Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“I was not expecting this,” Victor said when they finally found their way into the kitchen.
Pandora hadn’t been either.
Judging by the rest of the castle, Pandora had expected to find a room stuck in time. If not a simple hearth to cook by, then at least a range from lifetimes past. But everything in the kitchen was sleek and modern. There was a massive industrial range that Pandora knew, from shopping for their flat, cost an obscene amount of money, all stainless-steel appliances, rich, cherrywood cabinets that went all the way to the high ceilings, and a bowl overflowing with fresh fruit in the center of the island.
“I think I lived in a flat the size of that refrigerator,” Victor said as he pulled the doors open to reveal a fully stocked interior. Everything from fresh veg, yogurt, eggs, and meat, to kombucha and condiments.
“Sorry. No blood,” he said, giving Pandora a wince.
“Maybe in the pantry? Since you don’t usually serve it cold.”
“Right. Of course.” Victor went to the pantry, walking in and letting out a whistle that had Pandora following.
Floor to ceiling, the shelves were overflowing with every essential from rice and beans to sugar and flour to the strangest types of crisps and snack cakes.
“Choose your vintage,” Victor said, waving toward the shelving just behind the door.
And, sure enough, as high as the eye could see, there were cases of the synthetic blood. Every type available on the market. Even one Pandora hadn’t seen before.
“Looks like we’re all set on food. Want me to uncork you one of these fancy ones?” he asked, pointing.
“Definitely. How long do you think we have before sunrise?” Pandora asked, looking toward the heavily draped windows.
Victor flipped his watch – a wedding gift from Elias – to check the time. “I’d say two hours before we start to see it – why?”
“Well, remember that package I wouldn’t let you look inside?”
“I do.”
“You can finally know what it is at just about sun-up.”
With that, Victor made himself some steak and potatoes while Pandora enjoyed several of the bottles of synthetic blood until she felt like she was buzzing.
Only then did she rush to retrieve the package from the case in their room, grab Victor, and drag him outside.
“You can’t be serious,” Victor said as they stood facing the lake located not far behind Drachmar’s castle.
“How many times have I made you watch the movie?” she asked, handing him the linen shirt.
“Why don’t we just watch it again?” he asked, looking dubiously at the lake.
“Just so I can complain about the scene for the millionth time?” she asked. “Come on. Make the fantasy come true.”
“It’s got to be frigid.”
To that, she reached out, grabbing him by the waistband and pulling him close.
“I promise I’ll warm you up after.”
That was all it took.
Victor shrugged out of his shirt, put on the thin linen shirt she handed him, then, with one deep breath, climbed into the lake.
She watched as he went under the water, then emerged the way fans always wanted to happen in film and TV, but were never blessed with.
But there Pandora was.
Graced with her very own Mr. Darcy climbing out of the lake and making his way toward her.
“Everything you were hoping for?” he asked, looking a little blue in the lips.
“And more.” She pulled him down for a kiss. Long and deep. Until the heat was thrumming through them both.
“Go ahead,” Victor murmured when he felt her lips on his neck, kissing down toward the pulse point as her fangs started to elongate, begging for a nip.
She didn’t need more than that.
They’d learned many months ago that they both enjoyed when she gave in to her impulses, when she let her teeth nip his skin, when her tongue laved over the small beads that appeared on his skin.
A soft whimper escaped her, mingling with his groan.
With that, Victor grabbed her and pulled her up off her feet. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding on tight, feeling the cool and wet soak through her clothes by the time they got back to their room, where he lowered her down onto the soft rug in front of the warm fire.
Her hands reached to pull the soaked linen shirt off of Victor’s body. Hers followed.
Victor leaned down, his wet hair dripping onto her skin as he sucked her nipple into his mouth, making her arch off of the carpet and deeper into his mouth.
His tongue thrashed and his teeth grazed until the warmth of desire sparked and caught fire, burning through her until she was grabbing at his trousers, yanking them down his hips, then closing her hand around his length.
Victor’s eyes closed as she stroked him.
But then he pulled her up onto her knees, before sitting up and positioning her over him.
As she lowered down, his face pressed between her breasts then moved upward, planting kisses up her chest, over her collarbone, up the side of her neck, before sealing his lips to hers.