Page 27 of Your Coffin or Mine
Doyle’s advice of remaining away from her replays in my head, and it frustrates me to no end. The smell of her, so strong in my rooms and the hallways, as if it follows me, caused me to flee to the library. I close my eyes and inhale, grateful her scent is dulled here from the smell of old parchment and books.What has she done to me?The fireplace crackles and pops as I stare out at the falling snow through the arched stone window, brooding over one slight and impudent human.
It has been hours, and my cock is still hard from her kiss, but I refuse to be broken by her.
Never again will I let myself waste away if one human can have this much control over me.It’s been more than a hundred years since I have felt the soft flesh of a woman beneath me, and I can’t argue that Doyle is right.
It would be much simpler to resist her and find some other willing woman to slake my lusts on—at least until this one leaves, returning to wherever the fresh-sunshine hell she came from.
My will of iron is close to crumpling, much like the drained and discarded blood bags at my feet. It would be bearable if the smell of her didn’t permeate the castle, adding fuel to the flames of my foul mood.
I sit scrolling through the hundreds of photos of Aubrey with another man on this Instagram, allowing curiosity to get the better of me. The most recent photo has my back straightening with rage and a growl rumbling from my chest. There are so many of them with Aubrey in his arms, laughing and smiling.
This pathetic human is begging for forgiveness with seashells?I find it even more immature that he would do so publicly.
The buffoon is pouting like a child, and clearly women of this era have no idea he has no manhood to speak of. It is disgraceful that Aubrey was ever involved with such a male. Isthiswhat women want these days?
That she could possibly forgive him because of one infantile gesture is infuriating. I force myself to put the phone down before I break the fragile contraption. The aggravating jealousy filling my brain is swiftly followed by confusion. Why should I care? She is one insignificant human plaguing my peace.I should be able to withstand her.
Frank insists the blood bags are enough, but if that’s true, then how can she cause me to react this way?
The thought annoys me as I rise and stalk across the room to the piano half shrouded in darkness. I collapse onto the bench and pour out my frustration onto the keys. I haven’t touched the instrument in decades, but I could play this piece blinded and half dead. The familiarity of the music is a balm to the want raging in my chest.
Footsteps sound on the wood floor down the hall and I grit my teeth, holding back a snarl. My gaze lands on thepredicament I find myself in. Her scent grows stronger, right after I escape it.
“Damn and blast it.”
Swiftly I scoop up the empty blood packets I left from the night before, and toss them into the fire, cursing the smell of burning plastic that rises. Fuck.This woman will be the death of me...
I hiss out a sharp breath when a strange light blinds me and she screams, waving her arms about like a startled animal out of its wits. Her phone clatters to the floor, sliding across the worn wood.
“Hello, Aubrey.”
Her hand curls into her chest and the shock bleeds from her face. “Oh my god, you scared the shit out of me.”
The light from the fire bathes her in a soft, cozy glow, and I move to turn on a lamp. “Decided to explore the castle, did you?”
She’s wearing new clothes.Clothes I know I purchased. Satisfaction swells in my chest at the thought that she would choose to wear them, even knowing she has little other options.
The black leggings stick to her like a silky second skin. Her white blouse cuts low, tickling just below her breasts, revealing the inside of her cleavage and the black lacey bra keeping them contained. I swallow down a groan, instantly salivating for a taste of her.
My cock hardens, straining within the confines of my pants, as the sound of her heart thunders in my ears. I bend down a tad awkwardly and pick up her little mobile device, then set it down on the nearby table.
“I-I heard music from my room and came to investigate.” Her pretty brows wrinkle with confusion before her nose does. “What is that smell?”
I step into her space and reach out to toy with the blonde silk of her hair. “It’s nothing. A mishap with the fireplace.”
Her soft panting breaths and her melodic pulse roar in my ears. My gaze drops to the white blouse, the fabric pulling taut over her covered breasts. I grin in delight. Her blonde locks are a mess, and I want to rake my fingers through them. The succulent scent that seems to follow her around blooms into the space between us, and I barely stop myself from groaning aloud.
I force myself to step back and arch a brow. Daring her to stay and not flee like her heart rate tells me she wants to. I push my will into my voice when I tell her, “Stay with me a moment. I apologize for my earlier manners.”
Her arms fold over her chest and she tilts her chin up and to the side. “Why should I?”
Why indeed.Doyle did say I should try to be less of a dick, and I would rather she didn’t put me in the same category as the seashell fool.
“Because I have been a cad, and as Doyle so recently reminded me, you are a guest in my home.” Those kissable lips of hers purse together, and I want to haul her into my arms. “Come, I’ll play something for you.” I gesture over my shoulder at the piano.
“Oh, no thank you, I was just looking for Doyle.”
“Why?” My hackles rise. “What is it you need?”
