Upon waking, I found myself wrapped and confined in something solid. For a moment, panic pricked my mind. Had Julian trapped me in some torture contraption that held me in place while I slept? As my mind began to race, I felt the strum of a heartbeat against my cheek, the lulling, rhythmic sound calming my rustled nerves. His warmth still caressed my body, seeping into my muscles as I relaxed.

I was still in his embrace.

For the first time, he had stayed with me overnight, holding me as I slept. I felt content and safe for the first time since my arrival. Possibly for the first time since the night my parents died. How I longed to relish in this moment forever, in his strong arms, sleeping beside one another. As irrational as it seemed, the feeling was overwhelmingly comfortable. It felt right.

He stirred beneath me, his arms flexing against my bare body as he tugged me closer and I hugged the side of his body in response.

Julian’s finger found my chin, hooking the bottom and tilting my face to look up at him.

Cracking my eyelids open, I found his gaze locked onto me in admiration, a look I had only dreamed of waking up to. A soft smile graced my lips as my eyes slowly raked over his beautiful features.

“Good morning,” he whispered as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I thought I heard your mind reeling.” A teasing smile graced his perfect mouth.

My cheeks flushed. “Good morning,” I responded with a bashful smile. “Sorry if I woke you.” My voice was still groggy from the long, restful sleep.

With glistening eyes, shimmering in the dim light, he offered a sweet, tender smile. “There is no need to apologize.” He grazed my cheek with the pad of his thumb as he caressed my face. This had to be the most blissful feeling in the world, to feel compassion and adoration from another being so affectionate and gentle. Warmth burst though me like a hot summer’s day, encasing my soul in something I had never felt before.

But as I lay there and recalled all of our various conversations, the one about being possessive towards him clung to my mind, and I knew I couldn’t let his behavior touch me so much. I would never be able to call him mine in the way that I wanted to. I was a pet. A slave. I had to remember that.

His smile wavered as mine faded in thought. Forcefully, I cleared my mind and beckoned a smile, regardless of my growing feelings for him. I had to guard them as best I could.

“How would you like a tour of the grounds today?” he asked as he gently stroked my dark locks.

This piqued my interest. I had never been beyond the confining stone walls of my room and that of the torture chamber, as I liked to think of it. Curiosity of what else was in his home and how large it actually was had constantly been on my mind.

I pushed myself up and sat back on my knees as I faced him, excitement rattling my body.

“Really?” I asked in astonishment. “You really want to show me your home?”

He chuckled and nodded. “Yes. There is quite a bit to see, and I think you are ready. If you wish.”

“Yes!” I belted in excitement. Embarrassment flushed my cheeks and I forced myself to contain my enthusiasm. “That would be wonderful,” I said in a forced calm demeanor.

His gaze wandered over my bare body as if drinking in the sight. He placed a hand on my ribs, cupping my side, and gently brushed his thumb against my soft flesh, the tip lightly grazing across the edge of my supple breasts, causing my body the shudder in response.

“Why don’t you get dressed and we’ll head out together?” His voice was as soft as silk and made my insides burst with warmth. It was so strange to experience him this way, so calm and gentle. His mood had done a complete turnaround since I had first met him. It was refreshing, to say the least.

I nodded and quickly bounced off the bed, determined to find something he would approve of and venture out into his home. I bound towards the wardrobe and slid open one drawer after another, fumbling through the dainty pieces until I stumbled across one that caught my attention.

It was a plum silk nightie with sheer lace breast cups, a low scooped back that was held together with a single tie at breast level, and a matching silk G-string pinned to its strap. It was probably the most conservative piece he had for me, regardless of the transparency of the breasts.

I quickly stepped into the thong and slid it up my slender legs, followed by the dress itself. The neckline plunged down to my upper abdomen, held together just below my breasts by a single string stretching from one breast to the other. It hugged my supple curves perfectly. My nipples showing through the sheer lace didn’t seem to bother me as much as it once had. Not that there was anything he hadn’t seen anymore, but my nerves still trembled in angst.

The nightie hung high on my hips, hardly concealing my mound, and my backside hung out of the bottom. The back of the silk dress scooped low on my back, exposing the top of my cheeks and the G-string nestled between them.

I hesitantly walked over to Julian and turned so my back was to him.

“Could you tie it together, please?” I asked bashfully. Not that I needed his assistance to tie it together—it was similar to that of a bikini top—but I yearned to feel his hands on my body again, to feel the warmth of his touch against my skin.

“Of course,” he said, his voice low. He stood and positioned himself behind me, so close I could feel the heat radiating off of his body. His fingertips grazed my heated flesh as he grasped the thin tendrils in his hands, tying them together in a tight knot that seemed to perk up my breasts even more.

A gasp escaped me as his hands enclosed around my bare waist, pulling me back and pressing his body tightly against mine as he slid his hands between the scraps of silk fabric to caress my stomach.

My head lolled back, resting against his taut chest, soaking in the warmth of his touch on my skin. I found his hand trailing south, his fingers grazing the top of my mound sending ripples of pleasure through me. As much as I wanted to see his home, I was perfectly content with staying locked in here, alone with him for a few more hours.

Chills ravished my body as he placed a tender kiss at the nape of my neck. His breath invigorating my skin as he whispered, “Let’s go before I no longer have control over my impulses.”

Excitement and disappointment fought each other as my mind tore between the two options. I settled on holding off on any scandalous behavior, for now. I felt content in the fact that he wanted the same thing I did just as badly.

Grasping my hand in his, Julian led me out of the room I called home and into a long, dark hallway. Thick stone walls surrounded us, lined with dark marble flooring so shiny you could see your reflection. My heart skipped a beat at the mirror image of us walking, hand in hand down the hallway, his shirt gently fluttering against his body as we did.

Windows lined with thick, wine-colored curtains that pooled at the floor broke way to the seemingly endless wall of warm-toned stones. Peering out the window pane, I discovered it was still night. Stars glistened brightly among the brilliant glow of the half-crescent moon that hung in the crystal-clear sky. The luminescent glow cascaded across the trees and overgrown field below. Seeing the outside again after so long, it was hard not to get lost in the tranquility of the outdoors. Even simply looking through the glass and seeing it on the other side had my heart racing. What I wouldn’t give to feel plush, green grass underfoot, or to have the musky smell of pine fill my senses. I’d never realized how much I would miss it until I no longer had access to it.

It dawned on me that we had stopped moving. Julian had let us stand beside the large windowpane, letting me drink in the sight on the other side. His eyes focused on my face as he watched me stargaze.

“We can go for a walk later, if you would like. The grounds are protected, so you would be safe.” His offer struck my heart and a beaming smile graced my lips.

“I would love that,” I said softly. “Thank you.”

He smiled in returned and gave me a gentle tug. “Come, let’s get you fed.”

As we strode down the winding hallway, we passed countless windows, exposing glimpses of the grounds on either side of us.

After passing a multitude of random doors and archways, we went through a large, lavish entertaining room with a high vaulted ceiling, dark wooden beams displaying its structure in contrast to the tan stonework which covered the room. Plush sofas cloaked in fur throws and dark green linen chairs with intricate stitch work encircled a stone fireplace that flickered to life as we walked in. A long cherry wood bar stretched out from one wall with iron bar stools cushioned in leather. Mirrors covered the majority of the wall behind it, only breaking for counter space and a multitude of liquors on illuminated glass shelving that was perched along its surface. Beautiful artwork hung on the walls in thick antique frames and live plants sat nestled in copper vases and planters around the room. It was so warm and welcoming, I wanted to plop onto the sofa and curl up by the crackling fire with a glass of red wine and just relax. But we kept moving forward.

Julian led me through a dark wooden archway leading into the lavish kitchen. Dark oak cupboards were topped with black granite countertops wrapping around the kitchen, including a bar top counter with stools that matched the ones in the entertainment room. All of the appliances matched in the same brushed stainless steel finish; even the double-wide black sink set into an island in the middle of the cooking area was adorned with a matching faucet. The chill from the marble flooring lessened on my bare feet as we stepped onto the hardwood.

I was in awe of his home. The aura was warm and welcoming. A sense of relaxation immediately washed over you in every room you stepped into.

“Your home is beautiful, Julian,” I cooed as I continued to venture towards the dining room, where I found throne-like chairs against a long wood dining table that matched the cupboards. Candles and beautiful, fragrant bouquets of flowers lined the center of the table in crystal holders and vases, and every spot at the table was set with china, silverware, and crystal wine glasses.

I leaned against one of the chairs and said teasingly, “Don’t tell me you’re some sort of vampire prince. That would be so cliché.”

“I’m not,” he assured me.

I let out a sigh of relief.

“I’m a vampire king.” He chuckled to himself as he headed to the kitchen.

I followed after him, not quite sure if he was joking or not. “If you’re supposed to be ruling a kingdom, what were you doing here taking decade-long naps?”

He looked at me like he couldn’t believe I didn’t already know the answer to that. “Mourning.”

I rocked from my toes to my heels, having just put my foot in my mouth. “Oh.”

Mercifully, he changed the subject as he pulled down pans from the hanging rack and ingredients from the massive fridge. “My uncle rules during my absence.”

“Oh, is he nice?” I awkwardly dug for anything to say after having inadvertently opened his wounds.

“No. He’s conniving and brutal, but he’s a competent ruler,” he said, setting the load of food onto the counter.

I turned to him with a raised brow, fighting back a smile. “Sounds familiar.”

“It’s a family trait.” He beamed proudly, and I couldn’t help but laugh, my reaction seeming to catch him off guard. I mistakenly took it as disapproval and hastily apologized.

“I’m sorry...” I started, but the bright, soft smile he produced caused even more confusion and my words caught in my throat.

“Don’t be sorry,” he stated. “I have just never heard you laugh.” His gaze bore into mine as he spoke. “It’s beautiful. I’ll have to remind myself to make you laugh more often. I quite enjoy the sound of it.”

My heart fluttered in my chest and my cheeks burned as they flushed crimson. I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and took a seat at the bar top, watching him as he masterfully manipulated the ingredients.

“So...” I said, hastily changing the subject. “What are you making?”

I watched as he whisked a cream sauce together and brought water to a boil while thick slabs of circular ham sizzled in another pan.

“I figured more of a savory start would be a nice change,” he said as he turned and cracked an egg into the swirling pool of hot water.

“Have you ever had eggs Benedict?”

I shook my head and he smiled.

“You’ll love it.”

Within minutes, he produced a beautifully stacked pile of ham, sliced avocado, and poached eggs on top of a toasted English muffin with thick yellow sauce cloaked on top. The aroma made my mouth instantly water and I didn’t hesitate to dig in, letting the runny yolk stream down and coat the rest of the food.

One bite and I was in heaven. “Julian, this is amazing!” I mumbled around a mouthful of food, relishing in the diversity of textures and vibrant flavors.

“I’m glad you like it,” he said, pleased with himself before grabbing a fork and taking a bite for himself.

“So, do you use real food to supplement your need for blood?”

He shook his head. “I can eat real food, but I don’t get any nutrients from it like I do from blood. I still enjoy the flavors, however.”

I flopped back in my chair, gawking at him in awe. What else didn’t I know?

“What about sunlight? Does that bother you? Can you go out during the day? Or silver! Does that affect you? What about sleep? Do you sleep? Is it necessary?”

I had so many questions, they all flooded out at once. I sounded like a bumbling idiot, but I was curious about how he functioned.

He laughed and cast a teasing glare towards me. “No, I cannot go out in the daylight. Not in your realm, anyway. My sun doesn’t harm vampires. Silver is just pretty metal. And yes, I sleep, but seeing as I can’t go out in daylight here, I sleep during the day, which is why your sleep schedule is backwards compared to what you were used to.” He took another bite and folded his arms, leaning across the counter to gaze at me.

“That way I had time to visit with you,” he whispered, his confession making me shudder in my seat.

As hard as I was trying to not let my feelings get carried away, a single look into his sapphire eyes, which glowed brighter than I had ever seen them in the well-lit room, had me weak in the knees.

A smirk tugged at his lips and he leaned back. “Finish eating and I’ll continue the tour.”

I quickly scarfed down the remainder of my meal and took the dishes to the sink, rinsing them off and placing them in the wooden dish rack that sat just beside it.

His hand in mine, he led me through another hallway that replicated the one we had first gone through. He showed me his library first. Books filled every inch of the walls, stretching up to the high ceiling. A long, dark wooden table sat in the middle with random books stacked in disarray across its surface like he was studying for a major final exam.

Next was his office. It was much more organized then the library, everything had its place. Notebooks and black leather binders sat neatly in a wire rack while two computer screens cornered each other atop a large oak desk with a plush office chair sitting behind it. Gray walls lined the room with vibrant artwork on either side, bringing a much more modern feel in comparison to the rest of his mansion.

“You have a computer!” I said with surprise.

His brow drew together and he followed my gaze. “Oh, I haven’t had a chance to look at those yet. I just assumed they were like the TV, but smaller.”

“No, they are closer to my e-reader than a TV,” I explained, not realizing the implication until his expression darkened.

“Do you mean you can send messages through the air on this too?”

I held up my hands, afraid he might go into a rage and tear his office apart. “I will never do that again. I swear it.”

He took a deep breath, clearly believing me. “There is so much I don’t know about this decade. I’m going to need you to teach me. Will you do that?”

I imagined guiding Julian through my world, and he in turn guiding me through his. The wonders we would witness through each other’s eyes. “I’d like that.”

The tour continued with his home gym. He had every piece of equipment someone could possibly need all lined up in harmonious uniformity.

We came up to grand double doors with an intricate carving of two wolves facing each other, one on each wooden pane. He grasped the brass knobs and opened them. The wide entrance displayed a luxurious bedroom with chocolate silk sheets draped over the king bed, the dark wooden frame matching each piece of furniture in the room. He even had his own fireplace with a loveseat at the foot of his bed, its cream color accenting the dark chocolate browns perfectly. A white fur pelt lay between the couch and fireplace with a black tray that held a bottle of wine and two stemmed glasses on its corner. My room was beautiful, but his was awe-inspiring. Every detail in his room was meticulously thought out in regard to lighting, warmth, and ambiance.

My hand left his and I found myself wandering the room, gawking at the beautiful artwork above the mantel, the scroll designs of the wall lamps, even the silk sheets of his bed as I dragged my hands across their cool surface. Another set of double doors caught my attention and without thought, I opened them to find a jungle in his bathroom.

I gasped at the detailed stonework that lined the shower top to bottom, how they formed a wall for a large, lavish tub with a running waterfall pouring into its base, steaming as it hit the cool air. It was more like his own personal pond instead of a bathtub. Faux skylights hung above the entirety of the shower area, casting a dusk-like light across the room. Live plants grew between the rocks, giving it a true nature feel. If I ever had the money to build myself a luxury bathroom, this would be it.

I strode over to the tub and gently waved my hand through the warm water, my mind reeling at what it would be like to make love in such a romantic setting.

Julian slid his hands up the sides of my thighs, dragging my dainty nightie up to expose my backside as he did and causing me to yelp in shock. Lost in thought, I hadn’t heard him approach.

He leaned in, his teeth nipping at the nape of my neck, sending chills through my body, my nipples instantly growing erect.

His thumbs hooked my G-string and slid it down, letting it fall around my trembling ankles.

“W-What are you doing?” I whispered shyly as his hands explored my body.

“Whatever you want,” he said into my ear, his hot breath tickling my flesh.

His hand slipped in-between my legs from behind, immediately finding my aroused bud. I gasped as his fingers circled around my tender clit.

“Is this what you want?” he whispered. My heart hammered against my ribs. As much as I enjoyed his taunting, I wanted something different.

I shook my head.

Untying my nightie, he slipped the strings off my shoulders and let it fall to the ground with my panties, leaving me fully exposed to him. His hands slid over my body and found my nipples, twisting and pulling them playfully, relishing in my moans.

“Is this what you want?” he repeated as he abused my hard nipples. Again, I hesitantly shook my head no.

My body was humming with exhilaration, but there was something else I yearned for.

He spun me around and lifted me up to sit on the wall of the stone tub. A gasp fled me at his speed and precision. His lips trailed up my inner thigh with feather-light kisses until he met my mound, his tongue flicking at the slit. His gaze found mine under hooded eyes, a dark desire radiating from them.

“Is this… what you want?” he whispered, his hot breath dancing across my sensitive slit.

Ragged, shallow breaths heaved through my chest. With flushed cheeks, I nodded meekly. That was all it took before his mouth encased my slick slit, lapping at the juices that fled from my quivering wetness.

I gasped a moan, my head flying back at the delightful sensation of his tongue ravishing my pussy, circling my tender bud before dipping into my opening. He kissed my slit with full tongue, lapping at my juices before closing his lips around my clit, suckling and nipping at the throbbing flesh.

I fought the urge to close my thighs and keep him trapped there, my body jolting every time he found my most sensitive spot. My fingers laced through his silky blond locks, clutching onto them like a lifeline, something to keep me from drifting away in this blissful moment.

Just as I was about to reach my climax, his mouth left my mound and he stood before me. His massive manhood bulged against the zipper of his pants. Just the sight of his arousal threatened to push me over the edge. But I had to hold on, if only for a moment to feel him deep inside of me before I lost control.

He swiftly unfastened his slacks and dropped them to his ankles, his massive girth springing to life before me. I trembled at the sight. Without hesitation, he wrapped his hands around my thighs and pulled me to the edge of the tub, where his pulsing rod brushed my slick mound before he plunged it to the base in one swift thrust. I screamed in pleasure, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as he took me. Every thrust was like an entirely new sensation. His mouth found my breast and suckled my nipple hungrily, his teeth biting down and tugging as he pounded his cock deeper into my aching hole.

I could feel my climax building as he stuffed every inch of his rod deep inside of my dripping pussy, relentlessly pumping as he filled me.

My tender hole clenched around his manhood, “Yes,” he growled as his pace quickened, “I want you to cum for me!”

I couldn’t hold back any longer and my body trembled in its release. He lifted me off of the wall and held me against him, effortlessly holding the full weight of my body in the air as his cock ravaged my pulsing pussy, my ass slapping off of his thighs as I relished in the astounding waves of pleasure washing over me. Lost in ecstasy, my body threatened to fall back, but he held me there, my head dangling back and my breasts bouncing in the air as he thrust over and over again. Fresh waves of pleasure flooded me and my voice cracked as I screamed in bliss.

Before I knew it, his moans matched my own as his load burst into my trembling slit. His body trembled against mine, clutching my body tightly against his as he held himself buried to the base as his cock pulsed inside of me.

Our ragged heartbeats fell in sync as he held me against his chest. I was in bliss, yet again. He never failed to satisfy my needs, finding my trigger and pulling it every time. My fingers laced through the hair, and I lay my cheek atop his head as we came down from our ecstasy. I never wanted these moments to end, where he felt human and as if he had true feelings for me. Hope budded in my chest for us to become something more.

With his rod still buried in my dripping slit, he carried me into the tub and we gently washed each other’s sweaty bodies in the heated pool.

I knew what I wanted. I knew what he wanted. And I knew the only way to please us both was to give him what he most desired.

“Julian,” I called to him softly as he rinsed suds from my breasts.

“Yes, love?” he responded, oblivious to my resolve.

I turned to face him. “I want to give you something.”

His brow pinched in confusion. “And what is that?” he asked, his eyes tracing the features of my face.

“My loyalty to you and my obedience.” I watched as astonishment washed over him, quickly replaced with happiness, a tender smile crossing his lips that touched his eyes.

“But...” I said, pausing in fear this happiness would fade after hearing my one condition. “I want you to promise me that you’ll protect Kiera if your men find her. She doesn’t need to die because I made a stupid mistake… Can you do that for me?” My heart thumped as I watched him contemplate his answer. What if he couldn’t follow through with it? What if it was too late?

Finally, he nodded and caressed my face.

“I promise I will do everything in my power to keep her safe once she is found.”

I smiled as a sigh of relief fled my chest.

“Now. There is something I want to give you,” he said with a tender smile. He grabbed a red silk robe for me and a towel for himself and led me back into the bedroom, where he pulled a large blue velvet box from his dresser drawer.

He opened it to reveal a dainty, shiny rose gold collar. The thin chainmail links fastened tightly together to a hollow, ruby-encrusted square charm in the front.

“This makes it official,” he said softly, hesitation in his voice.

If this is all it took for me to have him fully and to keep Kiera safe, I was more than happy to accept it.

I lifted my hair up and he gently wrapped it around my neck and fastened the links together.

A certain verse came to mind and I said it aloud. “Such is my love, to thee I so belong, that for thy right myself will bear all wrong.”

He gawked at me. “That’s Shakespeare.”

I shrugged. “If you hadn’t been so engrossed in the ‘tripe’ I was reading, you would have noticed I also had finished his complete works—several times over, as a matter of fact.”

He wore the half-smile of a man that knew he’d just been beaten, but was joyous in defeat.

I glanced in the mirror and a burst of warmth shot through my chest as my fingertips grazed across the precious metal that nestled against my throat.

It was official.

I was his.