Chapter 18

Charlotte Sanguinite

"What're you daydreaming about?" Jazz glances at me, two days after the beautiful date I had with Robert. "You've been a little loopy lately. Is it because of the weird guy in the alley? Dad already installed cameras and fixed the lighting back there. If you're worried—"

"No." I flush. "It's not that."

Jazz is wiping down the tables after the morning rush. There are two people occupying the booth in the back, which is usually reserved for freelancers or remote workers. They pay no mind to our conversation.

"Then what is it?" Jazz sinks into one of the seats. "Not like you to be so spaced out."

I don't have anyone to discuss girly stuff with, and while Jazz does tend to get a little too excited, I find myself saying, "Robert took me out on a date the other night, in the woods. He had set up this lovely space with fairy lights and music. There were blankets and good food, and it was just wonderful."

Jazz's jaw drops. "That sounds so romantic! I can't remember the last time Marcus did anything romantic for me. In fact, I can't recall the last time we went on a date."

Jazz's hair has been dyed back to a normal brown shade, and she's removed her piercings. Lately, she has started dressing more normal. I haven't asked her what's going on. She's the type of person who'll talk when she's ready. Right now, she seems to enjoy focusing on my love life.

"So, did you guys do it?" She leans forward, excited.

"Do what?" I look over at her from where I'm setting up our new Halloween display.

She glances at the customers at the back of the cafe and lowers her voice. "You didn't sleep with him? After everything he did?"

I frown. "No."

Robert was entirely focused on me throughout the evening, not on what might be in it for him.

"We ate, and then he wanted to dance, but I've never danced before." I laugh, remembering how I kept stepping on his toes as he tried to teach me. "I had a good time. I've never gone on a date like that before. Nobody has ever put so much effort into a date with me. But he didn't ask for anything in return. Not even a kiss."

Although there were moments when I wanted nothing more than to reach out and slam my mouth down on his, the idea of initiating a kiss had me feeling shy.

"I did want to," I sigh. "But I'm not that brave. It's so much easier to follow his lead."

Jazz gives me a disappointed look. "You do realize that the man is head over heels for you? At least give him something back. Initiating a kiss isn't that hard."

"I'm not—I've never initiated anything sexual in my life." I keep my voice low. "What if I mess up? Or what if I try to do something and he doesn't want to, or—"

Jazz shrugs. "It's called taking a chance. And when somebody likes you as much as Robert does, he won't care if your attempt to seduce him is clumsy. Guys like it when women are confident."

The idea of going up to the Alpha and trying to seduce him is a bewildering one. I keep imagining him laughing at me or staring at me as if I'm acting like a clown.

"Why're you behaving like a virgin?" Jazz gets to her feet. "You've slept with guys before."

"Yeah," I confess. "But I've never dated one or had to try and seduce one. We would hang out for a bit, do the deed, and then walk away. And it was only two guys. Besides, Robert is way different than them in bed. He's—"

"You slept with him?!" Jazz cries out in shock.

"Jazz!" I hiss, glancing at the two customers who are now looking over at us in unconcealed interest.

"Sorry!" Jazz slaps her hands over her mouth.

I bury my face in my hands as she covers the distance between us. "You and he—You already did it? When?! How?! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"It's not anyone's business, and I was drunk, kinda, and things just happened…and well, now, here we are."

"When?" Jazz insists.

"That time we went out to dinner." I wince, and from her reaction, I was right to hesitate.

"That was weeks ago!" She smacks my arm with each word. "You didn't so much as breathe a whisper of it to anyone!"

"It's not like I want to advertise my sex life, Jazz!" I say through gritted teeth.

"Wait." Jazz holds up a hand. "So, let me get this straight. You two have already slept together, and you still don't know how to seduce him?"

"I told you, I was drunk," I whisper.

Jazz gives me a long look. "Girl, if you don't know how to turn a man on, always go for the fool-proof method."

I lean forward. "Which is?"

She just smiles.

I have a feeling I'm not going to like this.

******

The plan wasn't to seduce Robert.

All I wanted was to be able to express my emotions the way he does: fearlessly. But that's something I struggle with. It's not easy to just go up to him and be physically affectionate.

I stare at the three pieces of lingerie Jazz made me buy. She'd convinced me to go shopping during our break when Gina showed up for her shift. I should have said no.

I should have protested when the first piece of lingerie had the crotch cut out. It was bad enough that it was so sheer, a dark black number that hid nothing. When I tried it on, I thought I would explode from embarrassment. The other items were similar.

Jazz chose the most provocative lingerie she could find, and then, once I had paid for it, she proceeded to cut off the tags so I couldn't go behind her back and return it—something I had already been planning to do the moment I got the chance.

And now, I'm stuck with it all.

It's raining outside, and Robert has gone to get takeout since Mrs. Mallory had to go to her daughter's place tonight. I'm alone in the house, with both Mano and Zeno sleeping downstairs. Maybe if I try on the black one again, it might not be as bad as I imagined.

Thunder crashes outside, the rain lashing against the windows.

I slip out of my clothes and into the tiny, black slip of clothing.

It hugs every curve, the circle on the crotch displaying everything to the world. My nipples are visible, as are my breasts and my flat stomach. When I turn around, I close my eyes in mortification.

It's like wearing nothing.

How am I supposed to sport this in front of anyone?! It's as good as being naked!

I grab the zipper on the side and try to pull it down, only to realize in horror that it's stuck. I try again, but it's jammed.

"Damn it," I mutter. "Will you just dislodge?!"

I'm trying to yank it down when suddenly, there's a knock on the door, and it opens. "I forgot my wallet at the—Charlotte?"

Robert's hair is sticking to his forehead, wet from the rain. His t-shirt is no better, clinging to his muscled body. His eyes are on me, and there is no mistaking the heat in them.

My mouth turns dry at the way he's looking at me. "I—The zipper is stuck."

For a moment, Robert doesn't say anything. Then, he enters the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click. His voice hoarse, he asks me, "Need a hand?"

"Yes." It's not easy to speak when his eyes are devouring me like that.

As he approaches me, I mumble, "I was just trying it on, and the zipper got stuck. I wasn't trying to—I mean, I thought you would be gone for a while, and—"

"It looks good on you." Robert comes to stand behind me, meeting my gaze in the mirror. My face is red, and I don't know which way to look. "Why did you buy it?" he murmurs, his hand settling on my stomach.

My heart is pounding so hard, I know he can hear it.

I consider lying, but the truth forces its way out of me. "I wanted to be confident, like you are."

"Confident?" Robert gives me a puzzled look now.

I try to shrug. "I'm not good at initiating anything, and I was trying to find a way, and Jazz bulldozed over all my ideas, and I ended up buying these."

"These?" Robert's attention goes to the two other pieces of lingerie lying on the bed.

I feel so exposed right now, with Robert's hand on my stomach, his wet chest pressed against my back.

"You did a lot of shopping today." He sounds even more amused and heated.

"Jazz said lingerie was the only way to seduce you without trying to, you know—"

I cut myself off before I can finish the sentence, horrified that I actually let that much slip out of me.

"Are you trying to seduce me, little vampire?" Robert's voice is husky in the way that makes me press my thighs together.

"I just—"

"If you wanted me in your bed, all you had to do was ask," he whispers against my neck, his hand sliding lower till he finds the hole in the fabric. "Although, I do like the effort you put in." His words are soft as his fingers ghost over my exposed pussy.

"I didn't—"

How am I supposed to form full sentences when he's touching me like this?!

"Should I help you with the zipper?" Robert presses an open-mouthed kiss against my nape, and my breathing turns labored, my nipples tightening into painfully hard points. "Or should I loosen you up first?"

I can feel the slick juices coating my pussy, and when my head falls back against his shoulder, Robert slowly inserts a finger inside me. My lips part in a groan, and I can see him watching me in the mirror through my half-open eyelids.

The hunger on Robert's face is feeding my own.

His finger moves within me, and he bites my earlobe, commanding, "Eyes open. I want you to see what I'm doing to you."

It's hard not to obey when his voice is so authoritative.

Seeing his finger move in and out of me is a different kind of arousal. I can hear the squelching sound of it gliding through my folds, and my chest heaves with excitement. However, he doesn't pick up speed or insert another finger, punishing me with this gruelingly slow pace, driving me half mad as I chase my orgasm. I watch his eyes fixed on my face as my expressions change in growing desperation.

He likes it. I can tell.

His tongue licks the side of my neck as he drills his finger inside me, pushing me closer and closer to the edge. I see his wolf in his eyes just as he sinks his teeth into my neck. My knees turn weak as the mixture of pain and pleasure pushes me straight into the chasm. Robert triples the number of fingers as he fucks me through the vicious orgasm that tears through me like a storm.

I can feel his teeth in my neck, and I am both weak and giddy with exhilaration.

Robert loves to bite me, to tear my skin, and it drives me wild.

His fingers move up my body, tracing over the sheer clothing, until he rubs his wet fingers over my lips. I part them, cleaning my slick juices from those thick digits. There is something utterly depraved about the way he is making me watch everything he does to me, and I can't get enough of it.

His cock is hard against my backside, and I moan as his tongue laps the blood oozing from the wound on my neck. Ever since he bit me here the first time we had sex, this spot has become quite sensitive. I've stopped wearing any sort of necklace because every time the chain rubs against it, I feel strange. There's a pressure inside me that makes me uneasy, and I force it down, trying to hide it away.

"I don't know why you think you have trouble seducing me," Robert whispers, making me shiver. "All you have to do is breathe, and I want you."

I let out a shaky laugh, my body tingling in all sorts of places as I try to come back to reality. "I wasn't trying to—"

When did this become so easy? When did I go from needing to stay away from Robert to wanting him to know that I like him? When did I throw all self-preservation out the window?

I can't find it in myself to care right now, my eyes slipping shut as the wolf Alpha's large hands cover my breasts. He is certainly amusing himself.

"This color looks gorgeous on you. Remind me to leave your friend a hefty tip for suggesting this one." Suddenly, he cups my breasts and frowns. "This won't do."

"Wha—"

I don't even get to finish my question before he unsheathes a claw and slices the material, causing my soft flesh to pour into his hands. His rumble of approval has my knees turning to jelly.

His claws dig into my chest, and I know he's deliberately leaving marks. In retaliation, I grind against his hard shaft that is still digging into my behind. His growl doesn't scare me; I rub with more intent, and he immediately whirls me around. "You little vixen!"

I smile and press my hand against the bulge in his jeans. The desire in his eyes has me panting. I know how rough of a lover he is, and something within me needs that unrestrained side of him. It wants to be fucked with the ruthlessness only this Alpha can treat me with.

Robert's lips hover over mine. "If you want it so bad, take it out yourself."

I claim his mouth with mine, and as he seizes my jaw to kiss me more deeply, my hand searches for his zipper. As I pull it down, he bites my lower lip, and I groan, licking the drop of blood.

Robert's hands come to settle on my waist, and he turns me around almost instantly. He picks me up and places me on the small coffee table, on my hands and knees. We're facing the full-length mirror, and he pulls off his shirt, pushing back his hair. One hand grabs my jaw. "Don't you dare close your eyes. You're going to watch. If you close your eyes, your ass will bear the brunt of it. Do you understand?"

I nod mutely, my body brimming with nerves and passion.

His smile is deep and slow, and my mouth turns dry. I like seeking his approval in the bedroom.

I watch in the mirror as he holds my legs open and begins to enter me. His movements are rough; his sheer girth has me whining, and my eyes flutter shut.

Almost immediately, there is the sound of a loud crack, and my right ass cheek burns in pain. My eyes fly open as I cry out.

"What did I say?" Robert asks calmly.

"Th—That hurt!"

"Then don't close your eyes."

I let out a shuddering breath and realize something else: under the pain is a different kind of pleasure. As he inches inside of me, my mouth falls open as I watch myself getting impaled by that monstrous thing from his pants.

"R—Robert," I whimper, feeling his cock moving inside my slippery hole. It's so tight, I feel like I can't breathe for a minute.

I must have closed my eyes again, because the second smack is louder than the first one.

I moan.

A third smack, and I feel breathless, my pussy tightening around his cock.

"You like being spanked?" Robert's hand winds in my hair, and he tugs my head back. "Answer me."

"Y—Yes. Only by you."

I don't know where the last line comes from, but I know it's true. Nobody else. I wouldn't let anybody else touch me like that.

It's apparently the right thing to say, because Robert's eyes darken, and he delivers three hard smacks on my ass, alternating butt cheeks, his cock still in me. I gasp with each strike, and he lets out a quiet groan as I clench around his shaft.

"Fuck, you're tight!"

Hand still holding my head in place, he begins to fuck me in long, deep strokes. I come with the second one, but he keeps going, smacking my ass every now and then, enjoying my reaction. My eyes are nearly crossed as he fucks me with such dedication, ignoring the mewling sounds I make, the pleading words falling on deaf ears. He's intent on driving me insane.

My body is limp, only held up by him as he wrings orgasm after orgasm out of me, using my hole at his will. His grip on my hair is mostly to keep me in place, and I cry out as he releases inside of me.

However, he is far from done as he pulls me down to the carpeted floor, on my knees. "Open your mouth."

I obey, parting my lips and letting him feed me his cock.

"Good girl." He strokes my hair, and my body tightens all over again in desperate need.

This man is addictive.

And this night is far from over if Robert's got anything to say about it.

******

After a couple of hours, we're both too exhausted to go anywhere for takeout. So, we decide to make some ramen that Robert finds in the pantry. Unlike the last time we slept together, I'm able to walk, and while Robert looks for seasonings, I fry up two eggs and cut some green onions. Mrs. Mallory has some chicken broth in the freezer, and I heat it up, boiling the noodles in the broth. I hand over some vegetables for Robert to chop, but I keep an eye on him as he does so. I don't trust him in the kitchen.

Wearing nothing but his shirt, I take out two bowls and ladle the broth and noodles into them. I add the vegetables next and then the fried eggs, finally drizzling some chili oil and sesame seeds on top.

The wolf Alpha beside me watches in awe. "You're like a chef."

I chuckle. "This is basic cooking. You don't just boil noodles and put seasoning on them. Any monkey can do that."

Robert gives me an offended look. "Hey!"

I put his bowl in front of him. "Learn to fry an egg, Robert. It could save your life."

"Why would I learn how to fry an egg when I've got such a beautiful chef all to myself?"

"I'm on my feet all day." I sink into the chair, feeling my lower body ache. "The last thing I want to do is come here and cook."

"I could give you a foot rub." Robert kisses the side of my neck, and I can feel the heat in my face.

"I don't trust you with my feet or any other part of my body," I mutter. "You're not very focused."

He bursts into laughter at my comment. "I fixed your zipper, didn't I?"

"Yeah, after you had your way with me," I complain light-heartedly.

"Not my fault you went and got lingerie." Robert pokes the fried egg with his fork. "I already have a hard time resisting you, and then you buy something that makes you look like a wrapped present. Excuse me for wanting to unwrap you."

My lips twitch even as my face burns.

"Whatever, just eat," I tell him.

Mano and Zeno are sleeping in a corner, huddled against each other. Zeno is mindlessly chewing on my cat's tail in his sleep.

We have our meal in silence, both comfortable in the dimly lit kitchen, the sound of the rain outside filling the quiet.

There's a simplicity to the time I spend with Robert, and the more I'm around him, the more secure I feel. The cracks in my heart left by my family are slowly being filled by this man. I don't know how or when, but Robert has managed to invade every aspect of my life, and it's hard to imagine ever going back to my lonely lifestyle.

My strange dreams have stopped.

I sleep better.

I'm happier, despite the situation with the vampires.

I look forward to being in his house and spending time with him.

My heart is completely entangled with his, and I don't know the first thing about breaking free, or even if I want to.