Vampire Dreams Revamped (A Sons of Navarus Prequel) (8 page)

“Oh, Brandon! It’s delicious. Thank
you!”

Innocently, she leaned forward to kiss him,
and he tasted the sugar and milk on her tongue as she eagerly ran
it over his. Brandon’s heart filled with joy, and he wanted to make
her happy again.

“I have something else for you. I want you
to go upstairs to your room and put on the new dress I bought
you.”

He knew she’d thought the dress had been for
another woman, and he saw the flash of recognition cross her face
before she smiled wider.

“Go and have Mrs. Benson help you. I’ll be
up to get you in a little while,” he whispered near her mouth
before kissing the tip of her nose.

Brandon watched as she excitedly left his
study. His heart was filled with joy from their time together. All
he had to do was make it through introducing her to Vasilije and
she would be his. It had only been six months since he’d last made
a true request to his sire. He accepted the protocol required for
what he wanted to do with Arden, though the memory of his last
attempt made presenting her to him something he dreaded.

He just hoped this time wouldn’t end as his
last visit had.

Chapter
Seven

Brandon waited outside Arden’s bedroom door
and tried to calm himself. His heart beat wildly as he envisioned
what she’d look like in the dress he’d had made especially for her.
He heard her go silent behind the door and knew it was time to
go.

Three sharp raps on the door and she
appeared in front of him, more beautiful than he ever could have
imagined. The red dress fit perfectly, accentuating her luscious
breasts and feminine body usually hidden behind her bland maid’s
uniform. As he stood staring at her, he wished he could bypass
vampire law and take her as his right there at that very
moment.

Arden smiled, but she made an expression
that told him she was unsure of her new look. He reached out to
take her hand, and twirling her in front of him, he stopped her to
face him.

“You’re every bit as stunning as I knew you
would be, Arden.”

“Thank you so very much, Brandon. It’s
lovely. But where are we going?”

“I want to introduce you to someone. I
promise we’ll only stay a short while and then we can come
home.”

“Oh, we don’t have to return early, do we?
I’d love to have a night out.”

“Then perhaps after you meet Vasilije we can
take a carriage ride. Would you like that?”

Arden squeezed his hand in excitement. “Oh,
I’d love that!”

As they waited for the carriage to stop at
Vasilije’s home, tension began to take hold of Brandon. He hoped
this time would be a success and he’d approve of his choice. As his
sire, his approval was necessary before he could take Arden as his
own, but Vasilije was difficult to predict, as he’d learned the
last time he petitioned for his approval to sire his previous maid,
Celeste.

That time he’d chosen to withhold his
approval, and she’d left before he could convince her to return to
his home. Looking at Arden, Brandon knew that unfortunate turn of
events with Celeste was for the best as he never cared for her like
he did for Arden. He just prayed Vasilije wouldn’t disapprove of
her.

Never before had he cared so much for the
approval to sire a vampire for himself. The others had been to keep
him company and fed. Arden was different. She was someone he could
be devoted to.

Someone to love.

Taking her hand to ease her out of the
carriage, he escorted her toward the massive mansion in front of
them. Standing outside the door, he turned toward her and took her
in his arms.

“Arden, although it’s only been a short time
that you’ve been in my life, I’ve grown to care for you a great
deal. I hope you feel the same.”

Looking up at him, she spoke the words he’d
prayed to hear. “Yes, Brandon. I do care for you.”

In a far more serious tone, he continued,
“After tonight, I hope you’ll be happy to be with me forever.”

The door opened and they were shown into a
sitting room to wait. The room spoke volumes about its owner.
Furnished with expensive tapestries from around the world and
priceless works of art, it showed like a shrine to the centuries
Vasilije had walked the Earth. They sat on a sofa from the Louis
XIV period, a further tribute to his holdings. Brandon held her
hand and watched as she examined Vasilije’s luxurious home. His
sire was, in truth, no wealthier than he, but Brandon suddenly
worried his home didn’t stand up to the one she admired now.

“Vasilije’s home is exquisite, is it
not?”

“Yes it is, but I like yours better,” she
said, making him beam with happiness.

Brandon smiled, but his mood quickly grew
serious as he felt the presence of his sire. Looking up, he saw
Vasilije enter the room and his stomach clenched.

Older in years, the vampire who greeted him
had never aged beyond his mid-twenties. Forever young, his body
rippled with strength while his face appeared at once innocent and
knowing. No lines or wrinkles marred his appearance to indicate the
passage of time. Vasilije stood as a testament to the charmed
facets of a vampire’s existence.

Brandon looked to see Arden’s face impressed
by the man he jealously wished looked older or uglier. He winced as
that jealousy stabbed at him, and he squeezed her hand
possessively.

“My dear Brandon. Who do we have here?”

As he introduced Arden to his sire, he
watched his eyes roam over her as if he were appraising a piece of
fine art—or sizing up his next victim.

Vasilije took her hand, softly kissing the
top of it, and looked into her eyes. “What a beautiful name, truly
fitting for such a beautiful woman.”

As the delicate dance to win his maker’s
approval began, Brandon wished for nothing more than to be finished
with this night and home in Arden's arms.

***

Arden shivered as Vasilije looked into her
eyes. Uncertain why Brandon wanted her to meet this man, she felt
his apprehension as he continued to squeeze her hand. So much had
happened so quickly between them, and she didn’t want to ruin that
with the incorrect response to his friend. Was she to be friendly
or merely respectful? By the look on his face as he watched his
friend kiss her, she sensed respectful was the correct answer.

As Vasilije released her hand, she studied
him closely. Tall, with jet black hair, he was striking with his
regal nose and dark blue eyes. There was something almost hypnotic
in his voice as he began to speak to Brandon in a tone that seemed
to indicate his superiority but also his care.

She looked at Brandon, so dark and
impressive himself, as he stood to speak to the man. How wonderful
things had become between them in the short time she’d lived in his
home. He’d obviously been planning this night for days, and she
silently chided herself for ever being jealous. And as she watched
him now as he looked over at her, she hoped he cared for her as she
did him.

But her dreams made her hope for something
much more than the proper love of a well-off English gentleman.

Something passionate.

Something that possessed her body and soul
and made her unlike who she was when awake.

She sat waiting as they spoke in low tones
about things obviously not meant for her to hear and closed her
eyes to remember the lustful images that filled her dreams. His
hands, so gentle yet commanding, as they cupped her breasts and his
fingers pinched a nipple to an excited peak. His mouth pressed
against the wetness between her legs with his tongue seductively
lapping against her most sensitive spot and sending exquisite
sensations throughout her body. His hardness...

Arden’s eyes snapped open as she tried to
make herself focus on her present surroundings instead of her
wanton desires. Wiping the tiny beads of sweat that had formed
across the tops of her breasts, she forced herself to examine
Vasilije’s well-appointed sitting room, with its imported
tapestries and expensive furniture. It was no use. Repeatedly, her
mind returned to all the things she wished Brandon to do to
her.

As she sat trying to think of the mundane, a
doubt crept into her mind. She was still just a maid, no matter how
many red dresses she wore. What would someone like Brandon Ridley
want with a mere maid when he could have a lady of worth equal to
his station? Torturing herself with self-doubt, she looked over at
him wishing he’d never brought her to this place. She had no
business pretending to be something she wasn’t. She was a homeless
girl he’d taken pity on, no more.

A small frown formed on her face as a sense
of shame began to cover her. God, she wished he’d return so they
could leave! She belonged back at his home in her dowdy maid’s
uniform, not sitting in a red dress on display for his friend!

“Arden, what’s wrong?”

She looked up to see him standing over her
with a look of concern on his face. She put a fake smile on and
shook her head.

“Nothing.”

Brandon crouched down in front of her and
steadied himself with his hand on her knee. Looking up into her
eyes, he looked like she’d hurt him.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

Arden hung her head and quietly said, “I
don’t belong here. I’m merely a homeless girl you took pity on with
a job as your maid. Your friend probably wonders why you’ve brought
someone like me to his beautiful house.”

Lifting her chin with his fingertip, he met
her tear-filled gaze. “I assure you I never took pity on you, Arden
Stephens. From the moment I first looked down into those beautiful
brown eyes, I’ve been enchanted. I offered you the job as my maid
so I could have you near me. And Vasilije can see as clearly as I
how lovely you are. It is I who doesn’t deserve you, not the other
way around.”

Arden couldn’t stop a smile from forming.
Looking down at the face of this amazing man who was saying such
wonderful things, she wished they were at home in his study, just
the two of them.

“Just give me a few more minutes with
Vasilije and I promise we’ll leave soon.”

Brandon took her hands in his and brought
them to his lips. “I love you, Arden.”

As he walked away to rejoin his friend, she
replayed his words over and over.
I love you
. Thrilled by
his admission, her self-doubts faded from her mind and she returned
to thinking of her fantasies. Would they make love that night?
Would he be the same kind of lover as he was in her dreams?

***

“She’s delightful, Brandon. But is she
ready? She seems easily upset.”

Brandon sensed the hint of disapproval in
his sire’s tone. Knowing he had the final say, he worked to
reassure him as he had Arden.

“No need to worry. Trust me. She’s
fine.”

Vasilije trained his blue eyes on Brandon’s
face. “And why should I accede to your wishes this time? If I
recall, you asked for the same permission with that other delicious
looking treat not more than six months ago. And I knew she wasn’t
right for you, didn’t I?”

Brandon struggled to control his temper. He
knew Vasilije was right about Celeste. Still, his smugness
irritated him.

“Arden’s different.”

Vasilije cocked one eyebrow and directed his
gaze toward her. “And how is she different?”

Sure he couldn’t trust his sire with the
knowledge that she excited him more than any woman had in decades,
he chose to focus on her unfortunate past and felt like a bastard
as he did. “She has no family to be concerned about and was
homeless when I found her.”

Vasilije chuckled deeply as he turned to
face him. “A stray? Don’t you know not to take strays in, dear
Brandon?”

“She’s not a stray!” he snapped.

A long moment of tension remained between
the two men until Vasilije turned toward Arden and moved to
approach her.

“Well, let’s make sure she’s right for you
then.”

Brandon’s chest tightened at the thought of
how his sire would decide that. Following behind him, he tried to
catch Arden’s gaze, but Vasilije had gotten to her already.

Standing over her, he stared down into her
eyes and began. “Arden, I’m so happy you’ve come here tonight. Do
you enjoy it here?”

Brandon knew by the silky tone of his voice
he was hypnotizing her.

“Vasilije...”

Waving off his concern, he concentrated on
Arden’s eyes and continued. “Arden, how do you feel about
Brandon?”

Afraid of what she’d answer, he said,
“Vasilije, don’t.”

Turning his head, the older vampire chided
him. “How can I be expected to allow you to bring her into our
world if I don’t know she can handle it?”

Brandon had seen him do this with another of
his vampires and hated the idea of him having control over Arden.
“She’s done nothing to warrant this.”

Turning back toward her, he slid his finger
along her jaw. “Don’t worry. I promise I won’t hurt her.”

Brandon cringed at the idea that he
could.

Vasilije repeated his question and Brandon
saw a shy smile form on her lips.

“I love him.”

“And why is that?”

“Because he’s kind and takes care of
me.”

Brandon filled with guilt at her words. If
he truly took care of her, he wouldn’t let his sire do this.

“Arden, dear. Do you know what he is?”

Silently, she nodded, and Brandon wondered
if she’d misunderstood the question.

“And what is he?”

“Vampire.”

Brandon took a step back, stunned that she
knew.

“And how do you know that?”

Arden smiled again. “He comes to me at
night.”

“And what happens when he visits you at
night?”

Brandon’s stomach clenched at the idea that
his sire was going to know what he and Arden did together. Each
visit with her held a special charm for him, and he didn’t want to
share those moments with Vasilije.