Chapter 24
Igazed at Laurent sitting so at ease on the sofa with his muscled thighs spread wide, his body slightly curved into the cushions, and an arm carelessly braced along the back. Weeks ago, I couldn’t look at him without wanting to vomit. Now…I wanted to keep looking at him. What was happening to me?
Was it his blood?
I’d had a handful of boyfriends in the past, despite my challenging time constraints. I’d lost my virginity shortly after transferring to the university. I wasn’t completely inexperienced. But none of my boyfriends had made me feel anything beyond mild attraction.
Laurent was so far beyond anything imaginable. He wasn’t something I could dream up in my fantasies. Yet, he existed, right here in front of me.
We conversed as if we’d done it a thousand times. He was making it easy. Making me want to.
My skin heated at the things he’d said earlier, about all the reasons he wanted to be around me.
My stomach still fluttered over those words.
I wanted to disregard them. To pretend they weren’t sincere.
But the earnestness in his expression, even his slight nervousness, told me enough. He’d meant every word.
“So, tell me, Laurie—“
His phone rang. A flash of irritation crossed his features, followed by a growl as he fished it from his pocket. That expression only deepened. “Marco. What?”
I huffed, quietly at the abrupt way he answered.
“You’re sure?” He flew off the couch and halfway across the room before I could finish my blink. “No. Gather the others—meet me downstairs. This has gone far enough.”
He pocketed his phone and strode toward the door, hesitating before he turned. “I am sorry, little flower, I must go.”
Cinnamon roused herself and stood, looking like she might need to potty. I snatched her up and said, “Is everything all right?”
Just when I thought he would not answer, he said, “Zola is missing.”
“What?” My stomach dropped.
“I need to take care of this.” He opened the door and slipped through, gone before I had the chance to call after him.
I followed him out but the hallway was empty. Zola had been gone a lot lately. She hadn’t explained much, just that she was doing a lot of work for Laurent, something to do with their ongoing investigation into the missing vampires.
I sprinted through the manor, Cinnamon bobbing in my arms. She squirmed against me, trying to get free. I took her downstairs and out the back door to do her business. The second she finished, I sprinted back upstairs and placed her in her crate. “Stay here, little cutie. I’ll be back.”
By the time I reached the landing, a group of nearly twenty vampires had assembled near the front door. I recognized a few. They stiffened, turning at my approach, their hungry eyes locked on me.
I ignored their reactions. If Zola was in trouble, I wanted to know what kind. I raced down the steps.
Laurent was in the middle of the group, doling out orders. Marco and Vittorio stood beside him. I heard hushed snippets like “Get in and get out,” and “Don’t be reckless,” and “trap,” before those words cut off.
“What’s happening?” I asked. If anything happened to Zola… No. I couldn’t allow myself to consider it.
Laurent’s gaze fell upon me, unreadable. “This does not concern you, little flower. Please, go upstairs.” It was a request rather than an order, spoken softly. So unlike the way he’d just been barking orders at the others.
“But…Zola’s in trouble?” My words were barely a whisper.
“We’ll find her.”
“Is it the demons?”
He studied me. “Yes.”
I shivered, recalling the last time one of the vampires had been taken by demons. I was standing in the exact spot I’d first seen Hassan, when he’d returned to the manor near unrecognizable. My eyes darted toward him.
“It will be all right, Miss Shaw,” Hassan said, as if reading my thoughts. His expression was soft but determined.
“How can you know that?” How could any of them promise that? Zola could already be dead.
“Lily…” Did Laurent smell my rising fear? The vampires around me held unnaturally still.
“Laurie,” I rasped, “can I talk to you for a moment? In private?”
Someone snickered. I didn’t care.
Laurent regarded me. “All right. Marco, get them organized. We move out when I return.”
“Yes, sire.”
Laurent placed his hand at the base of my spine and led me down the hall to the library.
He shut the door and turned to face me. “What is it?” There was nothing impatient about his question, even if his words were curt.
“Zola will be all right, if that is your concern. So long as we get to her in time. I’ll make it so. ”
“But…you can’t promise that. There will be danger. Risk.” It was impossible to control the rise and fall of my chest.
Laurent sighed and reached for me. I didn’t flinch as he took my shoulders, cupping them. “Lily, I am strong. It is unlikely that anything will happen.”
“But you said it could be a trap.”
“That is a possibility.”
“Then why are you standing here telling me… What if… What if they’re trying to use her to get… To get…” I couldn’t finish.
His expression softened. “Little flower,” his voice was barely a whisper. I stared at him, trying to memorize the way he looked at me. He seemed to be doing the same, memorizing my expression.
“Will my blood make you stronger?” I asked. “Will it guarantee that you get Zola back?”
His arms dropped and he took an abrupt step back, eyes darkening.
“Well?” I demanded.
“I cannot ask this of you right now.” He put even more space between us.
I moved my hair, exposing my neck. “Take it. If it means bringing her back, take it.”
His lips parted. I studied him as he fought it, fought the change.
I watched as he lost the fight, as his body transformed into the thing he’d once shown me.
The statuesque version of him was even more lethal and deadly, more beautiful than before.
Twisting my long hair around my hand to keep it secured, I tilted my head, exposing more of my throat.
“Please don’t…tempt me, Lily,” he hissed.
“There isn’t time.”
“What if…?” He didn’t finish, yet I knew exactly what he was asking. What if he killed me? What if he couldn’t stop? What if once he started, he took and took until there was nothing left.
“You said having your blood in my veins will keep me alive,” I challenged.
“I cannot take the risk. Not when I am this volatile.”
“Laurie, please.”
His expression crumbled. A single blink later, he was before me, pulling me into his arms. I stiffened at the sudden contact, battling my own fear, pressing it down deep.
I was doing this for Zola. Because I cared for her.
Because out of everyone in this house, she had been the one to earn my friendship first. She was the one who promised me she would protect me. I wanted to do the same for her.
“Please, tell me to stop,” he whispered against my neck. “Tell me to leave, Lily. Tell me—“
“No.”
His chest rose and fell against mine. He was breathing. Something he rarely did.
“Do it, Laurent. Now,” I said before I changed my mind.
His mouth was at my neck. I tensed, waiting for the bite. His fingers stole into my hair, taking it from me, tilting my head exactly where he wanted it. His other arm wrapped around me, settling at the base of my spine, holding me against him.
I expected him to strike like a viper. Instead, his tongue flicked out to taste. The feel of it, warm and wet against my skin, made me shiver. He groaned, pressing into me harder. I felt every ridge of muscle against me.
His teeth began to nip. “Calm down. You’re trembling.”
“I’m not.”
“You are,” he soothed.
“Will it hurt?”
“Only briefly. After that, I won’t let you feel pain.”
“Okay.” The points of his teeth rested gently against my flesh. “Do it.”
I felt a slight pressure and then my skin broke—the sound made a pop as they sank in. I felt a flash of pain before I groaned and went numb. Completely limp. His arm tightened around me, holding me upright. He moaned, a sound I’d never heard from him.
A heady feeling rushed through me bringing warmth and satisfaction. His heartbeat pounded against my chest, matching my own frantic rhythm. The sound of him drinking was erotic, almost vulgar. My insides clenched as an ache expanded within my core. I began to pant.
His mouth continued to move against me, powerful jaw working with each swallow. Every drag of my blood was a beat against my chest, shooting more and more pleasure straight between my legs. I couldn’t move, completely immobilized as waves of euphoria swept through me.
The realization hit me. I was going to… Oh, God!
I was going to come. Heat raced through me.
The pressure in my core intensified. Tingles exploded at the base of my spine.
I whimpered, my breaths labored. I wanted this—needed this.
My muscles tightened before an orgasm ripped through me.
I opened my mouth in a silent cry, eyes wide.
Laurent’s growl vibrated through my chest. He took another drag of my blood, this one slower, as if savoring his final swallow.
My breaths slowed and the pressure at my neck disappeared.
Everything in me was tingling as the limpness in my body dissipated.
I felt his tongue, lapping at my throat, warm against my skin.
I blinked several times, dazed.
Laurent’s arms tightened around me. His hips moved and I felt his erection. The length of him pressed almost uncomfortably against my stomach. Each of his breaths—because he was breathing—were harsh, ragged.
“Laurie?” I rasped, struggling to find my voice.
He tensed, then arched backward to look down at me. His expression reminded me of churning clouds before a storm. Wild and uncertain and beautiful. I couldn’t explain what had just happened—if it had been normal.
“I…” He cleared his throat. “It worked.” His eyes searched mine, filled with wonder. Like he couldn’t believe I was here. Alive. “I need to go.”
“Okay,” I said.
He didn’t move. Simply continued to gaze at me.