Yesterday, Tawne woke as a human with the love of a good book, preferably vampire novels. She longed for the darkness, for someone to be as passionate with her as she read in the pages of her books. She needed a love like this to seduce and claim her as their own.
Today, she woke as a brand new woman where the fantasy could become her reality. A grin spread from corner to corner of her lips and a squeal interrupted the silence of her bedroom.
The cream bedspread chilled her skin upon the touch. She sat up and scooted back to the headboard and pulled her legs to her chest. She stared across the room the vanity setup, her reflection in the mirror showing her disheveled hair.
Cristofano, the money man, the investor, the patient one…or so he appeared. He had an air of leadership about him as well. His eyes could stare into her soul and read her mind, body, and soul. The way he leaned in and pressed the kiss on her cheek, she’d felt like Scarlett O’Hara in the arms of Rhett Butler. No one had ever whispered such words of lust. Her body shivered with the delicious thoughts of seduction.
Then there was Chayton, the doctor, the sexy-as-sin vampire who swooped in and captured a kiss, like Cristofano did, without warning. His hands were gentle yet held her with need. He could possess her body with a touch of his finger and she would yield to him on bended knee, bound any way he would take her.
I’ve never been tied up or dominated before. I wonder what it would be like? Feel like? Multiplied by four?
Her smile was replaced by a mischievous smirk as Evan came to her mind next. The accountant, the numbers man. There was a mysterious side to him that she wanted to discover. Each man would have a story to tell. What would be his? Espionage? The stories a spy could tell sent excitement racing through her.
She imagined the books she read in the past where the hero was an undercover operative. No, that wouldn’t be Evan. If there was a spy in the group, if there was someone willing to hide everything from everyone, it would be Will. He had this hard exterior, like a solid wall of concrete standing up against the fiercest of storms. No cracks, no breakage, no getting in unless he opened the door and allowed entrance. It was up to Tawne to gain his trust and earn acceptance into his world. If he was part of the package deal, she may have her work cut out for her. She was never one to chase a man, but, with Will, she would consider letting her own defenses down to allow her to get to know him better. Something happened that made him this way, but what? Time would definitely tell.
She pulled the covers back and slid to the edge of the bed. A chill raced up her legs from the coldness of the floor on her bare feet. She needed to see Olivia soon, but first, bathroom and a shower.
Standing in front of her mirror, Tawne had never been more scared of anything in her life. She was in a foreign house, with foreign people, and a woman who was her best friend. Although, now it felt as if she barely knew Olivia. The woman she’d known her entire life was a blood demon. What did this mean for Olivia?
She was basically a living blood bag to her vampires.
Her vampires, all five of them, loved and adored her in a way Tawne had not witnessed or heard of. Was it possible to love more than one person at a time? Possibly, but how did the men not grow jealous of one another?
She shook her head and inhaled a long, deep breath, then let it go with a soft raspberry blowing between her lips. She came here to learn, to understand, to take a new adventure. She laughed to herself.
Adventure definitely. Fearful? A little. Exciting? Hell yes.
She took a few steps toward the bedroom door, then wondered what time it was.
Was it morning? Afternoon?
Did the vampires move around during the day or did they sleep?
Do they sleep?
Do they drink human blood as well as demon?
She grasped the doorknob and turned it. The door clicked and opened slightly. Cool air seeped through, sending another chill brushing down her spine and goose bumps to pebble over her arms. What would be on the other side? Potentially her future, but right now, she would settle for a blank wall.
Closing her eyes, she grasped the knob, quickly opened the door and stepped through before she could lose her nerve.
“What are you doing?”
She gasped and opened her eyes. Will stood before her with a frown. He wore a tight fitting, black t-shirt with a gray painted eagle brand on it, denim jeans, and black boots.
Her mouth opened, and a squeak came out.
He lifted a brow, then rolled his eyes. “Right,” he mumbled and sidestepped her. “You’re standing blind in the hallway and taking up walking space. If you’re going to insist on closing your eyes like a child, maybe retreat to your room and play.” He continued to belittle her. “It’s not often one walks from their room blind, especially not knowing the layout of the house.”
Embarrassment filled her and she felt blood rush to her cheeks. His shoulder brushed against hers ever so softly. First he humiliated her, then he purposely bumped into her. Anger rose, and her hands fisted at her sides. She wanted to turn and give Will a piece of her mind. Why was he being so arrogant toward her? What the hell did she do to him? They’d just met.
As she began to turn, a whisper sounded just next to her ear. A pair of hands cradled the back of her head. Thumbs pressed into the nape of her neck and he tilted her head to the side. “One could break their neck on the stairs, if one is not careful.”
A breath shuddered from her lips and she leaned her head back against Will. “Would you allow me to fall?”
“Yeah, I would,” he growled and released her.
Tawne stumbled backward and turned to catch her balance. She stared down the hall, but Will was nowhere in sight. Did he put her down, tease her, then run off before she could say anything? It sure looked that way.
Talk about being a confusing asshole. I hate you, but I want to seduce you, just so you can fall on your ass.
She groaned and made her way to the end of the hall to the spiral staircase. She descended and followed the smell of food cooking. Her shoes struck the marble floor and the closer she came to food, the further her anger fled.
Will can go fuck himself. I need to eat, then I’ll consider what I may say—or do—to him.
She turned the corner and found the kitchen, and inside it was Jake, one of Olivia’s men. He either heard her come into the kitchen or heard the sound of her belly grumble.
“Good afternoon, Tawne. Have a seat,” he offered.
She smiled. “Thank you. At least someone is being pleasant to me this morning—wait, you said afternoon?”
He chuckled. “That I did. It’s around two, maybe three? I’m not sure. Time doesn’t matter much when you’re immortal.”
“Yeah, I suppose so. May I ask what you’re making?”
He nodded. “Chicken Florentine. I knew you would be hungry, and this is one of Olivia’s favorite meals.”
Tawne smiled. “That’s nice to hear.”
“Now,” he set a plate with food on it in front of her. “Tell me about what happened with Will?”
She blinked, then raised a brow. “How did you know?”
He smirked. “He’s an asshole to everyone.”
“Oh, well, I suppose that makes me feel a little better.” She took a bite, then groaned as the flavor exploded in her mouth. “Holy shit, you should be a chef!”
He chuckled. “Thank you.” He crossed his arms over his body and leaned against the counter. “So, what are your thoughts so far being in our world?”
She chewed on another bite, then swallowed. “I’m not sure yet, but to be honest, finding this out, and about Olivia, it makes a lot of sense.”
“How’s that?”
“Yeah, how’s that?”
They both turned to Olivia entering the room. She wore a beautiful, light pink halter sundress with white wedge sandals. Her hair was braided over her shoulder with soft loose curls falling in tendrils around her cheeks.
Tawne smiled and took another bite. Once she swallowed, she answered. “You were mysterious about so many things, like I told you. There was so much I didn’t know, but when you filled me in, it just kinda made sense. I’m not sure how to explain it. As for this world,” she looked at Jake. “I think I’m going to really enjoy it. There’s a whole new world to explore, learn about, and take in. It’s my thing, you know, learning and absorbing.”
Olivia stepped toward Jake and the two embraced. He feathered his mouth over her lips and trailed a finger across her cheek.
“You look beautiful, my love,” he whispered.
Tawne felt like she was spying on a private moment between two lovers. She lowered her gaze to her plate and stared at the half-eaten food.
“How do you do it?” The question left her before she could recall it. She lifted her gaze to Olivia, then to Jake.
“How do we do what?” Olivia asked.
Tawne gave a quick smile. “I’m trying to understand how you can be with five men at once and love them all. I’m also trying to understand how all five of you don’t get jealous or fight over her.”
“Let me see if I can answer this,” Jake offered.
Olivia smiled and removed her arms from around his waist.
He stepped over to the bar table and leaned against it. “We are brothers. We are five, but we are also as one. We knew many years ago we were destined for one woman to be shared between the five of us. We knew we would find the one woman who could tame, love, and handle all of us at once. It takes a special person to open her heart wide enough for five souls. The moment Olivia stepped into the claiming ceremony, we knew, right then, she was the one. Her scent, her smile, everything about her told us she was the missing piece to our puzzle. Because of Olivia, we are now complete.”
“That’s beautiful, Jake, thank you,” Olivia whispered.
“I meant every word.”
Tawne watched the bond between her best friend and one of her five men. There was a strength between them she'd never known. She had never experienced it, and she longed for it more than anything.
She took her last few bites and stood from the bar. “Thank you. I appreciate the honesty. I can tell you truly love her, and she loves you.” Tawne shook her head and handed her plate to Jake when he reached for it. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I have a lot to learn, it seems.”
“No, you don’t,” Olivia told her. “Don’t think. Just be.”
“Just be?”
“Yes.” Her best friend walked around the counter. She took Tawne’s hands and squeezed them. “Stop thinking. Let your heart lead you. You’ll figure it out. I promise. Cris, Evan, and Chayton…they’re very interested in pursuing you.”
“And Will?”
“He’ll come around,” Jake answered. “Trust me. He’s a dick, but once you’re through the iron exterior, he’s all soft and shit inside.”
“Soft and shit?” Tawne repeated with a chuckle. “I’ll take your word on it. I suppose time will tell.”
Olivia nodded. “Give it time. Meanwhile, the men would like to share their home with you. It’s perfectly safe and not too far from where we are. It’ll allow you to get to know them on a deeper level, and see if this is a world you would like to live in.”
“Go and stay with them?” Tawne asked. “Leave here and move in with them?”
“Well, when you put it that way, yeah, that sounds weird, but it’s what happened with me. After my claiming, I came home with my men. We worked our way up to where we are now. It took a lot of trust on my part. They also respected me, my decisions, and never pushed me into anything. I expect it’ll be the same with your men.”
Tawne grinned. “My men? No, they’re not my men. I would love for them to be my men, but they’re not. I’m not a blood demon, like you. How can they sustain their life with me being a human? How would they eat?”
Olivia smiled once more. “I’m telling you, give it time. Please, trust me. Everything will work out if you give it a chance.”
Tawne nodded. “Okay, fine. I’ll play it your way.” She released her friend’s hands and glanced back at Jake. “Thank you again for the late lunch, early dinner? It was amazing.”
“Anytime.”
As she was leaving the kitchen, hushed whispers and giggles interrupted the deafening silence that rang in Tawne’s ears. As far back as she could remember, she wanted a love so fierce, so strong, it would knock her on her ass and make her second guess everything that had ever happened in her life. She wanted exactly what Olivia had, and now it was up to her to woman up and go out there and claim it. If she were destined to be the concubine for the quartet of vampires that had been thrust into her life, then she would do what was required to make that happen. Love was not instant, and she knew this. She also wasn’t against spending her time with the four breathtaking vampires to see where it may lead them. Sometimes finding love involved taking a leap of immense proportions. In this case, it was a vault for her life off a monumental bridge with a bottomless universe. She had never felt fear like this, and she embraced the challenge.