Page 26 of Ouch! My Vampire Doms Don't Sparkle
I click open her email and start reading.
Autumn,I hope you’re okay.I want you to know that you can trust me in anything and everything, and I always want you to be happy.
You left suddenly, and I’m very worried about you and your mental state.
Which is why I wanted to tell you something, and I hope you don’t get mad but I think you should hear it from me instead of finding out some other way.
Neither of us wants to hurt you.Please understand that.I never planned for this, and his love took me by surprise.But Autumn, I love him, too.It’s serious.I can’t stay away from him, not even for you.
Please don’t be mad at us.
Dale and I are in a relationship.
I’m in love with your stepdad.
8
Xander
How thefuckdid Gaius guess that we have a woman staying with us—and why does he think she’s our amant?Sure, I might’ve fucked up and called her that during post-orgasmic delirium, but that doesn’t mean it is true.Amants take time, nurturing, vows.Love.
“We do not have an amant,” I say, pushing all of my conviction into the words.
“I can smell her all over you,” Gaius says before leaning into Freya and inhaling deeply at her neck.“You both carry the scent of a bitch in heat.”
“There’s a woman,” Will says in a bored tone, “but she means nothing.She’s a plaything—a talented one who amuses us.”
I can hear the lie in his voice, but hopefully Gaius can’t.
“Finding an amusing plaything, after being alive all these years,” Gaius murmurs as he toys with Freya’s white-blond hair.“What a wonderful thing.I enjoy amusement.I should like to meet her.”
The very thought of Gaius's hands, lips, or teeth anywhere near Autumn makes me want to run a stake through his heart, burn this house down on top of him, and stake his charred corpse again.
We must keep her away from him.
Will probably guesses that I’m about to lose it, because he says, “I’m certain that can be arranged.How long will you be in town, old friend?”
Gaius moves his hand beneath the table.From the angle, I can see he’s aiming for Freya’s lap.She shoots him an annoyed look, but then her eyes glaze over with pleasure.
“I haven’t yet decided,” Gaius says.“San Esteban holds many diversions.The climate is temperate.Freya enjoys the shops downtown.She purchased some very fancy lingerie at a shop today.Benjamin, get under the table and remove Freya’s new panties so our guests can see how special they are.”
Fuck.We need to get out of here soon.Gaius’s kinks often veer into nonconsensual exhibitionism.Will and I don’t want to be a part of that; we never have, not even when we ranked high among Gaius’s friends.
Benjamin pushes out his chair, an unreadable expression on his face.He drops beneath the table.Freya lifts up in her chair slightly.
“We appreciate this time to welcome you to our city,” Will says, sounding formal as fuck.“We’d like to be on our way, if this is all you need from us?”
He’s deferential, yet clearly stating his wish to depart.
“I suppose you may go, if you must,” Gaius says, frowning.“But I would very much enjoy meeting your ‘amusing plaything,’ as you call her.Perhaps we should host a party.What do you think, Freya?”
She nods.“It would be nice.”
He moves his hand beneath the table, then says, “Benjamin, what are you doing down there?Freya is all wet and bare.Hand me her panties, please.”
Benjamin’s hand comes up from beneath the table, clutching lacy fabric.I keep my face as stoic as possible.No reaction, no disgust—Gaius would be offended if I were to reveal my true feelings.
“May I come up?”Benjamin asks.“I’m hungry, Gaius.”
