Chapter 7

Hudson

My private wing of this sprawling Tudor estate is substantial. Not exactly as big as a standard family home, but not too much smaller. It was in decent shape when I bought it and only required six months of renovation to turn it into the hotel I envisioned.

Monsters deserve luxury just as much as humans. Okay, maybe not all monsters. The ferals that roam the town are more creature than human now. Humans do come into town. Word has slowly leaked out about this little corner of the world and its unique inhabitants.

I stare out at the night sky from my chair that faces the windows. Chester calls this my throne. He's funny that way. I bring the cup to my lips. Because of my giant hands, this teacup looks like one of those tiny ass espresso cups you see in fancy cafes. It's like, yes, I only wanted two swallows of a drink, please.

I've never been much of a tea drinker. But you can bet your ass I'm drinking the tea Rosie sent me. It's not going to solve my sleeping issues, but I find the subtle flavor soothing. This isn't about tea though and I fully recognize that.

I'm in over my head with this girl. Knowing fully that I can't have her, I want her. She works for me and clearly needs the job and insurance, so I can't fire her so she'll date me. There's a significant age-gap I can't ignore. In chronological years, I'm nearly seventy years old. I realize I don't look like a senior citizen, but she's barely in her twenties. Wouldn't that make me a pervert?

Let's not forget the main reason I can't have her… I'm a fucking vampire! Being with a human—being with a mortal—would mean one thing: watching her age and die while I was left alone in this world. That just seems like it would suck.

Turning someone has never been an option for me. There's no rule book for vampires.

No one sits you down and tells you the dos and don'ts, or the ins and outs of this shindig. Can you go into sunlight? Will I fucking glitter like a disco ball if I do? Is it only wooden stakes to the heart that can kill me? How much blood do I drink to turn someone before I accidentally kill them?

For the record, I've never drank human blood from an actual human. Before the new technology of synthetic blood (which comes in flavors!), I lived off of animals and the occasional blood donor bag.

So yeah, I would never do that to her.

Then there's the whole issue of us basically living in different worlds. She would not want to come live in mine. Why would such a vivacious, beautiful girl choose me? I'm a fucking monster.

My phone pings with an incoming message. I pull it out of my pocket and stare at the screen.

New Voice Memo From Rosie

I glance up at the time in the corner of the screen. It's nearly midnight. What is she doing up so late? I hope not working on something for me. Maybe I'm giving her too many projects.

I hit play and her sweet voice fills my bedroom.

"Hudson, I will never send this, but some things need to be said aloud. Or maybe I just need to say them to get them off my mind. I think I might have a crush on you. No, it's a definite crush. Or maybe just pure, unadulterated lust. I mean, I'd really just like to climb you like a jungle gym."

She giggles.

What the actual fuck? Climb me like a jungle gym? My dick is fully on board with that notion, going fully erect in less than a minute. She didn't mean to send this to me. She said as much. I should stop the message and just delete it. That's what I should do. That is not what I do.

"I love your eyes and the way you look at me through the video screen. I love the sound of your voice. I love the way you don't smile often, but when you do, it lights up your eyes and you get those little lines that fan out. So sexy."

She sighs on that last word. She thinks I'm sexy?

She's the sexy one.

Then I remember she's seeing a filtered version of me. Yes, it's my face, but it's altered. She can't see how my eyes look other-worldly or the fangs. What she's considering as sexy isn't the real me.

"That's the truth of it. You're just super sexy. So masculine and gah, I just really want to jump your bones.

But like I said, I won't send this because I'm your assistant and I love my job. I also need my job to pay off my exorbitant student loans and you pay me ridiculously well. And the health insurance you offer is amazing! But I just had to verbalize all of this desire I feel towards you. Okay, well I guess that's it."

It's not it for me though because now my dick is aching. It's been so long since I had something naturally arouse me. I press my palm against my boxers. Then I do the unthinkable. I pull out my cock and hit play again on her message.

I spit on my hand, and then fist my shaft. Sweet, perfect Rosie thinking she has a crush on me. I let myself imagine what it would be like to touch her. To grip those full damn hips, watch the jiggle of her plump ass.

I want to scent her right between her tits. I know she'd smell incredible there.

My fangs tingle, growing slightly longer. I run my tongue against their sharp points. My hand shuttles faster. Head leaning back against the chair and eyes closed, I come with a groan of her name.