A Kiss Before Dying

Copyright September 2009, J. A. Saare

Cover art by J. A. Saare September 2009

Amira Press
Baltimore, MD 21216
www.amirapress.com

ISBN: 978-1-935348-63-4

No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means,
including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and e-mail, without prior written permission from
Amira Press.

Dedication

You were right, sweets. What was I waiting for?
Tonight, I will have him, my Master and vampire Lord. And tonight, I will die.

As a blood slave, I have never known passion or pleasure. We are never to know what it means to
be taken into bed. Our virginal blood is our worth, given in exchange to the lords that offer the
most lucrative bargain for ten years of servitude. When the time is served, our minds are cleansed of
the past, and we are allowed to return to the dregs of a society that know nothing of them.

Most blood slaves are born of the human families that, for generations, have served the lords and
ladies of the keep, in a place hidden within the mortal realm. These most cherished servants are
treated with the utmost respect, for their bloodlines nourish and provide for their keepers and
ensure survival.

Then, there are those like me. Mortal females snagged from a life of poverty, desolation, and misery.
There is no choice for us. Once weve been marked, all that is required is an unexpected
happenstance with The Collector to seal our fate. The vampire slave hunter is known for his
exceptional eye for beauty and grace, and his ability to see the aura of purity as it radiates from the
source.

Although I resisted my entrapment initially, spewing every vile word in my vocabulary and
demanding to be released, it wasnt long before I met my Shellarthe stunning male that paid the
price for my companionship, and thereby held all rights where I was concerned.

Lord Sebastian Arsov.

It seemed destined from the first moment I saw him that I would descend from salvation and cease
to fight that which would be regardless. With thick white-blond hair, vivid and impossibly bright
mushroom blue eyes, a face beautiful enough to grace heaven, and a chiseled body that moved with
such intent and precision he actually appeared to ripple, Sebastian was unlike anyone or anything Id
ever seen.

Yet, it was his tenderness in that first, tentative contact between us that proved to be my undoing,
enrapturing me wholly. Until I knew I had to be with him completely.

No longer am I content with his fangs at my throat, followed by the most heartbreakingly tender
pulls as he feeds at my veins. I need more than the hours spent conversing privately about his past
and my future while wrapped in sheets that know nothing more than the most innocent of touches
as we sleep side by side.

The dichotomy has changed. I have changed. The seventeen-year-old girl taken from a harsh life on
the streets has gone, replaced by a woman full grown.

I want his kiss of sexual longing at my neck while his large hands explore my breasts. I want to feel
the fullness of his cock buried deeply inside my untried body as his moans of pleasure echo inside
my ears when he finds release.

Months of preparation have brought me to this place, sitting in this tapestry chair to appear before
him when he enters, having committed a betrayal of sorts. For the time with my Lord is nearing an
end, and the thought of never remembering Sebastian is more than I can bear, something I am not
willing to allow.

Although it will mean my death, I am content in knowing our last moments will be shared together,
in the most intimate and beautiful of ways.

And my beloved Shellar will be none the wiser until the deed is done and the piper is paid his due.

It is vampire law. You must not bed those you drink from, as you can never fully wipe their
memories clean. Blood drinkers continued to survive by one rule and one rule above all.

No one must know they exist.

It was amazing, when I thought of it, that no mortals recognize the supernatural creatures around
them. They are as beautiful as the stories depict, lovely in their absolute grace and sensuality. But
they are often isolated as a whole, separate from all those around them, which makes the vampire
race lonely creatures.

Often, Sebastian longed for nothing more than our shared talks as we sat before the roaring fire. It
was how we spent a majority of our time, in the most innocent and endearing throes of friendship . .
.

The large oak door opened with a protest of squeaking hinges, interrupting my thoughts and
memories, and Sebastian entered the bedchamber. His massive frame took up a large portion of the
bedroom, as did his tremendous presence. He pulled the door closed behind him, walked to the
center of the room, and stood before me.

I knew what to expect. I had seen him come to those fortunate enough to grace his bed in those
early days of my tenure, exiting just before the females doomed to die glorified in the last dizzying
moments of pure bliss. For though they partook in the pleasures of his body, it was I who shared a
portion of his mind, and the only reprieve I was allotted from his chamber was when he entertained.

As required, I donned a black mask embossed with blood red jewels that revealed only my cherry-
stained lips and darkly kohled chocolate brown eyes, which worked in my favor to keep my identity
hidden. Many of the lords preferred to think of their bed partners as little more than disposable
pleasures. None of them enjoyed killing, even when it was necessary. The mask also held an
enchantment, obscuring my unique scent. Otherwise, Sebastian would easily recognize the aroma of
my blood and, by association, my identity.

To continue with the illusion, I chose a long, pale blonde wig to disguise the brunette waves
collected underneath. Sebastian loved my hair. He claimed it was a prize of its own. Masking those
heavy strands was as important as obscuring my face.

He continued standing there, observing me with a trained and critical eye. He was covered by only
the most expensive materials, each piece custom fit to conform to his frame perfectly. The black
jacket molded to his wide shoulders was left open along the center to reveal the crisp white shirt
beneath with pearly white buttons opened at the collar.

Rise, he murmured in his thick, rich voice, slightly accented and entirely erotic.

The mere word caused my thin panties to become drenched with hot liquid arousal. I began to
shiver, goose bumps gathering along the surface of my skin. Wantonly, I envisioned the lips that
uttered the word against my breasts, sucking and nipping playfully. My nipples, aching and sensitive,
hardened at the prospect, and I shifted uncomfortably in the chair.

Scenting my desire, Sebastian chuckled at my reaction. Rise, little beauty, and come to me.

This time, I did.

My four-inch heels were uncomfortable and odd to walk in, but they were necessary to add to the
illusion and to alter his perception. My hips rotated with each step that brought me closer, and I had
to force myself not to peer into the magnificent face of the man I had decided to give myself over
to. The man I was willing to die to be possessed completely by.

You are exceptional, he breathed, reaching out with his hand and pushing aside the thick red
velvet cape to reveal theas until now unseentreasures hidden beneath.

The heavy material clung to my shoulders and allowed him uninhibited access to my body. He
started at the base of my throat, fingers skimming across the surface of my chest. One large hand
cupped my right breast and massaged the mound through the thin corset as his thumb caressed the
hard bud beneath. Knowing he enjoyed hearing the sounds of the pleasure he wrought, I didnt
mute my soft moan.

Tonight, I want to hear my name on the tip of your tongue each time you come.

It wasnt difficult to make my voice husky and unrecognizable. Tell me your name, sire.

Sebastian.

Although there was no need to test it, I repeated the word in a heady tenor. Sebastian.

As his face descended, I stood captivated. How many years had I longed for those plush lips against
my own? To know exactly how he tasted and smelled? His blood was thick, spicy, and masculine.
Would the rest of him be as well?

Just before his lips made contact, he whispered, Tell me your name, sweet.

Panic almost ruined everything, but I managed to recover, to remember the ruse and my plan.
Arianna, I expelled in a rush, using the middle name I had never revealed.

Arianna. He sampled the name with his tongue. A beautiful name to match a sensual vixen, I
approve.

His lips covered mine, his markedly cooler tongue darting out to sample me. Desperate to
experience his flavor for the first time, I parted my mouth eagerly, wanting to take him into my
body.

As expected, his taste was intoxicating. The headiness of his nearness heated my entire body. The
laps of his tongue were tender, brushing against mine as he coaxed a response. Unwilling to
disappoint, I mirrored his actions, thrusting my tongue into his mouth and reveling in his throaty
groan of approval.

His hands trailed down to my waist and cupped my ass. Each squeeze grew harsher, nearly bruising,
but it was the most delicious kind of agony. Years of longing were finally being satisfied, and I
wanted to experience it allboth pleasure and pain. The liquid heat between my legs became a
raging fire, and I moaned at the empty ache.

Christ, your scent, he growled thickly, lifting me into the air and forcing me to wrap my legs
around his lean waist as he strode purposely for the bed.

The massive four-post structure was situated against the far wall, next to the old stone fireplace. I
knew Sebastian kept it there for the sake of his bedmates, to keep them warm. His body temperature
fluctuated depending on the stretch of time since his last feeding. As I was his provider, I knew it
had been several days.

It was to be expected that he went to his lover thirsty. Bedmates were loved well before they were
drained completely. Afterward, their bodies were taken to the basement and turned into ash inside
the incinerator.

Those thoughts were cast aside when Sebastian released my bottom and brought my heeled feet to
dark wood floor. He unlatched the toggle of the cloak at my throat, and the red velvet pooled at my
feet in a cascade of crushed crimson.

The outfit beneath the cape matched the material. The red and black lace, combined with patches of
matching velvet, seamlessly molded to my curves. The bone corset was acceptably tight,
accentuating my waist and enhancing the rounded swell of creamy white at my breasts.

I had chosen the colors thinking of him specifically, inspired by the blood red satin sheets casing his
bed. They were changed daily, but one thing remained consistentthe shade.

Exquisite. He exhaled the word, bringing his hands to my mask. I would see all of you.

Please, do not, I cried out in alarm, capturing his much larger hand in mine. My voice trembled
when I explained quickly, My face is marred, sire.

For a moment, he hesitated, and I worried the ruse had failed. Vampires were exceptional at filtering
and sensing lies. But after a moment, he smiled, returning his focus to my body instead of my face.

His touch was feather light, fingers barely skimming over the skin of my breasts. Somehow, the
most teasing of caresses were more erotic, each brush leaving me yearning for more.

Your skin is as warm and soft as silk left to bask in the sun. I cannot wait to taste you against my
lips and tongue.

Unable to resist, I arched into his experienced hands and pressed against him. My breasts went flush
against his crisp white dress shirt, the mildly starched cotton painful against my sensitized flesh. The
skin beneath his clothing would be much better to touchcool, pale, and smooth.

Completely brazen, I purred, Allow me to undress you, sire.

His hands drifted to his sides, and his lips curved into a sinfully delicious smile. As you wish.

He removed his coat, and I started at the buttons near his throat, unhindered by my trembling
fingers, and revealed his smooth alabaster skin bit by bit. When each button was undone, I slid the
material from his shoulders, dropping the shirt to the floor and baring his torso. The muscles along
his chest and stomach were cut and defined, each curve and crevice solid and smooth. Although fair,
the skin seemed to illuminate from within, porcelain in its vivacity.

May I? I asked softly and licked my lips.

He notched his head and answered, You may.

Starting at his chest, I began pressing the lightest of kisses to his flawless skin. The flesh was cool
and firm, the surface impossibly smooth. Going lower, I followed the ripples of his abdomen and,
darting my tongue out to taste the skin, focused for a moment on his belly button.

Sebastians breathing became ragged, thickening into a moan when I lapped at him with my tongue.
Suddenly, his hands came onto my shoulders and applied subtle pressure, urging me to my knees.

Finish undressing me, sweet.

The button on his slacks gave me trouble, but he quickly remedied that by reaching down with one
hand and undoing it himself. With my heart pounding and hands beginning to shake, I slowly pulled
the zipper down. Id never seen Sebastian naked, nor had I seen a naked man. And though I had
pored over the books in his collection for guidanceincluding the ever-valuable sex manual, the
Ananga RangaI was as excited as I was nervous.

When I pushed his slacks down his thighs, his cock sprang forthsolid, long, thick, and hard. The
pink flesh was engorged, blue hued veins prominent beneath the surface of the slicked skin.

Carefully, I brought my hands around that impressive part of him, caressing him in the manner that
the books described as pleasurable. The rounded, plum like head was swollen and large, much
broader than the root.

As I worked his length, a bead appeared at the tip, like a crystalline diamond at the thin slit. I stared
at the shimmering drop, mesmerized, longing to taste him.

You may, he groaned before I asked and shifted his hips forward and fisting the base of his shaft
along with the heavy sac beneath.

I took the cool bead from the bulbous head with the tip of my tongue, bringing it into my mouth to
savor. It was a slightly salty taste, bitter, but not entirely unpleasant.

Intrigued, wanting to explore him with my tongue, I moved in for a second lick. Every part of
Sebastian was magnificent. This was certainly no different.

Sebastians hand went from his shaft to my hair. His fingers twined tightly into the fake strands and
tugged. No more teasing. Adore my cock as you should. Show me how much you want me.

Widening my mouth and parting my lips, I brought my tongue out to cradle his length. The rounded
tip held my attention first, and I made sure to suck firmly and work my hands in harmony with the
movements of my lips. Within seconds, I tasted more of his saltiness on my tongue, his arousal
spilling into my mouth.

More, he demanded, fisting my hair and thrusting gently. I dont like to be teased.

It was difficult taking his length, and I discovered that as much as I longed to, he was simply too
long to sheath completely. I sucked greedily to compensate, brushing my tongue against the
underside of his shaft.

Thats it, he groaned in approval, rocking his hips and going deeper into my throat. Just like that.
Worship my cock with those glorious lips and that wicked little tongue.

Relaxing my jaw, I bathed him with my tongue, lips, and mouth, and moaned as I became excited by
the act of adoring his body just as he asked.

His ragged panting and heavy breathing told me he was enjoying my attention. His thrusts became
forceful, a glorious rocking that I couldnt wait for him to perform on me. He was strong but gentle,
insistent but patient.

Im going to come, Arianna. His voice was throaty, and he sounded precariously close to losing
control. Your mouth feels so good, so hot and wet.

Unable to speak, I moaned around him, vocal cords sending vibrations up my throat and into the
mouth around his cock. He groaned loudly, thrusting sharper, bringing my head forward as his hips
surged. As his movements became frenzied, I sucked harder, wanting to taste him, to know what it
meant to belong to him entirely.

Christ, he cried out and went tight, his muscles flexing.

I wasnt fully prepared for his climax and nearly choked on the magnitude of his thick, salty seed
pouring into my mouth. Quickly, I opened my throat and swallowed spastically while drinking all of
him down. I continued even when he stopped shuddering and sucked gently until the fingers in my
hair yanked my head back.

Enough. He spoke raggedly, moving away.

Sebastian quickly removed the last of his clothing, shucking out of his slacks, shoes, and socks. He
lifted me from my knees, swept me into his arms, and carried me across the short distance to the
bed.

He settled me atop the pillows so that I was upright and started removing my clothingshoes first,
then garters, followed by the thin black hose.

You are beautiful, he whispered. Completely breathtaking.

No more than any other, sire. I gasped, unnerved by his fingers tickling a path down my thighs.
He removed the hose, bringing the thin material down my legs.

Even more so, he said and paused to gaze up at me with luminous sapphire eyes. I wonder why
you agreed to share my bed. Knowing you will not return from it on the morrow.

Another part of the faade was pretending to be born into slavery, and I answered evenly, gazing
into his eyes, It is an honor. My death will enrich the lives of my family.

He looked away while tracing circular designs with his fingers along my calf. I see.

I shivered when he moved up my body and settled his shoulders between my outspread legs. His
fingers brushed against the outside of my wet sex, and a new wave of electricity shot through my
spine, radiating throughout me. Wetness soaked the area between my legs, coating my sex with pure
molten fire and need.

Silky smooth, he growled his approval, fingering my bare sex. Sex slaves were always waxed
before they entered the bed, and while it had hurt to have done, the reward of his guttural voice
made it all worthwhile.

Oh God, I whimpered, arching my back and feeding my aching core into his palm.

So wet for me, so incredibly hot and liquid . . . But are you equally as sweet, Arianna?

I stopped breathing, grasping his meaning.

He refused to look away, vivid sapphire eyes studying me as his face descended. I saw his tongue
flick just as he tasted me for the first time, and I cried out loudly. Grinning up at me, he licked again,
this time long and deep.

As I writhed, he told me huskily, More than sweet. You are delectable.

Grasping my hips, he pulled me closer and lowered his eyes. I couldnt silence the cries and moans
that escaped me and clenched the red satin sheets as he tongued, licked, and sucked my sex.

He rotated between bathing my outer lips and moving inward, tonguing me deeply and then licking
me gently. And just when I couldnt take it anymore, as that pinnacle of release beckoned for the
first time in my twenty-seven years of existence, and when I begged him mindlessly not to stop, he
did.

Remember, Arianna. I want to hear you cry my name. He latched onto the swollen center in front,
sucked my clitoris into his mouth, and bit down gently.
The entire room disappeared as I screamed, Sebastian!

It was more than an explosion, more than a detonation of the body. It was letting go of the world
around me, of floating in a place that existed but remained unseen unless called upon. I rode the
waves of pleasure and wanted them to last forever, until slowly, my body ceased trembling and the
room came into a blurry focus.

I want to take the vein here before I claim you, Sebastian growled thickly and bestowed light licks
upon my thigh.

Fear almost sent me off the bed. I could mask the scent of my blood, and the taste, but only for a
short while. The enchantment affixed to my mask would only work for minutes after the piercing of
my skin, until the magic faded.

S-sire, I stammered, high pitched and afraid. I would prefer a kiss before dying.

I will still give you the same. He scraped what I knew were fangs along my skin. But I wish to
taste your virgin blood before I take your body. There is a different power held in the blood when
the donor is pure. That is why our chosen blood slaves remain such.

How did you I struggled to speak, unnerved that he knew of my virginity.

I smell your purity, he answered.

Please, I implored, my limbs trembling violently. I do not want to feel my death, and Ive heard
stories of those who do not pass properly in sharing before the draining.

He hesitated over my thigh, his breath cool and feather light across my skin. Very well. He sighed,
moving his lips and fangs away.

He maneuvered up the bed, coming over me. He was much taller and wider, nearly blanketing me as
he rested his weight between my legs. His head came forward, and he kissed me, sharing the essence
of my body as I shared his. Each nudge of his tongue heightened my senses, and after a moment, I
realized hed bitten his tongue to share his blood with me.

Although I had taken Sebastians blood often as his slave to ensure his scent marked me, sharing
blood was a rare gift, one that meant I would experience things with better clarity and enjoyment. It
also ensured my final orgasm would last long enough to dim the awareness of my passing.

I knew my Shellar was kind, but witnessing him performing such a selfless act for someone that was
nothing more than a bed slave and a stranger brought a sharp stinging burn to my eyes.

Take this off. He tugged at the corset, lifting his body up.

I sat upright and bent forward as he came around and untied the strings, working the corset free. He
pulled the constrictive garment over my head, tossing it carelessly to the floor. His eyes lingered on
my breasts, staring but nothing more.

Again, Ariannahe bent down and brought his mouth to a rosy peakbeautiful.

The tugs of his teeth and mouth against my nipple sent a crash of pure heat to my sex, causing my
core to ache and clench uncontrollably. It was as if there was a connection between the two most
erotic zones in my body, one enticing and encouraging the other. Each tiny flick of his tongue or nip
of his teeth increased the nectar my body created.

And it was all for himonly for him.

Please, I begged when he moved to the other breast while reaching down with his hand to work a
finger into my drenched core.

Soon, sweet, he said, brushing his tongue against my nipple, and pressing his hand against my sex.
I want nothing but pleasure for you.

He worked a second finger into my body, forcing my virgin center to stretch and accept the
invasion. The hot heat from my excitement wet his fingers, allowing him to slide in and out of my
body. It was uncomfortable at first, but soon I was whimpering and undulating, crazed and
incensed.

Youre very tight, he whispered, continuing to work my sex with practiced fingers, As tight as a
fist. I can only imagine how youll feel, all wet and hot around my cock.

His erotic words served as intended. I felt another orgasm building. I started panting as the promise
of pure bliss neared, wanting it so badly that I thrust eagerly into his hand and clenched my aching
core around his fingers.

Each penetration of his broad fingers brought the moment nearer until I could feel the pulsating
tingles beginning, bristling and rippling under my skin. Then he spread his fingers wide and
massaged those tight inner walls, and it was over.

Bastian, I groaned, throwing back my head and crying out as my body erupted.

My body spasmed as a climax even more powerful than the first overcame me. The combination of
his lips and hand were too much, bringing on new levels of pleasure I never knew existed.

This time, when I returned to my body, I remained lax on the pillows, breathing shallowly.

Nothing had ever felt so incrediblenothing.

So good, Sebastian purred, removing his fingers, then placing them in his mouth, and licking them
clean. I could get spoiled by the taste of you on my tongue, Arianna.

I watched through weighted lids as he slid up my body, licking a path from my belly button to my
throat. This was what it all came down tothe consummation. Once he claimed me, and just before
he came to orgasm, he would give me my kissthe bite that would ultimately end my life.

Dont be afraid, he murmured, as if sensing my thoughts, pressing his lips against each of my
hardened nipples. I promise there will be no pain.

I know, I whispered, bringing my hands to his broad shoulders. I knew Sebastian would never
hurt anyone intentionally. Not unless it was deserved.

His hand came between our bodies, and he fisted his cock and worked the rounded head against my
wetness. He slid himself back and forth, up and down, and slowly worked himself inside.

When the large head slid past, his hand came back up to work at my breasts. Then he kissed me,
rotating his hips with small gentle thrusts. Each one sent him deeper, bringing him closer to my
innocence.

He brought his hands down, caressed my ribcage, and then grasped my hips firmly. He pulled back,
removed his cock from the heat of my body, and waited until he was nearly unsheathed before
driving forward in a smooth, firm stroke. My strangled cry was caught in his mouth, and he stopped
moving, remaining utterly still.

As I adjusted to the feel of him snug inside me, he worked his tongue in my mouth and thrummed
my nipples with his thumbs. He brought his fingers around, pinching the peaks and soothing the
sting with tender flutters. Each motion of his tongue and hands sent prickles along my skin, and
soon, the pain was forgotten.

Arianna, he rasped huskily into my ear, I was right. Your sex is like raw fire, so tight and hot. Its
a most pleasurable kind of torture.

I gasped in ecstasy when he began to move. The feel of his long, hard shaft moving in and out of
my core was nothing short of extraordinary. And with each joining, I knew I had made the right
decision.

I never could have known Sebastian like thisjust like thisotherwise.

The friendship came first, and then my love, but neither of those emotions matched the intimacy I
felt at our bodies being connected so closely together.

I gazed into his face and wished for a moment that I could remove my mask and reveal myself.
Instead, I communicated my love for him through my eyes and motions, rising up to meet each
thrust of his hips. He moved his hand down to my sex and fingered the swollen nub in the front,
and I felt my body respond and clench.

Bastian. I breathed his name as I neared climax, writhing against him. I wanted to extend this,
but my body wasnt willing to wait.

So beautiful, Arianna, he whispered, rising onto his elbows to watch my eyes and mouth as I
came.

The world shifted and then evaporated into nothing, leaving me soaring. My muscles clenched and
released. My throat became dry as I tried to scream but could make no sound. I knew then that my
kiss was at hand, that the time had come. Instead of fear, there was only acceptance.

I felt his teeth pierce my throat as I climaxed, scoring my skin cleanly and deeply. The euphoria of
my orgasm mingled with the deep draws at my throat that weakened me, and I drooped against the
bed, panting but with shallower and shallower intakes of air.

I felt him shiver, and the coolness that was his own orgasm erupted inside me. His arms came
around to surround me as he drained my lifes blood.

As he fed, I longed to wrap my fingers in his hair as I always did. Sebastian loved to be petted,
especially when he drank. But when I tried, I found I lacked the energy. My languid limbs refused to
obey.

The room dimmed, and I watched the firelight dance across the ceiling overhead, creating shadowy
figures and shapes that mingled and crossed together. I listened to the sounds of his rhythmic
swallows and lowered my lids when they became too heavy.

Then, there was nothing.

* * * *

My heavy lids lifted, long dark lashes fluttering rapidly against my cheeks. I was disoriented.
confused, and tried to remember where I was and how I had gotten there. The room was dark, the
fire in the hearth nearly gone out. I shifted and found I was sore, but in the most wondrous and
delicious of places.

Suddenly, the night before came rushing back, and my hand came to my face.

Are you looking for this, Katja?

I stilled at Sebastians voice..

I remembered the kiss before dying. It was just as I read about. A drifting off that ensured you
didnt feel any pain. I remembered the draws at my neck, the weakness, lethargy, and the moment I
had finally surrendered by closing my eyes.

I died. I knew I had. He drained my very lifes blood.

Sebastian walked around the side of the bed, tossing my mask and blonde wig onto the floor. He
was wrapped in his thick plush black velvet robe, his contrasting blond hair uneven around his neck
and broad shoulders.

The bed sank beneath his weight, and I, anxious and afraid, finally peered up at him. Dying without
pain I had contemplated, but what if I were to face more for my deceit?

Would I experience a slow death with agony?

Marietta told me of your plan, he finally said, regarding me closely, his blue eyes bright in the dark
room. She said you wouldnt be swayed, regardless of what she said.

Its not her fault. I tried to defend the house witch and control my panic. I would have done so
with or without her help.

Amused, Sebastian said, Marietta will receive no punishment. She only aided you because I allowed
her to do so.

With heart pounding, I found the courage to ask in a low voice, Why did you allow me to believe
that you didnt know?

Katja, he murmured, bending over and urging me onto my back. Do you know why all of our
blood slaves are virgins?

I nodded solemnly. Because the blood is pure, meaning it is more potent.

He shook his head, moving closer. No, love, though that is what we tell our blood slaves to make
the need for purity credible. It is because vampire royalty cannot claim a bride that comes into a
family tainted. Just as they cannot claim a bride that doesnt freely choose that life of her own.

A bride, I echoed, frowning.

Yes, sweet, a bride. He smiled and brushed the dark hair that had fallen across my forehead to the
side and explained. Keeping our existence a secret is paramount, but as our numbers dwindle, we
are forced to look into the mortal society surrounding us to find eternal companions. The chemistry
must be there, of course, which is why we allow a ten-year period for slaves to attach to their
potential partner. But only those who would willingly die to be with one of us in the truest sense are
worthy of the honor of entering the fold. It is rare, to be sure. None are willing to risk death, even
for love.

Sebastian stood and removed his robe, allowing the plush material to fall to the floor to reveal his
magnificent body. I am honored to be so fortunate.

B-but, I stammered in confusion, almost losing my train of thought at the glorious sight of his
naked frame as he returned to the bed. I dont understand. Bastian, I remember what happened.

Do you, then? he asked, slightly arrogant, one of his least desirable character traits.

Yes. I glared at him. I died.

No. He lowered his head and exhaled against my lips, You were reborn.

His mouth was oddly warm, lips too, and I shoved at his chest in fear. Whats happened to me?
What did you do, Bastian?

I changed you, he said simply, unrepentant. Youve taken enough of my blood in the past to
ensure a shift from mortal to immortal upon a draining. While your body transformed, I have sat
here in wait, anticipating the moment you finally woke.

Why, I whispered, slightly afraid. I knew nothing of created vampires, only those born into the
condition.

I love you, Katja Arianna Morgan. He spoke with a familiarity that revealed he knew far more
about me than I was aware. I have since I saw you on the platform at Telliandrias auction. Even
then, standing before the lords and ladies with your head held high in your tattered jeans, I knew you
were special. Yet, as your time in my keeping passed, I feared you wouldnt choose to come to me.

You told me we couldnt be together, Bastian, I reminded him, recalling the tears I shed when he
broke my heart. You said it could never happen, that making love to one another meant death.

And I didnt lie, he rebuked me tenderly, caressing the curve of my cheek. You did dieto your
mortal life. But in the doing you have been reborn. It is against our laws to tell anyone outside of
our kind that only a selfless giving of life is worthy of the gift of the change. Had you not come to
me as such, with love and sacrifice, I never could have claimed you as my own.

Desperate to hear it, I asked breathlessly, Do you really love me?

He nodded and smiled, flashing fang. Allow me to show you just how much, Katja. Ive dreamed
of how it would be when we could truly be together. After your show earlier, I know I am not alone
in harboring such fantasies.

Smiling at the desire in his eyes, I tossed aside the duvet and bared my naked body. The air seemed
to sizzle, electrified and charged between us. His lips descended, and I opened my mouth in
welcome but found things were markedly different.

His flavor was headier, his scent more prominent, and behind it all was the most luscious smell. . . .

Its your hunger. He groaned against my lips and came over to cover me. I feel it beating at me.
You need to feed.

His solid erection pressed against my thigh brought other impulses to mind, and I found myself
pushing at him, forcing Sebastian onto his back. His cock was fully erect and jutted proudly from
the light slathering of blond hair along his thighs.

I didnt ask for permission this time and crawled on hands and knees until I reached him. With one
hand, I cupped his heavy sac, massaging carefully. With the other, I gripped the base, brought the
head to my lips, and licked along the sensitive tissue around the tip that formed the crown.

Im glad to see my extensive library has been put to good use. He groaned, fisting the sheets just
as I had when he pleasured me with his mouth. Exceptionally good use.

I grinned then, knowing it was no accident that Id found the first book placed on the table near my
journals. You left them for me on purpose, didnt you? I said and then licked around his shaft.
Of course, he murmured, pausing as I took his head into my mouth and sucked lightly. Every
time I returned to our chamber and the scent of your arousal hung heavy in the air, I knew youd
been reading them. It took every ounce of self-control I possessed not to toss you onto our bed and
tongue your sex until you screamed my name over and over again.

I moaned, picturing him doing just that, and he brought a hand to my head and twined his fingers
into the strands. He didnt instruct me this time, enjoying the slow and sensual exploration I made
with my lips and tongue. This time, I worked to take more of his length into my mouth, trying to
relax my throat and take him all. Before long, he was pumping his hips and pressing my head down
to match the movement.

Ill come if you keep doing that.

I stopped long enough to purr, Dont fight the feeling.

He didnt.

His thrusts were rough, his hand at the back of my head almost violent. He came in a liquid rush, his
cock jerking as wave after wave of his pleasure spilled onto my tongue. I sucked greedily, unable to
get enough, and devoured him entirely. Even his seed tasted different, salty but no longer bitter.

Like this, he was addictive.

One day in our future, Im going to go by the gentlemanly adage, he told me in a hoarse voice,
ladies first.

He changed our positions in one smooth motion, propping me against the pillows. He lowered
himself, coming between my legs but stopping short.

This time, Im tapping this vein, he said, parting my thighs for easy access.

Sharp fangs skimmed the sensitive skin of my inner thigh, and then I felt the fiery white-hot pain
that was immediately followed by ecstasy. Both of us moaned at the incredibly erotic sensation, his
muffled against my skin, mine muffled by the hand I brought to my mouth.

Before, Sebastians bites were kind and gentle, but never were they anything like this. His mouth
sucking at my skin evoked fervid longings, which brought me to a fever pitch.

Whats happening to me, I moaned, thrashing as he held me in place.

Sebastian licked at my thigh to seal the punctures with his tongue. Then he moved, coming to the
apex of my thighs and settling his mouth over my throbbing sex. Taking his time, he licked in small
laps, driving me mad in the process.

Please, Bastian, I begged, gyrating my hips against his face. Please.

His tongue slid between my folds as his hand came around and his fingers invaded my tight center. I
knew it wouldnt be long until I climaxed. Everything was hypersensitive. Sounds, scents, feelings,
sensationseverything was magnified. But when the crest arrived, and my body exploded, I lost the
ability to formulate sounds. I allowed the bed to hold me as I shattered, shaking and trembling
violently.

Bastian, I croaked and sagged weakly into the pillows. The release left me weak and unable to
move, gasping for breath.

Sebastian appeared above me, palmed the back of my head, and brought my limp body to his chest.
You must feed.

I almost asked how such a thing was possible as I had nothing to pierce his skin with, when I felt my
incisors lengthening, growing sharp and lethal against my bottom lip. He pressed my mouth to his
throat and held me steady. My nostrils flared, going wide. I could smell his blood, the most delicious
of aromas. It sang to me, enticing me to sink my teeth deeply and gorge until my fangs no longer
ached.

Drink. He sounded impatient, his voice nearly breaking with unexpected emotion I could hear and
somehow perceive. You cant know how long Ive waited, Katja. No other but our brides are
permitted to take our vein. Taste me. Bring me into your body. Deliver yourself into my keeping.

My lips came back instinctually, baring the razor sharp edges of my teeth. I followed the path of my
nose and allowed it to guide me. Drawing out the moment, I scraped the sensitive tips of my fangs
against his flesh, until I could no longer bear it.

His skin made a soft pop as my teeth broke through, the vein beneath giving way as a gush of
delicious warmth began heating me. The instant I pulled the liquid into my mouth and throat,
everything went warm, and I basked in waves of comfort, love, and security.

Katja, Sebastian murmured lovingly, playing with strands of my hair just as I did when he fed.
My love, my bride.

With each swallow, I felt my body grow stronger. The lethargy evaporated, replaced with a strength
and fortitude I had never known. I drank deeply, savoring his blood that was as rich as the finest
Bordeaux.

Sebastian finally interrupted me. Not too much, love. I dont want you to be ill. We have
unfinished business between us.

I stopped as he asked, closed the tiny holes with my tongue, and lapped at his skin in what Sebastian
often referred to as a display of affection. When I opened my eyes and lifted my head, I truly saw my
love for the first time. He was beautiful, a god among men. His skin so fair it seemed to glow.

I love you, I found myself saying, lifting my hand and caressing his face.

And I you, he murmured hoarsely, for eternity, Katja.

He shifted me, and I spread my legs to straddle him and bring my feet around and behind his waist.
Using one arm to lift myself, I took his shaft into my free hand and guided his cock to the pulsing
outer lips of my sex. Fisting himself, he fed that wide round head into my core, inch by slow inch.

So good, he breathed, leaning forward to kiss me, his tongue trailing along my bottom lip.

I never knew it could be like this, I said in a breathy whisper, still pressing down on his shaft and
shivering with anticipation of cradling him within.

He pulled away to gaze lovingly into my eyes. Its not. Our coming together will only get better. Its
ingrained in our kind, to ensure we always remain with those we have chosen to share our life with.
As the time passes, your pleasure will only grow. We will share everything with one anotherlife,
love, blood, and pleasure.

As I settled on his hips, his cock buried deep inside, I imagined us a hundred years from now. I
never fathomed this would be the outcome of my actions. But here I was. Claimed for eternity by
the only man I hadand wouldlove.

That notion in itself made me flush, and I ground my sex against the nest of hair between his legs
until I felt his sac at my ass. Impatient, Sebastian growled loudly, grasping one cheek in each hand
and lifting me, forcing me to retreat from his shaft, bringing me up until just the head remained
inside.

Get ready, sweet, he warned in a deep, throaty voice. Im going to make you come so hard youll
think youve truly died and gone to heaven.

I did scream with that first thrust of his hips surging up as he brought me down on his cock. The
head of his shaft bumped my cervix, digging into the soft giving skin, and it sent ripples through the
walls of my core. As I clenched him inside my body, Sebastian moaned, throwing his head back and
allowing those blond strands to drift along his shoulders.

He repeated the motion, lifting me slowly and then bringing us together again. We both cried out,
enraptured by the bliss, clinging to one another.

Ride me until the need has left both of our bodies, he instructed, guiding my hips with his hands.
We need to rest, sweet. The dawn is fast approaching, and I want to feel your tight, slick sex
wringing me dry before we succumb to sleep.

Yes, Shellar, I demurred without thinking, using the title out of habit.

No, he corrected me, grasping my chin and forcing me to meet his eyes. Never again am I your
Master. If you must refer to me in my tongue, then do so properly. I am your other half now, your
vhirimir.

My heart melted, gazing into those intense and unwavering eyes. Yes, vhirimir.

He smiled, unhinging my feet and moving back against the headboard and pillows. He situated
himself without separating our bodies, keeping himself firmly embedded in my core.
Ride me, little love. Take us to the stars.

I did, taking him slow and then fast, plunging down on his hard length again and again. He cupped
my breasts, pinched and teased my nipples, and watched through weighted lids as I took my pleasure
but gave the same in turn. Soon, he grasped my hips tightly, bringing me down as he drove up, and
we both achieved a climax that left us spent and boneless.

I do love you, Bastian. I yawned against his chest and tried to resist the overwhelming lethargy
sapping my strength and lulling me to sleep.

And I you, Katja. Sebastian kissed my brow, and against him, I relaxed, drowsing as the sun
broached the sky. Sleep now. Rest safely in my arms.

As we lay nestled together in the bed as lovers instead of friends, I knew what it meant to bask in
sheer happiness and contentment. I had sacrificed an old life for a new one, and because of that, I
would have my love for an eternity.

I went into the world of dreams with images and thoughts of my lover in mind, aware that in the
gloaming, Sebastian and I would rise together.


The End
About the Author

Im a normal gal with a taste for the macabre. I started writing on the down low when I was in high
school, keeping my work a secretuntil now. In my spare time, I enjoy the simple pleasures in life,
like shooting a game of pool (straight eight, if you please), listening to my favorite band (NIN), or
spending time relaxing with my husband and our brood. Please come visit me on my homepage:
www.jasaare.com.