He probably gets tired after sex.
Ugh. I can’t believe I just thought of that. I’m not sleeping with him to steal any jewelry.
No, you’re just going to do it because you want to.
“Shut up, brain. You’re such a whore.”
A chuckle from my door makes me open my eyes and jerk to a sitting position. Lucca is standing there, all smug and damn sexy.
“What the hell are you doing in my room?” I get up.
“Technically, I’m not in your room, and this is my sister’s apartment. I have the key.” His gaze drops to my toes and then slowly travels up the length of my body.
Shit. I’m only wearing tight sleeping shorts and a tank top that’s most definitely see-through.
I cross my arms, trying to hide my nipples, which are as hard as little pebbles. “I’m pretty sure my door was closed.”
He smiles like the cat that ate the canary. “It was open when I got here. Maybe there was a draft.”
Liar.
I march over, ready to bang the door in his face, but Lucca comes in and shuts it. I halt. Fuck. I’m trapped with him now. What am I going to do?
“What are you doing?” I retreat even if it’s stupid to do so. There’s nowhere to go.
“I think it’s high time we get to know each other a little bit better, don’t you think?”
“No. I think it’s high time you get a clue and leave. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
“Really?”
He begins to unbutton his shirt, revealing the necklace around his neck. My eyes immediately focus on that, and it’s like my brain gets rewired. I can’t kick him out. I do need to gain his trust. But I’m afraid of what he thinks is going to happen here. As much as my body is now a pile of goo and I have butterflies wreaking havoc in my stomach, I don’t think I can sleep with a vampire even if that vampire is Lucca, a veritable god.
“Fine. You got me. I’m attracted to you. So wha—”
He pounces, crushing his lips with mine. I don’t even have time for a gasp of surprise before his tongue darts into my mouth, possessive and hungry. I fight him, not wanting to surrender to the desire that’s quickly taking control. It must be the last vestiges of my human instinct trying to save me from a situation that will surely turn bad. But a few more sweeps of his tongue, and I’m his. His fingers are in my hair. His hand is at my waist, and then it slides across my back and under my shirt, making me melt.
He’s not cold as I expected him to be. He’s as hot as the sun, scorching, vital. We don’t stop kissing when he pushes me back on my bed and lies next to me. But his hands wander, touching and squeezing wherever they please. When he switches his attention to my neck, licking and kissing me there, I tense.
Shit, is he going to bite me? Do vampires bite each other during sex?
His fangs do graze my skin, but he doesn’t do more than that. He moves on to my chest, running his tongue over each nipple through the fabric of my shirt. I arch my back on reflex, purring like a kitten—or in my case, a sex-deprived woman.
He continues to kiss down my belly, but when he reaches the waistband of my shorts, he stops. Leaning on my elbows, I peer down. Our gazes crash, and what I see in his stare makes my breath hitch. Red eyes filled with a hunger I’ve only seen once in my life are staring at me. His fangs are fully extended. He’s a monster, and he wants to devour me. I begin to shake uncontrollably.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he says.
“Then why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you taste so fucking good, and I want more.”
Lucca
Vivienne has finally caught on that I’m a vampire about to lose my mind. Bloodlust can be triggered between vampires, but it’s rare. In her case, I knew it was a possibility since she’s human, and the smell of her blood had caused it twice before. So what made me think tasting her sweet lips wouldn’t have the same effect? Her blood is pumping like a factory, calling to me, and it’s taking every ounce of self-control I have to not answer it.
“Please don’t bite me,” she begs in a small voice.
Her eyes are round and dark with fear. Seeing her like this should make me happy, but it has the opposite effect. I don’t want her to fear me. I want her to surrender to me, to the desire that has wrapped around us both.
“I’m not going to bite you. I want to make you feel good. Will you let me?”
She blinks a couple of times, probably taken aback by my asking for permission. Truthfully, I’ve never had to ask. All the humans and vampires I’ve fucked were more than willing to please me.
“I’ve never done this before.” Heat spreads through her cheeks, making her even more enticing to me.
“Done what? Have sex?”
She bites her lower lip and nods.
Fuck. She’s a virgin. I can’t believe this, but at the same time, I suddenly want to be her first—and last and forever.
What the hell? What am I thinking?
This bloodlust thing is messing with my head; it’s the only explanation. I want to fuck her while I drink her blood, nothing more.
“We don’t have to do it tonight. But will you let me taste you?”
“Okay.”
Damn. I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. I must be a glutton for punishment. I’m not only denying the primal hunger that just wants me to drink until there’s nothing left, but now, I’m denying my cock some fun too.
But I peel Vivienne’s shorts and panties off just the same. Her pussy is all smooth, save for a little dark blonde hair over her pubic bone. It’s a thing of beauty, and I just want to feast on it. I lick once, nice and slow, savoring her taste. Gasping, she jerks her hips upward.
“Easy, darling.”
I open her legs wider, keeping her hips down, and lick her again and again. She’s shaking under my touch; her breathing is coming out in bursts. I don’t want to ever stop tasting her even if this would be much better if I could bite her a little. When I suck her clit into my mouth, that sends her over the edge. She squirms, crying out words that don’t mean a thing. Her orgasm is violent and potent. It might be her first one given by a lover.
My balls are tight as hell. Losing the battle against myself, I stick my hand inside my pants to manage at least one of my pains. It doesn’t take long. I’m still fucking Vivienne’s pussy with my mouth when the wave of pleasure hits us both. She climaxes a second time, and that’s what I call a perfect ending.
21
Vivienne
I wake up alone in my room. Looking at the clock, I see that I slept through the day, and it’s time to get up and get ready for class. I rub my eyes, wondering if Lucca showing up in my room and what followed was nothing but a vivid dream. But the throbbing between my legs is there, and I’m definitely naked from the waist down. He was here, and he did give me the best orgasms of my life.
Shit. Does that mean he’s done playing his conquest game with me? Did I lose my chance to steal his necklace? Why did I fall asleep, damn it?
My mood doesn’t improve when I’m ready to walk out the door. Manu is in the kitchen, alone this time but sucking on a blood bag. Ugh. I don’t know what’s a worse scene to witness early in my day—Manu feasting from a blood bag or a human.
“Good morning, roomie. Sleep well?” She’s smirking, and there’s definitely a knowing tone in her question.
Oh my God. She must have heard us last night. Fucking fantastic.
“Yeah, like the dead.” I head for the door.
“Hey, aren’t you going to have breakfast first? Sex does open one’s appetite.”
I turn to see her holding a blood bag in her hand. My stomach twists savagely, rebelling at the sight. I feel queasy now.
“I didn’t have sex,” I say through clenched teeth.
“No? You had fun though, right? I’m always ravenous after having a good orgasm.”
“Ugh! I don’t want to talk about what happened in my own room. Stay out of my business
.” I stride out, shutting the front door hard.
I can hear Manu’s annoying laughter, even when I take the stairs down. I’m glad that it’s early and Cassie is not at our meeting spot at the bottom of the stairs. I’ll text her later to let her know I’ll be waiting for her in the gym. I have another priority right now—find food. If I don’t eat today, I’m going to pass out.
I stop in the middle of an intersection of corridors and put my hands on my hips. Where the hell are the humans’ dorms? The signs are worthless. They just give directions to places I don’t need to go. The sound of footsteps behind me has me whirling on the spot. It’s Karl, which brings me relief and annoyance at the same time.
“Vivi, I’m glad I bumped into you. We need to talk.”
“I have nothing to say to you.” I begin to turn away, but Karl grabs my arm and stops me.
“Please, Vivi. Give me a chance to explain.” His green eyes are so conflicted and sad that I end up caving.
“Fine.”
He steers me to an empty room, locking the door behind us for good measure. I sit on the desk and watch my best friend pace in front of me while not saying a word.
“I thought you wanted to explain things,” I say.
He stops moving and glances at me. “I do. I just don’t know where to start.”
“How about from the beginning?”
“Right.” He runs a nervous hand over his hair. “Well, I’m a little bit older than you.”
“I figured as much. When were you born?”
“In 1499.”
Holy shit. I’m glad that I’m sitting because I would have dropped to the floor.
“So, not a little older.”
He smirks. “No. I was once a wolf-shifter. My father was the alpha of our pack, and I was destined to eventually take his place.”
“So, what happened? Did Manu kidnap you and force you to become her pet instead?”
Karl winces and looks away, rubbing his scruffy jaw. “It was my choice. Familiars are never forced to take the pledge.”
“Why would you choose a life of servitude?”
He laughs without humor. “Because I was a fool.”
Oh my God. Everything is so obvious now. Karl’s sporadically haunted looks, his preference for gut-wrenching melodies. My friend has been nursing a broken heart for centuries, and I never knew.
“You fell in love with her, didn’t you?”
He doesn’t answer, nor does he look at me.
Yeah, he totally did. He wasn’t a fool; he was crazy. But how could he have fallen for such a mercurial vampire like Manu?
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” he replies.
“I thought a familiar couldn’t leave their master’s side.”
“In theory, we can’t—unless the master sends us away.” Karl looks at me, displaying a great deal of pain in the depths of his eyes.
“Why would she do that?”
He shakes his head, looking away again. “I don’t know.”
I think he does, but maybe the reason is too awful to relive.
“Is Cheryl also a familiar?”
Karl chuckles. “No.”
“Then she’s not your blood sister.”
He pierces me with a droll stare. “Have you seen us side by side? I’m her male version.”
“She’s much prettier than you.” I smirk.
He smiles, and it’s like nothing has changed between us. But it has. He lied.
“I don’t understand. Don’t shifters have a similar life span as us humans? How can she be alive after all these years and look no older than eighteen?”
“Not all shifters have a short life span. Dragon-shifters, for example, can live for centuries, and when they reach maturity, they stop aging.”
“That doesn’t explain Cheryl’s case.” I squint. “Unless she’s part dragon.”
“Cheryl is something else. I think you need to hear her story from her.”
I suppose that’s fair. But God knows when I will see her again.
“You still haven’t explained why you had to return to Manu’s side. Did she call you back?”
The corners of his mouth tense, and his stare hardens. “No. King Raphael asked me as a personal favor. Manu still wants nothing to do with me.”
I open my mouth to ask how Karl could see through my spell, but he cuts me off. “Enough about me. You have to tell me now what you are doing here, disguised as a vampire?”
“Oh, so you know about the spell?”
“I could see the glamour for a moment, but then it broke for me. Maybe because I’m a familiar, I’m immune to it.”
“Aurora was also able to see through the spell.”
“I’m not surprised. She’s training to become a High Witch. Now, answer my question.”
Sagging my shoulders, I let out a heavy sigh. “I’m here because Larsson asked me to steal Lucca’s necklace in exchange for Rikkon’s freedom.”
Karl doesn’t move, doesn’t even blink as he stares at me with wide eyes. Then, his green eyes darken and narrow.
“Are you fucking crazy?” he yells. “Lucca is one of the most vicious Bluebloods I’ve ever met, and he can hold a grudge like no other. You don’t steal from him and hope to live much longer.”
“What do you want me to do? Let Larsson kill Rikkon instead?” I jump off the desk, suddenly filled with restless energy.
“No! Of course not. You should have told me. I would have thought of something.”
Shaking my head, I begin to pace. “You can’t help me, Karl. Unless you have something more valuable to offer the dragon kingpin instead of Lucca’s necklace, I have to see this through.”
“I thought vampires terrified you.”
“Some still do.” I think about Boone and shudder. “But I’ve gotten to know a few regulars, and they aren’t so bad.”
“And Lucca?” Karl raises an eyebrow.
Heat spreads through my cheeks. I remember last night, and my embarrassment doubles. I look away. “He’s not that bad either.”
“Vivi, please tell me you’re not falling for him.” Karl holds me by the shoulder and turns me around to face him.
“I’m not.” I bat his hand away. “That’s ludicrous.”
“I wasn’t born yesterday, you know.”
“Yeah, we covered that already.” I smirk.
“I’m older and wiser, so you should listen to me.” He returns the grin.
“Are you taking your cues from The Sound of Music soundtrack?”
He snorts. “I’ve never listened to that.”
“Riiight.”
My stomach rumbles like a damn earthquake, reminding me of what I was doing before.
“Are you hungry?” He arches an eyebrow.
“You have no idea. The last meal I had was a couple of Snickers bars, like, a day ago.”
“Shit. We can’t have you starving.” He shoves his hand into his pocket and retrieves a piece of gum. “This is the only thing I have. But I’ll make a trip to the familiars’ cafeteria and grab some stuff.”
I snag the gum from his hand and shove it in my mouth, almost forgetting to remove the wrapper first. This will only make me hungrier, but I’ll enjoy the few seconds of sweetness it provides.
“Getting the food won’t be a problem. The tricky part will be you eating without anyone finding out.”
“Don’t worry, Karl. I’ll find a way. It’s do or die now.”
“You should get going. Don’t you have Keepers class?”
“How do you know?”
“Bloodstone Institute only accepts regulars to join that program, and even so, the competition is fierce. How did you manage to get a spot in such a short period of time?”
“I, uh, Larsson arranged it.”
Karl watches me closely. “Larsson, huh? I didn’t think he had the connections.”
I shrug. “I think he’s very motivated. Do you have any idea why he would want Lucca’s necklace? Is it some kind of magical amulet?”
<
br /> “I have no clue.” Suddenly, Karl’s spine becomes rigid. “Shit.”
“Wha—”
The door opens with a bang, and Manu enters with nostrils flaring and eyes sparkling red. I suppose locking it was pointless. I quickly swallow the gum.
Karl jumps in front of me, becoming my own human—familiar—shield.
“Manu—”
“What are you doing here with her, Karl?” she snarls.
“I was having a private conversation. Why were you following me?”
“You’re my familiar, not hers!” She takes a step forward.
I step out from Karl’s shadow. “We were just catching up, Manu. Nothing more.”
“Shut up. I know exactly what you’re doing. First, my brother, and now, Karl.”
He tenses, sparing me a fleeting accusatory glance. Then, he shifts his attention to Manu again.
“You have no right to demand my devotion, not when you banished me from your life,” Karl retorts.
His remark seems to cause Manu physical pain. She winces and loses some of her fury. “That’s right. And do you want to know why? Because you were such a lame familiar, an embarrassment really.”
Karl clenches his jaw so tight I can hear his teeth grinding. “I’m sorry that I wasn’t up to your standards, princess.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why not? It’s what you are, isn’t it? A pampered and rude princess.”
Manu slaps Karl’s face so hard that the sound echoes in the room. I flinch as if the pain were mine.
“What the hell? That was uncalled for,” I yell.
Manu ignores my outburst. Her eyes are wide but at least no longer glowing red. She’s breathing hard though, as if she had run a marathon. Karl touches his cheek and then rewards her with a scathing glance that would make anyone feel like the scum of the earth. I’ve never seen him look at someone with so much loathing.
“Karl … I’m so sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for, princess. That’s what I’m here for.”
Surprising me even more, her eyes fill with tears. She whirls around and bolts out of the room before we can actually see them fall.
Dark Prince: A Vampire Paranormal Romance (Blueblood Vampires Book 1) Page 11
