Chapter 12
Audrey
Who knew Arran likes to eat ass? Certainly not me. Not that I’m complaining, quite the opposite in fact.
I’m still replaying the night—or should it be morning—when he wrung six orgasms from me before I passed out. All without using his cock.
Take that, Maisie and your five.
When I eventually woke up, it was late afternoon and there was a note from Arran on the bedside table telling me that Bash dropped Anita off and she’s with him. He also happened to leave a freshly squeezed juice and my favorite savory pie from The Flowering Teapot.
A girl can get used to being treated like this. But I won’t.
Until I return to Cape Easton though, I’m going to enjoy the fuck out of this situationship.
Over the last few days Arran and I have bumped into each other from time to time. It’s been very polite, comfortable even, and thankfully a little flirtatious too, but nothing more has happened between us since that night.
I thought I would prefer it like this, but my boredom is creeping in again.
Besides going over to Tilly and Bodin’s place to help around the house while they settle into new-parent mode, I don’t have much else going on.
Little Orion and Calliope—or Rio and Lio as I’ve dubbed them—are absolutely adorable, but I don’t know the first thing about caring for a tiny creature.
Sticking to cooking and cleaning while the parents take care of the more baby-centered stuff is the best way I can make myself useful to them.
I’m also conscious not to overstay my welcome. I stick around only long enough to help with the laundry and do some other basic chores. But, there are far more hours in the day that I need to have occupied.
Though I’ve considered asking Arran if he just wants to have daily fuck fests, I’ve come to the conclusion that might be a little too forward. If anything were to happen again, my greedy pussy and I will fully welcome it. I’m just not going to be the one to chase after him.
Arran’s had a taste of me, so if he wants more, he knows where to find me.
Prancing across the island with a bit more pep in my step than usual, I wonder what Arran is up to today. He’s said he’d like to take care of Anita while I’m out, something he’s been doing a lot lately, often playing with her when I’m at the castle too.
If I had heartstrings Arran could pull, this would certainly be one way to go about it—caring for my dog as if she’s his own.
Plus, the way he calls her baby girl just does something to me. That, and all the unabashed affection he showers Anita with. Arran has even handcrafted her some toys, like a braided cotton rope that they play tug-of-war with.
I hope those two don’t get too attached though, because there’s no way I’m going back to the city without Anita. Sure we’ll come visit Starry Hill sometimes—all our favorites live here, after all—but I’m not leaving Anita behind, no matter what.
As the island’s tallest hill comes into view, I pause in the shade of a big oak tree to take it all in. Starry Hill is such a damn pretty sight.
Charming stone buildings of gray, brown, and cream lay staggered against a hill overlooking Kraken Cove below. Each shop has its own personality reflected by the various types of flowers growing across their facades, their varied hues a delight for the eyes.
I’m aware that I’ve been complaining about being stuck here, but this sight in front of me is one I’d never tire of.
In fact, this little vacation is turning out not to be so bad after all.
I just need that one extra little thing that’ll push me into motion and give me some kind of purpose in this community.
Even if it’s all temporary, I definitely want to make myself useful.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
A tiny scream escapes from me, my heart stuttering as I turn around to find Tilly strolling toward me.
I give her a quick once-over. “Right back at you. Everything okay? Where’s Rio and Lio?”
Dressed in a dark oversized shirt that might possibly belong to Bodin, Tilly looks exhausted.
Dark circles ring her eyes and her hair is in a scraggly bun on top of her head, but she has this soft smile that tells me that despite being sleep-deprived, she’s truly happy and living the life she’s dreamed for herself.
“Everything’s fine. Bodin’s got them strapped to his chest while they sleep. He encouraged me to get out of the house a little for some fresh air.”
“Ten good daddy points to him. You coming to smut club?” I ask, thrilled to see my cousin and to discuss our latest book. This one about Santa and his knotty secret.
Tilly hooks her arm through mine, and together we slowly make our way up the hill toward The Dancing Daisy.
“That’s the plan. I’ll see how long my boobs will allow me to stay before I start leaking, but I just needed to get out of the house for a little while and talk about anything not baby related.
I love my Calliope and Orion, but I need to remind myself that I’m not just a mom.
I’m a woman with interests and perhaps one day hobbies again too. ”
As we pass The Winged Apple, and head up into Second Street, I quirk a brow. “If you want to talk about a different topic we can always talk about how good Arran is in bed.”
Tilly’s whole face lights up. “You two finally fucked?”
Before she can get too excited, I hold up a hand, tilting it noncommittally from side to side. “Not technically, but we’ve fooled around. That guy made me come harder and more times in one night than I have ever experienced.”
Halfway up the hill, Tilly pauses next to The Crowned Boot to take a much-needed breather. “Well done, Arran. I’m guessing he hasn’t bitten you, right?”
“How did you know?”
“Want a vampire physiology lesson?”
“I’m guessing I need one.”
“If you want to take things further and get him off more than once like he has generously done to you, then yes, I think you need a brief lesson.”
Shaking out my shoulders and cracking my neck like I’m getting ready for battle, I say, “Okay. Hit me.”
Tilly looks up and down the hill to check if we’re alone.
Even though we don’t spot anyone else outside, she still lowers her voice.
“Basically, vampires don’t produce their own blood.
That’s why they need to feed from others.
Certain activities require higher blood circulation, especially sex when so much is redirected to reproductive organs. ”
If I understand this correctly then it means that when horny, a lot of Arran’s blood will be concentrated in his cock, leaving the rest of the veins in his body not as generously lubricated.
Maybe this could even affect him being able to come multiple times and why he wouldn’t let me suck him off for a second time the other night.
I nod slowly. “That kind of makes sense.”
Looking at Tilly’s face, I can already tell that it’s a little more complicated than that, so I fist my hands on my hips to brace myself for more.
Tilly continues, “There’s also a psychological element attached to it.
Feeding directly from someone requires a lot of trust and can get really intimate.
If Arran doesn’t feel comfortable feeding from you, then just make sure there are enough blood bags available.
As long as he can replenish his supply, then he can be ready to go again, and again, and… You get where I’m going with this.”
Feed and fuck in tandem? Now that sounds like a good deal to me. Sign me up right now.
Checking that I’ve got my facts in order, I confirm, “Drink my blood or get blood from a bag, then we can fuck multiple times a night?”
“Yes,” Tilly takes my arm again and starts leading me up toward Third Street where The Dancing Daisy is.
“Also know that if you decide to go the biting route, that vampire fangs hold a trace of venom. For a short feeding, it can act as an aphrodisiac and you’ll probably have the best orgasm of your life. ”
Seriously, why haven’t we been doing this right from the start? If I wasn’t adamant about discussing this smutty book and spending time with the girls, I’d be turning around right now and offering my neck to Arran.
Something I should consider though is what’s holding Arran back. I mentioned biting before and he declined. Could there be more to it that I’m not understanding?
Frowning, I stop at the top of the hill’s stairs. “What if he bites too long? Drinks a little too much if my blood is too delicious or something?”
Tilly stops too. “Then he can turn you.”
“Oh.”
“Yup,” Tilly says with a bittersweet smile. “Now you know what those fangs can do.”
I shrug. “But also not really. I get that there’s a risk involved, but he doesn’t scare me.”
Tilly takes my hand and implores me with her eyes. “I trust Arran with my life. With Orion and Calliope’s lives too. He’s a good one.”
I squeeze her fingers back. “I’m coming to understand that.”
“Who’s a good one?” Maisie asks, popping her head out from Nori’s shop.
“Arran,” we answer in unison.
Nori waves at us from the open door. “Are we sharing Arran stories?”
“You guys got some?” I ask.
“Everyone on this island has one,” Calixta says as she and Beryl also make their way up from their shops on Second Street.
Nori ushers us into The Dancing Daisy and we quickly make ourselves comfortable, some heading right to the snacks while others peruse the new selection of magical candies against the back wall.
I settle into one of the orange leather chairs with a themed cupcake that Maisie has baked for today, and discreetly do a finger-prick test, calculating the timing of my next insulin shot to the snacks I’m about to consume.
Once drinks are poured and window shopping is done, everyone takes their seats.
With my curiosity far from sated, I hijack the small talk and redirect the conversation back to Arran.
“Indulge me. How does everyone have an Arran story? I thought he’s basically a recluse and you guys hardly talk to him?” I ask, throwing the question out to the whole room.
Calixta taps a long talon against her black lips. “I don’t think many of us know him in that sense, but Arran’s the reason we’re all here. He’s always either directly or indirectly involved in how creatures get to the island.”
That doesn’t surprise me, not after what Arran’s told me about how the first werewolf joined him here, and how more creatures followed.
Nori shifts forward in her chair and takes a deep breath while she fidgets with the hem of her dress.
“I don’t know if you guys are aware of Shinsu’s background, but a long time ago, he was employed by an awful man who would make Shinsu shift for his own delight.
Arran found out about it and sent someone to bring Shinsu to Starry Hill. ”
Beryl clears her throat. “Bodin and I were abandoned as kids on Starry Hill. There was no orphanage on the island, but Arran didn’t want to send us to a home in the city and thought we would be safer and happier here.
That’s when Ma adopted us two orc babies, even if we were already bigger than her goblin self. ”
“Mine isn’t as big as theirs,” Maisie says, her mouth half stuffed with cake.
“When we were building the extension for the cakery, Arran would be out there every night building while the others were asleep at home. If it wasn’t for him taking those late shifts, construction would’ve taken twice as long. ”
Well, that explains all those calluses on his hands.
One by one, everyone shares a way Arran has in one way or another helped them come to live in Starry Hill.
I feel so proud of Arran, of how he took the cruel fate that was handed to him against his will and turned it into such a thing of beauty—a community filled with love and acceptance, a true place of safety and comfort.
This quiet guy who’s mostly locked in his own castle, who, at first glance, looks like he’s separate from the community, is in fact the heart of Starry Hill.
“So everyone has an Arran story,” I remark mostly to myself, my brain trying to catch up with all the feelings rippling through me.
Tilly catches my eye and there’s an understanding there that can only come through a lifetime of knowing each other.
“When Bodin and I had our claiming ceremony,” Tilly says, her voice soft and tender, “I didn’t know the extent of Arran’s care and involvement in the town, but we wanted to honor him in some small way. That’s why we chose Clan Stewart’s tartan as the fabric for our claiming bracelets.”
A lightbulb goes on above my head as I stare at the bracelet encircling Tilly’s wrist, the fabric the same as the kilt Arran always wears. “I didn’t even realize that. Arran must’ve been so touched. He loved his clan.”
“He told you about them?” Tilly asks, the rest of the smut club listening just as intently.
“A little, yeah.”
A thick silence settles around us as everyone processes all the revelations. I don’t think they were even aware of each other’s stories, so hearing all of these at once is really significant.
Thoughts flit through my brain faster than I can keep track of. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with all this information that’s been shared today, but I know I can’t ignore it. The only thing I’m sure of is that it feels like a pivotal moment in Starry Hill’s history.
I look at each creature sitting around me. “Arran is Starry Hill. Without him, this town wouldn’t exist the way it does. Have the Starry Hill residents ever done anything big to honor Arran? Some kind of way to thank him for all the small things he’s done for them over the centuries?”
Tilly rubs her hands together. “Oh, I can see the wheels turning. You’ve got an idea for a new project, don’t you?”
“I think I might.”