Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
Alessia entered the comfortable gathering room where Titus enjoyed spending his leisure time. Instantly alert, Titus waited to see if she was ready to talk to him. He could tell something bothered her, but she hadn’t wanted to discuss before.
“Daddy?”
Alessia’s hesitant voice drew him instantly from the book in his hands. “Yes, Little mate. Do you need my attention?”
“Yes,” she answered and hurried to add, “My scrapes are okay,” when he immediately set the book aside and rose from his chair.
“Does anything else hurt?” he asked, confused by her words. He walked forward to run his hands over her arms, half comforting her, half checking on her.
“My heart hurts,” she said before blurting, “I made you mad and almost screwed things up royally when Enzo was after me.”
“I see. You scared me more than provoked my anger, Little mate, when you put yourself in danger.”
“Oh! Then if you weren’t angry, the whole situation doesn’t really matter, I guess. I still caused a problem—even if I didn’t mean to.”
“Come here, Alessia. Let me hold you and we’ll figure out how to relieve this heartache of yours.”
She nodded and took his hand. Alessia trailed slightly behind him as he led her to his favorite leather chair. Titus sat and pulled her down onto his thighs. She instantly snuggled against him, relaxing in his arms. He loved that she found solace in being close to him.
“What would make your heart less worried, Alessia?”
“I don’t know. I thought I was helping, but everything got so much worse.”
“What could you have done differently?” he asked, coaching her through considering the events without emotion. Not that he was able to remove his feelings completely from the events of the previous day. He’d never forget watching her walk away from him.
“I could have stayed out of the way and not listened to Enzo.”
“I don’t believe Enzo has your best interests at heart, Little mate. Not paying attention to what he says is probably the best response.”
Alessia nodded and looked down. “I’m sorry.”
“I accept your apology, Alessia. I hope if a next time occurs, you’ll do as I instruct rather than attempting to settle something yourself.”
“Okay.”
She sat quietly for a few minutes before meeting his gaze. Tears rolled slowly down her cheeks. “I still feel bad, Daddy. I think I need to be punished.”
Titus pulled out his handkerchief and wiped her cheeks dry as he said, “I see. What punishment do you believe you’ve earned?”
Alessia sniffed sadly. “I need a spanking. A bad girl one.”
Titus fought to keep himself from smiling. His precious mate was adorable. He would help her forgive herself, even if that required a hot bottom.
“It will have to hurt to wipe away all the bad emotions. Are you sure you want Daddy to spank you?” he asked.
“I don’t want a spanking, but I need one, Daddy,” she said. Her precious lower lip stuck out after that statement as she seemed to consider her fate.
Titus didn’t talk her out of it. Spankings were successful methods of helping a Little handle the aftermath of making poor decisions. Alessia would receive her punishment and feel instantly better, as the discomfort wiped her worries out of her thoughts.
Wrapping his hands around her waist, Titus removed her from his lap and stood Alessia on the carpet in front of him.
He drew her leggings down to her calves and repeated the process with her panties.
She shifted restlessly in front of him, and he would have bet a million dollars that she’d already second-guessed her request.
“Lean over my lap, Alessia,” he instructed. Normally, he would have lifted her and draped her legs. Alessia needed to submit to his care completely. If she physically had to follow his directions like this, Alessia would remember this punishment long after the redness had faded.
Slowly, she stepped to the side and leaned over his thighs. Titus guided her into position, adjusting her slightly so neither her fingertips nor toes touched the carpet. He rubbed his hand over her vulnerable bare bottom, enjoying her shiver that wiggled her cute ass.
“Good job following my directions, Little mate.”
With that praise ringing in her ears, Titus raised his hand and smacked her pale skin firmly.
She gasped and jerked her torso up in reaction to the first swat.
Raising his hand, Titus took a mental picture of the red handprint he’d administered.
That second spank rang out in the quiet room.
A flurry of punishing strokes followed as she struggled to get away.
“Daddy! I’m sorry!”
“I know you are, Little girl.” Titus didn’t slow down her punishment.
Soon, Alessia draped limply over his thighs. Her breath came in pants as she tried not to cry and failed miserably. Her tears soaked into the carpet below as she submitted perfectly to his punishment. He rubbed his warm hand over her skin to soothe the irritation.
“I’m sorry, Daddy!” she repeated, sniffing.
Titus lifted her back into his arms, settling her weight gingerly on his jeans. Her audible inhale made him rub her spine. “How do you feel now, Little mate?”
She paused for a moment as if taking stock before answering. “My butt hurts.”
“That’s your butt’s side effect of a spanking,” he said. “How’s your heart?”
After another hesitation, she said, “Better.”
“Good. No more worrying about what you did or didn’t do during Enzo’s attack. Your punishment completely wiped that away.”
Alessia nodded slowly before blurting, “Daddy, can you make me a vampire?”
Titus stilled as his mind raced. Of course he wanted Alessia to let him turn her. Then he could keep her with him for years to come. Yet, he didn’t want her to make the choice for the wrong reason. “Yes. Tell me why.”
“Don’t you want me to be around for more time?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.
Inhaling deeply, Titus struggled to answer that.
Risks still existed during a long life. “I love you, Little mate. You are my perfect match. I can’t think of anything that would make me happier than to spend as many years as we can together.
But living an extended number of years for the wrong reason could make someone miserable.
Can you explain to me what makes you want to be a vampire now? ”
“I hadn’t considered that. Like if Frankie had become a vampire and had changed me to one. I’d have eons with him.” She shuddered, appearing repulsed. “That would be torture. But I feel differently about you than I do about Frankie. He’d make my life hell.”
“How do you feel about me, Alessia? The truth, please. Don’t worry about hurting me.” He wouldn’t be okay if she’d decided she didn’t want to be his mate or that she didn’t want to be matched with him for more than one lifetime.
“I love you, Daddy. I want to stay with you forever.”
Happiness burst through him. That was the best reason he could hope for her to have. Titus hugged her to his chest tightly, only releasing her when she squeaked in protest. “Sorry, Little mate. I didn’t mean to squish you.”
“I’m glad you’re excited. Besides, when I’m a vampire, you won’t have to worry about me being fragile, right?” Alessia paused for a moment and then grinned at him as if she’d thought of something incredible. “And, maybe, I wouldn’t get a spanking anymore because I’m a hard-ass!”
“I’ll always be able to capture your attention with a trip over my knees, Alessia. But that’s a funny thought, Miss Hard-Ass Vampire.” Titus allowed himself to smile now. She was so damn cute.
“Daddy? What happens when you turn me?”
Titus could hear the nervousness in her words. The slight shakiness of her body pressed to his made Titus want to rush to reassure her, but Alessia deserved to have the truth.
“I will drink from you, Little mate. When the time is right, I will share my blood with you. Instantly, your senses will go into overdrive. You’ll hear, see, smell, taste, and feel more than you ever imagined possible. Perhaps too much.”
“Too much is bad?” she guessed.
“Not necessarily. Could the scent of a thousand snickerdoodle cookies be overwhelming?”
“Maybe if you were standing in a really stinky place? Something that sweet might be sickening?”
“Possibly. I will teach you to allow what you enjoy and mute anything you do not.”
“Oh! Like if I was standing in a sewer, I wouldn’t need to worry about the snickerdoodles because the smelliness would gross me out.”
“Exactly. But if you would block out the negative odor.…”
“I could enjoy the deliciousness without it!” she announced triumphantly.
“You are very perceptive, Little mate,” Titus praised her.
“I know you’ll help me, Daddy. I trust you.”
“Thank you, Alessia. I trust you as well. Do you want to consider this decision some more?” Titus offered. When she shook her head, he breathed a silent sigh of relief.
“No, Daddy. Bite me now. I’ll just get more nervous, and you’ll have to spank me again.”
Titus didn’t hesitate. Filled with love for his mate and excitement for the future, he moved quickly.
Alessia didn’t make decisions without thinking them through thoroughly.
He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her with every ounce of emotion inside him.
Her mouth welcomed him, drawing his tongue inside as instant heat flared between them.
No one had ever attracted him as his mate did.
Showering her with thoughts of love, he trailed kisses to her sensitive throat.
Alessia shivered, and Titus instantly used his allure to send thrilling sensations through her.
Releasing his teeth, Titus forced himself to ease his fangs into her artery.
The burst of hot, sweet blood threatened his control, but Titus focused on her pleasure, pushing away his own needs and desires.