Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
I lead Linc through to the private sitting room used by me and my cousins.
I'm glad there's a break between the wedding itself and the feast, because I need a moment alone with him that's away from curious eyes.
Luckily for us, most people seem to have gone straight to the ballroom even if they have to wait for the food to be served.
The door to my bedchamber is slightly ajar, and I'm disappointed that Pip doesn't race out to join us, even though I know it's walk time and she'll be with one of the servants.
"Are you sure I can be here?" Linc asks.
I shrug. "What are they going to do if they find us here? Make us get married?"
His lips quirk up into a smile. "I suppose that's true. It just feels like I shouldn't be so close to where you sleep, especially not when we're alone."
"We're probably less alone than we are in the library," I point out.
"Mmm, fair. Where's Pip?"
"I think she's out with one of the servants for her walk. I wanted to take her myself, but there's so much going on today that I don't think it's possible."
"Ah."
I head over to the table holding a pitcher of blood and hold it up.
He nods and I pour us both a glass. I hand one of them over, and Linc takes it, his fingers brushing against mine as he does.
I take a sip of my blood, mostly to take my mind off the wedding ceremony.
"Are you all right?" he asks. "You seem on edge."
I sigh. "I'm nervous."
"About Bastian's wedding? I think the hard part is over."
I shake my head and set my glass down. "About ours."
He raises an eyebrow. "Are you worried about being married to me?"
"No," I say quickly, not wanting him to believe that even for a second. I'm sure we're going to have challenges to deal with, but I'm also certain that we'll be able to face them.
"Then what is it?" He puts down his glass and steps towards me, concern written on his face.
I swallow hard, not entirely sure how to put this, but after witnessing another wedding ceremony, it's the only thing I can think about. "I'm nervous about drinking from you for the first time. There'll be so many people watching, and when I've had the urge to bite you before it's because..."
"You've wanted something."
"Because I've wanted you," I respond. "I guess I'm worried that if I bite you in front of people then I'll lose control or something."
"I see." The intensity in Linc's gaze is hard to ignore. "There's a solution."
"There is?"
He reaches out and pulls me to him, my back pressing against his chest. I can feel his heart racing and it makes my own respond in kind.
He lifts his wrist to my lips. "Bite me, Bea."
"But..." Despite my weak attempt at a protest, my fangs are already out, pushing against my lips and desperate for me to listen to him.
"If you're worried about the first time being in front of other people, then let's make sure it isn't the first time."
Hunger unlike any I've ever known fills me and I reach up to take his arm in my hands, drawing it closer to my mouth.
My teeth press against his skin and he takes a sharp breath, but I can tell it's not from pain.
He's looking forward to this, and judging from the intensity of the hunger within me, so am I.
Without thinking too hard about it, I sink my teeth into his wrist. They slide through his skin easily and the sweet taste of blood explodes in my mouth.
It's even more intense than when I drink it from the goblet, though I don't know if that's because this is vampire blood I'm tasting, or if it's the act of drinking from the vein.
I'm not sure it matters, because right now the only thing I can think of is how good it feels.
Linc's free hand splays across my stomach and I can feel the heat of his touch even through my dress. I retract my teeth and trace the wounds with my tongue.
A soft groan comes from Linc and he shifts slightly away from me.
I turn around, looking at him in concern. "Are you all right?"
He lets out a flustered chuckle. "I'm fine, Bea. That just affected me."
Understanding dawns on me and I glance down.
"Not helping," he mutters.
"Is that a problem?" I step closer, giving him a moment to get away if he wants to.
"No, I suppose not," he murmurs, his breath fanning against my lips. "Do you feel better now?"
My tongue darts out across my bottom lip, tasting the last traces of his blood there. "Yes and no."
He raises an eyebrow.
"Well, now I want to know what it's like to be drunk from," I say, tracing a pattern against his chest. "And there are a few other things I'm curious about."
"Is that so?"
I nod.
He leans in and kisses my cheek. "Aren't we in the middle of your brother's wedding?" He moves lower, his lips brushing against my jaw.
"They're not going to miss us for another hour," I murmur as I tip my head to the side, giving him access to my neck.
His tongue grazes my pulse point and I can feel the points of his fangs against my throat. All kinds of feelings flood through me, most of them focused on wanting him to touch me more.
"Do it, please." The words sound more like a moan than they should.
Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to agree and pulls back, only to laugh when he sees my face. "You don't have to look so disappointed."
"I thought you were going to bite me," I admit.
"I am." He sits down and holds out a hand to me. "Unless you've changed your mind..."
"In the past minute? Definitely not." I take his hand and let me pull me down onto the chaise beside him.
He reaches out to cup my cheek in his hand, drawing me to him and kissing me deeply. I respond immediately, losing myself in the kiss.
His hand touches my leg, making me wish that there wasn't so much fabric between us and I could feel his touch on my skin. Except there's no reason that I can't make that happen.
I pull him closer with one hand while I move my other on top of his, guiding it further down until I find the hem of my skirt. I half-expect him to stop and ask if everything is all right, but he doesn't. Presumably sensing that I know exactly what I'm doing.
Kind of. I actually have no idea, I'm just going with what feels right to me.
His fingers graze against my ankle and I let out a small gasp into our kiss. He takes it as an opportunity to pepper a trail of kisses back to my neck.
The fabric of my dress bunches up as he pushes it aside, his hand reaching my knee.
He freezes for a moment, but doesn't move.
"Linc?" My voice comes out scratchy.
"I don't actually know what I'm doing," he murmurs.
"The biting seems fairly straightforward."
"Not the biting, Bea."
"Oh." I take a breath in an attempt to steady myself. "Do you want to stop?"
"No. I mean I literally don't know what I'm doing." He meets my gaze. "I understand in theory, but I haven't exactly done this before."
I touch his cheek with my hand. "I don't know either. I think we just...do what feels right."
His fangs press against his bottom lip, and it makes me hot and cold at the same time to see.
"I know that I want you to touch me," I murmur, putting my hand over his where it still presses against my knee.
He nods. Shifting ever so slightly so he can kiss me. It's both gentle and needy in a way I didn't think would be possible. His hand travels higher, and the cold air pricks against my skin but I barely notice it, I'm too caught up in what we're doing.
He breaks the kiss while he fumbles a little with my undergarments, and my breath catches in my throat. The sound draws his attention there and he grazes his fangs across my skin.
I lean my head back and let my eyes flutter closed. I don't know whether to focus on the pressure his fangs are putting on my skin, or the way it feels to have his hand between my legs. I've touched myself before, but it's nothing compared to having him do it.
My breath catches in my throat and I let out a low moan as he brushes against the right spot. He tries to go back, but doesn't quite manage.
"Here," I mumble, moving my dress out of the way so I can slip my hand under it and guide him. He pauses kissing my neck so he can focus on touching me.
A strange noise escapes me as his fingers press back against the right spot. I let go of his hand and let him continue. He finds a good rhythm and my thoughts disappear until his fangs press against my skin again.
There are two pricks of sharp pain as he sinks them into me, but it's quickly replaced by pleasure as he draws my blood into him.
My release crashes over me from nowhere, much more intense than any of the times I've achieved this myself. My body shakes and I cry out, pushing myself into Linc and trying to work out if I want more.
Or more like how I want more.
He retracts his fangs and looks up to meet my gaze, his hand still beneath my dress.
I nod in response to his unasked question. "Yes. Good. Fine."
He chuckles, the sound rumbling through me. "Those are technically words."
I close my eyes and nod again, not really capable of saying more.
"Beatrice, Uncle Gerard has sent me...oh."
I move quickly at the sound of Bella's voice, all traces of my release gone. I push Linc away from me and straighten out my dress.
My cousin has turned her back to us and is doing her best to study the painting on the wall and not look in our direction. "Your Highness," she says, trying to sound cool and collected, but failing.
Linc clears his throat. "Lady Vermouten." He gets to his feet and tidies up his jacket, taking a moment to adjust himself as he does.
I bite my bottom lip as I watch, trying not to let my mind stray too far, or my curiosity get the better of me.
"I'll see you in the ballroom?" he says to me.
I nod, not really knowing what else to say. I watch him leave, wishing I could say something, but not having the words.
Bella turns around and gives me an unimpressed look. "Your bedchamber is right there."
"We weren't..."
She raises an eyebrow. "I wasn't turned yesterday, Beatrice, I know exactly what you were doing."
I glance at the floor, trying to think of a reasonable excuse. "It wasn't intentional."
"Mmm, I'm sure it wasn't. You have blood on your neck."
My fingers fly to the spot where Linc bit me, feeling the slightest residue there.
"Lick your fingers and use your own spit," she says. "Should do the trick."
"Oh." I do as she suggests, feeling a bit silly.
"You need to redo your hair too. Really, Beatrice? Couldn't you have waited until after Bastian's wedding?"
"Apparently not," I mutter.
There's a hint of amusement on her face. "Go through to your bedchamber, I'll sort it for you," she promises.
For a moment, I consider telling her that it's fine and I'll call for Jemima, but I don't really want anyone else to know about this.
So instead, I get to my feet and head into my room, trying not to regret the fact that Linc and I were interrupted too much.