Chapter 5

Genevieve

Handsome, and knew how to sweet-talk a girl. Nero was dangerous in more ways than one. His questions about my adoptive parents brought up feelings I ' d been trying hard to dismiss. I knew they never meant to treat me differently. I doubted they even realized they did. I ' d come to terms with the fact that I was the black sheep long ago. But sitting next to him, I felt more detached from my adopted family than I ever had in my entire life.

I needed to shake these feelings otherwise I ' d never get a second date.

Forcing myself to smile, I glanced back over at him. " What about you? Are you close to your family? "

Before he could answer, a large gothic-style three-story house came into view. The walls were made of stone with tall, narrow windows and gabled peaks. Next to the house a graveyard lay, a light fog concealing the inscriptions on the tombstones. In the daytime, I was sure that the large trees surrounding much of the graveyard would look stunning as their leaves transitioned from green to a variety of yellows, reds, and oranges, but in the darkness, it appeared eerie, sending a shudder through me.

He chuckled. " It ' s not as scary as it looks. In fact, from time to time I take a walk through the graveyard at night. It ' s tranquil. "

I huffed, waving a dismissive hand at him. " That wasn ' t what I was thinking. It ' s quite magnificent. Are we having dinner with your family? "

" Nope. The house is mine and mine only. "

My mouth dropped open, as I looked at him and then back at the house as he turned onto the gravel road leading to the front door. " Are you rich or something? Seems a lot for a college student. "

" My parents have long passed away. "

" I ' m sorry. "

" It ' s fine. I inherited some money, made some money. It was a bit of a fixer-upper, but I think it was worth it. "

" It ' s amazing, " I whispered. I was out of the car before he had a chance to open the door for me. There was something about this house. It was magnificent in its own right, but there was an energy about it that beckoned me forward. From time to time throughout my life, there had been a handful of places where I ' d feel an indescribable surge of energy that would vibrate throughout my entire body. I was experiencing that now. The energy in this house was the strongest I ' d ever felt. It was impossible to resist.

" Thank you. " With a hand at the small of my back, he guided me inside.

Upon entering, we stepped into the grand foyer with a double staircase that led to the second and third floors. Stepping further into the house, to the center of the foyer, I looked up. Above was a stained glass dome, the light of the moon shining through sending beams of colorful light pouring through the room.

As I closed my eyes a pulse of energy shot through me so intensely that it nearly sent me toppling to my knees. With lightning quick reflexes, Nero stepped forward, quick enough to catch me before I fell.

" Are you okay? " he asked, guiding me from the foyer and into the kitchen.

Giving my head a shake, I attempted to smile while still stumbling as I attempted to right myself. " Yeah. It was weird. I felt like … I can ' t even explain it. "

" I ' ll get you some water." After seating me at the mahogany table with space for eight, he poured me a glass of water from the jug in the fridge and brought it to me. Kneeling before me, he passed me the glass. " Have you felt anything like that before? "

I mulled the question over as I took a long drink of the water. If I told him the truth then he ' d think I was crazy, just like everyone else. Shaking my head I replied with a simple, " No. "

" Hmm. I see. " His gaze locked onto mine for a minute as if trying to decide if I was full of shit or not. " Have you eaten at all today? "

I had, but lack of food seemed like the perfect excuse to cover my erratic behavior. I flashed him a sheepish grin. " I had a really busy day. Hadn ' t had a chance yet. "

" Well then, let ' s rectify that. " He stood and shrugged off his suit jacket draping it over the back of the chair next to me, then pulled his tie up and over his head, tossing it onto the jacket. " I make an amazing steak. Seared to perfection. Sound good? "

I nodded. " Sounds really good. "

" Maybe some potatoes and veggies. It ' ll be great." Turning on the chair, I watched as he rolled up his sleeves and set to work. Pulling out his phone, he tapped the screen and music began to softly play in the background from hidden speakers around the room.

His hands worked quickly and efficiently preparing the veggies as he tended to the steaks. The fragrance from the meat drifted to my nose, making my stomach grumble. I ' d been lying before, but now I truly was hungry.

" Is there anything I can help with? " I asked, starting to rise from the chair, only to be commanded to sit back down.

" You nearly fainted in my foyer. Keep your butt planted until you get some food in you. " With a wink, he added, " Let me pamper you. "

Laughing, I gave in. " Do you put this much effort in for every girl or am I just special? "

He stopped chopping a carrot and smiled. " You ' re more special than you think. "

His comment gave me pause as I eyed him with scrutiny. Why did I get the feeling that there was more to that comment than he was letting on? But what was it?

Nero

I hadn ' t been lying, she was something special. The fact she was able to pull energy from the house without even trying was proof of that. However, it went beyond the magic she possessed. She had an amazing sense of humor, and her smile was sweet and sexy at the same time. The way she tucked her dark, shoulder-length hair behind her ear had me captivated. It almost had me wondering if she was weaving an attraction spell around me, and not the other way around.

Under different circumstances, I ' d have loved to spend the rest of eternity exploring every inch of this planet with her. I had toyed with the idea of taking on a companion from time to time. Unfortunately for her, she possessed what I needed, and finding a new subject from whom to funnel magic would be challenging. It took me years to find her.

I watched from the other end of the table as she finished the last bite of the dinner I ' d prepared.

Sensing my eyes on her, she looked up and a shy smile spread across her lips. " Why are you looking at me like that? "

" Like what? "

" Like if you could that you ' d devour me whole. "

" Maybe that ' s what I fully intend to do. " Slowly I rose and made my way over to her. Capturing her chin in my hand, I tilted her face up and lowered my lips to hers.

Closing her eyes, she sighed against my lips, placing her palms flat against my chest.

Dropping my hand from her chin, I slipped it to her neck, gripping the side and feeling her lifeforce pulse through me. Damn, her power was electrifying. My cock grew hard, causing a growl to emit from me as I pulled her to her feet and deepened the kiss.

Her body tensed against me, then relaxed as she slipped her hands around my neck and pressed her soft body against mine. She smelled of wildflowers on a crisp spring day. She was life to my death and I craved more of her.

Grabbing her thighs, her skirt slid up to her hips as I lifted her up and onto the table and stepped between her thighs. My hand on her neck tightened as our kiss deepened, my tongue dueling with hers as jolts of pure power shot through me. The feeling was fucking addictive.

She was addictive.

But I needed more and there was no way I could wait until the ceremony to get it.

Tearing my lips from hers, I began to run a string of kisses along her jawline and to her neck. She sighed, tilting her head slightly to the side, allowing me access to the sensitive flesh.

" You have no idea how intoxicating you are, Genevieve, " I whispered. " How much I need you. "

She whimpered, her hands slipping to my waist and pulling me tighter so the ridge of my cock was pressed against her mound.

As my lips and teeth nipped and teased their way down her neck, my fingers worked the buttons on the front of her sundress until her breasts, covered only in lace, were exposed. Pulling back, I looked into her lust-filled green eyes.

" God, you ' re beautiful. Fucking perfection. "

Her cheeks reddened, her chest heaving as she pulled her lower lip between her teeth.

So innocent. So trusting.

I took pause for a moment. For the first time in my immortal life there was a hint of regret in the back of my mind for what needed to be done.

But then she slipped her hand to the back of my neck and pulled my head back down to her lips as she brazenly slid her hand to the front of my pants, rubbing the ridge of my cock.

A jolt of desire raced through me, tossing aside any sense of regret as the need to consume her took over.

Returning the kiss, I slipped a hand between her legs, cupping her mound. Her panties were moist to the touch. Fuelled and encouraged by her evident desire, I pulled her panties to the side and slipped a finger between her pussy lips, stroking her slit, taking a moment to tease her clit. As my finger brushed her clit, she moaned, pulling her lips from mine and letting her head fall back as she basked in the pleasure I was giving her.

A grin spread across my lips as I dipped my head again, biting her hardened peak over the thin lace covering her tight, rosy nipple.

I already knew how this night was going to go. I could feel her inhibitions slipping away as she was engulfed by the passion.

It was going to be a night I would remember for centuries to come.