"That didn't go so well last time.." I objected pointing at my stomach.
"Alexandre." Cornelius called gently and he appeared in an instant. "Your mate..." Alexandre grinned and took Cornelius' wrist in his hands. He pulled a large draught from it and swallowed greedily before turning to me.
"What the hell are you two planning?" I asked at Alexandre's evil grin. He shrugged and planted his lips on mine and I felt the movement as he bit his own tongue before using it to gently part my lips. The mingling of floral and raspberry tea fell into my mouth in a heady concoction. I found myself moaning and pressing into him with excitement. I captured his chuckle in my mouth before sitting back abruptly and looking at him with betrayal.
"Cheater!" I accused, touching my bloody lips. Alexandre chuckled again and leaned in, running his tongue along them. I let out an involuntary gasp and tried to reign in the reaction and flood of hormones his move caused. Alexandre laughed lightly and ran a hand down my throat. I heard Cornelius sigh.
"If you're going to do that, could you at least do it in another part of the house while I run the tests on this sample?" He complained bitterly. I blushed.
"Maybe we should just invite him in, so he'll quit his whining." Alexandre stage whispered and I blushed harder.
"Careful Alexandre, I think your lover likes that idea." Cornelius replied tartly. All the blood in my body had to be in my face by now. Alexandre growled lightly, but looked at me gently.
"If you have such desires, you need voice them. God knows I am not one that can be judgmental with my history." Alexandre told me softly, running a finger down my cheek gently.
"Certainly not." Scoffed Cornelius and Alexandre growled again. I thought I might die of embarrassment.
"Just remember, no matter what, in the end. You belong to me." He growled against my lips.
"What does that mean? You're giving me permission to.." I waved a hand, blushing again. Alexandre growled and pinched my lower lip between his teeth.
"I cannot and will not control your every action Carys. I would like to be informed, but I expect you to always return to me." Alexandre snarled. "I am very possessive and will be extremely jealous."
"Wait, that doesn't sound like a definite yes or no." I said tauntingly and the growl grew louder. He pinned me back against the gurney and Cornelius sighed loudly again.
"Alright, we're leaving." Alexandre informed him while still staring directly at me. He helped me up from the gurney and tucked my arm in his as we walked out of the room.
"You confuse me sometimes." I sighed, placing my head on his shoulder. "Your duality, that is." I clarified.
"Duality?" He questioned me, leading me towards his study.
"You're so possessive and yet in the same breath tell me if I want to experiment all I need to do is let you know what I want." I said softly. Alexandre sighed.
"To be completely blunt Carys, I have only spent one century on this earth and have had many partners. I could not imagine trying to tie you to me, alone, sexually, for countless centuries. It is not in our nature." I gaped at him and he growled slightly, pulling me tight against him. "I will, however tie you to me in every other way imaginable.. I have asked for your hand, and I wish to care for you. Our daughter.." He ran a finger across my stomach "..ties us together even tighter, as does our blood bond where I am your sire." His expression ran through a series of feral and then calmer emotions.
"But even though I wish to claim you as mine, I don't own you. I cannot possess you, you are not a thing. You are a living being with a life outside my own, desires, needs, drives, instincts." Alexandre clenched his teeth. "I will be extremely jealous, but to keep you, I will make sacrifices, and I hope you would do the same if the situation became reversed, though at this stage, I cannot get enough of you." He smiled lightly, and I looked at him intrigued, then tugged him forward again.
"Well, you already know my opinion." I replied flippantly. Alexandre looked at me abashed.
"I do?" He asked, dumbfounded.
"I mean yeah, I told you earlier, especially right now, because of the baby, if you feel like you need to take Cornelius up on his offer.." I blushed and waved a hand uneasily. He growled lightly at me and I giggled. "Ok then, maybe I should." Alexandre sighed.
"If it has to be someone, he is one I would prefer and trust." Alexandre stated.
"Hey!" I swatted him. "Did you just seriously give your future wife permission to sleep with your ex? What are planning to do? Watch?" I swatted him again, but his eyes lit up.
"Hmm..now that you mention it.." Alexandre replied.
"Oh. my. God!" I screeched and smacked him harder. He chuckled and ducked my next blow, stepping behind the study door.
"Or maybe I could join in." He remarked before slamming it, knowing my next reaction was going to be an earnest punch. I banged the door angrily.
"You've gotta come out of there sometime!" I threatened and he chuckled wildly.
"Make me!" He teased and I heard his office chair move as he sat down. I stalked off to plan my revenge, fuming, but what he said stuck with me and the perverted side of my brain had fun playing with the image of me being sandwiched between the men, their soft feather-light touches gliding over my skin. My vampire side purred and I shook my head, trying to clear the images. The arousal, however, was harder to chase away, and when Cornelius stepped into the doorway a few minutes later, I saw his nostrils flare slightly and couldn't hide my blush.
"Tests are returning normal so far. Alexandre's mid-afternoon snack didn't seem to do any harm to either of you." Cornelius reported. I waved him off.
"I figured." I grumbled. Cornelius took a step forward and I could see his delicate nose scenting the air again. "Cornelius..." I warned and he took a step back apologetically.
"I could help with that." He offered with a smirk.
"I can help myself with that." I shot back and his gaze sharpened on me.
"So fiery." He tsked and stood staring at me.
"Something else?" I asked shortly.
"The left over blood from the samples: may I have your permission to drink what has not had more than an anti-coagulant added to it?" Cornelius asked me hesitantly. I felt my face twist into a mixture of confusion and revulsion.
"Why?" I asked bluntly. Cornelius stepped forward again, this time with excitement.
"I have this theory that the virus you and Alexandre share, may be transmittable to other vampires as well, that it may alter our code as well, enabling us to...love." Cornelius' look of hope twisted at my heart and I tried to keep the pity off my face as I nodded with understanding.
"Yes." I whispered and felt Cornelius' lips press onto my forehead.
"Don't pity me. I don't need your pity." He said and was gone. I shook my head and sat on the bed, then found myself wandering to Alexandre's study in thought. He eyed me mischievously when I opened the door until he took note of the expression on my face, then he held out a hand for me and I walked around the desk to take it, sitting on his lap.
"Do you think it's possible?" I questioned him quietly. "Did we start something? A new strain?" I asked gently, rubbing my stomach "Do you think it'll help Cornelius?" Alexandre squeezed my waist and stilled my hand on my stomach.
"I don't know, but if it brings him comfort, where's the harm in letting him try?" His low murmur caused the baby to shift in his direction and he chuckled as he felt the movement under our hands, kissing the side of my stomach in response. "Daddy's girl." He crooned.
"Then I think I will give him some more." I said with determination. Alexandre's head snapped up.
"I don't know if that's safe..." He hedged.