Chapter 5 – Thorne #2
“I was thirty-two when I became a vampire. It was 1348, and I lived in a small town in The Crown of Castile or what is now modern-day Spain. I’d fallen sick with the bubonic plague, though we had called it The Black Death because the disease wiped out entire towns.
I was ready to face my end. To end my suffering at my husband’s hands.
It’s something I never told Millie. She believes I was thankful to be turned.
At the time, I wasn’t. I wanted to be at peace.
Now that I’m immortal, I’m making the best of this long life. ”
“I think we all are, honestly,” I offer.
She smiles. “Yes, well, it was still a life forced on me by a possessive man who didn’t want to lose me.
Rumors of immortal creatures swirled for years, and the moment I became sick, my husband sought one to save me.
It didn’t take long. A vampire named Diago had been watching me for weeks after spotting me one night walking home from the market.
He’d become quite obsessed with me, so when my husband begged Diago to turn me, basically selling my soul to this supernatural being, he gladly agreed. ”
“What happened to your husband?” I ask.
A wicked smile spreads across her face and my cock jumps. She transformed from bunny to beast within seconds. Vampires have a history of being dangerous... ruthless. I never saw that with Layla until now.
“When I turned, I needed human blood to complete the process. So, I drained my husband—not a drop left. Feeling his life fade, his heartbeat slowing, was invigorating. I knew at that moment I was a monster. Instead of being upset or angry about being turned, I quickly saw it as an opportunity to take control. A second chance.”
Her words cut off and the vindictive smile fades. I sense there’s more to her story, but the way she shuts down as if flipping a switch tells me story time is over.
I go to take a drink of my water and find the glass empty. Damn, I was parched. I stand to get more, but the next thing I know, the glass is out of my hand and Layla is refilling it.
“I guess pouring all that cum down my throat can make you dehydrated,” she says with a laugh.
My cheeks heat, my heart flutters, and my cock jerks.
“Oh,” Layla chirps, covering her mouth. Fucking supernatural hearing busting me and my lust. “I didn’t mean to... um... rile you up.”
I take another drink of water to stop myself from saying something embarrassing.
“I like hearing your heart react to me,” she says.
I stare at the glass of water, twisting it around on the countertop. “Do you not fuck humans? Or supes who have heartbeats?”
I cringe the moment I ask the questions.
“Sorry, that’s none of my business.”
“It’s fine.” Layla smiles, relaxing her tense shoulders. “I do fuck beings with heartbeats, but it’s been a while. I just forgot how fascinating and sensitive the little organs are. Yours is very… active.”
She giggles, probably remembering how chaotic my heartbeat was when we first met.
It’s chaotic right now.
I should change the subject.
“So, um, I have some things I’d like to discuss,” I say, standing to extract my phone so I can take notes.
Layla’s face transforms to delight.
I tilt my head.
She covers her mouth again. Why does she keep hiding her joy?
“Sorry. I got excited.”
“About me wanting to discuss things with you?”
“Yeah. I like hearing you talk. Your voice is so deep and sexy. Xander said you’re a gargoyle of few words, but I think you’re warming up to me. I need more.”
Fuck I’m blushing again.
She waves her hand, shaking her head. “Sorry, please go on.”
“Um, right, so your security detail... I’d like to double your guards.
That way, you can have two always stationed outside your penthouse doors.
I counted three manning the lobby, which is good, but I’d like four additional guards patrolling the perimeter of your building at all times.
When you’re on the move, out in public, there will always be two to four guards by your side.
I’ll rotate them out every day so we don’t fall into a routine. ”
“Change them out?” Her eyes widen, panic filling them. “Does that mean you won’t be with me?”
She’s moved to sit on a stool next to where I stand and reaches out to place her hand on my forearm. I shudder at her touch and cover her knuckles with my palm.
“I will be there whenever you need me.”
She relaxes immediately. Ok… so maybe she is as affected by me as I am by her.
This isn’t a good idea.
What was I thinking fooling around with the woman I’m supposed to be protecting? This desire that’s consuming my thoughts and body has already been distracting. I can’t have distractions when my job is to keep the new vampire queen alive.
I dip my head to hide my concern.
“A few of your guards will share units in the building, that way they’re close and ready if a threat presents itself.
We should also get a witch in here to ward the place.
And I’d like someone to stay here inside the penthouse with you, especially now that you’ll be heading this committee for the unveiling plan.
If word gets out before you’re ready for the supe community to know, I worry you’ll get unwanted attention or even threats. ”
She opens her mouth, but I raise my hand.
“I don’t think it should be me.” She frowns, questions on the tip of her tongue.
“I will stay here tonight, as I promised Vara, but after that, I’ll reside in another apartment in the building.
What we did on the dance floor… and in the limo.
.. I can’t let that distract me from protecting you. I already like you way too much—”
“You like me?” Layla asks, a smile spreading across her beautiful face.
“Yes, and I worry that if I stay here, we’ll never leave your bedroom.”
“That’s okay—”
“It’s not okay. In fact, it’s a bad idea.”
“Rude,” Layla grumbles with a pout, crossing her arms.
“You know what I mean. You can’t have distractions either. You’re not only the new vampire queen, but now you have this committee to lead. It’s a lot of responsibility.”
That adorable bunny nose scrunches as my words sink in. She knows I’m right.
“Fine. I guess I see your point,” she says and sighs.
Layla grabs her phone to look at the time.
“We still have a few hours before sunrise. Do you want to watch a movie?”
I pause before answering because I literally just had this thought—how all I want to do is cuddle on a couch with someone and watch a movie. I try to remember the last time I let myself enjoy the company of another being.
It’s been too long.
Even on my nights off, I’m typically out walking the city, sitting in the park reading a book, or going to a nightclub that Locheran drags me to.
I’ll watch documentaries by myself, but sitting on a couch, curled up with another being, while some cheesy rom-com plays is not something I've done before.
Layla’s smile falters at my hesitation. “Right. Bad idea.”
“It is a bad idea.”
“And it’s not part of your job description...” She bites her lip, her thoughts clearly turning mischievous. “But neither is having your cock in my mouth so...”
I narrow my eyes at her, and she holds up her hands in innocence.
“Fine,” I relent. “One movie.”
She claps and turns to her cabinets. Her excitement for such a mundane activity makes me wonder just how long it’s been since she’s entertained.
Does Millie no longer come over for a girls’ night?
A movie night? Just to hang out? I suppose the former vampire queen has been preoccupied the past couple of months with her new fated mate.
Layla excuses herself and disappears out of the kitchen at vampire speed and is gone for less than a minute before she returns, now dressed in an over-sized t-shirt and baggy pants.
She pours herself a glass of wine, and I refill my water then join her in the living room where she scrolls through movie and TV titles on a streaming app.
“Oooh,” she says, finding something that piques her interest. “Is It Cake?! Have you ever watched this?”
She turns her head, biting her lip, anticipating my answer.
“No.”
That was the right thing to say because she nearly jumps with joy.
“It’s so good. These bakers make cakes, but the cakes resemble different objects, like a suitcase or a shoe or a stuffed animal, and they have to trick the judges into thinking it’s real!”
Her words are fast in her excitement, and I’m not sure I understand the gist of the show, but she presses play and sits in the middle of her white sectional couch. She pats the cushion next to hers.
When I hesitate, she pouts. “I’ll be good, I promise.”
Fuck, I’m in trouble.
I’m struggling to resist this woman.
When I sit, she leans into me, and I instinctively wrap my arm around her shoulders.
You know what? Fuck bad ideas.
I need this.
I can worry about my rules tomorrow.
The cake show is better than I expected and most of the time, I couldn’t tell what was real and what was cake. When the second episode starts playing, Layla’s eyes begin to droop. I unfurl my wings and wrap them around her. She burrows deeper into my side and within minutes, she’s asleep.
I carefully lift her off the couch and carry her to the main bedroom at the back. The sun is rising, and her UV protection shades lower. I tuck her in and when I walk away, she says my name.
“Thank you for staying.”
She falls back asleep and despite how badly I want to crawl into bed with her, I force myself to walk down the hallway to a guest bedroom.
I dream about Layla.
And Vara.