CHAPTER TWELVE

A nna leaned against the wall inside the training center and watched as members of the Moretti army ran on vamp-enhanced treadmills, lifted tungsten-enhanced weights—the only material strong enough to withstand their vampire strength—and sparred with partners.

As if she wasn’t nervous enough about being here, Ben was late.

She pushed off the wall and began wandering around rather than standing there looking like a pervert. Which was difficult because damn, there were some incredible bods in here. Layers of muscles on well-defined warriors covered in sweat were everywhere she looked.

And she was looking.

Then she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and tugged down her T-shirt. Anna wasn’t a fitness kind of female. She preferred dance and movement to cardio and weights, but right now, she had a stronger desire to learn moves to protect herself.

When she allowed herself to dwell for a few seconds on what had happened, she was pissed a human had been able to take her down, even though they’d had a device that replicated sunshine and burned her. That feeling of being incapacitated was something she refused to ever allow again.

She wandered along the wall and peered through the glass windows where what appeared to be a yoga class was taking place. Huh, maybe she could attend one of those.

Wait, was that Willow on her phone doing child’s pose?

The princess spotted her and waved. Unfortunately, she used her hand with the phone, and Anna saw, not heard, the yoga instructor tell her off.

Shit, Willow mouthed and tucked it down her top.

Anna grinned.

“Sorry I’m late,” a voice breathed over her shoulder.

Anna jumped and let out a short squeal as she spun around. Large, warm hands landed on her upper arms, and then she was staring into Ben’s worried eyes.

“God, sorry. Are you okay?”

Her heart was thumping. “Yes.” She smiled. “You gave me a fright, that’s all.”

She cast a glance toward the yoga room. Fortunately, Willow was face-planting into the mat. Anna hadn’t told anyone she was doing this. She had insisted Timmy wait outside, telling him there were more than enough males in here to protect her if anything happened. Her security had been reduced to only one now, and Anna was happy about that.

Ben nodded and turned to look around the room. When he did, Anna took the opportunity to take in his black Adidas singlet and long shorts. It was the most undressed she’d seen him, and it showed off a tattoo on his left arm and some serious guns. His legs also, while large, had to be as solid as a rock. The muscles were well defined and looked strong. When her eyes made their way to his butt, she had to stop herself from reaching out to touch it.

What was wrong with her?

“Okay, I think—” Ben started, turning to her.

She blinked at him, hoping like crazy the lust she felt wasn’t written all over her face.

Ben grinned.

Dammit.

“Where do we start?” she asked, unnecessarily clearing her throat.

More grinning.

Finally, he placed a hand in the small of her back and led her across the room. “This way.”

Forty-five minutes later, she was still running on the treadmill at about fifty-five thousand miles per hour. “Ben, God, am I done yet?”

“Nope. Keep going,” he replied, running beside her at what appeared to be a leisurely rate. While she was dripping and wiping sweat like she was fighting for survival in the Sahara Desert, Ben looked like he was filming a fitness video.

“Seriously, I think I’ve run to England and back already.”

He laughed, yet continued to run.

Ugh, she was dying.

She slammed her hand down on the stop button, and the treadmill whirred, slowing. Ben repeated her action then jumped off his machine, hands on his hips.

“I didn’t say stop.”

Anna leaned over, panting. “You are try...ing to...kill me.”

She glanced up as Ben used his towel to wipe a sweat bead off his forehead.

Ugh.

“This is how you get fit and strong, Anna,” he growled. “Back on, and we go for sixty.”

“Sixty minutes?” she asked incredulously.

He nodded, pointing to the treadmill.

She shook her head.

He crossed his arms.

“Ugh, stop it. I want you to teach me to fight,” she growled, then looked around and realized the training center was empty except for two or three others now.

The reminder of Ben’s promise to fuck her in the changing rooms caused a sudden rush of heat. Fortunately, she knew she looked like a beet already, so it wouldn’t be obvious.

How wrong she was. A flash in his eyes said he knew what she’d been thinking. Yet, he maintained his military approach to her training.

“No. You aren’t strong enough, Anna. I’ll hurt you,” Ben said.

“No, you won’t,” she replied, and when he began to shake his head, she continued. “You won’t hurt me, Ben. I trust you.”

She did. She really trusted him.

“I’ll find you someone else...ah, fuck it,” he cursed and spun around.

“Someone else to spar with?” she asked, feeling hurt.

“No. I’ll fucking do it,” Ben said, looking pissed.

She recoiled.

Did he not want to train her?

Rejection rolled through her. Damn, she was stupid to even ask him. Clearly, he had much better things to do than this and saw her as unfit and incapable.

“I’m sorry. Maybe this isn’t a good idea. I thought you would want to. We can just go.” Anna began to walk away, but he caught her wrist in his hand and slowly pulled her close enough they were breathing each other’s air.

“Stop,” Ben said quietly. “I’m not having some random vampire touch you. I said I will do it, and I will.” When her eyes darted away, he cupped her chin and leaned down. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m sure you have better things to do.” Anna shrugged.

Ben’s eyes filled with heat as he ran his thumb over her skin. “Yes, like sinking my cock deep inside you. I promised you I would, and I never break a promise.”

Jesus.

Anna felt her legs wobble. How did this male affect her so much? Ben wasn’t her first crush—and by crush she meant a male she was totally going to have wild, crazy, passionate sex with—and yet, he caused a kaleidoscope of emotions within her.

While she loved all the sexy feelings, there was one that stood above the rest.

Safe.

And that was priceless to her right now.

“But until then, I need you to trust me, Anna. Follow me to the mats, and we will do some basic moves to satisfy you, but over the next few months, you will need to do cardio and weights to build your fitness and strength.”

Anna stepped onto the black cushioned mats and began to bounce.

Ben grinned. “We’re not boxing.”

“Shut up.” She laughed, nudging him in the chest and hitting a solid wall of muscle. He caught her hand and spun her around, pulling her back against his body.

Ommph.

She gasped.

Leaning down, Ben’s voice was thick when he said, “Lesson number one: don’t provoke the enemy.”

“Ouch,” she replied, trying to get out of his hold.

He sniggered.

“Lift your leg and use your heel to kick me in the shin.” When she hesitated, Ben tugged her harder. “Now, Anna.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” she responded, and then, suddenly, the world flipped.

Whoa.

Anna found herself on the mat with an enormous vampire on top of her. Enormous, sweaty, and sexy. If she’d been able to move, she would have ripped her own damn clothes off.

Anna panted as angry blue eyes blazed down at her. His body completely enveloped hers as he kneeled over her, pinning her to the floor.

“You hesitate; you die,” he growled.

Anna remembered the feel of his hard body against hers just days ago and how his mouth had felt on hers. She stared at his mouth, his lips red, parted, and inches from hers.

She slowly swallowed, running her tongue across her own lips, readying for him. Anna felt him harden against her.

“Fuck, Anna,” Ben breathed.

“There you are!”

Ben’s head whipped around, and he leaped to his feet, pulling her up. They both watched as Sofia walked as far as she could into the gym in her high heels, stopping at the edge of the mats.

“Oh, God. Sofia, I am sorry.” Anna looked across at the clock on the wall. She was twenty minutes late for her coaching session.

“I was so worried. What are you doing?” she replied, glancing between them. “Ben?”

“Hey, Sofi. Anna asked me to teach her some self-defense moves.”

“It’s nothing. Just, you know...” Anna started, but Ben put his hand on her shoulder, and she looked up at him.

“And I’m happy to,” he continued, holding her gaze.

God, she felt like a puppy dog around this male.

“A very good idea. Ben, that is very kind of you, but I’m sure we can find a more suitable trainer. Clearly, my brother doesn’t know his own strength by the looks of that”—she wiggled her finger at the floor—“last scenario.”

Anna blushed.

“Anna can choose her own trainer. She is a grown female, is she not?” Ben replied, a slight growl in his voice.

Sofia glanced slowly between the two of them.

The last thing Anna wanted to do was cause problems between the two siblings. She understood they had been separated for many years and were just now getting to know each other again.

“I’ll grab my things and meet you in the office in five minutes if you still have time?” Anna asked.

Sofia nodded. “See you in a few minutes.”

“Bye, sis,” Ben called after her, and Sofia simply waved her hand in the air as she left the room.

Anna looked around and saw they were alone.

Ben stepped close and cupped her head. “You did well today. I know I pushed you, but as they say, no pain, no gain. ”

“ Who actually says that?” she asked, smiling.

Ben shrugged, grinning. “No idea.”

When they just stood there, she went to move, but he placed his hand on her hip. “I’m not finished with you, Anna. I want more of you. Much more.”

Oh shit.

Her mouth parted, and his came down fast and possessive. Ben’s tongue dived in, dominating as he pulled her hard against him. Desire flared through her body, flooding her with a need that had to be fulfilled. When he pulled away, they were both panting, gasping.

“Jesus,” Ben cursed, his eyes darting to the changing rooms behind them. “Do you really need to go to this meeting?”

She nodded.

Their mouths connected again, biting at each other hungrily.

“Fuck,” Ben cried, and vamp sped them over to the changing rooms. Anna’s back slammed against the back of the door as his large body surrounded her, his lips back on hers.

“Wait, there could be someone in here,” she said.

“There’s not,” Ben answered, kissing along her neck, sending shivers through her. He pulled her T-shirt up and over her head, leaving her in only her sports bra. “Damn things.”

She let out a little laugh which faded to nothing when he yanked it up and exposed her breasts.

“Fuck,” he groaned as his mouth surrounded her nipple.

Anna let out a cry.

“I’m going to need more of you,” he said, tugging at her black Lycra shorts. Together, they pushed them down before she pulled at his shirt.

Ben reached behind him, and in one smooth movement, it was gone. She stared at the glorious body in front of her. Eight-pack heaven. Her fingers reached out and ran down his abs almost religiously.

“You can play more another time, sweetheart. Right now, I need this,” Ben told her, slipping his fingers along the sides of her panties, and then, under them. “Jesus. You are dripping.”

Her eyes darted to his as she let out another cry. “Ben. Shit.”

“Spread your legs more for me, Anna. God, that’s it. Jesus. Fucking. Christ.”

Her panties somehow vanished from existence, and she was lifted from the ground, hanging onto Ben’s enormous shoulders as he did away with his shorts. Pressing her against the wall, he lowered her onto his cock.

“Oh, God. Go slow,” she said as he filled her with more than she was expecting.

“Slow. Yeah. Okay. Fuck. Anna,” Ben ground out, his hands gripping her hips. “You okay?”

She nodded, then shook her head. “I don’t know. There’s...so much of you.”

Ben let out a dry laugh, scooping her up and carrying her further into the changing rooms, finding a bench. He dropped her onto it and leaned over her. “Better”

Anna nodded.

“God, you feel fucking amazing,” he said, gently pulling out and moving in again. “Pinch your nipples for me. I want to see you touch yourself.”

Oh God, she really needed him to move.

“Ben,” she begged, holding the bench with one hand and taking her breast in the other.

“I got you,” he assured, beginning to thrust faster now. His mouth moved over her neck as she arched into him. “Feel me deep inside you, Anna. I’m fucking you.”

God, yes, he was.

The mirror behind her creaked, as did the bench under her body, but she didn’t give a damn. All she could feel was Ben’s body on hers, in her, his mouth all over her, his breath speaking her name.

He reached between them and tweaked her clit as his cock continued to thrust, and holy cow, he was a pro with his fingers.

“Ben, shiiiit.” Pleasure flared as her orgasm exploded.

“Come on my cock, baby. Yes, fuck. God, you are so tight and hot,” he moaned.

His mouth opened as Anna felt him swell inside her.

“I’m going to come, Jesus, fuck.” Heat filled her as Ben half collapsed over her. He retained hold of her hip with one hand while the other was on the wall. They both moaned as his movements slowed.

When he lifted his head, he stared at her with a million emotions, including surprise and confusion. “I’m going to need to do that again,” he panted.

“Now?” she asked, aware she was very, very late for her meeting, and Sofia was going to be pissed.

She didn’t really care.

He let out a small laugh.

“No, sweetheart, but definitely soon.” Ben kissed her gently. “I want to taste you next time and go much slower. Damn, your pussy just fits around my cock like a glove.”

“You’re big; it’s not hard,” she said as he began to pull out.

“It was very hard,” Ben replied, handing her some tissues. “And it’s ready for more of you.” He ran his hand up and down his cock.

Anna stared. She hadn’t gotten enough of a look when they’d rapidly undressed each other. He was so goddamn gorgeous; every inch of him.

“My sister is going to be unhappy. Let me walk you to your appointment,” he told her.

Oh.

No, she couldn’t let Ben know about the center.

“That’s okay. Timmy is outside. He can escort me.” She turned away from him as she pulled her clothes back on.

Ben turned her back around. “Anna, my cock has just been inside you. I want to walk you home.”

She chewed her bottom lip.

“Ben, please. There are things I cannot tell you. I’m sorry.”

“About where you fucking sleep? Why is that so complicated. Don’t you have a bedroom? Okay, fine. You know what, just let me walk you to Sofia’s office.”

Anna lowered her eyes.

Ben sighed. A few seconds later, she felt him pull her into his arms. “Forget it. I just wanted to do the right thing.” He pulled back and kissed her on the lips. “I’ll see you in a couple of days for your next session, okay?”

Anna nodded. “Thank you.”

Ben ran a hand over her hair before walking out of the changing rooms, leaving her feeling empty and cold without him. It made her hate the people who had hurt her even more.

She brushed away a tear and waited a few minutes before she left.

ANNA STEPPED INTO SOFIA’S office, looking as chagrined as anyone could.

“Um, sorry, I had a...umm.” A ten-minute walk, and she still hadn’t come up with a reasonable excuse. “We...”

Sofia held a hand up and saved her from further embarrassment. “Don’t. I know what my brother is like.”

Ouch.

“As long as you’re aware of what you’re doing, Anna?”

What did that mean?

She made out like she was a little ho.

“What I’m doing?” Anna asked as she sat on the sofa. She frowned. “What do you mean? I’m not a virgin.”

Sofia let out a little laugh.

“No, I know that. Obviously, Ben is a bit of a heartbreaker, a flirt, whatever you want to call it. As long as the casual sex is mutual.”

Right. Casual sex.

That’s what this was.

Ben made her feel happy and desired. Plus, his protective nature was very welcome after being deserted by her parents. However, Sofia’s words had struck a nerve.

Was that what they were doing? Using each other for sex?

What she did know was that she wasn’t going to discuss her relationship with Ben with his sister. Anna planted a smile on her face and waved out her hand. “Sure. It’s nothing serious.”

Sofia was wrong, Ben had been chivalrous, wanting to walk her home. Or had he just been looking for a soft surface to...well, repeat what they’d done?

He’d made no secret about wanting to fuck her, and Anna was very on board with it. Very much. But if he was sleeping with other females, would she be okay with that?

The answer was no.

Vampires might not do relationships in the same way humans did, but many chose to be sexually exclusive until one of them found their mate. Anna hadn’t thought to ask Ben if he was seeing anyone else. Although perhaps the better question was whether she could continue sleeping with him if he was with other females. Or even human women.

She already knew the answer. No.

From the moment she’d laid eyes on Ben, he had felt out of her league. He looked like he’d stepped out of the cover of a steamy romance novel. Every inch of him was perfect, including those shimmering blue eyes.

Anna was just an everyday, nothing-special vampire. Unless you considered she’d been selected for experimentation.

She shivered.

With his cheeky grin and drop-dead dimples, he would have no shortage of females lining up to lay their hands on him. Now that he was working for the king wearing that sexy uniform, it was a wonder she hadn’t heard any gossip about the new male. Then again, she didn’t socialize with the females in the castle.

“My concern is for you, Anna. Your healing and recovery. I want to make sure you’re ready to step out into the world and prepare for the day your mate arrives,” Sofia continued. “Then, you will experience true love and have a male who will honor and protect you.”

Her heart warmed at the idea. She wanted nothing more than to be loved by a wonderful male. Her family was gone, and she felt lost, as if she didn’t belong anywhere.

“It must be wonderful.”

“It is, and you will never question it.” Sofia smiled, nodding.

Never question it. Those words sunk in.

“So today, for our session, I wanted to speak with you about venturing out of the castle,” Sofia added.

Anna’s eyes widened. “Oh. To visit my family?”

Sofia hadn’t mentioned it for a while, and she had been hoping to avoid this conversation. She was ashamed to admit her family had abandoned her. What if they also thought she wasn’t worth keeping around and asked her to leave the castle? Then she would really be alone.

Her heart began to beat with an irrational fear.

She knew she could fend for herself. It wasn’t like she had lived at home with her parents all her life. But there was a difference between knowing you had a family unit to return to and facing the fact that they had turned away from you when you had become a science fucking experiment.

Anna knew she should tell Sofia and talk it out, but she was still facing it herself. The shame, the rejection, the hurt. And among all of it was confusion. Why couldn’t they love her? She understood her parents had been traumatized by Caterina’s horrific death, but instead of loving her, they had turned their back on her. Back then to some degree, and now completely.

What was wrong with them?

What was wrong with her?

Was she so unlovable? Would her mate reject her when they finally met?

Ben eventually would, she realized.

“No,” Sofia answered, interrupting her morbid thoughts. “No, I have a social event to attend and wondered if you would like to join us? Lance and I.”

“Oh,” Anna said, confused.

“Brianna and Willow will be going. Just a few drinks at a bar in Rome.”

Anna’s eyes darted around the room. There would be music; she could dance, which was appealing, but the last time she’d been in a bar, she had been kidnapped. Not that Sofia knew any of that. She hadn’t told anyone.

“And their mates?”

“Yes. I promise it won’t be a couples thing, though. There will be others,” Sofia assured her. “I believe Ben will be there.”

Ben? In a bar. Music. Dancing.

Anna nodded. “I would like that.”

“Wonderful. I will be in Rome on an errand before that, so are you happy to come in with Brianna and Craig?”

Anna was comfortable with the two vampires. She loved working with Bri, and Craig popped by during the day, the two of them clearly very in love. He couldn’t keep his hands off the gorgeous redhead.

“Yes, no problem.”

Now, what on earth was she going to wear?