Chapter One – Maribel
The hair on the back of Maribel's neck prickled at the unblinking stare from the vampire across from her. If she had known that it was going to be this creepy to be in such close proximity to them, she wouldn't have applied to becoming a living blood donor within their city walls. Even now she was considering just cutting this interview short and going home.
Except she didn't have a home anymore. So that wasn't an option.
"Why did you decide to apply for this position, Miss Arnaz?" the vampire, Patricia, asked her.
Maribel mentally grimaced. Even though she had prepared for this question, she wasn't exactly sure what to say. There were a lot of reasons she had decided to do this. How much information was too much?
She was being evicted from her apartment because she was unable to pay the rent, having gotten fired from her job six months ago. The bank repossessed her car. She was half a million dollars in debt because her cretin of a boyfriend had stolen her identity and gone to Vegas, and apparently there was nothing the banks could do about it because she didn't report the suspicious activity sooner. It put her in a position where she didn't have a lot of options. Finding a new job in this economy was next to impossible. And vampires were always looking for a human to use as a juice box.
"Honestly, the money," Maribel said after a moment of thinking. "Ten thousand dollars a month just for being here, another hundred dollars per ounce that gets… consumed. Not to mention the possibility of being picked to be exclusive with a vampire, and the benefits that come with that."
Patricia nodded. She was insanely gorgeous, with long, thick, silky black hair and deep black eyes in a diamond-white face. All of her features were carved delicately. "You do realize that the act of being drunk from is often highly sexual, yes? You would be compensated with an extra twenty-five thousand dollars if things… heat up while being drunk from."
"Yes."
Her heartbeat increased at that. That was the most difficult thing about this job. She had been determined to wait with sex until marriage. It was still what she wanted, although she knew that there was nothing wrong with not waiting. Still, selling off her first time wasn't something she ever dreamed of doing.
Patricia continued to stare at her. "You will need to sign consent forms stipulating you understand the process."
"Yes, I understand." Maribel straightened her shoulders. So what if she was becoming some sort of glorified prostitute? She wasn't getting any help from the people who would sneer at her for doing it. She wasn't getting help from anybody.
"Alright. Then I would like you to fill out these forms."
Maribel jumped slightly. "I've been accepted?"
"You're in your prime, you have a clean bill of health, and you're a semi-rare blood type." Patricia smiled. "There is always more demand for fresh blood than there is supply. One of the reasons why vampires will pay so much to be exclusive with a donor."
Maribel nodded, feeling dazed. She hadn't expected it to be this quick. But that was a good thing. Less time for her to doubt herself or change her mind.
She quickly filled out the forms and read through the agreement before signing it. Her hands trembled as she handed the papers back to Patricia. There. It was done. She would start earning money at once, and then she'd be able to pay off her student loans and the ridiculous amount of money Phil had spent using her identity. There was a chance she was going to get out of this without tanking her credit rating after all.
"Excellent. I'll have Quinn show you to the girl's wing of the palace. You'll interact with our vampires in various formal and casual settings during the first month, but it's prohibited for them to feed on you until—" Patricia's head turned towards the door as it opened. "Excuse me, but we are—"
She gasped and jumped to her feet. Maribel followed her gaze. Her jaw dropped at the sight of the vampire that had just strode into the room. To say he was tall, dark and handsome would be an understatement. He was perfection. Shoulder-length wavy black hair, a face that put Hollywood actors to shame. But there was far more to him than just looks. Everything about him spoke of power, from his sharp business suit to the intense stare in his blacker-than-black eyes.
"Your majesty." Patricia curtsied awkwardly. "I did not expect to see you in the recruitment office today."
King Sheridan. Maribel had seen his face on the news and always thought his hawk-like eyes were intimidating, but close up she could see how beautiful they were as well, like pieces of the universe's soul staring right at her. It took her breath away.
"Has she signed all the consent forms?" His eyes never moved from her.
"Yes," Patricia said as Maribel nodded.
"Good." Sheridan held his hand to her. "You will be my personal donor."
Maribel gaped. His personal donor? The king's? Was this some sort of bizarre stress dream? "Me?"
"Yes. I've been waiting for a woman as beautiful as you to start drinking living blood again."
This had to be a dream. When she came in here she didn't think her short, overweight frame would do her any favors. And now the king of the vampires was saying she was beautiful? Still gaping like a fish, she put her hand in his. In an instant, he had pulled her to her feet and wrapped an arm around her. His body was strong against hers and Maribel had to repress a moan of desire.
Her face heated. What was going on here? She had never reacted this way to anybody before. Never. And yet here she was, giddy as a schoolgirl from the king's mere presence.
The corridors Sheridan led her through were wide, decorated in the most modern styles, although ancient-looking chandeliers hung from the ceiling every few feet. When they passed by windows, Maribel could see the massive stone walls surrounding the vampire city in the distance. These walls had been constructed hundreds of years ago, separating the vampire city from the human one. Perhaps it wouldn't be so effective these days with bombs and such, but they were still a sight to behold.
Eventually, they came to a large, cozy room. It was carpeted in light blue, and the décor was a collection of everything from medieval-style tapestries to Victorian chairs to modern lamps. There was a large fireplace in one wall, with two rooms on either side of it. The doors to the rooms stood ajar and Maribel could see a king-sized bed in one, and what appeared to be a two-person hot tub in the other one.
"Are these your chambers?" Maribel asked as Sheridan led her to the couch.
"Yes. Your bedroom is through there." He pointed to a door she hadn't noticed. "It used to be my personal library, but as you are going to be my personal donor, I want to keep you close to me."
"That makes sense."
"You have read and signed the forms, yes?" Sheridan continued holding her hand as he settled down. "Which means you know that by being my personal blood donor, chances are we will have sex. Often, if I am reading you correctly. You are attracted to me."
The heat in her face increased, as did the sensation in other parts of her. Maribel nodded. The idea of sleeping with a vampire was simultaneously more and less frightening than it had been when Patricia had mentioned it. Maybe because he was a king. Maybe because she wanted it so badly.
"Good. Because there is something else I want from you as well."
Her gaze was firmly fixed on his lips, even though she was embarrassed by her staring. They were full and perfectly shaped. At the moment she hardly cared what else he wanted. Maribel shook her head, trying to get a grip on herself. "Something else?"
Sheridan's mouth quirked into a smirk. His black gaze dropped to her mouth this time. A predatory gleam echoed in his eyes, but Maribel found herself being drawn to them rather than frightened away. "Yes, something else... I have had your scent in my head from the moment you entered my palace. I tried to ignore your beckoning, but it soon became apparent that there was no ignoring you. And then when I saw you… Well. I knew you were the woman I had been looking for."
"Looking for. To do what?"
"To bear me a child."
Maribel gasped. She sprang to her feet and backed away from the alluring vampire king. "You want to get me pregnant?"
"Yes."
"And… and then what?"
Sheridan's smile seemed more business-like now than it had been a few moments ago. "That depends. I will, of course, give you a higher compensation than if it was just drinking your blood and sex. After the child is born, I would prefer for you to continue living in the palace, and be his or her mother. But you will be free to go wherever you wish, and still receive a monthly stipend. I will raise the child, however, and you will not be permitted custody if you leave the vampire walls."
Maribel wasn't quite sure how to take what he was saying. He was so straightforward about it, as though there weren't a million emotions that could mess this up. She sat back down, trying to wrap her head around it. Being asked to have his baby was a far cry from what she had signed up for.
"Why do you want a child?"
"I have wanted to be a father for as long as I can remember. Once I became a vampire I didn't think it was possible, but recent technological developments have convinced me it is." Sheridan tilted his head, studying her for a moment. "I can see that this is overwhelming for you. I will give you time to consider the offer. I do wish you to know that I won't feed on you for several months, as there will need to be fertility treatments for you to become pregnant. I am told that during those treatments it would be best to refrain from sexual activity as well."
The king scowled at that, and Maribel couldn't help but echo the sentiment. She had always thought she would be married before she gave up her virginity, but when she decided to come to the vampire city, she had given up on that line of thinking. And now that she was here with the vampire king, she was all too willing to follow him to bed right now if that was what he wanted.
Heck, that was what she wanted.
A frown crossed her face. Was saving herself for marriage really something she had to give up on, though? She looked the vampire king in the eye and took a deep breath.
"I don't need time to think. But if I'm going to have your baby, you have to give me something I want first."
"What is it?"
Maribel held the vampire king's gaze steadily as her thoughts danced around in her head. She couldn’t help but wonder if this plan was completely insane, but she pushed her doubts aside. "Marry me."
Sheridan's brows rose, but he didn't hesitate before he nodded. "Tomorrow?"
"Yes. I can do that."
"Good." The king stood. "I will go arrange it. Make yourself comfortable… you never told me your name."
"Oh!" Maribel shook her head. "Maribel. Maribel Arnaz."
Sheridan took her hand and pressed it to his lips. "Pleased to meet you, Maribel Arnaz. I can't wait to get to know you better."