-Ronan-I don't rest at all on the flight from London. I am taken directly to her safe house, hungry to lay eyes on her again, to smell her scent again, to feel her warmth again. The door to the house is open and a man's voice is trailing from inside. I tune my ears and listen to every word of Tommy's declaration. My first impulse is to enter and rip his head off, but I calm myself trying to wait for Ara's response. I want Ara for myself but know that us being together as a real couple is impossible. I let out a breath of relief when I don't hear the same feeling reciprocated. A bit of hope springs in my chest. I enter the house and round the corner, then I see her in his arms. Heat rushes through my body. Jealousy burns every cell of mine, especially when I realize, despite how much I want to deny it, that they look perfect together.I don't want to admit it, but my rational mind reminds me once again that she would be better off living her remaining days with him in the human wor
-Ronan-I have lived over one hundred years and I still have trouble envisioning how far the consequences of my actions will carry me. That is how, on this crisp October morning, I am on the way to get my first human pet. We're supposed to call them attendants, but they're essentially pets, and I've managed to keep myself human pet-free for so long because I've stayed off my parents' radar for a decade or two. Now that they're back in Savannah and I'm working on something with my father, they've turned the spotlight on me. Desmond sits across from me in the limo, and he's pouring his third glass of whiskey in half an hour. He picks it up and raises it toward me. "It's your fucking fault that I have to pick another pet. Maybe if you hadn't 'accidentally' released her, you wouldn't be here with me. And I rather liked her, you know?" Evidently, my distaste is etched on my face. I scoff and ignore him. Yes, my brother liked her blood and he liked fucking her sensele
-Arabella-How could I have messed everything up so badly?My hands tremble as I make my way to the office where a few minutes ago, I offered up my life in exchange for my family's future. I want this. I need this.And yet, I'd behaved like a brat in the interview, which only guarantees that no one would ever take me. It just feels so… unfair. It's unfair that the only way to fix the mess my late father got us into is for me to give up twenty years of my life. It's unfair that this system even exists. Thankfully, the room is empty when I come in. The cold air flowing from the vents in the ceiling sends a shiver down my spine.I don't know what I'm supposed to do now. Wait to be told that I'm not welcome back? I think about leaving to expedite the process, and the door suddenly opens."Arabella Hamilton?" A woman pokes her head in. "Will you come with me, please?"I follow her out down more pristine corridors until we reach a sparsely decorated off
-Ronan-"Ah, I can almost feel the fun slipping out of the room." Desmond grins at me. "Have fun with your new pet, little brother."He grabs the new Red's arm and pulls her away, leaving me alone with Arabella.She hasn't stopped staring since she bumped into me, and I need to put some distance between us before I unwillingly pounce on her. The smell she radiates is delicious and makes my mouth water, but before I taste her, we need to set down the rules. I doubt Desmond took the trouble with his new attendant, but with the glamor, she'll do everything he asks of her without hesitation. "Sit down," I say, stepping around the couch and taking a seat. It takes her a few seconds to snap to attention, and she makes her way around as well, sitting opposite to me.It's not lost on me that she has no luggage, only a tiny handbag big enough to carry a wallet and a few personal things. She's truly given herself up without looking back. Her legs cross and unc
-Arabella-This is insane. Sitting here on this man's lap, inside the most beautiful library I've ever seen, I can't seem to string together a coherent thought.Ever since I bumped into him at the other estate, I haven't been able to stop looking at him. This vampire BOUGHT me. He owns my time, my freedom. He also saved my family from destitution in exchange for all of this, but the truth is, I shouldn't want him as badly as I do.I thought I'd be terrified, that I'd start regretting the choices I made as soon as I stepped into my new role. But I don't. I can't think of anything else but his eyes, his deep voice, and now, the gentle way his hand caresses my shoulder and neck."Take off your clothes," he repeats in a whisper, and I begin to unbutton my blouse. I tilt my head to the side, welcoming his lips toward me. Maybe he has glamored me without me noticing it, or he's performed some other mind-boggling trick, because all I can feel is anticipatio
-Ronan-This role reversal is...interesting, to say the least.I don't know why I stopped when I noticed she was about to climax. Her taste still lingers on my lips, and all I can think of is that I want more. To drink from her and savor her for hours, though the former of course wouldn't be possible without killing her. I patiently wait for her next move. She seems to doubt what she's just said, but soon enough, she makes her way toward me. I've had a hard-on for who knows how long now. Her gaze rests on my groin as she kneels down in front of me. Slowly, she unbuckles my belt and zips down my pants with one hand, while the other one rubs against my hard cock. I'd always scoffed at how Desmond and other vampires used their attendants—as sex toys, basically. Ara isn't even glamored and she's the one coming to me, and I don't know what to think.I can't think clearly, anyway, because she lowers my pants and underwear, releasing my erection. I'm burning wi
-Arabella-Ronan unashamedly lathers soap over his body as he watches me, and I can't pry my eyes away from him. Every inch of his body seems sculpted, from the muscles on his calves and thighs to his perfect chest and arms.Is he taunting me to finish what we started before Desmond walked in on us? He could just as easily tell me what he wants, but I'm realizing that at least when it comes to sex, he enjoys the chasing game. I don't know if I should be moved or scandalized by the fact that he wants me to desire him instead of making me act as his sex toy, like most vampires are known to do.And against my better judgment and everything I thought I stood for before coming here, I do. I do want him inside of me.My pussy still throbs from our unfinished business, and his erection tells me he's still just as aroused as I am."I need the conditioner," he says all of a sudden, breaking my trance. His voice booms through the double shower stall, amplified by th
-Ronan-It's been one hour into this hellish evening, and I've managed to dodge most of the people who come up to talk to me so far. But I can't ignore Stella Van Arder, who's spotted me hiding on the balcony and is on her way over here. She saunters toward us with a glass of champagne in her hand. I can't help but notice the way her red dress hugs the curves on her thin body, and it's easy to guess why so many heads turn to watch her. The last thing I want is to draw more attention to us after Ara accidentally kicked another vampire's attendant and almost started a fight. Thankfully, the attendant's owner wasn't close by, and I quickly persuaded the poor woman to run off to her master. Since then, Ara's stayed mostly still, clinging to my arm whenever we move. It's unusual to have your attendant with you at all times during an event like this, but I'd rather keep her close than have her cause more problems.Stella pauses a few feet away and eyes Ara up and down b