Hot blooded, p.17
Hot Blooded, page 17
He hesitates for a moment, studying me intently. “No sweetheart. You’re perfect the way you are. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, please. I need you inside me.” If he won’t let me suck him in return, I at least need this. Need to be connected with him in this way.
Reign reaches one hand behind me, grabbing himself up and aligning himself with me.
I rub my hands over his biceps, admiring him. Trailing up, I lace my fingers around his neck.
And then there are no more words, he thrusts his hips, sliding inside of me in one long, slow thrust.
“You’re so wet…” he groans, “…and warm.” His voice is lava.
My legs clench around his waist, squeezing him close to me. My head still spins, high on his bite, as he pounds into me, hitting that sweet spot inside.
“Reign,” I cry out as the molten heat races through my body, and I feel myself sliding over the edge. “I’m coming,” I pant.
“Tressa,” he groans in reply, and I feel his cock throbbing inside me, filling me with his seed.
We stay like that for a few more moments before Reign lays me back on the bed and takes my mouth with his again. Our kiss is slower this time, steady and sweet. I nip at his bottom lip, sucking into mine as he pulls himself from me, and I mourn the loss of him, even though he’s still right here on top of me.
He presses a soft kiss to my nose. “You’re incredible Tressa. You have the kindest heart and the sweetest blood. If only I could keep you forever.”
“You can,” I breathe wistfully.
He doesn’t reply with words, but with a deep kiss that leaves me with more questions than answers.
Chapter 35
Reign
The call I get in the afternoon makes me cringe, ruining what was otherwise a beautiful day of me watching Tressa work on her roses.
“There’s going to be a trial,” Wilson breaks the news to me.
“Fucking hell. By jury?” I ask.
“No. Thank God. I got a bench trial. Just us and a judge. I’m sorry, Reign. The police around here have never faced a case like this. And the law is clear. We’re going to need to argue it with a judge.”
My heart sinks at the thought of parting with Tressa, rotting away in some prison cell for who knows how long. A life sentence to a vampire… it’s unthinkable.
“You still there?” Wilson asks.
“Yes, sorry, just processing my life falling apart,” I admit.
Wilson makes a little cough sound. “Well, I do have some good news. We found Henrick’s family, and Henrick is doing well at the training facility. They already said they’re grateful you paid for it, I made sure they knew the price tag… trust me, with their income, knowing you shelled out ten thousand dollars for their son meant a lot. And from what I gather, the mother especially likes the idea of her baby never dying.”
“Okay,” I say as I process what he’s telling me.
“This is a really good sign, Mr. Tryst. I bet we’ll have this wrapped up in no time.”
“If you say so,” I mindlessly agree as I stare at Tressa from the window. She’s just popped her finger in her mouth to suck off some blood. Why she has to work with thorny roses, I’ll never know. I should have insisted she use peonies, or something less dangerous. Not that any of this will matter.
“I want to make a change to my estate, Wilson,” I find myself suddenly blurting.
“Okay,” he says cautiously.
“If I am convicted, I want to put Tressa in full charge of everything. Give her access to a large stipend, so she can live very comfortably.”
“I’m sure it won’t come to that…” he starts.
“Just do it, Wilson. Give her at least a million a year. Is that a comfortable living? What do I live on now?” I ask, genuinely not knowing, because I’ve paid other people to take to care of all this for me for so long.
“You sir? You live on ten million. But one million is a very healthy living for normal people.”
I also choke at his words. “Tressa deserves more than normal. Give her whatever I have. Make sure she has access to the houses and cars too.”
“I will, Mr. Tryst. But just keep in mind, I doubt any of this will come to pass…” he starts.
“Just in case,” I cut him off again.
“Yes sir,” he relents before we click off the call. “I’ll prepare the documents you need to sign and call for a notary.”
I nod.
There. At least one thought to make me relax. Look at that innocent creature out there. Completely unaware of all the misery I could cause her. Falling in love and then being jailed… and here I thought the worst thing I could do is trap her in a life with a vampire, damned to be a childless spinster, or growing old alone.
Little did I know… but it’s too late for second guesses. A prison cell is fitting for me. Whether it’s this mansion or some lowly five by five cement room. I don’t belong anywhere. I was never meant to exist in this world.
Just then, Tressa looks up, wiping sweat from her brow, leaving a huge smudge of mud that makes me laugh. She catches sight of me, smiles, and waves sweetly.
I manage a smile and wave back. Poor girl.
It’s time. Past time. I need to end this, before history repeats itself. Before I make her as damned and doomed as me.
Chapter 36
Tressa
Tonight is finally here. We’ve donated a few rather expensive books to become part of a museum auction for a charity, and now we get to go send off the precious items. That, and take a much-needed break from the stress that is a young vampire.
“You look delicious,” Reign purrs, his voice liquid velvet. He runs his hand across the skinny strap of my dress. The sensation sends a shiver through me.
I giggle. “You make me sound like a meal.”
There’s an unmistakable hunger in Reign’s eyes, followed by a darkness, as if his thoughts pain him.
“Sorry,” I whisper, and reach out for his hand.
He wraps his warm palms over mine, encasing me. “Don’t apologize, you look radiant.”
“You sure this isn’t too revealing?” I gesture to the dress, which is essentially see-through.
Reign shakes his head. “I wouldn’t have picked it if I thought otherwise. Look, we’re here.” He points out the window as the limo rolls to a stop in front of a stone-façade museum, complete with imposing pillars and larger than life animal statues.
“Gosh,” I gasp at the sight, which makes Reign chuckle.
“This is probably blasé to you…” I start while Reign shakes his head.
“Maybe in the past it would have been. Watching you experience it brings back the pleasure ten times over.” His words sound happy, but his tone is pure melancholy. Whatever is eating him up, he’s doing a great job of hiding it.
I smile at his words, but I see a little twitch in the corner of his mouth. I wish I knew what he was thinking.
A valet opens the car door and Reign steps out, reaching back to help me. This dress may look stunning covered in Swarovski crystals, but it adds a stiffness and weight that I have to get used to.
As we step onto the red carpet, cameras flash. Waves of fear plunder me, being in the spotlight like this. My breath quickens and I start to wonder what to do with my hands, how to stand, heck, how to walk.
Reign must sense my panic, because he pulls me to his side like he’s claiming me. It’s instant comfort, being held against his powerful body.
He guides us forward and then pauses, angling his body toward the hoard of paparazzi who shout his name. Amid the calls are questions like ‘who is your date’ and ‘what are you wearing’? Reign just smolders at them, looking handsome as heck, as I try to keep my smile from looking deranged.
Finally, we’re able to walk off toward the large open doors of the venue. “That wasn’t so bad,” I hum.
“You looked incredible, I’m sure,” he assures me and swipes two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter. I take the most measured sip to ensure I don’t lose my head.
The museum’s cavernous rooms buzz with conversations played over a backdrop of a classical pianist situated in the center of the room.
“Reign,” a woman’s voice calls. Then I spot her. It’s Kai, looking glamorous in a dark green dress that despite the large volume of fabric, covers a very small amount of her perfect body. She’s waving a black-gloved hand like a blushing debutant.
He makes an annoyed little sound in the back of his throat that has me feeling happier than I should.
“Kai,” he says in a clipped tone.
“Tressa, that dress is so… perfect for you.” Her eyes narrow as she looks me up and down, as if sizing me up.
Reign drops his hand from my lower back and I suddenly feel like I’m balancing on the ledge of a rooftop.
“And this tux,” Kai steps into Reign, running her hand over the fabric of his sleeve. She makes a little clicking sound in approval. “I remember this tux.”
The way she says the words makes my stomach churn, made worse by the effect her words seem to have on Reign. He clears his throat and reaches for me again, lacing his fingers in mine.
“I think we’ll catch up with you another time, Kai. We’re eager to get to the silent auction tables before they close.” Reign practically pulls me away.
I’m completely lost on what to say to him, so I stick with his direction of ignoring the tension. “There are some beautiful items,” I comment as we approach the start of the seemingly endless tables filled with treasures.
Reign gives a soft chuckle.
“What is it?” I turn to meet his gaze.
He shakes his head. “I haven’t cared much for treasures in many years. This is something that’s easy to lose passion for over time.”
I see his sorry attempt at self-loathing from a mile away. “You love your book collection though. I know humans who value books too. I am a bibliophile, in case you’ve forgotten.”
We wind our way quietly down the aisles until we reach the end and I gasp, my heart flipping in my chest. “I can’t believe it.”
“What is it?” Reign asks, leaning down to read the little card next to the description. “The Winnie-The-Pooh stories sumptuously bound by Timothy Wolfendale.”
I scoff. “How can you call yourself an A.A. Milne fan and not be completely geeking out right now?”
The covers on these books are magical with the little sculptures on the front that pop right off the page, and that tiny classic Pooh on the side.
“Shall I get it for you?” he asks.
I bark a laugh. “Yeah right. Look at the last bid. You’re not spending forty thousand dollars on me.”
Reign shakes his head. “Sweetheart, that dress your wearing costs at least half that much.”
Looking down at myself, I suddenly feel very self-conscious. “Are you serious? That’s terrifying.”
“Don’t worry about it. Now, let’s write down a winning bid.” He grabs the pen and scratches away on the paper. I can barely bring myself to look at the terrifying sum he writes.
Reign reaches for my chin, bringing my eyes to his. “You have done so much for me since we’ve been together, Tressa. This is a little way to show you how precious you are to me.”
“Thank you,” I hear myself mumble.
His pupils get wide and glossy. “If I can’t give you children, at least I can spoil you with treasures you love. For now.”
I blink back the tears forming in my eyes, swallowing the lump in my throat. “You worry too much about… everything. I know you think this is wisdom from all your years on earth, but consider that it might just be your mind catastrophizing and conspiring to repeat a dialogue you’ve convinced yourself of, regardless of logic and reason.”
Reign’s face softens. A smile stretching his lips as his head shakes softly. “You’ve been planning that one for a while?” he asks, humor in his tone.
“Maybe,” I admit. “But it’s true. I think you made up a story about your life that you’re sticking to. But sometimes you need to shake up your own perceptions of yourself, of what you’re capable of.”
“Very wise. For a human who’s lived a fraction of my lifetime.” He kisses the tip of my nose as if to punctuate his point.
As soon as we reach the sumptuously spread table of hors d'oeuvres, Kai finds us again.
“How’s the bidding going?” she asks casually, although her eyes stare daggers at me. It’s obvious she still burns for Reign. Who wouldn’t though?
“Doing well,” Reign answers, his jaw twitching.
She flips her rich red locks over her shoulder with a laugh. “Same here. So, are you two, a thing now?”
Time seems to slow down as I hold a breath in, waiting for Reign to answer.
“Don’t worry about what I’m up to,” he answers, which of course doesn’t settle the question for anyone.
“I never pictured you with a human. How quaint,” Kai croons. “If I’m being honest, I imagined you with someone more… your equal.”
“Suppose that means you?” he scoffs, but my world tips off its axis nonetheless at the idea.
Kai just smiles, blinking her unnaturally long lashes in rapid succession.
Needing to balance myself, I reach down and stuff a bacon wrapped jalapeño in my mouth.
“Aw, she eats food even. How interesting is that?” Kai hisses.
My cheeks puff out while I chew around the oversized bite, processing the words. The insult.
Reign shifts on his feet. “As humans do. As we do too, in a different way. Now, if your you’re quite done making observations about my date, I think we’d better make our way around to find our host.”
As I swallow the mouthful of tasteless food, I turn my head to look back at her. “Your tag is sticking out.” I smirk.
Reign overhears me and looks back, and we both stifle a laugh as she checks herself over, eventually finding the offending tag.
“That was amazing.” He rests his big hand on my lower back and shivers rake through me again. Maybe from the champagne, which I definitely shouldn’t have finished, or maybe from his touch. Or both.
“I figured she’d want to know,” I say with a shrug. “She seems like the type to care about looks.”
Reign pulls out his vibrating phone and shows me the screen. “We won. Your Pooh book.”
I squeak with excitement and laugh at his way off memory of the title. “It’s Winnie-The-Pooh. And thank you. Our future kids will love it.”
Reign dips me low in his arms, pressing a kiss to my lips that makes heat pool inside me.
“You taste spicy. It’s not half-bad,” he remarks when he stands me back upright. “Although the flavor of you is infinitely better than some hors d'oeuvres.”
“Can’t relate, yet,” I test him.
He clucks and shakes his head. “You’re going to be the death of me, Tressa.”
“Not if you’re the death of me first, Reign.”
Chapter 37
Reign
I wake up and realize my trial is in just two days. I still haven’t told Tressa anything about it. Not that I’m going to. Wilson tried to convince me to call her as a character witness, but I don’t want her wrapped up in all this. I need to go down alone, preferably out of sight of the woman I love.
“Should we go downstairs?” I ask Tressa as she stirs against me. “Get you some breakfast.”
She blinks and stretches beside me, making a sleepy sound.
Normally we would lay lie here together and cuddle, I would most likely drink from her, and we might even make love… our mornings have gotten pretty amazing lately in case it needs stating. But all good things must come to an end and my time indulging in the treat that is Tressa is over. Even though I told her to stay after the assignment was finished. She’ll be confused, I’m sure. But things have changed. Too much is against us now. It was selfish of me to even let her think we’d work. Soon she’ll wake up and realize it too. Especially when the news breaks of my conviction.
Wilson says not to assume it will go badly, but I’m being realistic here. I’ve perused similar cases. No one has ever gotten off. I’ll likely be convicted.
And poor Tressa, she still wants me to turn her. As if that would solve all our problems. I can’t. I won’t. Can’t relate, yet, she’d said about the taste of blood last night. I don’t want her to ever relate. Even if it is the most satisfying thing I’ve ever experienced, especially drinking from her.
Our future has been weighing heavily on my mind these past several days. As incredible as things have been with her, I can’t deny our reality any longer. Tressa is a human, and I am decidedly not. It’s my own fault that I’ve allowed things to progress to the point we’ve now found ourselves. I have deep feelings for her, and I suspect that she feels the same. It won’t end well between us, and it’s time to face that reality, it will only hurt her more the longer I drag it out. Kai’s reaction to our relationship is eye-opening too, but she hasn’t pointed out something I don’t already know.
The discussion about her turning has been a constant point of stress throughout our time together. I have been cursed into this life. I will never seal her fate as another has done to me. I stand firm that she will eventually come to regret it, and I can’t risk her hating me. I won’t turn her.
She’s insistent that she knows what she wants, but I’m not of the same mind. She can’t know what she’s asking me for. She’ll never be happy like this. I’m living proof.
“No way,” she says, tugging the sheets down over herself, treating me to the view of her naked, lush breasts. She puts her hands on my chest and moves them down—dragging the blanket with it so I’m bare for her perusal too. I’d slept only in boxers and Tressa slept nude—tempting little tease that she is. It’s a wonder we got any sleep at all.
I’m quickly growing hard and Tressa doesn’t fail to notice. She slowly rakes her fingernails over my skin, turning me on even more.
