An update on Tuesday... sorry it's been a while! Delighted that so many of you haven't been put off by the change up to an 'M' rating. Thank you so much for your reviews.
Just a warning; this chapter contains some sexual content, up to the reader's discretion whether to continue...
Hope you enjoy!
xo
Chapter 49
The round white tablets nestled perfectly in the palm of her hand. Trying not to think about it too much, Scarlett tossed them into her mouth and took a large gulp of water. She grimaced with distaste as the tablets slid down her throat, her stomach threatening to revolt at the unpleasant sensation. She looked up to find Charlie watching her anxiously. She rattled the prescription bottle meaningfully in the direction of her best friend. "It was only two," she said firmly. "Honestly, I promise I'm not going to do anything stupid."
Charlie folded her arms and gave Scarlett a stern look. "We have very different opinions on what constitutes 'anything stupid.'"
Scarlett rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the slight smile that crept across her lips. "OK, I promise I won't do anything that you would consider 'stupid'." She held out the bottle of pills.
Warily, Charlie reached forward and grasped the bottle firmly. "I know, I'm probably the world's biggest nag," she said softly. She sat down on the bed beside Scarlett. "I just don't want anything to happen to you."
Scarlett drew her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs. "Nothing ever does," she muttered bitterly. "I know Charlie, I know. He's just a boy. Just a foolish, stupid, immature boy. And I won't feel like this forever. It'll stop hurting." She lifted her face to meet Charlie's concerned eyes. "Please just keep reminding me of that."
Charlie nodded reassuringly. "I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow then?"
Scarlett managed a faint smile. "Yeah. Promise." She leant forward to intercept Charlie's affectionate hug.
After Charlie was gone, Scarlett shivered at the empty stillness of her room. At the moment, the last thing she wanted was to be alone with her thoughts. Vlad's words just kept echoing in her mind, not just the cruel words of their break up but also his snarky banter with Robin, his softly whispered assurances when they were together... He was just there in her mind, constantly taunting her with his presence. The memories and feelings were mashing together uncomfortably, making her feel like she was suffocating under their weight. Unable to bear it any longer, Scarlett flicked through her DVD collection and selected an old favourite. Something fluffy with Marilyn Monroe should occupy her until the sleeping pills kicked in.
Nestling back into her duvet, Scarlett sighed in contentment as the familiar title sequence lit up the screen of her laptop. This film never failed to make her smile no matter how many times she watched it.
Someone was curled up against his side, someone impossibly soft and warm, their heartbeat radiating through him. Scarlett. It was impossible of course, he knew that, knew that the phantom warmth and scent were all an illusion. His subconscious feelings rising to the surface as he drifted in and out of an uneasy sleep. He should ignore it, the sooner he moved towards that presence, the sooner it would disappear and he would be alone. Yet, as an arm slipped around his waist, Vlad found himself twisting slightly, moving deeper into the half embrace. Closing his eyes tightly, he just wanted to hold onto this fantasy as long as possible, he bent his head, lips fumbling gently over the silkiness of her hair, the smoothness of her skin, he could feel the ghost-like touch of her breath against his neck as she raised her face to his.
When their mouths met, the pretence of softness and patience left them both. She was as hungry and demanding as him, her heart racing, her blood pounding through them both. He wrapped his arms around her, entangling one hand in her hair, his fingers spreading out across the nape of her neck. As she moved her hips against his, he couldn't bite back his groan of arousal in time but instead of pulling back, she answered him with a low moan of her own. Her hands were slipping under his T-shirt, the heat a startling contrast to his cold skin, his skin prickling with every sweep of her fingers across his back. Her kisses were gentler now, almost as if she were distracted by the task of exploring his body. Vlad found himself torn with frustration because every time he pressed his mouth harder against hers, her hands would falter. Yet, it was thrilling, to know that he had that much of an effect on her, that his kiss could drive all other thoughts out of her mind. He tried his best not to tense as her hands ran down the length of his chest, her fingers skimming over the top of his trousers, they had done this before but it never got any easier, it still sent shockwaves crashing through him every time she came so perilously close but never close enough. There was a moment's hesitation but before he could reach for her hand, assure her that he could wait, that it didn't actually matter whether they went any further, her hand slipped under the waistband of his trousers. A jolt of shocked pleasure slammed through Vlad as her fingers tentatively began to explore him. He trailed a hand up her arm, admiring the softness of her skin, his hand cupping her elbow, it was a struggle to speak, he knew he shouldn't, if he spoke out loud then this fantasy would come crashing down around him and for all its vividness it had to be a fantasy for Scarlett to do this to a monster like him.
"You don't have to..." His voice sounded nothing like his own, he could barely remember the last time he had sounded so on edge, so damn bloody desperate.
"I want to." Her answer was breathless, her lips moving against his as she spoke. She froze suddenly, her body becoming rigid against his, "Unless..." The uncertainty in her voice almost drove him mad.
With a savage groan, he rolled them both over so that she was beneath him, her soft curves pressing against the sharp angles of his body. Resting on one elbow, his other hand reached down to encircle her wrist. "For Lucifer's sake!" he cursed violently, finally opening his eyes to find hers gazing into his, the shades of fiery blue more alive and passionate than real sapphires could ever be. "Scarlett, you should know how much I want you by now!"
He hadn't anticipated that she would giggle, that the sound would shake her body against his in a way that only added to his arousal. That her hand would move across his face, the fingers tracing his cheekbones, his lips like he was something precious and breakable. That her lips could move so lovingly against his. Then her face was serious, he could see the doubts creeping back into her eyes, "Do you?"
How two words could ever sound so vulnerable was beyond him. He shifted upwards to press a kiss against her forehead. "Yes," he answered firmly. Shushing her with a gentle finger, he kissed her eyes as they fluttered closed, "Yes," the tip of her nose, "Yes", he deliberately pressed her hand harder against himself before brushing his lips lightly against hers, "Yes, Scarlett." The hard edge in his voice made her eyes open, he watched them darken with acknowledgement before she reached up for him, her lips crashing impatiently against his, her fingers moving over him in a way that made him gasp with satisfaction and for once he didn't try to hide it. He was beginning to realise that she needed that reassurance as much as he did. Just as it became too much, he grasped her hand, forbidding her to move any further until he regained control, he watched with amusement the range of emotions flickering across her face, her initial concern at his abrupt actions rapidly changing to something that was strangely close to awe. A gleam of confidence entering her eyes as she experimentally flexed her fingers around him only to be met with a muffled moan as Vlad buried his face in the warmth of her neck. "Don't!" he ordered sharply, a groan of exasperation escaping from him.
Her laugh was irresistible. "Don't what?"
Was she actually teasing him? The thought made him smile against the flesh of her shoulder. "Don't do that either," he warned her.
"Or what?" She deliberately wriggled against him, her body shifting against his in a way that was unbelievably suggestive.
Vlad lifted his head, a smirk creeping across his lips, "I'll have to reciprocate." His stomach clenched with fear at the sudden look of dread on her face, at the way she swallowed slowly, clearly filled with trepidation at the prospect of him getting intimate with her. He studied her for a moment, trying to work out what was suddenly so wrong about the situation. The current location of her right hand indicated that she wasn't completely averse to being close to him, hell she had even been happy to continue so why now?
Scarlett seemed to be having difficulty meeting his eyes. "You really don't have to." Crimson was staining her cheeks.
Vlad cupped her cheek, his fingers stroking against the heated blood beneath her skin. "I want to."
He kept his eyes focused on hers as she gave him a disbelieving look. "But I'm..."
"Beautiful," he finished her sentence, the firmness of his voice clearly surprising her. Had he ever told her that? He knew he had certainly thought it. It was always in his head but perhaps he had never actually spoken the words. "Beautiful," he repeated it, this time it was a whisper. He didn't care what he had to say, he didn't care if he sounded ridiculous or over the top, what he did care about was her. He wanted her to realise that, to have a tiny inkling of how much he felt for her.
For a long moment, they stared at one another, too many thoughts and questions filling the silence between them, too much pain breaking through into the dream, reminders of reality seeping into their minds. "Not now." Scarlett muttered the words fiercely, her eyes closing tightly as if she were trying to block something out. Then unexpectedly, she was kissing him again, her mouth ferociously hot and demanding against his, her body wrapping itself around his in a way that made him all too conscious of the layers of clothing separating them. He didn't dare question it, he didn't want to question it, didn't want to lose her and when she tugged at his T-shirt, he didn't hesitate to simply pull it over his head and toss it aside. When his hands glided between her top to cup her breasts, he focused on the way she leant into his touch, on how her hand tightened around him in response. He was trying to remember every touch, every caress, all the ways in which he could make her cry his name, because it was important, it was more important than ever before that he got this right. When his hand moved downwards to toy with the waistband of her pyjamas, he felt her freeze against him, felt the blood rush into her cheeks as she broke away from his kiss, her eyes dark and vulnerable in the dim light, "Vlad," the strangled manner in which she spoke his name left him uncertain as to whether it was an invitation or a plea to stop.
He ran his thumb contemplatively over the cotton material, patiently waiting for her to clarify whether she was granting permission or not. His lips twitched with amusement at the navy lettering, 'zzzzzz time', he couldn't resist teasing her, "Sexy," he mock growled, his fingers tracing over the print. "First time, I've ever been seduced by a woman in pyjamas." He ignored the warning bells that were beginning to clang in his head, he knew deep down what they were trying to say, knew that this entire fantasy was impossible in so many ways, but not now. Later.
Right now she was in his arms and she was arching upwards to meet him, she was pulling him closer, her breath brushing against his ear in a way that was unbelievably seductive. "Maybe next time, I'll wear red silk." Her lips pressed slowly against his ear in a feather light kiss.
Vlad pulled back slightly to meet her gaze. "Promise?" he asked solemnly before slipping his hand lower to caress her intimately. The half spoken curse that slipped past her lips had to be the most gratifying response he had ever received from a lover. He lowered his mouth to her throat, knowing exactly how and where she liked him to kiss, how hard to press his fangs against her flesh to make her gasp with frustration, how to trace his tongue against the sweetness of her skin and he would learn how exactly she liked him to touch his fingers against her, exactly how he could make her clutch at his back and sob his name. He would dedicate every second of every minute to learning that if only she would allow him...
The Grand High Vampire was not the most amendable person to wake up but he had never grabbed him by the throat and snarled in his face before. Dmitri had never been as grateful for nepotism as he was now. He was fairly certain that, as Renfield's feet dangled helplessly in the air, the Count's servant was seriously regretting his decision to interfere in Dmitri's duties. He had to admit the servant put up a good front; only the grubby hands clawing weakly at Vlad's pale fingers gave any indication of his discomfort.
Dmitri cleared his throat loudly and unnecessarily. "Your Highness?" he directed a fairly pointed look at the gasping servant.
Unceremoniously, Vlad dropped Renfield with a splat onto the floor. The young vampire's eyes were gleaming red with fury. "You had better have a very good reason for waking me."
Dmitri resisted, with considerable difficulty, the urge to raise his eyebrows sarcastically. "Your orders were clear." He tilted his head meaningfully towards the blaring alarm clock on Vlad's dressing table. "You have a Council meeting in exactly fifty-four minutes."
The redness faded from Vlad's eyes as he irritably ran a hand through his hair. "Yes," he conceded with a scowl. "I'll get ready now."
Dmitri nodded approvingly. "Your supper is on the table." He gestured towards the mixture of soy blood and freshly buttered hot toast.
Much like any teenage boy, the Grand High Vampire's mood improved considerably at the prospect of food. "Thank you Dmitri." He poked Renfield distastefully with his foot. "You can leave now."
The servant scrambled to his feet and shot out of the room. He moved surprisingly fast for a breather. Dmitri cast a curious glance over the strangely flushed figure of his master before following in Renfield's wake.
Toast had never tasted so delicious before; all of a sudden he had regained his appetite. Settling back in his coffin, Vlad took a gulp of soy blood before devouring the rest of his supper. By all rights, he should be livid. Putting aside the fact that he had been interrupted at a very inconvenient moment by that idiot Renfield, it was rather worrying that a mortal had been able to enter the dreamworld on two separate occasions. It should be impossible; he shouldn't have the ability to drag breathers into the vampiric dimensions. Worse still, he had absolutely no idea how he was doing it. He needed to get this particular skill under control otherwise it could prove very dangerous for him and Scarlett. He added it to the growing list of questions that he had to discuss with Bertrand; he had no doubt, whatsoever, that his former tutor would either know the answers or know how to get them. He wouldn't, however, tell Bertrand the specific details, particularly of the most recent breach.
'Maybe next time, I'll wear red silk.' Vlad took another deep gulp of soy blood in an effort to stop himself from grinning like an imbecile. He failed miserably but he couldn't bring himself to care very much. So what if he turned up to a Council meeting in a good mood? The change would probably have a positive effect on his Councillors; at the very least it might unnerve them enough to agree to some of the less palatable aspects of the peace programme. His smile only widened as he recalled just how soft and smooth Scarlett's skin had been against his, the provocative way in which she had pressed against him... No, this smirk was definitely here to stay. There was no way Scarlett would have let him get that close unless she still cared for him. Some people were able to separate feelings from the physical act but he already knew that Scarlett wasn't one of them. And if she had been frightened of him, afraid that he would bite her as he had bitten Bertrand then she wouldn't have let him anywhere near her neck let alone arching into his touch, encouraging him to press his fangs harder... Perhaps he had gotten it all wrong; perhaps he still had a chance.
The mug smashed into chunks as it made contact with her wall. Scarlett didn't even care that the sound might wake up a neighbour. Curling up into a ball, she struggled to breathe as the frantic sobs tore their way out of her chest. Fat, thick tears rolled down her cheeks. How dare he? Wasn't it enough that he had dumped her? Wasn't it enough that he insulted and belittled her? Made her feel worthless and ugly? Now, he was messing around with her dreams again. Telling her things that he had no right to say, doing things to her that she really shouldn't have allowed.
The mortification only made her cry harder. How could she have done that? How could she have let him touch her after what he had said? Now, he knew how weak and pathetic she was, how she still wanted him even after what he had done. That she was so in thrall to him that she would allow him back into her life. She would never in a million years understand how he could do it, how he could look at her like that, make her feel like she was the most beautiful, fragile girl in the world, make her feel so loved and cherished and yet. underneath it all, feel nothing but contempt for her. Despise her even. He was just playing with her, torturing her, even in her sleep she wasn't safe from his games.
Scarlett couldn't stop crying, her shoulders still shook with the force of the emotions trying to escape her body, she could only snatch breaths of air in shuddering gulps between the sobs. Why was he doing this to her? Why couldn't he just leave her alone? She hated him. Truly she did; she hated Vladimir Dracula more than she had ever hated anyone in her life.
Chapter 50 teaser
'You know the drill, only so many can be sacrificed.'
