbed the flames, consumed yet empowered by the inferno.
His arms squeezed her tightly, his lips growing hot against her skin. “Hot,” she cried. “Your mouth is… burning… me!”
He pulled away panting, her blood shining upon his lips. “Unbelievable. You are stronger than I ever imagined.”
