Page 2 of The Virgin and the Vampire (Escape to Haven County)

2

The sweet flavor of Gianna lingers on my tongue. I’m dying to taste the rest of her, too. I don’t know if vamps are eligible for fated mates, but what I am sure of is when you’re as old and bored with life as I am, and then you start feeling completely alive and excited, you take notice. And you claim the sunshine making it happen before some other vamp tries to soak it up too.

I let Gianna purge herself of questions. They are all things that are better answered with experience. Words will only scare her. That said, I delight in hearing her voice, her infectious enthusiasm for all things vampire. I amuse myself picturing what Etienne will make of her. I want her weighed down with my claiming jewels before that happens. He’s old and bored enough he just might attempt to steal her for his own amusement, and a taste of that sunshine I mentioned. He’ll have to register the thrall contract, though, so there’s no avoiding it forever.

Pushing the button on the dash to open the gates, I wait for them to open. Gianna stopped talking a few miles back, but her eyes are everywhere, curious and bright. She gasps a little when I pull through the gates and my home is revealed. It’s on the smaller side as mansions go, but it has plenty of room for just the two of us. Thankfully, I keep a housekeeper, so there should be some food in the kitchen for her.

I forgot to fetch Gianna some shoes when I locked up her little house, so I pick her up in my arms again. This time I cradle her to my chest so I can watch her reaction. “I can walk, you know,” she grumbles. I raise an eyebrow and incline my head towards the gravel in the drive.

“Why would you want to? I’ll find some slippers for you inside. After you’re properly dressed.”

She frowns at that. I carry her inside and up through my bedroom to the walk-in closet. The closet alone is the size of the house I grew up in, but things have certainly changed over the centuries. I set Gianna down on one of the bureaus so I can rummage in one of the lower built-in drawers. Every vamp I know keeps a collar and cuff set on hand just in case a miracle should happen. Mine have never been used, so they’re a bit antique in style, I suppose. Gianna and I have more in common than she realizes. I too was terrified of being linked with a woman whose inane chatter would drive me to put a stake in my own heart. We’re human, not truly immortal, so a bullet would be more efficient, but it lacks the romantic element.

Without a word, I take the intricate diamond necklace out of the case and wrap it around Gianna’s slim throat.

“What are you doing?” she asks huskily as I sweep her dark curls out of the way in order to seal the clasp.

“Claiming you,” I remind her huskily. The sight of her wearing my collar incites my cock to claim her in other ways too.

When Gianna’s hand goes to her throat to finger the delicate metalwork, I swiftly wrap a matching bracelet around her wrist. It’s considered overkill these days to wrap a thrall at all five pulse points, but something in me demands the tradition where Gianna is concerned. I tug her other hand from under her hip and band that, too. The metal is infused with my saliva and since it’s semi-organic will respond only to me. There is no traditional clasp. Instead, the metalwork fits neatly together and is fused by licking it with my tongue. Only the same procedure will release the jewels from Gianna’s body. The metal also gives off my scent, detectable to other vampires and alerting them that this woman is permanently off limits.

Gianna gasps as she looks down at her arms. While she’s preoccupied, I seal the anklets in place. “Kade! I can’t wear these. That’s an absolute fortune in diamonds. These are diamonds, right? They look too old for cubic zirconia.”

I growl. “Of course they’re diamonds. It would be rude to offer a thrall anything less. Claiming jewels are a mark of respect and gratitude, not mere decoration.”

“Well, they’re beautiful, but hardly practical. I can’t work in a lab blinged out like Miss Las Vegas.”

I sit back on my heels. She has a point. And I hardly want to keep her from her career, just as long as it doesn’t involve first-hand research with any other vamps. “We can have a more practical set made later and save these for special occasions.” A wave of possessiveness washes over me as I regard her graceful neck and limbs twinkling in the light.

“You can’t mean me to sleep in these, surely. They’ll get damaged.”

I snort. “No, they won’t. And yes, those stay on until I can replace them with a more modern design. You can try to take them off, Gianna. You won’t hurt them.”

Her arch look says she doesn’t believe me, but she gives one of the bracelets a gentle tug and when that doesn’t work, a more serious yank. The bracelet stays just as it was. She brings it up to her face to examine it.

“Where does it fasten? I can’t see the clasp.”

“There isn’t one. Or rather, there is a natural split in the design, but only my saliva can seal and unseal it. The metal is organic in a sense and will respond only to me.”

Her eyes widen. “I thought that was just a legend.”

I shake my head. “It’s not. Now, are we returning to your little house tonight, or do you want to stay here?”

I place a pair of too large felt slippers on her dainty feet before she decides to attempt to walk home.

“Where is there a mirror? I want to see how ridiculous this looks.”

Picking her up, I carry her through to the master bath and set her gently on her feet. She gapes at her reflection and I dare to unfasten the tie of her robe. Easing it off her shoulders, I toss it away before murmuring, “This is how you are meant to be seen, Gianna. You are magnificent, and it’s an honor to become your protector.”

Her eyes meet mine in the mirror. She’s looking overwhelmed. I suppose this has all been a bit much for her in just a few hours. I turn and move back into the closet. Finding and retrieving a white dress shirt, I hand it to her. “Here. If you aren’t ready to sleep with me naked, you can wear this.”

“Does that mean I get to sleep in the guestroom?” she asks hopefully.

I shake my head. “No, baby. You’ll be sleeping in my arms from here on out. I knew the moment you opened the door that you belong in my bed. Do you need anything to eat before we retire? I’m not sure what Doris has on hand, but there’s bound to be something.”

She shakes her head. “Who’s Doris?”

“My housekeeper. She lives with her husband, Ed, in a cottage at the back of the property. He takes care of the gardens, but she usually has her lunch and snacks here, so there are supplies in the kitchen. I don’t have guests, so it’s limited until I can have her shop for you.”

Gianna frowns. “You seem awfully sure. What if I’m not?”

I shrug. “You will be. I’m not forcing anything but the jewelry on you, baby. And from the way you were admiring your reflection, I know you love the pieces.”

“Who wouldn’t? It’s a king’s ransom in diamonds, Kade. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t off your rocker. When was the last time you fed? Is that it? Are you out of your mind with hunger?”

I gaze down at her innocent face with amusement. “No, sweetness. I fed three days ago. And I’m old enough to go a few weeks between feeding without side effects. I’m fine.”

“Oh,” she sounds slightly deflated at that news.

Talk about birthday surprises! In the space of a few hours, I went from alone with a book and a glass of wine to bedecked in diamonds in a gorgeous (although crazy) vampire’s mansion. I really need to talk to my sister to confirm she’s behind this and what else she knows. But Kade doesn’t seem to want me out of his sight.

I don’t mean that in a menacing way though, he keeps reaching out to touch me, trail a finger down my arm, place his hand in the small of my back, things like that. Finally he leaves me alone to brush my teeth, having dug out a new toothbrush from some stash or other. I’m debating whether to break the spell with a call to my sister or not when I hear my cell erupt from the other room.

I meander in to find my phone, toothbrush still in my mouth. It’s Carina. I roll my eyes and answer the video call. “Hey, big sister.”

“Happy Birthday, Gianna! Are you out celebrating? I tried your house phone that you insist on having, but there wasn’t any answer.”

So she didn’t expect me to be kidnapped by a vampire? “Nooo. Do you know a vampire named Kade?”

She’s silent while guiltily nibbling her lower lip. “A little? Why?”

“Because he’s claiming I’m his eternal something or other and he basically kidnapped me and showered me in diamonds,” I inform her dryly.

“He what? He can’t do that. He was just supposed to hand you some champagne and let you look at his fangs.”

“I figured as much. But he got other ideas. Said he could taste it in my blood.”

“He bit you!” she screeches.

“No. I dropped a glass since somebody didn’t warn me to expect a real live vampire on my doorstep. He took it upon himself to lick the cut on my foot.”

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry, kid. I meant it as an exciting surprise. There’s someone I can call that will talk Kade off the ledge. Just hold on and I’ll get you out of there pronto.”

She hangs up before I can tell her I can handle this myself. I mean, it is kind of fun having a gorgeous older man practically worshipping my kneecaps. And I’m not quite done with this novel experience. Of course, we haven’t gotten to the biting and the sex yet, but I’d kind of like to decide on my own how far to take this.

I set my phone back in my purse, wondering if Kade happens to have a matching charger, and then return to the bathroom to finish my bedtime preparations.

That is until not five minutes later, I hear two low male voices coming from the first floor. Neither man is raising his voice except I can hear the anger in both. Or maybe annoyed frustration would be a better description.

Cautiously, I edge out into the hallway and closer to the stairs so I can eavesdrop.

“What the fuck are you playing at, Kade? You can’t go around pulling barely legal civilians in off the street and expect to get away with it. Tell me you haven’t enthralled her, please.”

“Not yet. But I will. I have most certainly claimed her. I figured the paperwork could wait a day or two, or am I missing something?”

“Protocol. You’re damn well missing that, you ass.” The other man sounds like he’s beginning to calm down.

Kade says something I can’t quite make out and then laughs.

The other man grumbles. “Fine. Bring her by my office tomorrow morning and I will assess the situation for myself.”

The door shuts, and I quickly beat a retreat back to Kade’s elegant bedroom.

He joins me there shortly, acting like nothing has happened. I bite my lip. “Who was that? At the door?” I prompt him.

He arches a brow. “An ancient vampire who’s overly fond of paperwork. Don’t worry about it. Hop into bed, little one, and I’ll join you in a minute.”

I eye the big bed with trepidation. It’s plenty big enough for six people, but something tells me I’m not going to be sticking to my side with a gulf between us. I crawl under the covers and curl on my side, facing the wall.

A moment later, Kade flicks off the light and I feel the bed dip as he joins me. Strong arms pull me towards him like tractor beams. He rests his chin on the top of my head. “There, that’s better. You warm enough, baby?”

It was chilly, but now Kade’s body heat is enveloping me. “I’m fine,” I mutter.

One hand smooths down my thigh, then rests on my knee. “What’s bothering you, Gianna?”

I ponder that innocent question. “I’m waiting to wake up. This is all too fantastical to be real,” I finally admit.

Kade chuckles into my curls. “Well, if it’s all a dream, what can I do to make it even better?” His hand moves slowly and softly between my thighs and up. Anticipation has me opening for him but he doesn’t dive in.

“Tell me, Gianna. What would make it even better?”

“Your hand,” I confess.

“My hand where?”

“In my pussy,” I whimper as the need for his touch starts to grow to painful proportions.

“And what is my hand doing in your pussy?” he whispers as his fingers stroke ever upwards. He pauses briefly when he encounters my slick folds. “So sweet, baby. I told you this was meant to be. See how wet you are for me already? What is my hand doing in your dream, Gianna?”

“Pushing into me, stroking my clit. Everything.” I pant, my channel beginning to ache with the emptiness.

“Hmm,” Kade murmurs as he pushes one thick digit into me. It’s not enough and I tell him so. “Patience, little one. One day soon you’ll have not only my cock in your sweet innocent pussy but my fangs in your neck. Do you want that, Gianna? To be twice speared by me, pinning you to the bed, taking your blood while I give you my cum?”

God, yes. Yes, I do. I cry out as he inches a second finger in to join the first. The jewels he locked into place on me seem to glow with comforting heat, adding to my overall arousal. When Kade pinches my clit ever so lightly, I shatter into a million pieces. His fingers continue to stroke in and out, soothing me down from that new found high.

“Sleep, Gianna. We’ll make everything official in the morning.”