Page 32 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

Paige

One of the vampires rushes in. He wears a dark outfit, typical of the younger vampires who usually guard the mansion.

So quickly I don’t even perceive it, Murad is on his feet, staring at him with a concerned expression. “Alin, what is it?”

But to both of our surprise, the vampire addresses me, not Murad.

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” he says with a frown. “Do you…know a breather named Blake? Dark hair, pale, a little whiny?”

My stomach drops. “Yes…”

“Well, he’s at the front gates, yelling your name. And if you don’t want Crimson to drain him, you’d better come fast.”

Murad, Alin and I hurry down the stairs (well, I guess I’m the one hurrying, I’m sure they’re both slowing down their natural speed to keep pace with me) and out the front door of the mansion.

There are already several vampires and living humans standing around, watching the situation unfold with keen interest. The Night vampires love a little drama.

But I’m mortified. As soon as I step outside into the crisp evening, I can hear the sound of Blake’s voice.

“She’s my girlfriend, and I won’t let you charm her with your vampire tricks!”

The gates are already open. Standing on the cobblestoned path is Sabina, holding Blake by the collar of his shirt, her other hand gripping his bicep tightly.

“Let me go!” he whines, more confidently than he should. “You have no right to treat me like this!”

A smooth laugh chills the air. Crimson stands on the porch of the mansion, watching Blake with malicious delight.

“Your rights have no bearing here,” she says. “Trust me, little breather, you’ve bitten off much more than you can chew…and perhaps you’ll realize that when Sabina takes a little bite…”

Sabina’s eye shine, and her fangs begin to curl over her lips.

“Wait! Stop!” I shout, rushing out of the mansion and down the steps. I position myself between Crimson and Blake, holding my hands out in surrender. I address Crimson. “This is all my fault, my king. Blake is my ex, he…”

“How could you be at fault?” Crimson asks, crossing her arms. “Did you call him here?”

“No, I…”

“I came to rescue her!” Blake declares, attempting to twist out of Sabina’s grip and failing miserably. She pulls him in, her claw-like fingernails digging into his skin as he squirms. “I won’t let her be corrupted by vampires!”

“I’m not being corrupted,” I snap over my shoulder irritably.

“What other explanation is there?” Blake hisses. “You broke up with me, just because I’m not some hot vampire?”

“I didn’t break up with you because you’re a human!

” I reply. For some reason, his words strike a nerve, and for once, I’m not giving him the benefit of the doubt.

I’m not dealing with this bullshit from him anymore.

I don’t have to. Emboldened by this new feeling, I turn around properly to face him.

“I broke up with you because you’re an asshole.

An asshole who never appreciated me, who took me for granted, and who disrespected my mother’s memory! ”

“And you think this vampire is going to treat you better?” Blake huffs, looking at the bite marks on my neck with disdain. “She’ll drain you dry, and then you’ll wish you’d stayed with me!”

“I think I’ll take that chance, thanks,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

Crimson snaps her fingers. “Well, with that said,” she hums. “Sabina, go ahead.”

Sabina’s eyes glow red. She bears down over Blake as he trembles with fear. My stomach tightens. Even though I’m angry with Blake, he doesn’t deserve to be murdered by a vampire just for being an idiot. I run over to Crimson, and throw myself at her feet.

“No, wait!” I tell her, giving her a beseeching look. “My king, please…I know he’s being stupid, but don’t kill him. He’s still my ex-boyfriend. Please could you let him live?”

Crimson’s lip twitches.

“As a favour to me?” I try.

It’s dark, but I think I see her give me the briefest nod, although she stands so still. Without a word, she descends the steps of the porch, and marches up to Sabina and Blake. Her deadened, hard eyes give him a look that I’m shocked doesn’t turn him to dust.

“It’s your lucky day, breather,” she rasps. “Be grateful that she has a soft heart…because I would have torn yours from your body for speaking to her that way.”

Blake swallows, his eyes locked on her in terror.

Crimson grimaces. “I’m letting you go on her request. But heed my words…if you ever bother her again, I will drain you on the spot. And I will do it slowly.”

She gestures to Sabina, who throws him angrily to the ground, clearly upset that she was denied his blood. Blake scrambles to his feet and takes off down the cobblestoned path without looking behind him.

“I’m so sorry,” I groan, my face red with embarrassment. I’m kneeling before Crimson, down in her crypt. I don’t know if she brought me down here so she can drink from me, or so that she can fire me in private. “I can’t believe Blake turned up like that, I had no idea he was going to do that!”

“Is it true, you broke up with him?” she asks, swirling her glass of distilled blood. She doesn’t ask me to get up. I think she enjoys seeing me on my knees.

“Yes, a while ago.”

She hums, and raises an eyebrow as she takes a long sip. “Interesting.”

I sigh at her arrogance. I’m feeling surprisingly bold tonight.

“What I said was true. I didn’t break up with him for not being a vampire, or because I came here.

I broke up with him because he wasn’t treating me right.

Which I don’t regret. But I am sorry that he showed up at the mansion. It was…very unprofessional.”

“His bad behaviour was not your fault, and you have no reason to apologize,” Crimson declares, setting her glass down on one of the ebony side tables.

I take in her words. “You’re…you’re right. I shouldn’t apologize for him. I take it back,” I say, honestly.

A warm, pleasant feeling settles down around me as I say the words. She is right. I don’t need to apologize for Blake. I relax just slightly, feeling comfortable in a new way.

“But…” Crimson purrs, tilting her head a fraction to the side. “You did deny Sabina and I the pleasure of draining him.”

A shiver creeps up my spine. But…is it fear? Or…anticipation? Both?

“And I believe,” she continues, stepping closer to where I kneel upon the hard floor of her crypt. I crane my neck to look up at her. “That I’ve promised to punish you on at least one other occasion. Is that correct?”

I swallow. Lust makes my head feel hazy. “Yes, my king.”

Crimson looks down at me, an evil flash of red in her eyes. “Do you remember what I’d promised?”

That I do remember. The memory of her words has lingered in my subconscious since she first whispered them in my ear, like an impossible, half-remembered daydream. “Yes, sir.”

“Does such a punishment seem…fair under the circumstances?”

I’m overwhelmed at the thought. And I realize that she’s asking me for my permission to continue. “Yes, my king.”

She takes a measured sip of her wine. “And you know what you’ll say, if you want me to stop?”

“Yes. If I want you to stop, I’ll say ‘thorn.’”

“Good.” Her head cocks, messy tendrils of dark hair falling into her grey eyes.

She considers me, watching me for several long moments. Vampires really know how to draw out a moment. I wonder if she experiences time in the same way as I do. There’s so much I wonder about her.

But the longer she looks at me, the stronger the suspense becomes, until it’s almost painful.

Finally, she ends my agony. “Strip,” she commands, leaning back lazily against the bar.

Shakily, I make it to my feet, quickly reaching for the buttons along the front of my dress.

“Slower,” she says, running a finger along the rim of her glass. “We have all night.”

It’s so difficult to draw this out, knowing what’s coming next. But I realize this is part of the game, part of the pleasure. “I just…” I gasp.

“Just what?”

“I just want it…I want you so badly, sir.”

“Eager to accept your punishment?” Crimson’s eyebrow arches, as powerfully as if she was pulling me into a glamour. My fingers tremble over the smooth buttons.

What is it going to be like? I can’t bear the anticipation. I pull my dress down, over my bust and hips, as slowly as I possibly can without disintegrating into a cloud of lust.

She sighs quietly as she watches me, her magnetic eyes setting my skin ablaze.

Why did I wear a bra and panties tonight? I push my hair out of the way as I unhook the clasp between my breasts, releasing them to the mercy of her gaze.

My nipples instantly tighten, chilled by the cool air of the crypt, and the fierce need in Crimson’s eyes. I wiggle quickly out of my panties.

She clicks her tongue sharply. “What did I say? Go slowly.”

“But…” I gasp.

There’s a villainous glimmer in her eyes. “No buts. And you should know I don’t tolerate insubordination.”

A powerful ache rises up in my core. What’s she going to do?

“Spread your legs,” she commands, refilling her glass of blood.

Still in my high heels, I spread my legs, baring myself before her.

“Wet your fingers,” Crimson continues, watching me with a smirk. It takes me a moment to figure out what she means, then with a blush, I bring the fingers of my right hand to my lips, and I gently lick them. Crimson gives me an approving nod. I swoon, happy to be pleasing her. “Now touch yourself.”

My knees get weak, and I hesitate. I’ve never touched myself that way in front of someone else. But the thought of doing it for Crimson is incredibly hot.

Obligingly, I bring my fingers down to my pussy, wet and aching already. I whimper as I caress myself, gentle and slow. Crimson’s gaze is electrifying, and my pleasure starts to build.

“Show me how you touch yourself when you’re alone,” she says.

I stroke the folds of my lips with my thumb and pointer finger, moving smoothly along its ridges and valleys since I’m so slick. I find my clit and begin teasing it between my fingers.