Forever Touched (Touch of Vampire #5)

CHAPTER 24

24

ADALYN

It was day three of being stuck inside the Faircroft home. Arguably, the best three days of my life.

Despite how busy Mistress kept me during the day, I was full of energy the moment she and her daughters left each evening. When the coast was clear, Everett would arrive, immediately making the hard hours of work fade away. Every time he came, he brought with him more food than I could possibly eat in one sitting. I mourned the fact that I couldn’t store the leftovers in the fridge, but I ate as much of the food as I could before we were forced to part ways.

Tonight, he’d brought lobster, shrimp, and cod, and Pepper received a selection of cheeses, nuts, and berries. We sat down in our usual spot beneath the red maple, contentedly listening to the waves crashing against the rocks as we stuffed our faces. When I couldn’t eat another bite, I laid down on the blanket with a groan, using Everett’s lap as a pillow.

Something had shifted between us these past few days. We’d both stopped resisting the soulmate bond and had embraced it, which had allowed the connection to deepen. I was growing more and more comfortable with him having access to my emotions and thoughts, but not all of them. Not the parts that were tightly locked under thrall. Every day, I’d try to tell him about my mistress’s evil plans, and every time, I’d fail.

The clock was ticking as Everett’s claim on me faded. It wouldn’t be much longer before I had to return to Dreamscape and give up these forbidden magical evenings with him. I was no closer to figuring out how to break the pactum, and I could sense that Everett’s patience was wearing thin.

I couldn’t blame him, though. He didn’t want me to work at the nightclub any more than I did, and as our bond had grown stronger, so had our need for each other. Being apart was becoming more and more difficult. We spoke to each other telepathically, sometimes for hours at a time, but it wasn’t enough.

We craved each other’s presence. Each other’s touch .

Every evening after I ate my fill, Pepper would wander off to give us some privacy while we gave in to the mating frenzy. We had sex for hours , only coming up for air when time forced us to. Each night, he would feed on me, making sure to only give me enough venom to chase away the pain. I still woke up with headaches. Still craved the high that venom gave me. But it was getting easier to survive without it.

Riding the high that was Everett satiated me in ways that venom never had. Being with him made me feel less and less like frightened prey desperate to survive and more and more like me . Like who I used to be before my life had been turned upside down.

I finally broke the comfortable silence to say, “The stars are beautiful tonight.”

“Very beautiful,” he murmured, watching me instead of the night sky.

My heart fluttered, a feeling I’d been experiencing more and more lately. A feeling I was beginning to enjoy. Smiling softly, I reached up and touched his lips. He kissed my fingers, then leaned down and claimed my mouth. I slid my hand into his hair and parted my lips, eager for more of him. As our tongues tangled, I sighed blissfully into his mouth.

Aaand that’s my cue to leave. Have fun, kids , Pepper said.

I didn’t hear her leave, my need for Everett rising up to eclipse everything else. Fumbling to undo my pants, I awkwardly shimmied them down while simultaneously removing my top. Everett continued to shower me with kisses, but I wanted more. Sitting up, I wrestled off his shirt, then pushed him back onto the grass.

“Pants off,” I breathlessly said, already buzzing with need.

He smirked, but when I growled at him, he removed his pants with a small laugh. The second he was naked, I climbed on top of him and sank onto his erection. We both moaned at the feeling of becoming one, a feeling that was entirely my new addiction. The more he was inside me, the stronger my need for him became. I couldn’t get enough. It was like his dick had awakened an animal inside of me. A hungry one. Starving .

Every time we merged our bodies into one, it felt like our souls danced. The feeling took my breath away, filling me with pure delight. It was the best feeling in the world, a feeling I wanted to experience again and again.

When we were together like this, everything else ceased to exist. I was wholly immersed in him. He filled me up, lifting me higher than venom or dancing ever could.

We were one entity, our hearts beating in sync. One soul, dancing beneath a starry sky.

He grabbed my hips, watching my breasts bounce while I greedily rode his cock. I was on the edge of orgasm in no time, seconds away from falling over.

I was suddenly beneath him, blinking up into his pale amethyst eyes. He slowed the pace, effectively robbing me of my orgasm. I gave him my best death glare. “What are you trying to pull, you bastard? ”

“You’ve been insatiable lately, baby girl. It’s my job to keep you in check,” he lazily purred.

He continued to slowly thrust in and out of me, driving me wild with need. “Not fair,” I pouted. “Sex isn’t the same as venom. It’s not like I can become addicted to your penis.”

“I disagree,” he said, pulling out so his swollen tip could tease my entrance. When I whimpered pathetically, he grinned like a fiend. “See? You would do anything to have me back inside you, wouldn’t you.”

It wasn’t a question, the cocky bastard.

“Yes,” I admitted, batting my eyes at him. When his grin broadened, I used the distraction to hitch my legs up and around his waist. With one thrust, I had his dick inside me balls deep. Now it was my turn to grin.

He buried his face in my neck with a laugh, not the least bit mad that I’d taken charge. “You want it fast, baby girl?”

“Yes,” I breathed, trembling with excitement.

He smiled against my skin. “Then you’d better hold on tight.”

Lightning quick, he grabbed my hips again and started to thrust. So fast that my mouth fell open in a silent scream. He was using his vampire speed, pumping inside me so swiftly that my poor body went into shock. Within seconds, I shot skyhigh, pleasure blasting through every inch of me. The friction was unlike anything I’d ever felt before, constant and all-consuming. My back bowed off the ground, the silent scream building and building inside my head.

I suddenly exploded, shattering into a million pieces. The scream tore from my lungs and rang through the night as orgasm after orgasm whipped through me. They were never-ending, one on top of the other, mercilessly pounding through my body as Everett continued to thrust inside me at vampire speed .

Time lost meaning. My world was one big orgasm, filling me with so much pleasure that all I could do was hold on for dear life and scream.

When I started to black out from sheer ecstacy, Everett threw back his head to bellow at the stars. His dick jerked inside me, spilling his release in a violent stream.

Struggling to catch our breaths, we stayed in each other’s arms for several minutes as we came down from our highs.

Eventually, Everett murmured, “Was that fast enough for you, baby girl?”

“Uh-huh,” I breathlessly replied. “Do it again.”

He laughed, so loudly that I grinned a mile wide, basking in the beautiful sound. Placing a kiss just below my ear, he said, “Your poor mortal heart would give out if I did it again so soon.”

“Then I’ll die happy,” I sighed, still grinning.

Until he said in a dead serious voice, “But I wouldn’t.”

My high faded as the reality of our situation crowded in. My days on this earth were numbered. Knowing that a billion different things could kill me in an instant was pretty sobering.

“Sorry. Lame joke,” I said. “I know I’m fragile compared to you.”

“You are, and I don’t take that lightly.”

“I don’t either. I’d just rather laugh at my situation than cry all the time. Staying positive is the only reason I’ve survived this long.”

He paused. Then said, “Will you go back? To Dreamscape?”

“I don’t want to,” I admitted.

“Do you have a choice?”

“I was never forced, Everett. I chose to work there because—” My throat sealed shut before I could get the words out.

“It’s okay. Don’t try to fight it,” he said, kissing me again.

Sighing my frustration, I stopped trying to speak .

When my body relaxed once more, he added, “I’m guessing you agreed to work at Dreamscape because of the debt you owe the Faircrofts. But I don’t think that’s the only reason. My father heard rumors that some of the Venturi have been complaining about his leadership. Not to his face, but he has a few trusted sources among the Venturi who spy for him.

“Since the curse broke, many have been discontent with the newly-enforced rules. The kingdom’s laws are stricter now because of our SCA alliance, and not everyone is on board with these changes. We expected this, but not from the Venturi. They’ve always been afforded privileges, so it came as a shock to learn that some might be secretly meeting at Dreamscape Lounge and discussing ways to dethrone the king. My father has been challenged many times, but now that he has two young grandchildren, he’s determined not to let the problem escalate beyond what we can handle.

“After meeting you and learning about what you’re dealing with, I think these rumors have merit. I think Dreamscape is being used for darker purposes than blood and sex. You were the first clue that something wasn’t right, and I think you’re tied to whatever secrets the club is hiding. I know you can’t tell me, but I think you’re well aware of what’s going on. Problem is, I don’t have evidence to back up my suspicions. And since you can’t tell me what you know, I can’t confront anyone at the club. They need to all be in the same place at the same time where I can better control the outcome. So I’ve decided to host an event at the castle. A Masquerade Ball. It’ll take place in two days’ time.”

Everything in me went cold. My mind screamed at me to tell him what a terrible idea that was, but no words came out.

When the silence stretched, Everett said, “You don’t approve. I can feel how opposed you are to the idea. But I can’t just sit back and do nothing anymore, Adalyn. I’ve felt useless these past few days. Powerless to help you. And I can’t feel that way anymore. My job is to protect my family, and that includes you. As your soulmate, I have little power, but as the crown prince who will someday be king, no one would dare ignore my summons. It’s too late anyway. I’ve already had the invitations sent out.”

I lifted my head to look at him. At the hard resolve I found in his gaze, my heart sank. “You invited the Faircrofts.”

“The entire household, to be precise.”

“Me? You invited me? ”

“Yes. I left explicit instructions to include you in the festivities. They think I’m obsessed with you, right? Well, let them think I’m still obsessed. It’s the truth, anyway.”

I could tell he was trying to lighten the mood, but I frowned and said, “This is dangerous, Everett. More dangerous than you can know. Trust me on this.”

His eyes glittered with determination. “I do trust you, but I’d rather face danger head on than allow it to stab me in the back. This isn’t the first time my family and I have dealt with disgruntled vampires, nor will it be the last. We need to turn the tables in our favor, and I need you at the ball to make that happen. And if Deloris Faircroft knows that I’ll be expecting you there, she wouldn’t dare harm you. This is our best chance to address the court’s malcontent and free you from the pactum.”

My bottom lip quivered. When he reached up to touch it, I almost broke. Shaking my head, I whispered, “You’re a fool, Everett D’angelo. But you’re going to make a wonderful king someday.”

I only hoped he survived long enough to become one, and I was alive to see it happen.

I knew he was pleased by my words, but I couldn’t share in the emotion. So many things could go wrong at that ball. So many terrible things. I was surprised by how much he’d learned, but he’d only discovered the tip of the iceberg and I was helpless to tell him more.

He trusted me. Me . And that’s what terrified me the most.

He was inviting vipers into his nest, but the viper with the deadliest bite . . .

Was me.