by Rena Marks
I immediately didn’t like him.
“Most destroyed. A few I have kept to please my mistress. She keeps pets,” he said lovingly to me, but with a slight undertone of a threat aimed at Marcus. “They are back home in the States. Now, if you will escort us to our quarters, she can rest.”
“Of course.” Marcus snapped his fingers and there was a sudden flurry of activity. With a motion of his hand, a beautiful, twenty-something year old woman appeared. She wore see-through attire and hints of sleek, supple flesh showed through.
“Master,” Marcus started, “will the mistress require nourishment also?”
Another sweep of his hand and a young man in his early twenties appeared to his left, heavily muscled in a scanty thong. I stared aghast. This was my pre-dinner snack?
Julian watched me and his face never twitched, although I knew he wanted to. “Only I nourish Anjelia. Since my child she carries is part wolf, she will require a little human-prepared meat also.”
Marcus nodded and the young man-morsel lowered his head before stepping backward.
We were escorted to a winding staircase. Stone inlaid steps blended with the intricacy of polished marble.
“Nico’s old quarters are ready?” Julian asked.
“Of course.” Marcus inclined his head again, obviously very formally trained.
“Come, my sweet.” Julian swung me into his arms.
“You don’t need to carry me up all the steps,” I protested. “I’m getting heavy.”
The smallest smile touched his lips. “You’ve been sitting for hours. Your back aches with the little one. And you’re not heavy.”
I was suddenly awash with need. I wrapped my arms around his neck and licked at his pulse delicately before I whispered in his ear. “I’m hungry for you.”
Effortlessly, he climbed the steps with me in his arms. Marcus opened the door of the master suite and stunning opulence met my gaze. White and gold, vivid brilliance covered everything. So obviously un-vampirelike that I blinked.
“Surprise,” Julian murmured. “I called ahead to have Marcus redecorate.”
I kissed his lips and his parted underneath mine. Marcus stayed quiet and I nearly forgot he was present. When I remembered, I broke the kiss gently and smiled wryly at the bad timing. Julian carried me further into the room, setting me on the bed and propping a pillow behind me.
“Are the quarters next door prepared for Anjelia’s doctor?” he asked Marcus.
“Yes, master.”
“Good. I shall feed her and then head downstairs while she rests.”
“Yes, sir.” Marcus swiveled on his heel, closing the door behind him. It latched with a soft click and Julian locked it with a louder click.
“The room is beautiful,” I said as I stared up at the ceiling. It was at least fourteen feet high, with intricate scroll work and detailed hand paintings. The ceiling was rounded and painted to resemble the sky. In fact, I could almost believe I was outdoors. Why every vampire quarters wasn’t decorated this way was beyond me.
“I’m glad you like it.”
He shrugged out of his charcoal shirt. Bare to the waist, he slipped across the bed, sleek muscles in his shoulders shifting powerfully, like a cat. Lifting my top, he tugged down the elastic on the waist of my skirt to press his ear to my belly. My fingers trailed through his hair. It flowed over my hand like living silk.
“Hello, my son. Did you have a good trip?” His voice rumbled.
I felt the baby flutter in my belly and wondered if I should be able to feel him already. I’d have to remember to ask Leo. Julian turned his head to kiss the shifting bump under my skin. “Yes, I know you can hear me.”
The baby kicked again, harder this time.
I laughed, ignoring my concerns of the rapid growth. “Come here and feed your son’s momma before you have him beating down the doors.”
He rose on his elbows and my hands reached for his broad shoulders. I allowed my hands to wander over the skin stretched tightly across the muscles of his chest. Down, down over his abdomen and into the waistband of his pants. Gently, I unbuttoned them.
“I don’t need to be completely nude for a feeding, my sweet.” He smiled teasingly.
“Umm, but I haven’t seen you nude in quite a few hours.”
“I thought you were hungry first?”
“I am. Now come here.”
* * * * *
I smiled sleepily at Julian. The scent of his skin was rich in my nostrils, the taste of his blood still lingered on my tongue and my body quivered in sated bliss. I kissed him before closing my eyes for the nap that was looming near enough to touch.
An hour later I stretched. My body was nude beneath the coverlet that Julian had tossed over me. I rose and made my way to the bathroom, where I stood in the steady stream of the shower.
I dried myself on a fluffy white towel edged in gold. I stepped into panties and then reached for the bottles of cream that sat on the bathroom counter.
I rubbed cream into the skin of my stretched belly, stroking my son as I spread the scented lotion, a light fresh smell that reminded me of gentle breeze.
“I’ll finish that,” Julian whispered.
He stood behind me in the mirror. He’d slipped in quietly, giving in to his voyeur tendencies. He took the cream, rubbed his palms together to warm it, and then took over, his own large hands resuming the strokes. His hands were even gentler than mine had been.
When my belly was soft and silky smooth, his hands cupped my breasts, spreading the cream still. He whispered into my ear, “I want you again, my sweet. I can never get enough of you.”
I understood the need. Not a day went by that I wasn’t amazed this magnificent creature was mine. “Take me,” I rested my head backward on his shoulder and lifted my arms to reach over his head.
In that position, he was given total access to my breasts.
I sighed, a breathless sound as he caressed my breasts, teasing and pressing the nipples in with his thumbs.
“I’ll have to shower again before we go down to dinner,” I said.
“No. I like when you wear my scent.” His tone was arrogant, and it made me smile.
Picking me up, he carried me into the bedroom. He ran his hands down my suddenly heated skin, stroking the silky softness of just moisturized skin.
“You are so beautiful,” he murmured, pressing himself against my leg to show me how much he wanted me. “Soft and curvy. With the proof of our love growing within you.”
“Take off your clothes,” I said. “I want to see your beauty, too.”
“Men are not beautiful.”
“Then why does my mouth water?”
He removed his shirt and I licked at a male nipple.
“Perfect chest,” I whispered. “Hard and strong.”
He pulled his pants down off long legs and I sighed.
“Perfection. Everywhere.” But my gaze focused between his legs. His erection was even more magnificent than the rest of him. He was smooth and curved, with thick veins that twisted up his shaft. His balls were heavy and full—and as I knew from experience—sensitive.
I palmed the width of his erection, and then stroked slowly up and down his length. His eyes fluttered shut as he enjoyed the sensations.
Rapture stole across his handsome face. There wasn’t a single inch of him that wasn’t absolutely perfect, including his expressions when he allowed them.
I knew that I belonged with Julian, just as much as I knew it with Leo. How could I love them both so equally, when they were so different?
I continued my massage, and he grew harder in my hand. I traced the sensitive ridges of skin until he shuddered and pulled my hand away.
He kissed my fingertips. “You must stop. Vampires don’t like to lose control,” he teased. “It is my job to please you first.”
“I love you,” I said.
He smiled.
He swung me up and over his erection and settled me onto it. I gasped as he embedde
d his cock deep inside me.
“Okay?” he asked, his lids heavy and sultry.
I nodded shakily, too caught up in the electric feelings deep inside melting my nerve endings.
I rocked gently, quick little rocks that sent quivers along my insides. “More than okay.”
He held still, letting me excite myself on his body. I moved slowly, rotating circles with him deep inside me. He reached up and caressed my breasts, pinching my nipples. Then one hand slid to my hot, wet center and he traced lazy circles through my swollen, sensitive flesh with one finger.
I began to grind myself against him and then I arched my back.
He pulled gently on my slick clitoris, his fingers sliding like butter.
My head fell forward onto his chest as the pleasure crested and then erupted, waves rocking me from the inside out.
Large hands caressed my back and I vaguely heard Julian call my name as he vibrated deep into my sheath.
Carefully, he lowered me to the bed and spooned me to him, stroking the side of my body as we cooled.
He kissed the side of my jaw. “I love you, too,” he murmured, as our hearts slowed enough to beat normally again.
Chapter Four
I was well-fed, my strength returned by the time we headed down for dinner. I wore a black gown which parted at my pregnant belly to reveal a burgundy silk underskirt beneath. Julian had dressed formally in a black suit with a matching hint of burgundy.
We sat at the huge, elongated table and Julian placed me to his right. The humans who were the “favorite” appetizers had the honor of eating with the vampires, which was nice because I wasn’t singled out by eating solid food by myself. All other vamps at the table had a glass of Red which was obviously just as popular overseas.
In all my naiveté, I never considered how the vampires dined formally. When the last human finished his dinner, the plates were collected discreetly and the table cleared of all food and drink.
Still, we sat and talked, no one making a move to leave. Under the table, Julian reached for my hand, stroking my thumb delicately. I waited as patiently as a saint for the next move.
Two young, voluptuous women were brought into the room. Each one was draped in a sheer material the left nothing to the imagination. They were placed head to head on the long polished table and the one directly before us let her legs fall apart, exposing everything to our view.
I tried not to let my mouth drop open, but humans don’t have their food trying to entice them.
Marcus took the edge of the sheer material that draped them and pulled it away, leaving them splayed out naked.
He looked at Julian. “This is the first course.”
Julian rose and once he did the other unfed vampires rose also. He reached out and stroked a slim ankle. The other vampires reached out after he set the precedence, stroking a body part for themselves.
My guess is Julian got to choose his part first. I kept my face still, knowing he was a breast man but thankful he didn’t choose it in front of me.
Julian bit, which signaled the others to feed. The woman thrashed and moaned repeatedly, raising her hips nearly off the table and giving the vampire who sucked at her femoral the chance to clamp down better. It was quite erotic, knowing she convulsed with a multitude of orgasms, for each bite would trigger another.
One by one, the vampires pulled away. The now completely dazed and limp women were carried away by servants. Julian sat back down, elegantly wiping his mouth with a napkin.
The second course was brought in. This time it was two young men, completely naked except for a spot of material that covered their groins. Even vampires had double standards, but at least it was a thong in back.
The men stretched out just like the women did, but staggered so each man’s head touched the shoulder of the other.
This time Julian rose and reached for a wrist. With one finger he touched, communicating his choice, and in turn each vampire around the table chose their body part.
Julian bit, signaling the other vampires to feed. The men writhed as much as the women had. Their male beauty was just as beautiful, although different, than that of the women. Their bodies shuddered in rough, graceful ways. Sensual male movement countered by pure masculine brutality.
When they’d finished, the stunned men were helped to sit up. Julian leaned over to whisper in my ear.
“The women were an appetizer to take the edge off our hunger. The men were more of a main course, their bodies able to take more of a blood loss. They won’t be allowed to become supper again for at least a month, during which time they will be coveted and fed, rewarded for the sacrifice.”
The men finally stood and then it dawned on me what the cloth covering their groins was for. Now, it was stained a different color with the wetness that covered it.
Massive orgasms didn’t look like such a sacrifice to me.
“A third set?” Marcus inquired from across the table.
“I’ll pass,” Julian said with a slight shake of his head. “Anyone else?”
There were a few mumbled responses that indicated they’d had enough also and Julian continued. “Let’s get down to business then. Marcus, how long did you reign as Nico’s right hand?”
“This previous century.”
“You will continue temporarily as right hand for this household until I re-evaluate when I am ready to leave.”
Marcus inclined his head and suddenly I realized what all the hoopla was about. He was auditioning for the continuation of his job.
“I have two overseers arriving tomorrow with Anjelia’s doctor. You remember Lily and Nicki?”
“Anna will not be arriving with them?” Marcus’s smile was strained.
I hid mine. Anna had her reputation everywhere.
“She will arrive but will not be staying. I have other duties required of her back home.”
“It is unusual to split up that trio.”
“It is not a permanent split. They are merely starting the straightening for me. Besides, Anna is never kept far from her mistress, and Anjelia will return soon.” Easier than explaining her wolf smell as she had a wolf lover at home.
“You are keeping Johnny, then?”
“Johnny is now my own right hand back in the States.”
“It is not often that he is separated from them. Lily in particular.”
“As I said, it is not permanent. In fact, if not for my little one’s timing, I would have sent Johnny with the trio.”
He reached out with a warm hand to stroke my belly which made our son kick again.
Finally, an answer that satisfied Marcus.
Then Julian turned to me. “My sweet, we will discuss business a few more hours. Do you wish to retire?”
“I do.”
“I will take Anjelia to our quarters and return shortly,” Julian said to Marcus.
He helped me rise from my seat. Together we walked up the staircase, where I noticed several twisting hallways at the top of the stairs.
“Julian,” I said as I turned my head. “Would I be able to explore around the house?”
“Of course. This is one of our homes now. I inherit as Nico’s oldest living fledgling.”
A technicality, since Leo had killed Nico for Julian. Had Julian done it, he would not only have forfeited his life, but terminated all the inheritance.
“It’s safe?” I asked.
“You’re the vampire mistress here. No one would dare touch you. It is safe,” he assured me. “But will you feel safer with an escort?”
I nodded. “Chen?”
He thought about it. “Yes, you’ll be safe with Chen. I will send him to you.”
He pulled me into our room and he shut the door behind him, then stepped in to kiss me deeply.
“Did you enjoy the view of your dinner?” I asked breathlessly when he pulled away. He raised an eyebrow, knowing exactly what I was talking about.
“The appetizer was acceptable.”
“She was beau
tiful. And thin,” I reminded.
“She was food. I much prefer my women carrying babies.”
I tightened my arms around him. “Women?”
“I stand corrected. One woman. Forever.”
I laughed at him. “What do you think of Marcus?”
“He is not on my trusted list yet. I need more time to feel him out.”
“Is that why you want me out of the way?”
“You’ve got it, my sweet. I don’t see the need to give him unnecessary access to you.”
“Why not just fire him?”
“I need to see who here can be trusted fully. I don’t want my people to dread having to come here to help run the estate.”
“Well, I’ll keep myself out of the way so you can talk politics,” I said. “Chen will love exploring the castle.”
“Hmm. I will remind him to make sure you come to no harm.”
I used the restroom and freshened up while I waited for Chen. There was a soft knock and I called out to enter while I applied my lipstick.
“Julian wants me to escort you on your explorations?” he inquired as though expecting me to kick up a fuss over having a bodyguard.
“Yup,” I said cheerfully. “Let’s go, handsome.”
“You do wish a bodyguard?”
He couldn’t seem to get it through his big, thick skull.
“I wish some muscle. It’s a little hard to climb trees with a baby in your belly.”
There it was, the slip of the mask when his horrified expression peeked through. “C—Climbing…”
“Teasing you, Chen.”
“You do that a lot,” he grumbled as I flung open the door, leaving him to follow.
Down the dark, old hallway we found a row of closed doors, much like an inner hall of a hotel. At the very end was another winding staircase which went upward from that floor only.
The odd staircase caught my curiosity. Why wouldn’t it extend to the bottom level?
“This’ll do,” I said to Chen.
“What are we doing?”
“Exploring. How far up do you think it goes?”
