His hands drag down my back and over my ass as I climb up past him causing heat to spread between my legs. I lay down on my back and reach my arms out for him to join me, wanting to be back in his arms. He nods and quickly moves to shut the door and then climbs up into the bed with me laying on his side beside me. His lips come down on mine softly and his kiss is sweet and soft as his free hand rubs down my arm and across to my belly. The rushed, desperate passion from the day before when he took me against the wall is gone and in its place is a gentle kind of loving.
I thread my fingers into his hair and deepen the kiss so our tongues can slide against each other in a dance, even as his fingers sweep gently over my curves, touching everywhere my skin is exposed. When the back of his hand brushes over the dampening satin covering my pussy my hips lift for more. His mouth leaves mine and finds my ear to whisper, “Not yet. Have patience.” And then he’s kissing down my neck and across the swell of my breasts still with soft, sweet movements. It’s a slow seduction that will drive me crazy with need. He slips the straps of my bra off of my shoulders and peels down the cups covering me, exposing my nipples. They pebble as the cool air washes over them and his lips find first one and then the other as his tongue circles each one in soft licks that turn into gentle sucking.
The slow gentle pace is driving me mad and my panties are soaked as I throb for contact, friction, or anything that will soothe the ache that’s growing by the second. Every time I’ve been with Sebastian this way, he’s been confident and commanding, sexy and passionate - but this, this is a different side of him. My vampire is a master of seduction and the sweet care he’s showing my body has me falling even more in love with him but I can’t take much more.
“Please, please.” I gasp out even as my hips lift from the bed, searching.
He finally leaves my breasts and moves down my body licking his way down to where I want him the most. He buries his mouth and nose between my thighs against the soaked satin and breathes me in with a groan of his own. I press up against his face, needing so much more, and he quickly strips the satin barrier away so that his hot tongue can sweep into me in one long lick that has me coming off the bed with a gasp. He explores and tastes every inch of my folds, leaving me panting and begging for him to give me the release my body is desperate for. When he finally circles my clit and then sucks gently on it, I come so hard my whole body shakes and I trap his head between my thighs as they squeeze together from the intensity of it. Once the pulse waves slow my legs fall apart and I’m left panting and trembling with weakness from it. He kisses the inside of my thigh and moves back up my body to take me in his arms. He brushes the hair from my face and kisses my forehead.
“I love you, Eden.”
I think I say it back but my eyes slide closed and sleep takes me, safe in his arms.
When I wake next, the sun is going down and shadows fill the room. I burrow deeper under the blankets and pout that Bas has left me at some point but then I remember the toe-curling orgasm he sent me to sleep with and forgive him. I’m not feeling quite as sore as I was and with the sun going down I should get ready for supper so I force myself out of the bed to find something to wear and spot the large wooden chest Sebastian brought me in the corner. I toss on my underwear and hoodie and then kneel in front of it to unlatch the clasp and lift the lid. The smell of cedar and lavender wafts out to me and the lavender triggers memories of Claudette and I know she was the one to pack my dresses away. Sadness fills me knowing she is long dead.
I lift the yellowed linen that covers the top and find even more underneath. Each dress has been folded inside of its own sheet with a small bag of dried lavender and a larger bag that contains the matching slippers and jewelry. I lay each gown out on the bed and gasp a happy laugh when I uncover the fancy black bathrobe that I had traveled to France in the first time. Age has dulled the shine of it but its synthetic fibers have held up and it’s still soft and plush against my fingers. A good airing out and it should be perfect to wear again. The last two gowns are the dark green one I first wore to dine with my men and the sexy red number that Sebastian had made for the Marquis’ dinner party. The bag with it has the matching shoes but I’m relieved to see all the priceless ruby jewelry is gone. Hopefully in a safe somewhere.
A knock on the door has me turning away from the bed full of gowns and opening it to a scowling Flora whose hands are full with a basin of steaming water. Her eyes dart down to my bare legs and then back up with an annoyed look.
“Land sakes, lass! I know I said yer difference wouldna bother me none but do ya haf ta be so blatant about it? I have low expectations for the future if all the lassies behave like ya!”
I can’t help but laugh at that. If she only knew half of what is acceptable in my time she’d die on the spot in shock. I take the basin from her and set it on the dresser as she steps further into the room and eyes the mounds of silk, satin, and lace piled up. She rubs the green one’s hem between her fingers and shakes her head.
“Well aren’t these lovely, then. Don’t see you beating the rugs in any of them, though!” She cackles.
“Right? Or wringing out the washing!” I laugh. “No, these gowns were from when we lived in France over a hundred years ago. They’re so beautiful but I doubt I will get much use from them here.” I smooth my hand over the green gown and chew on my lip before deciding, fuck it. I’m skipping the corset but I’m wearing this dress to supper!
“Flora, would you mind buttoning me into this one, please? I think I’m going to dress up for supper tonight.” I frown down at the dress. “Luca had this made for me. Maybe he needs a reminder of what we used to share.”
“Aye, that and a punch in his maw. The lad has a wicked tone ta him. If not for the other lads, I would have taken my Aiden off a while ago rather than put up with him.”
“He wasn’t always like this. I’m sorry for the way he speaks to you. It’s my fault he’s the way he is.” I tell her sadly.
“Hogwash! It be his own choice ta be so surly ta others. Don’t take the blame on yerself. Now, supper will need ta be served shortly so if yer wantin’ my help with all the wee buttons on that gown, let’s get on with it.”
I have another quick wash with the fresh steamy water she brought while she folds away the rest of the gowns back into the chest and then stand with my back to her as she buttons up the back for the dress. I turn around and swish the skirt and wait for her opinion and she cracks me up again.
“’Tis a fine gown and works well with yer coloring, ya ken, but are you going to tame the wild beast on yer heid? A body could get lost in that lot of curls!”
I shake my head with a laugh, causing the wild beast of waves to dance and thank her for her help. She leaves me to my taming and I go to work on it anchoring half of it up in five different ponytails, inverting them, and then threading the tails through all the others in both directions making a lovely loose looking weave design. The bottom half waves down my back neatly with a tiny amount of serum and I finish it off with the black ivy combs with the tiny leaf emeralds. I break out one of the eyeliners I brought with me and go dark and thick, smudging it to create shadow, and two coats of mascara. The delicate necklace and matching shoes complete the look and I step back from the mirror to get a better look at the total package and smile at the effect. I hope it will jar something in Luca to get him thinking about how good we used to be together. As Claudette once told me, my looks can be a weapon and I hope to fucking wield them against him tonight.
I have no perfume so I rub in some of the vanilla body lotion on the tops of my lifted breasts and down in my cleavage. I bite my lips a few times to redden them up a bit and I’m ready for the next battle to win him back.
Luca
When the bell rings to announce supper, I wish to ignore it. I certainly don’t need the sustenance from it but almost against my will, I find myself walking that way. Seeing her, being so near her and not being able to touch her is a torture I can’t stop myself from incurring. Perhaps I should leave. I could go west into the wilds until the day she ages and dies. Would that not be preferable to this agonizing need for her that she’s brought back into me?
I’m so lost in thought that I turn the corner blindly and collide with…sweet vanilla fills my senses and my arms automatically go around her when she staggers. Those big, beautiful green eyes look up at me in surprise but then soften and turn dreamy and soft with love as her hand comes up and cups my cheek. She breathes out my name like a wish and I’m unable to stop myself from pulling her even closer so our bodies are pressed tightly together. My whole body comes alive at having her in my arms after so long as I stare down into her perfect face. A face I sculpted hundreds of times over decades…and then destroyed, as she had destroyed me.
I drop my arms away from her and harden my will and expression as I step back and take in the gown she’s wearing. I flinch back further as memories of her in that very gown assault me. Her laughter and smile when we first played a card game together in the library. The easy way she included me and made me begin to feel for the first time in a century. Every moment we spent together after that flashes through my mind and I shake my head as if I can dislodge them from it but they are etched into my soul. She is etched into my soul and I will never be free of her.
Her expression is one of pleading as she reaches for me again and I almost take her hand but Finn and Cade come up behind me breaking the spell and I turn away but not before I see the flash of disappointment cross her face.
“Eden! I never thought I would see such a sight again. You wore that gown for our first supper together in France. It is amazing ta me that you look exactly the same after so many years have passed.” Finn enthuses while Cade reaches for her hand even as she looks my way.
“You look stunning. Your beauty is magical so please forgive Sebastian if he accuses you of being a witch again. Please, allow us ta escort you to the dining room?”
She nods with a dimmed smile and takes his hand and Finn’s elbow to continue on but when they reach the door, she glances back at me with sad, haunted eyes.
