But Eldrich wasn’t the only one who suffered when he couldn’t feed from her. Her orgasms were less intense. When she was with him, she became part of him and she needed to feel her very life leaving her body and into his in order to fully experience sexual ecstasy. And what’s more, he’d rush into her fiercely, causing her pain, real pain. Although she secretly admitted to liking it; she understood she was in danger. He was a strong and determined vampire who could easily lose his judgment during sex and yes, accidentally kill her.
She needed his sanity, tonight. It was her twenty-first birthday and he had promised to obey her every sexual wish. And what she wanted was for him to take her far into the forest away from the Kingdom of Barmoth where her father did not rule. She wanted Eldrich to devour her in a place unknown to her where she could forget everything…her childhood, the golden ball, the death of her mother, she wanted it all gone. She needed to escape. And in order to do so, she’d need to eat; she had no intention of prohibiting Eldrich from doing whatever he wanted to her. Her plan was to keep him inside of her all night. Blessed Gods, just thinking about him made her body vibrate. Smiling, she let the feeling run through her.
Yes, she’d gorge on fruit and prepare herself for him. Since he was an old vampire, he could go days without his fill of blood. And now that he was drinking from her, he needed even less blood.
Since they had been together, he had only hunted once. He had not shared the details of his hunt with her. Nor had she asked. Vampires only drank from humans. And when they drank for nourishment, they completely emptied their victims. The hair on her arms froze.
She pushed that knowledge to the darkest and most hidden space of her mind. She’d only focus on happiness and goodness and sexual diversions. Because if she were truthful, although she did love Eldrich, she also understood that her time with him was a distraction from her life. She was a princess, the only child of the King of Barmoth. And the time would come when she’d have to wear the crown and lead her people. She could never completely turn her back on the people of Barmoth.
As she carried on through the trees, she examined her surroundings, looking over her shoulder often and listening for any sounds. Ever since she had let a stupid golden ball cause her to fall into a well, she was more careful with her steps. But had it not been for the ball, she’d have never met Eldrich. She couldn’t help but laugh a little. He was a frog when he pulled her from the well after she agreed to give him whatever he desired! And what he had desired was her, a simple kiss that returned him to his true form. But that had not been enough for him; he had begged…demanded that she lie with him. And she had given herself to him that night and every night since. Yes, she admitted to the desperation and moment of weakness.
Completely giddy, she reached a mass of vines filled with round and plump berries. Lela grabbed a handful and swallowed them. She continued eating until her stomach did not pang anymore. Then she went down to the river and splashed water on her face. She planned on gorging on fruit and bathing in the river all day.
She undressed and sank into the river, letting the cold water refresh and cleanse her skin. She’d have to stay in the shallow end; the current was strong and she didn’t want to risk being swept away by it.
The golden ball came to her mind. Despite Eldrich’s assurance that she was safe and that his kind no longer had a claim on her blood now that he had hidden the ball in the sea, she could not deny her lingering fear. Lady Rema, her handmaiden, had told her the truth. And the truth was that the ball, which vampires considered their god, had followed her since birth never making itself known to her until that day…the day it called her in the forest.
Going underwater for a moment, she tried to shake off her fear. To no avail. Lady Rema had also told her that since the ball chose to present itself to her, vampires would come for her and drain her, believing that her blood could save them, make them human again. It was written in their sacred book that the ball would someday choose a human to follow and that that human’s blood would make them mortal again. Her poor mother had offered herself to them ten years earlier and in exchange they agreed to leave Lela alone. They had murdered her mother! And yet here she was in love with a vampire. Oh, mother, please forgive me. Eldrich is not like the rest of his kind. He truly loves me.
She tried to quiet her mind and only think of Eldrich and their love for each other. Eldrich come to me, stay inside of me, drink from me, take my soul, I’m yours, now and forever.
Touching her nipples with one hand and putting her other hand down below, she imagined Eldrich thrusting into her.
She murmured, “Sweet prince, sleep and dream of me.”
The sun’s rays on her face, her thoughts on Eldrich’s throbbing cock; she wished it was stroking her entire body. The sun came down harshly on her; sweat trickled down to her neck. Gasping and moaning, she continued masturbating; she felt she’d stop breathing if Eldrich spent one more second outside of her body. Chewing her lip, her insides burning she exploded.
“Eldrich, yes, Eldrich, yes, my prince!” she screamed.
Despite being a virgin when she met Eldrich, she was not naive and had discovered how to release her ever-increasing sexual tension some years earlier. She had even stumbled upon servants in the kitchen or in the halls and she was not ashamed to admit that she had not looked away, but rather watched with jealous curiosity. For goodness sake, she had even seen vegetables inserted into a woman’s…
She staggered onto the river’s bank and then collapsed. Shivering, she quickly dressed and then threw on her cloak. She’d rest for a little while and aim to catch up on her sleep since night time was no longer for sleeping, a thought that made her blush. Closing her eyes, she drifted into slumber. At this moment, she and Eldrich were one.
Ruffling leaves startled her. Opening her eyes, she jumped to her feet, ready to yell for help.
“Who’s there,” she asked.
“No one you know,” a man said, coming from behind a tree.
“I’ll scream,” she said, scanning the bank for a stick, a rock, anything with which she could defend herself.
“Have I threatened you?” he asked, advancing to her.
“You’re not wearing any clothes,” she said, bending down to pick up a stick.
Grinning he said, “I’m not going to hurt you. My goodness why would I want to do such a thing? Besides even if I did, I’m afraid that scrawny stick wouldn’t be much of a protector. I’m sorry if I’m too blunt.”
She glanced at the stick and was instantly embarrassed. And not just because of its size but because it reminded her of the night Eldrich had teased her with a stick, threatening to push it into her while on the roof of his house.
“You’re not correct about my attire,” he looked down at himself, “I’m sure I’m wearing trousers. Do you not see them?” he asked, with a wicked laugh.
Lela gave his trousers a glance, noticing the thickness between his legs. Flushing, she cleared her throat and centered her eyes on his bare chest. He had a cross necklace around his neck. Crosses were not permitted in the Kingdom of Barmoth. Her father despised the God of the Cross. The night her mother vanished, he had prayed to the God of the Cross and begged him for her safe return. His prayer went unanswered and days later he put forth a law prohibiting crosses. A death sentence awaited anyone caught with one. And here was this man displaying a cross without regard.
“Who are you?” she asked, her stare on the cross.
“Does this offend you?” he asked, pointing to his necklace.
Swallowing, she said, “Crosses are forbidden.”
Taking it off, he asked, “By whom?”
“You can’t be serious,” she said with a slight chuckle.
Letting it dangle from his hand he said, “I’m entirely serious. Now tell me, why do you believe them to be forbidden?”