Page 19 of The Vampire’s Soul (Moretti Blood Brothers Romance #14)

ELLA

“ S o, you want more of the blue background with the chocolate bars in the corner?” Ella asked her client on the other end of the video call.

“Yes. And keep the same flavors together. Rather than in a range. We want to focus on one at a time.” Melissa said, holding up the actual chocolate products and waving them at her.

Like that was any help.

She could have been clear about that in her brief, but oh no. Melissa was one of her easier clients, but all of them thought she could read their minds.

Nope.

She could manipulate their minds, not over video though, but not read them.

Ella really wanted to get off the call. She’d woken after a solid sleep and felt every little ache in her body where Mack had fucked her.

Fucked her like it was the first and only time they’d be together.

Finding him gone when she woke, she knew that it was. In truth, she knew from the moment he kissed her, but let it happen anyway. As if she could’ve said no to the boy she’d fallen for when she was a little girl.

Ella felt so alone in her feelings.

Why didn’t Mack feel the same? How could she feel so damn strongly for the male, and he only see her as a one-night stand?

It didn’t make sense.

Her phone lit up as Melissa continued discussing the chocolate campaign launch.

Mack.

Heart thumping, she reached for it and swiped.

I need to see you. X

Ella swallowed and her eyes lifted to the screen, Melissa’s words now sounding echoey like she was in a long tunnel.

All her attention was on her male.

Need? He needed to see her. That wasn’t a language Mack normally used with her. Or was she overthinking it? Probably.

Anything to do with him, she overthought.

Over and over and over.

“What do you think?” Melissa asked. “Four or five?”

Shit.

“Oh God, maybe we need six. I don’t know. Or is three enough?”

Shit, fuck.

Ella had no idea what she was talking about.

“How about we go with four? Smack in the middle. We can add more and if you don’t use all of it, at least you were prepared.” Ella said, hoping the vague comment didn’t give her away.

“Smart. I like it. You could always do a few more by next week if management asks, right?”

No.

“Of course.”

“Great. Okay, let’s go through the design for the video. I’m so excited about this.” Melissa grinned.

Ella glanced down at her phone and began to reply.

“I know you did three, but can we jump straight to the third as it’s my favorite, and I have ideas.”

Her eyes lifted, then dropped, then flicked back to her client.

“Sure.” She put her phone down.

Ella pulled up the video and let it play on share so they could review it.

Then she put her phone upside down so she could focus.

Mack had made her wait a lifetime.

He could wait a little longer.

A N HOUR LATER, Ella clicked the red end button on the video call and relaxed back in her chair as she let out a long sigh.

Melissa was a great client, but she definitely got her money’s worth out of Ella. They’d gone through every damn slide on all three videos and talked over and over them.

It was exhausting.

That kind of detail was overkill, but because Melissa was a perfectionist, it meant that together they created a highly effective campaign that got results. Aka sales.

It also reflected on Ella’s skills, resulting in more business her way. Including recommendations. So, she had learned to be more patient.

Ella reached for her phone, her eyes bulging when she saw the missed calls from Mack. There were two more messages asking her to reply urgently.

Climbing to her feet, she called him.

He answered immediately.

“Jesus, Ella. Where have you been?” His rough voice sounded pained.

“What’s wrong?”

“I need to see you. Now. Where are you?”

She frowned.

“Tell me what’s happened. Is it Michael? Your mom?”

Oh God, her mind went into overdrive. Was it her family? Had humans hurt them?

“No—I can’t say... I just need to see you.”

Why hadn’t he just teleported over?

Ella began to suspect this was typical Mack, demanding that she fall at his feet. Well, no. That wasn’t happening anymore.

“Well, I’m working right now. I’ll be fini—”

“Now Ella! I have ten minutes. Teleport to the front of the castle and I’ll meet you there.”

Rude.

“Mack. Listen. Last night was amazing, but it doesn’t give you the right to order me around. Clearly this isn’t serious for you, or you would have stay—”

“Ella!” Mack demanded, then his next words pulled all the oxygen from her body. “I love you, okay? I have always loved you. I need you here right fucking now.”

Her eyes flew open.

What did he say?

He...love...no.

What?

Snapping her mouth shut, Ella glanced around the room as if the walls would collapse and an audience start laughing any minute.

Or the obvious parallel universe she had arrived in accidentally would fade away.

Because this was not real.

Mack loved her?

Nope.

“Mack Mazzini, how dare you mess with my emotions like that?” She snapped, emotion overwhelming her.

That was mean.

He was being cruel.

“Jesus.” Mack groaned. “Kurt, I need two minutes.”

“You have one.” She heard the vampire reply.

Next minute, Mack appeared in her living room, his hand holding the phone, which he slid into his pocket.

That’s when she noticed he was wearing black tactical gear packed full of weapons.

Oh.

Ella put her own phone into the back pocket of her jeans and wondered if he dressed like this every day.

She didn’t think so.

Mack stalked across the room and cupped her face. His eyes were wild and there was a seriousness about him she’d never seen.

He looked scared.

Worried.

Intense.

“You love me?” she whispered.

“I love you.” His lips curled at the corners, despite the dark fire within his globes.

When his mouth lowered, Ella pressed her eyes closed and gripped his biceps as he gently kissed her. A moan escaped her, and she felt her cheeks heat. This man affected her so much.

Leaning into him farther, she expected him to scoop her up, but instead Mack stepped away, keeping one hand on her hip.

“I have to go,” he rasped.

“What do you mean?”

Leave? He’d just confessed his love to her and teleported into her house—his house—kissing her like she was his mate.

Now he was leaving again?

“I’m heading out on a mission. I had to see you before I left. I needed you to know how I felt. How I’ve always felt.” Mack brushed a hand over her forehead and kissed it.

No.

“Please don’t do this,” Ella said, shaking her head. “Tell me the truth. You love me as...a friend. Right? Because if you’re just doing this because you think you won’t return, then please don’t.”

Mack drew in a breath, his chest swelling.

“You know the answer to that, El. I know you feel it.”

Goddamn this male.

“Pack up and move into my room in the castle. The girls will look after you.” He pulled out his phone and messaged her. “That’s the room code. I’m coming home. I promise. Then we will talk.”

His eyes flicked to the side, usually a sign of someone speaking telepathically.

“Shit. I have to go. The jet is about to take off.” Both hands gripped her face. “Promise me you’ll go to the castle.”

Ella’s mind whirled with a million thoughts.

“Promise me,” Mack demanded.

“I promise,” she said softly, nodding.

Then he kissed her harshly on the mouth and held her eyes with such ferocity Ella couldn’t breathe.

Then he teleported away.

Staring at the vacant space he’d left as her heart pounded, Ella began to shake..

What in the ever-loving shit just happened?