Remembered the process of becoming a dhampyre had begun without his knowledge or permission. It had angered him even though Eden had already come to the decision that he wanted Alric to turn him. He remembered Alric had agreed to give him space to think, but after that all Eden could remember was the pain, the desperate need to feed; an uncontrollable hunger that he’d never experienced before, the remains of which still lingered in his veins.
Yet it still didn’t feel real.
It might be another fucked up dream after falling asleep mid-study. But Eden knew he wasn’t asleep as he ran his tongue over his aching gums and catching on the sharpened nubs, fangs not yet descended. And a dream wouldn’t explain – or maybe it would – the bruises on Alric’s neck, those on his rib cage that looked like fingers... Eden held out his hands, staring at the fingers and the bruises that matched. His gaze drifted lower, blushing at the lack of clothing they were both wearing. Tracing each bruise, each bite mark until he reached the juncture of Alric’s hips before dragging his finger down the bite marks littering the vampire’s inner thighs.
The ache of his gums intensified as the sharp nubs became even sharper fangs at the thought of sinking them into each of the spots on Alric’s body again... or kissing him as another memory flashed through his mind and instead of adding to the marks on Alric, he swung a leg over the still sleeping vampire. Straddling him, Eden ran his hands up Alric’s chest, fingers threading through the thick chest hair that was beginning to show flecks of silver – still hard to believe that Alric was over two-thousand years old when he barely looked close to forty – and his eyes reached Alric’s face a smile greeted him. A slightly cautious one that soon warmed further as Eden pulled his lips back, revealing his fangs. Eden moaned, the need to bite quickly joined by the need to be bitten and to do it while Alric fucked him.
“You okay?” Alric asked, his hands skimming up Eden’s arms and caressed his neck. Eden arched into his touch, inviting him to bite.
“Hungry.” He leaned down, nuzzled Alric’s neck an inhaling the vampire’s mouth-watering scent. “But I can’t decide what for...” grazing Alric’s skin and then startling at the response of his body. His hunger no less defined, if anything the need to feed and the need to fuck only tangled tighter together and demanded to be sated.
But at least it wasn’t only his body being affected as Alric gripped his hips an rolled them over. Rocked his hard cock against Eden’s and ripping a ragged moan from his throat. His body thrummed with desire, arching beneath Alric wanting more. Closing his eyes and tilting his neck, baring the skin and begged Alric to bite him. wanted to hear the soft whimpers of delight that came from deep within Alric as he drank his blood. Wanted to taste the ecstasy flooding Alric’s veins.
He wanted more than that too. Not caring who fucked who so long as someone did something... no maybe he did care, shuddering as Alric dragged a finger down his body, over his hard cock but not stopping there as it continued lower until all Eden could think of was Alric buried deep inside him. And he wasn’t the only one desperate for that as slick fingers circled his entrance before pushing deep inside. Shallow thrusts that kept him on edge, demanding more. Fangs that scraped at his neck, not quite breaking the skin and his begging turned into a babbling incoherent mess of sounds.
“Fuck, Alric. Fuck. Me.” Ready to roll them back over and tack control himself; to ride Alric’s cock he couldn’t remember where he ended and Alric began. The hunger in his veins had nothing on the aching emptiness building inside of him that demanded to be filled.
And then he was there. Alric’s hard cock nudging at his entrance, pushing in slow. Too slow, but Alric held onto Eden’s hips tight refusing him the chance to speed it up. Alric leaned forward, pressed a kiss to his lips as he pushed all the way in and Eden groaned in relief. But relief was short lived as Alric was in no hurry, moving his hips with shallow thrusts and teasing Eden with the gentle bites that never quite broke the skin.
“You know, your eyes turn a brilliant shade of violet... they’re beautiful.” Stared at them like they were something amazing; like Eden was something precious.
But the aroma filling the air, the mingling of their scents created a heady lust-driven haze that could no longer be ignored as Eden dragged his nails down the length of Alric’s spine, drawing blood. His hunger came back with force as the sweet metallic tang spilled into the air and Eden needed to taste it. A low rumbling growl emanated from his throat as he tugged Alric closer. The vampire dropped his head and speed up the pace of his hips, thrusting harder into Eden as his breath grew more ragged ghosting hot across Eden’s skin. He arched his neck, the vein that Alric favoured ached, begging to feel the vampire’s fangs sink deep into it as Eden eyed the same spot on Alric’s neck, but he was hesitant to bite down on it.
Last night he’d been driven by instinct and not a conscious decision. And now that he was fully aware of the need to feed; the desire to bite Alric, Eden found himself hesitating.
Alric sensed his hesitation and lifted his head, hips stilling. Concern radiated from him, swirled around inside of Eden too through the bond they shared. A hand brushed over his check. Fingers rested on his lips. “Stop thinking about it... stop fight it. This is who you are now.”
“Sorry. It’s still so new... overwhelming...” He licked his lips.
“But?”
“...god you smell...good.”
Alric grinned, lips pulling back to reveal his fangs and wasn’t the gloriously arousing sight. “Then what’s stopping you?” lowering his head, Alric scrapped his fangs along the column of Eden’s neck, harder enough to scratch and a desperate moan fell from his lips; pitched higher as Alric’s hips moved once more. “Bite me, Eden. Trust me, everything will be so much better once you do,” Alric said before biting him.
Sinking his fangs into Alric’s flesh, Eden whimpered as electricity danced over his skin. His mind soaring like his body had taken flight as Eden raced toward climax. Alric thrust harder, deeper inside him, nailing that one perfect spot over and over... He wanted to scream out. Wanted to taste the sweetness of Alric’s blood in the throes of passion forever. An addictive drug he never wanted to give up.
And it was only as he caught his breath that Eden remembered Albie’s words.
Chapter Seventeen
Alric clambered out of bed and headed for the attached bathroom, wondering when he last had a shower. Had they even left the bed at all since Eden’s turning? He snorted, they hadn’t at all, but whether they wanted to or not, it was well past time for Eden to meet the remainder of the Coven. And sooner was probably better than later, not putting it past someone to pick the lock and barge in.
He glanced back at the bed, stared at Eden sprawled over it surrounded by rumpled blood-spattered sheets. His gaze drifting over Eden’s naked form taking in ever scratch, bruise and bite mark he’d left behind, many of them already beginning to fade and he wished they’d linger a little longer. Tempted to head back to bed and place more on his skin until there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that Eden was taken. But he also feared the danger he’d placed Eden in, making the new dhampyre a prime target for those wanting to usurp Alric’s position within Silverdale City and not just as the head of the Silverdale Coven. He couldn’t slip amongst the humans that filled the city like he once had and yet, Alric wouldn’t change anything.
Couldn’t wait for the day Eden’s belly swelled with their child.
He flicked on the shower and stepped under the stream of hot water, once more thankful that they’d upgraded the complex to a gas heating system and no longer had to wait for water to heat. Hell, these days he was glad to not have cold showers at all, grimacing at the times in the past his idea of a shower had been a piece of cloth and a cold river. But not even that could wipe the smile from his face as the thought of a child, his and Eden’s kept it fixed in place. It didn’t have to be soon, knowing Eden would want to finish his graduate studies first and got himself set up in the library beneath the univer
sity that also contained all the folklore and history passed down from Alric’s ancestors. He knew Eden would love spending time in there, reading books and manuscripts that no other human would ever see, not that Eden was human anymore.
“What are you grinning about?” Arms wrapped around his waist and teeth nipped at his shoulder.
“Two things really-” turning in Eden’s arms and wrapping his own around Eden’s neck. “-there is somewhere I want to show you once the rest of the coven had finished meeting you. A place I think you’ll love, and I have no doubts that you will end up spending a lot of time there... it’s not far from here and you can access it via the system of tunnels spread out under the city, so you don’t have to worry about sunlight.”
“About the sunlight thing... am I going to be alright to attend classes? Most of them are in the late afternoon...”
“As a dhampyre your tolerance for the sun will be better than mine, however for the next few years you will be quite sensitive to it.”
“So, I should stock up on SPF 100 suntan lotion.” Eden’s lips quirked as he spoke.
“If only,” Alric laughed. If suntan lotion was all it took, the coven would have bought shares in all the major pharmaceutical companies involved in developing it. “But the tunnels lead to the university and the timing of your classes should be safe, just try not sit in the sunniest place in the lecture theatre.”
“Okay, so what’s the second reason you’re smiling?”
His smile brightened further as he fumbled behind him to flick the shower off. Alric didn’t want to have this conversation here and gestured for Eden to head back to the bedroom. Alric grabbed a towel, rubbing his skin dry as he followed him and dropped it on the floor not seeing any point to covering up. He clambered onto the bed, stretching out next to Eden who stared at him with a hint of trepidation. Alric smiled again, reaching out to reassure him and dispel whatever idea’s Eden’s mind was conjuring up. If anything, what he was about to tell Eden was exciting, something that Eden would never have gotten the chance to experience if he’d remained human.
“The other reason behind my smile was thought of us having a child together - or more if you wish, it isn’t as though we don’t have years ahead of us to do it – but a child that is created by the two of us-” his smile got bigger again and he couldn’t help caressing Eden’s abdomen that would one day bear their child. “-because now that you’re a dhampyre, one of the changes made to your body-”
“-gives me that ability to get pregnant. Yep. I already know. Albie informed of that,” Eden snapped and Alric’s smile slipped. “He didn’t do it intentionally, just assumed that you might have already told me... and frankly I wished you had. Wished that you’d mentioned it, along with everything else that was going to happen to me before...” Eden closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “But as strange as it all sounds – and it’s still going to take some time to get my head around it – I can understand why you’d smile about that.”
It pleased him that Eden was taking the news well even if it annoyed him that Albie had spoken of it first. But then that was more Alric’s fault for not having the balls to broach the subject with Eden sooner instead of it happening exactly as Albie had warned him.
“But if I’d told you two weeks ago, that you despite being a human male would be able to conceive, would you have believed it?”
Eden snorted. “I was barely prepared to accept that you were a vampire. If you’d also said that once I turned I’d be able to fall pregnant I wouldn’t have believed it. I would have thought you crazy and refused to have anything to do with you.”
“What else did Albie say about it?” He rested his head on Eden’s chest letting the beating of his heart relax him.
“Not much. Or at least not much that I remember. Just that you can also bear children...”
“True. It is possible. Or at least it would have been if the Fates had chosen to pair me with another vampire-born. Dhampyre’s for some reason can only bear children but can’t impregnate. I don’t really understand it and yet, I remember fairy tales speaking of it having happened, then again fairy tales aren’t always hiding a truth.”
He glanced up at Eden, reluctant to move but knowing that if they didn’t the rest of the coven would get sick of waiting and he’d rather they met Eden on his terms. But patience wasn’t something that developed with time and with how close the members of the coven were – not just familial ties either – personal boundaries rarely existed, hence why Albie thought nothing of lounging around in his apartment even when Eden was visiting.
“Disappointed?”
“Hmm... a little, maybe-” Alric wasn’t quite ready to believe him, there was a pensiveness to Eden’s gaze that worried him. “-but I’m more worried about how fertile this change will make me... I suppose,” face blushing bright red as he said it.
“What?” Alric pushed himself upright, a little confused at Eden’s question; wasn’t even sure if he knew how to answer it.
“Like is it one slip and whoops, you’re pregnant kind of thing... or a bit more hit-and-miss. And would we know? Is, there tests that you can take...”
Alric blinked still not sure why Eden was worrying about this all now. They’d used condoms each time they’d fucked since he turned... or had they? What about the first time? Had they used a condom then... oh, crap. Alric dragged a hand down his face as he realised Eden had a good reason to be concerned.
“No, none of that. We’ll just have to wait.” He stared straight at Eden. “But I promise that I didn’t intend to get you pregnant, if it turns out you are... I forgot. And maybe you aren’t...”
“But the chances are...”
“Pretty high that you are already pregnant.”
Chapter Eighteen
Eden tugged at the sleeves of his shirt trying to keep his skin covered as the late afternoon sun streamed through the lecture theatres high windows leaving very few shadows for him to sit in. He’d once enjoyed the sun’s comforting warmth on his skin, but now it only brought a sharp hiss of pain as his skin tried its damnedest to blister. And he hated to admit that Alric had been right, suntan lotion – regardless of its strength – did little to protect him.
But staying at the apartment, either of them, wasn’t an option. He couldn’t afford to miss a single class after having missed three already which should have cost him credits, but somehow it hadn’t. It wouldn’t surprise Eden if Alric had used his considerable power and influence to do it; quickly learning that it extended outside the business world. His first reaction had been to argue with Alric over it, but he quickly realised it was because of Alric that had necessitated Eden taking those days off, so he’d let it slide.
And if their little whoops turned into one that was more permanent, Eden was going to need a few more days, weeks off. Eden would gladly leave it to Alric to navigate that interesting quandary for him to explain. Vampire’s didn’t exist as far as human’s were concerned and if you could get someone to accept that, didn’t mean they’d just as easily accept that male vampires could also get pregnant. Truthfully, he was still struggling to accept it himself and he’d already met several vampires within the coven who’d had children.
Books thumped shut, papers shuffled as the students around him packed up ready to leave, jolting Eden from his thoughts. He glanced at the paper in front of him and realised he’d only managed to write two lines of notes meaning the whole lecture had gone around him, but he’d heard nothing but the brief introduction. He sighed, slammed his book shut and shoved it inside his satchel, cursing as his hand passed through a beam of sunlight. It was five now and his next class wasn’t until six leaving him with an hour to spare to study in the library.
He hurriedly snatched up his satchel and slung it over his shoulder as hurried to leave. Slipped out the door into the hallway teeming with students rushing to their next class. Their heartbeats pounded loud in his ears and the tantalising aroma of blood called to him, reminding Eden that it had been
awhile since he last ate anything of sustenance. He picked up the pace, pushing his way through the hallway as his fangs began to descend and Eden needed to keep his lips pressed tight together to stop them from being seen.
Made harder by the scent of blood tugging at his instinct to feed on the nearest human he could grab and being new to this whole world Eden struggled to keep it under control. But Eden knew that when instinct kicked in, it meant he needed to find a more socially acceptable form of consuming the blood his body required. Had learnt that lesson the hard way when his still squeamish self, tried to limit when and how often he consumed it... painful excruciating experience that only gotten worse as his hunger grew. Feral snarls ripped from his throat and he’d launched himself at Alric as he walked through the door of their suite of rooms at the mansion. Alric might not have complained, but Eden understood how reckless he’d been and promised himself to never let his hunger reach such dangerous levels again. And if it happened somewhere like here at the university, not even Alric’s money could make the mess disappear. Not that he could understand why he was that level of hungry now, with it only being hours since he last ate and not days.
With that in mind, Eden ducked down a nearby narrow hallway that led to a utility room and stepped inside. Cleaning supplies lined the room, but Eden ignored them, moving to the end where he knew a hidden entrance to one of the many secret tunnels that ran beneath Silverdale city. He was thankful Alric had pointed out all the entrances to the tunnel hidden around the university, and more importantly which ones contained fridges stocked with specially fortified wine, because Eden wasn’t the only vampire or dhampyre on campus.
Opening the door, Eden hurried down the stairs and opened the door at the bottom. He expected to step into a long dank tunnel with a lone fridge looking completely out of place. But that wasn’t what Eden found as bright light spilled into the stairwell along with the surprising sound of laughter. A sound that fell silent as the door closed behind him and several pairs of eyes swivelled to stare at him, fangs bared. And not just fangs as Eden realised that not all here were vampires.
Finding His Eden Page 8
