Page 22 of Tryst or Treat (Season’s Readings #3)

A weight settled on Vlad’s chest, the pressure pushing him into the mattress, and instincts had his fangs readying to rip out the intruder’s throat when the scent of fragrant skin filled his nostrils… and pumpkin spice.

“You’re up early,” he groaned, gripping his wife’s thighs as she straddled his waist.

“It’s Halloween,” Belladonna said, her tone signaling that the holiday would be her explanation for everything. “Are you going to get up, or are you going to be a grumpy old man like Fang and stay in bed?”

“Stay in bed.” Vlad’s hands traced her bare thighs to her hips. The lacy thong did little to shield her from his abs, and the sensation urged his exploration to continue up her toned waist to her ribs. When she didn’t protest, he slid his broad palms to her bare breasts. She moaned, and he pinched her peeked nipples between his fingers, rolling them slowly as he enjoyed how wet she grew on top of him.

“Yes,” he growled. “I’m going to stay in bed.” He opened his eyes, catching sight of her straddling his torso, and the vision of her wearing only his tee shirt with tussled hair framing her makeup-less face and a mug of coffee clutched in her hands made his chest tighten. They’d never slept side by side before, had never greeted the morning as a couple, but if this was how she woke him up, he was pissed he hadn’t climbed into bed with her sooner.

“But it’s Halloween,” she moaned, gripping her coffee with white knuckles as he tugged her delicate nipples harder. She gasped, nearly dropping her latte onto his chest, but she didn’t stop moving. She ground her soaked panties into his abs, and it was possibly the hottest thing he’d ever seen. Just the sight of her trying to keep her drink from spilling as he tortured her made him almost come in the sheets.

“We have… we have things to do.” She struggled to breathe as she rocked against him, and while every part of his body wanted to grab those talented hips and shove them down until her dripping pussy sank onto his cock, he forced himself to watch her mesmerizing movements. She’d cried herself to sleep last night. He’d held her and stared at her puffy eyes, angry that her heartache was because of him. He’d been the one to disrupt her life, to steal her from her parents, to lock her away and force her to forget her fiancé. He was at fault, so this wasn’t about him. The sunshine bathed her in a goddess glow. His black tee shirt clothed her in sin, and her face was perfection. He wished he could video her so he could forever remember how magnificent she looked.

“I want to make you feel good, little witch.” He twisted her nipples, and she yelped with pleasure. He knew they would be swollen and red when he was done, and that image made him tug harder. “Last night was a mess, so let me make it up to you,” he groaned. “I want you to start Halloween off right. Don’t you want that?”

“Yes, sir.” She gripped her mug so hard that he thought she might break it, and his abs were dripping with her bliss. He felt a god with his hands on her body.

“Don’t you want to come?” he growled as his thumbs rubbed over her pebbled peaks until she was panting.

“Yes, sir.”

“Then let me hear you scream.”

Belladonna did not disappoint. Her hips moved faster as she leaned into his palms. She ground her clit against his abs, and as he pinched the swollen buds hard, she gave him her voice. She threw her head back without restraint and came so magnificently he thought he might pass out at the sight. She moved so well on top of him; he was almost nervous to fuck her. Being inside her would irrevocably change him, altering him to his core, and he was afraid to let a woman—a witch, no less—have that level of power over him. It would be absolute and consuming. If he slipped inside her, she would own him. For the rest of his life, he would belong to Belladonna.

“Hmmm, and here I thought I was waking you up with a treat,” Belladonna said wistfully as she crashed from her entire body high. “I made this coffee for you. I figured it was time I let you try it, but your surprise was much nicer.”

“You made this for me?” Vlad reluctantly pulled his hands from his wife’s breasts and sat up, shifting until he leaned against the headboard. He dragged her forward until they sat chest to chest, and he sucked in a pained breath. He was an idiot, but he wanted her close, even if it meant her dripping wet core landed on his rock-hard length. He’d slipped out of the top of his boxers, and the lacy fabric of her underwear was now all the prevented him from slipping inside her. “You’re finally going to let me try your famous pumpkin spice?”

“It might be a little cold, but it’ll taste just as good.” She handed it to him, wiggling her hips mischievously .

“Stop.” Vlad’s firm voice froze her in place, and she looked at him with confusion. “Don’t get me wrong, little witch. It’s taking all my self-control not to rip that lace you call underwear off and show you what it really means to be fucked by a vampire, but this isn’t about me. I want to give you a good day since last night was so shitty.”

“It’s why I made you a latte,” she said, tracing the artistic black tattoos on his chest with delicate fingers. “I’m determined to have a great day, and I…”

“What?” Vlad urged.

“I want you to spend it with me,” she blurted. “I would like to spend Halloween with you, Vlad. From the pumpkin-spiced lattes to the movie marathons to the trick-or-treaters.”

“You want to spend the day with me?” Vlad looked at her with shock etched into his features. He knew his young wife was attracted to him, and he would accept any attention she gifted him, but this? It sounded like she enjoyed being around him, and he had to force his face not to overreact.

“Yes… You’re my husband,” she said. “For better or worse, you and I will live for eternity together, but I don’t want centuries of hate. Vampires and witches have waged war for thousands of years, and honestly, I don’t want to fight a battle that has nothing to do with me. Someone hundreds of years ago declared war, and now I have to despise vampires? I’m not even thirty yet, and the idea that I’ll inherit the coven and have to oppose you for the rest of my immortal life sounds fucking exhausting. Maybe I’m too young and too na?ve. Maybe I don’t understand the truth about why the violence started, but I prefer to be married to a man I like and not one I’m expected to annihilate.”

“You are young, but you aren’t na?ve.” Vlad brushed her hair back from her face as he sat in awe of her. “No one has ever spoken so many mature and sensible things in the same breath. You’re going to be an amazing coven leader, and what’s more, I believe you’ll make an even better wife. So, Hell forgive me if any of my men hear the angel of death saying this, but it would honor me to spend Halloween with you.”

Belladonna smiled, moving toward him so fast that he didn’t understand what she was doing until their lips collided. She kissed him, and even though it was a quick kiss, it was his favorite one they’d shared.

“Now try the coffee.” She grinned against his mouth. “If I could use magic, I would warm it up, but room temperature will have to do.”

“I don’t need it hot. I’m just glad you brought it to me, but I have one request while I drink.”

“Okay?”

“Show me your nipples. I want to see how red and swollen they are since you enjoyed me being rough.”

Belladonna blushed four shades of crimson, but she leaned back and grabbed the hem of his shirt. She slowly dragged it over her breasts, revealing the peaked and abused buds, and Vlad groaned.

“You are perfect,” he said as he lifted the coffee to his lips.

“I know,” she teased, holding the fabric just high enough for him to see her, and he took a sip as his eyes worshipped her.

“Holy shit, so is this.” He glanced at the mug before looking back at her.

“I know.”

“And you really let all my guards try this before me?” He took a big gulp, eyes never leaving her beauty.

“Don’t get used to it, husband. I’m being nice because it’s Halloween.”

“Little witch.” Vlad shook his head as he finished the coffee. “You are going to be the reason a lot of heads roll.”

“A cat?” Vlad chuckled, and Belladonna spun for him with an exaggerated flare.

“Cats keep showing up, so I figured it would be the perfect costume,” she said, adjusting the ears protruding from her curled hair. She’d attached a tail to the back of her black dress and applied cat-like makeup to her face that was both elegant and absolutely adorable. Judging by her husband’s expression, he agreed.

“I got you a costume too,” she said, enjoying how the idea made him nervous. She’d promised him a sexy outfit, but she could tell he wouldn’t believe it until he saw it.

After her unexpected morning, they’d showered, cooked breakfast, and watched movies together. Then she’d insisted they make homemade treats for the trick-or-treaters, which Vlad pretended not to like, but she saw through his act. She ate too much. He tripped on too many cats, and she even practiced some spells, showing him which ones she would normally cast on Halloween. His reaction had been odd, though. On one hand, he seemed to enjoy the way her fingers contorted with expert skill, but he also seemed too guilty to allow himself the freedom to completely relax. She didn’t want to bring it up and spoil their fun, but the entire afternoon, she wondered if he was upset that he was making a witch live in a home without magic.

“You can dress up,” he said, “but I’m good.”

“What? You don’t want to dress up like the mouse that my cat brutally kills?” She waggled her eyebrows at his scowl. “You’re going to ruin the couple's costume.”

“A mouse?” His voice was dangerously low as he stepped forward, gripping her throat as he forced her to look up at him. “I’ll make as many caramel apples as you like, but I’m no fucking mouse. Do I need to bend you over the counter and remind you of that?”

“If I’d known that was an option, I would’ve actually purchased a mouse costume,” she shot back, stepping closer to him until their chests touched. His tattooed hand around her throat filled her with an unholy desire, and she wasn’t sure if it was Halloween or this man, but her magic was champing at the bit. It threatened to explode from her skin, wards or not, and if she didn’t break their contact, she would let Vlad take whatever he desired from her.

“I just got you ears, Mr. Grumpy Cat,” she said, pushing a pair of black ears onto his head. “You and Fang can be grumps together.”

“Stop calling me a grump.” He slammed his mouth against hers, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. They’d kissed more today than they had their entire relationship, and the more they touched, the stronger her magic burned. She’d entered this marriage expecting to hate him for the rest of her life, but now? Now she worried she might kill for him. Might defend him against all others. Might lo…. No, she couldn’t admit that because, as kind as he’d been, Vlad was the angel of death. He was destruction and violence and bloodshed. She was afraid a man so steeped in carnage could never love, and if she fell for him, his inability to reciprocate would destroy her.

“The ears look good on you.” She stepped away from the kiss, suddenly upset, and she could tell he noticed her change in demeanor. Their day had been perfect, and she wished this feeling could be permanent. The truth shocked her, but it was there all the same. She wanted an actual marriage with Vlad. Not just the sex. Not just the teasing. She wanted him. Every inch. Every emotion. Every day and night and moment in between. She wanted her husband to love her.

The doorbell rang, interrupting her sudden longing, and she plastered on an enthusiastic smile. “What do you say?” She took his hand. “You ready for trick-or-treaters?”

Belladonna and the security team had constructed two safe trick-or-treating posts for the neighbors, all of whom were shocked that the mansion had opened its gates for the first time in decades. One door led to a cozy station, meant for small children or people who scared easily. It was all pumpkins and cats and fluttering fall leaves, and she wished she could access her magic so she could add a special charm to the décor. Kids and parents alike loved it and her homemade treats, vowing to return next year if this is what the house offered, and Belladonna secretly loved the idea of being here a year later.

Vlad manned the second station, and she could tell by how hard he tried not to smile that he was having a blast. His door led to the haunted house option, and the vampires were doing an excellent job of scaring the shit out of the older teens and thrill seekers. Word of the amazing old mansion spread throughout the neighborhood, and kids would leave her station only to loop back to be terrified by Vlad. Belladonna watched her husband enjoy himself with a dangerous emotion. He’d been wary of her celebrations, but as he chased a teenage boy who was screaming like he was dying—after receiving a massive number of treats—Belladonna had the urge to throw caution to the wind and admit the truth. This man who waited for her consent, who bought her everything she wanted, who defended her, teased her, humored her cats and her Halloween extravagance and her desire to invite her parents over for dinner. He was a good man beneath the terror. Or at least he was her good man .

“I think that kid screamed the loudest yet.” Vlad joined her during a lull in trick-or-treaters. “It’s fun to show my fangs without worrying. They all assume I have cool prosthetics.”

“Just imagine how amazing it would be if I could cast a spell on the décor,” Belladonna said as she popped chocolate into her mouth.

“I was thinking… and don’t get too excited because this is just an idea,” Vlad said, “but I’m considering?—”

“Sir?” A guard rushed into the foyer, interrupting him.

“Where’s Bartholomew?” Vlad asked, scanning the area as if suddenly realizing his right-hand man was missing.

“There was an issue, and he left to handle it,” the vampire answered.

“An issue? Why wasn’t I made aware of it?”

“Bartholomew said not to interrupt you, but something’s wrong,” the vampire said. “He’s missing.”

“Missing?” Belladonna asked.

“We lost contact with him, and we’ve received news of a massive gathering on the outskirts of our territory,” the guard said. “Something is going down, sir. We need to go.”

“Shit.” Vlad looked down at her.

“Sir, we need to go now,” the vampire urged. “Reports of unprecedented unrest and bloodshed are pouring in. Vampires are dying.”

“Go.” Belladonna gripped his arm to convey her understanding. “Go take care of what you need to.”

“I won’t be gone long.” He captured her face in his broad palms and kissed her before racing from the room, leaving Belladonna with an acrid taste in her mouth and a rock in her stomach. She didn’t know why, but something in her gut whispered that Vlad wouldn’t be back. That she’d watched the man she was falling in love with walk out of her life for the last time.