AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Come for me,” River urged, his voice deeper, rougher. “Come forus.”
Claude pressed his fingernails into my thighs, desperately holding onto me as his stomach hollowed and his eyes slammed shut, pleasure wracking him with shudders.
Fuck, it was hot watching Claude come, and even hotter when River let out a long, sexy groan and thrust deep into Claude, finding his own release.
I had a moment of wondering what the hell I’d just gotten myself into, but then Claude brushed a kiss against my clit, and those thoughts were eclipsed by more heat.
TEN
Iwas doing the walk of shame in my own damn house. I knew for a fact River and Claude both felt me slip out of the bed at some time past three, and they likely heard me pad down the carpeted hall towards the balcony on the second floor, but they let me flee. I exhaled a long sigh when I pushed open the balcony doors, shivering as sharp night air cut through my clothes and into my skin. My still very heated skin.
Fuck, I really … we really … fucked. And Ilovedit. Wanted to do it all over again, even if I was worried they wouldn’t want a repeat. They were so secure in their relationship, and here I was getting between them.
Hence, I needed fresh air to get my head straight.
There was a small stone staircase from this balcony down into the walled gardens at the back of the manor, the only entrance into the gardens—a leftover protection from Mum’s youth when one of the suitors didn’t take her rejection well and stalked her over a period of three years.
I shuddered at the thought of that happening to me, too, but as obsessive as Claude was, I trusted my instinct that, as dangerous as he was, he’d never intentionally hurt me. River had never once given me creepy vibes. And Silas would have to give a shit to stalk me.
“And thank fuck for that,” I breathed, taking the steps two at a time and gulping down air to clear my sex-fuzzy head.
I didn't know how to predict Claude’s or River’s motives now. I didn’t know why they wanted me when they had each other.
When Claude had licked my wrist earlier, had he been picturing River instead? If I chose River, would I be choosing both of them? How would it even work—marryingbothof them? I didn’t know, didn’t have the answers, and Ihatednot having answers.
I disappeared into the garden’s hedges and apple trees, my mind racing at a mile a minute, my lungs filled with short bursts of fresh air. What would they do if I only chose one of them? Would they make me marry both? And why was I so panicked by that thought? Claude and River were the two suitors I actually liked. This should be a good thing.
My body still remembered how good they’d made me feel in exquisite detail, and I didn’t want that to be the only time we slept together. But maybe they’d only come here to court me so they could rendezvous without the watchful eyes of their families to stop them. Maybe they didn’t want me at all, like Silas didn’t.
If I fucked this up, I’d be just another disappointment of the Calvert family line. Worse, I’d let down my mum and dad.
I’d have to marry Silas fucking Abraham.
Okay, so maybe I was spiralling.
I turned a corner in the hedge, aiming for the marble bench framed by an ornate arch of willow branches, but rough fingers snapped around my forearm before I could take another step.
I cried out in surprise when I was yanked away from the bench, fingers biting into my arms so deep and cruelly they’d leave bruises.
“Silas…?”
When he didn’t answer, the fierce grip of panic tightened, pressing on my chest like a lead weight. Hairs rose on the back of my neck. I didn’t think this was Silas.
I drew breath to scream, exactly as I’d been taught by my self defence tutors—most attackers preferred silent, submissive prey, and fled from women who were too much trouble—but a rough hand slammed over my mouth before I could utter a sound.
Oh, hell.
My breathing went haywire, short and tight and down to wisps within seconds—but my training kicked in, throwing a cool blanket over my anxiety. It was second nature to slam my elbow back into their gut.
My attacker made anoofof surprise but didn’t let go. Their other arm locked around my waist, making any other defensive moves impossible. Shit.
I struggled, but even driving another elbow into their ribs didn’t lessen the painful hold. Sharp fingernails bit into my cheeks when they shoved their hand harder over my mouth. My breathing grew choppy.
“You should have listened to the threat,” a smooth, beautiful voice said against my ear.
My attacker was a man, and a vampire judging by the melodic quality of his voice. An old one, too. None of my suitors—someone else, someonenew.
This was bad. Epically bad.
