by Sydney Addae
“Oh...um...Blood-mate. My everything. My world. My love.”
She took him into her mouth and sucked hard.
Baron arched his back, looked up without seeing and opened his mouth to a silent scream. With another, he could’ve held back, played it cool, and withheld his pleasure. Not with her. Just knowing she did this for them after learning what he was, tipped the scale. His love for her absolute. Locked in place, he allowed her to have her way for all of five, not more than ten, seconds before he exploded. Body shaking, he rode the waves of pleasure only his Blood-mate could provide.
She pulled back and stood slowly, watching him the entire time. “I love it when you’re bad like this,” he murmured while pulling himself back together.
Simone laughed. What came over her, she wasn’t sure, but it was fun and she hoped they could do it again sometime. “You’re tasty.” She smiled and pulled him forward by his shoulder toward the bed.
“Am I?”
She nodded as she licked her fingers.
“You taste better. If you untie my hands I can help you sit on my face.”
She chuckled at his pleading tone. “I’ll wait until we can use this, won’t take long.” She squeezed his limp cock and laughed as it pulsed in her hand.
“If not on my face, can you scoot up on the bed so I can grab a snack while we’re waiting?” A flash of something entered his eyes. How had she missed that before? When he was aroused, excited, horny, his eyes darkened to a cobalt blue. But she had seen them lighten earlier when he agreed to fight to get Marissa back. Was that a part of being a vampire?
“No. I’m going to untie you and we’re going to lay in bed while you answer my questions.” She laughed at his sour expression as she walked around to release him.
“What do you want to know?” Naked, he crawled onto the bed, laid on his back with his legs spread apart and his arm beneath his head. His cock jerked a few times, as if in greeting, before settling down.
Tempted to jump on top of him and receive at least two orgasms before he penetrated her, she bit her lower lip in determination and eased onto the other side of the bed.
“How often do you drink blood? Where do you get it? What happens if you don’t drink it? Do you need it from me?” She took a deep breath and then exhaled before glancing at him.
“Blood? I buy it from blood banks and drink around five bags a week unless something unusual happens and I need more, which is why I don’t need it from you to survive. To bond, there is some blood sharing, a bite, nothing big I’m told.”
“If you don’t drink it?” She pressed. The whole bonding thing was a discussion for another day.
“From what I’ve been told, we die without blood. I’ve never been without blood so I can’t say how I’ll personally react.”
For some reason, hearing he purchased blood like she bought meat eased her concern. The idea of him stalking people for their blood scared her. “How old are you?”
His eyes lightened and she grabbed his hand. “Come on, tell me.”
“Somewhere around a couple centuries, I’m not exactly sure.”
“Centuries?” She checked her internal dictionary. Decades were tens, centuries were hundreds. How was it possible?
He nodded and looked at her through lowered lids.
“Have you ever had a Blood-mate before?”
His gaze sharpened. “No. Never.”
She swallowed her pleasure over his adamant response. “Good. What’s expected of me as your Blood-mate?” She reached over and stroked his stomach, loving how it quivered. This man was so responsive, so sexy, so hers.
“We will be tutored together by my linesmen.”
Her gaze met his. “What’s wrong?”
“You will either love them or hate them, I have no way of knowing how you’ll react once you meet them, but you’ll need to meet them soon. If we leave tomorrow, can we set aside some time to go and see them?”
“Marissa?”
He shook his head. “After you meet them you can decide if you want her to meet them as well. They’re different.”
She wondered how different vampire families could be but left it alone as his cock stood, demanding her attention. “Okay, I’ll leave Marissa with Camilla.” She slid on top of him and rubbed against his dick. “This is so good, baby,” she moaned at the friction.
He flipped her over and slid inside her warmth, stealing her breath while taking her higher with each hard thrust. Sounds of flesh slapping flesh, an occasional grunt, and finally, the scream of her release filled the room. Baron continued with a few more thrusts and then yelled before collapsing on top of her.
“Blood-mate,” he said on a breathy sigh that made her melt.
“Blood-mate,” she said.
Chapter 29
Two days later, Simone walked into her office. She and Baron had spent several hours talking about his history, the destruction of his planet, rituals, protocols, breeders, hunters and everything else she could think of. At the end of the day, she admitted she loved him. Granted, theirs wouldn’t be a typical relationship, they’d need to be careful. He stressed how important it was to keep their secret as well as the price he’d pay if she didn’t.
When he mentioned Carrie was a hunter she couldn’t, wouldn’t, believe the small blond fought, captured, and destroyed vampires. She’d actually laughed when he told her about Carrie. They finally agreed that she’d act surprised whenever Carrie got around to asking her questions regarding him and vampires.
“Morning, Simone, glad to see you’re back,” Anna said, smiling. “How’s Marissa?”
Since Anna already knew most of the details, Simone gave a broad overview of the situation. Camilla kept Marissa at home with her today since she didn’t return to work until the end of the week.
“Good. Give Rissa a kiss for me,” Anna said.
“Hi, Simone, when did you get back?” Carrie asked. Normally Simone wouldn’t think anything about that question and would answer without thinking. Knowing what she knew about Carrie, she smiled to give herself a moment before answering. “Couple days back, spent some time with Marissa to get her back on track.” She kept her smile level and didn’t give the blond more eye contact than normal. “What’s been going on? Staying busy?” Anna kept Simone current with office information, so she knew Carrie had been out in the field doing inspections every day since she’d been gone.
“Yes, you’d think there was a half-price sale on mortgage refinance interest rates. We’ve been swamped. Some commercial work came in too.” She pointed to a manila folder in the mail slot.
Simone eyed the folder, picked it up and glanced at the order. Anna hadn’t told her about this one. “Hmm. A warehouse?” She closed the file and placed it back in the slot.
“Yeah, can I work that one with you? It’d help me get my general license.”
Simone didn’t look at Carrie directly. Instead, she glanced in the mirror on the wall to see her employee’s reaction. “I’m not going to do it. Not enough comps.”
Carrie’s cheeks reddened as she frowned, and bit her lip as if it would keep her from saying whatever was on her mind.
“What if I find some comps?” Carrie asked, moving back as Simone picked up a folder with bills Anna wanted her to look over and approve.
“I doubt it, but I’ll let you know.” She paused and glanced at Carrie’s crestfallen expression. “What’s on the board for residential?”
Carrie cleared her throat and pulled out her tablet. “I’ve got three appointments today. Two tomorrow, that’s it for the week. So I’m available to get some commercial appraisal experience if you’d like.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Like I said, I doubt I’ll do anything that heavy right now, but I’ll let you know. If not this time, maybe the next. But I’ll let you work commercial with me before it’s time to sit for your exams, I promise.”
“Thanks, Simone, you’re the best.” Carrie turned and smiled.
Simone headed to her office to clear her desk. An hour later, Baron called and invited her to lunch. Pleased to hear his voice and eager to see him again, she accepted and drove to his home. Since this was the first time she’d been to his house she was excited to see his tastes in residences. The directions to the place took her up a long winding road. There were a few trees, some vegetation, but for the most part, the earth appeared dry with tall weeds. If he hadn’t given her directions, she would have thought she’d gotten lost. She turned a curve and crossed a creek. Whatever she expected, it wasn’t the tall brick mansion on the top of a hill. She’d never seen this place before and she’d lived in Charlotte for several years.
Driving forward, she slowed as she came to a tall metal gate embedded in a wall built of solid rocks. “Creepy,” she murmured as the gate opened and she drove through. The gate closed behind her and she drove up the asphalt driveway to the front of the house. Seated in her car, Simone looked at the manicured lawn, healthy-looking fruit trees, the fragrant scent of gorgeous flowers, and the trickling sound of a waterfall. “This is not what I saw outside that gate.” She craned her neck to look back and couldn’t see the gate or the wall. Lush green grass, trees, and flowers were everywhere.
She stepped out the car and looked around. Behind her, the door opened. “I’m glad you found it. I was tempted to come get you, but I figured you’d prefer to experience the drive yourself.” Baron stepped from the porch, took her in his arms and kissed her deeply. “Thanks for coming, lunch is ready, and then you’ll meet my linesmen.”
Simone nodded. She’d been putting off meeting his family for the past two days. He’d been firm that today, at some point, she needed to meet them. Better at lunch than at dinner she supposed as she followed him into his home. Stepping onto the porch, she eyed the wooden door and the thorn bush on the railing. It looked familiar. She shook her head. Nope, she had never been here, she would definitely remember.
“Welcome to my home,” Baron said, smiling down at her. “I built it over a century ago, it houses my laboratory, which I’d love to show you, and my offices as well as my sleeping chambers.”
“I want to see it all,” she said seriously. After the initial shock, disbelief and denial, she appreciated talking to someone who had seen so much. His tales of the growth of the country, the people he worked with like Einstein, Ben Franklin, and other geniuses she’d read about sparked her imagination about the world. She’d always been a history buff and planned to travel after college. Starting her business delayed her traveling bug and then after her sister died, leaving Rissa in her care, she’d placed traveling on hold again.
“So you shall.” He placed a kiss on her lips and wrapped his arm around her waist. Together they walked into his kitchen.
For such a huge home she laughed at how sparse this room was. “This doesn’t get much use does it?” She opened the large stainless steel double-door refrigerator and smiled at the fruit and veggie platter, several bottles of her favorite tea, and two covered plates.
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Lunch?”
“Yes. I need to warm it up.” He removed the plates and stuck one in the microwave. Simone grabbed a cold bottle of tea and pulled out the veggie tray. She placed it on the counter that was covered in something from the 1920s. She’d definitely need to gut this place and redo it if she spent any time here. Mentally she’d redesigned the huge space before the microwave dinged.
“I’ll place your plate on the dining table, it’s out here.” He motioned to another room. She followed and gasped. Whereas the kitchen was borderline useless, there wasn’t one thing she’d change in this room. The long mahogany table gleamed beneath the largest chandelier she’d ever seen. It covered half the table, which had to be at least 12 feet long.
A matching china cabinet and buffet lined two walls. Large windows let in just the right amount of light to give the room a cozy feel in spite of its large size. She could definitely see having a few dinner parties here. Maybe their Christmas dinner. Her gaze landed on the masterful artwork and she couldn’t help but stare.
“That is so beautiful.” She pointed at a seashore painting. “I feel as if I’m right there at the beach. It’s... breathtaking.” She looked at the other paintings with equal awe. “Museum paintings aren’t half as good as these. Do you know the artist?”
“Yes. Halgreth. When he passed, I received his collection and have them all displayed in the house. He was a talented artist who died too young. I love his work, it’s peaceful.”
Simone nodded and pointed at two swords in a case on the wall just outside the dining room. “Yours? You fight with those?” She took the seat he offered for her and tilted her head, waiting for his answer.
“Actually, Brevar collects weapons, those are a part of his collection that I keep here. Eat before your food gets cold.” He touched the tip of her nose and returned to the kitchen to warm his food.
While she ate she continued looking at the heavy, expensive furniture, the artwork, the expensive rugs. Probably Persian. She had done an appraisal of a mansion a few years back and the owner made sure she reported the slate tile covered by real Persian rugs. She didn’t mention the rugs held no value for the appraisal because he could take them with him.
“How is it?” Baron asked as he took the seat next to her.
“Good. Thanks.” Eager for a tour, she finished her tea and refused his offer to get another.
Baron watched Simone sitting in his dining room. The light of appreciation shone brightly in her eyes for his home. It didn’t take him long to eat his steak and vegetables. Plus, he sensed her desire to move about. First, she needed to meet his linesmen.
“Do not scare her,” Baron said.
“She has great taste,” Halgreth said.
“Yes, she’s handling everything well. I didn’t expect this. She seems almost happy, content to be here,” Cull said.
“It has been a long time since anyone has received a Blood-mate, perhaps that is why she is so calm. It was meant to be,” Rhiannon said.
“I am going to explain about last in line and then I will introduce you. Maybe I’ll do it upstairs in my room,” Baron said. “No. I’ve banned you guys from my bedroom. Maybe down here, in the dining room. She likes this room.”
“She likes my weapons in the living area. We can meet her there,” Brevar said.
“Or in the solarium around the herbs and plants,” Bulgar said.
Baron took a long drink to calm his nerves and quieted his linesmen. “Enough, I will tell her wherever I tell her. Stay out of it and only appear when I call you.”
He finished his food and stood. Watching him, she stood as well. “I want to show you something.” Her bright smile went straight to his heart. So far he’d been honest with her, answering every question, sharing his heart and now his home with her. There was one last hurdle they needed to cross.
“In my culture, there is something called last in line. I told you how we came to this planet and were split into 12 groups. We were promised there would always be someone here from each group. That person would be called last of the line.” He opened the door to the den with the large flat screen television and comfortable chairs. They sat on a buttery soft beige leather sofa. After she finished looking around the room, he continued speaking. “My line consisted of ten of us. Cull, Marias, Bulgar, Sven, Ian, Rhiannon, Icar, Brevar, and Halgreth.”
“The artist? He’s related to you?”
“I suppose you could say that. We were grouped together to form a line. Through the years I rarely saw or heard from anyone in my line, so it’s not like you and Sharita or Camilla. It’s a different concept.” He didn’t know how to explain it any better so he didn’t try. “I’m the last in my line. All of my linesmen have passed on.”
She reached over and grabbed his hand. “Even though you didn’t know them well, I’m sorry for your loss. There was still a connection.”
He nodded slowly. “Yes, you’re right. We are c
onnected and what I didn’t know about them in life, I’ve learned from them since.”
She frowned. “Huh?”
Baron inhaled. “Whoever is the last in their line, they receive the gifts, talents, information, history, from all the others in their line so that it’s never lost.” He tapped his forehead.
“What do you mean?” Her grip tightened and then she released his hand.
Baron inched closer, wrapped his arm around her shoulder and held tight. “All of my linesmen are here with me, sort of like a resource I tap into when I need something.”
“Here?” She looked around and then back up at him.
“Simone, I will never let anyone or anything hurt you. If you don’t want to meet them, that’s fine, whenever you’re ready. But I needed to tell you about them. I’m the first person in our race to become last in line. It was a bumpy beginning, but we’re good now and I’m proud to be a part of them. I guess they are my family.”
She nodded while rubbing his thigh with her fingertip. “Ghosts? Is that what you’re telling me? Your last in line are ghosts?” Her voice rose a bit.
“Is Sharita a ghost?”
Her eyes widened as she stared into his. For a few moments she didn’t say anything. “I don’t know what she is. She definitely doesn’t come when I call and she’s not around that much. Kinda like when she lived with me,” she murmured.
Baron smiled. “Would you like to meet them? They’ve promised to be on their best behavior.”
Simone swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes. I’ve come this far, might as well see it to the end.”
He brushed his lips against her forehead. “Halgreth come meet Simone, my Blood-mate.” Seconds later a tall barrel-chested man wavered in front of them and then solidified. Long dark curls flowed down his back as he took a bow.
“My pleasure to meet you, Simone. I so wanted you to choose Baron. There were moments I despaired he would blow it. You are indeed a treasure. Please take a picture with you today as my gift to welcome you to our line.”
Simone’s eyes widened as her gaze flew from Halgreth to Baron and back to Halgreth. “But they are all so beautiful and expensive.”
