But what did that mean? Where did that leave her? Where did that leave them?
If she stayed here, she would forfeit her family, friends, and freedom forever. She would also have to die, probably sooner rather than later. If she left, she would be back with her loved ones, back in the life that she cherished so much, but she would be leaving a big piece of herself behind. A piece she didn't think she would ever find again, in fact she was certain that she wouldn't.
She thought it should be an easy choice, her home, her life and her family, or a life in a place that she didn't understand, that was cruel, and frightening. It wasn't even close to being easy though. Not when it meant that she would never see Braith again, never hold him or feel him again. That thought left her torn between freedom and a short, sweet life. She felt like crying, but she found that tears wouldn't come. Her eyes were as dry and empty as a desert. She sat for hours, unable to move as the sweet sounds of music drifted up from below.
The sun had set awhile ago; it was late when Braith returned. She hadn't realized that she had drifted off until she felt his arms wrapping around her. He lifted her smoothly from the window seat, cradling her against his chest as he carried her from the room.
"Braith?" she whispered, though she knew it was. She would know him anywhere.
"Go back to sleep love."
She curled closer against his chest, thrilled by his words as she was captured by his strength and scent. Her fingers threaded inside of his coat, pushing aside the buttons on his shirt. She rested her palm against his solid chest and somewhat cooler skin. She sighed in contentment as her hand came into contact with his skin. She didn't think she would ever get tired of touching him as her fingers slid over his skin.
He placed her gently upon his bed and pressed a kiss against her forehead before he pulled reluctantly away from her. She watched through half closed eyes as he pulled his coat off, tossed it aside, and disappeared into the bathroom. She listened as he moved about, fighting against the deep pull of sleep that threatened to claim her.
He was back again before she knew it, his hand upon her shoulder. "Would you like me to remove your dress?"
Her mouth went dry, her heart leapt as apprehension and excitement tore through her. Sleep was officially forgotten in the face of his question. It was only then she realized that Maggie hadn't returned, he must have told her to stay away for the night. Would she like him to take her dress off? The relief to her ribs would be wonderful, yet the intimacy of it was terrifying.
She was wearing a slip beneath the dress, it was just as covering as the nightgowns, and she really wanted the strings untied. And truth be told, she enjoyed the way he touched her. She swallowed heavily before nodding. A smile flitted over his full mouth, it was so rare and fleeting that it robbed her of her breath.
"So you have decided to reveal the stake to me?"
Her face drained of color. She had completely forgotten about the stake, but after the events of this day she hadn't felt safe without it. "You knew!?" she accused.
That smile was back, if he made it just right that dimple would reappear. She might have found it adorable if she hadn't been so rocked by his question. "I knew."
"How long have you known?"
"Since the beginning." She glanced down at her chest, her eyebrows drawing together as she studied her cleavage. She'd spent a lot of time in front of the mirror making sure that the stake was safely concealed. He leaned over her, his scent of spices and something almost earthy engulfed her; the heat of his body warmed hers even as a chill lingered from his revelation. His lips were just centimeters from her cheek. For a moment she lost all train of thought as she was consumed by the need for him to touch her, to kiss her. Her fingers curled around his upper arms, she had to hold onto something in order to stay grounded in the sea of desire that was threatening to consume her. His biceps flexed beneath her touch, his skin rippled over his solid muscles. "I enjoy looking down there also."
Her eyes flew wildly up to his. She thought she should feel outraged by his comment. Instead, her traitorous body was thrilled by it. "I… I don't even know what to say to that."
"That's a first."
Well that sparked some anger from her. He chuckled, actually chuckled, as she glared crossly at him. "Why did you let me keep it then?" she demanded.
He shrugged as he rested his hand on her waist. She completely forgot about being irritated with him as his presence overwhelmed her ire. Even through the fabric, she could feel the heat of his hand as it seared into her flesh. Her breasts began to tingle with anticipation as she instinctively pressed closer to him. The pupils of his eyes dilated, his humor vanished as he focused on her mouth. Aria almost whimpered from the clamor surging through her body as his gaze focused on her lips before traveling over her body in a hungry perusal that left her feeling exposed and aching for something she didn't quite understand, but instinctively knew he could help her with. Only he could ease the ache building within her.
"I planned to see what you would do with it."
His eyes were back on hers as he leaned closer. Aria gulped, she almost pushed him back, she required some room to breathe; she was swamped, her head spun as she was mesmerized by him. Her hands curled around his arms, her thumb began to stroke the tantalizing flesh beneath the thin material of his shirt. "I intended to use it against you."
"I know."
"Then…"
"I was waiting, I was curious, but then if I had known your true identity I may have taken it from you a lot sooner."
She had expected him to retreat at the reminder of who she was; instead his lips brushed hers as he spoke. The feathery caress of every word caused her heart to thump against her ribs in response. It was torment, this touching, yet not touching. She wanted him to end it, wanted him to finally kiss her again, and yet she found she enjoyed the sweet torture.
"You would have actually attempted to drive it through my heart?"
"In the beginning," she admitted. "And there's been a time or two that I was tempted."
His laugh was low as it rumbled pleasantly out of his chest. "The feeling was mutual."
She couldn't help but grin at him. "I imagine it was. Though, I think I was far more tempted to stab Caleb than you." His amusement vanished so suddenly that she gasped in surprise. "Braith…"
"I won't let him anywhere near you." The words were grated, harsh, his eyes brutal. His lips against hers were not teasing and playful anymore, but compressed into a severe line.
"I… I didn't think you would," she stammered.
"Caleb is not like me, or Jericho. He's the worst of everything that is bad about our race, and yours. I will make sure that you are not exposed to him again."
"Is that why you send me away when he comes around?"
His muscles rippled beneath her hands, his lip curled in a small sneer. Aria's hands tightened around him as his eyes flashed briefly red. She stared, astonished by the slip in his control, in the blatant reminder of what he was and what he was capable of. Trepidation trickled down her spine; she was unable to release his arms as she sensed something within him that had nothing to do with his hunger for her. For a brief moment his vulnerability was exposed to her. Her heart ached for the man beneath this remorseless exterior, the one that wasn't like either of his brothers, and most certainly wasn't like his hideously cruel father. The man who read to her, tended her injuries, and touched her with such tender reverence.
Love swelled within her, she almost cried from the force of the emotion growing within her chest. It encompassed her as it grew and surged rapidly. "I send you away so he won't see."
"See what?"
"How much I need you, how much stronger you make me, how much your loss would destroy me." Tears slid down her cheeks, he wiped them lightly away with the pads of his thumbs. His fingers stroked over her cheeks as a storm of emotion filled his eyes. "What am I going to do with you Arianna?" he breathed.
She shook her head, she had no answers for him,
and there were none in this situation, not for them. She simply wanted to be with him, in this moment, and forget about everything that was trying to tear them apart. With a feathery touch she ran the tips of her fingers over his taut, full mouth. He shuddered in response, his eyes darkened with desire.
"Let me get this thing off of you." His hands were gentle upon her as he slipped the ties free, allowing her to breathe easily for the first time in hours as her aching ribs were finally freed. "Why did you wear this thing with your ribs being in the condition they are?" he muttered in annoyance.
"You picked it out," she reminded him.
His forehead creased as he stared at her for a moment. "I didn't know it required these strings, I simply liked the color and thought it would look good on you. You could have said no."
She breathed slowly in and out as she relished the full air within her lungs. "Maggie suggested that, but I didn't think it would look right if I went against the dress you chose for me. Maggie's a nice girl, but I don't trust anyone in this place."
He cursed as he sat back, his hand rested reassuringly upon her arm. He was no longer looking at her, but staring into the dark. She knew he was pondering if it would be best for her to leave, and the thought terrified her. It was best if she left, for both of them, but it was the last thing she wanted to do.
His hand rubbed her arm for a moment before he lifted her effortlessly to her feet. Aria stared at him in surprise, her lips parted. His full mouth curved into a smile as he slid the dress down her, letting it pool on the ground at her feet. Her face flared with heat, she ducked away from him as she stepped out of the material.
The handle of the stake poked out from the thin undergarments still covering her. His fingers brushed tantalizingly against her skin as he plucked it free and stared at it for a moment. His eyes were gleaming with amusement as he wagged the stake before her. "The nightstand leg?"
"Yeah."
"Destructive little human." He held the stake for a moment more before snapping it in half between his thumb and index finger. Aria's mouth dropped at the display of strength. Granted, it hadn't been the strongest stake, but he'd snapped it with barely a flick of his wrist. She knew vampires were powerful, but she had a feeling there was a wealth of strength and power within him that she hadn't even begun to see yet.
She imagined it was terrifying, and she hoped she'd never have to see it.
For the first time she noticed that his legs were bare, and that he wore only a pair of shorts. Her mouth went dry, and her heart thumped with barely contained excitement. His thighs were corded, the muscles in them stood out sharply as he moved. Her pulse pounded as he unbuttoned his shirt and slid the material free. She was staring, she knew she was, but she couldn't stop herself from taking in the perfectly sculpted muscles that ridged his abdomen, broad shoulders, and chest. Dark hair ran across his chest, before tapering toward an area that was hidden by his shorts. Her face burned even hotter as she realized she had followed that trail of hair all the way down to where it vanished from view.
It seemed as if someone had decided to create the perfect man and had come up with him. And he was staring at her from under hooded eyes that made her toes curl into the thick carpet. Holy hell she was in over her head. She had no experience with this. There were bare-chested men in the woods, she'd seen male legs before, but none of those chests or legs had this much of an overwhelming, dizzying effect on her. She felt like a child at the same time she began to become aware of herself as a woman.
"Arianna?"
She glanced up at him from beneath lowered lashes, struggling to control her embarrassment but failing miserably. "My friends call me Aria," she said, for lack of anything else to say, or do.
His hand was gentle as it caressed her cheek, tilting her face so that she had to look up at him. "We're a little more than friends, don't you think?" His voice was low and laced with passion.
There were no more words left in her, there was nothing she could say to that, because it was true. They were more than friends, and at that moment she would have done anything he asked of her. She stepped closer to him, resting her hands on his bare chest, marveling at the broad, well muscled expanse as her fingers trailed over it. He was unmoving beneath her touch, letting her explore him as she saw fit. She yearned to touch all of him, but her fingers froze upon the ridges that sculpted his abdomen, just above the line of his shorts.
He pulled her forward, kissing her forehead as he held her flush against him. "You're beautiful Arianna."
She blinked in surprise. No one had ever said that to her, and though she knew it wasn't true, she couldn't stop the thrill of pleasure that raced through her at his words. It seemed as if he had even meant it. "No Braith, but thank…"
"Yes Arianna, to me, you're the most beautiful woman in the world."
Tears burned her eyes as she searched his gaze, but all she saw was honesty and desire radiating back at her. Her fingers curled against his skin, love bloomed rapidly through her chest. She couldn't fight the tidal wave of emotion that was overtaking her. There was a burning in his gaze that puzzled her and was more than just sexual. Then, with sudden clarity she knew what that look was, what he so desperately needed from her.
What he was lacking that she could give to him.
"Did you feed tonight Braith?" He shook his head, his eyes closed for a brief moment as his thumb massaged her cheek. "Why not?"
"I cannot feed as often as I once did," he answered.
She frowned at him, confused by his words, and then realization swamped her. "Because if you did, they would question what you were doing with me. What use could I possibly be to you if you still need to feed off of others?"
He didn't say anything, just looked beyond her at the back wall. His jaw clenched as he grated his teeth, his hand trembled upon her cheek before he slid it into her hair. "It's more than that Arianna."
She tilted her chin back, drinking in the sight of him. He was magnificent, powerful, and for now, in this moment, it was just the two of them. There was no blood slave and master, there was no Jack and Max, even her forest and family didn't exist. It was just them, and they didn't have to worry or fear anything else, not here.
"What is it then?"
He bent closer to her, his mouth just inches from hers, his eyes intent upon hers. The hand entangled in her hair, pulled her head a little to the side. His other hand traced her pounding pulse, and jumping vein. His finger lingered upon her neck, his eyes dilated to near pin points as hunger oozed from him. "Yours is the only blood I've coveted since I set eyes on you. Nothing else could completely satisfy me."
A sob caught in her throat. She could only stare at him in awe as he bent to place a kiss against her throat. His lips were gentle, loving, but beneath them she could feel the solid press of his fangs. He tried to keep them from her, tried not to let her know that they were there but she knew, and even more than that, everything in her thrilled at the thought of them. She should be terrified, should be repulsed by the mere thought of allowing him to feed from her, but instead she found it was all she could think of. It was all she desired.
Her blood pumped more vigorously, goose bumps broke out across her skin. Her hands curled against his corded muscles as he dropped smooth kisses across her neck, her cheek, before brushing briefly against her mouth.
Aria's knees trembled, she was shaking against him, barely able to stand as his tongue flickered against her lips. Her mouth parted eagerly to his hungry invasion. His arm locked around her waist as he lifted her off her feet, keeping her pressed flush against him. Aria wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him as he laid her upon the bed and leveled himself gradually on top of her.
The weight of him was wonderful, everything about him was wonderful. She never wanted this moment to end, never wanted any of this to stop. She wished that she could freeze time, that she could simply lay here with him and enjoy the miracle of this moment. She wished that they would never have to face the world or an
y of the horrible things in it again. No matter what happened, she was going to enjoy this night. They were going to have one moment of pure happiness and peace before the harsh reality they were faced with came crashing back in.
His kiss became more urgent, fevered. She could feel the lust that he radiated. Her head was spinning; her body was completely out of control as she held on to him, using him as an anchor in a world that was suddenly tumultuous. His hands stroked her tenderly, moving over her in a whisper of a caress that caused her to tremble everywhere. His lips were upon her neck, his teeth skimmed over her throat, but he didn't bite.
He wouldn't, she realized, unless she gave him permission to.
She was shaking, close to tears as she turned her head, burying her face in his strong neck. She pressed her mouth against his solid flesh, clutching his arms as she tried to stabilize herself, tried to keep herself grounded though she knew it was impossible. "It's ok," she breathed. "It's ok."
He didn't seem to hear her at first, as he didn't stop kissing her neck. Then his arms locked and he drew slowly back from her. She pushed his dark locks aside as she traced the scars circling his eyes. "Arianna?"
Her fingers moved over his cheekbones, then down to the curve of his full mouth. She trailed over his lips, but he recoiled when she touched the lengthy fangs. "Don't," she pleaded, refusing to let him pull away from her. His forehead furrowed in confusion, but he didn't move any further away from her. She was startled to realize that the sensation of running her fingers over his pointed teeth was tantalizing and breathtaking. She was not at all frightened by it as she thought she would be, as she should be. He was far more powerful than her, he could kill her easily, and yet there was no fear within her because it was him. "It's ok," she said again, her fingers stilling on his teeth. "You're hungry, and I can ease that. I want this Braith."
"Arianna." His voice was a low anguish filled moan as he dropped his head into the hollow of her neck. His shoulders shook beneath her; the tension in him was almost palpable. "You don't know what you're asking for."