Marked for Pleasure [Blood Bond] (12 page)

“I’m not here to judge. I know several friends who’ve chosen human males. Love isn’t just a human emotion. I’d like to feel it myself one day.”

“Love? It’s a crazy thing. One person says it happens at first sight, another says it takes years to develop. For me, it came from one taste. Is that even possible?”

“We’re different than them. Blood is the life force for all beings, and for us, it’s everything. We can learn so much from another because the blood can’t lie or hide intentions. If you feel connected to this girl after a taste, I would wager to say it’s the real thing.”

“But my brothers may feel the same way.” He buried his face in his hands, building up a headache just thinking about it.

“Of course they would. From what I’ve read about fated mates, siblings often bond with the same mate.”

“Where did you read this? As far as I know from vampire history, our males are not into sharing.”

She shrugged. “To each their own.”

The door to the basement opened, sending a beam of light into the darkness below. He bolted to his feet. “I’ve gotta go.” Christian couldn’t get caught talking to a blood whore. If Francis found out, he’d be reprimanded for showing compassion. “By the way, what’s your name?”

“Arissa.”

Chapter Ten

Heidi was in luck. The potential buyer from yesterday wanted a second showing. From her limited experience, the request for a second viewing was an excellent sign. She should be ecstatic, but instead she felt a sense of disappointment. Once the house sold, the DeVilles would be history. The mansion at the end of the street would be just that—bricks and stone. She’d never see the brothers again.

She rubbed cocoa butter cream up her freshly shaved legs after showering. When she reached her hips, she flinched. Her flesh was so tender. She moved to the mirror, turned, and examined her backside. There were angry red lashes across her hips and ass. It looked like a thatching pattern, as if she’d fallen asleep in a giant wicker basket. She felt like there was a net over her memories, and she desperately fought to remember where she’d gotten these red marks.

Her alarm clock sounded in her bedroom. She had less than an hour until she needed to meet Mr. Carpenter at the DeVille house, and she still had no clue what she’d wear. Heidi tugged on a pair of black satin panties. The elastic dug into her sore hips, so she kicked them off, deciding she wouldn’t wear any undergarments. Her skirt nearly met her knees, so she’d be safe from being caught in the flesh. Besides, one look at her clients and her panties would have been uncomfortably moist.

There was a knock at the door to her apartment. She was in a rush and didn’t have time to deal with either of her parents now. “Yeah?”

“It’s me, Carmen.”

Great.
She couldn’t explain her life to herself, never mind her best friend. “Come on down.”

She hooked on her bra and slipped on her favorite black pencil skirt before her friend reached her bedroom. “Why haven’t you called me? How did the showing go yesterday?”

“Things have been crazy. I’m actually heading out to show the place again. The same buyer wants to see it.”

“That’s a good sign, right?”

Heidi buttoned up a short-sleeved white blouse. Black and white was a good look. She’d wear her hair down, brush it smooth. It was one of her best features, nearly reaching down the full length of her back. If that didn’t catch their attention, nothing would. She imagined the ways she could seduce Joseph, tempt Francis, and flirt with Christian.

“Heidi!”

“Huh?”

“You’re not still obsessing over Christian, are you?” Carmen sat on the bed, watching her fiddle with her buttons.

“No,” she said confidently. “I’m obsessing over all three DeVilles.” She escaped into the living room, refusing to make eye contact and knowing her friend would take the bait. Heidi needed someone to talk to. Carmen may not approve of her feelings or choices, but she’d be honest and give her some much-needed advice.

“You’re joking, right?”

She shook her head, stepping into her heels. “It’s complicated.”

“What’s complicated? You can’t like three guys. You can’t like any of the DeVilles. They’re your clients.”

“I dream about them, Carmen.”

“And I dream about Keanu Reeves, but that doesn’t mean I expect to find him in my bed tonight. Fantasies are okay as long as they stay fantasies.”

She took her friend’s hand and led them down to the sofa. Heidi winced when she sat. “Oh yeah, something’s wrong with my ass, too.”

“What’re you talking about? God, I feel like I’ve been away from you for a year.”

“I woke up with a bunch of sore marks, but I can’t for the life of me remember where they came from.”

“Did you fall? Go out and get drunk without me?”

“That’s just it. I can’t really remember too much from yesterday after showing the house. As far as I know I came right home.”

She could see the concern on her friend’s face. It’s not like she’d been at a club and been slipped a roofie. She had only come home after showing the house, no pit stops, no unusual company.

“Are you up to showing the house?”

Heidi stood up and forced a smile. “Of course. I’m sure it’s nothing. Maybe I sleepwalk.” They both laughed dismissively, but Heidi’s mind was still piecing everything together in her head. It was wrong to involve her friend and get her worried for nothing.

“Okay. Good. Just remember to keep your paws off the clients. Just imagine the gossip around town. ‘First female real estate agent becomes town’s biggest whore.’”

She gave her friend a playful smack on the shoulder and grabbed her purse to leave.

As she traveled down the street, she noted that Jeremy Carpenter’s black BMW was parked on the road in front of the DeVille house. Why hadn’t he driven up the long driveway and parked in the oversized lot? It was quite the hike by foot. She stopped alongside him and opened her passenger-side window.

“Good morning. Did the gates not open?”

“I just thought I’d wait for you out here. Do you mind if I hitch a ride with you to the front doors?”

“Sure. Hop in.” She unlocked the doors. Heidi had offered to pick Jeremy up and drop him off, as was the custom for agents in their town. But he’d declined every time, saying he’d rather meet her at the property. The least she could do was bring him up the driveway.

He sat beside her, bringing in the fresh outdoors and the scent of his cologne. “I was meaning to ask you. There wasn’t anything illegal going on in the house that you know of?”

“No, of course not. There aren’t any liens on the house, either.” In all honesty, she knew very little about the DeVilles. Their place was clearly not a drug house, and they didn’t look like hard-core criminals. But she still wondered about the basement she wasn’t allowed to see. What was down there that they were trying to hide?

“I’m sure you’re right,” he said with a smile. Jeremy was a handsome man. He must have recently showered. His dark blond hair was damp and hand-brushed back. She hoped he wasn’t wasting her time, building her hopes with no intention of buying the house. It did seem unlikely a young man like him would be interested in such a property, but she couldn’t very well question him.

The towering iron gates opened as she drove up. She’d never get used to it. For some reason the word
vampire
rang in her head, as if it held some unknown significance.

“I’d like to get a better look at the rear yard and basement, if possible.”

“That might be a problem, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“Oh?”

She shook her head. “It’s nothing. The DeVilles hadn’t planned on showing the basement. It’s unfinished. I’ll just need to get their approval.”

“Of course.”

The front door opened within moments of her banging the lion’s head knocker. They entered and the door slammed shut. Joseph stood in the entryway, legs braced, arms crossed over his broad chest.

“Good morning. We’re not early, are we?”

He said nothing, just stared. Joseph looked at Jeremy the way she’d expect her father to greet an unwanted boyfriend. Didn’t he want his house sold?

When she didn’t think things could get more awkward, Christian appeared, draping an arm around Joseph’s shoulder. “You’re here. Great, we’ve been looking forward to the next showing. Don’t mind us. We’ll stay out of your hair.” He was good-natured, laid-back, and he singlehandedly stomped out the uncomfortable tension in the air. Joseph remained stiff and unwelcoming as he was forced from the room.

“That was interesting,” said Jeremy as they entered the empty foyer.

She didn’t know what to say. As embarrassing as Joseph’s behavior was when he was supposed to be a team player in selling the house, it aroused her. His tall, broad-shouldered frame, the deep set of his eyes, and the dominance he exuded made her body respond. There was something about a man in control. She recalled when he’d told her to behave, as if she were his woman, his property. It aroused her then as much as now.

She brushed the situation off, hoping to salvage the showing, and began the tour. They went upstairs first. All the bedrooms were empty, and she wondered where Francis was. He’d been so adamant on staying in the house during the last showing that she expected to see him. Wanted to see him. Clips of memories assaulted her. She had the most bizarre yearning to connect with Francis.

When they finally returned to the entrance, Jeremy stopped her with a hand to the shoulder. “Can you find out if we can view the basement? It will help me make my decision.”

She swallowed hard, remembering Francis’s words. If she couldn’t sell the house without showing the basement, Jeremy may just find an agent who could. “I’ll have to ask one of the owners. Do you mind waiting for a few minutes?”

“I’ll be in the living room. Get me whenever you’re ready.” He nodded to the smaller room off the foyer which displayed all the beautiful artwork. Heidi straightened her shoulders and set out to deal with the DeVilles.

* * * *

“I don’t like him, Christian!” Joseph paced the kitchen, agitation lashing within him. His senses had become stronger lately. He thought he could only read Heidi’s emotions, but it seemed he had a glimpse into other humans, too. This Jeremy character wasn’t who he seemed.

“You’re just being jealous. Your control lately has been laughable. Now be a good little vamp and fuck off until the showing’s over.”

He banged a fist on the counter, a slight crack traveling up the center of the granite. The lights flickered.

“Look at that shit. You’re determined for this house to stay unsold, aren’t you?”

“Maybe I am.”

They both turned at once when Heidi entered the kitchen. His cock hardened and fangs lengthened.
Fuck!
He was a lost cause.

“Sorry to bother you both. I know Francis didn’t want us in the basement, but the client would like to see it before deciding to buy. Is there any chance we can get down there for a minute or two?”

Joseph knew he couldn’t grant her request any more than Christian could. There was still one blood whore downstairs, and their BDSM shit was strewn all over the place. What kind of reason could they have for refusing her request? Francis should have cleaned things up before they hired Heidi. It was his idea to move, after all. Joseph was feeling more and more resentful. Francis’s sudden demand for them to pack up and leave their lives behind was illogical. More than illogical, it was putting countless miles between him and the one female who invaded his waking thoughts. The more his feelings for her grew, the more he realized how willing he’d be to break vampire tradition and mate with a human. But thinking it wouldn’t make it happen. Heidi deserved a man from her own race, not a man who’d crave her blood as much as her love.

Joseph wasn’t to be trusted as of late, thanks to his emotions being completely out of whack. One moment lust, the other love, and then jealousy so heated he was willing to kill a man for looking at Heidi. He couldn’t trust himself, so it was no wonder Christian continually stepped in on his behalf.

“Heidi. We have no problem granting your request. We just ask for another day. There are some items of importance stored below that we’d like to secure before having people through. And as Francis has stated, it’s unfinished and nothing to see regardless,” said Christian, cool and controlled. Bested by his younger brother, once again.