Page 81 of Cloak of the Vampire
Snickering, she turned around and walked to the door. “By the way, our Lord’s doing final private meetings with all of you noobs,” she said as she opened the door and whirled her head to me with a nasty smile. “Yours is in ten minutes.”
Once she slammed the door, I instinctively looked down at myself. I was wearing dirty jeans and a baggy tee, with paint patches all over my skin. My hair was like a bird’s nest since I hadn’t showered in more than twenty-four hours.
Margarita must’ve known about this meeting at least an hour ago. And yet she wanted me to look my worst when I went to meet Ragnor.
What a fucking cunt.
Then I realized I was going to see Ragnor, and I felt myself pale. Hurriedly, I went to the workshop washroom and washed my face in the sink. Looking up, I was horrified to see my hazel eyes were bloodshot, with dark under-eye bags.
My heart was in my throat when I tried to comb my hair with my fingers.I shouldn’t bother,I thought, feeling pathetic.He knows about Amir after all. He hasn’t sought me out since our fight too. It’s not like our affair is still going on.
But what I felt was beyond such reason. When Ragnor saw me wearing unkempt and dirty clothes and looking like I hadn’t slept well in days, he would know I wasn’t okay, and I refused to show him that side of me. I refused to show him any vulnerability, not like that last time I almost broke down in his presence.
But the bitch hadn’t given me enough time to pull myself together.
“Fuck!” I snarled when my tangled hair refused to be combed, and then I strode out of the workshop, heading toward the escalator that would lead me to Ragnor’s office, feeling just as disgusting as Margarita thought I was.
When I walked into the office reception, I didn’t even bother to give my name to the secretaries. I simply threw his door open and walked in, then heard it close behind me.
Ragnor was standing with his back to the entrance, but when I entered his office, he turned around.
Since I holed myself up in the workshop, I only made short visits to the cafeteria during mealtimes. My kitchen shifts were also reduced inpreparation for the Auction. That meant I hadn’t had any opportunity to see him up until now.
And he looked so good that I almost broke apart right there and then.
His dark-brown hair was down, its tips brushing his broad shoulders. His mouthwatering body was dressed in a simple tee, pants, and combat boots, yet on him, the casual attire seemed as if he’d come out of a fashion magazine. His face, too, was just as gorgeous, his penetrating midnight blues just as beautiful.
He looked fresh and clean and droolworthy. With his face set in a hard expression, he seemed to be in control, calm and collected.
I wanted to close the gap between us and have him envelop me in his strong arms.
I wanted to press my lips against his so that he would kiss me until I saw stars.
I wanted for him to tell me that it would all be okay. That I had nothing to worry about. That I shouldn’t try so hard because he would buy me in the Auction.
I wanted all of that so much that I felt the same sense of strangulation from before returning with a vengeance. Gasping, I stumbled back and leaned against the wall, my hand on my chest, feeling my heartbeat quickening and trying to get ahold of myself.
A soapy, addictive scent tickled my nose when Ragnor was suddenly before me, his hands on my shoulders. “Breathe,” he said urgently, voice low, and I tried to suck in a breath, but all it did was make my vision blurry. “Breathe, Aileen, you have to breathe—”
My panic rose, and I couldn’t hold myself upright anymore. Ragnor’s arms wrapped around me before I hit the floor, and his voice became distorted as if I was drowning and he was above water.
It went on forever. The invisible hands didn’t let me breathe. My vision refused to clear. My body spasmed as I tried to fight the unknown foe.
Slowly, the hands around my throat released me, and I sucked in a deep breath, attempting to fill up my lungs as fast as possible. My sight cleared, my body stilled, and I realized I was sitting on the floor in Ragnor’s arms, and he was rocking me back and forth, murmuring unintelligibly.
I held on to his shirt as I gasped for air, and he tightened his hold on me. Minutes later, when I could finally breathe properly, I tilted my head up and caught him looking at me with eyes glowing neon blue, expression inscrutable.
Those eyes broke me.So much for not showing him vulnerability,I thought bitterly when tears welled in my eyes. “I’m sorry,” I said quietly, my voice breaking as my hands moved to grab his shoulders so I could straighten myself. “I’m sorry for this whole thing. I’m sorry for last time too.”
His eyes seemed to turn brighter. “Henderson—”
“Don’t sell me,” I interjected hastily, lips trembling with remnants of panic. “Please don’t sell me, Ragnor. I’ll be good.” I gave him a wobbly smile. “I’ll call youmy Lordand I will worship the ground you walk on like the rest of your vampires. Just don’t sell me.” My smile fell, and I got up on my knees, digging my nails in his shoulders. “Keep me here.”
For the first time, Ragnor seemed alarmed. “Let’s talk about this, Henderson,” he said evenly, but I could tell my words affected him.
And yet he didn’t tell me he would buy me. “What do I need to do?” I begged, releasing his shoulders to cup his face. I locked his gaze with mine. “I’ll do anything—”
His hands were suddenly on my waist, and he pushed me against the wall. “Stop it,” he growled, looking at me with sudden disapproval. “It’s not like you to beg.”
