Robert Read online

  Sophie gasped. Katie couldn’t have known this.

  “Could I use your bathroom?” Her voice came out squeaky. She tried to control the flow of tears she felt so close to the surface. She removed the blanket, feeling the quaking in her body.

  In order to survive, she would have to spend the rest of life with this vampire.

  “The bathroom is through there.” He pointed across to the second door.

  She nodded, moving slowly away.

  “There are clean bath towels.”

  Sophie nodded again.

  She closed the door and went immediately to the shower, turning it on full blast. Next she twisted the taps on full blast in the sink. She locked the door and pulled out her mobile.

  Seventeen missed calls. What could Katie want now? This whole plan was not panning out the way they’d originally planned and Sophie was starting to think it was going to backfire on them. Sophie took a deep breath to try to get her nerves under control. Katie wouldn’t be able to handle hearing her one support losing it.

  She pressed speed dial for Katie’s number.

  “Thank God. Where have you been?” Sophie could hear the fear and panic in her best friend’s voice.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve been trying to get his attention—”

  “Someone is here, Sophie,” Katie cut her off. “The same car is here and has been for the past week. Ever since you left.”

  “Oh, God.” Pressing her palm to her forehead, Sophie tried to work past the fear. “Are you sure?”

  “Every time I wake up the same car is there. I went to work and it was outside the library. I’m freaking out, Soph.” Katie burst into tears. “Maybe you should just tell them the truth, or at least I should come in. If we cooperate, they might not kill me.”

  “Katie, calm down. I’ll fix it.” She stepped closer to the shower, hoping against hope that Robert wouldn’t be able to hear her over the rushing of the water. “We’ve worked too damn hard to give up now and I refuse to allow anything to happen to you. You’re my best friend.”

  “How can you fix it? My parents told me to be careful. Never to stay in one place for too long. I should have left when I was younger. I should have sold my parents’ house and just left.” Katie was panicking, and when she was frightened she talked without taking a breath.

  Sophie couldn’t afford for her to freak out at this stage. She could hear the sound of drawers opening. Katie was packing. Sophie cursed. She didn’t have time for this. Between finding out that the blood bond wasn’t complete and Katie being in more danger than ever, she was close to pulling her hair out.

  “Katie. Stay put. I said I’ll sort it and I mean I’ll sort it.” She snapped the phone shut, not giving her friend time to argue. She prayed Katie would listen and wait it out. Sophie glanced up at her reflection in the mirror.

  A pale, scared woman gazed back, confused and tired. Was his blood starting to wear thin?

  The puncture wounds stood out, red and sore against the paleness of her neck. She touched them with the tip of her finger and flinched at the contact.

  Katie flashed into her mind again. All this was for her.

  She unbuttoned her top and took her skirt off, then jumped into the shower. She wanted to wash off the sweat and grime from the nightclub, as well as the blood and pain she had experienced with Robert.

  What was the use of saving her virginity if she could save her friend instead? If she didn’t give herself to Robert, she would die anyway. She should just dispense with it and think about Katie.

  Her virginity should be the last of her worries, but over the years it had become the one thing she could control. No one could tell her when to relinquish it.

  Though Sophie wanted Robert to be her first. He should be experienced enough in pleasing a woman—years as a vampire ought to have taught him something.

  At least she hoped so.

  Making up her mind, Sophie got out of the shower.

  She would give herself to him tonight.

  Chapter Two

  Robert watched her go, sensing that something wasn’t right. He could hear the distant sounds of her mumbling and when he searched closer with his hearing he could tell she had intentionally drowned out her voice with the noise from the shower and the water running from the tap.

  Clever. So she did know some tricks of the trade.

  Picking up his mobile, he dialled William for the second time that night.

  “What’s the update?” he asked, his gaze never leaving the bathroom door.

  “Something is not right here.” His brother sounded wary.

  Strange, considering that only hours before he’d seemed bored with the entire process. It started to make Robert concerned.

  “In what way?”

  “Besides the twitching of the curtain, I’ve got a sense that something is about to happen.”

  “You had your doubts earlier this evening.”

  “Blame it on my bored ass. People are circling the house. Stopping and staring at her.” He heard William shifting the phone from one ear to another. “She may be human, but she isn’t your average human. Even if she does look like she’s about to fall down dead.”

  “What sense do you get from the people circling?” Robert asked.

  “Evil.”

  He tightened his grip on the mobile. If Katie was in danger, what did Sophie have to do with it? And what was she keeping from him?

  “What do you think she is?”

  “I don’t want to talk on the phone because you know what animal hearing is like.”

  Robert understood immediately.

  “Grab the girl and move out. This is going to get ugly.” Robert was beginning to sense something and he didn’t like it.

  “What about you and your mate?” Robert knew what his brother was referring to. If Sophie had purposefully withheld vital pieces of information, then he would have no choice but to punish her. If he did not, then the Council would.

  The thought was sobering.

  He’d finally got his mate with him and he knew he could lose her again if he treated her badly. Why couldn’t life as a vampire be simpler?

  “I’ll handle things here. You just stay safe and get the girl. Go to a safe house in the country. I don’t care—just get gone.” He shut his mobile and threw it onto the bed. Then he heard the shower stop. He had completed the call in the nick of time. Robert didn’t want Sophie to know the danger she and her friend were in. He needed to get his anger under control. If only she’d told him the true nature of the threat the wolves posed. He couldn’t alert Sophie to what he’d discovered. Through his connection with her, he already knew how close she was to Katie and telling her of the danger she was in would be a massive mistake.

  He couldn’t bear to think of punishing her. His gut twisted at the thought of her alone or in pain. He must—no matter what the cost—protect her at all times.

  She was his blood-bonded mate. She was his reason for living and breathing…figuratively. Vampires didn’t actually breathe, but with the power of the witches, years ago, they’d performed a spell to make vampires better able to appear human. So they could appear to be breathing, in the company of humans.

  Robert listened as she moved around the bathroom, brushing her teeth and drying herself. If he strained his senses, he would be able to smell her natural fragrance. The innocence of her life and of her body. Sophie smelt like total heaven. He would struggle to keep his hormones in check if he didn’t control himself.

  He heard the door open, and there she stood. Wet and beautiful. Her blonde hair, darker now from the shower, lay down one shoulder, covering the top of her breast. Her stance was confident but her face gave away her fear.

  Sophie wanted to complete the mating ceremony but she was terrified of the idea.

  “Does the thought of being with the dead repulse you?” he asked. If he got her fear to the surface he would be able to control the need to go over to her, get down on his knees and beg her to keep him fo
r all eternity.

  She folded her arms over her breasts. Finally, the fire he had loved about her from the first was coming to the surface to defend her.

  “You’re not dead.”

  “Ah. To some cultures, I’m even worse than a dead person. I chose to be this way—dead but not dead. Living, but again, not living.” He sat down on the edge of the bed, facing her.

  “Others would argue that you have the best of both worlds,” she said.

  “How is that?”

  “You live and you cannot die,” she answered.

  “I can never be in the sunlight without the aid of human blood—yours, as a matter of fact. I can be killed and I’m hunted on a daily basis by people who believe I’m the scum of the universe.” He watched as she flinched. “Suddenly, my being a vampire doesn’t seem so grand, does it?”

  Sophie was silent but he could feel her gaze on him. He kept up the barrier, stopping himself from reading her thoughts.

  “Are you evil?” she finally asked.

  “No,” he answered truthfully. In his mind, he wasn’t evil. He was a man of honour and integrity. He didn’t believe in attacking until forced to. For many centuries he hadn’t killed a person by draining their blood, and he’d attacked only to protect himself or his family.

  She came a little closer to the bed.

  He watched and waited, not wanting to interfere, wanting to allow her to go at her own pace. If it was up to him, they’d both be naked and fucking already, but Sophie was a virgin and his mate. She deserved special attention when he finally took her for her first time.

  Robert knew what she was about to do and he let her. The towel dropped. He wasn’t prepared for the immediate tightening in his groin. She was spectacular. He was over five hundred years old and never before had he seen a woman quite so perfect.

  She still had the rounded curve to her belly that he recalled from the ceremony. Sophie was unique in more ways than one. First, she wasn’t concerned about being a size zero and she cared very deeply about the people she loved. Her stomach called to him. He could already imagine himself nibbling and biting it. Her legs were short and full, but strong. He could see the defined muscles along her thighs. Her breasts were full and pert, her nipples erect—from the cold or from her desire—red and beautiful. A flush coated her breasts, moving up to her neck. Her eyes were wide, her mouth slightly open. A tempting invitation to take, kiss and plunge inside. Her little tongue peeked out, licking lips that appeared to be getting fuller by the second.

  His gaze travelled up until he met her waiting eyes.

  “What do you want from me?” he asked. His voice became husky as the sight of her body had its effect on his own. His cock, which had lain dormant for three years as no woman could arouse him the way Sophie could, awoke with fresh life. He wanted to be inside his mate. The need to take her in the most primitive of ways lay beneath the surface of his skin. Vampires could react on impulse. William allowed the urge to flow over him but Robert took great pride in maintaining control. He no longer wanted to be in charge of his emotions. What would happen to him and Sophie if he allowed his natural instincts to kick in? He turned his head away so that he no longer stared into her blue eyes. Anything in the world she asked for, he’d willingly give. Cut out his own dead heart, and she could have it within seconds.

  “I want the bond to be complete,” she said.

  It was the answer he had been expecting—she didn’t know how to ask in any other way. He already knew of her innocence.

  Robert took hold of her hands and pulled gently, bringing her closer to him. He could smell how turned on she was. Her light scent invaded his nostrils. The bitter taste of her fear was unwelcome, but he knew that virgins always feared their first time.

  He felt her tremble but she remained before him. Her courage should be worshipped.

  Robert held her hands, not moving. He looked at her, making sure she kept her eyes on him and only on him. He stroked his thumb over her hand, trying to reassure her.

  Using all his willpower, he opened up the connection between them. Her eyes were the key. He forced her to watch him, to trust him. Holding her hands provided the conduit of touch and her eyes gave him the key to her mind.

  He hated himself for doing this, but time was of the essence.

  “What do you want from me?” Again, the picture of a smiling Katie appeared before his eyes as she spoke.

  “To finish the bond.” Her answer came in a dull voice. She was strong. She was fighting his hold on her. Her words seemed practiced.

  No human could be this strong. He searched her mind and found the problem. He burst through the gate locking away her most hidden memories and treasures.

  “What do you want from me?”

  Images invaded his mind and he got his answer.

  Sophie was walking in the forest with Katie.

  “Andrew was so wanting to ask you out.” Katie laughed as she followed Sophie.

  “I didn’t want to be drooled on again. I mean, the guy kisses with his mouth open.” Sophie swung around the tree, laughing and happy.

  “At least you get guys asking you out.” Katie moved on.

  Sophie stopped laughing, immediately going to comfort her friend.

  “You’d get them asking you out all the time if you didn’t glare and spook them out with your witchy tales. Boys are stupid, Katie. One day, someone will see how amazing you are and you’ll never get rid of him even if you want to.” Sophie kissed her friend on the cheek, linking her arm through Katie’s as they walked.

  “Knowing my luck, I’ll get someone who’s crazy and can’t live without me,” Katie played along, her voice growing dimmer.

  Robert could feel how sad Sophie felt for her friend. Katie was different. Sophie knew it and so did the rest of their peers. It drove Sophie crazy. Robert sensed her anger and disappointment. If Sophie could accept Katie and her differences, why couldn’t anyone else? There was a beauty to Katie and she deserved to be loved. Robert knew the bond between the two friends was like the strong bond of sisterhood.

  Katie smiled, tears streaming down her face.

  “You’re a great friend.”

  “I know, Katie,” Sophie teased and kissed her on the cheek again.

  They held hands as they moved through the forest, their connection solid.

  They walked on a little way before a snap scared them both. What happened next should have scared them even more. Katie screamed, her hands shooting out towards the sound. The tree directly in her line of sight exploded before them. As shards of broken bark scattered, Katie gasped. Standing in front of Sophie, she slammed her arms out, forcing out a protective shield that threw the shattered wood in the opposite direction.

  The only sound in the forest was the erratic breathing of the two girls. Shocked, scared…amazed at what had just occurred.

  Katie screamed, looking at her hands as if they had caught on fire and she didn’t know how to put them out.

  Sophie got up and comforted her. No fear—nothing.

  “It’s okay, honey, look at me.” She soothed her friend, calmed her down.

  Then she took charge, protecting Katie. Trying to get past the confusion. “We have to get out of here.”

  What the hell had just happened?

  Sophie looked around one final time.

  Sophie hadn’t consciously registered it, but Robert saw the wolf that had stared after them. The scene changed.

  “My parents are dead, Sophie, dead.” Katie sounded terrified.

  “I know.” Sophie cuddled up next to her on the bed.

  “They sent me a warning.”

  “What kind of warning?” Sophie stroked Katie’s hair, consoling her as best she could.

  “To keep my powers to myself. That they’d be coming for me.”

  “Who would be coming for you?”

  “They didn’t say! They just warned me to be careful. I’m scared, Soph.”

  They wrapped their arms around each other
, Sophie and Katie trying to gain comfort, but both knowing that their lives had changed forever.

  Robert allowed the images and the years to flicker. He realised that he’d seen Sophie at around seventeen. He searched her memories, hating himself but knowing it was what he needed to do in order to keep her safe. He’d made an oath and a blood bond to protect her and her friend. He would make certain he stuck to it.

  “I can go to the Council,” Sophie argued.

  “Council? You mean the Vampire Council? You know what they do to people like me.” Katie moved towards the window of her parents’ old house.

  “We don’t even know what you are, Katie.” Sophie moved to stand beside her friend. She placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  Katie shrugged her off, moving away.

  Sighing, Sophie said, “Me going to the Council and requesting a blood bond—”

  “Do you even know what a blood bond entails?” Katie yelled, her voice angry and scared. “You have to perform a ritual of blood swapping, Sophie! You could die! Do you even know how powerful and dangerous vampires are?”

  Katie covered her eyes, trying to stem the tears.

  Robert could sense, through Sophie, the burden of emotion that Katie had been under. It had been as if her powers were draining her of common sense. Consuming her until there was nothing left.

  “You have to calm down.”

  “I am calm!” The lamp beside her exploded.

  Sophie didn’t move a muscle, almost as if she had been expecting it.

  The years that had passed should have helped Katie to gain control of her power. Yet it seemed as if all she had done was lose more and more control over herself.

  Katie fell to her knees. Her sobs filled the air, echoing off the walls. “I just want to be normal.”

  Sophie stood watching her.

  “I’m going to the Council.” Her voice allowed no room for argument.

  “They’ll kill me.”

  “Do something to lock my memories away. Create something that means my parents have to ask and I’m the payment.” Sophie went over to her and, taking her elbow, she pulled her over to the sofa.