After Rosaline and Penelope finished their breakfast, the maids came forward to pick the dishes and clean the table. Penelope's eyes stared at the Vampire Lord, whose gaze was fixated on Rosaline.
She rested her small hand over the back of Rosaline's hand, who instantly looked at her.
"Sister Rosa, th-this is J-Je-J," Penelope spoke in broken sentences when the Vampire Lord completed the sentence for her. Rosaline turned her head to look at him.
"I am Jedediah Windstrung, the Vampire Lord of Village Blackburn. You can call me Jed," he finally introduced himself to Rosaline. He put his elbow down and straightened his back on the armchair.
"I already know the name of the little kiddie," Jedediah said, glancing at Penelope, who, with her innocent dove eyes, gazed back at him.
"However, I would like to know from you," he shifted his gaze at Rosaline.
"I am Rosaline Langford, My Lord," she told him her name.
"Interesting!" "I will call you Rose, and you must pronounce my name," Jedediah reminded her.
"How can I do that, My Lord?" Rosaline lowered her eyes and fidgeted with her fingers. Penelope, who had little interest in their conversation, got down the chair and ran outside.
"Pene!" Rosaline immediately stood up to check where she ran to.
"Let the kiddie play around the mansion. Butler Anthony can take care of her while we two must get onto our business," Jedediah said with a solemn grimace.
Anthony, upon hearing his master's orders, left the hall to check on Penelope, who was now running around the mansion.
The next second, she found herself on the chair while Jedediah's fingers were on her neck. She held her breath and nervously shut her eyes. She curled her toes when she felt Jed's fingers in her hair locks. He kept playing with her wet hair when Rosaline finally tilted her head, mustering up her courage, and peered into his eyes.
He was standing straight while some of his fingers were in her hair. Last night Rosaline could not see his face well, maybe because only one candle was blowing in the room. But she could clearly see him now.
She saw many men while working on the streets, but no one could beat the handsomeness of Jedediah, especially those red orbs. His hair was raven black.
The long fringes were at the front while the sides were short. His perfectly chiseled face was pale yet charming. It was impossible to take your eyes off him. His lips were red as if he had put a red lip color on them. She gulped because she had to give him her blood.
"Are you done checking me out, Rose?" His question brought her out of those thoughts. She instantly lowered her eyes and again gathered her courage to speak.
"Lord Jed." Instead of pronouncing his name, she thought to be formal with him and finally stood up from the chair.
"Thank you for saving the life of my sister. When no one helped us, Lord Jed showed his kindness to us. Please drink my blood and let us go. We will never forget your benevolence on us," Rosaline said nervously and kept fidgeting her fingers.
The infinitesimal space between them was filled when Jedediah took one more step towards her. Her lower back pressed against the table, and she flinched her brows in her fear. Her hands rested on the edge of the table, and the fingers dug tightly into that.
Jedediah's fingers never once left her slender neck.
Rosaline had no idea that it would turn hard when she would be his meal. What if she died because of blood loss? But that was impossible. The treaty forbade the Vampires from killing humans.
She felt a scratch on her skin, and a low cry escaped her mouth. "Rose, you are too skinny to become my meal," Jedediah finally said.
Her eyes pried open when she heard the Vampire Lord.
Was it true? He would not drink her blood! She could not explain how happy she was!
"However, I cannot let you go, Rose," Jedediah pronounced. She clutched the edges of her dress tightly.
No, this cannot be true. She could never serve his sexual desires. Why were men like this? Could they not control their evil urges? This thought was killing her.
"But Lord Jed, we agreed on the deal of my blood for saving my sister's life. I am afraid but—” She stopped as Jedediah interrupted her in the middle.
"I never said that I need your blood, Rose. You presumed it yourself," Jedediah clarified.
His thin lips curled up, and he leaned closer to her neck. She was almost leaning down on the table, but her back was not touching the table's surface.
Her heart was thundering against her chest. Anything could happen with her at any second if she tried to escape from the Vampire Lord's claws.
She felt his hand on her back as he drew her up.
"Ahh," because of the sudden pull, this low sound fell out of her mouth. Her body pressed against his and their faces came dangerously close to each other.
His pointer finger tenderly moved on her face as if he was tracing it. That intense gaze and the touch were enough to make her shudder. Before things could slip out of her hand, Rosaline thought to speak her mind.
"Lord Jed, I am not capable to fulfill your sexual needs," Rosaline said out of a sudden and then quickly put her palms to cover her mouth.
Jedediah once again looked into her chocolate brown eyes and his thin lips curled up into a smirk. "I did not know that this young maiden is so eager to be on my bed," he asserted.
Rosaline shook her head and put her palms down. "Lord Jed has misunderstood my words. I know that he has these strange thoughts in his head," she lowered her voice.
"Strange thoughts!" Jedediah chuckled. "Indeed I have some strange thoughts about you, Rose. Let's be on my bed and get aware of those strange things," he pronounced while grinning at her.