Vampire Dreams Revamped (A Sons of Navarus Prequel) (5 page)

Careful to take only what wouldn’t harm her,
he drank her essence slowly as he savored every drop. The feel of
her giving him what he wanted most caused him to lose the last bit
of control he possessed, and with one last thrust, he came inside
her.

She’d cried out as his fangs entered her and
now as his orgasm brought hers, she cried out in ecstasy and dug
her nails into his back. The feeling of sharing this with her took
his breath away, and he sunk down on top of her, resting his head
next to hers and listening to her breathe softly against his ear.
When he'd recovered, he carefully closed the tiny holes he’d drunk
from and moved to look down at her. She looked almost angelic, like
a gift from God, and he thanked her for the gift she’d given
him.

“Sweet Arden, from this point on, you are
mine. Mine to love. Mine to protect. Mine.”

In the haze of the spell he had her under,
she answered, “Yes, Brandon. Always yours.”

Those words filled his heart with joy, even
if they weren't said while she was awake, and he held her close to
him. How much he yearned to speak to her, to ask her how she felt,
what was in her heart. But he couldn't. Not yet. All he could have
now was the closeness of holding her in his arms all night long.
With her head on his chest, she lay with her cheek next to his
heart. Finally, as he felt the very beginnings of the sunrise in
his bones, he reluctantly released her and rose from the bed.

The pull of her blood was strong in him now,
drawing her to him and him to her. Only a few nights more and he
hoped to show her his true feelings without controlling her with
hypnosis.

Arden was happy when Mrs. Benson told her
Brandon had errands he required done, and as she set off to
complete them, she noted the beautiful May morning. The warm breeze
drifted over her skin, and the spring sun beat down, warming her
face. For the first time in longer than she cared to think about,
she was happy and safe, and she allowed herself to enjoy the
freedom that came with the security of Brandon’s home.

Looking down at the list he’d written out
for her, she read over the words and felt a twinge of jealousy.
Flower shop, confectioner, dressmaker’s...her heart sank as she
realized she was collecting gifts meant for a woman.

As she walked toward her first stop, she
reminded herself that he hadn’t even bothered to notice her the
night before. And then there was the difference in their stations.
Brandon Ridley was obviously wealthy, whereas, until just a few
days ago, she had been homeless. And she was his maid. No matter
what kind of romantic notions her young mind entertained, wealthy
men didn’t marry their household help.

It seemed strange to her that she should be
jealous at all. True, Brandon was a very good looking man with a
powerfully built body, but she hadn’t thought of him as that until
she'd read down the errand list. Or at least she didn’t think she
had.

The past few days had been confusing for
her, and she hadn’t been herself. Sure she wasn’t sleeping as well
as she should, she’d even considered asking the bitter old
housekeeper for a sleeping draught in the hopes that maybe that
would help. And now today, she felt sluggish again and
lightheaded.

Arden continued on her way, enjoying the
beautiful day as she made her way to the flower shop. As she picked
up his order of lilies, she remembered her father bringing home
flowers for her mother. How she loved his surprises!

Leaving the store, Arden reminded herself
that her silly ideas of romance she was beginning to form for her
employer would have to be banished from her mind if she intended to
keep her position in his home. And for at least a short time, she
needed her job.

After stops at each of her assigned errands,
she found herself with arms full of flowers, handmade chocolates,
and a beautiful red dress. By the time she’d returned to the house,
she’d constructed a perfectly improper fantasy involving herself in
the red dress and Brandon seducing her with the flowers and
chocolates. He would pronounce his everlasting love for her and
they would make love like she knew married couples did. It was all
perfectly wonderful and all perfectly silly. He had only given her
a job because he felt sorry for her, and now he didn't even care
enough to look at her when she served him his food.

Chastising herself for such ridiculous
ideas, she wondered what had come over her to affect her like this
and pledged to expel such thoughts from her mind. She was Brandon
Ridley's maid. No more.

As he had the day before, Brandon appeared
at dinnertime in his study. The cook had been instructed to prepare
steak, and Arden served him expecting the same treatment as
yesterday. She placed the tray on the table next to him and waited,
as usual.

Brandon looked up at her and smiled broadly.
“Miss Stephens, did you enjoy your time out today? Your cheeks look
positively sun-kissed.”

A stab of jealousy hit her as she remembered
her day collecting gifts for him to give to another woman. “It was
quite nice, Mr. Ridley. Thank you.”

She cringed as she thanked him, as if she
were showing her appreciation for him slighting her. She knew what
she was thinking was silly but couldn’t help how she felt. He
seemed to have this effect on her that she couldn't place. And when
he looked up at her with those deep soulful brown eyes, she felt
like she could melt right there in his study.

He cut the piece of meat Mrs. Jandry had
prepared into equal halves and ordered Arden to pull up the chair
from the corner to the table and sit down. She did as instructed,
confused and wondering what had caused this drastic change in
him.

Motioning toward the plate, he said,
“Please, enjoy, Miss Stephens.”

He pushed one half of the steak toward her
and handed her his knife and fork. Arden knew as a mere maid she
couldn’t let him sit there with no way to eat and moved to get up
to get him another fork and knife.

Stopping her with his hand on hers, he
smiled and said, “Please sit and eat. Mrs. Benson can get me what I
need.”

Arden wanted to protest, knowing she
shouldn’t eat with him, especially if Mrs. Benson would now be
forced to do her job in her stead, but she liked the attention he
gave her, so she sat back down and waited as he called for the
housekeeper to bring him a knife and fork. The feel of his strong
hand on hers excited her more than she understood, but she prayed
he wouldn't move it.

In mere moments, Mrs. Benson arrived with
what he requested. Arden stared down at her food knowing the
housekeeper’s look of reproach faced her if she turned to look at
her. How would she explain why his hand was on hers and why she was
sitting with him to eat?

The housekeeper left in a huff, and once
they were alone again, Arden waited for him to begin eating and
then took a small bite for herself. As she enjoyed her food, he
reached over to cut her steak. “You need more than that tiny
piece.” Stabbing the larger piece he’d cut for her, he held it to
her mouth. “Here. Eat,” he ordered with a tiny smile.

Her eyes wide with surprise, she looked up
to see him ready to feed her. She reached for the fork, but he
shook his head. “No. Let me take care of you like you do for
me.”

Taking the food in her mouth, she stared
into his eyes, unsure of what was happening. Quietly, she said,
“Mr. Ridley, sir, I don’t seem to do much of anything to take care
of you. And I obviously disappointed you in some way
yesterday.”

Brandon looked across the table at her. “I’m
sorry for how I acted yesterday. You’ve done nothing to displease
me, I assure you. You’ve been perfect, Arden.”

His use of her name made her blush, and she
looked away embarrassed, sure he clearly saw his effect on her.
When he gently ordered her to eat, she smiled, making sure to keep
her focus on the food in front of her.

After a few minutes of silence, he asked
about the errands she'd run that day. “What did you think of the
dress I had you pick up for me?”

Afraid that if she told him how much she
admired the dress he’d know her feelings and how jealous she’d
been, she joked, “I’m not sure red is your color.”

A small smile crept onto his face, and Arden
swore she saw the look she’d seen on the faces of the men in love
at the theatre years ago when her father had taken her. Common
sense told her she must be wrong. Brandon Ridley was not in love
with her. Of this, she was sure.

“I like your sense of humor, Arden.”

Unable to keep herself from smiling, she
beamed when he added, “And your smile.”

When she’d finished eating, she rose to
clear his plate. “Thank you very much for dinner, sir.”

“Arden?”

Almost afraid to hear his next words, she
met his gaze. “Yes, sir?”

“You may call me Brandon. It would make me
very happy if you would.”

Arden’s legs felt like they had turned
boneless and would give out they were so weak. Was he teasing her
because he’d noticed how she’d grown to feel about him?

Barely able to speak, she managed to say,
“Okay. Goodnight, Brandon.”

By the time she went to bed, her cheeks were
sore from smiling. As she climbed into bed and settled in under the
covers, she knew one thing for sure about her time at Brandon’s
house. She was falling in love.

***

Brandon spent the hours after dinner alone
in his study replaying the time he’d spent with Arden. His heart
clenched hopefully at the thought that she’d been jealous over the
red dress. Was their time together each night beginning to take
effect?

He cringed at his intentional cruelty the
day before, remembering the sad look on her beautiful face when
she’d thought she’d disappointed him. Angry at himself for the
slight, he vowed not to use her like that again.

She’d looked suspicious when he’d asked her
to call him by his first name. She wasn’t quite where he needed her
to be to turn her. A new vampire needed to trust her sire, and he
hadn’t earned that yet. But he would, and tonight would be another
step toward that.

The memory of how willingly she’d given
herself to him each night touched his heart. When he decided the
night he saved her to make her his forever, he never imagined she
would make him so happy. He’d sired other vampires, having been led
by his cock with those, never truly feeling anything more than
desire for them. Each one had left, and he'd felt nothing for their
absence when the lust had died out. But Arden was different. She
brought out more than the need to fuck in him. She made him
care.

He remembered with pleasure how innocent
she’d looked when he’d fed her, her pouty lips taking what he
offered. Tonight he’d show her better things to do with her
mouth.

Too eager to wait, Brandon climbed the
stairs to her room before midnight, desperate to see the woman he
quickly was falling in love with. Just as before, she lay sleeping
and he slowly pulled back the covers to reveal her in her
nightgown. Whispering his chant in her ear, he willed her awake. As
her lovely eyes opened, she smiled, as if she’d been waiting for
him to arrive, her Prince Charming to wake his Sleeping Beauty.
Softly, he kissed her and began their nightly rite.

“How is my Arden tonight?” he whispered near
her lips.

“Happy to see my Brandon.”

He loved to hear her say his name, as if an
angel from heaven was speaking to him. Stroking her face, he slid
his thumb along the seam of her lips and his cock jumped when she
took his finger into her mouth and gently began sucking. Her tongue
licked the tip, and his eyes closed in ecstasy of what was to
come.

“Love, you are everything I have long
dreamed of.”

She pulled him to her and wrapped her arms
around his neck. “I need you. Please, Brandon.”

The sound of need in her voice touched him,
and he slid his finger inside her as she spread her legs. She was
so wet and ready for him. Another finger joined the first and he
pressed the pad of his thumb against her excited nub.

“Oh, yes! Please don’t stop,” she
begged.

“Never, my love.”

Slowly, he rubbed her in tiny circles as he
fucked her with his fingers. In little time, he watched her bite
down on her lip, ready to climax as she pushed down on his fingers
as far as she could.

“Come for me, Arden,” he softly commanded in
her ear.

Her body did as he ordered, and she clamped
down on his fingers as she shuddered through her orgasm, softly
crying into his mouth as he kissed her. He stroked her to
completion and bent down to kiss the little pink pearl in her dark
triangle, feeling it still pulsate under his lips.

He returned to her mouth and kissed her
softly. “Arden, come with me.”

She sat up and followed him off the bed. He
gently pushed down on her shoulders, and she knelt before him, her
eyes looking up into his. Undoing his pants, he released his
already stiff cock and watched her lick her lips.

“Do you know what I want, love?”

When she nodded, he asked, “Have you done
this?”

She shook her head and explained, “I saw the
women on the street do this for men at night.”

For a moment, he thought about all the
things she must have seen living on the street and anger rose up in
him. No one this wonderful should have to spend her nights around
prostitutes. The thought that some filthy drunk may have tried to
accost her made him sick to his stomach.

Looking down into her sweet face, he loved
the idea that she’d never done with anyone else what she was about
to do to him.

He was pulled from his thoughts by her
sliding her hand down his shaft. With a sweet glance up at him, she
kissed the swollen tip of his cock, and an electric jolt traveled
straight to his balls. Tenderly, she tongued the slit and his eyes
rolled back in pleasure. He felt her wrap her lips around him and
looked down to see her take the mushroom shaped crown of his cock
into her mouth.