Chapter 8

Rowan eyed Jasper’s young assistant’s curvaceous body with a mixture of lust and regret over inviting her along as he watched her help the scientist load their precious research records into the trunk of the limousine.  He hadn’t considered that one of the factors that plagued a vampire was the need for a steady release of fluids. Just as a consistent intake of blood was necessary for the proper functioning of his body, so was the need for a consistent release of his bodily fluids.  Although there were some vampires who would take in fluids that were not blood, such as alcohol or tea, and urinate them back out as would a human, he didn’t find this to be the most proficient for the balance of his body’s energy flow.  Over the centuries of his existence, he’d discovered that a release through the surge of a powerful orgasm was far more effective as well as pleasurable.  It was not only invigorating and satisfying, but it proved to be the best way for his body’s energy to maintain a steady balance.  With what lay on the line, that balance was necessary more than ever.

He'd developed a strong appetite for the satisfaction that sex gave him.  Thus, he made it a point to have it several times a day.  He’d tried having sex with both the male and female vampires of his family, but the emotional attachments that they developed for him proved cumbersome.  So, as with his feeding, he’d have women brought in from the human population.

They were ensorcelled so that they recalled nothing of the service that they provided for him.  He found it a far more efficient way to handle things.

Now, as he slid into the limousine next to this voluptuous female whose blood smelled like nectar and whose nearness made him so hard that he felt he’d explode, he had a difficult decision to make.  Should he ensorcell his traveling companions so that he could obtain the release that he sought?  Or should he suffer until they returned to his castle where he knew a human would be awaiting him?

The discomfort and temptation proved too great. Calling for his driver to pull over, he lept out of the vehicle and summoned his driver to do the same.  After explaining his intentions, the driver opened the back of the limousine and sat opposite Jasper out while Rowan did the same with Lila.

To their surprise, Jasper proved far more difficult to ensorcell than the average human.  It was yet another testimony to the fact that he’d become something else. When he felt confident that it was finally done, Rowan exited the car and went to the hood of the vehicle where his driver had positioned Lila in preparation for him.  He carefully took only a small amount of her blood, as his need was more for release than for intake.

Her large breasts felt soft and pliable beneath his hands, making him wish that he’d had a bed for them so that he could comfortably enjoy her body instead of using the hood of the limousine.  He needed minimal foreplay to arouse himself.  His attention to her pert nipples was more to arouse her than him as he preferred the woman to be willing and lubricated when he entered her.  There was also the fact that he found her beauty mesmerizing and tantalizing enough to want to savor and enjoy.

Satisfied with her moans of pleasure, he quickly removed her slacks and panties. When he slid his long, slender fingers into her woman’s shaft, she jerked with pleasure. This only proved to encourage him to delight her just a bit more before he took care of his needs.  Releasing her hardened nipple from his suckling lips, he moved down between her legs.  The temptation to take just a bit more blood from her femoral vein was too great to resist, but, again, he took only a small amount before he rewarded her for her donation to his wellbeing by teasing her sensitive nub with a tongue that had centuries of practice in the art of bringing a woman to an erotic peak.

Lila practically howled with both pleasure and need within seconds.

Feeling like he was about to explode, Rowan wasted no time pushing his manhood deep inside of her well lubricated shaft. She felt tighter than he’d anticipated.  He was so engrossed in the sensation of her warm, wet shaft that it took him a moment to realize that he'd forced his way through a barrier.  It surprised him to discover that Lila was a virgin.  

Times were different than when he was human.  Sex amongst unmarried people was something that occurred throughout history, but it was more out in the open and acceptable in modern times than when he walked the earth as a mere mortal. The question of why Jasper hadn’t taken her to his bed briefly flashed through his mind before he allowed himself to get lost in the sensations of erotic delight. 

Because he had sex so often, it generally took a goodly number of minutes before he found release.  This wasn’t the case with Lila.  It surprised both him and his driver who’d made himself comfortable in preparation for the wait. Although, neither mentioned it.

Backing away from his prey after completing his release, he allowed his driver to clean up the blood that taking her virginity had produced while ordering him to keep his fangs out of her tender flesh.  Surface blood was all he was allowed.

A brief rush of arousal returned as he admired the woman’s perfect naked physique and remembered the feel of her soft flesh.  It remained just long enough for him to watch his driver’s face greedily dive between her legs before dissipating enough for him to turn his attentions elsewhere.  A brief hint of guilt flashed through him as he looked at Jasper’s still and zombie like body seated patiently in the limousine, but it wasn’t strong enough to make him wish that he’d behaved differently.

He was a vampire with faint memories of humanity.  He was aware that humans tended to put great stock in a woman’s virginity, but the reality of the situation was that vampires harbored an extremely low regard for humans who they considered good for blood and sex only.  Since she was a human of little value other than being a food or sex source, Lila would probably be taken in this way by a number of vampires within his coven over the course of time. In fact, although he was a strong believer in ensorcelling his prey prior to using them for their blood or sex, many of his vampires preferred the rush of the fear and resistance that taking them while fully conscious provided.  Humans referred to the process as rape but for the vampire, it was just the way of things. 

Not only was he not alone in his choice of methods in maintaining body balance, but vampires were by nature highly sexual creatures. They viewed it in a far different way than did humans. To them, having sex was just as necessary as breathing was to humans. 

While waiting for his driver to return Lila to her place in the limousine, Rowan slid into the seat opposite Jasper.

“You are despicable,” Jasper uttered through paralyzed lips.

Shocked at the fact that he’d spoken, Rowan quickly removed the effects of the ensorcell from Jasper.

“You were aware?” he asked with both surprise and concern.

Jasper nodded as he snarled, “I was unable to move, or I would have stopped you.  Why would you do such a thing to her.  She’s an innocent young woman.”

Shrugging while struggling with a surprising hint of human guilt that threatened to surface in him, Rowan looked away and said, “Vampires require sex more than humans.  It is not the same.”

“She was taken without her consent!” the scientist grumbled.  “Where I come from, that just isn’t done.”

Rowan chuckled, “Where you come from, it most certainly is done.  The difference being that the woman is left with the memories to contend with.  I am careful not to cause such distress. Your pretty little assistant will remember nothing of the service she provided for me.”

“Service?”  Jasper gasped.  “Is this service to be an ongoing thing?”

“She offers no other use,” the vampire admitted.

“She is my assistant,” Jasper snapped. “She most certainly is of use. Not only is she a pretty little assistant, but she’s intelligent and quick minded.  I attribute a good deal of the success I’ve had so far to her help and input.  I need her to be whole, happy, and within her right mind. Something tells me that won’t be the case once you animals are finished with her.”

“Animals?” Rowan repeated with raised brow.  This human was treading on dangerous territory.  Had he been anyone else, his life would have been ended without a second thought for such an insult.  The fact of the matter was that Rowan needed him to continue his research.   Even so, he addressed the insult with a firm and fatalistic tone. “I would be more careful how you speak of the animals who have accepted you into their world.  We are alike in a few ways, but quite different in most.  Just as you look at us as savage, we feel the same about you.  I will not always be around to protect you.  Tossing insults at my coven members could cost you your life.  In fact, more insults of that nature in my direction might make me rethink how valuable you truly are to me.  Am I understood?”

Surprising himself by the aggression he felt and how undeterred he was by Rowan’s obvious threat, Jasper nodded and said, “Just as long as you understand that from this moment on, Lila is off limits.”

Rowan raised a brow but said nothing.

At that moment, the driver opened the door and positioned Lila’s, still ensorcelled, violated body onto the seat next to Jasper.