Lydia's Secret (The Secret Series Book 1) (12 page)

He was more than aware of his classic good looks and much sought-after body. Hell, he’d been with enough women in his lifetime to have mastered the art of sex long ago. One didn’t spend centuries perfecting the skill of lovemaking only to walk away ignorant.

Simon brushed his palm over the zipper of his black silk Armani pants. He couldn’t remember how many years had elapsed since he’d been turned on by a woman. Performing had never been a problem for him. Neither had deception for that matter. Simon Le Blanc had foregone more orgasms than the average female would experience in ten lifetimes.

Turning from his image, he drifted toward the door and gripped the knob. He needed to feed before the little girl’s arrival to help alleviate the temptation of draining her dry. Besides, if Lydia’s blood didn’t give him the power needed to destroy Svetlana, he would have a backup guarantee in his young prisoner once she reached maturity.

Simon decided taking his car would be more beneficial than going into town on foot. As much as he preferred to run off his present aggression, he ran the risk of Svetlana sniffing him out and demanding his company for the evening.

A shudder passed through his tall frame at the thought of her hands on his body. Her touch sickened him, and no amount of resisting would deter her from taking him if she so desired. She alone held the power to control him, and he loathed her for it.

Once outside, he slid behind the wheel of his car and sent comforting thoughts to Jeanie’s mind. He needed her relaxed and confident. Even the smallest amount of resistance from her could be picked up by the very receptive Roman Castillo.

Chapter Thirteen

Roman stepped from the shower and vigorously dried himself with an entirely too-soft towel. He preferred his towels big and slightly rough, the kind that soaked up the water and felt right on his skin, not the overwhelming fabric-softener-smelling, water-smearing length of cloth he held in his hands now.

Tossing the offending material onto the counter, he brushed his teeth and dressed in a pair of faded jeans before pulling a white sweater over his head. He ran a hand through his hair and slipped on his running shoes.

Lydia Hughes would be dining with him tonight, and he found himself double-checking his image in the bathroom mirror.
What am I doing
? He flipped off the light and withdrew into his bedroom.

The bone-deep sadness that dwelled inside her was tragic. He knew it came from living with the fear of her daughter’s disease. The not knowing and constantly waking up wondering if it would be their last day together had to be emotionally crippling.

He would give anything to help her; even give her the dark gift.
If only she were older.
He would never turn one so young.

Roman shook off his thoughts and left his apartment, making his way to the stairs. His stomach tightened as he climbed his way to the first floor where his Lydia awaited.

When had she become his? he wondered, exiting the stairwell. Since he’d saved her life in that alley and gazed deep into her unforgettable eyes.

“She and Jacie are just sitting down to eat,” Madison announced as he reached the dining hall door. He’d been so lost in thought he hadn’t heard her approach.

“Good evening, Madison. I trust all is well?”

She nodded and glanced at the dining room door. “Nothing out of the ordinary. Max took Lydia on a tour of the grounds earlier today while I spent time with Jacie.”

Jealousy was instant and ugly. “Max?”

Madison laughed. “He’s only seventeen, Roman. Surely you’re not jealous of Max?”

“Of course not,” he growled, pushing the door open. “I just don’t want her on the grounds unprotected.”

“Sure you don’t,” came her mocking reply.

If he wasn’t so fond of her sarcastic ass, he would have fired her long ago, he mused, entering the dining hall. Who was he kidding? She had to be one the best employees he had.

Roman stopped short as the sound of Lydia’s husky laugh suddenly filled the dining room, echoing off the walls to burrow inside his chest. He rounded the corner in time to see Max grinning back at her, one of his big hands covering her smaller one.

“I’ll show you tonight after our swim,” the wolf continued in a conspirator’s voice.

A snarl rose up in Roman’s chest, but he swallowed it back. He told himself it was because of the child’s presence and not due to his unwanted jealousy. “No one takes her for a swim but me.”

He ignored the incredulous look Lydia shot him and took a seat at the head of the table.

“Yes, sir,” Max muttered, retracting his hand and picking up his fork.

“I’ll swim with you, Max,” Jacie blurted with stars in her eyes. It was obvious the wolf held some kind of fascination for her.

Max gently pinched her cheek. “You got it, kiddo.”

Lydia’s daughter turned her attention to Roman, staring at him long enough he grew uncomfortable.

He cleared his throat. “Is something wrong, Jacie?”

“Your eyes are hurt,” she responded in a matter of fact tone.

Roman realized his pupils were turning pink. He could feel the heat lurking behind them, swirling and warming with every breath he took. Lydia’s sweet scent drifting his way wasn’t helping any. He wanted to taste her so bad he had to fight dragging her across the table to his plate.

“Yes,” he explained to the child. “I have a condition that requires prescription drops. It doesn’t hurt, I assure you.”

“I have to take medicines too, Mr. Roman.”

Roman’s stomach clenched. He’d lied to a small child about something she was all too familiar with. Something she had to do daily just to stay alive. He suddenly felt like an ass.

He cut his gaze to Lydia. “I’d like to speak with you privately after dinner.”

“Of course.” She watched him as her daughter had.

“Do I have something in my teeth?” he ground out, shifting in his seat.

She appeared embarrassed. “Um, no. I. It’s just that—”

“Just that what?”

She glanced at his plate. “You’re not eating?”

There he sat with an empty plate, a glass of wine, and pink eyes. He could only imagine how he must look. “Hopefully later.”

A blush spread up her neck, into her face, but she didn’t back down. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Roman knew he was baiting her, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. “I don’t usually
eat
in the company of…so many.”

Lydia stood so fast, her chair nearly spilled over. “Would you excuse me, please?” She shifted her gaze to her daughter. “Eat your dinner. Mommy needs to use the restroom.”

* * * *

Lydia burst into her room and grabbed a water bottle from the small fridge in her kitchenette. She rolled the cold plastic around her face before uncapping and drinking several deep swallows. There had been no doubt about Roman’s innuendo at the table, and she only prayed she’d left before he’d sensed its effect on her.

Truth was, she’d wanted to crawl across that table and surrender herself to him the way she’d done on her couch.

The click of her door shutting brought her around in surprise.

Roman stalked slowly toward her, reminding her of a cat trailing its prey. “Do not run.”

She didn’t answer. She couldn’t.

He didn’t stop, only swept her up into his arms and turned toward the door. “I’m going to take you in ways you’ve never been taken before.”

Her body reacted to his words. Wetness slicked her panties, and her pussy began to throb. “Roman? I’ve—”

“I can smell you, damn it. I know that you want me.”

She did want him; so much that her nipples pebbled and her insides ached with a longing that frightened her.

“If you’re going to deny me, do it now. Because once I have you in my bed, I’m not letting you go until I’m familiar with every inch of your luscious body.”

“But Jacie—”

“Is in Madison’s care,” he finished for her.

Lydia’s heart pounded with excitement and a little fear. She was about to give herself to this man. And not just any man, but a vampire with fangs and enough power in his pinky finger to snap her neck without conscious thought. “Yes.”

Roman hesitated. “Are you certain?”

Heat flushed her face, but she managed to nod.

“Wrap your arms around me.”

Lydia held onto his neck and laid her head on his shoulder. His lifted her higher against his chest, tightened his hold on her and ran.

The walls were a blur along the edges of her vision as Roman raced down the hall to the stairwell, exited on the ground floor, and came to a stop in front of a large silver door.

She watched as he slid a key card through a groove and the door opened. “Roman? I need to tell you something.”

“Tell me later.” He moved across the room, depositing her on the massive bed resting in the center, surrounding her in a cocoon of his scent that left her dizzy with need.

Lydia couldn’t take her gaze off his hands as they gripped the hem of his sweater, pulled it over his head, and tossed it to the floor.

She would never get enough of looking at his chest. His sheer size intimidated her, and the dusting of hair that ran the length of his stomach had to be one of the sexiest things she’d ever seen.

Not that she’d seen many naked men before, other than the ones she’d drawn blood from in the emergency room…which more times than not, hadn’t been a pretty picture.

Those long masculine fingers moved to the top of his jeans, popping the button free and sliding the zipper down. Lydia held her breath as he dragged them down his muscular thighs and stepped out of them. She was about to get an up close and personal with his cock. Was she ready for that?

Roman straightened, his hands resting at the band of his boxer briefs. “Don’t fear me, beautiful. I will not hurt you.”

Lydia raised her gaze to his glittering eyes. The truth shining from their depths eased some of her doubts. He wouldn’t harm her…of that she was certain. “Roman? I really need to tell—”

The feel of a hot tongue coasting through her slit stunned her, effectively cutting off her words. She gasped as another swipe across her clit stole her will to speak.

Roman stood at the foot of the bed, staring back at her with hooded eyes. “It’s a gift, Lydia. Lie back and enjoy it.”

Somewhere in the far reaches of her mind, Lydia felt her pants and panties being removed, all the while the invisible tongue continued its torturous lashing.

The rest of her clothes seemed to vanish without her knowledge as she concentrated on the feel of Roman’s unseen tongue on her most private parts. He was everywhere and nowhere all at once. She was acutely aware of him on every sensitive place she possessed, and yet there he stood at the foot of the bed, nothing moving but his eyes.

Lydia could feel herself swelling with need, feel the wetness coating her thighs, feel her nipples pebbling inside of a mouth she couldn’t see, throbbing…aching. “Please,” she panted, begging for something…anything.

The erotic onslaught continued as he removed his boxer briefs, rested a knee on the foot of the bed, and climbed his way up her body. His delicious scent drifted up her nose, and more wetness dripped from her pussy, preparing her for what she craved most. “Roman, I need…”

“I know what you need.” Her arms were abruptly jerked apart and restrained to the bedposts by something she could feel but not see. A moan escaped her as he pressed a finger deep into her pussy. “So goddamn tight.”

Lydia was on sensation overload. Her breath was coming in gasps, her mind couldn’t focus on a thought, and her vaginal walls were gripping his finger, seeking even the smallest release.

A sexy laugh rumbled inside his chest. “You like that, beautiful?”

“Yes,” she gasped, moving her hips in time with his finger.

A sudden pressure on the insides of her thighs pushed her legs up and apart, securing them in the same fashion as her arms. “Open for me.”

The feel of his unseen tongue sucking and licking her while he watched with hungry eyes from above was her undoing. An orgasm slammed into her with near violent contractions, taking, controlling, and owning her. It seemed to go on forever before she was able to inhale blessed oxygen into her lungs.

“So fucking sexy,” he growled, lowering his body to hers.

The feel of his heat against her and the scent of him invading her awareness felt incredible to her starved senses. But nothing prepared her for the pain of his overly large cock straining to enter her.

“Relax, love. You’re extremely tight, and I’m a big man. It’s going to be uncomfortable for you if you don’t relax.”

He cupped the sides of her face. “Easy… Just breathe.” His mouth covered hers and he thrust.

Lydia cried out. The sharp pain of his entry paled in comparison to the look on his face as he froze in shock. “Lydia?”

* * * *

Roman held completely still, trying to wrap his mind around what had just happened. Lydia was a virgin, and he’d just ripped through her hymen like an unseasoned lover on his first sexual escapade.

In his defense, he hadn’t known. How was it even possible? She had a six-year-old daughter upstairs that she’d given birth to, hadn’t she?

“You’re a virgin?” He mentally dissolved the invisible bonds to her hands and feet.

A tear slipped from the corner of her eye to track down her face and disappear into her hairline. “I’m sorry. I tried to tell you…” Her voice trailed off.

“How badly are you hurt?” He moved to withdraw, but her legs came around his waist, holding him in place.

His cock grew even harder, if that was possible. “You’re crying, Lydia. I don’t want to cause you more pain.”

“You won’t. Please, don’t stop.” She tightened her legs around his hips.

She was so snug on his dick, Roman had to clench his teeth to keep from spilling his seed inside her right then. “I couldn’t stop now if I wanted to,” he ground out, easing deeper inside her warmth. He’d find out what he needed to know later, after he made her first time good for her.

Roman flexed his hips with a gentle thrust, entering her completely. The sound that came from deep in her throat drove him insane with lust. His fangs descended in an aching throb to match the pulse thumping in his cock.

Heat formed behind his eyes, sending a red haze along the edges of his vision as he watched the vein in her neck drum to the beat of her heart. His head lowered to her throat, and his mouth opened against his will.

She turned her face aside, innocently and unknowingly offering herself to him with an unconditional trust that humbled him.