Your Coffin or Mine, page 26
“What are you doing?” I ask, thoroughly perplexed by her actions.
“Looking for the cameras.”
I frown and stop her movements, taking her hands in mine. “There are no cameras.”
Her eyes widen and fill with tears. “You meant all of that?” She blinks rapidly, her posture slumping, her disbelief apparent.
I allow earnestness to fill my expression. “Of course I did. Why else would I say it? I want every part of you that you will allow me.”
I sense rather than see her eyes flutter shut when my lips press to the soft flower-scented skin of her neck. The need to touch her is one I cannot resist. I trail my fingers down the sides of her revealing gown, sweeping past the slit that rides up her hip, dipping inward toward her center.
“I want every shudder, every whimper, every cry, every muffled moan uttered from your perfect little body to be mine.” I slice the lace of her panties with a carefully extended claw and softly touch her mound.
“Oh my god,” she squeaks as her body goes into overdrive, wetness flooding her wanting and needy little cunt.
She looks around as if worrying someone may come by and see.
I would, of course, be tempted to kill whoever dared to look upon what is mine, not to mention Doyle should have everything in hand for at least another hour. I gaze down at her, waiting to see her flinch at the red color of my eyes, readying myself for her to recoil in fear, shout for help, tell me she wants nothing to do with me, to renounce me.
But she does none of those things; she just watches me as if waiting to see what I will do next.
“Do you think, given time, you could possibly find it in your heart to try to love an old bat like me?”
She smiles and nods, and I let out a sigh of relief. Pulling her more firmly against me and pressing her over my stiff cock, I adore the sweet warmth her body creates. Her curved lips meet my own as she loops her arms behind my neck.
I take in a rough breath and my eyes roll to the back of my head. Her smell is too much, and it feels like it’s been a lifetime since I was inside this woman. “Entirely bewitched.”
I rub my hands down her back and grab the swells of her ass, ready to lift her and fuck her against the wall.
She says nothing, but her body tells me everything I need to know. Unfortunately for her, her silence isn’t good enough tonight.
“You’re going to have to use your words this time, love. I’m feeling rather possessive, but I have yet to hear the word yes.”
“Yes, Vlad, we can see where this goes.”
I kiss her and cup her cheek.
A slow clap starts down the stairwell, and I peek over the grand staircase. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Listening, mostly,” Doyle says, shrugging, his dark hair slicked back and his beard neatly trimmed. “Pleasant evening we are having, isn’t it, Aubrey?”
I steady her with my gaze when she stumbles from attempting to grab her cloak lying on the floor. “Hello, Doyle,” she grits out as she covers herself.
Doyle strides through the hallway, his lips pressed in a tight line and his gaze alert. Something’s wrong.
“Right. I suppose it’s now my role to play the bearer of bad news.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “What news?”
His gaze darts to Aubrey before landing on me with accusation, clearly against the decision he knows I have made. Tying oneself to a human hasn’t always been the best scenario for creatures such as us, and I can’t blame him, but I know without a doubt she is my mate. Her scent soothes me, and I have greater control when she is near.
He opens his mouth, but it slams shut just as quickly. “As much as I hate to once again interrupt, Vlad, you’re needed.” His eyes are slits, and agitation is apparent in every line of his body.
“What is it?”
“If what I just heard you tell her is correct, then we need to call her a cab and get her on the first flight out of here.”
I shake my head as I push her behind me. “She stays. Tell me what is going on this instant.”
Doyle’s lips flatten. “Jekyll is here, Vlad.”
Rage pours over me swiftly. Why is he here? The need to protect Aubrey comes to the forefront and my entire body bristles, causing red to flood my senses.
If it’s Jekyll, then all hell could break loose. I turn to her.
“Aubrey, I have to take care of this.” I cup her beautiful face in my hands, and she leans into my chest. “We will speak more later. But just know I will not rush you—I literally have all the time in the world.” I step back and right her cloak around her, securing it at her neck. The red clears from my eyes and I smile down at her in hopes of calming her, despite my fury. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”
“Will everything be okay?” she whispers, her eyes wide.
“Vlad,” Doyle calls.
“Right. I’m coming.” I nod and take her hand in mine to kiss her knuckles softly. “Everything will be fine. You should go back to the party and have fun.”
She will be safer with the other humans.
I need to send Jekyll packing and get back to Aubrey as quickly as possible. I have a night planned she won’t soon forget.
Chapter 32
AUBREY
As I watch Vlad leave, emotions flow through me. I’m unsure if I should worry or not. He’s leaving me here, but he told me everything will be okay. I trust him, and that he wouldn’t leave me alone if I was unsafe. It’s probably something to do with the hotel.
I play over what he said to me, and my stomach drops and I squeal.
I’m sleeping with a gorgeous vampire who says he wants to date me. I’m smiling to myself like an idiot, practically skipping down the halls of the gallery to go back to the party.
What if I can have this? . . . Him? My fingers trail over some bronze statue of what looks like a goat. I can see why they wanted to keep this wing closed off. There are crates and boxes everywhere, full of things that would look better in a museum.
What if this could be everything I’ve ever wanted? Normally I would be telling Bernadette all of this and let her sway me one way or the other, but I find myself wanting to keep this to myself, keep him to myself.
My relationship with Vlad is somehow different, not only because he’s a vampire, but because I find myself wanting to protect him, as odd as that sounds. Protecting a vampire? As if. He can move me through the air with his mind, for Christ’s sake.
I reach for my cloak to find the pocket he put my phone in when my eye catches on something glinting in the candlelight. A bracelet matching the necklace he gave me lies on an old wooden desk, sitting on top of a collection of rocks. I remove one from the pile and bring it to the light, and my eyes grow round. Holy shit, I think these are uncut stones. I’ll have to tell Vlad to put the necklace back with this. Why would he have all this just sitting out here? The crazy man.
I sigh, thinking of how sweet he is. The way he stares at me never fails to make my skin flush in response, which I suppose makes sense because he is a vampire. When the man walks into the room, my downstairs pops up for attention like it’s urging him to play Whac-A-Mole with his dick.
I want to stay here and wait for Vlad in hopes we can continue our talk, but I make my way back to the party like he told me to.
When I arrive, the ballroom is completely changed. Instead of blues and purples, everything is red and black. The walls look like blood is oozing from them and the lights flash in different colors. Oh my god, who turned on the rave? People are shouting and laughing, obviously drunk on the dance floor, holding their drinks over their heads.
“Aubrey!” I hear across the ballroom and look up to see George dancing on top of a statue’s base.
He snaps his fingers and two waiters seemingly come out of nowhere to lift him off his perch. He blows kisses at the blushing boys. “Ciao, darlings!”
“Oh my god, George,” I shout over the music, shaking my head.
He waves them off, turns to me, and grabs my hand to pull me back to the entrance. “And what are you up to? Where’s Vlad? Tell me everything.”
I shake my head and look around, a smile filling my face. “I’ll have to tell you later.”
There’s so much to think about, and I still have so many questions for Vlad.
“Awww, pooh on that, tell me.”
“How much have you had to drink, George?” I ask, changing the subject.
I’m worried about how much he is swaying and how outrageous he’s being. Then again, it’s George; he really does stand out in a crowd.
“Not nearly enough yet. What do you think of Vlad’s surprise? Did you see the strawberry fountain?”
“No, where is it?” I spin, searching for it. I love strawberries, and I’m just so hungry I’m ready to start chewing on someone’s leg.
He points to where a fountain is stationed that looks as if it’s filled with blood. “It’s wine.”
“That’s so cool.”
Gran would adore all of this. She’s been the reigning champion of Halloween for as long as I can remember. I take my phone out, ignoring the many messages, and start snapping pictures for later. Maybe we can do red punch instead of wine next year.
“Here’s your dog, sir,” one of the waiters says, holding Fifi away from him while the dog bares his teeth, growling at the poor man. One of his fake teeth pops out as he fights the wiggling tawny ball of rage.
George reaches for him. “Hi, Fifi, did you miss Daddy?”
Before he can take Fifi, the waiter accidentally drops him. George and I gasp, stepping forward to grab him as the waiter looks horrified. Fifi is honestly a tiny ball of hate and I’m not surprised he can’t be contained.
“I’m so sorry,” the waiter says, trying to grab him, and I almost smash heads with him.
“Fifi!” George shouts above the music.
The dog’s short little legs gain ground fast as he heads toward the kitchen. I think the music and people have just freaked him out.
I cup my mouth, shouting, “I’ll get him!” over the heavy bass.
This is the last thing I want to do right now, but I don’t see that drunk little man making it out of the ballroom without tripping over something. I wanted to wait for Vlad, but I know how important Fifi is to George.
The bass thumps in my head and I can feel a headache coming on, my anxiety ramping up a notch when I hear a sharp squeal in my eardrum from a happy partygoer to my right. Balloons start to fall from the ceiling, and I fight my way to the edge of the ballroom. Jeez, whose idea was that?
Ugh, I head toward the open door Fifi went through.
Maybe I’ll find Vlad on the way. I bet the dog is camped out in the kitchen with Whitley, eating sweets. If I were a dog, that’s where I would want to be.
I haven’t had nearly enough to drink for a blaring hotel rave.
I doubt any of this was Vlad’s idea.
Chapter 33
VLAD
“I cannot believe you,” Doyle practically growls, his voice deep and menacing. It’s rather cute how he thinks to admonish me.
We walk through the castle, attempting to appear like all is normal as he sniffs the air every now and then, searching for Jekyll’s scent. With this amount of people and so many new smells, it’s near impossible. The castle is large, and it takes time to walk through it, which annoys me even further. I will find him faster flying.
Uneasiness eats at me. The idea that Aubrey is alone with this many guests in the castle makes my skin crawl. Not only are my instincts screaming to protect her, it’s difficult to determine and sense where everyone is. Not to mention Jekyll being here unannounced has my hackles rising.
“You not only told her about us, but you bit her, didn’t you?” he asks.
I continue staring ahead, as I concentrate on locating one person among many. It’s not the easiest thing to do, especially with him yammering in my ear. “I fail to see how that’s any of your business.”
“How could it not be my business, Vlad? There are other supernaturals who could be your mate if you would just go out and meet them. How can it be Aubrey, a human, Vlad? It doesn’t make sense. You’re just hungry and haven’t eaten properly for a hundred years. You were insane for a while there.”
Finding a born vampire was uncommon, and turning a human mostly resulted in death. The odds of finding a true mate have always been slim, and the idea of picking a bride just to see her die never interested me. But with Aubrey being my mate. . . I just know the fates wouldn’t be so cruel as to give me the one woman I seek, only to take her away from me.
I could choose a mate if I really wanted to, could force a bond, but nothing is as special as a true bond.
“Other supernaturals? I can’t see myself with a wolf woman,” I say with a scowl.
“I find that rather offensive,” he scoffs, and I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. Once the others find out, they will want to stick to the rules. They’ll come for her.”
“Be offended, I don’t care.” We round a bend in the hallway. “And that won’t happen.”
“As soon as they find out about her, I promise you they will want retribution. That was the deal. You stay away from humans and so will they. Frank—”
“Frank can whine all he likes. It is irrelevant because she is the exception.”
“They’re not going to be happy about this,” he hisses loudly, causing a staff member and guests in the hall to turn and look. “Frank will try to fight it, and honestly, I can’t blame him. This is the most insane thing you’ve ever spouted.”
He smiles and waves, playacting for the humans watching and whispering amongst themselves.
I turn to him briefly as we walk. “What if I’m right, Doyle?” I’m always right about everything, so him whining at me now makes little sense.
He throws his hands forward. “But what if you’re wrong? You have to know they will never let this go if you are. Forcing a mate bond with a human is against the rules.”
Forcing a mate bond, he says. I know what draws me to Aubrey is the real deal.
I sigh. “Come off it, Doyle. I don’t have time for this.”
“You forget I was there, Vlad. I was there during Angelique,” he goes on. “I warned Frank the same as you did about mixing with humans, and look how he turned out.”
Normally, any mention of Angelique or Celeste and I would want to pummel him, especially mentioning Frankenstein’s hand in how it all transpired. Now I can see why he raged and railed against the world when his own mate, Celeste, died. I will never let that happen to Aubrey.
“I will protect her.”
“Against them all? Aubrey has no idea what she is getting into.”
I smile and allow him to see, to feel the rage boiling within me at the mere thought of anyone touching her. “Aubrey will be fine. If she accepts me, there’s nothing they can do.”
His brows come together. “Yeah, but until then.”
Until then, she could become a target. I always knew that, but I’m hoping to convince her by the end of the week. So long as everyone leaves us alone, everything will go splendidly.
She did say okay to “dating” as the humans call it. Even after I told her everything.
I shake my head and continue down the hall. “Find Jekyll before someone does something stupid. I am fairly starving after all.”
He rolls his eyes at the joke.
“This is not going to end well,” he murmurs.
His throat is in my hand the next millisecond before I wrap it around the back of his neck, hugging him to me. I nuzzle his head with my own, like I would when he was a boy. “Doyle, I have waited centuries for her. My father waited more lifetimes than I can fathom for my mother, and I vow to you here and now, I will never let her go. I cannot.”
He huffs. “This fucking sucks. You know this is going to create an even bigger rift among us,” he says, whining, and I grin, hugging him for a moment before shoving him away.
He is correct. This could plummet our friendship forever, but I find I don’t care. Aubrey is more important, and times have obviously changed. She is mine, and that’s all that matters.
“No larger than what it is already.”
Rotating my shoulders, I loosen, allowing the monster to slide free as I rip off my tie. I rip my cloak off, preparing to fly off into the night. The faster I find Jekyll, the faster I can get back to Aubrey.
“Fine,” he growls. “But I am not saying fuck all for you. Frank is going to have an aneurysm.”
“That would be so tragic.” Maybe next time he can get a better brain, the blockhead.
“Just try to get along. The party will be over soon.” He sighs and takes one last look around. “I saw Jekyll leave his car, but I can’t smell him inside.”
“If he’s not inside, then there’s only one place he could be.”
“The cathedral?” he asks, stroking his chin.
I nod as I open a window on the second floor in preparation. “Only place I can think of. Although, I don’t know why he’s not coming to me head on.”
Then again, it’s Jekyll, and nothing he does makes any sense. It’s why I can’t tolerate his presence. I like calm and control, which is best achieved alone in solitude. Jekyll is chaos personified.
I jump from the open window and morph into a bat, relishing the crisp wind rushing over me. It doesn’t take me long to pick up their scents when I head over the forest, proving I was right—like I always am.
Moments later, I swoop over the abandoned cathedral not far into the forest and land on a branch to scout, my hackles raising immediately. The wind pushes familiar scents into my nostrils and annoyance flashes. Frank is here too. Doyle didn’t tell me about him. Frank probably found his own way onto my lands, as no one likes being alone with Jekyll in tight, unescapable spaces like a car with the way he annoyingly rambles.
I fly in through a broken window and morph as I land before them. Jekyll stands near the podium steps with his hands overlapped on top of his cane. Frank, the broody, quiet half-man, has his arms folded with his back against the wall. Neither react to my materialization. They knew I would come.
