Sold to the Billionaire Vampire

Shopping

Molly

Alec pulled open the door to Molly's room and stood quietly for a moment, taking in the scene. He had taken off his coat, showered, and come downstairs to meet her. When he spotted Molly, he walked over to her, tapping her gently on the shoulder.

Molly scoffed, turning her head in the other direction without looking up.

"Molly!"

"Molly??!"

At the sound of his voice, she scrambled up from the floor, startled, and turned to find Alec standing there, an expression of disbelief on his face.

He stared at her, and Molly felt her heart skip. His face was a mix of charm and warmth—too handsome to ignore.

"Doc?!" she gasped after a moment of awkward silence.

Alec tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he noticed something. "You’ve got drool on your cheek," he pointed out, gesturing to his own cheek as a hint.

Molly’s eyes widened as she hurriedly wiped her face, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

Alec glanced around the room before his gaze returned to her. "Why are you sleeping on the floor when you have a perfectly good bed right there?"

Molly turned her head toward the king-sized bed in front of her and shrugged. "I tried sleeping on it, but it just wasn’t working. The floor is cooler. I think I prefer it," she admitted with a small grin.

Alec ran his fingers through his hair, clearly exasperated. "Molly, you can’t sleep on the floor. It’ll give you body aches—that’s what the bed is for."

"But the bed is so big," she pouted, her lips forming a soft, exaggerated curve. "What if I fall off while I’m asleep?"

Alec frowned slightly. "You’ve never slept on a bed before?"

Molly gave him a slow, hesitant nod.

He sighed deeply, running his fingers through his hair again. "Come on," he said, reaching for her hands and pulling her to her feet. That’s when he noticed she was still wearing his hoodie from the night before.

"Why are you here? Isn’t it still the middle of the night?" she asked, blinking up at him.

"This isn’t the middle of the night, Molly. It’s nine in the morning. You slept so long I had to come wake you myself."

Her eyes widened in shock. "Oh my gosh!" she gasped. "I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to sleep that long—it must’ve been a mistake."

"It’s fine, Molly," Alec said calmly.

"No, no, it’s not fine!" she insisted, her voice trembling. "I promised I’d behave and help with the chores and everything. I can’t believe I slept that long. I’ve broken my promise. Please don’t be upset with me, Doc. Please!" Her voice cracked, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

Alec placed a firm but gentle hand on her shoulder. "Molly, you can’t cry over something so small. You’re recovering, and you probably needed the rest. I’m not upset, okay? You shouldn’t feel so pressured."

Her tears paused as she stared at him, hope flickering in her eyes. "Really? You’re not going to throw me out or send me back to the hospital?"

Alec chuckled softly. "Of course not. I’d have to be out of my mind to send you away."

Relieved, Molly threw her arms around him in a sudden burst of emotion, even hopping a little as she hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Doc! I just love you so, so much!"

Alec gently pulled her arms away, his expression soft but amused. Molly immediately realized what she had said, her face heating up.

"Uh...did I say love? I meant like! I like you…for your, um, generosity," she stammered, nervously flashing a toothy smile.

Alec smirked slightly and walked over to lean against her dressing table, tucking his hands into his pockets.

"Today is Sunday," he announced. "I’m taking the day off from work, and I thought I’d take you to the mall. You need some new clothes and shoes."

Molly’s eyes lit up. "Right now? Like this minute?" she asked excitedly.

"I’m waiting for you to take your bath," he replied, watching as she practically leapt toward the bathroom, her excitement radiating from every step.

Alec chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement. "She’s playful," he murmured to himself, his shoulders relaxing. A fond smile crept onto his face. "Playful, but cute."

Later, after Molly had freshened up and changed, Alec led her out of the house and into his car. The ride was filled with Molly’s chatter, her excitement bubbling over as they approached the shopping center.

When they arrived, Alec opened the car door for her, and Molly stepped out, her eyes widening at the sight of the large mall.

"This is going to be so much fun!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her toes.

Alec smiled, his heart warmed at her enthusiasm. "Let’s get started," he said, guiding her toward the entrance.

And with that, their day of shopping began.

********

Draco

Draco’s jaw tightened as Sable’s fingers grazed his chest, her touch cold and unwelcome. She moved with the confidence of someone who believed she still held power over him, and it grated on his nerves. He had tolerated enough—too much, in fact.

“Sable, I’m warning you,” he growled, his voice low and vibrating with restrained fury. “Get out. Now.”

Her laugh was soft, almost musical, but to Draco, it was like nails scraping against glass. “Oh, Draco,” she purred, her lips curving into a sly smile. “You can’t scare me. We both know how this ends. You always come back to me.”

The audacity of her words sent a spark of anger racing through his veins. His hand snapped out, gripping her neck with the kind of precision only centuries of control could grant. His fingers pressed firmly against her throat, though not enough to harm—yet.

“That was a long time ago,” he hissed, his tone sharp enough to cut. “Things have changed. I’ve changed. And you? You’re nothing to me now.”

Her eyes darkened, the glint of danger in them matching the smirk that never quite left her lips. “Changed?” she echoed, her voice dripping with mockery. “Don’t fool yourself. You can play house with your little human all you want, but underneath it all, you’re still the same. You’re a predator, Draco. Just like me.”

Her taunt hit its mark, and for a moment, his control slipped. His grip tightened, his fangs elongating as a low growl rumbled deep in his chest. Sable’s smirk faltered, but she quickly masked her unease with defiance.

“You can’t deny what you are,” she continued, her voice soft but biting. “And you can’t deny what we had.”

Draco’s glowing eyes narrowed as he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. “What we had is long over,” he whispered, his voice cold and deliberate. “Just like you’ll be if you don’t leave this room right now.”

Her confidence wavered, but she forced a laugh, though it sounded thinner now. “You think you can get rid of me so easily? You’ll never be free of me, Draco. I’m part of you, whether you like it or not.”

In a blur of movement, he pinned her against the wall effortlessly. Her feet dangled inches above the floor, and for the first time, a flicker of fear crossed her face. “You think I won’t hurt you?” he hissed, his voice barely above a whisper but carrying the weight of a promise. “You think I won’t end this once and for all?”

The room seemed to grow colder, the air thick with tension. For a moment, Sable seemed to consider her next move carefully. Then, her lips curved into a defiant smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Go ahead,” she challenged, voice strained but steady. “Do me in. But we both know you won’t. You need me more than you’d like to admit.”

Draco’s grip loosened, and he let her drop unceremoniously to the floor. She landed on her feet, smoothing out her clothes and tossing her hair over her shoulder with practiced ease. “You’ll see,” she said, her voice carrying a veiled threat as she backed toward the door. “You can’t escape your past, Draco. It always catches up with you.”

With that, she slipped out of the room, leaving him alone with the storm brewing inside him.

Draco exhaled slowly, his hands curling into fists before he forced himself to relax. He walked to the mirror across the room, his reflection staring back at him with glowing eyes and elongated fangs. The sight sent a jolt of disgust through him—not at what he was, but at the truth Sable had so cruelly reminded him of.

No matter how much he tried to bury his past, it always clawed its way back to the surface. But this time, he wouldn’t let it consume him. This time, he had something worth protecting.

His thoughts turned to Talia. Her warm smile and kind eyes were a stark contrast to Sable’s venomous presence. Talia was everything Sable wasn’t—gentle, genuine, and utterly human. The memory of her soft laughter and the way she looked at him with unguarded trust made his chest tighten.

But then he remembered the way he’d snapped at her earlier, his temper fraying under the weight of his frustrations. Guilt gnawed at him, sharp and unrelenting. She didn’t deserve that. She didn’t deserve to bear the brunt of his anger, especially when she’d done nothing but bring light into his otherwise dark existence.

He pushed off the bed, grabbing a shirt and pulling it on as he left the room. He found Talia sitting in the cozy nook by the window, a book resting in her hands. She looked up when he entered, her expression cautious but hopeful.

“Hey,” he said softly, his voice lacking its usual edge.

“Hi,” she replied, closing her book and setting it aside. “Everything okay?”

Draco nodded, clearing his throat. “Yeah. I, uh… I wanted to apologize for earlier. I shouldn’t have been so short with you.”

Her eyes softened, and she offered him a small, understanding smile. “It’s okay. I know you’ve been under a lot of stress.”

He shook his head. “It’s not okay. You didn’t deserve that.” He hesitated, running a hand through his hair before continuing. “I thought… maybe I could make it up to you. I was thinking we could go out for a bit. Do some shopping or something. My treat.”

Her smile grew, lighting up her face in a way that made his chest ache. “Really? That sounds amazing.”

“Good,” he said, his lips curving into a rare smile. “Let’s go.”

As they left the house together, Draco felt a sense of purpose he hadn’t felt in years. Talia’s excitement was infectious, her chatter filling the silence as they drove toward the shopping district.

For the first time in a long time, Draco allowed himself to smile.