He took a swig of the liquid and walked over toward the balcony doors. Kyla drank, too. It was a strong whiskey and it burned going down but she relished its warmth. Maybe the numbing effects of alcohol would help her settle her anxiety. He stared out the window. She stared at his back and eyed the muscular detail of his back, his shoulders, his arms, his tight buns. Sex. On. Legs.
“Now we’re not both naked so do I get clothes, too?”
He reached into another drawer and pulled out a black t-shirt. He tossed it over to her. She caught it.
“You haven’t landed in the bed of just any vampire,” he said, “You might say I’m what others would call vampire royalty.” She blew out a long breath, pulled the black cotton tee over her head, wishing it’d been a bra instead. Her boobs hadn’t been left free for this length of time since before her first training bra.
Royalty? Just my luck.
“Told you last night it was my birthday,” he said, “We’d already been celebrating. Then I got some good news so two of the guys who work for me went out and found you, brought you as a gift to celebrate my … promotion. They often find someone for me.” He paused, took a swig, and continued, “They stopped at that bar you were working at and you met my preferred specs and that’s why you were brought here. They tried to talk you into leaving with them.”
She scoffed. A lot of guys made offers as she poured drinks. She never paid much attention to them.
“You didn’t bite so Joe got a bit overzealous and they decided to grab you.”
Kyla blew air out of her mouth snidely and shook her head.
“Then, as you know, you didn’t fall under my direction. That was even more peculiar as I am pretty powerful in the persuasion department. I decided to have some fun. It became a challenge. One I hadn’t realized I’d wanted so much until it happened. It was…” he paused, took a swig from his glass, then added, “refreshing.”
“Having someone taken? Being given a person as a gift? That’s pretty twisted, don’t you think?” she took another big sip of the drink. It was too big and so it went down rough.
He was still looking out the window with his back to her and shrugged, “It’s the natural order. It’s what vampires do. Perks of life at the top of the food chain. Do you ask a tree for permission to pluck off a piece of fruit? Do you ask a chicken if you can have some of her eggs?”
Kyla was stunned at the logic.
He continued, “At first I thought that you were on something. Some drugs temporarily block persuasion but you weren’t. There was something about you that seemed different. Then when I went down on you…I knew there was something way different. The way you taste. And when I tasted your blood…it was like --- like nothing I’d ever tasted.”
She was sure she’d turned ninety-nine shades of red.
“I know what happened this morning has you scared. And I’m sorry about that. I’m always in control; things like that never happen. I’m not used to hearing No and while I typically find it amusing when you say it, this morning… I… didn’t want to hear No. I’m having your blood tested. I need to get to the bottom of this, of why you’re having this effect on me. Shit, I don’t apologize…listen to me,” he shook his head and drank some more.
“Tested? For what?”
“We shall see.” He downed the rest of the contents of his glass.
“What if you let me go now, then when the results…” she started, about to offer some sort of bargain.
He slammed the glass down. She jumped, startled, “Not happening. And what you pulled today with Joe, that can’t happen again.”
She got out of bed, happy that the t-shirt was covering her butt, and started to pace. Mr. Romantic was now back to being Mr. Arrogant.
“I mean it,” he said, “No one gets a taste, even a whiff, of your blood. It’s too dangerous.”
“No one? You mean no one but you?” She folded her arms across her chest.
“That’s right,” he said, mirroring her body stance and looking at her as if to challenge her to do something about it.
“So, I’m supposed to just let you keep, keep doing things… to me?” She couldn’t fight the tears.
“You don’t seem like you mind so much.” He smirked.
She let out a frustrated grunt and threaded her fingers through her hair, circling her temples with her palms.
“Please,” his face changed and he looked serious, “I need to know you’re not going to try to escape again.”
“And if I do run, what?”
“You do not want to go there,” he said, glowering at her, “I’m being very generous by asking. I don’t typically ask. I’m giving you a chance to cooperate. Do us both a favour and do things the easy way. For a change.”