Chapter 5

Samuel

I watched her cover her sexy teal-coloured dress with a black coat as she walked out of the door with a massive grin on my face. She wanted me. I'd loved every moment of being in this quaint little town and would be more than happy to settle down here. I'd bought a large estate on the outskirts of Elgin. Glenda had been a wonderful source of information. It was plain to see how much she adored her granddaughter.

I took my time and said goodbye to all the ladies that I'd gotten to know over the last four weeks before I rushed after Charlotte. The only difference this time was I made sure she knew I was behind her. I grinned when she stopped walking and turned around to face me with exasperation written all over her face.

"Fuck off, Samuel."

"You do realise that I have been watching you ever since you got off my plane," I said, loving that her pale cheeks had turned pink in her flustered anger.

She reminded me of Scotland's national emblem, the Scotch thistle. It was a beautiful purple-headed weed with sharp, spiky points on the leaves.

"Och, yer lookin' rather rosy cheeked, lassie," I said, using the accent I had picked up over the course of the last month. "Ar' yae alreet?"

I was still perfecting it. I knew eleven languages as I had spent plenty of time in various countries throughout my lifetime.

A tiny grudging smile curved the corners of her lips.

"You still huv a bit of English arseholery comin oot of yae," she said before she shook her head and began to walk towards her apartment again.

"I'm not that bad," I said, lying to her and sped up to walk beside her.

I had grown accustomed to living in the lap of luxury in London, and Elgin reminded me of my simpler times in the past. Some of which was rather jaded.

"You are. It reeks off ye. Holly is English, and she is normal."

She could curse me all she wanted as long as I could be close to her. I had never given it a single thought of what I would wear, let alone what I would wear to impress my blood mate. Yet I had been nervous seeing her face to face out in public. It could have gone far worse than what it did. The constant beat of her heart and listening to her blood race around her body was a temptation I had difficulty in controlling, but for her, I had.

"Where have yae been living?"

"The old McCleary estate."

Her head snapped around towards me, but I put my arm through hers and continued to walk.

"I heard he had it up fur sale. You bought it?"

"I did indeed. Elgin is a beautiful place to live, and the weather suits me."

"Cold and miserable like your dead heart?" She scoffed.

As if to prove her point, a light mist of rain began to fall down on us.

"Look, you've jinxed the weather now, and you were already wet to begin with," I said, trying to control my laughter.

When she tried to pull her arm away, I didn't let go of it.

"I didn't use Glenda. I love spending time with her. She is er—colourful."

She stopped struggling and relaxed a little.

"Plus, she knows everything about everyone," I said, adding on.

"Aye, she does that," she said grudgingly.

"Will you please do me the honour of coming out on a date with me, Charlotte?"

She sighed heavily.

"Yur no gonna leave me alone, ur yae?"

"Naw," I said honestly.

"Ah will need to think on it," she said softly.

"I can live with that," I said, and we remained silent until we got to her doorway.

She pulled her keys out and was about to put it into the keyhole when I took her hand and gently kissed it. I heard her heart begin to beat faster and I gently squeezed her hand before letting it go.

"I will text you my number," I said as I began to back away since I would be on her tree in the next few seconds.

"How huv yae got ma number?"

I grinned but didn't reply as I gave her a wave before I made away to look like I was walking away.

"Go out on a date with me, and you can ask me anything you want," I shouted back at her.

I heard her sigh before she closed her door, leaving me to make my way into her back garden and up onto her tree. The rain was coming down a little heavier now, but I was too pleased with tonight's introduction to care.

Seeing Charlotte's life showed me what kind of person she was, and it gave me the patience to wait for her. Her job was poorly paid, but she cared for everyone she visited daily and weekly. It wasn't about the money because I transferred 1.3 million pounds into her account personally. Besides a few items of clothing she bought, she spent more on the elderly people she cared for.

I'd never cared for humans. We lived among them, but I had only seen them as food, and in truth, had considered them to be below us. Charlotte had changed my mind about them. It didn't stop me from draining their blood, but I travelled to other locations in order to feed. Once Charlotte was ready for bed, I messaged her.

What time shall I pick you up tomorrow night?

She shook her head at her phone and put it down again. I would consider it a win since she didn't block my number. After she drew the curtains, I waited for her lamp to turn off. When I heard a text notification, I immediately pulled my phone out, but I was disappointed to see it was from Alexander.

Charlotte called Holly tonight. How did it go? Did she try to stake you with a wooden leg from a chair?

I grinned because, due to vampire fiction, there were too many inaccuracies around. Only decapitation of our heads with a dose of fire could kill us.

It went better than anticipated. Please ask Holly to put in a good word for me.

I tucked my phone away after responding to him and thought about Holly, who was still in the early stages of her pregnancy. I couldn't imagine having vampires around Charlotte, never mind around our baby. The thought of Charlotte carrying my child made me eager for the time to pass.

She was going out with me tomorrow whether she liked it or not. My patience was beginning to run thin.

∞∞∞

After a quick shower and change, I parked in front of Charlotte's apartment. As soon as she came out, I pushed the passenger side door open for her. She ducked her head into the car to look at me. She wore a lilac work tunic and was carrying her usual lunch bag. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and her hair rested over the curve of her breast. I'd seen every inch of my blood mate's body, and I couldn't wait to explore it further.

"What do you want?"

"Good morning to you, too. I'm your chauffeur for the next century," I said with an innocent smile.

"I'm fine walking," she said, as she stood upright and tried to close the door but I was too fast and kept it open.

"Which means I will simply follow you around all day in the car. You might as well get in."

She walked away, giving me the middle finger.

I closed the door before I stabbed at the button to open the window. I began to creep alongside her on the street.

"I can give you an update on Andrea and Callum."

Her head snapped towards the car, and I could see the scowl on her face. It was a low blow, but my morals were compromised hundreds of years ago. I hid my smile when she got into the car and slammed the door shut.

"First stop is Mr and Mrs Buchanan, right?"

She paused in putting her seatbelt on to look at me.

"Yae creepy, slimy, stalking bastard, yae."

I shamelessly shrugged my shoulders.

"I do love a filthy mouth. Are you as expressive in all situations?"

I heard the click of the seat belt before she looked at the roof of the car.

"God, why me? I've no even got any caffeine in ma system yet fur this shit."

"Okay, coffee shop first," I said, pulling away from the curb.

"You're—" she began to say but ended up pursing her lips and throwing her hands in the air in frustration.

"You know Glenda had a point last night. I could alleviate all that festering rage inside of you."

"Just drive, ya eejit," she said, putting her head back on the headrest.

I smiled and began to tell her about Andrea and Callum's progress. We sent one of our best psychiatrists to help them. A vampire, of course, but the children would never know.