He eyed the door curiously before opening it. “Holy—” he stopped himself mid-sentence, likely reminding himself not to curse in front of his newest master. I hid a smile. He was somethingrefreshingly unique. Either I had been away from humans for too long, or Felix was just… Felix.
Saving him from embarrassment, I asked. “Would you prefer a full tour of the castle now, or later?” I had no plans for today, other than hiring a cook.
“I would like to unpack before the tour, if that’s okay?”
“More than okay. You can yell my name when you are ready. I will hear you clearly no matter where I am.” I would not admit to staying close, that would likely frighten him. Not that he seemed wary of me. But him being a feeder was likely the reason for that. No vampire would enjoy having a feeder that feared them.
I gave him my kindest ‘I-am-not-going-to-kill-you’ smile, and left the room.
Now I just needed to hire a cook and figure out what to do while I waited.
Chapter 3
Felix
I let out a deep breath.
Holysmokeness.
My newest master was smoking hot. I wasn’t ready. Nowhere online had his pictures done him any favors. He was a work of art.
After leaning back against the wall and taking some calming breaths, I forced myself to unpack. I didn’t have a lotwith me, just a suitcase of clothes and my laptop. I also had my kindle and my notebook for new ideas for the shop. Sometimes inspiration hit and I needed paper close so I could empty my brain before forgetting the newest brilliant idea.
I took in my room—and home—for the next year and yeah… it was beyond perfect. Dark wooden furniture everywhere, with pale blue paneled walls. The four-poster bed had a light blue covering and soft looking white pillows. On one nightstand the prettiest white lilies were in a pearlescent vase and the other held a tiny lamp. I could already envision myself engulfed in the softness of the duvet while reading late into the night.
I tended to be tired and somewhat out of it after each feeding, which happened every Tuesday, unless my master needed more. If they used their powers more frequently, they needed more blood, but most just needed the once a week feeding, and according to the contract that always happened on Tuesdays. I had made it a point since I knew the potion would be most potent in my blood the day after ingesting it. I also had it down that I would do no feedings on Sundays and Mondays. The rest of the week was up to my master. Though, I wouldn’t advise doing a feeding on Wednesdays either, or I would definitely get dizzy.
Today was a Monday, so the first feeding with Severin would be tomorrow. But seeing as the contract hadn’t gone in yet, I had to ensure he wouldn’t turn me away before tasting my blood. I wasn’t allowed to be fed from before the company I worked for had received the contract with both our signatures on it.
Opening my bag, I took out the small pink vial and added two drops to my wrist before closing it and rubbing my wrists together, before wiping the excess off on my neck. It was a potion that heightened my natural scent, which for vampires meant they could smell my blood even more than usual. I was a blood tease, I knew, but it was damn effective. My masters were always drooling around me, eager for the first taste of my alluring blood. I was basically a freshly baked bread in a bakery, luring people in from the street as they scented the aroma and had to buy me. I was proud to announce that I had come up with the potion myself. And now it was something I couldn’t go without. Not that I used it every day, just every Monday with the potion fresh in my system. I needed my masters to be satisfied if I wanted that big bonus at the end of the contract. But I had a teensy feeling that I would use the scent enhancer potion more frequently around Severin. I knew I was playing with a dangerous vampire,but having someone as hot as him starving for me…yeah, that did something to me. And my dick.
With my scent enhanced and my clothes neatly put away, I decided to check out the bathroom and add my toiletries. I only had travel sized shampoo and bodywash with me, not always knowing if my masters would care enough to supply me with the essentials. But I should’ve known Severin wouldn’t fail me on that front. The shower had three different high-end shampoos and bodywashes, along with a few scrubs and lotions. I could get used to this.
The bathroom itself was gorgeous. Light sage green tiles speckled with white lay on the floor, with dark green paneled walls. There was a big triangle tub in the corner, a secluded toilet and a huge shower with glass walls and a rainwater showerhead. I was in heaven. The heated flooring under my feet would be perfect in the cold spring mornings. A lush pastel green carpet was in front of the vanity, ensuring my feet’s comfiness each morning and night as I did my face routine. Those products I brought in full size bottles. I couldn’t live without my homemade face creams and wash. I didn’t sell them but I did make them for me and Claire. Claire had assured me she gave Astrea a facial each week to make sure her skin remained perfect for when she woke up. It was the little things like that that madeher the perfect best friend. Even if I knew she did it for Astrea and not me. They were also close, and I knew Claire had a crush on her, something I would love to see reciprocated, but I had no clue how my sister felt.
After taking one last look around, I figured it was time for that tour. It was also dinnertime and I felt my stomach growl in warning of my hangry mood approaching. I wasn’t known for dealing well with hunger. I really hoped Severin had something I could eat. My first feeder always kept his fridge stocked for me to cook for myself. My second hadn’t realized I would need food to survive. Granted I was her first feeder, but it had been horrible knowing she cared so little about my wellbeing. I’d had to drive out late at night to do some shopping, only to find out her kitchen appliances didn’t work.Because “why would they work? I don’t need food. They just look pretty.”
Sighing, I stepped outside the room, hoping this would go better. I was only fifteen minutes away from the small town, but I had no idea how late their stores were open. “Severin?” I called; I didn’t bother yelling as he’d told me to. If he couldn’t hear me, then I would yell.
His head popped out of a room further down the hall before his body followed. “Are you ready for the tour?” he asked, a kind smile on his face as he approached.
“I was thinking, the kitchen first? I’m starting to get hungry.” The sooner I knew if food was in the house, the better. His pained smile told me all I needed to know. Was it wrong that I was disappointed? He seemed to have all those other things ready for me, but not the thing I needed to survive. I was more disappointed than I had been with my second feeder. Maybe I had started to think too highly of Severin.
“The cook is on his way, but I fear it will take at least two hours before a meal is ready for you.”
“The cook? You have a cook? Why?” I was utterly confused. Did other people live here? Other non-vampires?
“I do now,” was all he said, before gesturing for me to follow. I did, although I was a bit confused. “I have some food you can eat while we wait for the cook. It is not as balanced as a regular meal but it will suffice for the time being.”
I didn’t truly trust what a vampire deemedsufficientfood, but I couldn’t really complain. He had a cook. I wouldn’t have to make my own food for a year. That was a major bonus. The guilt instantly hit.I’d figured he’d forgotten about my needs when, in fact, he’d gone beyond what I could demand of a master. Even if the cook was late, he still had food. I just hoped it was edible.
We took the stairs down to the ground level and I enjoyed the many statues and paintings as I followed behind him. I wasn’t at all distracted by his tight grey pants that hugged his ass exquisitely. Nope. Not at all.
“This is the kitchen,” he said, unaware of my appreciation of his behind. I took in the room and gaped at how huge it was. For a vampire that did not require food, it seemed unnecessary.
“It’s beautiful,” I gushed, eying the marble countertops and the gold handles on the dark grey cupboards. I found the marble backsplash fascinating, since it was in a lighter marble than the countertops, which was a dark grey with black.
“Thank you,” he replied, his voice pleasant and kind. “My housemaid, Dina, had it renovated when I hired her twenty years ago.”
