Chapter Sixteen – Evelynn
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
EVELYNN
ONE WEEK LATER
I grew more confident as the week progressed, still too scared to annoy any of them.
Clutch seems the most laid back. I caught Hex talking to his bike.
Cain and the rest were nice, but didn’t say much.
Silas, on the other hand, hated me. I felt his dagger-like stare on me every time I entered the room.
I was allowed to roam the compound as I pleased, never to step foot outside alone. No matter how much I assured them I wasn’t about to run—that they would catch me within a second—Lucian still insisted I was escorted.
At breakfast, I sat in the kitchen with the rest of them, enjoying my omelette while they drank…well, while they drank blood. I shudder at the thought.
“Prez, it’s been over a month, and I’ve got the fang bangers blowing up the cell,” Silas says to Lucian.
I shove another mouthful into my mouth, remembering who the fang bangers are. My gut twists with jealousy, but I keep eating, pretending I’m not there.
“Prez, please. It’s been a long fucking month. And with everything going on, who knows when we’ll get a chance to be entertained again,” Clutch all but pleads. From the tone of his voice, I’m surprised he isn’t on his knees begging.
Lucian’s gaze flickers to mine, his jaw locking tight.
“If you’re worried I’ll talk, don’t. I’ll just shut myself in the room, out of the way. You guys can do who you please,” I say, winking at Clutch, whose grin only widens.
“So, is that a yes?” Rook asks, leaning on his elbows in anticipation.
Lucian sighs. “Fine. But they are gone before sunrise.”
Their mood instantly lifts. I guess the promise of getting laid is the morale boost they needed.
I stand to wash my plate, but Diesel—the prospect—takes it from me before I’m even fully upright.
“Er, I can wash that,” I protest.
“It’s his job,” Lucian mutters.
“Okay,” I relent and sit back down. “So, is tonight like a party? Before the debauchery, of course. Unless you guys are into that sort of thing,” I add, holding my palms up. “No judgment from me. Whatever floats your boat.”
“So, it wouldn’t bother you seeing any of us sharing a girl? Or me sharing two or more?” Cain asks, the red in his eyes sparking with amusement.
I’ve figured that Cain likes to test people’s boundaries.
Not that I mind. Now that I’ve accepted they’re all blood-sucking vampires, I know they aren’t going to hurt me.
Well, the decision is still out on Silas.
He always looks at me like he wants to stab me or rip me apart.
I still don’t know what I’ve done to deserve his hatred, but I’m just hoping he never gets to act on it.
I stare Cain down. “Like I said, each to their own.” I shrug.
He grins. “You ever witnessed a vampire fuck before?” Cain presses.
I shift in my seat, feeling the burn of embarrassment crawl up my cheeks. “No, of course I haven’t.” I try to keep my voice firm, but I can’t help it.
Sex isn’t something I’m exactly knowledgeable in, let alone vampire sex. Wait. What if they bite necks while doing it, you know, like some animals do? Wait, don’t you need blood pumping?
I frown. Lucian explained that Talon had been hurt by an unknown, a curse to make him bleed like he’s mortal. So how does it get stiff with no pumping blood?
“How do you get a hard-on if you don’t have blood pumping around you?” I blurt out.
Clutch coughs a laugh, the others chuckle, and Cain’s grin stretches wider.
“Vampires are erotic creatures. Our hunger, the desire we feel to hunt, to feed. To feel the pulse beneath our mouths. The gasps and the groans mortals make as we drain them,” Cain rasps.
I swallow and look away, my cheeks now a furnace.
“Cain.” Lucian’s voice is a warning.
He clasps my chin in a firm grip, pulling my attention to him. “There is no science behind it. Only that we feel desire and pleasure beyond that of any mortal.”
“You remember that?” I ask.
Cain laughs. “We may be old, but we’re men. We never forget what it felt like to fuck when we were mere men.”
Lucian ignores Cain’s comment, still holding my chin.
“Pleasure now is…” He pauses, his eyes dropping to my mouth. “Beyond words.” His voice is low and seductive.
I almost want to demand he change me, but I figure it would be nice to experience sex normally, as a human. If they turn me before I’ve had sex, I will literally die a virgin. If that’s not one of the most depressing thoughts, then I don’t know what is.
Lucian lets go of my chin and turns his attention back to the rest of the club. “Invite the usual. Get the alcohol in. You have two hours.”
They all get to their feet. I’d forgotten it was evening. Being underground with no clock, I’ve lost all concept of time.
“I think I’ll just stay in the room while, er, you all party,” I say.
Lucian’s eyes narrow. “Why?”
“I have nothing to wear. Not even any makeup to put on. And as much as I’m grateful for the few clothes you got for me, they aren’t really party clothes.”
“Party clothes?” he repeats, like it’s a foreign phrase.
“It’s okay for all of you. You’re all good-looking, in jeans and T-shirts that cling, or that black shirt you wear with the first few buttons undone, exposing the hint of your muscular chest,” I ramble.
“My muscular chest?” he presses, his lips twitching as he fights a smile.
I roll my eyes. “You know you’re attractive. You all are. Scary, but you have this aura.”
“Because we are the predators,” he says softly, “and you are the prey.”
He’s out of his chair in a blur. Before I can react, he’s behind me, his presence overwhelming.
“And what better way to catch you,” he murmurs, “than to lure you in. To make you crave our mouths on your skin.”
My breath stutters as his lips skim my neck, barely there, teasing. Heat coils low in my body, every nerve alive beneath his touch.
“You desire me, don’t you?” he rasps against my ear. “My prey.”
I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry, my thoughts dissolving until there is nothing left but him.
“Yes,” I whisper.
Lucian disappeared after that. I turned in my chair to see the room empty, and it was the quickest rejection I think I’d ever received.
I scuttled back to the room, relieved he wasn’t there when I entered. After a few minutes of hiding under the covers in pure mortification, I decided to shower, make myself look as good as I could, and join the party before it got all freaky.
Lucian may have made me feel like a complete tit, but if nothing else, I was stubborn. I refused to allow any man—dead or alive—to make me feel like that.
I step out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around me, my hair dripping down my back, to see clothes laid out and a large box on the bed. I glance around the room, expecting Lucian to be standing there watching, but the room is empty aside from me.
I move closer to the bed and suck in a sharp breath at the clothes: a black dress, tops, and jeans. I stub my toe on something and glance down to see a shoebox. Smiling, I crouch and open it to reveal a pair of blood-red stiletto heels.
“Very in theme to attend a vampire party,” I scoff.
Standing, I turn to the box on the bed and see a handwritten note placed on top.
My Petal,
For you.
Lucian x
P.S. Apologies if the products are wrong. I’m a man. An undead one at that, and to add a biker. What the fuck do I know about makeup?
I burst out laughing at the last line. Placing the note down, I lift the lid off the box to find it full of products for skin, hair, and makeup.
“Wow, did he raid the entire cosmetics store?” I murmur as I go through each item.
Once I’ve gone through it all, I take out what I need, keeping it simple because I have no idea how much time I have left to get ready. That’s when it occurs to me. There isn’t a single mirror.
“Shit,” I breathe, panic rising.
I rummage through the makeup and find a small palm-sized compact with a mirror in it.
“That will have to do,” I huff.
Makeup done, hair brushed but still damp, it’s time to get dressed. I pick up the dress and look around for underwear.
None.
A gentle knock at the door makes me jump. I frown. “Just a second.”
Quickly, I slide the dress on. It hugs my curves, the deep V so low I couldn’t wear a bra even if I wanted to. I slide my feet into the heels and pause, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves before making my way to the door.
When I open it, Lucian stands there, his dark hair a tousled mess. My gaze travels over him.
“The jacket,” I breathe.
He’s wearing that dark, gothic embroidered jacket I wore when I tried to flee. Shirtless beneath it, his unique tattoos on display, fitted black ripped jeans and boots completing the look. Standing before me, he is every bit the vampire biker.
My eyes slowly travel back up to his. The amber in his gaze burns with a hunger so intense my breath catches in my throat. His eyes flicker to my mouth.
“Blood red,” he rasps.
“I figured the lipstick would go well with the shoes,” I say with a small smile, a flutter of anxiety bubbling in my stomach.
Suddenly I’m in his arms, my body pressed up against his, my palms flat against his bare chest. I look up at him, heat and hunger so fierce in his eyes I’m unable to look away.
“You look…” He pauses, swallowing. “Delicious,” he rasps, his voice rough like gravel.
His fingers glide my hair away from my neck. Leaning in, he presses a soft kiss just below my earlobe. It’s so gentle, so delicate. A stark contrast to the dangerous monster standing before me. My body melts into him, burning desire coiling within me.
He leans back, and the short space between us suddenly feels like a canyon.
“You are mine. Tonight. You stay by my side. I must know where you are at all times. Do you understand?” His tone is rough and firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
I give a small nod in agreement, instantly reminded that to him I am nothing more than his captive, to do with as he pleases. Too many times I keep losing my head, forgetting where I am and who I’m with.
Getting lost in his touch, his eyes, I clear my throat and take a small step back, putting more distance between us, pushing my shoulders back and lifting my chin. He frowns slightly.
“So, you going to take me to this party, or did I get dressed up for nothing?” I ask, forcing a tight smile onto my face.
Assessing me, he reaches for my hand. Reluctantly, I allow it, convincing myself the only reason I’m letting him is because I have no choice, and not because I want it.
He leads me down the hall, vibrations from the loud music echoing off the stone walls.
I can’t help but smile as we enter the main living area.
I’ve not been in here before, only passed it by, but I always noticed the bar; a deep rustic brown, like something straight out of a period drama, with carved pillars and statues.
Giggling draws my attention to the left side of the room, where women stand with or sit on the laps of the other club members. All of them are dressed in the tiniest dresses I’ve ever seen. One wrong move and it’s flaps akimbo.
Lucian leads me to the bar, and Diesel greets us with a smile.
“What can I get you, ma’am?” he asks jokingly.
“Something strong.” I grin back.
I feel Lucian’s hand on my lower back, a subtle yet powerful reminder of his presence. No amount of alcohol could make me forget that.
Diesel places a shot glass on the bar and fills it with tequila. I snatch it up, knock it back, and wince at the burn before slamming the glass down.
“Another,” I demand.
Diesel nods and refills. I do the same. Again and again. The welcome buzz relaxes me.
“No more,” Lucian orders.
I turn to the side to look at him. “I can make my own decisions about how much alcohol I drink,” I snap.
Diesel moves to take my glass. My gaze snaps to him.
“Leave it and pour me another,” I demand.
He pauses, glancing between Lucian and me, then clearly decides that dealing with a pissed-off me is easier than dealing with a pissed-off Lucian.
My furious gaze snaps back to Lucian, who is looking down at me with nothing but amusement.
“I’m glad you find this funny. Excuse me for wanting to make my own decisions about something while I’m being held prisoner,” I hiss, quietly enough that I’m sure no one else will hear.
Cain’s eyes flicker to me. Okay, well, quiet enough that no human will hear.
“I mean, is it really that bad to allow me to drink and have a good time?” I sigh, stepping out of Lucian’s touch. “This was a mistake. You enjoy the party. I’m just going to go to sleep in the cell.”
I mentally chastise myself for yet again getting swept up in the moment. This whole world—everything—is insane. My life has been flipped on its axis in what, a matter of weeks? Months? I don’t even know how long I’ve been here anymore.
My hand is grabbed, and I’m yanked back, spinning on my heel and slamming into Lucian’s chest. His firm hold is still on my hand, now twisted behind my back, keeping me locked against him.
He glares down at me, his top lip curling in a snarl, revealing the monster he keeps hidden.
“Let me go,” I seethe through gritted teeth.
“The rule was you were to stay by my side. You go when I say you can go,” he whispers in a low, threatening growl. The music and laughter around us seem like a distant sound.
“What, you going to kill me? Bite me? Just do it already,” I bite back, the tequila giving me the balls to say what I’ve kept bottled up for a while. “You either want me, or you don’t. Just stop toying with me.”
He smirks. “But toying with you is half the fun.”
He lifts his free hand and threads his fingers through my hair. Gripping it tight, he yanks my head back. I gasp in surprise, my heart beating with fear and, if I dared admit it, want.
He runs his tongue slowly up my neck, my entire body shuddering. His lips lightly caress my earlobe.
“I can hear your heart beating faster every time I touch you. I can smell your arousal pooling between your legs, coating the tops of your thighs,” he whispers in my ear, his teeth grazing my skin.
“Every time your mouth says no, every time you fight me, I can hear and smell just how much you want me.”
He pulls back slightly, his eyes searching mine. His raw, devouring gaze sears into me before he presses his mouth to mine.
The kiss is demanding and dominant. I don’t fight it.
He’s right. I want him.
The moment he feels me relent, a deep, possessive growl vibrates from his chest. He deepens the kiss, his tongue commanding mine.
“Oh, Lucian, it’s not like you to toy with our food before you eat it,” a velvety voice interrupts.
Lucian immediately breaks the kiss and shoves me behind him so forcefully I stumble, nearly falling.
“Seraphine,” Lucian greets.