Just One Golden Kiss (5 page)

Nipping her neck, he asked, “Do you want all of me inside of you?”

“The sun is beginning to rise.”

“Let it rise,” he said, unbuttoning his trousers.

“You’re
so
impatient,” she said.

Here was a seven-hundred-year-old vampire willing to let the sun burn him for
her
. He was hers. And she was more than in love with him. She was addicted to every part of him.

“Quickly, my love,” she said. “We only have a minute or two.”

“Sweet princess, you’re so delicious,” he said, tenderly entering her.

She moved her hands between her legs and touched herself, his cock brushing her fingers each time he powered into her.

“I need to drink from you. I can’t stand it,” he said, his fangs on her neck.

“Do not,” she said, hoping he would ignore her command. How she enjoyed making him suffer.

“You’re mine and I
will
take all of you,” he said, thrusting into her faster and deeper.

Feeling slight pain, she said, “Take all of me.”

And he did. Blessed Gods, her body ached for more. He was in her…drinking from her and yet, she wanted more…she
needed
more.

But she’d have to wait, curse the sun for keeping her apart from him, her compulsion, her everything and he
was
everything to her.

“Wait for me in the house, tonight,” he whispered into her ear.

Before she could answer, he disappeared.

Be safe, my love. Think of me in your sleep.

Enjoying the sun’s morning rays and feeling slightly woozy, Lela sauntered through the forest on her way to a place where berries were abundant and a river flowed with such speed she wondered if the sun had once threatened to deplete it and only leave behind dead fish and a scarred, dried floor.

Pressing her hand into her stomach, she tried to ignore hunger pangs. She had lost a fair amount of weight. A diet of berries and water was simply not enough nourishment; she needed milk, meat and bread. And Eldrich drinking from her every time they had sex, which was multiple times each night, left her buzzed, disoriented, and famished. But she couldn’t ask him to stop. Not being able to drink from her when he was having his way with her drove him absolutely mad, something that scared her
and
also thrilled her.

The few times he had not been able to take in her blood because she had not had enough to eat, he had confessed to wanting to hunt down another human, a woman right then and there, and bleed her right in front of Lela. In storybooks vampires were depicted as forceful and cruel beings. Blood and sex were intertwined and a vampire’s brutality came forth without remorse when it was denied either one.

But Eldrich wasn’t the only one who suffered when he couldn’t feed from her. Her orgasms were less intense. When she was with him, she became part of him and she needed to feel her very life leaving her body and into his in order to fully experience sexual ecstasy. And what’s more, he’d rush into her fiercely, causing her pain,
real
pain. Although she secretly admitted to liking it; she understood she was in danger. He was a strong and determined vampire who could easily lose his judgment during sex and yes, accidentally kill her.

She needed his sanity, tonight. It was her twenty-first birthday and he had promised to obey her every sexual wish. And what she wanted was for him to take her far into the forest away from the Kingdom of Barmoth where her father did not rule. She wanted Eldrich to devour her in a place unknown to her where she could forget everything…her childhood, the golden ball, the death of her mother, she wanted it all gone. She needed to escape. And in order to do so, she’d need to eat; she had no intention of prohibiting Eldrich from doing whatever he wanted to her. Her plan was to keep him inside of her all night. Blessed Gods, just thinking about him made her body vibrate. Smiling, she let the feeling run through her.

Yes, she’d gorge on fruit and prepare herself for him. Since he was an old vampire, he could go days without his fill of blood. And now that he was drinking from her, he needed even less blood.

Since they had been together, he had only hunted once. He had not shared the details of his hunt with her. Nor had she asked. Vampires only drank from humans. And when they drank for nourishment, they completely emptied their victims. The hair on her arms froze.

She pushed that knowledge to the darkest and most hidden space of her mind. She’d only focus on happiness and goodness
and
sexual diversions. Because if she were truthful, although she did love Eldrich, she also understood that her time with him was a distraction from her life. She was a princess, the only child of the King of Barmoth. And the time would come when she’d have to wear the crown and lead her people. She could never completely turn her back on the people of Barmoth.

As she carried on through the trees, she examined her surroundings, looking over her shoulder often and listening for any sounds. Ever since she had let a stupid golden ball cause her to fall into a well, she was more careful with her steps. But had it not been for the ball, she’d have never met Eldrich. She couldn’t help but laugh a little. He was a frog when he pulled her from the well after she agreed to give him whatever he desired! And what he had desired was her, a simple kiss that returned him to his true form. But that had not been enough for him; he had begged...demanded that she lie with him. And she had given herself to him that night and every night since. Yes, she admitted to the desperation and moment of weakness.

Completely giddy, she reached a mass of vines filled with round and plump berries. Lela grabbed a handful and swallowed them. She continued eating until her stomach did not pang anymore. Then she went down to the river and splashed water on her face. She planned on gorging on fruit and bathing in the river all day.

She undressed and sank into the river, letting the cold water refresh and cleanse her skin. She’d have to stay in the shallow end; the current was strong and she didn’t want to risk being swept away by it.

The golden ball came to her mind. Despite Eldrich’s assurance that she was safe and that his kind no longer had a claim on her blood now that he had hidden the ball in the sea, she could not deny her lingering fear. Lady Rema had told her the truth. And the truth was that the ball, which vampires considered their god, had followed her since birth never making itself known to her until that day…the day it called her in the forest.

Going underwater for a moment, she tried to shake off her fear. To no avail. Lady Rema had also told her that since the ball chose to present itself to her, vampires would come for her and drain her, believing that her blood could save them, make them human again. It was written in their sacred book that the ball would someday choose a human to follow and that that human’s blood would make them mortal again. Her poor mother had offered herself to them ten years earlier and in exchange they agreed to leave Lela alone. They had murdered her mother! And yet here she was in love with a vampire.
Oh, mother, please forgive me.
Eldrich is not like the rest of his kind. He truly loves me.

She tried to quiet her mind and only think of Eldrich and their love for each other.
Eldrich come to me, stay inside of me, drink from me, take my soul, I’m yours, now and forever.

Touching her nipples with one hand and putting her other hand down below, she imagined Eldrich thrusting into her.

She murmured, “Sweet prince, sleep and dream of me.”

The sun’s rays on her face, her thoughts on Eldrich’s throbbing cock; she wished it was stroking her entire body. The sun came down harshly on her; sweat trickled down to her neck. Gasping and moaning, she continued masturbating; she felt she’d stop breathing if Eldrich spent one more second outside of her body. Chewing her lip, her insides burning she exploded.

“Eldrich, yes, Eldrich, yes, my prince!” she screamed.

Despite being a virgin when she met Eldrich, she was not naïve and had discovered how to release her ever-increasing sexual tension some years earlier. She had even stumbled upon servants in the kitchen or in the halls and she was not ashamed to admit that she had not looked away, but rather watched with jealous curiosity. For goodness sake, she had even seen vegetables inserted into a woman’s…

She staggered onto the river’s bank and then collapsed. Shivering, she quickly dressed and then threw on her cloak. She’d rest for a little while and aim to catch up on her sleep since night time was no longer for sleeping, a thought that made her blush. Closing her eyes, she drifted into slumber. At this moment, she and Eldrich were one.

Ruffling leaves startled her. Opening her eyes, she jumped to her feet, ready to yell for help.

“Who’s there,” she asked.

“No one you know,” a man said, coming from behind a tree.

“I’ll scream,” she said, scanning the bank for a stick, a rock, anything with which she could defend herself.

“Have I threatened you?” he asked, advancing to her.

“You’re not wearing any clothes,” she said, bending down to pick up a stick.

Grinning he said, “I’m not going to hurt you. My goodness why would I want to do such a thing? Besides even if I did, I’m afraid that scrawny stick wouldn’t be much of a protector. I’m sorry if I’m too blunt.”

She glanced at the stick and was instantly embarrassed. And not just because of its size but because it reminded her of the night Eldrich had teased her with a stick, threatening to push it into her while on the roof of his house.

“You’re not correct about my attire,” he looked down at himself, “I’m sure I’m wearing trousers. Do you not see them?” he asked, with a wicked laugh.

Lela gave his trousers a glance, noticing the thickness between his legs. Flushing, she cleared her throat and centered her eyes on his bare chest. He had a cross necklace around his neck. Crosses were not permitted in the Kingdom of Barmoth. Her father despised the God of the Cross. The night her mother vanished, he had prayed to the God of the Cross and begged him for her safe return. His prayer went unanswered and days later he put forth a law prohibiting crosses. A death sentence awaited anyone caught with one. And here was this man displaying a cross without regard.

“Who are you?” she asked, her stare on the cross.

“Does this offend you?” he asked, pointing to his necklace.

Swallowing, she said, “Crosses are forbidden.”

Taking it off, he asked, “By whom?”

“You can’t be serious,” she said with a slight chuckle.

Letting it dangle from his hand he said, “I’m entirely serious. Now tell me, why do you believe them to be forbidden?”

She seemed destined to continue meeting strange men in the forest.

“Quit your ignorance. Why are you stalking me?”

“My, you’re a vain woman.”

“Then why are you out here?” she asked, frowning.

“Forgive me, I didn’t know the forest belonged to you,” he said with a smirk. Picking up a stone and tossing it into the river, he then said, “I’ve learned two things today. One, crosses are forbidden and two, you’re the owner of the forest.”

Blushing she said, “I should be on my way.” This strange man was not from Barmoth. But why was he here? Lela knew of other kingdoms but they were far,
far
away. And besides, no one dared enter Barmoth without first sending a letter requesting permission. And she could not imagine her father granting this man consent to come into Barmoth.

“I’m sorry I frightened you,” he said.

“No need to apologize,” she said.

“You’re not afraid, then?”

“I’m not.” She was lying.

“I’m glad. Very well, until we meet again,” he said and started to walk away.

“And why should we meet again?” she asked.

He did not answer.

“Wait,” she said. “Who are you?”

Stopping, he turned to face her and said, “I’m one of the fallen, and your laws
do not
apply to me.” Then two sprawling, white wings appeared on his back and he took flight.

“For goodness sake!” Lela exhaled.

In all her years of roaming the forest, she had never witnessed a single extraordinary event and in the last few weeks she had encountered a golden ball, a frog who then became a vampire, and now she had just seen a man calling himself one of the fallen, whatever bloody hell that meant, spread wings and fly,
yes
, fly away right in front of her. Oh, and let’s not forget that the golden ball had chosen her to be the savior of all vampires and that had it not been for Eldrich, she’d most likely be dead.
Just another day in the forest! Perhaps she should return to the castle and lock herself in the servants’ quarters for all eternity.
Her curiosity for what else she had yet to experience prevented her from doing so. That and that it was her birthday and she’d not let a stupid flying, fallen person ruin her day.

She decided to keep this particular incident from Eldrich. She had no idea how he would react.
Better to keep it a secret.
Oh and to the forest, please refrain from sending anymore odd and ridiculous things my way.
She bowed and then took a peek at the sun. She must have slept all day! It was already low in the sky. She darted to the fruit vines. If she was going to indulge in passionate sex with Eldrich, she needed more nourishment. She gulped down fistfuls of berries and then raced home.