Castle Vitale

Part 13: Negotiations

"Here it is!" 

I gasped at the nostalgic beauty of the room and looked back at Charlotte. "This is mine, all mine?!"

"This is your room." She said with a definitive nod, but her tone was odd.

"It's beautiful!"

"Yes," She nodded. "I helped."

"You mean Drake decorated this?"

"Well, yes," she replied. "When he asked you to come here, he drove us crazy, so Darius and I suggested he decorate above and below ground. He said this one was inspired, about the colors in your old room?"

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. I ran my fingers over the curtains and bedcover. "So soft."

"Well, get settled. Your backpack is in the closet, no one's opened it." She hugged me a little tighter than usual. "I'll be back later if you want to talk."  

"Okay--" I was surprised when she kissed my forehead. What was that about?

She left, and I threw myself on the bed. Wanting to feel more like a lady, I took a shower and opened my closet to find clothes...oh, new clothes! I didn't know how long I stood there in my robe and underwear, trying to figure out what to try on first. 

"Whatever you wear will be beautiful, I'm sure."

I gasped and turned. "Drake?!"

"Hello, pet."

"This is my room!" I was outraged. "Don't you knock?!"

"In my house?" he chuckled. "No, I don't." He strode over to the bed, standing across it from me. "Not even Darius is afforded such a privilege."

"Why?"

"What could you possibly be doing that I shouldn't see?" he asked softly. "I've seen parts of you in detail that you haven't, pet."

"Stop calling me that!"

"Pet?" He slightly cocked his head to the side.

"Yes!" I was trying not to scream. "I'm not your pet!"

"Yes, you are," he asserted. "Just as I am your jaun-your lord."

I gasped. 

"Before you go off the deep end--as you often do, pet--"

"Get out!"

"No."

"No?!" I tried to move him.

"I underestimated you last time," he whispered, slowly making his way around the bed despite my psychic capabilities. "That won't happen again."

"CHARLOTTE!"

"Ah, gone to town with her beau," he shook his head, clicking his tongue at me. "I'm British, do you know what pet means?"

I had a sinking feeling when he said that.

"Go on, darling look it up." When I opened my phone, he stretched over to look at the screen, his body close and looking massive as the phone bumped his chest, and he whispered, "Look it up as a term of endearment."

I gave him a warning look, already feeling as if I lost a fight, and to my dismay he sat down. I typed in: "British term pet," and "British term of endearment pet" popped up:

I was beloved? I am small, much smaller than him. I'm his little darling?

As if he read my mind, he rose from his chair and turned to me. "You are my little darling, are you not?" 

I didn't know what to say to that. 

"Are you?" His eyes seemed to glitter, shining with some sort of emotion I couldn't define. "I need the truth, Shanti."

Why do I fight him? Why do I fight him at all? He always seems to win. I let out a sound of frustration, sitting on the side of the bed.

"What's wrong now, pet?" he asked, sitting next to me.

"Nothing," I lied.

He laughed. "Really, let's not lie to each other. Terrible habit to start." He gently lifted my chin to make our eyes meet. "I am your lord, yes?"

I didn't know what to say to that. That sounded so lofty.

"How about this," he gave a gentle smile. "Am I one of power, in power, here, where you survive and live?"

"Yes."

"That is a lord, pet," He paused. "and tell me, do you want me?" 

I turned away, not sure what to say.

"It's a simple question, pet," he ground out. "You either want me or you don't. You'll either have me...or you won't." He looked so upset, my heart winced.

"I'm scared, okay?" I admitted.

"I am too."

"No you're not."

"I am afraid of losing you, yes I am." he swallowed hard. "I meant what I said that night. I want you, need to have all of you. Do you at least desire me?"

His voice faltered on the word desire. How could it? I put my hands on either side of his face, and kissed him. His body completely relaxed, but laid me back on the bed. Then the kiss changed, leaving me breathless as he effortlessly dragged my body onto the center of the bed, knees on either side of my thighs, seemingly hungry and desperate as he shrugged out of his jacket and kept kissing me at the same time. He put his full weight on me, then came up on his elbows, rocking from one side to the other to remove his vest. 

"So what happens now?" I asked nervously. "Do you claim me as your own?"

He unfastened his cuff links and threw them on the floor. He kissed me again this time, bringing his tongue into play. When he pulled away, I thought I was going under a spell. "No, love. I'm a vampire. Vampires don't claim, pet; we possess."