Charlotte felt like she was standing on the thin line. Whenever she took a step, she would fall eventually.
She wasn't sure her life would be better if she chose Damon, but Charlotte was sure that she would drown in misery if she let Julian track her down.
"I accept your condition." Charlotte took a deep breath. "As long as you don't hit me, I can endure living with you."
Her life was already such a mess anyway, so she couldn't expect someone would fix her life.
"I will not hit you, Charlotte," stated Damon firmly.
Charlotte looked away. "Of course, you can't."
Because he would be bound by the blood oath. But what if he didn't take it?
Charlotte didn't want to know because sometimes the answer could be worse than her imagination.
"Let's take the blood oath," said Damon. He took out a folding knife from his pocket.
Charlotte was surprised. "Now? Right here?"
Before Charlotte could prepare herself, Damon had sliced his palm, letting blood drip out of his hand. "What are you waiting for? Didn't you tell me your ex-husband is looking for you right now?"
Charlotte clenched her fist to strengthen her heart. She couldn't be hesitant anymore as the future of her life was on the line.
"Alright, let's do it." Charlotte put her palm up, letting Damon slice her hand with the knife.
She bit her lips as the pain came. Even though Julian had hurt her millions of times, Charlotte was still not used to feeling the pain.
The pain had always reminded her that she wasn't strong enough to run away from that pain.
"The pain will not last long." Damon pressed their palms together, so their blood mingled.
Charlotte's hand trembled because the pain was getting worse. It felt like her hand was on fire as soon as Damon's blood touched her.
"I, Damon Sullivan, swear on my blood and soul to never harm you, Charlotte. No matter the anger, no matter the pain, my hand will never rise against you."
Damon's voice was low and steady. "I vow to shield you from all danger, even from myself, and I vow to be loyal to you." He continued, "By blood, this oath is eternal."
Charlotte widened her eyes when she heard his last sentence. She just expected him not to hurt her, but Damon unexpectedly took an oath to protect and be loyal to her.
Why would he do that?
But she didn't have time to think about that further.
"I, Charlotte Dawson, swear on my blood and soul to be loyal to you, Damon Sullivan." her heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't hesitate to seal the oath. "By blood, this oath is eternal."
As they had spoken their oath, Damon squeezed her hand, the warmth of their blood sealing the oath. "It's done." He whispered, "No one can break this."
Damon brought her palm closer to his mouth, then suddenly licked the wound. Charlotte almost jumped in her seat because what the hell was that?!
His tongue swept her blood, drinking it, as if he wanted to taste his prey's blood before he devoured it.
His gray eyes fixed their sharp gaze on Charlotte, and for a moment she found herself unable to catch her breath.
"Shall we go somewhere else?" Damon let go of his hand and the wound had already gone. "But I won't mind if you prefer the car, it's soundproof …."
Charlotte looked away. She knew he was talking about marking her and renewing their bonds.
But once an Alpha marked his mate, both of them would be driven by lust and could spend the rest of the day in bed.
Charlotte would be damned if she chose to stay in the car.
"No! Not in the car, but not in your house either."
At least, until Damon covered Julian's mark, Charlotte didn't want to go to a place that her ex-husband knew.
"A hotel, then," decided Damon.
○ ○
Charlotte wasn't the type of person who normally took the initiative in bed, but Damon made her want to push his sexy body to bed right now and then.
As soon as they entered the hotel room, Damon immediately kissed her lips. Obviously, Charlotte was surprised at first and had the urge to back away.
Remember, she was a loyal wife for five years!
So the thought of making out with her soon-to-be ex-husband's uncle had never crossed her mind before.
However, as Charlotte smelled his strong pheromone, her legs went weak, so she circled her arms around his neck.
Her back pressed on the wall, while Damon devoured her lips like they were a fucking candy.
Charlotte's sex experience with Julian was always terrible. He was aggressive, rough, and selfish. He only cared about his own pleasure but ignored her.
But Damon ….
Oh God, Damon.
The way his hand slipped inside her shirt, passing through her bra and kneading her breast was fucking hot.
His fingers brushed against her nipple, making them as hard as a rock. She accidentally released their kiss because of the sudden pleasure, but Charlotte immediately wanted to taste those lips again.
"I have no time …," Charlotte murmured under her breath. Her words were messy, but Damon could understand her. "Mark me now … my husband … he can—"
Damon cut her off by kissing her lips again and carried her to the bed without letting go of their kiss.
When Charlotte's body fell on the bed, she pulled Damon with her. Their kiss grew fiercer and bolder as Charlotte opened her mouth, letting Damon's tongue slip inside.
Damon took off her clothes, including her skirt. The only thing left on Charlotte's body was the red panties that contrasted with her pale skin.
As they released their kiss, a bridge of saliva formed between them. It was so hot that Charlotte felt her panties were already soaking wet.
"Mark me …," Charlotte begged, "... now."
She knew she was acting like a bitch in heat, but it was Damon's fault for having such a strong pheromone and hot body that made her go crazy.
Damon turned her body, so he could see her neck from behind. His fingers gently traced the curve of her neck, feeling her pulse quicken beneath his touch. He leaned in slowly, putting Charlotte's long hair aside.
Charlotte could feel his lips brushed against her skin as if he wanted to taste her. His deep voice echoed in her ears, "Are you sure, Charlotte? Once I mark you, there's no going back."
Charlotte nodded, answering his question without hesitation. "I want you to mark me, Damon."
Damon didn't say anything. He dragged his tongue along her sensitive neck, just over the spot where Julian had marked her. The sensation sent a shiver through her body, and when she closed her eyes, Damon sank his teeth into her neck.
Charlotte gritted her teeth to endure the pain of his sharp teeth, but amidst the pain, she also felt something else, a primal lust that made her want Damon to shove his manhood into her.
Damon licked her blood that seeped through the bit mark and within a second, Charlotte's pain was gone. Her wound gradually closed, leaving a visible bit mark that covered her bastard husband's faint mark.
"Damon …" Charlotte squirmed on the bed. She rubbed her legs against each other as her juice flowed down her thighs. "Fuck me."