Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Joseph stood at the edge of the ballroom and watched as patrons danced in the center of the floor.
Tonight was one of the tamer Nyx’s Kingdom events, with clothing being required, but everyone was free to touch as much as they wanted, which meant many of the couples were kissing or caressing or dancing with their bodies close together.
The first time they’d had a tamer masquerade ball, Joseph had asked Laurie why. To him, it seemed the opposite of what their members paid for.
However, Laurie had explained that sometimes people wanted to pretend they were at a ball hosted by someone rich or powerful, but one where they could break the rules.
So the ballroom had the appearance of being grand and proper, and yet the attendees were allowed to be slightly improper in public before being even more so in private.
The success of their first mostly proper masquerade ball had resulted in one every month, and attendance numbers had never dropped but rather increased, to the point there was usually a waiting list.
As Joseph glimpsed one couple who liked to frequent the ice and fire play room, he resisted a smile. To see them dressed to the nines, merely dancing and holding each other close, was such a contrast.
But as they twirled past him, he glimpsed the devotion in their eyes, and he longed for the same.
Oh, he had it from Laurie, and being able to give and receive the same looks with him since being blooded had helped. However, he longed to get the same from Meadow as well.
After the last time they’d seen her, when she’d been crying, Joseph had nearly risked going back into the fae witch’s territory to check in on her. To ensure she hadn’t cried again and was still progressing in her magic lessons.
And most especially to have her between his legs again, even if it were only to give her a massage.
It’d been so long since he’d had a female. He could easily waggle a finger and have his choice from inside the pleasure house, but none of them were quite right. Their hair was the wrong color, or their eyes, or their height.
Meadow was soft and beautiful and the perfect height, where her cheek would rest on his chest when he wrapped his arms around her.
A female shifter walked up to him, waved her fan, and smiled. “Will you ever dance with me, Joseph?”
He took her hand and kissed the back of her glove. “I’ve been blooded, Beth. If you ever want to find your fated one, you need to look elsewhere.”
She pouted. “We could still have some fun.”
One of the most difficult parts of his job was straddling the line between pleasing the patrons and standing his ground. “Alas, not with me. There are some new guests tonight, though—a few fae witches. One of the males has been staring at you all evening. He’s in the bright yellow waistcoat.”
She continued fanning herself as she discreetly spotted the tall fae witch with ginger hair. “Hm, it’s been a while since I had a ginger. Maybe his magic could make things interesting.”
With that, she turned and slowly made her way toward the male. Just as the pair headed to the dance floor, Joseph noticed a latecomer to the ball at the top of the grand staircase.
Despite her mask, he instantly recognized Meadow Vale.
She wore a dress in dark blue with a type of gauze that glinted under the lights. It hugged her upper body before billowing down to the floor. Her hair was also twisted and braided intricately, with some pearls placed throughout it.
As she descended and looked around, he headed toward the staircase. He reached it just as Meadow recognized him and hurried down the last few steps. She smiled shyly as he took her hand and kissed the back of her glove. “I’m so happy you came. You look beautiful.”
She touched her hair. “You don’t think it’s too much? Nora and Yesenia went a little overboard.”
He guided her to the bottom of the stairs and threaded her arm through his, never breaking eye contact. “Not a bit. You blend in perfectly, and everyone will be asking me later who’s the gorgeous female in blue.”
Her look said she wasn’t quite sure if he told the truth about that, even though vampires couldn’t lie.
The latest dance song ended, and before she could doubt him, he blurted, “Would you like to dance the waltz with me?”
As soon as he said it, he mentally cursed. She probably didn’t know how to waltz.
She beamed up at him. “I’d love to. Nora taught me, and it’s been on my bucket list forever.”
He gently guided her toward the floor as he asked, “What’s a bucket list?”
“Oh, like a list of things you want to do before you die.”
He took one of her hands in his and placed the other at her waist. The music started, and Joseph ensured Meadow was fine with the steps before asking, “And what else is on your list?”
“Oh, mostly dumb stuff. I’m sure you don’t want to hear about it.”
He pulled her a little closer. “I want to hear everything about you, love. I wouldn’t ask otherwise.”
She searched his gaze. “I’m not sure I really understand why, but I’ll answer and give a few if you promise to do the same?”
He smiled. “Deal. And that might be one of your first introductions to a vampire’s love of negotiating.”
She laughed. “I’ve heard about it, of course, but neither Nora nor Leo has done it with me yet. You’re my first.”
He leaned down and whispered, “Laurie and I will introduce you to more intricate deals later.”
Her heart rate kicked up, and he took a second to revel in her heat and scent.
What he wouldn’t give to be able to take her to a back room, strip her, and kiss every inch of her body before tasting her sweet blood.
Focus, Joseph. Give her a good night out first.
Leaning back, he arched an eyebrow. “So, what’s on your list?”
Meadow concentrated on the steps for a second before replying, “Mainly to travel and experience new foods. Oh, and to write a book.”
“I haven’t traveled much myself, but I would like to one day, especially to Italy or France.”
“The food would be amazing in either country, as well as the wine. Although it’s weird because there are various ruins and tours and things back in my time, and yet I don’t know if they are here.”
“There are a lot of ruins or old buildings, but few have strict rules for visiting. Some of the most popular destinations do it out of necessity, such as in Egypt, but not many of the smaller ones.”
“If that’s true, then there are probably a lot of stupid tourist deaths. You know, people who think it’s a good idea to climb a crumbling structure and then fall off.”
He smiled. “I am not that kind of person, so don’t worry.”
“I know. Even Laurie, who seems a bit more impulsive than you, isn’t stupid.”
“Everyone is more impulsive than me, in general.” At her strange look, Joseph decided to change the subject back to Meadow. “But you mentioned writing a book. What would it be about?”
Her cheeks turned pink. “Um, you know, romance and adventure and kick-ass heroines who can stand alone but are stronger with their perfectly imperfect partner.”
“Hm, like a pirate adventure full of naughty bits?”
She snorted. “Naughty bits? Really? Is that what you say here?”
“Nyx’s Kingdom is the epitome of a naughty house, love.”
She smiled and shook her head. “It’s so…British. But I like to call those parts steamy bits, or sexy bits, and in my stories, it would be part of the emotional journey and not just for thrills. Because for me, sex is an important part of a relationship.”
Meadow fell silent and stared at his necktie.
“Meadow, look at me, love.” Once she did, he continued, “I know you’ve had some horrible experiences in the past, but you enjoyed what Laurie and I did with you before, right?”
She bobbed her head.
“Good. Because it’s important for us as well. We’ve had some, er, difficult situations where a female didn’t fancy both of us, or didn’t like the fact our attention was evenly divided between all partners instead of solely on her. Whereas with you, I don’t think that’s a problem. Am I right?”
Joseph waited for her answer, aware that it could dash his future dreams, but knew it was important to always hear the truth when it came to this.
Meadow nearly tripped over her own feet when Joseph steered the conversation to about her, Laurie, and Joseph and what they’d done in that secret room before.
And now? With Joseph holding her so close, she wished they could be like some of the other couples who’d discreetly left the room to probably do naughty things, as Joseph liked to say.
But then uncertainty had flashed in his eyes when bringing up being part of a threesome again. He must’ve been hurt deeply in the past to still be so hesitant about her wanting him as much as Laurie.
And she didn’t like it.
She leaned closer, until her breasts brushed Joseph’s upper abdomen, and she finally replied, “I told you, I love the stories where they all love each other. Having multiple guys centered solely on me, all the time, would probably be too much. But if the love is shared between three people, then it’s probably more manageable. If that makes sense?”
“Those are stories, though. Now that you’ve had more time to think about it, how do you feel? Do you fancy one of us more than the other?”
Searching his gaze, she asked softly, “Who hurt you, Joseph? Because I’m almost certain someone did.”
She expected him to shut down, change the topic, and ignore her question. No male, apart from her brother, had ever wanted to talk about his past or feelings. And yet, Joseph had shared about his parents. That had been horrific, for sure, but it wasn’t the only scar he carried from his past.
He leaned down and murmured, “In our longest relationship, a female fancied Laurie and merely tolerated me. Barely, in fact. And it was difficult because Laurie falls in love quickly, and it blinded him to her faults. I should’ve said something, but I didn’t want to hurt him.
Especially since it was before our frozen state and I didn’t know if our futures would be with us together or not. ”