That night, Stella went straight to her bedroom after taking a bath. Not really sure how she will face Nicholas tomorrow. There is a nagging thought inside her that she can't quite understand.
As she lays on her bed, she couldn't shake off the scenario in her head. It is perverse. Yet she convinces herself that she can always keep it as her little secret.
She turns to the right, staring at the blank wall. Of all the things she has to think of right now, she wonders why her attention suddenly focuses on him. She could be thinking about her father and her sister's whereabouts now. But since she got here, all she could think of is Nicholas.
"Am I getting way too attached to him?" she asked herself.
Burying her face on the pillow, her mind automatically drifts back to the memories of her with him. His company. His kindness. His gentleness.
His fangs on her neck. His lips, sucking her blood. His kisses. The way he touched her. She all wanted to feel that.
"Oh stop!" she yells at herself as she turns to face the ceiling, staring at the dimmed chandelier. Toto would kill her if he finds out about this sudden infatuation of hers. "What would Cora think?"
"Cora shouldn't have to know," Nicholas said as he walks out of the corner's shadow.
Startled, she quickly jerks up to sit. "How long have you been standing there?!"
"Quite long enough to see everything."
"Every--thing?" She knows she is definitely flushed now. Her heart racing as he approaches her.
"I know you've been watching," he said as he takes a seat on the bedside. "Like I said, you wouldn't want to see me feed. And yet, here you are, handling it just fine."
"Y-Yes." She moves until her back touches the headboard. "J-Just fine…" She clears her throat. "I-I think I should get some sleep now. It's been a long day."
"Sleep?" He smiles. "Haven't you been sleeping all the way here already?"
He is right. For the past twenty-something hours, all she did was sleep in the limo. "I need to rest," she reasoned. "I may be asleep but my mind… I have so many things in mind."
"Mind telling me about them?" He leans closer.
"A-About my sister, course. And Papa. Yes. Those things…"
"Has anyone told you that you're a lousy liar?"
"W-What?"
In a flash, he climbs up in her bed, cornering her as he lays hands on the headboard. His face, just a few inches away from hers. "You've been lying to me. Maybe I should punish you."
"I-I wasn't lying…" Her eyes, wide and focused on him. A part of her is terrified yet deep inside, she wants this.
"Oh Stella… There's no harm in telling the truth…" He leans forward whispering in her ear, lightly nuzzling her cheek. "Tell me what you want."
"I want…" She takes a deep breath. "I want you."
And by saying those three words, this permitted Nicholas to break their boundaries, forthwith kissing her lips without any hesitation. His action startled her yet didn't make any protest. Immediately giving in as she kisses back.
He pushes her down to lay back in bed as he positions himself on top of her. Her lips parted wider as she welcomes his wet tongue inside her mouth, giving in to the frenzy. Her arms wrapped around his neck.
His hand slides down, trailing the seams of her nightgown before pulling it up to her chest. Breaking off the kiss, he helps her slightly lean forward as he completely takes it off, exposing her naked body.
Behind the dim lights, he gawks at her for a moment. Admiring every inch of her body before he leans down to kiss again.
Catching her breath in between kisses, she slides her hands down to pull up and take off his shirt. She can't think straight. Everything's a blur now. It doesn't matter. She just wants to have him now.
With Nicholas completely taking off the rest of their clothes, he presses his body harder as he gets back on her, offering harder kisses.
"Is this what you really want?" he softly asked as he moves to trail his lips on her neck, continuously kissing it.
"Yes," she said under her breath.
The vampire parts his lips as his fangs touch her skin, almost like the tip of a knife. There is a sudden burning sensation as he sinks her teeth down her flesh.
Stella gasps as his fangs sink deeper. It's painful. But painfully good. Willa was right. It is indeed addictive. Arousing.
Softly moaning, she presses his head down. Her fingers brushing through his hair while the other claws on his back. Her body squirming in ecstasy.
As he continues sucking her blood, his hand slides down to part her legs. Positioning his hips as he slowly penetrates her. Now sucking harder as he increases the pace of his thrusts.
"Ahhh! Nicholas!" Lifting her legs up to wrap around his waist, she welcomes his every touch. Now screaming in pleasure.
Not wanting to exhaust her, he frustratingly groans as he stops himself from sucking. Immediately pulling out his fangs then went back to kiss her lips.
With both her hands on his head, steadying to kiss, her body automatically sways in every thrust.
She wants this. All of this. This is more than everything she asked for and he is giving it all.
-----------------------
Back at the Paramount, Kameron stands in front of the board nailed on the wall. On the board are clippings from the case file that he has been looking into. Leaning forward, he drags his black broad marker on a paper, covering the text on it.
There was a knock on the door before a vampire enters. His hair with streaks of silver but looks younger than the Highborn. There is a long but thin scar on his cheek. He locks the door behind him before approaching.
"Redacting again?" the vampire asked.
"It's for his own good." He continues to cover the texts. "Your brother has been lurking into deep waters again." He then walks across the room, tapping the side of his desk to turn on the touch screen monitor. He then taps on a video file, immediately playing it. It is a surveillance video inside a train.
The younger vampire's eyes widen while watching the video. "Is that Kristian?" He turns to the Highborn, narrowing his brows.
"Yes."
"And the lady with him?"
"According to records, her name is Cora Clyborne. However, there is something quite suspicious about her identity."
"How so?"
"According to Nicholas' guest, she is her sister."
"Her sister? Maximus Leighton has two daughters?" Using his two fingers, he zooms in the video. "Why do I get the feeling that I have seen her before?"
"What do you mean?"
"Those eyes." He zooms in further. "I feel like I have seen those eyes before."
The Highborn closes the video. "Take everything you need before I delete this. Find out who Cora Clyborne really is. There must be a reason why Kristian has been staying with her."
"But Dad, aren't we supposed to be telling Kristian the truth by now?"
"The truth?" Raising his brows. "The truth will only put him at worst. We wouldn't want the Highborns to target him for something that they don't understand. Especially Nicholas."
"Speaking of Nicholas, the bastard has left the Paramount with his guest. They're nowhere to be found now."
Kameron sighs, dragging his fingers to crease his forehead. "I may be responsible for that. I really feel sorry for the lady. But I can't risk sticking my nose on his messed up personal hobby. Nicholas knows how to retaliate without a haste. We're not yet ready for that."
"So, you'll let the lady end up just like her mom?"
"I don't know, Phoenix. I hope not. But we have some issues to deal with and we need to be careful. I know how he thinks. How all of these Highborns think. Once they see a flaw, they'll never hesitate to cover it all up. So for the meantime…" He hands over a case file to his son. "Investigate what really happened in that train massacre. Do not approach your brother but at least keep an eye on him. Drag him out of this mess as soon as possible."
"Yes, Dad." He gets hold of the case file then bows at him.
Kameron drops on the sofa the soon as Phoenix left the room. Now exhausted after staying up the whole day working, guilt starts to take over him.
"Am I already too late to help her?" he asked himself. He couldn't shake off the thought. He then grabs his phone then starts dialing.
The phone rings at the end of the line until someone picks it up.
"Hey Dad… I know it's been a while and I know that I'm the last person you want to talk to but maybe you can help me out with something..."