Boz
My loins burning with need, I quickly return to my suite on the top floor and begin running the shower. I will have to service myself tonight—something I have not done for, well, I cannot recall. When I have needs, it is never difficult to seduce a woman to my bed. Tonight, however, and possibly for the remainder of my existence, there is only one woman I desire.
Phew. That was close. There was a moment when I did not believe I could walk away from Stella. Her delicious scent lingers in my lungs and calls to me like none other. And when she looked up at me with pain in her eyes, I wanted only to make it disappear.
Damn that Neli. I grab the Summoner and tell her to come to my room immediately. She and I need to get on the same page. I cannot be placed in such tempting situations again. Also, we must devise a plan to take care of the hunter.
I hit send and strip my clothing to prepare for my shower. My cock is so hard, I fear it might never abate. I poke the thing. Like granite.
I turn to go into the bathroom and hear a light knock on the door. Ah, finally. For once Neli is being the obedient servant. She must know she is in the pigsty. I go to open the door. “Neli, we must talk—”
Stella is standing there, her eyes wide as she takes in my naked form, my cock jutting out like an arrow directed at her.
“I-I just came up to…” Her words fade, and she licks her lips while staring directly at my manhood.
My heart starts to beat once more like a loud drum, demanding action. Take her. Take her. Take her.
“Fuck it.” I grab her wrist and pull her inside, pressing her firmly to my body.
She says nothing with her mouth, but the desire in her eyes speaks volumes. I bow my head and press my mouth to her soft lips. The need inside me is overwhelming. But it is not for sex. It is for her blood.
No. You cannot do this. You will not be able to stop. But my mind is not in control any longer. It is my thirst, begging for one last taste of her virgin blood before I take her.
Stella
The nerves were racing through me as I made my way to the penthouse suite. I knew I could be facing a harsh rejection, but I deserved to know why. I didn’t mistake the desire flowing like an electric current between us, or the pain in his eyes when he turned from me. Whatever the problem is, I want to fix it together.
Then I knocked on his door to find him naked, fully erect. He pulled me inside and pressed his mouth to mine. Now I can’t remember what I came here to say, but I know it was important.
I push back and stare up at him. The way he’s looking at me takes my breath away. There are no words. There’s only primal need. I lift my face to his, my heart hammering against my rib cage. His dark silvery eyes smolder into mine for a crackling moment before he dips his head and presses his mouth to mine again. Yes, yes, yes. His hand grips my hair, tugging my head back as he deepens the kiss. I welcome the fiery heat, consumed by it. Desire unfurls within me, and I wrap my arms around his neck, urgently pressing all of my softness against his hard powerful body. I want with an intensity I’ve never felt before. I roam my hands over his broad back, a needy moan escaping.
He breaks the kiss suddenly, his breath ragged. “Remove your clothes and go lie on the bed.”
The note of command in his voice excites something deep inside me. I’ve never been with a man who wants to take control like that. I comply, making my way to his bedroom. He follows, and when I reach the large bed, I keep my eyes locked on his, wanting his reaction as I unveil what I know he wants. I reach back and unzip my dress before slowly sliding the cap sleeves off my shoulders. The dress falls to my waist, and I shimmy it down over my hips. It pools at my feet. His dark eyes gleam as I step out of it, wearing only black lace panties and a matching bra I wore just for him. I wanted this moment and now I finally have him.
“And the rest. Take it off,” he says, barely restrained need in his voice.
My lips curve up, loving the effect I have on him. I unhook my bra, sliding it off and tossing it carelessly to the side. His hot gaze never leaves my breasts, and my nipples form hard points under his attention.
“Everything else,” he commands.
My breath quickens in anticipation. I slide off my heels and push my panties down, stepping out of them and letting them dangle from one finger.
His gaze is hooded, taking me in from head to toe. My body heats in response, and I drop the panties, my need spiking.
“Now what?” I ask softly.
“Lie down in the center of the bed.”
I pull the covers down and do as he says, letting my legs fall open. He approaches, his gaze eating me up, yet still he holds back. He needs some enticement. I slide my hand between my legs, touching myself. “Is this what you like? You want to see me pleasure myself?” I’ve never done anything like that before, but something about this man makes me want to step outside my comfort zone. Our connection is intense on every level, and I welcome it.
He doesn’t answer, his hungry gaze glued to my fingers. I like him watching more than I thought I would. His massive erection throbs as I continue, my fingers stroking lazily at first. But then his smoldering eyes meet mine, and my fingers move faster, wanting release, wanting him to see how close he’s brought me just from a look. That’s how powerful this thing is between us.
My head arches back as my climax hits. Suddenly he’s on me, his powerful naked body covering mine as his teeth clamp on the cord of my neck. I pant as my pleasure builds again. “What are you doing to me? Oh God, it feels so…sooo…good.” I’m dying of pleasure, lost in it.
My hips rock against his hardness, needing more, and then suddenly I’m there, crashing over the edge. “Yess,” I hiss, rocking helplessly against him.
A harsh knock sounds at the door. “Boz!” The knocking turns into pounding. “Boz!”
It sounds urgent, but I’m light-headed in the aftermath of the heat of the moment and the most incredible pleasure I’ve ever experienced in my life. I’m having trouble catching my breath.
Boz releases my neck, lifting his head. “Neli,” he says.
I close my eyes, so drained I can’t move. Whoa.
He holds my jaw. “Are you all right?”
I smile what I’m sure is a goofy smile. “That was amazing. Let’s keep going so you can have your pleasure. I’m ready for more.”
Neli keeps pounding on the door. “Boz!”
I sit up, wrapping the blanket around myself. “It sounds urgent. I hope everything’s okay.”
“Her urgent is not my urgent,” he says, getting out of bed. “I’ll get rid of her.”
I follow him, grabbing his pants on the way, and hand them to him with a pointed look. I don’t want Neli to see what only I should get to see. I hope this will be an exclusive thing.
He lets out a manly sigh, pulls them on, and stalks to the door.
I stick close by, wrapping the blanket tighter around my shoulders, hoping everything is okay with Neli. Especially because I really want to do that again. Boz’s abilities in bed were not exaggerated. And I still ache to feel him inside me. All I got was a love-bite orgasm. What was that?
Boz yanks the door open. “Neli, you are disturbing my supreme lovemak—”
Neli’s eyes dart to the side. Suddenly a man jumps out with a wooden stake, screaming, “Die, vampire!”
It’s that man who keeps following us!
Boz moves with such speed he’s a blur. Suddenly the man is flat on his back on the floor. Boz pins him there with one hand and bites his neck. Neli’s urgent voice is drowned out by the man screaming.
My hand flies to my throat, shock rendering me immobile.
A moment later, the man goes still and deathly silent.
Boz lifts his head, blood dripping from his mouth. That same mouth that bit my neck. My vision dims at the edges, my heartbeat roaring in my ears. I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.
And then the world goes black.
Boz
“Shit,” Neli says, walking into the room and shutting the door behind her. “How are we going to come back from this one?”
Stella is unconscious on the floor, the blanket falling off her. I scoop her up and tuck her into bed. I stare at the bite marks on her neck. I stopped myself. I don’t know where I found the control, but I did it. It must be that I could never destroy my true mate. I’m sure that’s what she is. Our heartbeats were in perfect rhythm while I drank from her, and when she climaxed, I could swear I felt it too. Her every moan and quake were like my own.
I’m done for. From this day forward, I somehow know my entire world will revolve around her.
I look over at Neli, who’s now standing on the other side of the bed. “You were right. She is my mate.”
“No. Really?” Neli rubs the back of her neck. “Well, you know I love to hear I’m right, Boz, but now we have a teensy problem: She just saw you kill a man. That might not be so easy for a modern person to handle. This isn’t like back when you ruled eight hundred years ago with unlimited power. Back then you were the boss, and it was accepted that you had the right to punish as you saw fit.”
“I never stopped being the boss.”
She grimaces. “Okay. Fine. But there are laws against killing. And those laws apply even to you.”
“I do not have to obey human laws. I am a vampire.”
“I get that, but the laws are a reflection of human values. They are not okay with witnessing people die. It really freaks them out.”
We both stare at Stella looking so innocent lying in my bed, her lashes fanning over her pale cheeks.
And then I understand what Neli is trying to say. “She’ll think I’m a monster.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Neli says. “But maybe if you explain. Tell her who and what you are; she’ll understand the way of it.”
She sounds as uncertain as I feel. But what choice do I have? She will walk away if she believes I’m a killer. But vampires have a code. We never kill those who don’t deserve it. This vampire hunter deserved to die. He and his cohorts violated Stella’s family home, putting her and her family at risk in his zeal to stalk me. I had to rid the earth of him.
Stella stirs with a soft sound. “She’s waking,” I whisper to Neli, who gestures for me to get in there and try to undo the damage.
I sit on the mattress next to Stella. “Hello, my sweet. Are you all right? Can you hear me?”
“Gah!” Stella scrambles to a sitting position, yanking the covers up to her chin. “Get away from me! What. Are. You?” The terror and confusion in her eyes are palpable.
I will break the news gently. Which part would be less terrifying to her? Is she more afraid of vampires or killers?
“What. Are. You?” she repeats.
“I am Prince Bozhidar Alexandru of Transylvania.” I rise and bow.
“I-I thought your first name was Prince. You’re an actual prince?” Her gaze darts to Neli for confirmation.
I find it odd that her mind is skipping over more pressing matters, such as, I just killed a man in front of her. She must be in shock.
Neli backs up a step. “I’ll leave this conversation to the two of you.”
“Don’t go,” Stella says, fear laced in her voice. I can hear her rapid pulse.
“I’ll be back in a few,” Neli says, shooting me a significant look. She will take care of the body. This top floor has my room and Neli’s servant quarters next door so she can see to my needs. I’m sure that’s where she’s taking him.
I hear her grunt and then grumble as she attempts to move him. She’s not as strong as I am. Stella’s eyes widen at the sounds even she can hear.
“I will be right back, sweet Stella. Everything will be explained.”
I use my speed to lift the body swiftly up and out the door. Neli follows me, opening the door to her room for me.
Just as I return to my room, I notice Neli has followed.
“Maybe I should stay in your room while you talk to her, Boz,” Neli says. “For moral support. While you wipe her memory. You can explain who you are when you think she’s ready.”
“I will not resort to trickery. She’s my mate, and the sooner she understands what that entails, the sooner she can come to terms with it. Now, go.”
“But she’s terrified of you.”
I clench my jaw. Perhaps for once I should listen to Neli. I have never dealt with a mate before, and I wish for this to go smoothly. “Very well. Stay. She will learn by your calm example. She trusts you.”
We return to the bed, but Stella isn’t there. She’s fully dressed, staring out the window. At least she didn’t leave.
“Stella, you might want to take a seat,” Neli says.
I watch as my mate moves in a daze and sinks heavily into a nearby chair.
I sit on the bed across from her, but she refuses to meet my eyes. Neli remains standing by my side, showing her loyalty. “Stella.”
She slowly lifts her head. “You killed a man.”
“Stella, I am very aware of your feelings on the shocking matter we are about to discuss. I merely ask that you keep an open mind and hear me out before jumping to any conclusions.”
Stella continues staring, but doesn’t argue. Perhaps a good sign.
I clear my throat. “The supernatural world you once spoke of is real. It is not fiction. It is not an invention of wild human imaginations. It is very real, and I am an eight-hundred-year-old vampire, but I only kill those who deserve it. And you, my sweet Stella, are my mate.”
Stella’s brows shoot up.
“It’s true,” Neli puts in. “All of the signs are there. The witch’s curse was lifted when you returned home. He woke from the five-hundred-year nap he was forced into.”
Stella blinks rapidly. “Witches? Vampires? You expect me to believe any of this nonsense? I know what you are, Boz. You’re a killer.” She narrows her eyes at Neli. “And you’re an accomplice.”
“I know it’s hard to process,” Neli says gently. “I told you he had supernatural powers of seduction. You felt that was true, right?”
Stella strokes her neck where I bit her, her brows furrowed.
“Stella, with time—” I start.
She stands abruptly. “I’d like to leave now.”
“Of course you are free to go,” I say.
She nods once and walks briskly to the door. I appear at her side in a flash and open it for her. She does a double take at my swift movement. I want her to see my powers in small doses until her mind is ready to accept the full truth.
“I will see you tomorrow at sundown at the competition,” I say.
Her mouth opens and then closes before she bolts, her heart hammering loudly enough to make my own chest ache.
“Well,” I turn to Neli, “that went better than I imagined.”
Neli groans and shakes her head. “I’ll go take care of the body.”
“Shouldn’t you go speak to Stella? Pre-immortal woman to post-immortal woman?” Couldn’t hurt for Neli to do a little selling on the perks of being mated to a vampire. For example, the sex is amazing and we have excellent taste in wine—something that could only prove to be advantageous to her family.
“Give her some space to digest; she’ll come around.” Neli sounds more hopeful now, but the look in Stella’s eyes gives me cause to worry.
“But you will talk to her. Yes?” I press. “You will make her understand how important she is and that her feelings for me are real.” I know Stella senses our connection. She has to. The question is, will she embrace it, or will her fear of the supernatural destroy a love that I now know has been missing from my life for over eight hundred years?
Neli’s green eyes are intense. “Trust me, Boz, there is nothing more important to me than this. I want to be free. And if that means getting her on board, then consider it done.”