Chapter 4

4

REN

" T his is going to be complicated," Celeste sighed as she curiously looked around.

One perk of being immortal was that a lot of us amassed a fortune. Especially when you had a cousin who was extremely talented at playing the stock market. Plus, I'd gained hundreds of years of experience in owning real estate.

The material things were great since we tended to live mostly like humans, the same as many daywalkers. Showering, driving, eating—although we consumed food for pleasure, while blood was our life source.

However, those things were not the reason I was so grateful for my wealth. Having money allowed me to spend my time hunting nightwalkers and protecting future consorts. Most human consorts were unaware of the creatures living among them, and even less knowledgeable about their destiny as a vampire's mate.

Nightwalkers were determined to rid the earth of our kind, so they hunted unmated consorts. Once hunters like myself found any future mates, we reported back to the council, who worked to help them find their fated mate.

Of course, now that I'd found Celeste, I'd spend less time in the field…and more time in the primary suite of my two-hundred-year-old mansion.

I'd gutted and remodeled the place myself and kept the old-world charm. Not that I didn't have plenty of modern conveniences.

Celeste walked around the room, examining everything. When she made a full revolution and was within touching distance, I took her hand. Gently, I tugged her into my arms.

"Yes. Outside our home, it will be complicated. But here, in a space that is ours alone, nothing is complicated about what's between us."

Her cheeks bloomed with pink, and I smiled at how adorable she was. And sexy as hell at the same time. "The most important thing is that we face the challenges out there together," I added, softly running a finger along her jaw.

"I like the sound of that," she murmured, her lips tipping up at the corners. There was still hesitation in her deep brown pools.

I knew she wasn't ready to complete the ritual that would cement our bond. Everything was brand new, and she was still coming to grips with the fact that what she'd been taught about vampires seemed to be untrue. Although, to be fair, what she'd learned was a fairly accurate representation of nightwalkers.

Celeste needed time, and I would do my best not to overwhelm her with my desperate hunger for her.

Speaking of hunger…I needed to remember that until we fully mated, she was human and needed to eat regularly.

"Are you hungry?" When she raised an eyebrow, I laughed. Apparently, my attempt to keep that from sounding like a double entendre had failed.

"For food," I clarified.

"You have food here?"

I chuckled again. "I eat both, but I'll admit I need blood to survive. However, I can conjure up some food for you."

"Blood." She sounded nervous. "Is your…um…mate…your, um, food source?"

I laughed before dipping my head and running my nose up her neck, inhaling her sweet scent before letting her feel the sharpness of my fangs without breaking the skin. She shivered, and I raised my head to grin at her. "Not my food source, but once you are fully mine, it will be my pleasure to drink from you."

"Why do you want to wait?"

I grinned, loving how quickly she lost her nervousness and the little pout on her plush lips.

"In many ways, you are fully human," I explained. "Warm human blood doesn't taste pleasant to daywalkers. We prefer cold, bagged blood. As my mate, your blood will taste incredible, but no matter how fucking delicious it is, until we are fully mated, it still won't be very satisfying."

"I'm not sure whether to be relieved or insulted."

I laughed again, and it hit me how much I'd done that since meeting Celeste. She made me feel lighter. Freer. I could only imagine how amazing it would be when we were connected by our souls.

"Trust me, I'm very, very tempted. But I know that waiting to taste you until after the claiming will be worth it. From what my brothers have told me, there is no sweeter taste than the blood of your consort." I inhaled deeply and licked my lips. "Just from the scent, my mouth is watering, and hunger is gnawing at me. After the first time, trust me, you'll be begging for it."

I winked at her, and she blushed again. "I guess I'll have to take your word for it for now."

"Let's get you fed, love."

I led her back to the spacious kitchen and enjoyed her wonderful reaction to it. Once she was settled at the large island in the center, I waved my hand, and a small feast appeared before her since I wasn't sure what she liked.

She eyed it for a moment, then met my gaze, looking unimpressed. "I could have done that, you know."

I grinned. "I'm sure you could have, love. But as your mate, it's my job to take care of you."

Her face flushed, and she smiled sweetly. "I usually take care of myself. It's kind of nice to be taken care of."

"Get used to it, baby."

I poured myself a cup of blood and drank it while I watched her eat. By the time she finished, I was so hard that I wouldn't have been surprised if my cock had punched a hole through my trousers.

She sighed, and I wondered if that was the same satisfied sound she would make after a mind-blowing orgasm.

If I didn't find out soon, I wasn't sure I'd survive.

I stalked around the island and cupped her cheeks between my palms, then lowered my head and sealed my mouth over hers. I rubbed our lips together before using my tongue to probe for entrance, and when she opened, I swept it inside.

Holy shit . She tasted even better than she smelled. My body sizzled with need when her tongue tentatively touched mine. Then she fisted her hands in my shirt and tugged me closer.

"Fuck, I need you," I groaned.

"Please," she gasped when my hands moved down to cup her ass, yanking her forward so her pussy was pressed up against my long, thick shaft.

"Please what, baby?"

"I…I need you too."

"Thank fuck," I groaned.

I used my hands under Celeste's ass to boost her up. She wrapped her legs around my waist, and since I couldn't stop kissing her, I teleported us to the bedroom.

"Whoa," she breathed as her head retreated a few inches. "That will take some getting used to."

I chuckled as I carried her over to the extra-large bed covered in a soft dark-blue comforter. With a flick of my hand, it disappeared just before I tossed her onto the mattress. She giggled, then gasped when I practically ripped her clothes from her body with my vampiric strength.

"One day, I'll take my time and pull off your clothes piece by piece and kiss every inch of your silky skin while doing it. But I'm too fucking desperate tonight."

My eyes fell to the two small circles in her neck, and I was almost bowled over by a wave of possessiveness. A deep need to claim my consort, to make her mine in every way. It was hard as fuck to ignore it, but I knew it wasn't the right time. We needed to sort out this shit with her family and her former fiancé.

But at least tonight I would claim her virginity, which was not only a gift for me, but it had the added benefit of taking away what the male witch wanted most from Celeste.

Tearing my gaze from her birthmark, I soaked in the beauty of her body, starting at the top of her head and working my way down her cute, purple-tipped toes.

Damn, she was gorgeous. All mouthwatering curves and smooth skin. Her breasts were fucking magnificent, enough to spill from my hands and tipped with rosy peaks.

My perusal brought a flush of pink to her face, and I eagerly followed it as it spread down to her bare pussy. "Fucking hell," I groaned, my cock squeezing painfully.

Celeste's hands came down to cover her sex, and I growled, capturing her hands and moving them to her sides. When I looked up at her and saw the embarrassment in her expression, I realized I'd been a fucking idiot.

"Don't hide from me, baby," I murmured. "You're fucking gorgeous."

She met my gaze with confusion, and I trailed a finger up her slit, making her gasp.

"This is so sexy, I almost couldn't breathe when I saw it." I dropped my eyes to her glistening petals and licked my lips. "I'm dying to taste you, and I fucking love that there will be nothing between my face and your sweet pussy." Bringing the finger to my mouth, I closed my eyes as I licked off her juices. "I can't imagine anything but your blood tasting better than this."

I flicked my wrist, and my clothes disappeared, then I climbed onto the bed and settled on my knees between her legs.

"Holy cow!"

Celeste's whispered exclamation brought my eyes to her face. She was staring at my cock with a stunned and almost frightened expression.

"You're huge. That thing won't fit!" Her voice squeaked this time, and I had to swallow my laughter so I wouldn't hurt her feelings.

"Do you trust me?"

She nodded without hesitation, causing warmth to spread through my chest and make my heart thump.

"We were literally made for each other, love. Trust me to make this good for you."

The tension in her body began to ebb, and I smiled as I moved to lay on my stomach, wedging my shoulders between her thighs.

"Um, Ren…?"

"Relax, baby," I crooned. "Just feel."

I licked at her southern lips, savoring each drop of her arousal. Then I sucked each one into my mouth, fully cleaning it.

Celeste inhaled sharply, and her hands clenched the bedspread on both sides of her. But her legs shifted, opening just a little wider.

I glided my tongue up her slit, circling her pleasure button, then traveling back down until I stabbed it into her drenched hole.

"Ren!" she cried out, her hips bucking involuntarily.

I grinned before burying my face in her pussy and making a meal out of her. She was juicy and plump, and when her channel clamped around my tongue, I had to press my hips into the bed to keep from coming.

Finally, when she was vibrating with need and her cries became desperate, I latched onto her clit and slid a finger inside her. Her back bowed, and she screamed as her climax washed over her.

Carefully, I pushed in a second finger, using them to stretch her and get her ready for my big, thick cock.

Her pussy was trying to suck my fingers deeper inside, and I felt the tips brush up against the barrier of her virginity.

"Fuck, baby," I groaned. "Mine. All mine."

I drank her juices, and when she finally calmed, I placed a kiss on her thigh and murmured, "I can't wait to eat you after I take your cherry."

I fucked her with my fingers one more time, working in a third and fourth digit.

As she floated back to earth, I crawled up her body and took her mouth in a plundering kiss while I pressed our damp skin together.

Shock waves and pleasure and need pulsed between us, and my cock throbbed with the need to be inside my consort.

"Hold on to me, baby," I rasped as I lined my shaft up with her hot center.

Her arms and legs surrounded me, and I kissed her again as I punched my hips, going balls deep with one thrust.

"Shit," I gritted through clenched teeth. I wanted to give her time to adjust, but fuck, remaining still was going to kill me.

I concentrated on my beautiful mate, wiping away the moisture glistening on her cheeks.

"Are you okay, love?"

Celeste inhaled slowly, and her muscles began to relax. "The pain is gone." Then her face turned pink, and she whispered, "Can you, um…move?"

My eyes closed, and I touched my forehead to hers. "Absolutely."

I started soft, but it wasn't long until I lost all control. The bed banged into the wall as I slammed in and out of her tight, wet channel.

Celeste's cries of passion escalated until she was screaming in ecstasy. "Yes! Yes! Oh, Ren!"

Her muscles clamped down so hard it was almost painful. But it only added kindling to my already raging fire.

"Fuck, Celeste! Damn, I could live in this pussy. Fuck! Oh, fuck!"

When I couldn't hold off anymore, I pressed her knees back into her chest so she was at just the right angle for me to rub against her slit with every thrust.

I drove in three more times before she detonated, screaming my name as her climax burst inside her. My own orgasm followed right on its heels, and I shouted as I flew off the edge.

It took a long time for our bodies to come down from the high, and when they did, we were exhausted and completely satisfied. I pulled Celeste into my arms and curled myself around her.

"Now you are mine," I mumbled as I buried my face in the crook of her neck. "That asshole won't be a problem anymore."

Celeste giggled and turned to face me before snuggling in closer. "Are you always going to be this possessive?"

"Yup." I let the P pop on the end and winked at her.

"Good," she whispered.

I grinned, but it quickly faded when I saw her furrowed brow and realized something was off in her tone. "What's wrong, love?"

"It's just…Arthur."

I raised my head and frowned down at her. "Forget about him, baby. He won't even want you anymore."