74. Chapter Seventy-Four
Chapter Seventy-Four
Elowen Briar
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Laundry Day
The blood bag is warm in my hands, heavier than it looks.
I study the dark liquid sloshing inside, every movement pulling at the hunger clawing in my chest. The scent rises first, sharp and demanding.
It fills my throat before I even touch it to my lips.
I press the edge against my mouth. The first swallow sears and soothes all at once.
The taste of pennies floods my tongue, fire spreads through my veins, and I can’t stop myself from shuddering against the feeling of being fed.
The second swallow is faster. The third, nearly desperate.
By the time I pull back, I’m panting. Blood clings to my lips, hot and sticky.
My fingers shake as I clutch the plastic tighter.
Across the room, Beau moves cautiously. He picks up a shirt from the pile of laundry.
His hands smooth the fabric, folding it into a precise square before laying it on top of the others.
This looks ridiculous. I’m sitting here with blood smeared across my mouth, and he’s folding clothes as if nothing about this moment is unusual.
A laugh bubbles up, but catches in my throat.
I press the back of my hand across my lips.
It only spreads the red further on my face.
I must look horrific. Sitting here with blood all over my mouth while he pretends laundry is the most important thing in the world.
Beau’s head lifts. His eyes lock on mine. “You don’t look horrific,” he says quietly. “And I’m not pretending. Laundry is still important. Do you want creased clothes?” He winks, causing me to freeze. My stomach twists, not from hunger but from realization.
“You can still hear me,” I whisper.
His lips curve faintly, a shadow of a smile. “Yes. I can still read your thoughts.”
Heat rushes through me, embarrassment and awe colliding.
He folds another towel, his voice calm. “I’m trying not to.
But when you think so loudly, when you degrade yourself so much, it’s impossible not to answer.
Why would I sit idly by and allow you to do that?
” My throat closes. For a moment, words won’t come.
“You’re still you,” he adds softly. “Drinking blood or matcha, there’s no real difference.
Sure, you’ll find things that aren’t the same, but the person you were before, she still remains.
That will never change.” I turn my face toward the pillow resting behind me, blinking hard.
The bag slips from my fingers and falls with a dull thud to the ground.
I look back at him once more. He’s still folding, still moving with steady grace, as if reminding me that even this strange new life has room for ordinary moments.
Trying to steer the conversation to something more light and normal I ask, “So… What’s going on between Kai and Imani?” Beau laughs at the top of his lungs before covering his mouth and realizing just how loud that was.
“To be honest with you, Elowen Briar, if there isn’t anything going on between them, I’ll be very surprised. Kai has followed her around like a lost puppy this whole time. Their dynamic seems quite the opposite of ours.”
“What do you mean by that, sir?” I cock my eyebrow at Beau. He stops folding the laundry and cuts the distance between us before sitting down in front of me. He picks up the blood bag I dropped and brings it to his lips. He finishes the last few ounces in it.
He uses his thumb to brush against his lips to clean himself up and then leans into me, “It just seems like there’s always one person in charge. Don’t you think so?” Beau asks, winking at me.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I don’t think anyone is in charge here.” I scoff at him, hoping that my teasing will cause him to break.
“Is that right? You genuinely believe that there isn’t a power imbalance here?
” He furrows his eyebrows and stares into my eyes.
I thought I’d be unsettled watching him drink blood for the first time, but the act becomes an after-thought.
I shrug my shoulders and go to stand up to walk to the kitchen for another bag.
He pulls me back down to the ground with haste, “I don’t think so, young lady. ”
“What? I’m going to get another drink. I’m still thirsty.” I try to avoid blushing at the thought of his strength taking control of me.
“I can still read your thoughts, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to hear it out loud.” He smirks smugly, leaning in to kiss me. I kiss him back, but pull away quickly, hopping back up to stand. I’m a little faster now.
“Gotta be quicker than that.” I wink at him and dart to the kitchen.
He jumps up to chase after me and right as he goes to grab me, I’ve already made it to the fridge.
I quickly grab my bag and run around him.
“Looks like you’re too slow to catch up with me now.
” I throw the words over my shoulder still sprinting away from him.
“So now you’re cocky? That’s new.” Beau laughs, but lets me dance around him.
“You want to run, I’ll let you try.” As soon as he finishes his sentence, I throw my slip-on shoes on my feet and slide the back door open to run into the yard.
A cold, rainy mix falls from the sky as I spot Beau still standing in the doorframe.
“Run. I’m giving you a head start. I have no doubt that I’ll catch you.
” I don’t take his confidence for granted, but I have the location advantage.
The small patch of woods that line all of the backyards in this subdivision stretches further than he thinks.
Although he may be faster than me, he won’t be able to find me once I run into the woods.
I run for what seems like a mile. The cold doesn’t bother me, but I have enough wit to know that it would look strange to anyone else that Elowen Briar is running around in the woods without a jacket on.
The silence stretches over the wooden area and I bend down to listen.
I hear nothing but the sound of wind and rain beginning to hit the branches on the trees.
The silence is broken with a sound that rattles my bones.
I hear the crunch of limbs and leaves to my right.
Before I can stand up to dart away, I see him.
Beau stands perfectly still, his head dropped down so his irises align with the tops of his lids, “Didn’t I tell you to run?
” A small squeal escapes me and I try to run from him again.
He’s much faster than he lets on. He darts behind me, picking me up, and throws my back into a nearby tree.
I slide down and wrap my legs around him, my arms thrown over his shoulders.
I am a giggly mess trying to compose myself.
“You think you’re quick, but you’re not.
” He closes in on my neck and trails kisses along it.
“Now, tell me. Who’s in charge here?” Beau growls.
The rain starts to pour now as we stand in the middle of the woods, but Beau doesn’t seem to mind.
He places me back down on the ground and wraps his right hand around my throat.
“Only good girls get rewarded, mi tesoro.” I run my fingers along the button of his jeans.
The rain beats down on us and his black shirt frames every crevice of his chiseled chest and abs.
I pull his hand from my throat and drop to my knees.
“Maybe I don’t want to be rewarded. Maybe I want to be punished.
” He allows me to unbutton his jeans and slide down the zipper.
I pull the jeans low enough to reveal his red boxer briefs.
I slide the fabric of both down, and his hard erect cock springs free.
I lick from the base to his tip in one motion.
Beau leans forward, bracing himself with one arm on the tree.
I let my tongue flick on the side of cock, between each pierced bar on the top of his shaft.
“God, you don’t…you don’t have to do that, Elowen.
” Beau groans. I make my mouth into an O and take him into it.
I slide back, allowing my tongue to graze the underneath of his dick.
It sends a shiver down him and he grasps the tree behind me with more strength.
“Fuck, your mouth feels so good.” I take my left hand and cup his balls as I slowly suck.
When his shaft is wet enough from my saliva, I take my right hand and stroke him in a forwards to backwards motion, flicking my wrist as I work.
I allow my mouth to find its rhythm while stroking him.
“Take me. Take all of me.” Beau breathlessly moans, now holding my head. He waits for permission to take control.
I pull back and look up to him with desire in my eyes. “I said, punish me.”
Open that dirty fucking mouth for me.” I continue looking up at him from my knees, opening my mouth and sticking out my tongue.
“Such a good slut.” He traces my lips with his tip before slapping his dick on my tongue a few times.
“Now, take all of me. Remember your taps.” I begin to suck his dick, finding rhythm again.
The piercing bars jut against the inside of my jaws.
He takes hold of the back of my hair again, thrusting himself into my throat.
I allow him to use me for his pleasure. “Fuck, Elowen. That perfect mouth was made for me.” He moans, fucking my mouth.
He speeds up and loosens his grip on my hair, “Now, make me finish. Use your hands and focus on sucking the tip.” I do as I’m told, but I know that I’m really the one in charge right now.
I place my hand back onto his shaft and follow the flow of the stroking with my mouth.
I’m not being nearly as careful when last time I worried about hurting him.
I slowly speed up as his whimpering starts.
I can tell he’s close. He curses under his breath, begging me not to stop.
“I’m so close, baby. I’m so close. Hold it in your mouth.
” Right as the words fall, he finishes. His body quakes and he takes hold of the tree again.
Beau’s head falls back and the rain hits him in the face.
His come sits in my mouth. He looks back down, the rain dripping off the ends of his hair and rolling down his arms. “Open. Let me see.” I use my tongue to block the back of my throat and tilt back to show him.
“Good girl. Swallow.” I once again do as I’m told.
He gives me his hand and I stand up. He pulls me into a kiss and presses me against the tree, but I pull free and dart back to the house.
Beau yells, “Where are you going?” I run as fast as I can back home. I can hear him pulling up his clothes, but he leaves his zipper and jean button undone to catch up with me.
As I slide the back door open, he’s already caught up with me.
He rushes through the door and picks me up, swinging me around, before sitting me back down again.
I start my flurry of giggles from the adrenaline.
He slides the door back closed, pulling his clothes off.
Beau’s beautiful tattoos are a stark contrast against his fair skin.
I stifle my giggles as he undresses, following his lead.
“Go run a shower for us,” he commands, slapping my ass once my pants are off.
He showers me, and in return I get to devour the sight of him unclothed. My laughs find their way back to me and I feel my fangs spring free from my usual canines. “You’ll get used to that. You’ll find your control over them.” He brushes my cheek.
“I was just going to say, I think we learned who’s really in control out there.” I laugh, my fangs finding their place back in my mouth.
“Whatever.” He rolls his eyes, stepping out of the shower.
His cock is just as large even when he’s soft.
I am a lucky woman. A knock sounds at the door in the distance.
“Don’t get dressed. I better find you naked on the bed when I get back.
” He winks at me before finishing drying off and throwing his clothes on.
“Fine.” I lean out of the shower and plant a kiss on his lips. A low, guttural hum escapes him as he leaves the restroom. I finish rinsing off and grab a towel from the holder on the wall.
I throw on my robe once I finish drying off and dry my hair quickly, hoping that my slowness didn’t affect his desire to continue our fun.
As I walk out of the bathroom, I immediately notice that the front door is wide open.
“Beau?” I slowly step into the hall and pad towards the living room.
I can’t sense him anymore. I close in on the front door and peer outside, but he’s nowhere to be seen.
Closing it behind me, I try to calm myself.
My panic slowly seeps into my chest. I run to check every room in the house and can’t find him. My blood-thirst follows and I realize that Beau is gone without a trace. I run to grab my phone and immediately dial his number. I hear a ringing from the living room. His phone is still here.
Imani. I’ll call her. I dial her phone and wait for the ring. Why would he leave? Who was at the door? I need to calm down.
Please pick up, Imani.