Aaron's Kiss Series Boxed Set (Books 1 - 7) (5 page)

~CHAPTER THREE~

Aaron walked into the kitchen just as Duncan was closing one of the multitudes of cabinets. There were bags everywhere and more boxes than should have been necessary to hold groceries for one woman. All were marked with the logo of one of the local markets. He noticed a huge bowl of fruit on the tile counter. He picked up one of the oranges and put it to his nose.

The smell of citrus exploded in his senses. Feelings of sunshine and warmth on his skin, laughter ringing in his ears, and happiness moved through him. Memories. The wonderful memories of Christmas mornings as a child celebrating the season with his family.

He and his little sister would pour their meager stockings on the floor. The sounds of small toys, wooden and tin clanking together as they rummaged for the small gifts. And at the toe, a single orange, a rare treat in both the season and their poor household.

“Has Miss Temple woken up yet, Duncan?” he asked as the emotions of the flashback receded.

“No, my lord, at least not for overly long. I do believe she has used the bathroom twice since her arrival. The monitor sounded when she entered that room earlier. I did find her on the bedroom floor near the bed just this morning, sir, and I put her back into it. However, the next time I went up, she was on the floor again, only across the room this time. I left her there. She must not have found any comfort in the big bed for some reason.”

It would bother Duncan,
Aaron thought,
that Sara was not in a proper bed. Knowing Duncan, he would probably purchase a new mattress if he believed that the old one had offended someone.
Aaron smiled at his dear friend.

“Maybe the bed is too soft for her wound. Have you gotten the food supplies I asked you to?”

Aaron knew that he could depend on Duncan; he had been doing that since they had rescued one another in the early eighteen hundreds. Both men starving, one for food, the other for blood, they had provided each other with what they needed most. Duncan had been his daywalker and protector since.

“Of course, my lord, you did ask me to.”

Aaron felt his lips twitch at the look the man gave him. Prudently, he did not laugh at him. Duncan could be sensitive about such things.

“Yes, I know, but when was the last time food was brought into a household that you and I were living in?” While he did not feed from Duncan, a bond had formed between them in addition to a strong friendship. And because of it, Duncan would live, never aging for as long as Aaron did.

“I see your point. But I must say, it was quite fun shopping for human food stuffs. I did not realize that things had changed so much in just one hundred years. And sire, you would not believe the variety of things. Why, there were several kinds of apples to choose from…I could hardly make up my mind. I did purchase plenty of fresh fruits for the young miss. Do you think she will enjoy them?”

“Duncan, I believe you need to get out more.” Aaron sat in one of the new kitchen chairs that had been delivered the previous morning. “Yes, I do, even if she doesn’t think she does. She’ll need to eat well. She’s much too thin as it is. Have you had any luck getting any help for the house? While I know that you are more than capable of getting everything done, with guests in the house, we don’t want to give them the worry of thinking you won’t be able to care for them.”

“No, sir, I have not. It would seem that the previous master was quite the monster, if you do not mind my saying so. No one will trust that you will not extract a payment of some sort to work here, as he did. And that you will not be as harsh or cruel as he.”

Duncan was correct, he knew. It did not make the situation any better. That was why he had gone to see the Carlovettis. The young couple was well respected in both the human and the vampire world. He had gone to seek their help in bringing people around and convincing them to get to know him better.

“I feared as much,” Aaron said sadly. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to convince them that while I expect them to follow the rules set forth, I won’t skin anyone alive who doesn’t comply. I also plan to pay for the services rendered with a good wage.”

Aaron had been doing a little research on the people he now commanded. They really were terrified of the leadership, and with good reason. In the month since he had become master, he’d only met with a handful of them, and they had been nearly overwhelmed with terror.

“I had heard that a ‘skinning’ was his minimum punishment for disobedience, and to do so while they lived....” Duncan shivered. “So it’s true then, sire? You will have much to overcome, I fear.” He said it as if he had fully expected him to accomplish it without any problems.

“I’m afraid so. And that was the minimum punishment. Once the little warrior wakes up, let me know immediately. She and I have a lot to talk about.” He started to leave the room when Duncan stopped him by clearing his throat.

“My Lord...about the other guests, what should I do with them?” He suddenly looked nervous.

“They’ll be here until we get this settled with Miss Temple. I don’t want her to wake in a strange house with strange people.” He could not resist a little teasing. “Are they proving too much for you, old man?”

Duncan huffed and walked away from him. Aaron laughed out loud. He could not wait for her to wake, he thought as he returned to his study. She was a distraction. A beautiful and stubborn distraction, one he wanted to kiss on the delicious mouth again.

~~~

Just before sunset two days later, Sara woke up. Despite the great deal of pain from the bullet wound and soreness in a multitude of other places, she moved about enough to get herself going.

While sitting on the floor, she felt beyond the room, checking for others in the house, discovering the immensity of the building. She felt the presence of the Carlovettis and the vamp, plus one other person one floor below her—Duncan. She traced the faint signal of the others to the lower regions of the mansion and realized they were both still at rest.

Moving slowly to the bathroom to clean up, she found her clothes, clean and neatly folded on the large sink. Her backpack sat on the counter too, allowing her to brush her teeth first. This took a great deal of energy. As she sat down on the toilet, a knock sounded at the bathroom door.

“Yes?”

Duncan was standing just outside the open door to where she was. She didn’t have much energy left so she tilted her head slightly to look at him.

Duncan was not tall, but his slender stature made him appear taller. His skin tone was fair, his hair red and very curly, even as short as it was. Her first thought was Irish. It was his eyes that startled her the most. They were the deepest shade of green that she had ever seen. His smile at her made her realize that he had been talking to her all the while she had been studying him.

“Miss? It is I, Duncan. May I inquire if you need anything? I have been instructed to aide you in any way that you require.”

Sara watched as he fussed with the stack of towels in his arms.

“I was about to get into the shower. I’m pretty sure I can do that on my own, thanks. Unless you were told to help me with that too.”

Sara had only planned to wash off and then sit down again. She suddenly felt...like something left uncovered in the fridge for too long.

For a full minute, he didn’t say a word. His face, however, said it all. Shock, terror, and confusion flitted across his features as his face deepened in color, in embarrassment. She felt horrible about teasing him, and decided to help him out and revise her statement.

“No, Mr. Duncan, I’m going to get into the shower. Alone. I’ll be okay by myself. But thanks anyway.”

“Very well, miss,” he said with obvious relief in his voice. “Just pick up the phone and dial four if you need anything. Oh, and it’s just Duncan, not Mr.”

“All right, Duncan then. I’ll be sure to let you know if I can think of anything. Thank you.” He turned and looked at the bed. It was still made. She knew that he was wondering about it, but she didn’t have the energy to explain she had not slept in a real bed for a long time. The hard floor was much more to her liking anyway.

Forty-five minutes later, Sara walked into the kitchen, startling Duncan. Also, there sat the man who had lied to her—the man from the hangar.
He is extremely handsome, this new master,
she thought again.
Arrogant as well, if the way he is looking at me is any indication of his personality.
That morning, he was dressed in much the same manner as he had been during their initial meeting at the hangar—black jeans, dark blue rather than black tee today, and tennis shoes, also black.
Why do they always dress like they are going to a funeral
? she mused, somewhat surprised that she had even noticed.

“Miss Temple, how are you this fine morning?” The humor he wasn’t trying to hide in his voice made him sound almost human.

“Fine enough to wanna smack that smirk right off your face,” she told him. “And alive and kicking, no thanks to you either. You lied to me, bloodsucker.” She looked around the brightly lit kitchen with its bright new appliances. Sunlight streamed through the open windows, letting sounds of the early birds and smell of fresh cut lawn in. “Shouldn’t you be in your coffin somewhere, or something? The sun is shining; I would think you’d be a crispy critter by now. I could help you along if you’d like. We could move outside to where the sun would make a more direct hit.”

Sara was being snarky, she knew. She couldn’t seem to help herself. She heard Duncan’s sharp intake of breath. To be honest, she had forgotten that he was there. When Aaron threw back his head and roared with laughter, she turned to stare at him.
Christ,
she thought. His laugh went through her whole body, making her very aware of him as a man.

“Thank you, but no. Here is fine for now. As for the sunlight, I’m actually quite old. Therefore, I can stand the sunlight a little more than a younger vampire. As for you being alive, Miss Temple, I never said I’d take your life, only that I would end the one you were currently living. And I plan on doing just that, just as soon as you are able to get about.”

Sara felt his look as if he had caressed her. It both excited her and made her angry. Anger she could handle. She wouldn’t allow herself to think about the other right now.

“I won’t become your blood du jour, bloodsucker,” she snarled at him.
Yes,
she thought,
I do much better with anger.

“Miss Temple!” Duncan barked at her. She felt herself flush with embarrassment.

“It’s all right, Duncan. She’s angry with me, as I am with her. So, we can get this over with now, Little Warrior. If you please, we can finish this in the dining room. Duncan has made you a wonderful breakfast, and you will need your strength back very soon.” She backed up as he stood. His size did not frighten her. It was the man; he scared her in ways that she did not understand.

“No.” She had to get away from him, away from all of them.
Now,
she thought, she needed to leave now.

“No? No, what, pray tell?” He took a step toward her. She was sure it was not to intimidate her, but it had. Slightly.

She looked at the door just behind Duncan.
I can make it,
she thought. “I want to be able to leave, please. I appreciate that you’ve seen to my wound, since you are the cause of it anyway. I have a job, and my own place to stay, and...I’d like to go. I need to go.” Hearing the panic in her voice, she hated it. Sara moved toward the door. She was not afraid of him, but rather of what he was making her feel.

“I caused your wound? However did you arrive at that conclusion?” he asked her as he wrapped his arms around his impressive chest.

Sara felt rather than saw him move. He had moved himself between her and the door, blocking her way. Damn it.

“You brought those men into the Carlovettis’, didn’t you? They were there because they wanted you dead.” She was only half paying attention to what she was saying now.

The room had suddenly become an assault on her senses. His scent, deep earth and warmth, permeated the air. Then the smells coming from the kitchen itself. Bacon…God, when was the last time she had had bacon, eggs, toast, and sausage? Her stomach rumbled then. Hunger liked she had never felt hit her. She lifted her eyes to his, wondering if he heard it too. But the look on his face made her forget all about the rumbling in her belly, and she centered completely on the man in front of her.

“You know why they were there? How did you get that information? Is this another one of your hidden talents? You seem to be just brimming with powers no one knew about, Little Warrior.” He took another step toward her, and then stopped when she retreated. She felt trapped.

“Of course. I’m surprised a big bad vamp like you didn’t catch that. They were there to kill you and then blame it on the Carlovettis—an attempted murder gone wrong. Well, it did go wrong, but not like they’d planned, I guess. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to be able to leave.” This time, she tried to brush by him, but his voice stopped her cold.

“But I do mind, Sara Temple. You have a lot to answer for, and I plan on having you as a guest until I’m satisfied. Now, if you wouldn’t mind going into the dining room, while you break your fast, I will have a few of those answers now.”