SovereignsChoice Read online

  It occurs to me as he goes to the wardrobe that I felt the press of his fangs against me while he went down on me and yet he somehow didn’t so much as scratch me. That leads to the realization that he hasn’t bitten me at all, since that first night when he claimed me. Is he getting his blood somewhere else? The thought makes me feel irrationally jealous.

  “Master,” I say, trying to think how to word the question. “Are you going to eat tonight?”

  “I may.” He shrugs as he digs through the layers of clothing hung neatly in the wardrobe. “Honestly I’m more interested in satisfying other appetites.”

  “Like…your appetite for blood?” I ask softly, not sure if I ought to be talking about this or not.

  He turns from the wardrobe, frowning. “Why do you ask?”

  “Well, it’s just…” I look down at the carpet. “You haven’t bitten me since our first night at the Sacrifice Ceremony. I thought you might be getting, well…thirsty.”

  He looks at me directly. “Do you wantme to bite you, Emma?”

  “No,” I say at once, before I think. “I mean, it hurts. But I don’t…don’t want you to bite anyone else either,” I finish in a small voice.

  He gives an amused chuckle. “I’m not a young vampire, darling, I don’t need much blood. But you’re saying you want me to get it from you, when I do need it?”

  I bite my lip. “Yes, I guess so. That’s what I’m saying.”

  “Even if it hurts?”

  I remember the sharp pain of those gleaming white fangs driving into my wrist and can’t help shivering. But I’m sure of what I want. “Yes,” I say. “Even though it hurts.”

  “It doesn’t have to hurt, you know,” Aiden says softly. “If you’d let me in and stop resisting so much I could make it quite pleasurable for you.”

  I don’t see how being bitten could be pleasurable but then, I used to think the same thing about being spanked and punished. Aiden is slowly changing my outlook on pain. Also, I can’t help remembering the strange burst of pleasure that seemed to follow the pain during that first bite—was that him?

  “Are you saying you can get inside my mind?” I ask. I’ve heard that some very powerful vampires have this skill. It would certainly explain how he always seems to know what I’m thinking. Also the way I heard him talking inside my head while he was drinking from me.

  Aiden shakes his head. “Not unless you make the conscious decision to let me in. But until you embrace the bond between us, that will never happen.”

  I’m not sure what “embracing the bond” entails but before I can ask he presents me with a skirt and blouse and says, “Here. Put these on.”

  “All right.” The clothes look normal enough—a thin white silk blouse paired with a plain black pencil skirt. But… “Where’s the underwear?” I ask, thinking he must have forgotten them. “I mean, I can’t wear this with no bra under it.” I gesture at the white blouse. “It’s practically see-through. You’ll be able to see everything right through it.”

  “Exactly.” Aiden gives me a slow smile. “Now put it on, Emma.”

  “But—” The words of protest die on my lips at the stern look on his face.

  “I said, put it on. Don’t make me punish you before we go out tonight. I can promise you that sitting down for a two-hour dinner will be much less pleasurable if your ass is stinging from my belt.”

  That gets me moving. After all, the skirt looks normal—if a little short. And maybe the blouse isn’t as see-through as it looks.

  Except it is.

  When I look at myself in the oval mirror over the dresser after putting on the outfit, I gasp in dismay. I might as well not be wearing a top at all. The white silk is so sheer you can see not just the outlines of my nipples but the nipples themselves along with my wide pink areolas and full breasts. I literally feel more naked wearing this blouse than I do when I’m actually naked.

  As for the skirt, it’s not nearly as normal as it looked at first. It’s a close-fitting sheathe that goes to mid-thigh but it has two very high slits, which I didn’t notice at first. When putting it on, I assumed these slits went to the sides but then Aiden called me over. To my dismay, he rearranged the skirt so that the slits are in the front and back. They’re cut so high you can actually see my ass cheeks and the slit of my bare pussy if I move just the right way.

  “I can’t go out in public like this,” I tell Aiden. “I’ll be arrested for indecent exposure!”

  “No, you won’t.” His eyes flash. “No harm will ever come to you while I’m with you.”

  “But-but what if I see someone I know?” Or anyone at all, for that matter.

  “The only person you need to be worried about seeing is me,your Master,” Aiden tells me sternly. “Have you already forgotten the point of our dinner date tonight, Emma? You are supposed to be proving that you’re ready for me to take you completely. So far I am not impressed.”

  “Yes, I know but…” I twist my hands together and look at myself in the mirror again. Yup, still obscene.

  “You’re beautiful,” Aiden assures me softly. “And I want to show you off. But since you’re still so shy…” He removes a long black silk wrap from the wardrobe and puts it around my shoulders. It hangs just long enough to cover the top part of the skirt and drapes around my front to cover my breasts as well.

  I feel immediately better. “Thank you,” I say.

  Aiden frowns. “As long as you know you’re going to have to remove that when we get to our private room in the restaurant.”

  Well, as long as it’s private I don’t mind. “Fine,” I say, agreeing easily. I don’t mind Aiden seeing me dressed like this—I just don’t want anyone else looking.

  * * * * *

  Bern’s is a large, white, windowless building in the SoHo district of South Tampa. I look around avidly, interested in everything as we walk inside. The interior seems to be designed like an old-fashioned bordello with lots of red velvet and gold fixtures. To be honest, I’ve always wanted to come here. Lexy’s tale of a steak so expensive it pretty much costs five dollars a bite is both intriguing and horrifying—especially to someone like me who spends less than thirty dollars a week on groceries.

  Aiden is looking everywhere too but not out of curiosity, I sense. He seems to be looking for trouble, his gray eyes narrowed for possible threats as he keeps one arm around me in a way that is equally protective and possessive.

  I don’t know what he’s so worried about. Despite his warning that he has enemies, I can’t imagine anyone ballsy enough to assault the new Sovereign who also happens to be a frighteningly powerful vampire. And even if they did, would they really choose the swankiest restaurant in Tampa to launch their attack? I seriously doubt it.

  Aiden mentions his name to the maître d’ and the man snaps instantly to attention. “Of course, Mr. James. Right this way, sir. It’s an honor to have you dining with us tonight.”

  Wow. I look at Aiden with wide eyes. Either he comes here often or he dropped a ton of cash on renting the private room. I hope it’s the latter—I don’t like to think of him bringing other women here. Or anywhere for that matter. Hmm, should I really be letting myself feel so attached and possessive of my vampire Master? But it seems I can’t help it. Aiden spoke of a bond between us. Maybe my feelings are part of that. Or maybe you’re just beginning to care for him, bond or no bond, a voice whispers in my head. Care for him? Or love him?

  Before I can answer that question to my own satisfaction, the maître d’ himself takes us to our table, which is round with cushy, booth-type seating on one side. The table is draped in spotless white linen with a single white candle in the center. It’s actually not so much a private room as a slightly less public space, being located in a small, concealed alcove in a shadowy corner of the massive restaurant. Occasionally I can see servers passing by carrying trays of wine or food but for the most part, there’s no one but us, once the maître d’ gets us seated.

  Aiden sits beside me with one