Chapter 17
Chapter
Seventeen
Alessia stared at herself in the large bathroom mirror. Her eyes sparkled with vitality, and her skin radiated health. She’d always considered herself pretty, but now she looked incredible. She felt so good that her well-being must be making her mind envision herself as gorgeous.
Titus appeared behind her and kissed her neck. That sensitive spot where he’d bitten her sent a jolt of pleasure through Alessia. “Hello, beautiful mate. You appear well this morning.”
“I don’t understand this. Is this a vampire effect? My hair is shiny soft, and my skin is glowing.”
He winked at her in the mirror, not answering her question.
“No. You don’t get to hide information from me,” she stated firmly, turning to glare at him. “What’s happening here? I’m not imagining this.”
Instantly, he sobered. “My apologies, Little mate. You are right. Vampires have the ability to use glamour to enhance their appearance. Let me show you.”
Before her eyes, his handsomeness increased. Alessia’s mouth watered as she scanned his bare torso down to the jeans that hung low on his hips. He looked so good; she wanted to nibble on every part of Titus. As she reached out, he dropped the allure.
“I’m not doing anything,” she protested. “At least I don’t think I’m adding a fake level of attractiveness onto myself.”
“You aren’t. I’ll show you how in a minute. What’s happening is your body functions more efficiently as a vampire. The cells replenish, transforming you into the most tip-top shape your body can achieve. The glamour only pushes that allure even higher when you really want to vamp someone.”
“Is that where that term came from? Being a vamp?” Alessia asked in amazement.
“Perhaps. I don’t know. That explanation makes sense.”
“So, I’m always going to look like this now? Lucky you.”
“I fell in love with you, Alessia, as a human. You’ve always been beautiful. I’ve considered myself fortunate since the first time I saw you.”
Her heart melted. Somehow Titus always said the right thing to erase her doubts. “Sorry. This is so new. When will I get used to being a vampire?”
“Give the adjustment a few hundred years. With all the temptation, you may wish to stay here with Conri and the guys tonight,” Titus suggested.
“No. I want to dance with Carina.” She paused a minute to think about what he’d said. “What do you mean, temptation?”
Titus stepped close and simply breathed on her neck. Alessia gasped as her fangs slid down into position. Instantly, hunger built inside her for sex or blood. She didn’t care which.
“You’ve got the cutest fangs ever,” he complimented her and kissed her shoulder lightly.
“How do I get them to go back up and remain there?”
“Practice,” Titus answered.
“I can’t go like this. Everyone will stare. Is that why Carina always covers her mouth? And why the staff scatters vampire teeth around on the tables at Nightfall?”
“Yep and yep,” Titus confirmed.
“I’ll be safe here with Conri?”
“I wouldn’t trust anyone other than my clan and Conri,” Titus assured her.
“Why did they come to help, Daddy?” To her relief, her fangs slid back into her gums.
“They’re friends who enjoy the freedom they can have on my land.”
“They’re not vampires,” she stated, half as a question.
“They have their own story to tell. Just as I would never reveal your true nature, I will not out them. Take them as they are. Loyal friends who visited when I asked them to come.”
Alessia understood his unspoken warning. Titus wouldn’t say anymore. “Okay, Daddy. I understand. Is it a problem if I fang out with them, or should I stay in our room?”
“Your fangs will not bother them in the least,” Titus said with a smile. “Now, while we have a few hours together before I leave, what would you like to do?”
“Teach me all the vampire things.”
“How about one every week? Then you will have a chance to experiment.”
“But that will take forever!”
“With luck, you’ll be an expert in a century.”
“How long am I going to live?”
“With luck, for a very long time, Little mate. How about learning speed? Come and get me.” Titus winked and disappeared.
She ran into the bedroom and found the space empty.
The door banged, hitting the stopper and proving he’d just left.
Alessia turned to follow him but heard a shout from outside.
Moving to the window, she spotted Titus lounging under a tree.
When their gazes met, Titus stripped off his shirt and threw the garment over a branch before disappearing.
Oh, it’s so on! Alessia ran toward the back door. She’d learn how to catch him.
Days passed, and Alessia settled into her new life.
Enzo had disappeared as creditors hunted him.
Bram had shared that her mother owned the mansion and property so she and Alessia’s sisters, Serafina and Mirabella, weren’t thrown out on the street.
While her mother hadn’t fought Enzo’s negative treatment of her, her mother had shown some concern, and Alessia didn’t wish her unhappiness.
On the other hand, Alessia wasn’t interested in continuing their relationship.
At least not at this time. Her mom and sisters were on their own.
Without having to worry about being sold off to Frankie or any other soldier of Enzo’s, Alessia enjoyed living a simple existence. Hanging out with Titus and his clan filled her days. And her nights?
Whether at home with Titus during the week or at Nightfall on the weekends, Alessia had found her happy place. Lovemaking with Titus sizzled at a level she could never have imagined a few months ago, curled up in her lonely bed with only Hopper for comfort. Titus made all her fantasies come true.
Her friendship with Carina helped her accept all the changes. As cheerful and unfiltered as ever, Carina answered her questions and usually told her too much—to Alessia’s delight. Darius, Bram, and Donovan interacted with her frequently. Alessia hoped they’d find their mates soon.
Alaric continued to be a wildcard. She respected his power while maintaining her vigilance while he was around. His presence was not one she wanted to get too comfortable in. He didn’t have a mate. Who could ever fill that role?
“Enough thinking, Little mate. Let’s go hang out with Marcus and Carina. They have a new toy for their pool. A giant raft with drink holders that can support eight people. Guess who gets to try out a new recipe on everyone?”
“Will you get on the bar and shake your booty for me?”
“Marcus doesn’t value that celebration like you do, Alessia,” Titus answered with a deep belly laugh.
“Maybe you can teach him?”
“Carina put you up to this, didn’t she?”
“Definitely, Daddy! I’ll clap for you,” Alessia promised.
“Well, if you’re going to applaud, I’ll have to put on a show just for you. Marcus may never be the same.”
Alessia was still giggling when they arrived at her friend’s house.
To her surprise, Darius, Bram, and Donovan were there. As she and Carina played in the pool, the men gathered around a table, shaking objects in their hands before tossing them on the hard surface. Even from a distance, the items they played with didn’t look like dice.
“What are they doing?” Alessia asked.
“They’ve waged war against each other for centuries betting on rolls. They call that one Knucklebones,” Carina said, studying the men with amusement.
“Knucklebones. Those aren’t real bones, are they?”
“No, supposedly Marcus’s favorite set disintegrated a couple of centuries ago. Darius carved those for him. Want to go see what they’re doing?”
“Definitely.”
They scrambled out of the pool and wrapped up in thick beach towels. Alessia stood behind Titus, watching as Darius collected oddly shaped wooden pieces into his hands. After shaking them, he tossed them. Instantly, a roar of protest arose.
“How are you cheating, Darius?” Marcus demanded.
“Four vultures? In one roll? He must be doing something,” Bram said.
“I made these dice for Marcus over fifty years ago. Do you think I’d wait until now to recoup the money you’ve fleeced from me over the years?” Darius asked with a penetrating look at the group.
“That’s a good point,” Donovan suggested. “He usually loses.”
“I don’t know whether to be pissed off more by the suggestion that I’m cheating or that I lose all the time,” Darius muttered.
“What’s a vulture?” Alessia whispered.
Titus wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap.
“It’s that side of the dice. Depending on what faces up, you get a different score.
” He pointed to four that each had the same shape.
“That’s called a vulture. Darius got six points for each of those and is now officially kicking our butts. ”
“Good job, Darius!” Carina said and held out a hand to high-five the vampire.
“When you’re eating gruel tonight for dinner, you’ll regret congratulating him,” Marcus growled.
“Come here. You can be my good luck charm.” He scooped a giggling Carina onto his lap and kissed her neck before gathering the knucklebones for his own toss.
To his delight, while he didn’t get four vultures, he rolled two.
“Best throw all day! Thank you, Carina.”
“I’m getting you wet, Daddy,” Carina told him, and instantly both women wiggled to stand back up. The men held onto them securely.
“We don’t care, Little mate. Want to learn how to play?” Titus asked.
“Definitely!” Alessia answered and helped herself to half of Titus’s pile of coins in front of her. “When’s my turn?”
Carina hooted and repeated the process with her Daddy’s money before leaning across the table to high-five Alessia.
They didn’t play long with the men—just enough time to get a basic knowledge of how the game worked. Alessia loved the interaction among the group. She crossed her fingers under the table as she wished, Please let them all find their mates.