Chapter 10 #3
Yet, when I came to the final scene, my mouth turned down, and my eyes softened as I explored the picture. A powerful body lay still on the ground; its detached head was held high in triumph by a villager. The mouth on the head was wide open in a silent, defiant roar.
Moisture gathered in my eyes as I slowly traced his large, headless body. A strong current of emotions filtered through me. Empathy. Awe. Sorrow. Respect. My affinity should've lain with the tortured villagers, but it didn't.
Suddenly, that sultry scent, which now felt like an extension of me, grew stronger. It overwhelmed my body, and I responded in a way no married woman should when confronted by another man’s aroma. My hardened nipples and damp panties betrayed my true feelings.
He was near.
My stomach gave an excited flutter. Nerves? Or something more titillating? Christ, what was wrong with me?
I felt his body against mine.
Physically, I knew he was a few steps away. But emotionally and spiritually, it was as if his tall, muscular build had swathed itself around me.
"Beautiful, is it not?"
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. His accented voice vibrated through me, and my traitorous body gave a delighted shiver.
I kept my gaze focused forward, my fingers still pressed against the fangs of the beheaded creature.
"Yes," I croaked out before clearing my throat. "It's beautiful." With one last caress of the crass ridges on its brow, I let my hand drop before bracing myself to face Acheron Angelou.
Christ alive.
Talk about a beautiful piece of work. I hadn't been able to uncover any photos of Acheron online. I was simply curious about what the enigmatic man did for a living to afford the most expensive piece of real estate in the city—and have enough money to renovate it with bespoke furnishings.
My search came up empty, but I now knew that any photos of him would not do Acheron Angelou justice.
They wouldn't be able to perfectly capture his high, firm cheekbones or straight nose.
They couldn't capture the beauty of his sensuous full mouth, framed by a light beard stubble.
Von was a beautiful man, but he never invoked such a sharp reaction in me.
My wide eyes finally met his, and I was once again shot in the gut by those piercing blues.
There was no doubt in my mind that they were the same shade and shape as the eyes that followed me into my dreams. I was still unconvinced that they actually belonged to Acheron, but it was maddening that I had yet to see their unique shade on anyone other than him.
He made a low sound, and the vibration tumbled through me. "I knew you would understand."
His arm stretched out, brushing my shoulder in the process. I bit back a whimper before shifting slightly aside to allow me some space. I needed to get a grip.
His long, thick fingers brushed against the same spot my hand had just left.
"He's a Strigoi," he explained in that thick voice that pricked my skin. "His name was Jure Grando. Often referred to as the first Vampire to appear in human historical texts."
A cold sweat slid down my spine at the term, and I inspected the piece again with new eyes.
It seemed obvious by his fangs that he was some sort of vamp creature, but he certainly didn't look like the Vampires I was used to.
Although, considering I grew up around the Cullen family, it was not surprising that my idea of Vampires constituted handsome, pale men.
"Human historical texts? As opposed to what?" I queried.
His full mouth shifted in amusement before he focused his attention back onto the carvings, ignoring my question.
"After he died in 1656, he resurrected into this." His hand moved slowly against the wood. My gaze was mesmerized by the sight of his firm, thick fingers. "He terrorized his village until he was decapitated in 1672."
His fingers brushed down toward the panel that showcased Jure surrounded by a mob of incensed villagers.
"He wasn't," Acheron murmured.
I turned, meeting his brilliant blue hooded eyes as they continued to observe me unabashedly. My breath hitched at his proximity. His body heat sealed me, and I found myself trapped in his lure. I was very aware of how inappropriate this was, yet my body felt entombed on the spot.
"Wasn't what?" I breathed out.
His captivating inspection dropped to my mouth and stayed there. "The first Vampire." His breath fanned my lips as we stayed in place.
"His was just one of the stories that survived over the centuries and was told so often it became widely accepted."
I gave a huff of bemusement. "You sound like you believe in them."
His eyes flashed as he dropped his arm from the wooden panels. He tipped his brow as his full mouth lifted in a smirk. "You do not think that there are other beings that exist?"
I dropped my gaze from his. "Well—"
"Consider all the species that have ever lived and all those which are now extinct," he continued. "It is widely accepted that there are species yet to be discovered, some of which never will be."
He tilted his head at me, and his eyes creased in what looked like disappointment. "Now, think of what exists out there beyond our galaxy. Is it truly outside the realm of possibility that other creatures roam our universe that we do not know of nor understand?"
My hand instinctively went to my neck, and when Acheron followed my movements, I could have sworn I spied his pupils bleed dark before turning back into that brilliant blue.
I was also painfully aware that our bodies were far closer than what was appropriate for an employer and employee.
I told myself that the door behind me restricted my movements, but deep down, I knew that wasn't true.
When a new wave of his spiced scent hit me, my pussy clenched as wetness pooled in my panties.
Acheron's nose flared, and a low growl sounded in his throat. "Alice."
His dark plea was tortured. I saw his hand move toward me from the corner of my eye. Instead of leaning away, my breath labored in anticipation.
The loud thud of a worker's tool dropping on the hard floor pierced my foggy thoughts. Shocked, I pulled away, stumbling slightly in my heels.
A firm touch on my arm steadied me before I heard a swift curse. "Damn it, Alice. You are not used to such high shoes." His grip tightened. "I could not bear it if you hurt yourself."
The intimacy of his chastising had my gaze dropping to my feet. A hysterical laugh almost tumbled out of me as he helped me tighten my stance. So much for thinking the red stilettos would impress him.
Wait, no. That's not why I wore them.
"I-I have to go," I stammered.
My cheeks reddened in embarrassment at my behavior, and the mortifying realization that I had been tempted by another man.
No, I would never have let it get that far.
I reluctantly pulled my arm from his hand, keeping my gaze averted.
"Um…the bathroom light fixtures will arrive at two, so I need to pop back into the office for a few hours." I cleared my throat as I rushed to pick up my discarded bag. "Von has a few more changes you need to sign off on."
I held my bag tightly against my body as I shuffled random items inside its pockets. Acheron tracked my movements, his body still as a statue, his hands hidden inside his tailored pants pockets.
He observed me for a few moments longer before he inclined his head in agreement. I turned on my high heels and marched toward the interior elevator, deciding I needed a quiet space to recuperate before facing Von again.
"Alice."
The gentle command had me immediately swiveling to face him. Even from a distance, his blue eyes stood out. They lazily trailed my body down to my feet.
"The shoes do impress me. But your safety means more."
My mouth dropped open, but before I could utter a word, he turned and twisted the knob to his primary suite before disappearing inside. The door glided shut behind him.
With shaky legs, I managed to stumble into the elevator. The closing metal doors snapped the invisible rope that attempted to lure me behind those walnut doors.