Page 12 of Claiming Her Vampire

“That went well.” Blue gives his sarcastic opinion.

“Fuck off. Why are you here again?” I glare at him.

“We were down the street, shopping. Harmony thought we should say hello. I fought the whole way,” he complains.

“You know you love me. Missed me?” I put my hand on his shoulder. No matter how much he denies it, he’s ready to be my true friend, too.

He stands, shrugging me off. “In your dreams.” He looks to the door Harmony disappeared through. “I think we should talk about the fact that you have a mate. Are you going to be an asshole to her too?”

The humor slides from my face. I enjoy our little banter most days but not about my mate. “Watch yourself.” I flash my canines at him; my eyes narrow dangerously.

The other waitresses start to file in, ready for work. One of the new bartenders watches their asses as he follows behind them. They give us curious looks when they walk by.

“I should have Samantha train her,” I say.

“I don’t think that’s the best idea,” Bash frowns.

“Why?”

“Are you serious? Maybe because you’ve slept with her.”

“So? Serenity doesn’t know that. Plus, we aren't like that. There are no feelings there. She isn’t my mate–I would know.” I nod at Samantha when she gives me a little wave. When I look back at the guys, their faces are incredulous. “What?”

“Really? I’m horrible with women, and even I know that’s stupid,” Tristan says.

“I get it, but we aren’t involved like that. She knows and agrees that we use each other once in a while for a physical release; that’s it.” This whole conversation is starting to piss me off.

“This is going to be entertaining,” Blue says. I frown at him. “Seeing you fumble through the relationship.” He shakes his head.

“Fine. Bash, I put you in charge of her training.” I look at him threateningly. “No touching.”

“Trust me, I know.” He rolls his eyes.

I smell Serenity before I see her. I can’t help the growl that escapes. When Bash and I decided what the uniforms would be, I had no idea I would have to fight my instincts to kill everyone that saw my mate in them.

The other waitresses look okay in them. Serenity looks way too desirable. The black shorts are way too short, and the black tank with The Mark’s name and a silver dagger are too tight. Her beautiful breasts are spilling out. Her legs look a mile long, smooth, and supple. A picture flashes in my mind of them wrapped around my waist as I plunge into her.

This is not going to work out. The beast inside demands to come out and slaughter anyone and everyone who looks at her. The longer we wait to mate, the harder it will become. Our demons are impatient. It helps being around her, but the longer I am, the more the bond will grow, making the urge to mark her and turn her insistent. Eventually, it will be all I can think about. It won’t be the same for her. She will be drawn to me, unnaturally so, but won’t feel the desperate need. If she doesn’t choose to be mine, to be changed within a few months, my demon will go crazy.

Bash gets close. “Calm down. I won’t let anyone mess with her. Go to your office and take a break,” he urges.

Serenity is self-consciously tugging on the end of her shorts. All I want is to throw her over my shoulder and walk out, take her back to my place and worship every inch.

“I’ll be in my office,” I grit out. I have to ignore the confusion on her face and force myself to walk normally.

Once over the threshold, I slam the door and grip the edge of my desk, bowing my head. My teeth are biting into my lips, my nails gouging the wood, and I am using everything I am to fight the demon inside.

The only time I have been this out of control was when I was first changed. All that mattered was feeding, quenching my burning thirst. I didn’t discriminate either. Man or woman, old or young, didn’t matter. I was a true monster. I wasn’t careful, didn’t care if I killed them. I took too much most of the time. I was too blind with a thirst to watch where they fell or if they recovered. I left a string of dead bodies across the world. I never settled. I was drunk on power.

Being turned and waking up feeling like nothing could touch me went to my head. I was strong for the first time in my life. I could do and be anything. I had no conscience. My humanity disappeared.

There was no stopping when I discovered my power to manipulate the mind.

The first hundred years of my new life are nothing but a blur. The blood, the killing, and the sex all merge. Once in a while, the shame would creep in, but I would quickly push it away and kill someone else.

My biggest regret is what snapped me out of the murderous life I was leading. No one knows what happened. I usually don’t share that time of my life. Bash knows some but not that. He was lucky. He had me guide him through the transition and the thirst after. I had no one. I stumbled through it all alone, confused and hungry. Always hungry.

I can’t imagine finding Serenity at that time. I had no restraint. I would have taken her, not caring about choice or courtship. I understand now why it took so long to find her. The gods knew I was not ready for her.

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