The Ties that Bind (The Forever series, Book Five) (28 page)

Well, never one to let a bit of voyeurism put me off, I
continue to head into the room. At least they made it to the bed, I think, as
they are not in the large main part of the room. I saunter over to the bedroom
section and stand in the doorway, arms crossed.

“You should keep better track of the time,” I comment as I
see them in a very interesting position. She is flexible, I’ll give her that.

Devon, who already knew I was there, just grins at me, happy
enough to be getting an athletic shag while Jess looks mortified that I have caught
them going at it--unlike last time, when she couldn’t have been more pleased.

“Want to join in?” he asks wickedly.

I walk forward to his delight and Jess’s horror and sit on
the bed. I smile slowly and seductively at him. “I love you, baby, but you know
I don’t like to share you,” I say in a very deliberate over-the-top possessive
tone, which has him chuckling.

“Same here,” he says. “Give us a minute will you?” I shrug
but don’t leave and he flips her underneath him and pounds into her while I sit
and examine my perfectly manicured nails, changing the color from black to red
just because it is something to do while I wait. He finishes quickly, she
doesn’t, and I remember not so fondly my encounter with CK while Eloise
watched.

He climbs off her and gets dressed. She stays under the
covers and I stand. “I’ll leave you to get sorted,” I tell her. “Be quick.”

I leave the room and Devon follows. “Well?” I ask. “What is
your feeling about this now?”

He shrugs, “Still no bond, but I do still like her. Might as
well take advantage of the benefits of her sire worship.”

“Dev,” I reprimand, but with an inward chuckle. It is such a
“him” thing to say.

“What? Like you don’t? Like your own sire doesn’t.”

Well, he has me there. “Well, at least it's better than
nothing.”

“Exactly. So stop complaining. I am doing the best I can.”

“I know, baby,” I hug him and he hugs me back.

“You know,” he says, changing the subject, “I have some very
good ideas about how you can make up my missed day to me.”

I raise my eyebrows at him, “Oh? Care to share?”

“Not yet. I just want you to know that I haven’t forgotten,”
he says pointedly.

“Neither have I. I may have a few ideas of my own,” I say
mysteriously.

“Oh, now don’t be a tease,” he murmurs against my lips as he
pulls me close by the deep “V” of my neckline, his fingers dipping into my
cleavage and giving me goosebumps. He pushes his tongue into my mouth and I
cling to him, my hands going up to the back of his head to pull him closer. He
pushes his hand up my dress, things getting very heated until we both hear a
muffled whimper from the doorway and remember Jess. Fucking girl. I wanted him
then. It has been too long since we have been together properly. I understand
his need for us to spend more time together than just a quick fuck.

I huff in frustration as does he but we pull apart, mindful
of how we both felt about our sires when we were so new.

“I’ll leave you two to talk,” he says stiffly and just
leaves without saying anything to Jess, clearly pissed off with her for
interrupting--or more likely in that moment--just existing.

I glare at her, daring her to say something about what she
saw but she lowers her eyes and stays silent. Good. At least she has the sense
to stay quiet.

“I want with him what you have,” she says softly.

Or maybe not then, I sigh.

“You will never have what we have,” I say.

“I know. Tell me how to make him love me. Tell me what to
do, what to be to make him love me.” She is on the verge of tears as I think
nastily, be me and maybe you’ll have a shot.

“I am not going to instruct you on how to gain his
affections.” The thought is most unappealing.

She flexes her shoulders and I can see she is about to
pounce on me again. “When is the last time you fed?” I ask.

“Four hours ago,” she manages to get out before she goes feral.
She launches herself at me and I grab her by her throat. Gripping her wrist I
turn her, arm behind her back and frog march her to the blood bank. I get her a
glass and feed it to her. I give her a minute to regain herself and then let
her go.

“Sorry,” she mumbles. “I am feeling…”

“Murderous?” I offer up.

She looks startled but nods just the same. “Is that normal?”

“Yes. Especially in your situation. This is why I won’t
allow you to drink straight from a human yet. Have you spoken to Devon about
these feelings?”

“Yes. He says I’ll get through it.”

Gee, great advice there, Dev.

“You will. I will help you. Have you fed from him yet?” I
ask casually.

She nods and she relaxes as she remembers.

“Good. Now what was what it you wanted to talk about?”

“Oh, yes.” She focuses on me again and says, “I thought
about what you said about readjusting my priorities.”

I nod encouragingly as she stops speaking.

“I thought that with Scott now doing your job, you no longer
have an assistant. I would like to be your assistant,” she says quickly and
bravely.

First things, how does she know Scott is doing my job and
secondly that I don’t have an assistant? A chatty charge is clearly getting on
better with his little girl than he is letting on.

I remain impassive, expecting her to give me more of spiel
than just that.

“I know you think I am just some stupid little girl who
tricked Devon into turning me but I’m not. I am a straight-A student, I was
going to go to Harvard. I am disciplined. A dancer. Co-captain of the
cheerleading squad. I am highly organized and I have worked summer jobs in
similar roles, not quite so grand, obviously.”

Grand?

“It will help me stay focused. I know I can do this, I know
I can be responsible and organize your…”

I glare at her through narrowed eyes, hands on my hips as
she trails off. My what?

“Week,” she says.

Humph. I will let her off. So Harvard, eh? My old alma
mater. Or at least one of them.

“A dancer?” I query.

“Ballet,” she says and I am mildly impressed. “I will miss
that the most, I think.”

Oh, now I know Devon has been telling stories about me as
she tries to hide the hopeful look on her face. It becomes clear that this
offer has come from Devon. They must have discussed it today before they hit
the sack. He has given her all the ammo she needs to break through to me, as he
knows exactly which buttons to push. It is good that he is communicating with
her but not at the expense of blindsiding me with this. We will be having
words. I have to grudgingly admit, though, that her Elizabeth looks aside, I
can see now why he was interested enough to pursue her. There is definitely
more to her than meets the eye.

And, well, in all fairness, it hadn’t even occurred to me
yet to replace Scott. Probably because Scott hasn’t told me to do it. Devon
knows what I am like and knows what I need and I clearly do need someone to
organize me. And as a bonus it will take her attentions away from him. Maybe
this is a better idea than trying to convince her right off the bat to go find
someone else to play with.

“It won’t be easy with your…limitation,” I tell her.

“I know. It is a challenge and I am ready for it. I will
prove to you that I am good enough to be a part of your family,” she says
boldly and I am now a bit more than just mildly impressed with her confidence.
That is, until she lowers her eyes and steps back a bit, hands in front of her.
I know it is because CK has entered the room and I am annoyed. Where the hell
is the fear of me? No one seems to take any notice that I can incinerate them
with my bare hands. So, I don’t actually know if I can do that as I haven’t
been able to test it (obviously), but it is a working theory I have based on
the collar I burnt to ash. Incinerate them with my trusty sword then, I amend
to myself. But in swoops my sire, all intimidating and commandery and everyone
starts to quake in their boots. I will have to ask him to teach me some of
that. Although I am sure I will be met with the response of him not knowing
what I’m talking about.

“Well, my sweet? Are you going to offer the girl the job or
not?” he asks, kissing me chastely in front of her.

I turn back to her. “One week trial,” I say. “I don’t
tolerate mistakes so if you make one you are out. And I think it goes without
saying that everything you see, hear, read, learn, notice, glean, suspect, or
otherwise, is to be dealt with in the strictest confidence. You say nothing to
nobody, not even Devon. If anything gets leaked, I will know it is you.”

“Of course,” she says quickly, catching onto to my unsaid
threat.

I smile and say, “Good.” I pull my sire down for a lingering
kiss that he responds to with ease. I look back at her and she stares back at
me innocently. “I didn’t see anything,” she says.

I smile a genuine smile now, “Good girl. Go and get my iPad
from Scott. He will fill you in.”

“Thank you, Mrs. O’Dell. I won’t let you down,” she says
before she moves with Vampire speed to the door, desperate to be let out, but
CK reaches out and grabs her, pulling her to a halt. “Not so fast,” he says and
she looks like she would rather be staked than stand there under his steely
gaze. “I also think it goes without saying that if you do anything to
jeopardize the safety and security of Liv or any of us in any way, you will
deal with me,” he says it quietly and matter-of-factly but she is petrified and
nods stiffly. He grips her tighter. “Yes sir,” she stammers. He relaxes his
grip but doesn’t let her go. “I will escort you next door. There are too many
humans between here and there.”

As in a whole world full, I frown at myself. Silly me. I
should have remembered my own rule that I placed on her. See? I am useless. I
need someone to help me. I am going to miss Scott. Maybe I should rethink
giving him my job. “I don’t think that is necessary, my love,” CK says to me
with a chuckle. “I am sure the girl will meet your needs adequately.”

Adequately? She had better bloody do better than that. I
take his hand and he leads us out of the room. I close the door with the book
lever and with a last lingering glance at the pool I say to CK, “We didn’t get
to talk. I told my husb…” I trail off and shake my head. “I told Cole I was
coming here to speak to you.” My brain feels a bit muffled and I frown again,
rubbing in between my eyes roughly. CK is peering at me curiously as I open my
eyes again. He quickly drops his shutters back in place though. “What was I
saying?” I ask him.

“Are you okay, my love?” he asks in concern.

“Yes, I think so. I must be tired. I need to feed. It’s been
a while.” Too long, I add to myself. “Take me home, please,” I ask, not wanting
to use up the additional energy to Astral myself.

“Of course,” he says and takes my hand again and Teleports
the three of us into my den at home.

“Whoa,” Jess says, grabbing me to steady herself. “That is
the weirdest feeling.”

“Yes, it takes some getting used to.” I smile at her and sit
heavily on the sofa. “Go and find Scott and then go outside. Make the most of
the night.” She smiles and nods, I add, “Oh and if you try to leave the
perimeter of the grounds, you will be turned to ash on the spot. So don’t try.”
She pales and gulps. “I wasn’t planning to,” she mumbles and I raise my
eyebrow. Does she think I came down with the last shower of rain? “Go now,” I
order her and she does.

“I need blood,” I tell CK and he goes off to get me some,
returning shortly with a glass and Cole in tow.

“You’re back,” he says and leans down to kiss me.
“Everything okay? You are looking pale.” He sits next to me in concern.

“I’m hungry,” I say as I accept the glass and gulp it down.
“Very hungry.”

“I will get you someone,” CK says and pulls out his phone,
clearly concerned.

“I feel weak,” I mutter to Cole and he is pulling me to him
in an instant.

“What’s wrong?” he says.

“I don’t know.” I breathe in deeply and try to focus. I feel
better once I do this and smile at my husb… at Cole. “I’m fine. Really. I just
think it has been too long since I fed.”

“Aefre, I told you to take care,” CK admonishes me softly.
“Do you need someone to… you know, do what you said?” he asks hesitantly.

What did I say I wanted someone to do? I remember the bad
joke from a couple of days ago and shake my head. “No. That was a joke, CK. I
don’t need someone to follow me around.”

“I disagree. You are not looking after yourself. I have
tried to help you but with all this flitting about, it is getting increasingly
difficult to keep up with your needs.” He sighs, “Nico can arrange it. Just say
the word.”

I stare at him, horrified. Nico can arrange it? He can
arrange to have a human follow me around for me to snack on whenever the
feeling comes upon me?

We are interrupted by Xane, thankfully, as I now don’t have
to deal with that conversation. “The spell you asked me to put up is set. If
she tries to escape she’s toast. I trust you warned her?” Xane says.

I nod, “Of course.”

“With regard to your feeding problem, it is only a problem
because you aren’t doing it right,” he says idly, coming to kneel in front of
me. He holds out his hands. “Feed,” he says.

“She needs human blood,” CK growls as Cole lets out a low
rumble of his own.

“Not blood. Energy,” Xane says. “Remember what your mother
told you. Showed you. It’s right in front of you, Liv.”

He’s right, of course. I had forgotten in all the upset over
Jess waking and ensuing events. All this time I could have been feeding willy
nilly off just about everybody.

“Feed,” he says again.

I put my hands up to his, a couple of centimeters apart.

He shakes his head at me. “Properly,” he says and grasps
mine tightly to his. “Page one. The very first thing we learn.”