Sold to the Billionaire Vampire

The Bath

Draco’s eyes widened the moment her lips met his. She kissed him? Where did she get the nerve?

He'd been ready to leave her at her room. Dinner had been more pleasant than he expected. She was an innocent, but smarter than he had realized. Still, he could go forward with his plan and enjoy her company. They could be...friends, of a sort. But, he was wrong. This girl was too bold—too reckless. He was sure she didn't realize the dynamite she was playing with.

Talia froze after pressing her lips against his, as though she couldn’t believe what she’d done. Their lips remained locked, both of them motionless, caught in a strange, electric stillness.

After a few seconds, she slowly began to pull away, but Draco’s palm shot up, halting her. His fingers raked through her soft hair, gripping her head as he pushed her deeper into the kiss.

His other hand slammed onto the wall beside her, trapping her in place. Her head tilted back under his intensity of the kiss, and his tongue slid into her mouth, devouring her like a beast unleashed. Their tongues clashed dangerously, each movement rough and unyielding.

Talia whimpered in surprise, her small hands clutching at his shoulders, unsure whether she wanted to pull him closer or push him away.

Draco made the choice for her, pressing closer, the passion had hadn't been aware he had been holding back for his new wife surging forward. A low growl rumbled in his throat. A tear, then two traced down Talia's cheeks dampening her long lashes. When Draco felt the wetness of her tears against his face, he paused. Slowly, he pulled away, his breath ragged. He stared at her, the sight of her silent tears striking something deep within him.

His gaze dropped to her swollen, crimson lips, now smeared with the faintest trace of blood. His piercing eyes locked onto hers.

“Why are you crying, baby?” he asked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Talia swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. “You were too rough...you cut me.” She raised a finger to her lip swiping at the bead of blood there, her voice trembling.

Draco's eyes focused on the blood and his nostrils flared. It was the sweetest scent he had ever smelled. His eyelids dropped shut for a moment as he tried to gain control of himself. He felt his fangs lengthen and his c**k harden but he knew he had to go slow or he would scare his little wife beyond repair. Gods and demons! This had not been part of his plan!

"I'm sorry, Talia. I forget how fragile you are. And how innocent. Do you even know what goes on between a husband and wife?" Draco asked, trying to control the growl in his voice.

"Um, yes?" Talia answered but she looked to the ground and sounded anything but sure.

"Come." Draco swept her into his strong arms and through her new rooms, past the lovely canopy bed and into the large bathroom suite. The bathroom was dimly lit, with a tall shower stand on one side and a large bathtub at its center.

Draco placed Talia on her feet in front of the large tub reaching past her to turn on the spigots until water flowed like a geyser into the deep copper basin. Steam quickly began filling the space around them and Draco began slowly unbuttoning his shirt.

Her eyes widened as the cloth fell from his broad shoulders and she stared at his lean, muscular chest. She tried to swallow but her mouth was suddenly as dry as sawdust. when his hands moved to unbuckle his pants, Talia quickly covered her eyes with her hands, her face burning with embarrassment.

“Draco!” she mumbled, caution in her voice, her eyes tightly shut.

He ignored her, stepping away toward the bathtub. The sound of water dripping echoed in the room, forcing her to lower her hands.

When she finally looked up, her brows furrowed in surprise. Draco was already in the bathtub, completely stripped. He rested against the edge with a casual ease, his piercing gaze fixed on her.

He lifted a hand and curled his fingers, gesturing for her. "Come, little wife."

Talia’s cheeks flamed with embarrassment. Why did he make her feel so exposed? His broad, bare chest seemed to mock her, and yet she couldn’t look away.

“How long do you plan to stand there? Take off your clothes and join me, my beauty,” he said, his voice causing a shiver of delight to dance up her spine.

“Me?” She pointed to herself, feigning ignorance, though she knew exactly who he meant.

“Do you want me to get up and help you?” he asked, his voice laced with a challenge that made her heart skip.

Flustered, she lowered her gaze and reached behind herself to unzip her dress. As the fabric slid down her shoulders, she hesitated, clutching it just above her chest.

“Draco… I’m not wearing anything underneath…I” she stammered, her face flushing an even deeper red.

“I know. All the better. Now let it go,” he said, cutting her off mid-sentence.

Reluctantly, she let the dress slip from her fingers. Standing completely bare, she clasped her thighs together, her hands trembling at her sides.

Draco’s eyes roved over her, his breath hitching. Despite having seen countless women before, none had ever made him feel this way. Talia had a purity and innocence that radiated from her, setting her apart from every other woman he'd been with over the hundreds of years he had been walking the earth.

Smooth skin, rounded breasts, delicate curves in all the right places. She had it all. She was a vision, and Draco found himself utterly captivated.

“Come here,” he commanded softly.

She stepped into the bathtub and lowered herself cautiously in front of him, keeping her eyes fixed on the water to avoid meeting his gaze.

“Talia,” he murmured, his voice unexpectedly gentle.

She peeked up at him through her lashes, her shyness evident in every careful movement.

“I want us to do this every day. I want us to bathe together,” he said.

“Really?” she asked, her brows arching in surprise.

He reached out, his thumb brushing over her lip, still swollen from his kiss and the accidental graze of his fang with unexpected tenderness.

“Does it still hurt?” he asked softly, his tone filled with concern.

“Just a little,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, but he heard her.

He stopped, staring into her wide, beautiful eyes. “I’ll be more careful next time,” he promised.

She nodded quickly, and he leaned in to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. Talia felt her heart swell, her shoulders trembling at his touch.

For the first time, she felt truly loved. She didn’t understand his sudden gentleness, but she hoped it would last.

Draco guided her to lean against him, resting her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, his chin resting on her shoulder as he inhaled the sweet scent of her skin.

His fangs threatened to appear, but he forced them to retract, closing his eyes as he calmed himself.

“Draco… can I ask you something?” Talia finally spoke, her voice hesitant.

“I’ll answer if it’s worth my time,” he replied, his tone neutral.

“I have more than one question,” she said, giggling softly when he sighed.

“Ask,” he said after a moment of silence.

Her giggle grew louder, pleased with his response.

“Next time you leave home, do I have to stay indoors the entire time?”

“Yes,” he answered curtly.

“But it's so boring! This is my first time in the city. Don’t you think I should explore a little?”

“There are workers here to keep you company. Everything you need is in this house. Going out, where everyone knows you’re my wife, would be dangerously foolish.”

“But—”

“Next question,” he interrupted, shutting down her argument.

She hesitated before speaking again.

“Um, I’m your only wife, right?” she asked.

His body stiffened at her question. He lifted his chin from the top of her head and sat upright.

“Why would you think I have another wife?” he asked, his voice growing husky and slightly irritated.

“I don’t think you do. I was just asking. I mean, Sable…” she trailed off, intimidated by the sharp intensity in his eyes.

" Well, that question cannot be answered" He said briefly.

" Because I'm the only wife, right?" She asked her eyes blinking slowly while waiting for his response.

"That's enough questions," he said shortly, standing abruptly and pulling a towel off the rack besides the tub.

Without a backwards glance, he stomped from the room leaving Talia to watch him leave, her heart sinking. She'd thought they were making such good progress this evening, then she'd messed it up. But she still didn't understand why.

Why was he avoiding the question if he doesn't have another wife? Was Sable right? Was there something he was hiding from her?