The Vampire Playboy - Blood and Lust

Chapter 25

Olivia's POV

I didn't even attempt to stop myself. I'd never been one to seek out comfort in another person, I was a loner who had self-soothed my entire life until I'd come here and now here I was seeking out Charles.

I buried my head into his chest and let the hot silent tears wash down my face. I couldn't talk, a lump formed in my throat and I knew the moment I tried to get words out these silent tears would turn to sobs.

I don't know exactly why but Noah's words hadn't hurt me to cause this, he had scared me, something about the look on his face made him look unnatural and I had felt terrified of him. Relief had washed over me when he had left and I'd managed to hold it together until then.

I felt Charles wrap his arms around me and pull me in close, resting his chin on top of my head. I wrapped my arms around his back and felt myself shaking. I silently prayed that Charles didn't notice.

"Hey, it's ok," he said as he stroked my hair tenderly with one arm and wrapped the other protectively around me.

"I'm going to see if Carmella will let you finish early for the evening. We'll get you home. Do you have your keys for the car?" He asked softly.

I nodded and felt him unwrap his arm. I looked up not knowing what to expect.

His fingers gently swept the wetness from my cheeks before he took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders.

"You go in the car and lock the doors until I come back OK?"

I nodded, still too afraid to speak, I walked to the car like a zombie. My brain was in overdrive, had I overreacted? I wasn't sure, it was possible. Noah was right, I was inexperienced and I didn't have a baseline to say what was normal or not. I'd have to ask Sophie to see what she said but I knew how it made me feel and I was confused as to why I felt so scared. I was sure Noah wouldn't ever hurt me, he had given me no reason to ever think he would so why did I have this visceral reaction to him drawing blood?

I jumped as the window rattled and then felt warm calm as I saw Charles. I unlocked the door and he got in as I started the engine.

"All sorted with Carmella, let's get you home," Charles said.

I drove on autopilot to my house. It was in darkness, I hadn't thought to ask for anyone's plans. David must be out of town and Sophie with Owen, fear gripped me again.

"Will….Will you come inside with me for a bit please?" I asked slyly.

"Of course," Charles replied without hesitation.

My hands shook as I fumbled with the keys to the door, dropping them in the process, Charles stood there patiently waiting for me to gain my composure until I finally managed to open the door. I don't think I'd ever flicked on a light so quickly.

"Why don't you take a seat and I'll go make us a cup of tea? How do you like yours?" Charles asked. I quickly locked the door behind me and looked around the room and did as he suggested.

"A spot of milk and one sugar please," I replied, my voice shaking.

This was crazy, I shouldn't be this scared, I was inside behind locked doors and Noah wasn't trying to hurt me.

I pulled out my phone and dialled Sophie's number.

"Hey Liv, you ok?" Her chirpy voice sounded through the handset.

"Oh erm yeah, just had a weird moment with Noah, um Carmella let me finish early, is your dad out of town tonight?"

"Yeah didn't he tell you? I'm staying with Owen tonight, he has an empty house" she laughed.

Fear gripped my stomach.

"Ok, you enjoy that and I'll see you in the morning."

"Liv, are you ok? You sound weird. Do you need me to come home?"

"No no I'm fine, Charles has brought me home anyway, I'll explain in the morning but I'm fine, he'll be going as soon as I call a taxi for him." I didn't want to ruin her night and I knew if I told her I was scared to be alone tonight, that the dark made me uncomfortable, she would be home right away and I'd be mad at myself. I wasn't helpless nor was I a damsel in distress that needed rescuing.

Charles placed a mug down in front of me and I forced a smile.

"Look, I'm fine, I'll call you in the morning, tell Owen I say hello. Love you, now get back to Owen." I said before I cut her off if she kept pressing it I'd fold.

I took the warm mug in my hand and let my eyes focus on the steam rising from it in some hypnotic fashion.

"I've called a taxi to pick me up, it should be around 10 minutes. What happened back there?" Charles asked.

"You're going to think I'm stupid," I replied.

He took a seat next to me and carefully placed a hand on my lap. "I promise I won't"

I took a sip of the tea and focused on my breathing.

"It sounds stupid, but Noah had this look, I can't explain it but it terrified me, he didn't look like Noah, his eyes felt…..cold like he wasn't really there and I just had this weird vibe. I know it's probably an overreaction on my part." I sighed.

"Noah was an asshole tonight, but I don't believe he meant to hurt you"

"I know"

"But your feelings are valid. And you don't have to go through with this weekend if you don't want to, nobody would blame you for pulling out, you wouldn't ruin anything for Owen."

I shook my head in reply. "It would. I'm sure I can manage to get past the weekend."

"Would it help if I allocated us all separate bedrooms?"

I gasped "was I supposed to be sharing with Noah?"

"I think that was kinda the thinking yes"

"I can't share a bed with him, even if I wasn't planning to break up with him, I'm not ready for that kind of thing" I could feel the panic beginning to rise, threatening to overwhelm me

Charles seemed to pick up on this. He took the mug out of my hand and placed it on the coffee table before pulling me into his arms, I melted into him.

For reasons unknown to me, I felt safe with him. This was despite every wrong thing he had done to me and the fact I knew he was my boyfriend's best friend I wanted, no I needed him to hold me like this.

"Liv, you don't have to do this, you don't have to do any of this. Screw Owen and everyone else, if you want to break up with Noah then do it, don't put yourself through this weekend away just for everyone else, put yourself first. I'm never going to make you or encourage you to do something you don't want to do."

I blinked and looked up at him. Those eyes, they captivated me, held me, took every reasonable thought from me. His words were all lost at that moment, words couldn't form in my mouth.

I reached up and cupped his cheek, trying to show him I appreciated what he had just said to me.

Charles growled. "Fu*k it" before his mouth came close to mine. His lips brushed softly, delicately, like butterfly wings against mine, just long enough that I could inhale his breath, and feel the warmth of his skin. Shivers ran down my spine and across my skin. I closed my eyes and let his scent engulf me. I pushed for more, forcing the kiss to deepen, moist and hot and breathy, not trying to win a battle but seeking union and closeness and the sharing of one breath, one sensation, one timeless and passionate moment. The heat rose in my cheeks as our tongues touched, quick and electric and delicious, then firmer, more determined, more curious about the heat that lay within, seeking to chase down that elusive liquid lightning that was burning between my thighs.

Charles pulled away and looked at me, almost like he feared continuing or being so close to me. I knew it was wrong to want him, but my body responded to him in ways that it didn't to anyone else. I wanted to feel his touch and I wanted to feel the pleasure course through me as I called out his name begging him for more. I shook my head as though to dismiss the thought and rose to my feet.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that," Charles said guiltily.

"I wanted you to, I…I liked it."

A smirk spread across his face and I realised I shouldn't have admitted that. I didn't mean to play games and didn't want to play games but I couldn't know if Charles was serious in his feelings and intentions towards me, or if this too would last a few days before he would turn back to the playboy again.

"Who was the girl earlier?" I snapped, not realising until it came out of my mouth that my tone was harsh and accusatory when I had no right to be.

He sighed. "That was Nat, we had history, and that's exactly the way it's going to stay. She's history. You're I hope…my future."

"She didn't seem like history. You bought her a drink."

"I bought all of her friends and her drinks Liv, to get rid of her. I can't lie and say once upon a time I'd have taken her outside or to the hotel and fu*ked her, but I'm not interested in doing that anymore. I want to change for you, I'm trying to change for you, to be better."

I turned away. I couldn't face him, he sounded sincere and my heart was doing cartwheels at his declaring his loyalty to me but it didn't erase how he's treated me. And I sounded like a deranged jealous i***t for questioning him.

"I know it's going to take time to trust me and to believe me, if you have questions I'll answer them truthfully. I've fu*ked more girls than I can recount and I've treated most of them like a commodity and I know how that makes me sound. I've worked hard, played hard and partied harder for most of my life. You're different. I'm not trying to convince you to sleep with me, I'm not trying to play you, I want more from this and for us. The things I think and feel for your run deeper than those girls."

I closed my eyes and took a breath. I needed a clear head. I couldn't jump right into him and I was teetering dangerously on the brink.

"I can't think of anything until I've broken up with Noah, and I'm not willing to ruin things for Owen and my best friend, so it has to be after that. And even then I won't make any promises to you. I'm confused about how I feel. I'm going to hurt Noah enough without factoring you in."

"Ok. I'd prefer you break up with him sooner but it's your choice and it's not for me to influence you. I'll have my housekeeper set up the rooms so we each have an individual, Owen and Sophie can decide to share once we get there if they want."

"How big is this cabin?" I queried.

"Big enough" he smirked, "I think you'll like it there, I'd like to take your there in the winter when it's snowing, just the two of us"

"Very presumptuous of you"

"I presume nothing, I said I would like to take you not that I would" he smirked again and I had to fight the urge to kiss him just to wipe the smirk from his face.

Charles's brows knitted together and he looked at his phone.

"My taxi is here"

I felt my face fall and I stiffened. I instantly didn't want him to go, I looked nervously towards the other rooms and the stairs which were still darkened.

"Thank you for coming in," I said trying not to let my fear creep through.

Charles appeared to be studying my face and I forced a smile.

"Give me a moment he said" before dashing outside and reappearing a couple of minutes later.

"I've sent him away, I hope you don't mind, I just don't feel comfortable with you here alone"

I forced down my smile. "Erm sure," I said trying to be coy and unbothered by this gesture. "To be clear, nothing is happening between us this evening."

A smile spread across Charles's face that went from eye to eye, I sucked in a breath and chewed my bottom lip. I was sure I wasn't going to stick to that statement.

"Just tonight? That means other nights aren't off the table" he chuckled as he took a seat on the sofa and patted for me to come to sit beside him.

"Actually I think I'm going to get changed first, I smell like the bar," I said edging towards the darkness on the stairway." Nerves engulfed me again. I'd never been particularly fond of the dark but I'd grown to tolerate it as inevitable, tonight though it had me on edge.

"Is it OK if I use the bathroom?" Charles interrupted my panic.

"Sure, it's upstairs and the second door on your left," I said watching as he made his way to the stairs and flicked on the light.

There was no offer for me to go ahead of him, normally I'd find this rude but tonight I was relieved once more at his presence. I duly followed him watching him flick on lights as he went, I hovered at my bedroom door quickly flicking on the light and relaxing once I saw it was exactly as I had left it. Charles smiled at me as he waited for me to disappear inside.

"I'll see you downstairs" he called as he closed the door.

A different kind of panic set in now. What the hell would I wear? I could wear my childish character-filled pyjamas that I normally would, I had nothing that could pass for sexy looking or even classy. I palmed my face in exasperation and I dragged my other hand through my drawers. I'd have to improvise and make a mental note to place an online order for something cute before the weekend. Then I scolded myself for thinking like this once again. I grabbed a pair of red and black checked bottoms, there was no way I was wearing the matching top that was black and red with two hugging pandas. I frantically opened my other drawer and grabbed a thin strapped black tank top, that would do, and I could put one of my zippers on top so I'd be warm and less exposed. I heard the bathroom door open and the stairs creep as Charles made his way down. I changed quickly and sprinted to the bathroom, hastily taking off my smudged makeup before splashing some cold water on my face, running the brush through my hair and then brushing my teeth.

I returned to the sofa to find Charles flicking through the TV channels, not appearing to notice me. His shoes have been kicked off and he's lounging back casually against the sofa as though it's the most natural thing in the world, there's a grey blanket dropped over his lap, my grey blanket. I rolled my eyes and stifled my groan.

"Make yourself at home, shall I get you any snacks or a drink perhaps?" I teased.

He makes no effort to turn but I could swear he's got a smile on.

"Thanks, I already have, snacks won't be necessary but a couple of soft drinks would be nice if you have any"

I chose not to reply, I know my response would be dripping in sarcasm, instead, I take two cans of cola from the fridge, place them on the table and take a seat next to him closer than I really should have. I carefully tuck my legs under me and lean back, my arms pressing into Charles though it does not need to, there's plenty of room on the sofa to create distance. I can see him smirk from the corner of my eyes but chose to ignore it. He finally settles on Ghost Hunters and before I get a chance to protest at the nonsense he's put on he takes the blanket and spreads it across my knee, pushing down any retaliation that was bubbling inside of me. The warmth of his contact makes my body relax and I let myself lean into him a little.

"Tell me how you and Noah met," I said sleepily.