Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
Santiago
Fuck, I groan as Samantha’s taste fills my mouth. It’s even sweeter than the taste I stole from her mouth. I force myself to savor every drop and not gorge myself on her blood. She’s in no condition to feed anyone, but hell, she tastes so sweet.
I meet Rafael’s eyes, but I can’t decipher the emotions flitting over his face. I said I wouldn’t drink from Samantha and here I am, fangs deep in her flesh. There’s no excuse for this. No excuse, besides the fact that I want this bond.
Maybe it’s part jealousy—Rafael having a bond with her, and the wolf. I’ve never liked feeling left out. But it’s not only that.
She’s amazing. Sassy. Caring.
Even when she’s pissed, she’s not cruel. And when she’s pleased, she doesn’t hold back. I don’t know if she was always like this, this… full of life, but being around her is addictive.
And maybe there’s a small part of me that craves this link to Rafael. I’m not ready to take a closer look at that thought, so I lick Samantha’s skin and pull another small whimper from her.
Watching Zack fuck Samantha into bliss made my cock ache, but nothing compares to the pleasure of having her blood in my mouth, soothing my throat and filling my veins. She said she felt a bond before, but now I feel it too. A connection that goes bone deep.
Reluctantly, I pull back and lick my lips.
“Are you all right, little fangs?” I ask, my voice hoarse.
“Mmh,” she replies. She seems happy and relaxed, lounging on top of Zack and leaning against me. When Rafael lifts his hand from her breast, she frowns.
“Going somewhere?”
“I think we all better get into a shower and get some clothes on before the witch returns,” Rafael replies.
“Damn potpourri,” Samantha mutters but stirs a bit, at least enough to pull herself against Zack’s chest. He doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to get up.
“Dove,” he rumbles. “Maybe you could get one of the vamps to carry you?”
“Come here, Samantha,” Rafael immediately jumps in and holds out a hand. She takes it and gingerly lifts herself off Zack and his cock.
I’m glad I got over size comparison some hundred years ago, otherwise sharing Samantha with him might be an issue.
Rafael scoops her up and heads upstairs. I look at Zack, who’s rolling his ankle and frowning down at his leg.
“There’re other showers in the downstairs guest wing.”
“Good. They need time alone.” My surprise must show on my face, because Zack chuckles. “Don’t get me wrong. I’d love to drag my ass up there, but she’s getting overwhelmed. All of us going on at her during sex is all well and good, but…”
I frown. “You seem to be pretty easy with sharing her.”
“I came into a package deal and neither of you is really giving me a hard time.” He shrugs and moves to stand.
“Still… I would love to steal her away,” I mutter.
“Would you really? Considering how it would affect her and seeing how she’s feeling?”
“What do you mean?”
Zack just looks at me and shakes his head. “Not my place. I should have kept my big mouth shut. Now, can you point me in the right direction for the shower? I think Moretti was right in the regard that Samantha would not appreciate my cock hanging out when the witch returns.”
He chuckles again and a smile tugs my lips too. Samantha would lose her mind if Zack flashed Sophie. I glance down at my own tented pants and sigh.
“I’ll need to call and ask someone to bring me more clothes,” Zack says. Jere had brought a set of clothes for him earlier, but Samantha took care of the shirt, and his pants are a bit stained.
“Here.” I pull up Jere’s number and hand my phone over.
“Thanks.”
I lead him to the guest room before heading to the back door. It’s not only Samantha who’s getting overwhelmed. I’ve been avoiding Rafael for a reason and now I have a bond with Samantha, too. I pace back and forth, unable to tear myself away from the house.
Ha, like the house has anything to do with it. It’s the two vampires inside that are holding me back. I lose myself in the gardens, and some time later find myself in the rose garden.
Despite the winter, there are several rose vines in full bloom. Pearlescent flowers mix with pink and red. All of them grow from the same vine. I wonder if Samantha would like a bouquet in the house. Absentmindedly, I pluck one rose and prick my finger on the thorns.
A hint of Samantha’s scent comes with the blood. It shouldn’t. Not when she’s so young, and I’m old. I only tasted her. This scent implies long and regular blood exchange.
I never allowed myself to bond with Rafael enough to smell him in my blood.
The realization startles me enough that I spin on my heels and head back into the house just as the witch returns. She has clothes for Zack and blood for me. I’ve finished the first bag by the time Samantha and Rafael mosey back downstairs.
“She can’t stay in the house,” Samantha immediately says when she sees the witch.
“I need to stay close until Th-Thea arrives,” the witch stutters like she had trouble getting the name out.
“No,” Samantha snaps.
“It’s a big house, sweetheart. You haven’t seen much of it,” Rafael tries to reason with her. I could tell him it’s a waste of time.
“Come watch a movie with me, dove. I’m sure there’s a comfy couch and a big TV somewhere in here,” Zack says.
Samantha narrows her eyes.
I clear my throat. “The den.”
“There’s a guest house, a witch’s cottage, in fact, in the gardens. Ms. Winship could stay there until Thea arrives. Would that be all right, sweetheart?” Rafael says and Samantha mulls it over.
“Fine.” She looks at the witch, who politely averts her eyes. “I’m not always such a bitch but…” She trails off, like she’s not sure how to finish that sentence. “Anyways, yeah, the cottage is fine with me.”
“I’ll take no offense, Ms. Ramsey,” the witch says. “And the cottage sounds splendid. Would it be all right if I wandered in the gardens a bit?”
Rafael’s eyes narrow at that and I can’t help snorting. Witches and their obsession with the Rosewood Manor’s gardens.
“Just don’t harvest anything.” Rafael finally relents. He doesn’t sound happy about it, but for some reason, he’s not putting up a fight.
“Oh, of course. I wouldn’t dare!”
“Let’s go then.” Rafael motions to her and I decide to follow, since I didn’t see a cottage in the garden. The chance to offer him a sip away from Samantha has nothing to do with my motivations. Nothing at all.