Page 44 of Taken By The Vampire King

“You should smile more.” She looked thoughtful, but before I could lean into her touch, selfishly taking more of her for myself, she withdrew and looked out the window.

The countryside here was denser, less built up with human habitation, and if I rolled down the windows, the sweet, soft air of the bayou would drift in, bringing with it the green smell of vegetation and growing things.

I leaned back as I entwined Leia’s fingers with mine before bringing our joined hands to sit on my thigh, teasing myself as much as comforting myself with her proximity. Fuck, I missed that wild Louisiana smell and the memories it held.

I’d known this area since it was little more than jungle, with nature in full control, and being back relaxed me as the feeling of being home filled me. I breathed easier as I basked in memories of the past and considered all my ancestors had seen and done here.

But returning here as the new yet unconfirmed king… That was different.

We turned onto the long driveway of my ancestral home, where my father had ruled from. The mansion was set back from the road. To anyone else, it would have looked like another country road, one of the many that maybe only locals used, but to me, this was home. Ancient trees lined our way, their branches dripping with Spanish moss that shone silver when the headlights flashed across it. Occasionally the tips of the foliage kissed the roof of the limo, and my hearing picked up the soft swish of the fronds.

As we approached the house, every window seemed to glow in welcome, and people hurried in the main door, alighting from vehicles that formed a slow train around the wide circular driveway. A fountain sat as an ornament in the middle, and Leia almost pressed her face to the glass to look closer as naked Venus bathed in full view of passersby.

Someone had strung fairylights between the trees up here, and they twinkled a delicate welcome.

I leaned forward as Jenkins joined the line of cars, waiting for our turn to get out of the limo and join the party, and my hand tightened protectively around Leia’s. This was both a moment of great triumph and a moment to be cautious. I needed to make my claim known.

When Jenkins drew to a smooth stop, I slid from my seat and held out my hand for Leia to join me. Her eyes widened, and she hesitated at the edge of the seat, her gaze travelling to the house then up as she took in the vastness of the building, the stately columns that rose for two stories, and the wide balcony that spanned the front.

“Your family lives here?” Her voice was little more than a whisper.

“Yes.” I leaned forward, making my next words conspiratorial. “It’s a bit of a fixer-upper, but they’re happy.”

She caught her breath and looked at me then narrowed her eyes. “Fixer-upper, my ass. This place is perfect.”

I nodded an acknowledgement as pleasure tightened my chest.

“You’re perfect.” The words slipped out, so quiet I almost hoped she hadn’t heard them, but her gaze flicking briefly back to mine told me she had.

I wanted to give her all of this. Perfection. Riches. Power.

She deserved nothing less, and the wonder on her face hurt my heart because she’d clearly never experienced the life she was meant to have.

This life.

As she accepted my hand, I froze. Her fingers felt so natural against mine, but when had this one human broken though my all humans are annoying barrier? I wanted to make her smile, to hear her laugh at the things I said and moan my name at the things I did to her body. I wanted to claim her, own her…keep her. But I didn’t quite understand why.

“Are you all right?” Her voice was soft, hesitant, and awoke me from whatever spell she’d managed to cast on me.

I nodded a sharp acknowledgement. “Always. Just thinking about tonight’s business.”

Her lips tugged down for a moment like she was disappointed, but she quickly recovered.

“Arm candy.” She smiled, but the expression didn’t reach her eyes as she tucked her hand into the crook of my elbow.

I patted her hand briefly as she reminded me of the terms of our contract. A companion for one month. A contract we’d already broken when I finger fucked her in my limo, my driver on the other side of a privacy screen, but if this made her entrance into my family’s home easier, I wasn’t about to argue. She was at my side, and my fingers still carried the scent of her body and her desire.

Those two things were all that mattered.

My mother’s butler, Owens, greeted us just inside the wide front door, and as he roved a glance over Leia, he hesitated. I shook my head in the smallest of movements. No title tonight.

He lifted his voice above the quiet chatter. “Nicolas Dupont and guest,” he announced.

The room stilled, the atmosphere shifting to something predatory and aware as heads swung in our direction. Nostrils flared as curious gazes landed on Leia.

I rested my hand over hers again, the movement deliberately possessive and designed to see off any challenges. As my father’s rightful heir and their new king, my people needed to respect my status and my obvious claim.

The electricity of watchfulness still crackled in the air, and I moved my hand to the small of Leia’s back, resting my palm against the skin bared by the cut of her dress as I walked toward my mother. Mother stood alongside my uncle, my father’s brother, with a group of friends and elders from our people but looked up as soon as I approached with Leia.

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