Chapter 38

I move my hips back and forth, angling myself just right so Chris’ cock hits my g spot. As he grips my hips, I grab my breasts in my hands and moan loudly, throwing my head back in bliss. I feel the orgasm forming low in my depths, my muscles beginning to spasm around his length. He’s letting me go at my own pace, his warm brown eyes watchful, getting off by watching me get off. God, I fucking love him.

“Come for me, little kitten, so I can fill up that sweet cunt of yours with my cum.” Chris groans with a soft sigh. “You look so beautiful riding my cock, baby. The sight of you grinding those hips and taking my cock the way you’ve always been meant to? It’s my favorite movie. I could watch you forever. When you scream out my name—it’s my favorite song, the one I’m going to listen to for eternity,” Chris knows what he’s doing, knows when he talks to me like this, I come undone. His promises of love, the ode to our ever-lasting love, make me go wild for him.

I roll my head forward to look at him, our breathing ragged as I place my hands on his chest, grinding my hips faster over him.

He threads his hands into my hair, tugging me down to his chest. “I love you,” he sighs through his uneven breaths, crashing his lips over mine.

I cry out against his lips as my orgasm tears through me. My muscles clamp tight around his cock. “Chris!” I scream his name over and over again as I move my hips faster to draw out every second of this mind-shattering orgasm.

“Good girl,” he praises as he flips me onto my back and slams back into my still-spasming pussy.

I wrap my legs around his waist and pull him closer. I want his every inch to stretch me, that feeling that we fit together perfectly. Chris groans roughly as his hips thrust and pound into my slick entrance. He grabs my peaked nipple in his grip and squeezes as he thrusts in deep, his jaw hanging low as he stares into my eyes.

“I love you,” I say with a moan, placing my hand on his cheek.

And that drives him mad. “Fuck, I’m gonna come,” he grunts as he forcefully slams into me. We’re both moaning, lost in a trance in each other’s eyes while we claim each other. Letting out a yell of pleasure, Chris drives his hips into me one last time, coming hard inside me, filling me with his seed as he leans his forehead against mine, eyes steady on mine as he shakes over me. His arms are trembling when he finally slows his pace.

I wrap my arms around him as he collapses over me, burying his face where my neck and shoulder meet. His hot breath whispers against my flesh, his back heaving as he tries to calm his breathing. We lie still like this while I run my fingers through his hair.

This is only our seventh time having sex today, which is, honestly, progress. It’s been one week since I arrived at Chris’ home. Our home. During that time, I don’t think we’ve even left the house for longer than it takes to grab a few essentials, before we need to rush back home and have sex. We regularly can’t even make it through the door before we’re ripping each other’s clothes off, desperate to be wrapped in each other.

We’ve been lost in our desire and passion for each other for a week straight. Nothing else mattered but him. Only Chris Morselli. The love of my life- my sanguis. In the past few days, Chris has improved at making sure I eat between our love-making sessions because otherwise, I would starve, and I wouldn’t even care. My mind is consumed with thoughts of his touch, his kisses, his love, and his fucking fantastic cock.

Not once has he pushed me to turn into a vampire; he’s been so patient and understanding with me. I’ve thought about it, but it doesn’t feel like the right time. I know that someday, one day soon probably, I’ll have to give up my humanity. And I will for him. For him, I will do anything. I just need a bit longer, and then I’ll accept his eternal kiss and live forever with him in bliss.

“You know what sounds really good right now?” I purr, still stroking his hair.

“Having sex again?” Chris supplies. He begins tracing his fingers along my rib cage, sending chills scattering across my body.

I snort. “You are such a pervert! No, not more sex. Coffee. Coffee sounds amazing.”

Chris tsks. “My idea sounds so much better. And more fun.” He picks his head up and strokes my cheek. “But if my kitten wants some coffee, she shall have coffee. I’ll get it for you. You just stay in that bed. And do not get dressed.” He growls as he brushes his thumb along my lower lip.

“Thank you.” I raise myself on my elbows and place a soft kiss against his lips.

Chris groans and presses his palm harder against my cheek, deepening the kiss.

I almost lose myself in his hungry kiss, before I remember what I asked him for and let out a breathy sigh. “Chris! Coffee first!”

He pulls away from the kiss, lower lip jutting out in a pout. “Okay, okay. I’m going.”

As Chris gets up, he makes sure to rub his already hardening cock against my slick pussy, making my body twitch. A soft moan escapes me, and I’m rolling myself against him before I realize what I’m doing. I groan and sit up, pushing against his shoulders. “Go, little puppy,” I demand, pointing my finger at the door.

Chris laughs and rolls out of bed, slipping on the sweatpants that he dumped on the floor the last time we stumbled into bed. Unfortunately, these are the same sweatpants that cling to him perfectly, the fabric accentuating his cock. I grumble. My god, I’m so love-drunk on this man.

“You need anything else, baby?”

“No, but make sure it has extra caramel!” I beam.

Chris shakes his head, that damn dimple appearing next to his massive smile. “I’ll kill them if they forget to add it to my sanguise’s coffee.” Chris grabs a tee shirt from the closet and lazily pulls it over his head, covering the beautiful tattoos ranging across his back and stomach.

I’ve spent so much time this past week tracing them and burning every single one into my memory. His body is magnificent, all vibrant colors and artwork covering pale skin. I even told him I would get my first tattoo with him, something small but meaningful. That will probably have to wait until we can stop fucking for longer than an hour at a time. I don’t know much about tattooing, but I feel like there may be sanitary concerns with us having sex where I’m getting tattooed. I raise a brow at him. “That would be ridiculous.”

“No one fucks up my queen’s coffee and lives to tell the tale,” he responds with a laugh.

“Ha, ha. Very cute.” I smirk at him while I pick up my phone for the first time in almost a week. I glance down at the screen, and a random thought runs through my mind. Elijah. I gasp, swiping open my phone and scrolling quickly to his contact card. “Oh my god! I’m such a shitty friend. Fuck!” I whine, running the hand, not clutching my phone through my hair.

“Why? Did something happen?” Chris crosses his arms, leaning against the door frame.

“What happened is I’m a shit person and a terrible best friend. I haven’t called or texted Elijah once in over a week! Ever since I accepted the bond, I couldn’t think of anything else… except your cock.” Despite everything we’ve done together in the last week, I still blush.

Chris’ lips tilt in a sinful smirk. “Hmm, do tell me what you’ve been thinking about my cock?”

I narrow my eyes at him, trying to be stern while Chris stands there looking completely edible. “So not the point. I’m calling Elijah.” I blow a kiss at him as I stab the call button for Elijah. “Extra caramel, please! I love you.”

Chris chuckles. “I love you too, kitten. I’ll be back in 15. Stay in that bed.”

I wave him off when the phone starts ringing, tucking the phone between my shoulder and ear, waiting for Elijah to pick up and yell at me. I would deserve his ire. I can’t believe I didn’t think to at least text him once. He must be so depressed after Andrew and, on top of that, feel so abandoned by me. The phone keeps ringing and eventually goes to voicemail. I pull my phone from my ear, frowning down at it. I hope he isn’t too upset with me.

Although, he hasn’t reached out to me either. I double-check my text messages and phone calls—he hasn’t contacted me in over a week. The last time I heard from him was the morning of Chris’ homecoming concert. Anxiety slithers its way into my bloodstream, the beginning notes of dread starting to eat at my insides. I can’t remember the last time we went a single day without talking to each other, much less a whole week.

I stalk all of Elijah’s social media accounts, across every platform he uses. He hasn’t posted anything from any account in over a week. Oh my fucking god.

I try calling his phone again. Voicemail again. Panic lodges itself deep inside my heart. Oh, my poor Elijah. I’m such a shitty friend. I abandoned him when he needed me the most. Here I am, having the best week of my life while he’s all alone and wallowing in despair. He’s the best friend I could have ever asked for, especially when I was going through my own depression. And now, the minute our roles are reversed, how do I repay him? I ditch him. Yes, for the love of my life, but Elijah doesn’t know that. God, he is never going to let me live this down.

I set down my phone slowly. It’s not like him to go radio silent, even when he’s pissed at me. Frowning, I start getting suspicious, horrific thoughts running through my mind, identifying every single worst-case scenario. What if he killed himself? No, Elijah wouldn’t kill himself. At least, I don’t think he would. Maybe he is just taking some time for himself? Or he took a vacation at some fancy resort—which he’s done before. No, he always has his phone on him. And he always answers me.

I can’t get past this idea that something is fucking wrong.

I keep trying to call his phone over and over again. It goes to voicemail every single time. We need to go back to New York and make sure he is okay. I can’t just stay here having mind-blowing sex if I don’t know that my best friend is alright, much less alive.

I leap out of bed and jump in the shower, where I manage to wash in record time and get dressed. I’m packing a bag when Chris strolls into the bedroom. “Kitten? Hey, I told you not to get dressed.” His eyes trace over the bed, strewn with clothes, the duffel bag sitting on top of the sheets, and his playful attitude vanishes. “Wait, where are we going?”

I’m frantically throwing clothes into a bag, not paying attention to what I’m grabbing. I don’t even answer him, barely even notice that he’s walked in; I’m determined to pack as fast as I can so we can leave, now. I need to get to New York as soon as possible.

I don’t even see Chris standing next to me, until he rests his hand on my shoulder and turns me to face him. I jump at the unexpected touch, but as soon as I look into his eyes, tears immediately fall down my cheeks.

He sets my coffee down and cups my face in his hands. “What happened? Talk to me, kitten.”

“Something’s wrong with Elijah. We need to go back.” I scrunch my face as more tears fall, my fingers twisting in the fabric of the shirt I’m holding. “We need to go to New York right now.” I turn away from him, tossing the shirt in my hands into the duffel bag and scurrying towards the closet to retrieve more clothing. “I have to finish packing for us. We have to go. Now.”

“Whoa, baby. Slow down. What happened?”

“I fucking abandoned him!” I shriek, throwing a shirt rather violently into the bag and pivoting back towards the closet.

“Wait. Wait. Hold up. So… he’s mad at you?” Chris manages to get a hand around my waist, even with my frenetic motions, and uses it to turn me back towards him. My face is streaked with tears, and without a word, he lifts me into his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck, burying my face against his throat and locking my legs tightly around his waist. My tears are coming harder now, faster, falling against his neck and drenching the collar of his tee shirt. “Start over, Dani. Tell me what’s wrong.” He’s so calm. He’s always calm for me when I need him to be, when I’m spiraling out of control.

“I’ve tried calling him and texting him. He won’t answer.” I hold him tighter. “He hasn’t been on social media in over a week. That’s not like him. He would never do that. I just know something is wrong. Chris, I… if something happened to him…” I break off, guilt twisting in my heart.

I feel his hand rub gently over my hair. “Okay, finish packing. I’m gonna call Benji to gather the boys. We’re not going there without backup, just in case. We’ll leave in an hour, okay?” I sigh deeply, nodding against his neck. “Hey. Look at me, kitten.”

I lift my head to look at him at his command. He kisses me tenderly. “We’ll find him. I promise you. We’ll figure out what happened, okay?” I nod, as he wipes a tear from my cheek. “It could be nothing. Maybe he just turned his phone off for a little while. Don’t panic just yet, okay? But either way, we’ll find him.”

I kiss him again. “I love you. Thank you.”

“I love you so much, Dani. It will be okay.” He lowers me to the floor. “Now go finish packing, kitten. We got places to go.”

I finish packing our things, while Chris calls his brothers. I don’t fully believe everything will be okay, and there’s a sinking feeling of dread gnawing at me. Chris tried to calm my nerves as best as he could, and he succeeded a little bit, but nothing will work fully until I know that Elijah is alright. Elijah needs to be okay. I can’t take the blow that something happened to him while I lived out my happily ever after with Chris. I chew on my lip as I sit at the edge of the bed and wait for Chris. I will never forgive myself if my best friend is anything but okay.

* * *

Back in the familiar surroundings of the tour bus with Chris, the band, Scarlett, and Todd, it’s almost like nothing has happened—like it hasn’t been a week since we were last here. Everyone is laughing and talking. Except for me. I’m standing to the side, trying desperately to contain my raging thoughts. I can’t sit here and pretend that everything’s okay. I still haven’t heard from Elijah, and there’s been no news about him. I even tried contacting his other friends, who confirmed that they haven’t heard from or seen him either. And each and every one of them said it has been at least a week. I chew on my fingernail. Something happened to Elijah a week ago. I know it.

“Hey girl, you doing okay?” Scarlett asks, hugging me tightly. I didn’t see her coming up to me, and she caught me off guard with the hug, but even with the surprise, it still feels nice to know that she cares.

I give her a smile that I know doesn’t reach my eyes. “Not really. I’m so worried about my friend. This isn’t like him. He would never just vanish like this.”

“If he’s friends with you, I’m sure he’s just as badass as you are. We’ll find him, okay? And if someone hurt him, we’ll take care of everyone involved. No one fucks with our family and gets away with it.”

Family. She considers me part of their family. That’s the best news I’ve had all day. The fact that this group of vampires is so quick to call me their family, and protect me, means the world to me.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

Scarlett nods and gives me a smile. “Let’s go sit with the boys. Get your mind off things for a little bit.” She shrugs. “They’ll at least be good for a laugh.”

The bus jerks slightly as the driver applies the gas, getting us on the road. I catch my balance myself and walk over to Chris, who’s sitting on the couch next to Bash. Tyler’s on Bash’s other side, so I start to head to the other couch when I feel Chris’ hand wrap around my arm and pull me into his lap. He tucks me into his chest, twining his arms around my waist.

“You’ll always have a seat right here, kitten. Don’t ever go too far away from me,” he breathes into my ear.

My cheeks heat, and, for the first time since Chris left the bed this morning to get me coffee, a small giggle slips out of me.

“It’s about time you two finally got together. It was fucking painful watching you both fight the inevitable,” Bash says.

I laugh. “Well, it was only me fighting it. Chris never stopped believing in us once. I honestly can’t believe he didn’t give up on me. I was such a bitch to him.”

“I would never give up on my sanguise. You just needed some… coaxing.” He nuzzles into my neck.

“If by coaxing, you mean stalking me, living in the tree outside my window, and following me everywhere? Such a cute little puppy you were.” I gently pat his head.

Chris lifts his head and glares at me, while laughter fills the air around us.

I can’t help the smile forming on my lips. “You’re still my little stalker, puppy,” I say, giving him a quick kiss. Chris smirks, his dimple flashing.

“So, did you get her pregnant yet, Chris?” Tyler asks slyly, running his hand through his curly, ebony hair.

My eyes widen. I didn’t even think he could do that, what with being dead and all. Oh fuck, I’m not on birth control. If he can get me pregnant, there’s literally no way it hasn’t happened after the sheer amount of times he’s come inside me in the last week. “Wait, what?” I ask, whirling in Chris’ lap to face him. “Can you… Can we?”

Chris’ shit-eating grin tells me everything I need to know, and his hand passes along my back, smoothing the tension out of my shoulders. “No, he’s being an ass because he knows we probably haven’t stopped fucking since you accepted the bond.” He flicks his eyes to Tyler, a smug look on his face. “Which is true, by the way.” He flips Tyler off, and then his brow furrows, and he lifts his gaze to me. “We haven’t talked about that yet. Were kids something you would have wanted?”

“I guess I never thought about it,” I admit. “I think I would have liked to have a baby with you someday. Much later down the road. But… it doesn’t change my mind about anything. As long as I have you by my side, I’ll be happy for the rest of my life.” I swallow hard, the dread settling back into my stomach. “And Elijah.”

“You will have all of that and more. We’ll find him, kitten.” I nod slightly, but I know he doesn’t believe the gesture.

For the next few hours, we just sit and catch up with everyone. I’m able to relax for a little while and forget my terrible thoughts about Elijah, surrounded by my new family and my sanguis. Once I find Elijah, my circle will be complete, and everything will be okay. God, please be okay, Elijah.

And then my phone rings.

I’ve never moved so fast in my life as I do answering that call when I see it’s Elijah. Relief surges through me. He’s okay. I answered immediately. Everyone around me goes silent. “Eli, are you okay? I’m so sorry I haven’t reached out. I have so much to tell you!”

Silence.

“Elijah? Are you there?”

I hear a low, gravelly laugh on the other end of the phone. My breath freezes in my chest, the hair on the back of my neck rising. That’s not Elijah’s laugh. “Who is this?” I demand, forcing the question past the panic rising inside my chest.

“Took you long enough, pet. Poor Eli has been having such a hard time. He’s been so sad without you.”

Oliver. I cover my mouth with my hand. No. “Where the fuck is Eli? What did you do!” I shout into the phone.

“Don’t worry, the bloke’s not dead. Not yet, at least.”

“Where is he, Oliver?” I exclaim, flying off of Chris’ lap to start pacing up and down the center of the living area. Chris is right behind me, so close that I nearly run into him.

“Put him on speaker,” he murmurs.

I quickly pull the phone away from my ear to tap the speaker button. On the other end of the call, Oliver is laughing. “So quick to obey him. But now you’ll answer to me, Dani.”

Chris’ jaw tics as he stares at the phone, but he stays quiet. I can see the overwhelming desire to threaten Oliver in his eyes, but both of us know that this is no time for threats. Not when Oliver has Elijah.

“Just tell me where he is,” I say through clenched teeth.

“Hmm, no. I don’t think I will. See, I’ve been letting Amanda play with him. She’s had so much fun with him, even though he was so easy to break. You know he begged and pleaded for your sanguis to help him? But you never called or even checked on him; he’s been our toy for over a week. As you would imagine, he doesn’t really have much time left. I had to let the bloke down easy and let him know you were getting plowed by his savior’s cock, and that you couldn’t be arsed to get off your back long enough to care about him. His tears were so sweet.”

My breath catches on a sob, and Chris gently takes the phone from me. When he speaks, though, his voice is anything but gentle. “Just tell us what you want. Stop with your petty fucking games,” Chris snarls.

“Who’s playing games, mate? You know exactly what I want,” Oliver mocks.

“Refresh my memory.”

“You castrated and impaled on a stick, barely clinging to your miserable existence as you watch me fuck your sanguise in front of you, before slitting her throat and bathing in her blood.” Oliver growls into the phone then continues speaking normally. “If you want your friend to live, Danica, I want you and Chris to meet me. Alone. If anyone else comes, your friend dies. I’ll even record it for you, so you don’t miss out on the show.”

I knew my happiness couldn’t last long. Not with Oliver and Amanda still live. They’ll fucking pay for this. For everything they’ve done. “Where are we meeting you then?”

“Ocean Street Music Hall. Tomorrow night. Remember, you and Chris only. If I so much as see a shadow of one of his mates lurking close by, I will rip poor Eli’s heart from his chest and feed it to you—after I kill your sanguis. I wouldn’t try anything funny.”

“We’ll be there,” Chris says coldly.

Before they can hang up, I cut in. “Let me hear his voice. So I know he’s okay.”

“It’s funny, innit? When you think you’re in control of a situation, only to realize that you’re not. I’ll give you my word that he lives. Nothing more.” Oliver’s laugh is a bone-chilling sound. “And do hurry, pet, because he isn’t looking too good.” With that, Oliver hangs up the phone.

I run my fingers through my hair, collapsing to my knees. A feral scream tears from my throat, without me even realizing I’m making a sound.

Chris pulls me up from the floor and gathers me into his arms.

“It’s all my fucking fault!” I sob into his chest.

Chris strokes my hair. “No, it’s not. It’s Balor’s. And Oliver’s. And, hell, Amanda’s too. None of this is your fault. If Elijah’s alive, we’ll save him. If he’s not, we’ll make sure Oliver dies even more bloody, slowly, and painfully than he will otherwise. Either way, Oliver will die tomorrow night, and this will finally be over.”

I stare up at him, eyes wide and searching. “But how! We can’t go with anyone else. Did you hear what he said?”

Chris tilts his head, a familiar mischievous smirk lighting up his face. This time, though, I see a bloodthirstiness there that I’ve never seen from him. “I can handle Oliver. Plus, we won’t be alone for long.”

“And Amanda, too?”

A dark laugh emerges from his lips. “Oh, yeah, Amanda too. I’ll make that bitch sing and dance for me while I separate her head from her body.” He cups my face in his hands. “Do you trust me, kitten?”

I nod, my confirmation falling immediately from my lips. “I do.”

“Then let’s make a plan to kill your ex-boyfriend, baby. I’ve been dying to destroy this motherfucker since he laid his hands on you the first goddamn time,” Chris says, dropping his mouth to mine and kissing me with so much passion, so much hunger, so much possession, that the world disappears for a second and I completely forget that we’re surrounded by family—and that we’re supposed to be coming up with a way to execute Oliver. When he pulls away, we’re both breathing hard.

I trust Chris. I do. With my life, with my heart, with my best friend, I trust him. And I want to believe him that we’re going to end this tomorrow night. But if he has to take on Amanda and Oliver, together with no backup, this may not go the way we plan. We have no idea what they have planned for us once we reach Ocean Street. This could all turn out so much worse than we ever imagined, even with a thorough plan.

I push away the rogue thought that wonders in, questioning whether Oliver was just lying about Elijah being alive. Fuck, Elijah better be alive. No matter what Chris says, this might not have happened if I hadn’t been so caught up with bonding with my sanguis. If we all walk out alive after this, Elijah and Chris will never leave my sight.

My heart aches in my chest. I will do anything to keep them safe. And if I have to walk into the devil’s clutches to do it? So be it.

“A plan, then,” Todd says, breaking the silence.