Chapter 3

Genevieve

The weekend had been a sleepless one. A part of me was anticipating Nero knocking on my dorm room door. I had a feeling deep down in my gut that he wasn ' t done with me. However, he didn ' t, and I had mixed feelings over it. By the time Monday rolled around, I ' d convinced myself that I was simply a potential pick of the night, and had come to terms with that fact. That the whole thing had just been a combination of alcohol and an overactive imagination.

" I ' m so embarrassed," I whispered as I sank into the chair next to Jules in philosophy class. Nero wasn ' t in his usual spot. Maybe I ' d get lucky and he decided to drop the class.

The thought had barely gotten into my head when I felt the familiar chill running down my spine. Closing my eyes, I silently prayed that he ' d go to his normal spot at the back of the class – I mean, why wouldn ' t he?

The chill within me increased to the point that I physically trembled. And sure enough, he appeared at the end of the row that Jules and I were seated at, then made his way down the row and seated himself next to me.

" Good morning, Genevieve. "

Why did his voice have to be so deep and smooth? It was the kind of voice that could lull you to sleep with a satisfied smile on your face, regardless of the words being said.

When I refused to acknowledge him, he reached out and wrapped his hand around my wrist, his index finger lightly running up and down the inside of my wrist.

Biting down on my lower lip, I stopped the moan that threatened to escape. It was a simple touch, yet it caused every nerve within my body to tingle.

" What do you want? " I snapped, pulling myself together and refusing to look at him. There was no way I ' d be able to stay strong against him if I looked into his eyes. No possible way.

" Ouch, that ' s a little hurtful, especially after what we ' ve shared." His finger ran up and down my wrist again.

Snatching my wrist from his grasp, I crossed my arms over my chest. " I don ' t know what you ' re talking about. I got drunk at the club. Had a little fun. End of story. We shared nothing of relevance. "

He chuckled. " Hmm. Why don ' t I believe you? "

" Believe what you want. "

" I believe that you ' re hurt that I didn ' t try to contact you over the weekend. I didn ' t think to get your number before I left the club. An oversight. I apologize. "

Finally, I turned my head to look up at him. I didn ' t want him to think he had the upper hand in this situation. " You have no obligation to me. I have none to you. You ' re really overthinking this. "

" Don ' t be like that. I ' ve apologized. Let ' s start over. I ' d like to take you out to dinner tonight. "

Damn, this guy couldn ' t take a hint.

" I ' m not in— " I began. He leaned into me, cutting me off mid-sentence, his shoulder touching mine, the heat of his breath teasing the side of my neck. I had to fight back the urge to softly moan as a pull of desire surged through me. It was the very same light-headed feeling that had gripped me on Friday night.

" Come on. Just one dinner, what would it hurt? "

Dinner did sound good. And I was craving his touch again. The only thing stopping me from getting out of the chair and riding his cock right here in the classroom was the people surrounding us.

What in the hell was happening to me? Moments ago, I ' d been terrified of him. It made no sense whatsoever. If I wanted to get to the bottom of it, then perhaps dinner would be a great way to do it. We ' d be in public. Around people. Nothing would happen.

" I promise I ' ll behave," he whispered in my ear.

Fuck. Closing my eyes, I nodded as another rush of desire raced through me. " One dinner. That ' s all."

" Just one dinner. "

Nero

Working magic on her was taxing. Her magic, the magic she had no idea she possessed, fought my magic every moment I kept the spell on her. I couldn ' t even imagine the power she'd possess when she turned twenty-two. Taking that magic in was going to be euphoric, and would keep me young for another hundred years. Hell, maybe even a couple hundred.

It had been a long time since I ' d played the diligent suitor. Centuries. Perhaps as far back as the R enaissance era. I tended to relieve my needs and carry on with my life. Physical sexual relief was nice, but nothing compared to the all-encompassing feeling of taking the lifeforce from someone. Now that. That was going to be more intense than any sexual encounter could ever be.

After a little coaxing, she agreed to the date and I was able to release my hold on her. Taking a deep breath in, I sighed with relief.

The professor down below began his lecture and I pretended to listen. I ' d never make it to the end of the semester. In fact, I didn ' t anticipate getting through the week. At least I didn ' t have any intention of it. This student fa ade was just a cover to get close to her.

The professor droned on for what felt like an eternity.

Once done, I followed the girls up the aisle and into the hallway. Genevieve attempted to scamper away, but I was too quick for her, blocking her escape. She yelped and took a step back to keep from colliding with me.

" She ' ll catch up to you," I told her friend, then turned back to my little lamb. " I don ' t even have your number so we can set the date. "

" Yes. Umm. " She rattled off her number which I inputted into my phone, looking over my shoulder to see her friend who was slowly walking towards the exit. " Look, I gotta go."

" Of course. " Satisfied, I stuffed my phone into the back pocket of my jeans, then grabbed her arm as she attempted to run off, pulling her against me.

Her eyes grew wide, her lush lips slightly parted. " Nero. "

Slipping an arm around her waist, I cupped her chin in my other hand as I lowered my lips to hers. Her body tensed and then relaxed against me, her hands slipping up my chest and around the back of my neck as she gave in to me.

The contact and the sweet floral scent that gripped me only fuelled the desire within me. When she moaned, her fingers tightening their grip on the cotton of my t-shirt, it took everything within me to keep from pulling her back into the now vacant lecture theatre, and fucking her over one of the chairs.

But I had to play this smart.

Reluctantly, I released her and stepped away. " I ' ll be seeing you around."

Without a word, she spun around and rushed down the hallway. With one final quick glance over her shoulder, she escaped out of the building and out of sight.

Nero

I sprinkled the final few rose petals onto the bed and then took a step back, admiring my handiwork. This was romantic – I think. I was planning on making her dinner and then finishing the date in my bed, ravishing her body. I needed to ensure she was a virgin, that ' s how I justified it to myself. If I ' m the first and only man she ' ll have lain with, then it would give me a much more pure and powerful energy to siphon. Admittedly, I couldn ' t help myself from fucking her before the ritual. After all, it would be a shame to see the light within her expire without feeling her body writhe against mine as she moaned out in passion.

I ' d been playing an amusing cat-and-mouse game with her all week. She did her best to repel me, but it was useless. By the end of the week, she seemed to be coming around, her magic barely fighting me anymore when I was in her presence.

Looking around the bedroom, a grin spread across my lips. I had to make sure everything was perfect for her arrival, so she ' d willingly fall into my bed, begging me to take her.

Once satisfied with my home, a grand three-story house on the outskirts of the graveyard where the ritual would take place, I grabbed the present I ' d enchanted just for her and slipped it into my pocket.

Humming, I left, intent on making her mine tonight.