by Annie Buff
“Yes, but I want to stay with you. Vlad I’ve missed you so much more than I thought I would.”
“I was speaking of when we go home, tonight until we leave you and I I’ll be together, alone and naked.” They quickly and quietly entered Mehmet’s home, tiptoeing up the stairs, almost unnoticed. The vampires were too involved in conversation but Mak saw them, giving a smile and a wink.
The room was exactly as Vlad had requested, dozens of candles illuminated the suite showing off the rose petals scattered on the silken sheets. Annalese gasped at the scene, her Vlad was such a romantic.
“Oh Vlad, it’s amazing. You did this for me?”
He shook his head in disbelief; she still didn’t realize he would do anything for her. “No my dear, I did it for us. When I said I was going out of my mind I was not joking. Come, there should be a bath prepared.”
Damn if there wasn’t, a Jacuzzi sized tub filled with rose petals and some scented oils, a delicious smell, one she couldn’t pick out, but enticing nevertheless. Vlad carefully undressed her, mindful of her belly. His touch electrified her. When she stood bare in front of him, he removed his own clothes and bent to capture her lips, pulling her close. He felt her tongue on his lips, inviting it to dance with his, lifting her up so they could submerge together, lips still locked. Her body was trembling just from being in his arms. Vlad broke the kiss.
“Gods woman!” he told her as his hand slipped between her legs, feeling how wet she was for him. He had her on his lap, circling her swollen clit with his long fingers. Annalese let her head fall back as she withered and moaned. He couldn’t stop his fangs from sinking into the sweet flesh on her neck. She quivered with pleasured as he drank her in. Her moans were growing louder, but neither cared. Vlad was so drunk on Annalese nothing else mattered. He licked her wounds closed and she returned the favor, biting hard enough to draw blood. She had never bitten to this extreme with him, but listening to him groan she knew he loved it. She began to drink, taking him in, pulling from him what she so desperately wanted. Vlad was shaking, moaning and then shouting to the gods as he spilled himself on her belly, taking her with him. Her climax slamming through her the way an avalanche took trees in its path. They clutched each other as they returned to the earth.
“That,” he said in a raspy voice, “has never happened before. Damn woman never did I think you would bite me in such a fashion, and the Goddess knows I had no idea it would make me come without so much as a touch.” Vlad was still reeling, breathless from such an intense orgasm. He’d had many over the centuries but never anything like the ones he experienced with her. He could see the satisfaction on her face from what she caused.
“I have every intention of biting you again.” She gave him a sly grin as he washed her, taking extra care of her belly, rubbing and caressing her in a way that she couldn’t help but feel his love.
When the last of the water was gone in a spiral down the drain, Vlad took his time drying her with the gentlest of touches, but he didn’t dress her. He took her to the bed and held her in his arms, needing to feel the closeness.
“Annalese you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and the way you look at me, it is like you see something I do not. What is it that you see when you look at me?” He was trailing his fingers gently up her side, reveling in the feel of her skin, it felt like satin and he knew he would never have enough.
“Everything, I see everything. Sometimes I even see things I don’t want me to; your Impaler side, but that’s part of who you are. I knew it and fell in love with you anyway. What I see most of all is the kindest, sweetest man I’ve ever known, one I couldn’t live without.”
“And you never will my love.” His lips crashing down on hers. Their tongues swirled together. Vlad pulled himself over her, his lips never leaving hers, but ever mindful of her middle. She could feel him just brushing the tip of his dick against her, teasing her. The anticipation was too much. Annalese broke the kiss, sinking her teeth into his shoulder.
Vlad slammed in deep, causing her to gasp but not let go. The harder he thrust, the more she bit. Vlad found being bitten extraordinarily erotic. He would definitely ask her to bite him again but he knew he had to stop her, he’d go too quickly. Vlad pulled away, but as Annalese began to protest he flipped her over and drew her up on all fours and thrust himself back into her warm, wet channel, kissing up her spine as their bodies moved in unison.
“Gods how I love you Annalese.” Vlad was breathless, panting, sweat glistening off his sinewy muscles. His body was like an inferno, she lit him on fire like no one ever had. He was close, Vlad could feel it. The crescendo building and he needed her to be first. Her pleasure was always first, that’s how it should be.
Annalese felt her heart jackhammering in her chest, Vlad filled her so completely and nothing had ever felt so good. She could feel it coming, closing in, and inching closer to the edge of sheer ecstasy.
“Baby, bite me, please! God Vlad, I love it when you bite.” His fangs pierced the skin on her shoulder and she began to convulse, clawing at the sheets, her body gripping his like an iron vise as her orgasm rocketed through her entire body. Vlad spilled, grunting and groaning through his fangs, still deep in her flesh. He could feel his release go on and on and the aftershocks tumbling through Annalese while her motion begged his body to keep spilling.
After he had gotten himself under control and retracted his fangs, he pulled her close, adjusting their bodies so Vlad could hold her tight, hands caressing her belly. She was amazed how gentle he was for being such a big man.
“We are doing this again, you know that right? I will hire an army of nannies if need be, but we are definitely doing this again. Aside from the fact you are incredibly sexy and you glow, I would like to try for a boy, one of each.” She laughed; telling him Lachlan said something similar, not about wanting a boy or girl, about how beautiful she was during pregnancy.
“Of course he did love, you are an incredibly beautiful woman, but of course I always thought that. From the moment I knew I had feelings for you, I fought my desire. I have never told you, but I told Lachlan, he knew. Every waking moment I had to fight not to touch you, taste your lips, take you to my bed and claim you. When I slept, which wasn’t much, I would dream of you. Doing exactly what we did tonight, it’s why I left. Do you remember sitting in the garden calling for me, using our bond? The way you sounded, it shattered any resolve I had left. I did keep my emotions shut off. I had to try to get over you. Then came the day you told me you loved me, really loved me, nothing else mattered. What I’m trying to say is my love for you grows every day and the baby is just a beautiful bonus. You are an amazing woman and mother, but even without this,” he was patting her tummy,” I would love you exactly as I do now. And in two weeks when our daughter arrives, I will love you that much more for bearing he pain of birthing Lyla.” He kissed her forehead as she traced his dragons. Annalese loved the feel of Vlad. She knew the baby wasn’t waiting two weeks; this seemed a good of time as any to mention it.
“Baby, I don’t think she’s going to wait the two weeks.” It took mere moments for Vlad to understand and when he did he flew out of the bed, kneeling next to her.
“Is it now?” He had started to panic already. Terror had taken over Vlad’s normally calm, stoic demeanor.
“No baby, my water hasn’t broken yet. But I’ve been feeling some labor off and on today. I’d say a few days, a week tops and I’d really like to be home when she’s born. Do you mind if we leave before sunset tomorrow? His hands were shaking, Vlad had never felt fear before, but he was surely feeling it now. Even the day he made his confessions to Lachlan expecting him to take his head, he had never felt fear. Knowing Annalese was in the beginning stages of labor terrified him.
“Yes of course we can go. I shall go talk to Lachlan and Mehmet. What do you need from me?” She sat up, taking his hands and smiling.
“Vlad, calm down, that’s your job. Remember Michael’s birth, it’s normal
and very natural, I’m fine baby. Let’s get dressed. I’ll go downstairs with you. Mak probably needs saving from Mehmet anyway.”
“Are you in pain? I can try to ease it.” She wasn’t in any pain yet, that would come. But there was something she really did need.
“Can we get cannoli?” He burst out laughing, only his mate would ask for those now.
“Of course, I will make the call; I assume the chocolate dipped ones?” He knew her too well. The couple gathered their clothes and headed down to see the master of the house. Vlad spoke with Lachlan and Mehmet about the events of the evening while Annalese spoke with Mak.
“So it has begun, how do you feel? Shouldn’t you sit or something?” Annalese smiled, he knew nothing about pregnant women or birthing babies. One day he would learn.
“No Mak, come with me, let’s walk.” They took for the garden, Annalese holding Mak's hand and heading up the cobblestone pathway to Mehmet’s garden.
“Are you sure this is ok? What if the Prince comes looking for you?” She kept tight on his hand.
“He knows where I’ll be, when he finishes with Lachlan and Mehmet he will be out. Mak he trusts you with my safety and with our daughter. For Vlad to trust is a miracle and trusting someone he doesn’t know with me is unheard of. What you need to understand about Vlad is he is a total control freak and has some serious trust issues, not with me or even Lachlan, but with pretty much every other being on the planet. He’s left me in your care without hesitation, which means you’ve made a very big impression on him. Oh and he’s coming.”
Mak tried to pull his hand away, but Annalese held tight. Vlad was approaching and Mak had no plausible explanation for why they were holding hands. If Vlad made any aggressive move, Mak knew wolf would break free and he did not want that.
Vlad could sense the fear rolling off Makhi, if Annalese had not taken to him in the manner she had he would consider toying with him a bit, but his soon-to-be mate was quite fond of the wolf so Vlad chose not to play on his fears.
“Makhi, can we speak for a moment?” Annalese had gone to Vlad, letting him encircle her tiny frame.
“Sir?” Mak said confused why the Prince wanted him.
“Ah yes, I see that we are still at the formalities, I suppose part of that is my doing, I have always been one for proper names. So I will call you Mak and you will stop calling me sir. Vlad is acceptable, or do as Lachlan does and call me T.” Mak’s fears were disappearing. The Dark Prince had not attacked him for the hand holding.
“And I will not attack you; she is quite fond of you Mak.” It took a minute for him to realize while Vlad had spoken to him, he hadn’t spoken aloud.
“One of your gifts, I gather.” He got the infamous and all too familiar Vlad nod.
“I am a true born Mak, I can do a great many things. One night we will discuss them over drinks. I understand you are not a scotch drinker, I will have to rectify that.” Vlad’s stoic demeanor finally broke and he smiled. Mak thought that was as rare as him trusting.
“I am more of a vodka man, Ketel One is my favorite, but on my salary I buy what I can afford. I should let you two have your privacy.” Mak was stopped before he got a step farther. He was the reason Vlad came out to the garden, he had things to say to him.
“I came out to speak with you,” Vlad pulled a cigarette from the pack he took from Lachlan’s not so secret stash. “Lachlan says these things calm him, and I too enjoy them but they cause me to want another and a drink. But then, I always want a drink.” He chuckled not understanding how Lachlan didn’t want a drink when he smoked. “What I wanted was to discuss a few things before we leave for Romania, if you could spare me a few minutes.”
Mak nodded, not even considering saying no to the Prince who was now his employer. “Of course Si- Vlad.” Mak knew it would take forever to just say Vlad, the formalities and respect had been ingrained in him since he was a pup. Zhor was a good teacher and Mak wouldn’t forget what he was taught.
“I understand you are to be Nico’s Beta, however I need your loyalty first and foremost. Nico senses trouble and I have learned over the years to never doubt him. You will live in the castle, I had the west wing converted into a painting studio for Annalese, but here is a small apartment. If you like it, it is yours. If something needs to be changed, let me know and I will make it happen.” Wow was all Mak could think. A castle and his own apartment.
“I am sure it’ll be fine, my accommodations here were basic at best. I am used to struggling. You see I was not born with status. I had to fight for all I have, and I found I’m quite good at it. I have never lived in a castle or had any real family, I am an orphan. The pack was my family, until your mate turned my world upside down, and it’s a good thing. She has a way of making you let your guard down. Is this making sense? I feel like I am rambling.”
Mak was rambling, but Vlad understood all of it. He sat with a sleeping Annalese in his arms, tight to his chest, so even in slumber she could feel his heart beating for her.
“She has a way of getting you to look into yourself, into your soul, doesn’t she?” Vlad expressed his understanding for the Wolf’s tension. Trying to ease his mind, the Prince continued, “She is the only one who knows all my secrets, even the deep, dark, very ugly ones and yet she is still here, she still loves me. She sees only the good in you and she will show you your deepest fear and desire. I will let you in a little secret Mak: nothing in my very long life had scared me until her. The fear of losing her chilled me to the bone, and now knowing the pain she must endure to bring our daughter into the world, I’m terrified.” Mak understood. He felt so close to her, seeing her in any pain would hurt him too.
Mak hadn’t lied to Vlad, he was an orphan and Zhor had taken him in as a pup. He had nothing then, and still had very little. Not anything of monetary value. His most prized possession wasn’t a thing; it was a 'what': it was his Beta status. He had fought like hell for it, taking on challenge after challenge. When someone said dirt floor poor, Mak could relate, his one room cabin had a dirt floor, but it never bothered him. He had a roof, a full belly, and the pack. Then Zhor came to him with a proposition, full time security for the Princess of Wallachia and Mak jumped at it. There were two others being considered. Mak wanted it so bad he could taste it.
Zhor met with each, letting them explain why they would be the best fit for the position, and then he left for an entire day to consider what he’d heard. Mak spent that day as a wolf, running the forest. He had to. He was so amped up he wanted to fight everyone and everything. This was the opportunity of a lifetime and he wanted it; no he needed it and Zhor had finally returned with his decision.
Mak almost had heart failure when the news was delivered. He got it, and spent the rest of the evening learning his new duties and getting new clothes. Neither had met the Princess and were not familiar with her formalities but Mak was told to clean up.
Then he met her and his entire world was upended. The beauty with the long strawberry curls had fire in her eyes and in her veins, feisty and sassy. Mak instantly loved her, not in a romantic sort of way, but a brotherly love kind of thing. To him, she was like the sister he had always wanted but didn’t get. Well now he had it, and nothing was going to harm her. Not on his watch.
"Sir." Vlad just shook his head.
"We are going to have a time of this aren’t we Makhi?” While Vlad liked the respect, this was definitely overboard. Mak would learn eventually.
"Yes I believe so, I am just so used to it, and I truly am trying. Zhor expected nothing less." Vlad did his eyebrow raise, reading him… then he knew.
"Makhi, I do know you will belong to Nico’s pack, Annalese said it, but I do not think you understand. She said family, do you remember? You are part of the family Makhi, you mean a lot to her so in turn you are important to me, to all of us. I would like to extend an offer, to stay on permanently not only for Annalese, but for the children too. Would you consider it? It would please me greatly if you said yes."
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br /> Mak was floored, not only did the Prince trust him with his mate, he wanted to give him charge over the children. "Sir if you could please explain what you would expect from me so I can properly consider it."
Vlad did his nod, readjusting his mate to give Mak room and motioned for him to sit. "Annalese would always be your top priority, but so are the children. You would run the day to day security of the castle, of course I have the final say on things, but you will make decisions in my absence. There are a few passages I would need to show you, escape routes and a safe room in case of fire, things like that. Oh yes before I forget, I will assume Makhi is the only name you have, yes? No middle and last?"
Mak gritted his teeth nodding, he didn’t speak. He was afraid his voice would give away the longing in his heart to really belong. Vlad put his hand on Mak’s shoulder.
"It can be rectified. So will you accept? It will probably interfere with your duties as Beta so make a decision and let me know. I am going to take her in now. She needs rest.”
Mak offered to take her in case the Prince still had business but he declined. “No Makhi, but thank you, I am just not ready to let go yet.”
GOING HOME
Early the next day they had all boarded Vlad’s jet and were heading to Romania. Michael crawled all over his papa, even as he and Lachlan were discussing business. Annalese was curled up on the lounge sipping on her tea and thoroughly enjoying cannoli. Vlad made sure there was a dozen waiting on the plane. Mak was observing everything and rolling Vlad’s offer over in his head.
“Mak, what’s wrong?” Annalese asked, worried. “You’ve been so quiet and I feel your struggles, talk to me Mak.” Vlad was right, she had a way. He took a deep, cleansing breath to steady his nerves. He had to make a choice, and this was by far the hardest one he’d ever made.
“Your Prince made me an offer, to stay on permanently, for you and the children, run the security of the castle. Doing so I would have to step down as Beta and I’m torn. I want to be Nico’s Beta, but I also want to stay with you. You feel so much like family, the sister I never had. I don’t have any real family Annalese, I as was orphaned very young and don’t remember anything from that time. Being here with you just these past few days feels like home. I love you like crazy, you’re he first person to really accept me for who I am and I don’t know what to do.”
