Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
The next morning, as light filtered through the curtains, Laurie held Meadow close and barely resisted waking her up to make love to her again.
Joseph had gone to get breakfast for them.
Normally, they could just ring and ask for something to be brought up.
However, two disgruntled patrons were refusing to leave even though the pleasure house had shut down a few hours ago.
Since Joseph was better at handling that kind of situation, he’d gone, but not before murmuring something about giving Laurie some time alone with Meadow since he’d had her at the ball last night.
Part of him was thrilled to get to know their fae witch better.
And yet, another part of him wanted to jump out of bed and find an excuse to leave.
Not because he didn’t want to spend time with her.
But rather he was afraid that once she learned of how he’d failed his sister, then Meadow wouldn’t want anything to do with him.
No matter how many times Joseph—or even Nora herself—had told him it would’ve been impossible for Laurie to have done anything differently, he still felt guilty.
Meadow stirred, her lovely, soft arse rubbing against him, and he pushed aside his memories to focus on what he hoped was his future. He kissed her neck. “Good morning, Emmy.”
“Hmm.”
“Not a morning person, are you?”
“I can be, although my work before was mostly at night. So I kind of became a night owl out of necessity. That works in your favor, though, since you’re a vampire.”
He hugged her a little tighter against his body. “Not just a vampire, but one who runs a den of sin that mostly functions at night. So you’re a perfect fit.”
Meadow rolled over until she faced him on her side. She placed a hand on his chest and lightly stroked it. His cock twitched, but he focused on her words as she asked, “I’ve been curious—how did you guys end up opening and running Nyx’s Kingdom in the first place?”
He lazily played with one of her breasts, loving how her nipple beaded for him instantly.
“It mainly started for selfish reasons. Not long after Joseph saved me from a street gang—one that had been intent on killing me to get my last remaining coins—I knew I wanted him. And after being together for a while, we were comfortable enough to admit that we both wanted a third bed partner to share. However, it was nearly impossible to find one since you can’t just advertise it, and we didn’t know enough trustworthy people to put the word out.
“However, Joseph had heard of a few human-run pleasure houses where they wouldn’t bat an eyelash at multiple bed partners. However, almost all of them banned paranormals.”
Meadow nodded. “Things seem more divided here than in my time. Not that it was perfect by any stretch, but we all kind of lived and mingled together, at least in the US.”
“We’re still a far cry from that in London, although my brother is working on changing that with the other Dark Lords.”
“So back to your story—Joseph had heard about some pleasure houses. Then what happened?”
He traced her collarbone and up her neck as he replied, “Well, one night after a few drinks, I blurted out that we should open our own pleasure house for paranormals. I expected Joseph to laugh and say it was a stupid idea, but he didn’t.
No, instead he started to sketch out a business plan.
I added the creative touches, and eventually, we had a solid idea.
A few friends believed in us and gave us some funds in exchange for a percentage of the profits, and it didn’t take long before word spread and we started doing well.
Once Leo became the vampire Dark Lord, we could invite the fae witches and shifters.
Then a few years ago, we started allowing some humans to join, too.
And, well, our eventual goal is to expand even further by opening another establishment in the shifter territory.
And maybe now that Leo’s married to Yesenia, we can even have a place in the fae witch territory, too. ”
She searched his gaze. “And if you marry me, that gives you a higher chance of having one in the fae witch territory.”
At the disappointment in her gaze, he cupped her cheek and said, “Don’t ever bloody think that’s the reason we want you, Meadow. You being yourself is enough. You’ve already helped Joseph, in ways I never could.”
Curiosity sparked in her gaze. “And what about you, Laurie? You appear happy and teasing and charming, but I sometimes catch a glint of something else there. Something sad and painful. Won’t you tell me why?”
As he caressed her cheek, his first impulse was to tease her or distract her with an orgasm. He’d always done that in the past with females who started asking him personal questions.
And yet, Meadow was different. She was genuinely curious, didn’t seem to care much about his or Joseph’s wealth, and instead wanted to know about him.
She might push you away, though. Do you want to risk it?
“Laurence.” He frowned and scrunched his nose, but she continued before he could tell her not to use his full name again. “There, I got your attention. Why don’t you like being called by your full name?”
Before he could talk himself out of it, he answered, “My father always used it. He used all of our full names, and it brings back unpleasant memories.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Laurie! I had no idea it was that serious. I never want to hurt you on purpose.”
He stroked her cheek with a finger. “I know, pet. But you didn’t know, so I can’t be angry about it.
” He sighed and moved to rest his head on her shoulder.
“My father was an absolute bastard. And not just because of what he did to my sister, but also because he convinced me that trying to help her would be a mistake.” He wrapped his arms around Meadow.
“I failed Nora completely, and she suffered because of it.”
“I somehow think that’s not the full truth.”
“But it is. If I’d really cared about my sister, I would’ve moved heaven and earth to save her. And yet, at the first challenge, I ran away to live on the streets.”
Silence descended, and Laurie waited for Meadow to shove him away and tell him never to touch her again.
But until then, he held her close, committing to memory how peaceful he felt in her presence.
Meadow knew only the basics of what Nora had been through, and she struggled to see how Laurie thought her suffering was his fault.
She needed more information. So as she stroked his back, she asked, “Why do you think you failed Nora? Given what I know of your father, he was a sick bastard. I mean, he basically sold his daughter out as a broodmare and didn’t care what any of those males did to her. What could you have done to stop him?”
Laurie tightened his hold on her. “Something, anything. I tried once to sneak into the place they were holding her, but I got caught. My father beat me to within an inch of my life and said the next time he wouldn’t stop.
By that point, our father had sold Leo off as a soldier for twenty years, and I was all Nora had left here.
I should’ve found another way. But no, instead I got scared and ran.
Nora suffered several more years because of it. ”
She continued stroking his back and finally asked, “You’re only two years older than Nora, right?”
“Yes, but that’s not an excuse.”
“Look at me, Laurie.” Once his brown eyes met hers, her heart ached at the pain and guilt she saw there. She cupped his cheek and stroked her thumb against his skin. “What has Nora said about it all?”
He shook his head. “Nora’s too kind and forgiving.”
“So she said not to blame yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Then she’s right.” He opened his mouth, but she beat him to it.
“Your father was the vampire Dark Lord at the time, one who had no qualms about killing and abusing fae witches for the fun of it. If he nearly killed you once, then no doubt he would’ve followed through on his threat if you tried again.
I’m sure you’ll say that maybe it would’ve worked out, but maybe it wouldn’t have.
And then where would Nora have been once she entered her frozen state?
Or, once your father died? She would’ve had one less brother to be there for her. ”
Laurie rolled away onto his back and ran his fingers through his hair. “They hurt her, Emmy. Badly. Not to mention they took away all of her babies. And maybe you’re right that nothing I did could’ve helped her. But I should’ve at least tried to kill our father and end his cruel reign.”
Meadow was silent for a second before she spoke up.
“I can’t begin to understand what it’s like to take a life, but I imagine it would rest heavily on your soul, Laurie.
And even if you had succeeded, could you have walked away without any consequences?
By all accounts, your father had a small group of hardcore supporters, ones who would’ve sought revenge.
Maybe not just with you, but Nora too. I don’t claim to understand fate, but maybe it was meant to be this way.
Your sister has become strong because of her past, just as it shaped you into who you are now. ”
Laurie lowered his hands and studied her for a few beats. Meadow wondered if she’d gone too far, but this was super important and not something she wanted to tiptoe around.
Besides, after all the hiding and half-truths she’d been forced to do to avoid her father, she was done trying to blend into the woodwork and go unnoticed. Done with holding her tongue out of fear.
Oh, it’d take time to say things without any hesitation. But she was determined to be more open.
Eventually, Laurie let out a breath and rolled onto his side. He propped his head on his hand and said, “I always thought that Nora said similar things just to smooth over the waters.”
“Your sister is pretty wise, and incredibly happy now with River. She’s living for the present and the future, and I think we should all learn from that.”
He arched an eyebrow. “You too?”
She nodded. “I think you, me, and Joseph have all been hiding and running from our pasts, from things we wished to forget.” She placed a hand on Laurie’s warm chest again. “But maybe me starting your and Joseph’s hearts was not only your new rebirth into life, but mine as well.”
He moved closer and wrapped an arm around her. “I think some of the writer in you is coming out. And no, I’m not teasing you. It just makes me eager to read whatever you write.”
She smiled. “You only want to read the naughty bits. But I promise you, they are integral to the story.”
“Well, then you’ll just have to hurry up and write it so I can read it and see for myself.”
“I wish I could write a story with three main characters, but that might be too much for this time period.”
He nuzzled her cheek, and Meadow leaned into the touch.
He murmured, “Maybe eventually we can offer a special library here for patrons and see how they like the stories. Plus, Joseph will probably come up with a plan for how to get you published as well, even if the stories only have two main characters.”
Meadow chuckled. “Well, I’ll just have to ease the Victorian period in with steamy romance novels, and I’ll definitely have to use a pen name.
” Laurie tried to kiss her, but she leaned back and asked, “Before anything else, you need to tell me if you’re going to try forgiving yourself for the past, Laurie. ”
He brushed some hair off her cheek. “Only if you also try putting the past behind you so you can embrace the female who emerged after starting our hearts.”
“I’m going to try. But it’s going to take some time to come to grips with it all, especially about my magic.”
Laurie moved his hand to her training bracelet and touched it. “I believe in you, Emmy. You’ll conquer and master your powers. And maybe helping Michael will show you how much good you can do with them.”
“I hope so.”
There was a knock, and Joseph entered, pushing a cart into the room. “Breakfast is served.”
Meadow’s stomach rumbled, and she was about to apologize when Laurie rolled out of bed, scooped her up, and carried her to a chair near the fireplace.
For a split second, she was embarrassed about sitting naked on his lap.
But then Joseph sat on the arm of the plush chair, and they both offered her tidbits. And by the end, they were all kissing and spent the rest of the morning in bed, having sex and laughing and all-around giving Meadow hope that these two males really could become her future here in the past.