This pleased me too. Intensely. Considering I hated him with every fiber of my being this also confused me. Just as intensely. And, considering I hated him with a depth that was scary, this also pissed me off, at myself. Even more intensely.
Before I could come to terms with any of this, his mouth brushed mine then he whispered, “I’ll be back.”
In a flash, he was out of bed. He hesitated at its side, looking down at me.
I blinked, still not used to how quickly he could move not to mention the sight of his chest.
I watched his face grow hard and he ordered, “Don’t move.”
Then he was out the door.
I lay in bed wondering what in the hell just happened.
My body didn’t wonder. It knew what happened. It liked what happened. It wanted more of what happened.
“Oh my God,” I breathed aloud.
I was deranged.
I liked being kissed by a vampire. Worse! I liked being kissed by Lucien, the Big, Bad, Jerky, Controlling Vampire.
I’d lost my mind.
Then it hit me that I had company.
How could I have company? No one knew where I lived. Even I wasn’t certain where I lived considering a driver picked me up at the airport and brought me here. I was too busy lamenting my sucky life to pay attention to where we were going.
Ignoring his order not to move, I threw back the covers and stood. This caused me to feel a wave of dizziness. Clearly, I hadn’t fully recovered from his onslaught at The Bloodletting.
I let my head adjust and then I hurried to the bathroom. Grabbing my short, creamy-colored flannel robe off the hook on the back of the door, I shrugged it on and rushed out of the room. Tying the belt as I went, I ran as fast as my legs would carry me without passing out and doing myself bodily harm.
I flew around the landing. As I was descending the last flight of stairs, right in front of me at the door, I saw Lucien’s powerfully muscled back in his pajama bottoms. I also saw he was holding himself rigid, why, I didn’t know. Probably anger or frustration.
I also saw he was facing my aunties Kate, Millicent and Nadia, all of whom were standing just inside the door.
Hallelujah!
Before I was all the way to the bottom and opened my mouth to speak, Lucien’s torso twisted so he was facing me. I caught the look on his face and realized it wasn’t anger or frustration.
It was fury.
I didn’t get to greet my family. Lucien spoke first.
“What did I tell you?” he demanded, his voice so harsh it was a whiplash.
“Sorry?” I asked, stopping two steps from the bottom in an effort at self-preservation. I hoped distance would help me avoid the almost physical lash of his tongue.
“What did I tell you?” he repeated, turning slowly to me.
My eyes flickered to my aunties who were looking pale and concerned, their own gazes moving between Lucien and me.
“Get back upstairs,” Lucien went on when I didn’t reply.
I looked back to him and said, what I thought was logically, “But, my aunts are –”
I didn’t finish.
I found myself over his shoulder and in the bedroom where he tossed me on the bed. This happened so fast the only thing I could feel was the wind created by his movement.
I bounced on the bed once, twice, staring up at him.
Then I said in a furious whisper, “You did not just –”
Lucien interrupted me. “Don’t move.”
Rage engulfed me, I got to my feet, standing on the bed and shouted, “Don’t you dare tell me –”
He cut me off again, this time using mind control.
Lie down, Leah.
I fought it. Well, my mind did. This lasted about three seconds.
Humiliatingly quickly, I lay down on the bed.
Get comfortable, he ordered and I did as I was told as best as I could when I was struggling against my mind which was in his stranglehold.
Don’t make a noise and don’t fucking move, he finished and, without further ado, he left.
I lay on the bed motionless but comfortable as the minutes passed. There were a goodly number of them before he returned. I had no idea where my aunties were or why they were even here. I had no idea what was going on.
The only thing I knew was that I hated him now more than ever.
He sat on the side of the bed. My eyes watched him do this and I screamed my hatred at him in my head as he tugged me across the bed and into his lap.
I didn’t struggle. I didn’t because I couldn’t move.
His eyes locked on mine. “You must learn to mind me.”
Go to hell! My mind shouted.
He shook his head and cradled me closer, speaking softly, “You need to learn this lesson, pet.”
Fuck off and don’t call me pet! My mind shrieked.
He held my body in his arms and my glare with his calm gaze as I tried desperately to shoot laser beams out of my eyes and annihilate him.
This, unfortunately, did not work.
“I’ll not countenance disobedience.” He kept speaking softly.
No duh? My mind asked sarcastically.
He sighed then stated, “Leah, if you defy me again, especially if you do it in front of others, you’ll be punished.”
Do your worst! My mind challenged. It can’t be worse than what you’ve already done.
He stopped using his voice and instead spoke directly to my mind. You’ve no idea.
Dazzle me, my mind snapped.
Our eyes locked for long moments before he took up my challenge. As you wish. Tonight, I feed. Then your punishment begins.
I can’t wait, I lied.
I could definitely wait. This whole thing was freaking me out.
He looked angry but resigned as he muttered, “Stubborn.”
My mind stayed silent.
“Your punishment will be just as difficult for me as it is for you, Leah.”
Good! My mind ground out.
His eyes moved over my face, the anger drifted out of his and I could swear he looked almost pleased.
“One thing about you, pet, you aren’t a disappointment.”
I had no idea what he meant by that and thus didn’t have a retort.
I felt my mind freed, my body at my command again and I didn’t hesitate. I scrambled off his lap and backed swiftly away as he rose from the side of the bed.
“Can my lesson tonight be how you kill vampires?” I asked in an ugly voice.
Shockingly, Lucien replied instantly, “Burn to nothing but ash then scatter the remains.”
“Well then, Lucien, you better get Edwina to hide the fucking matches,” I retorted and without another word I turned on my heel and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door and locking it.
I put my back to it, drifting down to my ass.
I rested my forehead to my knees and realized I was in full body tremble.
God, I hated him.
* * * * *
This was the rest of my blinkety-blank day:
First, I had to come out of the bathroom. I couldn’t live there, as much as I wanted to at that moment. There was water but there was no food and I was hungry.
When I did the bed had been made and Edwina was setting the table between the armchairs with plates and cutlery.
She turned to me, all perky housekeeper, and smiled, asking, “And how are we this morning?”
“Murderous,” I replied.
Her body twitched and her head tilted to the side in that weird birdlike manner of hers.
She took a moment to study me. “I see you’re not in a very good mood again,” she observed.
“No. I. Am. Not,” I retorted. “Where’s Lucien?”
“Here,” he declared, sauntering in coolly like he hadn’t just humbled me, kept me from my family, shackled me with his mind.
“You haven’t left yet?” I snapped out my question.
“I’m showering, we’re sharing breakfast then
I’m leaving.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him to get a move on when I realized Edwina was still in the room. Not wanting a repeat of twenty minutes ago, I pressed my lips together and wrapped my arms around my middle.
Lucien watched me do this then, as he walked to the bathroom, he mumbled, “You’re learning.”
I turned to Edwina and asked, “Do we have any lighter fluid?”
Edwina’s brows shot up to her hairline as I heard Lucien’s bark of laughter from the bathroom cut off in mid-rumble as he shut the door. This made my hands clench into fists.
“I don’t think so, dear,” Edwina answered, confused at the question and the byplay.
“Maybe you should put it on your grocery list,” I suggested.
“Are you planning a barbeque?” she asked.
“Yes,” I answered. “A big one.”
That’s when I heard Lucien’s second bark of laughter.
Damn the vampire.
* * * * *
Lucien and I shared breakfast.
We sat in the armchairs in my bedroom and he calmly ate while reading the paper as I made another attempt to get laser beams to shoot out of my eyes.
It goes without saying I failed in this endeavor.
Unable to take the silence, I asked, “Why are we eating in the bedroom?”
“Because I want to,” he replied.
“But why?” I pushed.
His eyes locked on mine in a way that said I was testing him and I definitely shouldn’t.
“Sorry for questioning you, my Lord and Master,” I muttered, shoving more of Edwina’s delicious French toast into my mouth, deciding if I gained one hundred pounds (which I could, no sweat), he wouldn’t want me anymore.
“I think I explained how I feel about your sarcastic titles, Leah,” Lucien reminded me.
I looked at him and chewed.
After I swallowed, I informed him, “You said I couldn’t call you ‘oh Great Master’.”
He watched me for a long moment before he spoke.
“You are correct,” he allowed. “So now I’ll tell you I won’t tolerate any of your sarcastic titles.”
I twirled my fork in the air, looking down at my plate, saying, “Whatever.”
More silence then Lucien folded the paper and threw it on the table. I looked up, hopeful he was finished so I could put in action the plan I’d hatched in the bathroom.
He was watching me. “A package will arrive today,” he started and I nodded because his plate was clean and I took this as a good sign. “You’ll be wearing what’s in the package when I arrive home tonight.”
My mind was skittering across a thousand images of me in different types of bondage gear. Therefore I missed his swift movement from seated to standing and pulling my chair around so he could lean into me, a hand on each arm.
“Did you hear me?”
I glared at him and replied acidly, “Yes, darling.”
Something flashed in his eyes, something strange, something that looked like exhilaration.
His eyes dropped to my mouth and he murmured, “I like that.”
“What?”
“You calling me ‘darling’.”
What an idiot I was!
I decided instantly never to call him that again.
He read my mind, his hand came to my neck and he ordered, “I want you to call me that from now on.”
“You’re ordering me to call you ‘darling’?” I asked with disbelief.
“Yes.”
“That’s crazy!” I protested.
“You’ll do it,” he demanded.
I looked to the ceiling and muttered, “I’m such an idiot.”
Since I was looking at the ceiling, his mouth brushing mine came as a surprise. When my eyes rolled to his, I could see close up his were smiling.
“You’re adorable,” he whispered.
And with that, he left.
And with that, I was left with wondering how I could detest a being so much and still feel a little thrill at his calling me adorable and his giving me a brush on the lips.
* * * * *
My plan to escape was thwarted.
See, I’d decided to let Lucien hunt me down and kill me.
I didn’t want to die. I also didn’t think he’d do it.
Kill me that was.
It seemed, weirdly enough, he actually liked me in his freakish vampire way.
When he found me (and he would), I was counting on the fact he’d give into me pleading for my life, figure out I was more of a pain in the ass than I was worth, he’d release me and I’d be on my way.
It was a ludicrous plan hatched in a hysterically angry frame of mind.
However, my day turned out rather busy and I never had the chance to put it into action.
First up, I tried to get Edwina to tell me if she knew what happened with my aunties. She said she didn’t know. I didn’t know her enough to know if she was lying or not but I let it go.
Next, I started to plan my getaway.
Obviously, I’d need cash, credit cards and identification. So, logically, I started with my purse.
There I found the dread, detested Lucien had not only confiscated my phone; he’d also taken my wallet and my passport.
The bastard.
That was okay. I had a few pieces of jewelry that were worth some money. I’d pawn them to get some cash.
I went to the drawer in my dressing table that had an inbuilt, velvet lined jewelry section.
My jewelry was gone.
Damn!
What? Did he read my mind at breakfast?
Undeterred, I decided just to go. Upon examining the house two days ago, I’d also examined the garage and saw the Cayenne which Edwina told me Lucien had bought for me. I could sell the Cayenne for a shed load of money.
Upon thoroughly searching and eventually asking Edwina, I found there were no keys. Lucien had taken them.
“He’s concerned about you, dear,” Edwina explained what she thought was the truth. “You weren’t steady on your feet yesterday. You need a bit of time to get settled in and it won’t help to go gallivanting around the countryside.”
After offering that pearl of wisdom, she flitted away.
I was glaring at her back while considering loading the silver in a pillowcase and hitchhiking to the nearest town when the next thing happened.
The doorbell rang and Edwina and I both reached it at the same time. Me hoping it was my aunties or better yet, my Mom. Edwina knowing who it was.
It was two men who came bearing lots and lots of boxes.
Edwina was obviously expecting this and although she acted a little bit weirded out about it but didn’t share why, she started to order them around as to where the boxes went.
When the men took some into the bedroom, I followed them and Edwina was waiting for them in the dressing room. Without hesitation she tore one open and started to pull out the things in the box.
The things in the box, by the way, were men’s clothes. Expensive, well-tailored, designer-label men’s clothes that looked like they would fit Lucien.
There were a lot of clothes.
I wandered out of the dressing room and down the stairs and saw other boxes were being placed in other rooms. Mostly the study.
I stood amongst this hubbub, perplexed.
Was he moving in?
I mean, I was pretty certain Rafe didn’t live with Lana. I was equally pretty certain that Duncan didn’t live with my cousin Natalie.
By the way, I’d learned Natalie’s (my favorite cousin) vampire’s name was Duncan after my Selection, when I learned all my cousin’s vampire’s names. I had six cousins, four of them Selected, two of them not yet.
All of them, I was pretty certain, didn’t live with their vampires.
Furthermore, I was sure my mother didn’t live with Cosmo.
As I was standing in the hall watching the men go back out to their truck to get even more boxes, Stephanie waltzed in
the opened door.
She looked fantastic in a royal blue satin blouse and matching skirt that fit her like a second skin and hit her at her knees. Her high-heeled, royal blue, strappy sandals were, no other words for it, the bomb.
As a woman, regardless of my current tumultuous state-of-being, I couldn’t stop myself from crying, “I love your outfit!”
She put her hands out and smiled. “Fab, isn’t it? We’ll get Lucien’s card and I’ll take you to the shop where I got it, kit you out.”
My pleasure at her outfit disappeared and I wrinkled my nose.
“I don’t think so,” I said.
She got close, her brows drawn, a small smile playing at her mouth. “Why’s that?”
“I don’t want anything from Lucien,” I announced grandly.
For some unhinged reason this made her laugh out loud like I was hilarious.
Then, eyes on me, she whispered, “God, I envy him.”
Boy, vampires were weird.
Suddenly something occurred to me and I looked out at the blazing sun Stephanie had just walked through to get to the house.
“You can’t be in the sun!” I shouted and it sounded like an accusation.
She asked through a chuckle, “What?”
“You,” I stated, pointing at her, “just walked through the sun.” I pointed out the door before dropping my hand. “I thought sunshine was deadly to vampires.”
Confusion washed through her face before she muttered to herself, “Vampire Studies aren’t what they used to be.”
“I was expelled,” I divulged.
Her beautiful blue eyes widened then she threw back her head and laughed, uproariously I might add, all the while coming toward me and sliding her arm around my waist. She moved me forward into the family room where she seated us facing on the couch.
“Vampires are human,” she told me.
I waved my hand between us and said, “I know that. Lucien explained that last night.”
“Sun isn’t deadly to us.”
I didn’t know that but I didn’t share mainly because she already knew I didn’t know that from my reaction.
She went on, “We were nocturnal, back in the day. That’s how that rumor got started.”
“Oh,” I said just for something to say.
This made sense. Actually it all made sense which was a little disappointing. I’d prefer it was dark magic or something sinister and evil. It would give me something else to put in my Why I Hate Lucien Vault.