His finger touches my asshole, transfering the collected moisture. I whimper as he presses against the taut ring of muscle.
He chuckles. Takes his hand away.
He's sitting up. There's a rustle of cloth. I imagine him wiping his hand on his handkerchief.
I stay in place. I might as well be a statue he commissioned, carved from marble. Under the jacket, my skin is cold.
"You may rise."
I go to tall knees and he holds out his hand, helping me to my feet.
"You did well. I am looking forward to training you further."
My core muscles clench. You're wet. There's no reason I should respond this way.
Someone comes to the door and he eases away from me. I'm flushed and shaking. Breathe, just breathe. He's a vampire. There's nothing about him that should make me feel this way.
"Time to go, pet." Frangelico returns to me. He pulls out a leash and fastens it to my collar. His dark eyes flash. I hold my breath as we stare at each other. I can't bring myself to drop my eyes.
The corner of his mouth turns up.
He straightens and tugs. "Follow me."
We make it down the stairs an head for the back door. Guards in dark suits and sunglasses line the way, a mix of both mortal and vampire. My cheeks heat as I'm paraded in front of them, the barefoot subjugated slave. A pet on a leash.
We reach the door and Frangelico stops. A guard hands him something I don't quite see until the he turns and envelops me in its soft folds. A blanket.
My heart melts a little as he swaddles me.
The Vampire King wraps me up tight and picks me up, carrying me from the theater into the car.
Lucius
WITH THE SHE-WOLF tucked into my arms, I settle into my seat. She looks a little dazed.
A guard shuts the door and she makes a little move. I tighten my hold.
"What is it, pet?"
"Shouldn't I kneel on the floor?"
"No. I want to hold you." I tip her back so her head rests on my arm. "Relax, pet. Sleep if you can."
"Yes, sir." When she's calm, her voice is low, soothing, a pleasing alto. When she's not, it gets high and breathy. Both pitches work dark magic on my body. I want to coddle her, treat her like a fragile flower. And I want to break her down and put her to her paces until she's blissed out and looking at me as her god. I want to do it over and over again.
Underneath my new pet, my cock threatens to burst from my pants. It's going to be a long car ride.
I check my phone as we glide through the night. My financier received my confirmation to transfer funds. Such an expensive little pet.
The she-wolf stiffens. I said that out loud.
"Don't worry." I tug her silky locks. "You're worth it."
In between petting her, I call Dante, ordering him to plan a massive party a month from tonight. To celebrate my new purchase. Dante falls over himself, promising to make it a night I'll remember. I smile at the double meaning, and hang up.
That's done then. I have one month to prepare for one night. All of my sired are to be there. If they wish to stage a coup, that would be the night to do it. I'll be prepared. I'm always prepared. Caesar was a soldier, and trusted his men, but I'm a prince of Machiavelli's ilk. Better to be feared than loved. When I face my enemies, I don't just wound them. I destroy and scorch the earth.
"Sir?" Her meek voice pulls me from my thoughts. "Why did you do it?"
"Do what?" she should know better than to speak first, but I'll allow it. I'll enjoy breaking her bad habits.
"Bid on me." She gnaws her lip and I rest two fingers against her mouth to make her stop.
"You remind me of someone. A vampire. You have the same color hair." I remove my fingers and wipe them dry on the blanket. "I loved her once."
A furrow appears between her brows and I smooth it out.
"Oh yes, I can love."
"What happened?"
"She betrayed me," I answer. "Now, hush until I tell you you can speak."
Defiance flares in her eyes. There's my little fighter.
She sighs against my chest, her lower lip puffed out as she stares out the window.
"Now, now, don't sulk. Save your strength for the rest of the night. I promise you will need it."
A tremor goes through her.
"Close your eyes," I order. She slits them shut, but keeps squinting at the scenery. A little bit of rebellion. I will enjoy breaking her.
I won't fuck her, not right away. First I'll put her through the paces until every move, every gesture and flick of her eyelashes pleases me. Some vampires would simply wipe their victim's minds and impress their will. I don't stoop to those tricks. Even my sired, once weaned from my blood, can choose to love me. My relationship with this wolf will be no different. She will rue and fear me, and I will teach her how pleasant it is to obey. I will bind her to me using every trick and technique I know. And in the end, I'll give her a choice: leave or stay. If she chooses to stay, she can be a sweetblood at my club. I'll never fuck or drink from her again. I cannot risk growing attached.
To love is to lose.
Selene
THE VAMPIRE KING lives in a mansion high on a hill. It surprises me how elevated it is, on a pedestal in the Tucson foothills.
"Like it, pet?" Lucius' fingers massage my neck. I nod, remembering his speech restriction.
He chuckles. "Good girl."
I shouldn't like those words as much as I do. Lucius's presence affects me more than it should.
He's the enemy, I remind myself as he lifts and carries me into his house. Two men in dark glasses and unobtrusive earpieces open the double doors for us.