Pigalle Palace (18 page)

“Why you ask me that?”

She laughed a little as if I were silly. “You're joking, right?”

“What?”

“You saw her!”

“Look, Olivia, I'm trying to move on and get her out of my system.”

“No, you're not. What is it about that woman? I'm standing in your bathroom, naked. I can't get you to stop thinking about her. She's like poison. Her intentions aren't good, Rain.
Can't you see that?”

“Liv, I have to get dressed, so if you're going with me, hurry up. I need to get in the shower, too.”

She hopped back in the shower to finish her bath. “Don't do this to me, Rain. I want you to stay focused.”

I smiled to myself. I had plans for Olivia. She didn't know it yet. I was waiting for the perfect moment.

Her blue eyes stared through me once she was done showering.

Guilt set in like a motherfucker. I was a fool. I was so deep into Essence's games that I was falling right into the palm of her hand. I was very aware of it.

We embraced.

She took hold of my hand and guided it between her legs. “Look at what you do to me.”

I licked my lips and smiled at her. “As much as I would love to play with you, we have somewhere to be.”

She nodded. “To be continued.”

“Definitely.”

“Why is the baby crying like that?” I asked while entering Ulysses' nursery.

“Because I'm changing his stinky little diaper and he doesn't like it.”

“I see that. You're such a good mother, Soleil.”

She grinned from ear to ear. “He's such a good little baby. When will everything be finalized for the move into the Chateau?”

“Next week.”

“Great. You know how badly we need daddy around here… How's everything else going?”

“Good. Rain is finishing some more business. Legend is working closely with our parents to make sure our move will go smoothly.”

“I still can't believe we will be moving into the castle.”

“Everything feels so surreal. I look forward to watching Ulysses grow into the kind of man he's destined to be. Rain is going to make an excellent King.”

“I agree… Do you think he'll make Olivia his Queen?”

“Seems that way, but lately, he's been sort of distant about his love life. I think all of this royalty business is putting him in a different mind frame.”

“True.”

“I saw Essence in court.”

“I saw her, too. She was wearing that hooded cloak, but I noticed her.”

“Do you think she wants to be back with Rain?”

“Of course she does. Why wouldn't she? That would make her Queen.”

Soleil shook her head. “Essence as the Queen of Pigalle… I would hate to be under her thumb.”

F
or the next few days, Olivia and I traveled on royalty business. I shielded her from the sun with extra clothing and covering. We had to let all the mayors of the surrounding vampire cities know that The Préfet was stepping down from its position. I was welcomed warmly and I looked forward to the crowning ceremony.

While away, Essence entered my dreams again. She was trying to make me her sex slave. I allowed her to do so. She took her sweet time in each of them and she even spoke so loud and clear. I started taking control of these dreams. I tied her up, blindfolded her, and gave her sex exactly the way I did when we weren't dreaming.

When Olivia and I returned to Montmartre, I left her at home so I could meet the family at the mansion to discuss the final things that needed to be done before taking the throne. Fall had turned all of the leaves orange in my yard. I buttoned up my black pea coat and made my way through the piles of orange leaves before walking onto the pavement. The brisk air tickled my nose as I walked down the wet street to find a cab.

Before I could flag one down, Essence appeared behind me, but I couldn't see her when I turned around. I could only smell her.

She kept her distance as she followed me. I pretended as if I wasn't aware of her presence. She got too close. I turned around suddenly to face her. Her wide smile greeted me.

“When will you learn that I can always smell you before I see you?”

She giggled as her feet met the ground. “Did you miss me while you were away?”

“You can't keep following me like this. I told you to stay in your district.”

“I know, but I can't resist. Did you dream about me?”

“You know good and well that I dreamed about you. Did you like the blindfold?”

“I loved the blindfold. We should try that sometime.”

“These dreams are starting to get of control, don't you think?”

“Is that because you like them too much?” She wrapped her arms around my neck.

I didn't want to be seen, so I removed her hands. “Not out here.”

“Your venom runs deep inside of me. I can't leave you alone. You know that.”

“I won't talk out in the open this way.”

Immediately, she pushed me into the alley we were passing, so we could be in the dark shadows. I let her pin me up against the building.

Her red eyes met mine through the dark. “Do you enjoy all of my stalking?” She ran her hand over my bulge.

“Of course I do.”

“Yeah?”

“You really have to stop this, Essence.” I tried to push her off with flat palms, but she planted her feet firmly, refusing to back away.

“You getting enough pussy from Olivia, or are you holding out for me?”

“Essence, don't…”

She bit on my lower lip as if she didn't hear what I said. I felt her sharp fangs,
but she didn't pierce my skin. I clenched my jaws as she kissed me. Her lips were always so indulgent. I relaxed and let her tongue find its way inside my mouth to make circles around mine. Her aggressiveness was such a turn-on.

“Don't tell me you haven't thought about me outside of your dreams.”

“I have...but...”

“But what? I know you're going to marry Olivia. She's sweet and pure, much like you wanted me to be. I can't stay away from you, Rain, and I know you feel the same about me. I'm hot for you like you are for me. Make me your Queen.”

“I can't do that.”

“Why can't you? You're going to be the King. You can do whatever you want to do. Mommy's and Daddy's opinions don't matter anymore. They will bow down to you now.”

“Don't talk that way.”

“Do you love Olivia?”

“I love her.”

She threw her head back and laughed a little. “You're a liar. The way you look at me says something completely different. You mean to tell me you give it to Olivia the way you give it to me? Do you do that tornado thing with your tongue when you eat her pussy, too?”

“Stop it, Essence,” I said, feeling frustrated with her antics.

“You know you don't give a shit about her… If you want me to back off, say it and you'll never hit this sweet pussy again.”

She started unbuckling my pants. This could not be happening in the alley. She pulled my dick out and lifted up her dress. If this was what she wanted, then this was what she was going to get. I turned her around so she could face the wall of the building. I pushed her face against the wall and I entered inside of her.

Essence couldn't have been more right. Olivia didn't feel the way she did. Essence was the sexual beast I created. Her power over me was spreading and I was allowing it.

  *  *  *  

When I got home, it was early in the morning, around 5 a,m, Usually, Olivia was asleep, but she was still up, reading a book as she sat behind the UV-protected window. She was waiting for me. I had spent a few hours more than I wanted to with Essence. We had this heated session that ended with me fucking her until we both were exhausted. After sex, sex and more sex, our bodies were satisfying the urges that had us bound.

“Hey, what are you doing up? You should be enjoying your slumber right now.”

“I can't sleep. Legend called earlier, but I'm sure he called your cell. You didn't make it to the family meeting?”

I swallowed hard and lied quickly, “I talked to him.”

“Are you lying to me right now? Where have you been?”

“I had some other business to attend to and I didn't have time to make the meeting.”

“I don't know if you know this, but I saw Essence following you when you left here. The last time I saw her, she was ready to kill you. She damned near tried to take your head off. So, how is it that you two can be so cordial?”

“Essence and I don't have any bad wishes upon one another.”

“It's good to see you're so forgiving.” Olivia's tone was icy enough to make me shiver.

I shook off her suspicion, standing in front of the bed with my pajama pants resting over my shoulder. “Are you bothered by this?”

“If you see
her
again, I can no longer be here with you.”

“I understand.”

She placed the book on her stomach. “Rain, the feelings you used to have for her are dead, right?”

“Of course.”

I turned toward the bathroom, but she hopped off the bed and stood in front of me. “Rain, I'm not a complete fool. If you think for one second that I don't know what you and Essence have been up to, you're wrong. The only person you're truly hurting is...me. She's never going to stop trying to be in your life. You're making a fool of me and if you make her your Queen, your family will be disgraced.”

She hit a nerve, but I kept my cool. “Don't speak on matters that don't concern you.”

With tears in her eyes, she asked, “Do you even love me?”

Essence was like poison running through my veins, killing me slowly, but I stared into Olivia's eyes and said with conviction, “I love you.”

Then, I quickly headed into the bathroom to get ready for bed before she could say another word.

“I
s she the reason why you haven't left your house for days?” Essence questioned, jumping from a tree in front of Legend's home.

Legend and I were going to Onyx's home to see Ulysses. Our nephew needed to do some bonding with us. I was sick of Essence popping up wherever she wanted to. If the family knew how much time we had been spending together, they would be outraged. She was getting too close. Though her twisted obsession turned me on, I had to draw the line somewhere.

This time, it was better than to let her have her way with me. Our rendezvous would have to continue somewhere else.

“I won't talk to you right here, Essence. Legend can come out any minute and then our secret will be out.”

“Rain, I love you. I was good enough to be your wife at one time and I hated you for what you did to me, but now I love what I've become. Nevertheless, I feel you should make me your Queen.”

I took a deep breath and pushed her up against the tree firmly. “I'm not feeling any of your shenanigans. You're taking this too far.”