Chapter 7
Arran
“After you,” I say as I open the castle door, setting Audrey’s suitcase down and balancing her rather interesting box in my other arm.
“Why? Want an opportunity to stare at my ass?” Audrey asks with that familiar red-lipped smirk as she comes to a halt right in front of me, her dog sleeping soundly in the crook of her arm.
I stare down into Audrey’s luminous eyes, the brown a rich dark chocolate holding me captive with its inviting gleam as her pupils expand. There’s a tightening thread between us, an undeniable chemistry that’s getting harder to resist with every extra second in her company.
Wanting to play along with Audrey, I lift my shoulder in a shrug as I take a subtle step forward. “Would that be such a terrible sin?”
Audrey’s eyes brighten even further as she reaches up and twirls my shirt lace around her finger. “Definitely not.”
Our gazes lock and hold, my cock growing hard between us as I consider leaning down and kissing Audrey right here. Slowly, I lower my head, longing to drag my lips along her cheeks, her jaw, her neck, before claiming her mouth driving me closer to my biggest temptation.
Before I can do precisely that, Audrey pats my chest and winks at me. “Got to make you work for it at least.”
I’m left gaping as Audrey struts toward the central staircase, my eyes not missing a single sway of her slender hips and pert behind.
There’s something so entirely enticing about Audrey.
It’s not just that she’s strikingly beautiful, but there’s a confidence and playfulness in her that speaks to the man I once was, a very long time ago.
Before I grew tired of the countless goodbyes I had to say over the centuries, before I started keeping to myself and let the world pass by outside my castle, I used to enjoy interacting with others.
I loved taking care of my clan, of overseeing the welfare of the tenants of my land, of settling disputes, and managing my land.
I enjoyed the day-to-day challenges life brought me, and there’s a quality in Audrey that’s sparking that desire in me again, to maybe peek out from behind my castle walls and experience life once more.
Part of me is scared, though, because Audrey won’t be staying long. And if I get addicted to the feeling of being alive again, to truly live within my Starry Hill community again, it will be that much harder to revert to who I’ve become.
Or, perhaps I could look at Audrey’s time with me in this castle as a wondrous gem, a tiny glimmer in my otherwise monotonous immortality. Something that I could one day look back on fondly, even if it hurts to remember.
Almost skidding to a halt at the foot of the stairs, Audrey pauses and places a hand on the safety barrier I built to protect Anita from injuring herself on the hard stone. “Is this a puppy gate?”
Ignoring my hardening cock and current existential predicament, I set Audrey’s box down and stride toward her.
“Aye. I know it’s not much to look at, but I didn’t want you to worry about your pup.
” I reach down and run a hand over Anita’s head.
“She’s still so tiny and these stairs are big.
I’d sleep better knowing she was safe, and I didn’t want you to be up worrying about her too. ”
Audrey’s scent sweetens into something deliciously new as her eyes soften. “Arran, that’s really kind of you. Thank you.”
It’s the first time I’ve ever heard Audrey say my name, and I like it, maybe more than I should. Usually she resorts to calling me “stud,” and now I’m curious what else I could do to make her call me by my name again.
“You’re welcome,” I say with a small smile. “There’s another gate at the top of the stairs to stop Anita from tumbling down.”
“I could kiss you right now,” Audrey says, but for once it’s not just lust in her voice, it holds a trace of wonder too.
Feeling bold, I place a knuckle under Audrey’s chin and lift her face toward me. “I thought I have to work for it?”
Audrey wets her bottom lip with her tongue, the move shooting straight to my cock as I track the motion.
“Seems like you put in some work already,” Audrey purrs, dipping her chin and pulling my finger into her mouth. She swirls her tongue around the digit before biting lightly on the tip.
“Audrey,” I croak breathlessly, my whole body jolting at the promise of what delightful deeds she can accomplish if I surrender to her.
“Tell me when you’re ready and I’ll show you all the things my mouth can do,” Audrey says with a wink before she heads up the stairs and toward her room.
It takes me a couple of minutes before I’m fully back in my body and able to follow Audrey upstairs with her luggage. I place everything in her room then lean against the doorpost as I survey the scene.
A total of one suitcase, one bag, and one box occupy the far corner of the room where Audrey is creating a little space for her dog, setting up a water bowl and some food for Anita before scattering some toys about.
Next, she places the puppy’s bed next to hers, artfully arranging blankets until the dog approves and hops into the bed, instantly burrowing under the blanket until only the tip of her nose pokes out the other side.
Something about the sight pulls on my heartstrings and I don’t try to fight the curve of my smile.
Even though it looks like Audrey hasn’t prepared enough belongings for herself to indicate she’ll be here for a long time, the amount of things she’s brought for Anita begs to tell a different story.
The way she’s focusing on her dog’s comfort before her own reveals a lot about Audrey’s character and is a testament to her kindness.
At first, Audrey can seem almost brazen, and there’s such a strong allure to her confidence.
But something that I admire about the bold female is the unabashed way she cares for those she loves.
The way she tended to Tilly on her wedding day, how she showed up for Eleanor when her shop opened, all the little ways she’s been there for her friends in Starry Hill over the past couple of years, it says a lot about Audrey.
Something that has me very curious, though, is the box Audrey suggested I carry and the mischievous tilt to her mouth as she watched me scent what is clearly traces of her arousal underneath Anita’s supplies.
If I’m not mistaken, Audrey prioritized bringing her personal pleasure devices over clothing and other forms of entertainment to keep herself occupied. I can’t say I approve of this choice, especially not with my heightened senses.
I don’t think I’ll be able to survive Audrey’s stay if I have to listen to her moans from my wing of the castle every night. Unless Audrey’s devices somehow become misplaced and she needs a more personal touch. My touch.
Knowing I need to get out of Audrey’s vicinity sooner rather than later, I straighten up and clear my throat, readying myself to bid her farewell for the night.
Audrey throws me a look across her shoulder. “I was wondering how long you were going to keep standing there staring at me. Was just about to invite you to come inside and assist me.”
“Do you need assistance?” I ask, staring at the unopened luggage.
“Depends on what kind,” Audrey says, her eyes heavy as a lover’s caress as they track down my body.
My cock twitches in response and I fight the urge to step inside, press her against the wall and make her come so hard that her legs give out. Audrey is the type of female I want to pleasure so generously that she’ll never be able to forget about me.
“Tell me what do you need, Audrey,” I demand, my voice now a deep drawl, my knuckles white as I grip the door frame. It’s all I can do to keep myself from rushing forward, wrapping my fingers around her lithe waist and pulling her against me.
“I think you know,” Audrey responds huskily, her eyes darkening to black pools as the air thickens around us.
Time slows as we assess each other, our lust a heady thread between us, building, building, building, as our breaths turn shallow with anticipation. We’re a spring pulled taut, waiting for the signal to release, to snap together with a deliciously carnal force.
“Woof!” Anita’s high-pitched bark cuts through us like a bucket of ice water.
With a turn of my heel and a muttered, “Good night,” I spin around and go for a long walk.
Maybe a bag of blood and some fresh air will keep my lust at bay a little longer.
When I feel positively in control of my desires again, I return to the castle.
Cautiously pushing open the heavy front door, I strain my hearing, trying to pinpoint Audrey’s whereabouts. The sound of running bathwater filters down the stone stairs and I breathe out a sigh of relief.
Feeling confident that tonight’s temptation is safely behind me, I head to the parlor.
Groaning, I lower myself into my favorite seat, but before I can get truly comfortable, Audrey’s voice trickles through the stones from above.
“I’m so sorry, Anita. Mommy needs some alone time, so you’re going to have to close your eyes and take a nice long nap.”
Alone time? What does this—
I hold absolutely still as the sound of rustling comes next, followed by the splashing of water, and then a rhythmic buzzing sound.
When a muffled feminine moan follows, as if Audrey is biting down on a towel to stifle the sound, I’m out of my seat and moving up the stairs as if I’m a puppet and Audrey’s pleasure is pulling my strings.
But I know I shouldn’t do this. I need to go back down, or better yet, leave the castle all together. I need to ignore whatever is happening and lock myself in my own room before I’m lured inside.
When I find myself at the top of the stairs, I hesitate.
If I turn left, I can head straight to my room, lock myself in and pretend not to be hearing any of the tempting noises coming from Audrey’s room.
If I turn right though…
My chest heaves as my cock and brain war with each other, my fingers wrapping around the banister, anchoring me to the spot as another little sigh of pleasure whispers through the stones.
I don’t realize that my feet are moving again until I find myself outside Audrey’s room, the sounds from her bathroom teasing me more and more with every second that passes.
Maybe, just maybe, if I remain behind her door, if Audrey remains out of sight, then it would be okay? She’d never know I was here.
When another soft moan manages to break through my thoughts, I brace one arm against the wall, leaning my head against the cold stone while my hand drifts toward my waistband.
Her next murmur of a whimper echoes straight through me, and I finally allow myself to skim a hand over my achingly hard cock, the desire to touch myself too strong to withstand now.
The buzzing from the bathroom intensifies and Audrey’s breaths quicken. Unable to resist a second longer, I reach under my kilt and wrap my fingers around my cock.
The first stroke is blissful agony as my calluses scrape over my sensitive flesh. I try to will my rough hands into Audrey’s delicate fingers, pretending it’s her hand folded around my cock, her touch stoking my pleasure higher and higher.
“That’s it, darling. Show me how you like it,” I whisper into the night.
My rhythm matches Audrey’s as she pushes herself toward that inevitable crest, the muffled sounds of her approaching climax encouraging me to keep up.
Between us, the ancient stones stand as silent sentinels, shielding Audrey from my greedy eyes, my eager hands, and my envious cock.
Only a thin thread of sanity keeps me from bursting inside and replacing Audrey’s buzzing device with any part of my body.
I could teach Audrey about vampire stamina, show her what I could accomplish with simply the use of my thumb, if only given the chance. If she’s being particularly needy, I can slowly add one finger, then two—if she begs for it.
Oh, I bet Audrey could beg so beautifully. And I bet she’s never begged anyone before in her life.
If Audrey could spend one night with me, I could prove to her that no device and no other creature would ever be able to satisfy her again the way I can.
“Come on, darling. You’re so close, aren’t you? Let’s fall together.” Faster and faster my hand moves over my cock, Audrey’s breaths also coming in tiny staccatos now.
Release gathers at the base of my spine, drawing on my balls. I hold off only long enough for Audrey’s climax to arrive in a muffled curse, and then I allow mine to rip through me as I spill into my hand, all while imagining it’s Audrey’s red lips parted underneath me, waiting to catch my spend.
“Fuck,” I breathe out as I look down at the evidence of what I’ve just done.
For a few seconds I stare at my glistening hand, frozen in place until my lust-addled brain finally catches up with me, forcing my feet into action and speeding me back to the safety of my wing.
Chest heaving, I throw open the windows of my room and let the cool night air in, hoping it’ll refresh me.
I don’t know how long I stand there, but I have the faint recollection of cleaning myself with a handkerchief, some distant talking as Audrey converses with Anita, before everything settles back into place and I can pretend nothing ever happened.
The night turns silent again. Lonesome. Familiar.
But something within me has fundamentally shifted.