The sensation of his presence wakes me up as I look around the bedroom.
He is nowhere in sight.
I sigh as I shake my head, as my vision clears. Perhaps I am just going slightly crazy. The rose on my nightstand still looks as fresh as it was given to me on the first day. Next to the rose in the vase lies a note on top of an envelope.
I hold my breath for a moment.
He was here after all.
The note is small as I hold it in my hands.
"Good morning, princess. Enjoy this gift."
I whisper to myself the words out loud as I grab the envelope and quickly open it up. My fingers lace around whatever is inside the envelope, and I carefully take it out. A hair tie bracelet which can be worn on my wrist or put my hair up.
Interesting.
I put on the bracelet without hesitating. It is a beautiful crimson red. Nice of him to think of me. A sense of protection washes over me as I adjust the bracelet on my wrist. It feels like he is protecting me, but at the same time marking me.
I get out of bed and head to my window. Sunshine spills through the window as the satin curtains are parted. The clouds are gone today, and the wildlife is alive as I see a blue butterfly fly by me.
I get ready for the day and dressed. Victoria brings me my breakfast as usual.
As I am eating breakfast, I get an unexpected knock on the door again.
"Come in," I say as I take another bite of pancakes.
"Good morning, beautiful. I hope you enjoy my gift," Xavier says as he leans against my doorframe. He chuckles as he notices my surprise at his entrance.
"You may be wondering why I am here. Today is the day of the Blood Tasting Ceremony. Don't worry. It is nothing more than a simple prick of the wrist with my fangs. Usually, it is done to celebrate a noble vampire getting a Royal Crimson level slave."
The Grand Duke walks over to me and sits next to me on the couch, dangerously close.
"It is also usual for the vampire owner to let the other high-ranking vampires take a taste of the new human slave as a kind gesture," he says as he looks into my eyes, at my lips, and back to my eyes.
"I am not letting anyone touch you. I made this clear to the Blood King. He can't defy what I say because he knows I wouldn't stop at anything to get what I want. He knows I am very protective and... possessive about the things that are mine," he lowers his voice.
His hand slides onto my thigh briefly as he says the word mine.
I feel a shiver go down my spine as I finish my breakfast and do my best to ignore him.
He lightly squeezes my thigh. I do my best not to react.
"Be ready, princess. I just wanted to warn you," he says to me as he stands up and walks out of my bedroom, shutting the door softly behind me.
I take several sips from my water glass and do my best to pretend none of that just happened.
Victoria comes into the room shortly after and takes my tray away.
I get out of my bedroom and walk around the Bloodstone Palace, nervous about what is to come with the Blood Tasting Ceremony. Grand Duke Xavier Bloodstone. The notoriously cold and merciless Grand Duke everyone outside of the palace claims him to be.
He has been nothing but different from that.
Soon, I find myself in a beautiful art gallery with various paintings and sculptures on display.
A kind vampire servant guides me around and then leaves me be as I find my bearings.
I spend a good amount of time in the art gallery and exploring the area that I didn't realize the day had turned into evening. I look at another portrait of the Grand Duke I find in the gallery.
"You enjoy looking at me that much?" Xavier says to me, his voice giving me chills as I feel his presence behind me. He places his hands on my waist as I feel his chest on my back. I can feel his heartbeat as he wraps his arms around me, embracing me.
"If you want me that much, I'm right here, baby," he whispers into my ear in a low voice as his teeth nibble my left earlobe. He takes his left hand and wraps it around my neck as he tilts my chin upwards.
I feel his lips graze my cheek as my body falls deeper into his.
He teases my neck with his fangs. My eyes widen, waiting for him to sink his teeth, but he doesn't.
I hear him chuckle behind me as he realizes how easily I can be teased.
"Not there, princess, not yet," he says as he flips my body around by turning my waist until I am face to face with him. He gently grabs my left wrist and brings it up to his face. He gently bites it, his fangs piercing my skin. I feel my blood and feelings rush together as his eyes look at me with desire.
He finishes his bite and gently cleans off the excess blood and bite marks with his white cloth. He rubs his thumb affectionately over the wound. "See? It wasn't that bad."
Suddenly, he pushes me up against the wall of the art gallery. The moon is fully out now, and the glow cascades over his face, displaying his sharp features.
His eyes glow dark red, though I hardly notice it as he has me pinned to the wall, my back feeling the cold surface of the wall.
My body feels warm, my skin is flushed, as he runs his hands all over my body. His eyes seem to darken and dilate as his face gets closer to mine. My heart can barely take it as I feel it about to jump out of my chest.
I try to say we shouldn't. It's forbidden, but my body betrays me.
My hands cup his face as our lips connect, the spark immediate.
His lips are soft against mine. They become more firm as we continue to kiss deeper, more deeply into each other. My lips part slightly, allowing his tongue to slip inside.
I could taste our shared breath as we struggle to resist each other.
He takes his hands and pushes my arms together over my head. He goes for my neck again and sucks and bites on it gently without making me bleed. The amount of pleasure he gives me forces a moan out of me.
He suddenly stops as he is panting heavily. Sweat pouring down his buttoned-up shirt.
"That's my good girl. You may be ready for it."
Ready for what? There is more than this to come.