Page 54 of Vampires of Eden: Oliver
When I’m dressed, I open my bedroom door, and Alexander is leaning with his back pressed against the stone wall. His molten eyes meet mine.
“Good morning.” I pull the door shut and move toward the spiral stairs.
“Good morning,” he parrots, meeting my stride but falling behind as we descend toward the first floor. “How was your night?”
It was absolutely fantastic. Magical. Sensual and delicious.
I had sex.
Goodsex.
The kind that makes people write erotic poetry to encapsulate the feeling of hot skin on skin. Two bodies moving together in a beautiful rhythm, slowly climbing toward the height of pleasure.
I wish Lord Blakeley would dismiss me from things more often.
“Fine,” I say. “Yours?”
“Boring,” he admits, sighing. “I was worried about you after what happened.”
“There’s no need. I’m alright.” When we reach the bottom, I’m thrilled to see that Aries’s door is open. I don’t break my stride as we walk past, but I turn my head. He’s not inside, but he’s close by. I can feel him. Maybe he’s in the rose garden—
“Ollie, slow down!”
We’ve just stepped into the outdoor corridor when I stop, confused. “Aren’t we late for breakfast?” The sun is shining brightly today, and it’s partly cloudy but warm. Birds titter and sing in surround sound, and the stone passageway is dotted with contrasting splotches of light and shadow.
“Yes, we are, but I want to talk to you.”
“About?”
He tilts his blonde head and raises an eyebrow. “Yesterday? Jesus, man. It was… well, it wasn’t good. Why are you being so nonchalant about this?”
I shrug. “Lord Blakeley chastises me all of the time. This is my life, but… I guess it was the first time he did it in front of you? You may as well get used to it.”
“It was the second time, because he was rude as hell to you at the ball, too. It’s not something to ‘get used to.’ God… I was wondering why you never call him ‘Father.’ I’m starting to understand. Hey—how did you know that your photographs have been featured in newspapers around the world? Who told you that, because it sure as hell wasn’t me?”
“Ah, I, well…” The memory of Alexander covering for me at dinner floats to the top of my mind. I had totally forgotten about it with everything that’s transpired. “Sasha told me.”
Alexander frowns and purses his lips as if he doesn’t believe me.
Well, why should he? It’s a lie. “Don’t we need to go?” I urge him.
“I thought you’d be an anxious and nervous mess this morning after that awful scene. That you’d be humiliated.”
I turn and take a step forward. “You thought you’d meet me first thing to rub salt in the wound? I’m sorry to disappoint.”
“That’s not why I came for you.”
“Sure.” I roll my eyes, but my breath catches as Aries turns down the hallway and stalks toward us. He’s wearing a rich canary-colored dress shirt with the sleeves neatly rolled up to his elbows and dark khaki trousers. The deep yellow emphasizes the golden undertones of his skin, but it also brings attention to the fact that his coloring is off. In the bright indirect light streaming into the corridor, he seems a little too pale.
I’m concerned, but my heart does a somersault as he casually smiles and nods at both Alexander and me. “Good morning, my lords.”
“Hello.” I smile, and my nature threatens to radiate and flow. As he passes us, I see that his eyes are a bit dull, too. I have the strongest urge to turn and watch him walk away, but I don’t. I stamp down my nature and continue forward.
Alexander is quiet the rest of the walk to the breakfast room. But when we’re outside the double doors and I’m about to pull one open, he speaks from behind.
“You like him.”
I pause, glancing over my shoulder. “Excuse me?”
