Brown, Aubrey - Hunger [Sequel to Ravenous] (Siren Publishing Allure) Read online

  Without thinking of the consequences, he immediately willed himself from the sanctuary of his below-ground room, into the night to see her. The home looked to be still, and since there were no gatherings scheduled for tonight, she may very well be in bed.

  Waiting as mist aboveground, he sent his preternatural senses out to feel her. In that instant, he could hear her heart beat and the sound of her breathing. He looked around her room, which looked dark in the dead of the night, and felt an incredible draw upon his willpower to stay where he was.

  The rest of the home was quiet, and the idea of leaving her to sleep as he went to seek a midnight feeding was more than he could bear. So without thought, he entered her room, since he had no need to ask permission.

  He materialized by the side of her bed and feasted upon her lovely form. She was sleeping in her shift, but it looked to be that she was too warm for her covers, for she had kicked them off her, and her shift was now sitting high above her thighs, almost exposing her sweet slit.

  His knees threatened to buckle beneath the weight of his desire for her. He may not have loved Rose, but his lust for her was very real, and just as strongly as it came to him, he doubted it would abate within the next few thousand years. As a matter of fact, he could no longer imagine himself with another woman. It was pure madness. However, it seemed to be a permanent madness.

  He walked over to where she slept and kneeled on the floor.

  “Rose, sweeting, are you awake?” He placed his cool hand upon her cheek. She stirred beneath his fingers as he stroked her yielding flesh.

  “William?” she asked drowsily.

  “Aye, sunshine, it is I, William.”

  She opened her eyes slowly to blink away the drowsiness, and hissed as her eyes burned at the action.

  Concern clouded his mind. “Rose, are you all right?”

  “I am just recovering from a small head complaint, William. I think I am still unwell.” Suddenly feeling an overwhelming urge to take care of her, he stated, “I want to help you, sweeting.”

  “Why are you here, William?” She then sat up quickly, as if a thought struck her. “Is it mother or father, Beth, or could it be Misses Greenleaf?”

  “Nay, none of those things. I just had to see you. No reasoning, no excuse, I only had to see you.”

  She creased her eyes she looked into his. “William. You are not making sense. Why did you need to see me?”

  As she sat up, he helped her into a position where he could talk to her properly. Wincing as she moaned when she was seated correctly. “There are no reasons or excuses, Rose. I am here because it is beyond my power to not be here. I have been trying to decide what best course of action to take to secure you to me, and I have failed. I have no other words to declare to you how much I…need you. I may not be able to give you the love you want, but I can promise you I will take care of you forever. I will treat you as a duchess deserves, and you would want for nothing. I can promise faithfulness, and my complete devotion. Please, Rose, my sweeting, my eternal sunshine, marry me.”

  Rose looked as if she was ready to cry, and he could not stand to watch tears run down her beautiful features. So he gasped the sides of her face to bring her in for a kiss that was as sweet as it was passionate.

  He slowly, lovingly kissed her lips into a soft submission. It was the most poignant moment of his life. He felt something shift inside his chest, and an inner peace came to him that he had never felt in his centuries of life.

  “William,” she murmured.

  He moved his lips far enough away from the sanctuary of hers. “Please, Rose, let me make love to you tonight, please. We can discuss our future tomorrow. I need to feel you around me. I need to be in the warmth of your pussy, pumping into you as you say my name repeatedly. I need you more now than I need my next sip of blood. Please, sunshine, do not refuse me, not tonight.”

  Rose leaned in and recaptured his lips in a kiss that was entirely heated with pent-up passion she must have held at bay, for she was swallowing him whole.

  Moaning her acceptance, he pushed her back down to the bed, and laid his massive body atop hers. She was as warm as he was cold, but she still caught fire within his arms, and he was too ensnared to move away from her. He would think of what he was to say to Gabriel later, he would speak with Rose on the morrow, but for now, in this moment they were as one.

  His hands ripped the shift away from her slight body to reveal delicious breasts that were swollen and heaving, begging for his lips and teeth. He could not resist their call, so he placed his lips to her to suckle strongly at her teat. Her hips gyrated with his ministrations.

  “Oh, William, please…”

  “Shh, sweeting, someone will hear us and stop me before I am to place my cock within your wet pussy.”

  He then continued to ravage her breast as she ground her hips against his solid cock. She was driving him mad.

  “Rose, slow down, you will have our coupling over before we have started.”

  “William, please, make love to me, take me swiftly and without manners. I need your cock within me, pumping into me without regard for time and place. I need for you to take me hard, harder than you ever have before. I need you.”

  Her words set his dead heart to racing and his cock to attention. He could no longer deny himself the heaven he knew he could find within her. So he moved his fingers to her cunt, to feel for her readiness. He found her hot, wet, and quivering.

  “You are ready for me, sweeting.”

  As he finished his words, he melted his itching clothing away and entered her tight twat. It was beyond pleasure. It was beyond any gratification he had ever felt in his life.

  “Oh God, Rose,” he said.

  Her head levered back upon her pillow and thrashed from side to side as she said, “Oh William, please, please…”

  He moved backward, almost exiting her welcoming slit, and levered back in quickly, seating himself practically in her womb.

  Their first coupling had been extraordinary, but this was practically euphoria. She was perfect for him, as if she had been made for him, specifically.

  “Ah, Rose, I want to be welcomed into your body every night, all night long, forever,” he whispered.

  As he said the words, he began a pumping action that brought a curse to his lips as her orgasm began, and his cock was ready to empty into her cunt. The friction of their actions was incredible. He wanted to mold his mind to hers to hear her scream his name.

  “Let me in, Rose, please, I want to hear you scream.”

  Rose must have been beyond lust, for she allowed him to slip into her mind without further urging.

  William, please make me cum. Bring me to such an orgasm that I can no longer see! her mind bade him.

  Rose, I want to feel your tight pussy milk my cock of its essence. Come for me! his mind demanded back.

  So he stole his hand between them and pressed her swollen clitoris and began an orgasm that stole his very breath.

  As she vibrated under him, he bit into the side of her breast, bringing forth another orgasm so incredible that his cock inside of her hurt from her painful squeezing. Her cum bathed him in sweet hot spurts of liquid that he could smell within the air.

  She fueled his hunger to a frenzy, and he suckled at her breast to take in her warm, sweet blood.

  Her mind spoke to him again, and what she said brought his heart to a stop. “Oh, William. Oh, William. I love you…”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Rose awoke the next morning, feeling disheveled and deliciously sore. She had made love to William all night long, and she had no feeling of regret. She loved every single moment of their coupling. As a matter of fact, she could now admit she was surely in love with the duke. For when he left at almost the break of dawn, she wanted to plead with him to take her with him. It would seem the love she had for William had fully returned.

  It felt freeing somehow, and dreadful all at once. He had stated to her before they made love the first ti
me last night that he wanted her to marry him, but he could not love her.

  Could she live with him, knowing he wanted her body but not her heart? Live forever pining for his love, and hoping he would come to trust her with his heart?

  With no real answers to her questions, she knew one fact for certain. She loved William with all of her womanly heart, and the thought of living without him hurt more than the thought of living with him without his love.

  * * * *

  Lady Cordwood’s Birthday Party

  Rose was dressed in her finest silk frock of deep blue. It set off her eyes and made her hair sparkle in the candle light. She was waiting patiently for William to appear as she watched Lady and Lord Shelburne ignore each other. The countess and viscount smiled tightly as other guests gossiped about the doomed marriage.

  Nigel had yet to appear this evening, so her dances were consumed with men she did not know or had little interest in. As the night wore on, Rose did eventually see Nigel enter.

  Her heart did not pitter patter, nor did she feel the warmth she felt with William.

  Tonight she would have to tell the marquis that she was not interested in marriage, but a friendship would be fine between them.

  Just as one dance came to a close, she walked over to the countess and saw no sign of Anuria. “Where did your daughter go, Christina?” she asked.

  “Oh, that girl is making a fool and a mockery of herself, as soon as his grace Edington came into the room. She pulled him into a dance, and now they seem to be missing.” On her last words, she swept herself away to speak with her husband.

  Feeling her heart contract within her chest, she looked about the room, and saw that she was indeed right. The pair was nowhere to be seen, as she looked down a dark hallway, she had a suspicion that she knew where they were.

  Rose checked behind herself and calmly but slowly made her way down the hall, listening for voices. She came upon the last door, and heard Anuria’s distinct laugh. She pressed her ear to the door and heard, “Come now, your grace, why would you want a slip of a girl when you can have an experienced married woman?”

  “Lady Shelburne, I do appreciate your offer, however…”

  And then she heard a moan emanate from the room. Feeling her heart break, she opened the door and was confronted with the sight of William kissing another woman.

  It was as if time stopped and she felt her heart break open once more, shattering within her chest. The incident with William in her father’s garden could not compare to her heartache now.

  Rose felt her spine straighten and determination filled up her throat to be heard. She then coughed, and the couple came apart quickly.

  “Oh, dear, Rose. I had not meant for you to see us in such a state.” Anuria chuckled and patted her hair.

  Rose looked to William’s stunned face. “I must apologize for coming in upon you both. However, I must say that, Anuria, your mother and father are looking for you, and it has been noticed you are both missing from the party. If you will excuse me, I am quite sure Nigel, has a dance scheduled with me now.”

  “Rose…” But she did not want to stay to listen to his explanations.

  She was a fool for falling in love with him once again. She was an insipid stupid chit who had let her heart believe that he may not love her now, but he would someday. What a fool!

  However, as she got to the door, it slammed shut in front of her. Feeling suddenly trapped, she went to the knob, and turned while she pulled, but it was no good it stayed closed.

  A shriek came from behind her as she saw Anuria back away from them both and hit into the desk in the center of the room.

  “How did that come about, why would the door close that forcefully upon its own?” she asked.

  “You will tell her what happened,” William said, pointing at Anuria.

  Lady Shelburne closed her mouth and refused to answer. Rose waited to feel his preternatural power fill the room to force a story from her lips, but nothing came. Rose began to shake inside with rage. Why was he making her stand in the room with him and his new lover?

  He then took deeply measured steps toward the other woman and stated again, “Tell her why you lured me in here, and what I said to you when I tried to disengage you.”

  Anuria backed herself more closely to the desk and looked to Rose. Once she found her, she sneered slightly and then winced. It was now clear she was uncomfortable.

  “I do not wish to discuss this further.” She faltered upon the last word.

  Rose felt along the door to feel for the knob again. William must have heard her. “You may try all you like, sweeting. However, you cannot open that door.”

  “It is entirely clear what happed here, your grace, now let me go so you can finish with Anuria.”

  “Things are not always as they seem, Rose. Now I repeat to you, Lady Shelburne, tell her why you brought me here.”

  Trembling, Anuria brought her hand to her head. “I see, your grace, you must have your cap set for our dear Rose. I find that strange, since she claimed you to be as an uncle to her.”

  Rose watched in fascination as William stiffened his back and pointed his finger toward the other woman. “That, my lady, is not your affair, and may I suggest to you that you tell your tale of lies quickly before I find your husband.”

  Lady Shelburne’s face lost color, and pasty white skin took its place. Swallowing, she said, “I told his grace that I was concerned for you. That I needed to speak with him at once, he immediately followed me into this room, and you walked in shortly after. I am sorry, Rose. I did not want to hurt you. I… What manner of a creature are you, your grace, to hold the door closed as such?” She stopped as the tears began to well in her eyes.

  Feeling terrible and angry at her, Rose looked to William. “Let her leave now, William. She has learnt a lesson from this. And her mother is searching for her.”

  Hesitating, he let the door go and Rose opened it wide. Motioning for the other woman to follow her, she led her out of the doorway and walked through and down the hallway. She heard William’s call to her mind, but that did not deter her. Her heart was still in pieces.

  “I am sorry, Rose. I had no idea that you and his grace were courting. I thought you and the marquis were wooing. What manner of man is he, Rose?” She stopped once they came to the ball entrance.

  A warm hand came to her shoulder as the other woman said, “If it helps, I fell in love with my husband from first sight, and I thought he felt the same. However, he has shown me since then that he does not care for me or my feelings. Just his mistress, I wanted to hurt him as he hurt me, and it would seem I hurt you as I have been hurt. You love him, do you not? “

  “I had a thought that I did, but now I am certain that it was just lust. I do not want to end with an unhappy marriage. I am sorry for your hardship, Lady Shelburne. However, I do need to say that you should not break your vows as your husband has done. You may find yourself in a spot of bother as you had tonight.”

  Rose gently removed the other woman’s hand, whisked her to her mother, and told the older woman that she found her daughter in the powder room, fixing her person, and that she had yet to find William. Seeming relieved, her mother took her daughter who was near tears.

  Rose shook as she saw William enter the ballroom seamlessly. His stare was penetrating her clothing. He began to walk over to her, but was suddenly stopped by another nobleman.

  It was irrational, but even with Anuria’s explanation her heart was still broken. She could not rid the image of her lover and soul-mate kissing another woman. She had been foolish to let him into her heart and her mind.

  “I believe this is my dance, my lady.”

  Rose turned and saw the kind face of Nigel, feeling suddenly happy for his appearance. She felt her lips widen into a large smile that made his slip slightly. He seemed to recover quickly and drew her to the wooden floor, where they danced a waltz.

  “I am happy to see that you have made an appearance tonight, my
lord.”

  “Nigel, please, my dear Rose. I had a last-minute business matter to arrange. I came straight away from the appointment, to see to dancing with you.”

  “How kind of you, Nigel. I am, of course, pleased to see you.”

  They went through the motions of the dance. Rose had trouble with the steps, for she felt William’s eyes upon her the whole time. When they finished, he escorted her over to the punch bowl, and retrieved a cup for her.

  “I had hoped to spend some time with you this evening,” Nigel stated.

  “Indeed?”

  “Aye, I have a matter of great importance to discuss with you and you’re…”

  “May I intrude upon you, Lord Shelton?”

  Rose quickly looked over to see William approach Nigel’s side.

  Lord Shelton sneered at the other man, which brought Rose’s spine up. William had no right to intrude upon their conversation, but Lord Shelton was supposed to be a proper gentleman, and his sneer looked above reproach.

  “We are having a conversation, your grace. Be a good chap, and go elsewhere, I have a matter of great importance to discuss with the lady.”

  William looked as if he was ready to rip Nigel apart. “Would you care to step outside, Farnsworth?”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “What are you proposing, your grace? You mean to elicit a row between us, pistols at dawn and such?”

  “If you wish, Farnsworth,” William replied with force.

  Rose was shaken out of her complete surprise long enough to hiss, “William…”

  The vampire leaned in, eyes red as hellfire, and whispered, “If you do not come with me now, I will make certain this whole room knows of our nights together, and your refusal to marry me.”

  She looked at her peers, and felt her heart speed at the observation in some of the eyes that were close to the table, even Lord Shelton began to back away from her. Feeling her heart break yet again, she leaned in and whispered, “I will speak with you after I complain of a headache to the countess. Come to my room in precisely one hour.”