BOOK 2: AN UNEXPECTED DUO- CHAPTER 13: MYRA

Riss had been living with us for almost a month now and my little one bedroom apartment was starting to get stuffy. Riss slept with me in my room, while Esmerelda and Vladimir slept out in the living room. And even though it had almost been a month, I still felt jealous every time we would go down for the night and Esmerelda was able to stay out there with Vladimir and soak in his delicious scent, while I was stuck laying in bed next to a child who liked to toss and turn all night, kicking my back and elbowing me in the head, and while Esmerelda was able to look at Vladimir throughout the night, I was stuck laying in bed wondering what it would be like to have him there beside me.

Vladimir and I had hardly spoken since taking Riss home. It seemed like he was avoiding me at every turn though I don’t know how that was possible in a seven hundred square foot apartment; and when he wasn’t avoiding me he was either having a hushed conversation with Esmerelda or helping Riss with her homework. I didn’t know where I fit in this life we had created together; hell I didn’t even know if I had a place anymore or if I was just the key to unlocking the curse. Riss had taken to hanging out with Esmerelda in her spare time, she’d even asked Esmerelda to start taking her to school and picking her up from it. She told me she thought Essie, as Riss had taken to calling her thanks to Vladimir’s special nickname for her, was the coolest person ever with her odd clothes and her beautiful tanned skin making her seem goddess like. Plus Essie was magical. She could make water appear out of no where. Riss said when she was older she wanted to grow up to be just like Essie. Her words caused a pang in my heart, I know Riss didn’t mean it the way it sounded, but it felt like she was replacing me, upgrading to a better, prettier version.

‘Okay, enough of the pity party,’ I thought to myself, ‘Time to get up and put your big girl pants on, you can’t lie in bed all day even if it is your day off and no one needs you. You need to be productive.’

“Ugh coffee first, then a shower.” I groaned speaking out loud to myself as I slid out of bed and wandered off into the kitchen. I didn’t expect anyone to be home as I walked out of my room in just my skin tight cami and itty bitty bed shorts; I hated sleeping with clothes on but since I had been sharing a bed with Riss, I resorted to clothing that wasn’t too restrictive and still allowed my body to breathe somewhat.

I let out a small scream as I ran into something solid. Something that caused sparks to run straight down to my core and a scent of sandalwood and iron that made me ache with need.

“Woah,” Vladimir replied to my scream, grabbing a hold of my arms and steadying me.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped at him, frustrated with the way my body craved his.

“Are you okay?” Vladimir asked, a look of concern on his face.

“Oh, so now you care about my feelings?” I asked haughtily glaring up at him, “What did you and your fuck buddy get into a disagreement.”

Vladimir pinned me up against the wall, faster than I could blink. His hands holding mine above my head, “How many times do I have to tell you that there is absolutely nothing going on between Essie and I?” He growled out at me.

“It would be easier to believe if you actually spent a moment out of your day to acknowledge me.” I spit out at him, embarrassed at the sound of hurt in my voice.

“Myra,” Vladimir whispered my name, looking down at me, “I didn’t know how to react around you, or how to talk to you. I didn’t know if we could go back to the way things were before or if I’d ruined whatever was between us. I know when I told you I had legally adopted Riss that we shared a kiss between the two of us, but I realized that was in a moment of happiness, it didn’t mean that you’d forgiven me for taking your blood forcefully. I proved to you that I was exactly what you expected me to be. I proved to you that I was nothing more than a blood thirsty monster.”

“I only wanted you to acknowledge me.” I responded, my eyes glistening with tears, “All I’ve ever wanted is you near me Vladimir. I can’t control the emotions I feel for you, I can’t control the need I have to be near you. I can’t resist the urge I have to touch you. It drives me crazy having you so near, but feeling like there’s miles between us.”

“You still trust me around you even after I lost control and almost drained you?” He asked a pained look in his expression.

“You didn’t lose control Vladimir, you stopped. You overcame your thirst.” I replied, “I don’t care that you crave my blood Vladimir, I don’t care that sometimes you won’t be able to resist the urge to taste me. I know in my heart, that you’ll be able to stop yourself from killing me.” I bit down on my lip trying to control the tears that were threatening to spill from my eyes.

Vladimir let out a low groan as his eyes drifted down to my lips, “Stay still,” He murmured as he lowered his lips gently onto mine.

His kiss started out gentle, his lips barely brushing against mine, soft and delicate like the wings on a butterfly. It was a whisper of a kiss, just enough to give me a taste of him causing my body to crave him more than I did before. I let out a low moan as he pulled his lips from mine.

“Keep your hands above your head,” He murmured against my lips as his hands drifted down from mine and cupped the bottom of my face tilting my head up.

I nodded slowly, letting him know that I had heard him, his grip on my face tightening as he smashed his lips down on to my own, and then he kissed me like I had never been kissed before. The pressure of his lips mashed against mine was bruising and I knew my mouth would ache hours after the kiss had ended. I kissed him back just hungrily, as I tried to push my tongue into his mouth, wanting to deepen his kiss. Vladimir let out a feral growl that caused desire to flow through my body down towards my inner thighs. I let out a breathy gasp, allowing Vladimir’s tongue access to the moist space within. His mouth pressed more firmly against mine as our tongues battled against each other fighting for dominance. When Vladimir finally pulled apart I was a breathy mess. Both of our eyes glistening with desire.

“I want to try something,” Vladimir spoke, his voice husky with desire and need, “But I need you to do exactly as I tell you.”
“Yes, anything,” I replied my voice breathy and lace with desire, “As long as you don’t stop kissing me.
Vladimir picked me up and I wrapped my legs around him allowing him to walk me to my room. He slammed the door behind us, locking it before he walked towards my bed and dropped me onto it, causing me to bounce when I landed.