11. James

JAMES

Isnarled, fighting every instinct I had to sink my teeth into Rose’s throat right now. The deep chocolate scent of her blood, right there in front of me, nearly turned me completely feral. I was hungry, starving, having been denied?sustenance?for far too long. Stronger, better, older vampires than me had turned dark side, giving into the monster within, for far less a temptation.

“I know what you are,” Rose whispered.

A fucking monster.

“This is the part where you’re supposed to tell me to say it. That’s how it happened in the movie. But I don’t really remember the rest of Kristen Stewart’s lines. Something about skin as cold as ice or something?”

I dragged my gaze from that perfect, alluring drop of blood and up to her face. She should be very, very afraid right now.

Instead, she was... smiling?

No one ever smiled right before I sank my teeth into their throat and drank them dry. They screamed, they cried, they passed out, they died. They didn’t fucking smile so sweetly I could taste the sugar floating around her like a halo.

Not only did she smile, she brushed her mouth across mine, heartbreakingly soft, followed by a playful nip at my bottom lip. I froze, completely shocked out of the blood fever she’d incited in me.

Rose wiggled her plump ass to get down and I let her slide down my body, wanting to revel in the feel of her soft curves along my hard planes, but even that was beyond my brain’s utter?discombobulation. “You really are a vampire, and as soon as we get somewhere safe, with a bathtub and a bed, you’re going to tell me all about that.”

She took my hand and walked me out the back door and into the alleyway, like I was a lost puppy she was saving. That wasn’t far from the truth.

Rose shook her head and mumbled something about hallucinogens and garlic and being silly.

“Rose. You should run. I am a monster, a real one. I’ve killed people, I drink their blood. Why are you not afraid?” And why had I not already sunk my teeth into her, taking what I needed?

“I know, I saw you rip several people’s throats out tonight. Remember? But you would never hurt me. I know that all the way down to my soul. That’s the only reason I’m not freaking out right now. I’m not much of a freaker-outer anyway, but you know what I mean—”

I grabbed her shoulders and spun her to look at me. Fuck, she was so damned beautiful. I meant to rail at her for being stupid, for not being afraid of me, but instead, I shoved her up against the back wall of the restaurant and claimed her mouth with mine.

Our lips crashed together, fueled by pent-up desire and the realization that we could no longer resist what lay between us. I cupped her face, using my thumbs to not so gently stroke her cheeks as our mouths moved over each other’s, needing so much more than this.

The kiss was frantic and sensual, a turmoil of passion unleashed after days of holding back. Rose’s heart thundered in her chest, her blood pulsing beneath her skin like an aphrodisiac.

But as suddenly as it began, I broke away, not trusting myself. I left her breathless and me desperate for more.?”We can’t do this here. You’re not safe, and I won’t claim you against a brick wall in a dirty London alleyway.”

She ran a hand through her now disheveled hair, smoothing it, and then her dress, uh, nightgown? Fuck, I needed to find that safe place for her right now. And then we would talk.?She deserved the truth—I owed her that much.

I might expire of thirst before I finished explaining the dangerous world she’d just become a part of, but my instincts screamed at me to protect her. Another part of me said?to shield her from the darkness that lurked within me, but she was strong enough to handle it. I’d seen her face down a whole host of vampire hunters without flinching. If anyone could handle learning about the secrets of the supernatural world, it was my Rose.

Yes, my Rose. Mine.

And the reason I hadn’t taken her blood, given in to the temptation to drink her until there was nothing left, became so clear. She trusted me.

Fate trusted me to take care of her, and her of me. She was truly my Soul’s Serenity.

“Come, let’s get you that bathtub and bed.” I took her hand this time and led her back out to busy?Piccadilly. We came out just down the street from the restaurant, and it would never cease to surprise me just how oblivious humans were to what was happening around them. A few of the customers that had been frightened out of the restaurant milled about, but life continued on all around them.

I walked up to a small group huddled nearby and waved my hand in front of their faces, capturing their attention. In another breath of a moment, I had them mesmerized. “You decided not to eat at Franco’s tonight, and instead had a lovely evening over at the London Eye where you grabbed sandwiches at the little coffee shop on the corner.”

Rose stared agape at the group, and then made a face at me that I read as she couldn’t believe I was doing this. In for a pence, in for a pound.

I snagged the phone out of the nearest lad’s hand, held it up to his face to unlock, and quickly found his internet browser. Within a minute, I logged in to one of the popular vacation rental sites via an app, booked a place for tonight, and once again used his face to approve the charge to his credit card. I had the confirmation sent his email, opened that up, memorized the access information and?also noted his name and address so he could be reimbursed later.

“Good, now pop on down to the tube and head to this young man’s house. Stay there tonight and resume your regular lives in the morning, remembering only the fun you had at the Eye, and none of the incident here, nor any of the people you saw.” The?Piccadilly?Circus stop was just up the block and based on the young man’s identity that I’d just temporarily stolen, they’d likely gotten here on that line in the first place.

Rose popped into my instructions. “And feel free to have a wild monkey sex orgy when you get home, if that suits you all.”

I had no idea if that idea would take hold in their minds. “You’re a cheeky minx, Rose.”

“You’re just now figuring that out? Did you not watch Great Big Fashion Off?” She grinned at me, and it was now even more imperative that we have that talk and get to that bed to have a wild monkey sex orgy of our own. If that suited her.

“I did not, but I will add it to my queue as soon as possible.” I did not actually have a queue, nor a telly. But for Rose, I’d get one.

The rental I’d arranged was a luxury one bed flat just off Haymarket and Orange a few blocks away. But Rose wasn’t wearing any shoes and was only dressed in her silky nightgown. No way I was letting her walk like that. “Do you trust me, Rose?”

“Yes, but why are you asking?”

We stepped into the shadows, I wrapped her in my arms and transformed into my bat form. The magic of the shift brought her along too, like a babe I carried beneath me. She clung tight to my claws, and I took off into the night.

Only two minutes later, we landed right in front of the entrance, which was smashed between a sushi restaurant and a coffee shop. I transformed again into my vampire form and Rose squealed, still holding me tight.

“That was the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me, and I have so many questions.”

“Of course, love,” I replied softly, meeting her gaze. “Let’s get inside, showered, and you can ask me anything you want to know over a nice cup of tea.”

I punched in the code for the door and shut it behind us, feeling a modicum of safety for the moment.

Rose didn’t wait even a moment to begin a barrage of questions. “Can you even drink tea? Like do you eat or do you only drink blood?”

I searched the flat and headed us straight for the shower. “I can both eat and drink like a human, but it offers me no sustenance. However, there is a deeper value in a good cup of tea.”

No bathtub as she’d requested, but the shower stall was definitely big enough for two. The sooner I could scrub the scent of garlic from her, the sooner I could ravish her. I reached in and turned the water to scalding hot.

Rose only barely seemed to notice. “How long have you been a vampire?”

“Nearly six centuries,” I answered, watching as she absorbed this information. “Vampires can either be born, or they can be made by a human being turned. I was turned when I was in my late twenties. That is a story for another time, but I’ve spent most of my time since then working for what is now known as the Vampire Intelligence Agency.”

There were plenty of soft fluffy towels and a row of containers with body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. It had been a long time since I’d washed a woman’s hair for her. She was right, I should have found a place with a big claw-footed tub.

“Ooh. V.I.A. Nice cover with that motto.” Rose barely took a breath before she asked her next set of questions. “So, what’s it like being a vampire? I mean, how does it work? Like, are you actually allergic to garlic, does holy water burn you, does it give you a headache if I say something like Oh my God? What about crosses, do you sleep in a coffin?”

Her last question had her eyes going wide. I used that to my advantage and stripped off my shirt for those eyes only.

“Alright, love.” The soft glow of lights in the steam filled room played across her face, casting delicate shadows that highlighted her beauty even more. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know and more, when you’re naked and in this shower with me.”

She glanced at the steaming hot water and tipped her head to the side as if just noticing it for the first time. “If we’re getting in there together, you’d better give me the basic rundown first, because once we’re naked, I’m going to forget every single question I have.”

“First off, we have heightened senses—smell, hearing, sight. We can hear a heartbeat from a mile away and see in complete darkness.” I paused, considering how best to explain our abilities without frightening her. “We’re also incredibly fast and strong.”

“Wow,” she breathed, clearly fascinated. I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. “But, um, are there any weaknesses?”

“Of course,” I replied, my voice gentle. “Sunlight is our most obvious weakness. It burns our skin, and prolonged exposure can be fatal. We’re also vulnerable to certain materials like silver and wood. A wooden stake through the heart will kill us instantly.”

“Really?” Her eyes widened with surprise. “I always thought that was just a myth.”

“Many myths are rooted in truth,” I explained. “And the most important thing...” I hesitated, not sure how she’d react to this revelation. “We really do need blood to survive.”

She looked thoughtful. “So, do you have to... hurt people to get it?”

“Most vampires take precautions not to harm humans,” I assured her. “We drink from willing donors, but the VIA has our own blood banks.” I left out the part about always erasing a human’s mind after drinking from them.

“Okay, that makes sense,” she nodded, looking relieved.

“Any more questions?” I asked, wanting her to feel comfortable with all aspects of this new reality, but I also wanted very badly to get her naked.

“Um, yeah. Can vampires have... relationships? Like, normal ones?”

“Our relationships are intense and passionate,” I admitted, feeling a heat rise in me as I recalled the kisses she and I had already shared. “We can love deeply, but there’s always an element of danger.”

Rose looked at me, her expression a mix of curiosity and determination. I could see her mind racing, processing all this new information.

The soft glow of the antique lamp illuminated Rose’s face, making her eyes sparkle with curiosity. I could feel her warm hand still holding mine, and I knew that it was time to tell her the rest.

“Rose,” I began, choosing my words carefully. “There’s something else you need to know about vampires—about us, you and I.”

“Us?” she echoed, her brow furrowing.

“Vampires can have fated mates, or as we call it, a Soul’s Serenity,” I explained, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. “It’s a rare, powerful connection between two individuals who are destined to complete each other.”

Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned closer, intrigued. “And you think... I’m your Serenity?”

“I do,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve never felt this way before, Rose. The moment I met you, I knew it was you. I tried to deny it, to protect you, but each day I wait, drives me closer to the brink of becoming a dark vampire, uncontrollable and uncaring about anything but my next drink of blood.”

She looked down at our intertwined hands, seemingly lost in thought. I couldn’t help but notice how perfectly they fit together—a testament to our bond, perhaps. But would she accept it?

“James,” she said at last, her voice wavering. “A few hours ago, I didn’t even believe in vampires, and now... now, you’re telling me we’re destined to be together?”

“The choice is yours.” It was always hers. “If you choose not to be my Serenity, I will turn myself into V, the leader of VIA and he will... take care of things.”

He would likely drive a stake through my heart and chop of my head. He may still do that. He was not a fan of fated mates.

A silence stretched between us, the weight of the decision heavy in the air. I could practically hear the gears in her mind turning, working through the implications of what I’d told her.

“Okay,” she said finally, looking up to meet my gaze. “I can’t deny how strongly I feel about you, even if it’s something I don’t fully understand. Life is about taking risks, and the scariest ones are also the ones with the greatest reward. Love is a risk, being with you is too, but it’s one I’m willing to take.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, wanting to give her every opportunity to change her mind.

“Absolutely,” she replied, determination shining in her eyes. “I trust you, and if being your Serenity means accepting this new world, then I have only one more question for you.”

Please let it truly be the last.

“Why aren’t we naked yet?”

I had trained thousands of hours to utilize my vampire super speed for King and country. Never before had I put it to such good use. In less than a second both Rose and I were completely naked, and our clothing had been flung out into the hallway. The most glorious set of breasts I’d ever had the privilege of seeing called to me to be touched, caressed, worshipped, and most definitely sucked.

I didn’t know how it was going to work, and I certainly didn’t know why we were on this collision course to each other, but none of that mattered as much as having her in my arms and kissing her.

I kissed Rose and dragged her into the shower. Our tongues clashed, our teeth clacked, and I slammed into the wet wall, taking the blow to my back first and then turned to press her body against it, trapping her body against it with mine.

Rose shoved her hands into my hair and held me tight to her as our mouths mashed together under the wet spray.?”I can’t get enough of you. I want to taste you everywhere.”

My mouth was watering wanting to taste more of her everywhere, and my need took over.?I shoved her hands over her head and slid one of her nipples into my mouth and sucked like it was the sweetest of desserts. She groaned and threw her head back. “Ooh. Yes. But that’s not showing me what good you can do with your dick.”

I popped her nipple out of my mouth. “Patience.”

“If you say it’s a virtue and make me wait, I might scream.”

“I’d rather hear you moan some more.” I moved her wrists together and took them in one hand, freeing my other to wander. I had no intention of making either of us wait. I simply needed to ensure she was ready. I returned my mouth to her nipple, squeezing and pinching the other one. When she was moaning again, I moved my hand lower and between her thick thighs. I was going to get lost between her legs and enjoy every minute of it.

She was already wet for me, and my fingers slid between her folds easily. I pushed two fingers into her and found the sensitive nub of her clit with my thumb. Her gasped, incoherent mumble was all I needed to know I’d hit the jackpot. She twerked her hips forward, riding my fingers, and wasn’t that the fucking hottest thing I’d ever seen. “That’s it, flower. Take your pleasure. Let me see you come.”

I needed her as close to her climax as possible when I took her blood.

She was melting in my arms and her nipples went from pliant and soft to stiff little peaks. Her moans were music, rising in pitch, crescendoing as she got closer to her orgasm.

At her moans that irresistible urge deep inside me, a hunger that demanded to be satisfied, reawakened. My vampiric senses recognized the vitality and sweetness of Rose’s blood, pulsing just beneath her skin. If we were to truly become one, I needed to share with her my most primal need—to drink her blood.

“When we bond, I will take your blood. It’s a deeply intimate act, and I would never take this step without your consent.”

I could see the wheels turning in her mind, even as her body begged to come. With a determined glint in her eyes, she spoke, “I offer myself to you willingly.”

Her bravery struck me like a bolt of lightning, making me fall even more in love with her. It was a rare thing for a human to trust a vampire so completely, and I knew then that our connection was something truly special.

I circled her clit again and again with one hand, and with the other, I gently tilted her chin upwards, exposing the delicate curve of her neck. I felt her tremble slightly beneath my touch. But it wasn’t fear that caused her shiver. It was anticipation, desire, and trust.

“Are you ready?” I whispered into her ear, my breath sending tingles down her spine. She nodded, her eyes meeting mine with unwavering determination.

I closed my eyes and allowed my fangs to extend, feeling their razor-sharp points grazing my lower lip. This would send her over the edge into orgasm, and I wanted to taste every bit of her pleasure. With a tenderness borne from the depths of our bond, I pressed my lips to her neck and let my fangs sink into her flesh.

Her blood filled my mouth, and I was overcome by the sweetness and warmth that flowed between us. It was as if I were drinking in her very essence, becoming one with her in a way that transcended mere physical contact. The connection we shared deepened, solidifying our bond and taking the first step in truly sealing our destinies together.

“James,” she moaned, her voice barely audible but filled with desire as she tumbled over the edge into her orgasm. Her cunt clenched around my fingers, the rhythm there matching the pulses of her warm blood flow into my mouth.

The intimacy of sharing such a deeply personal act with Rose was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. Her fingers threaded through my hair, holding me close to her neck as our breathing grew heavy and synchronized.

I slowly withdrew my fangs from her neck, licking the puncture marks gently to help them heal, and pulled my fingers from her swollen and wet cunt. I looked into her eyes, now filled with a fire that matched the one burning within me.