If someone had told Sadie she would be on the other side of the world visiting Australia, in Mexico, and soon, traveling to Chicago, she would have told them they were out of their mind.
Almost understanding how Scrooge felt during the telling of A Christmas Carol, she visited the homes of Charles and Adam, and now it was William she would get to know on a more personal level.
She thought back to the men and their time together so far. Charles took her breath away with the sights of Australia, but also his gentle nature and the way he brought her out of her shy shell. Then, her time in Mexico with Adam and his aggressive, yet easy going personality. He opened a side of herself she wasn’t aware of; sexiness.
She set her suitcase on the bed in her room. They flew back to New Orleans the night before last. It felt like non-stop traveling and, to be honest, she was tired. She wanted a break, but also needed to spend this time with William. She was looking forward to what he had in store for her, and there was a small amount of guilt that plagued her mind.
Charles and Adam both knew she slept with both of them, and they were okay with it. They encouraged it, to be more matter of fact.
What would happen when all three of them were with her?
They wanted her to let herself go and give herself to them, body and soul, but could she?
Sadie paced her room and her eyes burned as tears manifested.
“On one hand, I would have everything I could ever need, and want for nothing. However, on the other hand, I would be their prisoner and could never leave. How is that having a life?”
“It isn’t, and I apologize if that’s what you thought would happen.”
She gasped and turned to find William in a fitted white polo t-shirt and jeans leaning on the frame of her door. His arms were crossed over his chest and his brows were furrowed.
“How long have you been standing there?” she asked, panic shooting through her veins. She fisted her hands and her nails dug into her clammy palms.
“Long enough to hear your distress. Look, Sadie, I really think you’re seeing the wrong picture here.”
“What should I see? Because it sounds like if I agree to this, I’m no more than a prisoner.”
“May I come in?”
“It’s your room and your house.”
He smiled. “Yes, it is, but this is your room while you’re here.”
She nodded and turned to her suitcase. She folded it over and placed it on the floor.
William walked to her bedside and sat down facing her. He patted the spot in front of him. “Have a seat and tell me what’s going on?”
She folded her legs under her and shook her head. “Where do I begin?”
“How about the beginning?”
She looked at him, then raised a brow. “You were there in the beginning. You were there when Olivia came over. And you’re here now. You know everything.”
“I know what I see and have learned, but if there’s something on your mind that troubles you, I can’t help you unless you allow me in. My intention is not to hurt you, or control you, or keep you from living your own life.”
“Maybe we need to start there. I know you three have explained this in length, as well as Olivia, but people seem to forget I just found out I’m a blood demon.”
He reached forward and took her hand. His thumb ran over the top of her hand. “No one expects you to make a hasty decision. What we do expect you to do is give us an honest answer. Nothing more. So, think about what’s bothering you and let’s start there.”
She nodded and took in a deep breath, then began. “I haven’t had anyone in my life for more than a few months as far back as I can remember. The longest relationship I had was for a few months. I can count my sex partners on one…nope, now two hands.” She felt her face warm with that realization. “I’m a shy person. I’m not adventurous and I never would have ever considered a threesome, well, foursome.”
“Sadie, when someone offers you new food to try, do you turn up your nose or do you give it a shot?”
“How does this have to do with any of what I just said?”
He smiled and continued rubbing her hand. “Trust me, answer the question.”
She sighed and shrugged a shoulder. “If it looks like it would taste good, yes, I’d try it.”
“Right, so let’s assume Charles was your appetizer and Adam was your salad. That would leave me as your main course, right?”
She felt her cheeks blush again and this time her ears burned. She couldn’t answer. She felt like a damned fool to think she was cut out for this.
“Sadie,” he whispered and touched under her chin with his finger, then lifted her head up. “Look at me, please.”
She blinked and felt the tears return.
How could she answer this question?
The men were not food, they were people with feelings. She blinked and a tear fell onto her breast. “I’m scared, William. I don’t know how to answer your question.”
He swiped his finger across her cheek and leaned in closer. “No one is expecting you to have a life changing decision or expect you to understand our world without having lived in it. All I’m asking of you is to give us a chance. And to answer the question, I would be more the dessert.”
She grinned at this and a slight giggle came from her lips. “Dessert? I figured that would be me.”
“Oh no, beautiful. You, with the three of us, would be our main course.”
Her lips formed an “oh” and her eyes widened slightly. “I don’t know if I can handle all three of you at once.”
“How about we start with me for today, then tomorrow we’ll see where we stand.”
“I’m assuming that’s a metaphor?”
He nodded. “That it is.”
“You’re taking us to Chicago?”
“I wanted to, but I think we’ll save that trip for another time. I’d like to keep you here for my time with you, if that’s okay?”
She nodded. “I’d like that. What about Charles and Adam?”
“They’ll be staying with the Covenant for a few days. We discussed it and we all agreed if you wanted to stay, they would head over there immediately to give us space.”
“Wow, that’s nice of them.”
“Sadie, they want this arrangement with you as much as I do. There are not many blood demons left in our world, an unfortunate occurrence, but Doctor Chayton Blair has concocted a substance that can change the makeup of human blood to be compatible for vampires to live on.” He smiled, then continued. “Think of it like tofu for vampires.”
She smiled and looked to his hand on hers. “Nice analogy.”
William cupped the side of her face and leaned in, then pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’ll give you a few minutes if you need time alone. When you’re ready, head downstairs. I’ll have dinner prepared for you, then I’ll put on a movie for us.”
“With popcorn?”
He grinned. “Absolutely.” William stood from her bed and headed toward the door.
“William?” she called, and he stopped in the door. She closed the distance to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“You never have to thank me, Sadie. It’s my pleasure.” He embraced her and she closed her eyes. It was nice, welcoming, and it felt like home.
Which honestly frightened her. Nothing had ever felt like home, not even her small apartment. She pulled herself free and headed back into her room. She’d take a hot shower and think over everything he’d told her so far, and hopefully, after their night together, she’d have an answer on what she wanted to do.