Once Bitten, Twice Shy (22 page)

“I think this is our only option,” he said, setting the press next to the stove.

I stared at it. Though I knew what it was, I’d never used one before. “I have no idea how that works,” I said.

Lex chuckled. “Then I guess I’ll do the fire and the coffee.”

I nodded and went to the fridge to see if there was anything I could make for breakfast. I didn’t hold a great deal of affection for the process of cooking but I could at least make some eggs and maybe some toast. I found the fridge stocked with the basics; eggs, cheese, milk, butter, and deli meat. There was small jar of mayonnaise and a container of mustard also.

I grabbed eggs and cheese and figured I could throw together some scrambled eggs. I was pretty sure there would be bread somewhere in the kitchen, so I would make toast to go with it. While Lex put water in a small pot to boil for coffee, I started the process of making breakfast.

As I broke eggs into a bowl, I glanced at him.

“Can I ask where we are?”

Lex faced me with surprise on his face. “What?”

I started beating eggs with a fork. “Well, last night, you wouldn’t tell me where we are, and this morning you said you would let me in on what’s happening. So, the first thing I want to know is, where are we?”

He looked at me with the strangest expression on his face. “Okay. We’re about five miles south of the Oklahoma-Kansas border, north of Bartlesville.”

I nodded even though I had no idea where Bartlesville, Oklahoma was. Though now I understood why it was so cool here. It was late October and we were much further north than Dallas. Lex grinned at me as though he understood exactly what I was thinking.

“What else do you want to know?” he asked.

I seasoned the eggs and poured them into the warm pan. I began to stir them with a spatula as I thought about what I wanted to know. Honestly, I wanted to learn everything.

I decided to start with the immediate issues first and go from there.

“Why did that vampire come after me and who is he? I thought you said he was dead.”

Lex took the pot off the stove and poured the boiling water over the coffee grounds.

“The man you saw yesterday is Claus Hoffmann. He isn’t the vampire that kidnapped you with Donna. That was his twin brother, Johann. Johann is dead. I know it for a fact because I killed him myself.”

The shiver that went up my spine at his words had nothing to do with the cool temperatures and everything to do with the icy rage in his voice.

“Finn and Conner explained about The Faction, correct?”

I shrugged. “A little. They didn’t go into a lot of detail.”

“Well, originally, we thought they merely wanted vampires to reveal themselves and reign over humans in some sort of twisted monarchy. While that is a major part of the plan, there is more. They not only want to control humans, they want to rid the world of mixed-blood vampires.”

I really didn’t understand that. “What?”

Lex began the process of filtering the grounds out of the liquid before he answered me. I didn’t push because I could tell he was gathering his thoughts.

“Mixed-blood vampires are those who were turned. Some vampires can be born, but most couples try for decades before that happens. Something about the differences in our blood make it more difficult for the females to get pregnant. Our species would have died out long ago if we hadn’t begun to turn humans.”

I would have to ponder that later. Basically, he just told me that humans not only served as food for vampires but also saved their species by turning.

“If The Faction has their way, then Conner, Finn, and I will all be killed. Only Asher would remain because he was born a vampire.”

I had only met Asher in passing a few months before, but that was something I had not known.

Lex grabbed two mugs out of the top cabinet and poured coffee into them as he continued to speak. “And I am almost certain that any pure bloods that oppose these changes will be taken out of the equation as well.”

I accepted the coffee cup he handed. “So you’re talking about vampire genocide perpetrated by other vampires? That sounds a little far-fetched,” I said. “I mean, why would they want to do that?”

Lex leaned a hip against the counter opposite me. “Why would anyone want to elevate a certain group of people? Hitler, for example. Part of his policies were pure madness, but, really, his main motivation was the accumulation of power. Cornelius wants power. Not just over humans, but the entire world.”

I honestly didn’t understand why anyone would want that kind of headache. I mean, it sounded like the goal of a villain in an Austin Powers movie. Sure, it sounded like a sexy job title, but the actual work would be a pain in the ass.

He distracted me from my internal tangent by speaking again. “There are quite a few natural born vampires that share Cornelius’ feelings.”

I sipped my coffee, surprised that Lex had added just the right amount of sugar and milk. “But vampires aren’t immortal, right? And humans outnumber you. What’s to stop them from ganging up on The Faction and taking them out?”

Lex nodded. “That’s a fair question and a smart one. We aren’t sure what Cornelius intends to do to prevent those actions from humans, but there has to be some sort of plan in place.”

“Well, I still don’t understand how I play into it,” I said.

Lex sipped his coffee and appeared to be contemplating my comment. “The most logical reason would be to use you as leverage against me. Claus is eager for revenge over the death of his twin and Cornelius wants to further his agenda amongst our kind.”

Holy shit. This Claus guy wanted to kidnap me as part of his revenge against Lex. Considering the things his brother had threatened to do to me, I was scared shitless about what he might do in order to punish Lex. I had to set my cup on the counter because my hand began to shake.

To put it in words that Donna used on a regular basis, shit just got very real.

*     *     *

After I finished
making our breakfast, I asked Lex a few more questions about the current situation and vampire history. He was an excellent teacher. I mentioned this to him, and he said that he usually taught vampire history to those who wanted to be turned.

I was pleasantly surprised when he helped clean up the kitchen after we ate. I mentioned this to him, which made him laugh.

“Little one, I’ve been alive for hundreds of years. The first few decades after I was turned, I took care of myself because I didn’t want to risk the staff discovering what I am. I know how to cook, wash dishes, even wash clothes. The only reason I have a housekeeper now is due to my duties as a Council member and running my nightclubs. Though I would prefer to have my privacy, I do not have the time to do those things for myself any longer.”

I was shocked by his words. Most of the men I knew couldn’t remember to put their dirty socks in the laundry hamper, much less use a washing machine. And forget about cooking and doing the dishes. They left that to their wives. I found it amazing that Conner and Lex were so domesticated considering the eras they were born. Women were little better than slaves during their time as humans.

Maybe I had misunderstood Lex’s thoughts on our relationship more than I realized. By his behavior the last few hours, he did value me and see me as a partner rather than a possession. Several of the things he did that upset me were done out of a desire to protect me from harm rather than viewing me as weak. I really was an idiot for not talking to him about my concerns earlier.

Once the kitchen was tidied, I followed Lex into the living area and settled on a chair near the fireplace as he added more wood to the fire.

“So what now?” I asked.

After he threw the last log on the blaze, he stood and brushed his hands together. “We need to stay here for a few days until the security at my home is tested and updated. The specialists Conner and I hired aren’t sure how they got through the gate without setting off the alarms or ringing the house. It shouldn’t have been possible for them to get so close to the house without alerting you or the security firm I hired.”

I nodded. “What are we supposed to do for the next two or three days then?”

The expression on Lex’s face became deliciously wicked.

“We play.”

I swallowed hard as heat rushed through my body. Even dressed in a plain black t-shirt and broken-in, faded jeans, Lex projected power and sophistication. I started to stand from my chair, but he shook his head.

“Stay there. Do not move unless I tell you. Do you remember what to call me?”

I nodded.

Lex’s brow furrowed and he growled, “That’s five.”

“Sorry?” I asked.

“That’s another three. I just reminded you how to address me, Ivie.” His voice was stern.

Shit. “I’m sorry, Sir.”

He nodded. “I would say you get another five for insincerity, but I think eight will be enough to gain an honest apology for being disrespectful. Do you remember your safe word?”

“Zebra, Sir.”

I started to ask him what he was talking about, but remembered just in time that I wasn’t supposed to speak unless he asked me a direct question or to say my safe word. I swallowed hard again and watched as he moved the coffee table off the huge braided rug that was surrounded by the sofa and two chairs. Then he walked to the armchair opposite of me and sat down, crossing his leg so that his right ankle rested on his left knee.

“Strip and get on your hands and knees, facing away from me,” he commanded.

Now that the fire was burning brightly, the room was much warmer, but, still, I shivered. Without rushing, I stood and removed my shirt and bra, followed by my pants, undies, and socks. When I turned to get on my hands and knees, my back to him, I hesitated.

“Now, Ivie,” he stated.

I bit my lip and lowered myself down onto the rug, getting into position. I felt extremely vulnerable and exposed.

“Spread your knees further apart.”

I moved my legs another couple of inches. Suddenly, his hand gave my inner thigh a light, but still stinging, slap.

“More.”

I sucked in a deep breath and spread my legs another six inches apart, feeling more naked than I’d ever felt in my life.

“Better,” he said approvingly. “Now, arch your back and tilt your ass up in the air.”

This time I didn’t hesitate to do as he said because my inner thigh was still burning slightly from the slap he’d given me. Though I had to admit to myself that it had woken up the nerve endings in the lower half of my body.

“Perfect,” he murmured. “So pretty and pink.”

I realized he was talking about my pussy and I was certain my entire body was blushing. He could see
everything
.

“And you’re already wet for me,” he continued. “That’s beautiful.” He paused. “Have you ever been fucked in the ass, Ivie?”

I shook my head vehemently as I said, “No, Sir.”

“Is it something you would like to try?” he asked.

I grew very still. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do something like that, but knew a lot of women enjoyed it.

“Ivie?” Lex’s voice was gentle, prompting.

“I-I don’t know, Sir,” I answered.

He hummed. “Well, we may start small and you can decide from there.”

I wanted to ask him what the hell that meant because he was freaking me out, but I was distracted by the sound of his belt buckle jingling and the hiss of leather as he removed the belt from the loops of his jeans. I hadn’t realized that he stood.

He draped the belt over my waist and I almost jumped at the cool touch of the leather. Then I heard the rasp of his zipper and the rustle of fabric as he pushed his jeans down his legs. There was more movement and a whisper of fabric hitting the leather of the armchair. Even though I couldn’t see him, I knew Lex was naked.

“Now, I believe you earned eight lashes for forgetting to be respectful and an insincere apology. Am I correct?”

I lowered my head as I realized that was why he draped the belt over my waist. “Yes, Sir,” I whispered.

“I want you to count them out loud. You do not have to thank me, but I do expect you to apologize again when we’re done and mean it.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Lex removed the belt from my waist and I heard him snap the leather together. It was a menacing sound.

The first blow stung more than when he had spanked me with his hand. A lot more.

“One,” I gasped.

The second wasn’t quite as bad and on the other cheek. “Two.”

I barely finished the word when the belt landed across both of my ass cheeks, but it was a little harsher than the one before. While the pain was at the forefront, I still felt a little curl of heat in my belly as my skin stung.

“Three.”

He paused for a moment, letting the burn of the lashes fade slightly. The next blow was lower on my right cheek, nearer to my thigh.

“Four.” My voice was tight as I spoke. He repeated the blow on the other side. “Five.”

I counted six and seven as he landed the belt across the middle of both cheeks in quick succession, stealing my breath. I felt him drop to his knees.

“Last one, Ivie. This one will sting. Are you ready?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Suddenly, the belt slapped between my spread legs, falling dead center of my clit and labia. I gasped, my back arching further, and hips bucking against the burning sensation. I vaguely heard the belt clatter to the floor before Lex thrust his thumb inside of me.

“Fuck, you’re soaked,” he growled. He pressed downward, against the front wall of my vagina and my hips bucked again. “Apologize for your disrespectful behavior, Ivie.”

I whimpered. “I’m sorry, Sir. Please forgive me.”

He moved behind me, his knees outside of mine, caging me in. His thumb disappeared and I felt the head of his cock pressing against me. With one smooth motion, he thrust into me. I moaned and felt my internal muscles clench from the sensation of suddenly being full.

“Apology accepted,” he groaned.

His thumb moved up from where he was deep inside me to brush across the rosette of my asshole. I froze, alien sensations bombarding me. No one had ever touched me there before during sex. I was shocked at how intense the small touch felt.