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

  She arrived at the lawyer’s office and left with glee. Mister Wimble had made enough contacts that Beth was now legally the daughter of the earl and countess of Halverson. Beth’s new name was to be Elizabeth Susannah Saxon-Worthington. It was done, and she had all the official paperwork in her hands.

  The question was how was she to deliver it all to her parents? She supposed she could call them to her. However, she did not think she could see them so soon after she lost her virginity to her father’s friend. When said like that it seemed sordid to her, but the situation was different than the average problem.

  Then a thought struck her. She could deliver the paperwork to William’s home before he awoke, and hope he delivered it to her parents. It was a brilliant plan, for his servants were discreet, and they would certainly hold it for his grace.

  With that thought in mind, she moved into her carriage with her maid and a footman. They then made the journey to William’s home. She handed the folder to the footman and watched as he handed the folder to the butler along with her note.

  Taking a deep sigh of relief, she could focus on her future, now that Beth’s was secure.

  * * * *

  A home outside of London

  The room was dark and small. The bed was overly large for such a space and held devices of extreme and pleasurable torture. He had been whipped with a leather belt while tied to the bed posters, until he had cried out in delirious delight. She finally let him go long enough to drain him slowly and make small cuts along his skin. He had no real idea of where he was or how he came to be there. However, the woman who enslaved him was a monster and he could not help the want and lust pulsing through his veins!

  He felt his cock stand to attention even though he wished to will his erection away, even though his body ignored his mind’s pleas. He was a man used to female attention. Nevertheless, when he met his soul-mate, he wanted to stay faithful. However, the woman before him had somehow bewitched him.

  Her mind called to him as no other had.

  She smiled as she walked toward her lover, her nails as long as her fingers. She drew her hand down his chest, cutting him ever so slightly to draw forth blood. Wincing in pain and immense pleasure she suckled from him.

  Keeping his hands at his sides as he knew she liked, she took from him, and gave him little relief. “Please, please….”

  He screamed as heat seared his neck as she placed her fangs into him. It was the most painful, pleasurable experience of his life.

  After she seemed to have her fill, she stated, “You have been following him, have you not?”

  “I have, mistress. He seems to be courting a young girl with hair the color of gold. She is residing with Lord Windborne,” he gasped.

  “Oh, delightful, keep your eyes upon him, lover. I have plans for him, and his little harlot. Once he is ready, I will extract my revenge.”

  Laughing sadistically with eyes as red as blood, she threw him upon the bed, and impaled her cunt completely onto his cock, bringing a pleasurable scream from his lungs.

  * * * *

  His Grace Edington’s town home

  Later that evening, when William awoke, a footman handed him a folder with a note attached.

  Here is the final adoption paperwork for my father. Please take this to Halverson castle as soon as you can. Please give my parents, Beth, and Misses Greenleaf my love.

  Rose

  Holding the letter and staring at the folder, he pulled the missive up to his nose and growled when he smelled Rose’s distinct smell. Feeling his cock harden, he walked into his office and made a few notes for his secretary for tomorrow.

  He then disappeared into the night and came to Gabriel’s home. He was just inside of the gates when he realized his blood was pounding, and his mind was in turmoil. He had to bring himself within control, and not let Gabriel or Emma read his thoughts. He needed to settle the argument between himself and Rose before he could ask Gabriel for Rose’s hand.

  Entering the home with a knock on the door, Gabriel met him immediately in his office. “Gabriel, it is good to see you,” William said with a handshake.

  “Indeed, it has been too long. I am to think you have some good news for us?”

  “Aye, the adoption is done. Rose saw the solicitor this day, and secured your legal papers. Beth is now safe.”

  “Excellent.”

  Just as they were speaking, the door to the office opened to reveal Emma and a young man that looked strikingly similar to Rose.

  “William, you remember, James. He is visiting from the university. James this is His Grace William Arthur Huntington, the Duke of Edington.”

  He moved forward and took the adolescent man’s hand. “It is nice to see you again, young man. I understand you are doing very well in your studies.”

  “Aye, I am indeed, and it is an honor to make your acquaintance. I understand you are looking out for my sister, Rose, as she has her first season.”

  Suddenly feeling trapped, he answered, “Aye, I am. And she has become the toast of the season. She has grown and changed much in her short time away from home. Your daughter, Gabriel, has become a very elegant lady.”

  “Has she? That is wonderful. I have always known Rose would blossom.”

  William looked to Emma, who was much more perceptive than Gabriel, and William knew he had been found out.

  Smiling slowly at William, Emma walked to Gabriel, and said, “She has her father’s confidence. I am quite sure she will receive offers soon, and we will have to have a talk with Rose later.”

  Feeling more awkward by the moment, William moved away slightly. “I am pleased everything is in hand, and I am sure Rose would enjoy a visit from her family.”

  “Misses Greenleaf has taken a turn for the worse, William. We cannot depart until she leaves us, which is why James is here. We are wondering if we should tell Rose or not. She is in the middle of her season, and we would hate to cut it short. However, Misses Greenleaf was like a mother to her,” Emma finished.

  Struck into silence, he had no idea of what advice to offer, for he had never had to deal with a crisis such as this.

  Suddenly James interrupted. “I have explained to my parents that we should leave Rose to finish her season, and if Misses Greenleaf does pass on, we will bring her back to Halverson castle. I know my sister, and she can become overcome with emotion when faced with a difficult situation.”

  The young man’s advice struck William, for he was trying to understand how to best deal with the fact that Rose seemed to want to detach herself from his company and move forward with Shelton.

  “I have to agree with James, Gabriel. Let her finish her season, and if it comes that she does pass on, we will inform her then. Until that time, I will watch over her as I have been.”

  Some mundane conversation commenced with James expressing his dislike of spending time with Beth, who would not leave him alone.

  “James, she looks to you like a brother. You must spend time with her during this difficult situation,” Gabriel stated.

  William rather doubted that statement. Rose charged after him just the same, and her feelings were anything but sisterly. He could smile at the memory now, even though it did put him in the impossible position he was in presently.

  When their meeting came to a close, William left via the front door, since James was still ignorant of the knowledge of vampires and other monsters.

  William made his way immediately to the Trenton’s townhome to have a visit with Rose.

  She may have been able to forgive herself their night of passion. However, he could not. As he flew through the air, he tried to have a speech prepared in his mind. He had taken her innocence, which was reason enough for marriage. He had his honor and his pride, and he could not live without her fiery touch. She would more than likely be grateful for his proposal. For he knew a short time ago she wanted marriage between the two of them.

  So prepared to speak with her, he floated to the front door and material
ized when he was certain no one was about. He knocked upon the door, and waited.

  When the door did finally open, he was admitted by their butler.

  He handed his card to the man. “I am here to see Miss Drake.”

  “One moment, your grace, let me show you to the parlor.”

  William followed the man anxiously. He was about to change his life and Rose’s. He only hoped Gabriel would understand.

  A short time later, Rose was admitted to the room with the countess. Feeling his smile drop, he stood and bowed to both women as they curtsied and sat again.

  He looked to Rose, who looked directly back at him, with her eyebrow arched. The countess seemed to know none of the situations, for she said, “It is a pleasure to see you again, your grace.”

  “And I you, my lady, I came by this evening to visit with Rose. Your company is an added pleasure.”

  The lie was not missed by Rose, for she averted her eyes for a second. And then when he was about to lean in and speak to her mind while he clouded the countess’s, a knock came upon the door.

  The butler came back into the room, looking slightly upset and haggard.

  “I apologize for interrupting, my lady. However, your daughter is here, and she is, well…” He stopped speaking.

  The countess lost some of her color, gave Rose and him a tight smile, and stood.

  “I hope you do not mind, your grace, but I need to attend to my daughter. Since you are an old friend of the family, and we keep the door open, I see no reason why you cannot converse with Rose alone, if you will excuse me?”

  She stood and walked out of the room, not waiting for an answer. As she left the room, the door was left open, but only a crack, and all it took was a slight tilt of his head to close it the rest of the way.

  Rose noticed his action. “Your grace…”

  He stood and walked over to where she was seated. He took the seat right next to hers on the settee. He leaned in as she leaned back.

  He then caught her by the shoulders, smiled tightly, and subsequently stated, “We need to talk, my lady.”

  Chapter Ten

  “Which subject do you wish to discuss, your grace?” she asked in complete innocence.

  His jaw tightened firmly. “You know exactly of what we need to speak of, Rose.”

  She winced. “It was a mistake, your grace, a moment of madness between two adults. Can we not move on, and forget we had sex?”

  She wanted to forget their encounter and move on? Move on to where, in the direction of Shelton? Not while he walked this earth. She was still innocent. However, she must know they had to marry.

  “I took your innocence, Rose,” he stated simply.

  “Aye, but I cannot conceive, so can we not just move forward?”

  “I understand your innocence. However, you must understand that I am a duke, a man of honor, and of trust. I took your virginity. We must make amends and marry.”

  “Honor? Must? William, I do not understand. I thought you would be pleased to be removed from your responsibility. Why do you wish to marry me? A short time ago, you said you felt like an uncle to me. Why marry me now?”

  He was vastly losing his patience with her.

  “Clearly now I do not have a filial feeling toward you, Rose. Please, you are acting like a lady of the ton, and I do not care for it. We both know you are not empty-headed.”

  He had hit a mark for she stiffened into a board. “I am not empty-headed. I am thinking rationally. Marriage between us would not work. I explained to you that I wanted a grand love like my mother and father share.”

  With his ire rising, he replied, “And where do you suppose you will find that grand love, with the pup Shelton? While I am around, you will not marry the man. Now see to reason, we need to marry. It is the right action to take.”

  She went silent for a moment and then said, “Have you stated your intentions toward my father?”

  “Nay, I have not. I chose to speak with you first, before we presented our union to your parents, which we will do once we come to an understanding.”

  She seemed thoughtful for a moment. “And you think my father would welcome such a match?”

  “He will if he knew about our rendezvous, Rose.”

  “If he were aware of our rendezvous, William, he would be terribly displeased, perhaps even angry.”

  “I believe he would be even angrier if society knew of our indiscretion.”

  Mouth agape, she said, “You intend to spin a tale of our night together?”

  He had not considered that course of action. However, it seemed it may be his only recourse.

  “I will do whatever I have to do to ensure my honor stays in place. I wish to speak with your father about our marriage. It is the honorable action to take.”

  “And what of my honor and my family’s? If we are disgraced, James will never make a match when he becomes the Earl of Halverson. Beth will be even worse off for the disgrace, she will be ostracized from society.”

  “None of that will happen if we marry.”

  “Are you not concerned about what my father will say? You and he have had a checkered past, and he may become very angry with you. Are you willing to push this issue to the point of which, you will no longer carry a friendship with my parents?”

  He contemplated that outcome. He surely felt a twinge of reluctance of what may come from the Earl. However, he felt Gabriel would eventually come to terms and understand his position. For the man married a woman who fled her father and took asylum in his home to work with his children. Men of his station did not marry his servants, even though Emma was the daughter of a baron.

  “Aye,” he said simply.

  Her hands clenched into her skirts, and William had a strong feeling he had yet to win the battle.

  “You may be willing to go to those lengths, but I am not. You cannot force me into matrimony. We made a grave mistake, why force the both of us to suffer through a marriage that will last as long as I live? You do not love me, and I do not love you, William. What if you find a woman whom you can love, and I find someone who can love me as well? Live our existences like most couples of the ton do? Act appropriately in front of society and then live separately? Nay, William,” she stated shaking her head.

  What did she want from him, his love? He could not give her that particular emotion. He had no idea what love was. The woman he coveted and thought he loved, for decades had betrayed him.

  “I admit, Rose, I cannot give you the love you seek. I have no notion on how to do that. The woman I ‘loved’ for years did not love me. And in the end, it was not love, but control and terror she incited.”

  She seemed to relax slightly and gave him a look of sadness. He did not want her pity. He wanted her hand in marriage, and her body under his own, in his marriage bed.

  “I am sorry, William. However, everyone is capable of love and showing love. I believe you have a skewed view of matrimony, but you are capable. I just do not think it is with me. For the last time, I will not marry you. Feel free to take any action you deem fit.”

  She then folded her arms in a clear stance that indicated she was done with the conversation. He, on the other hand, was not. She had stated she did not love him. However, she did proclaim her love for him before she came to London. It may have been a love that grew from familiarity and sheltered surroundings, but he knew one did not remove an emotion like love in such a short time.

  Even just looking at her now made his cock stand on end, hard enough to penetrate her all night. He may not love her, but he wanted her beyond comprehension, and he knew that he would desire her forever. His hunger for her body and for her blood was unquenchable, it was madness, it was fate, and the sooner she saw that, the earlier he could wed her and bed her.

  This conversation was taking him nowhere. So he gathered his power around him and tried to focus on Rose.

  She must have felt the tug for she looked at him with extreme distaste.

  “You may try to u
se your preternatural powers upon me, your grace. However, my father taught me how to block such trickery. I am not weak minded, and I will not allow you admittance into my mind to bend me to your will.”

  William heard her words and stopped. The chit was right. He wanted to bend her to his will, but not through mind manipulation. He wanted Rose to come to him freely and of her own accord. A cold fishwife in his bed was not what he wanted. He wanted Rose willing and begging for his possession. He wanted to feel her writhe under him as he plunged his cock into her twat.

  “As you wish, Rose, but know this, I am steadfast in my course, and we will marry soon.”

  He then stood and quit the room before she could express her feelings on the matter further. The butler saw him to the door, but not before he heard a weeping woman, and the countess telling her to stop her dramatics and to be strong. It was a well-known fact that the countess’s daughter made a match a short time ago to a man who was known as a light-skirt chaser.

  Sighing and moving into the night, he decided to take the form of a wolf, so he transported himself to a part of London he knew was deserted. He felt his body contort as his bones snapped to accommodate his changing frame. He rarely changed to a form other than mist. However, this evening he needed to run free, as far as he could. In addition, changing form took immense concentration.

  As he ran through the streets of a deserted London, he felt the hair against his skin move with that of the wind, and it brought a measure of peace to his mind. It was a rare occasion when he allowed himself this kind of freedom. Many young vampires could not transform themselves into anything besides simple mist. It took years of practice and intense concentration. After two-hundred years of living as the undead, he was proficient in changing his form into a wolf, a bat, a plague of rats, and mist.

  As he moved, his thoughts were brought back to the problem at hand. Rose wanted something he was unsure he could give her, but what he could offer her was as good as love. He could extend her companionship, support, a title, securement, and passionate intercourse. He knew he could remain faithful to her, for she had ruined him for another lover. Her body called to his, as if they were of one mind. How could she not see that or dismiss it?