Heidiâs mind was reeling when Nicholas pulled back after kissing her. She felt utterly breathless as she breathed through her mouth, chest heaving and her vision which was in the midst of returning back to her. Her lips felt sore and alive, the after taste and the feel of his lips still lingering on the surface of her lips. Her eyes focussed back to the lit room with Lord Nicholas who held her in his steady arms around her waist. The smile on his lips stole her heart, the mischievous smile she had been trying to avoid knowing the trouble she had fallen into. His red eyes gauged her expression, waiting for her to respond.
Feeling her moving back, the Lord didnât hold her still and instead set her free from his arms as she looked here and there on the ground, standing speechless in front of him. He had kissed her, the thought passed through her mind. On her lips. And those words repeated over and over her mind until she felt heat creeping up her neck, reaching her cheeks to make it feel hot.
âW-what did you do?â she whispered realizing what had just transpired between them. She had kissed her fiance cousin when not even a day had passed since the engagement.
âI kissed the woman I have been meaning to,â his straightforwardness was something to be applauded for. Heidi looked back at him to see if there was any indication of humor because this was no joking matter. She felt worry creep in, with the thought if he was teasing her again only because he had got to know she was in love with him now.
âPlease donât tease me-â
âI am not,â he interrupted her.
âI am serious, milord,â Heidi said to get a quick reply from him.
âI am serious. Was the kiss not enough to prove it? Perhaps a different approach would be believable,â he suggested to see her eyes widen at his underlying meaning.
âI should remind you that I am Warrenâs fiance. You cannot go kissing people for your amusement and pass time. Youâre the kind who will have anyone in your bed, married or not,â the words slipped out of her mouth but she didnât regret saying it.
âJealous are we,â he chuckled unoffended, âJealousy is the best driving emotion, donât you agree? You see, I am a vampire who needs to suffice my thirst and hunger, you cannot expect me to celibate when people are getting married and engaged. I survive on blood.â
âNobody is expecting you to celibate, milord. My bad, I am no one to interfere in your matter and neither are you,â she spoke sharply.
âDo you really believe that?â he asked her, his eyes shining with mirth while she gulped, âYou are in love with me, arenât you Heidi, why lie?â he whispered softly, coaxing her feelings out and trying to sway her.
âWhat are your intentions?â Heidi asked warily. Was he using her emotions for his amusement? She wanted to know why he kissed her, why he was teasing her more than necessary. She asked, âWhy? Havenât you thought of how Warren would feel?â
âWarren can go to hell,â was his simple answer.
âYou are a rude person,â she stated looking down at the scattered pearls on the carpeted floor, âYou broke the necklace which he gave me as a present!â she heard him sigh.
He ran his fingers over his bronze like brown hair like he was thinking about something before he pulled her back with one of his hand. His eyes peered down at her dauntingly.
âYou might have been offered as a truce before but now things have changed. Your finger might have been occupied by Warren but,â his finger traveled her throat to her chest where her heart was beating, âThis one belongs to me...â it was enough to get her heart beat rapidly to make him smile, bringing the dimple back on his cheek. His even temper unnerved her, âI want you, is it that hard to understand?â
âYou canât!â she whispered flustered, ears turning red.
âWhy not? Donât you want me, darling?â his velvet like voice reached her ears which seemed sweet.
How could she answer to that, she thought to herself. Lord Nicholas was a man who killed birds for enjoyment. Few days ago he killed a man without remorse or second thought. She was aware of the fact that the lord had frequent female visitors whom he bedded and drank blood from. It was something that had slipped from Warren unintentionally before he covered it up with another matter quickly. Heidi was no one to judge the man, she loved him but that didnât mean she had the right to criticize the way he lived his life. And as gleeful his words sounded right now, she knew it wasnât right.
âWhatâs the matter?â He was being unfair by using that gentle tone of his! He spoke to her as if, if he raised a tone higher she would shatter like a delicate vase, âIs it not what you want?â
âIs this what you want?â she questioned him back, her eyes not blinking for a second as she stared back at him with the same intensity. Before he could answer her, she continued, âPardon me milord but your words are hard to believe,â she waited for him to laugh it off like before when he had asked her to marry him, to tell he was joking but he didnât.
âAlright,â he said letting go of her waist with a smile. Giving her the space she had been needing since he had kissed her, âI donât think I will get my answer while you are so intent in dodging my questions,â if she wanted to play cat and mouse, he was all for it, âShall we call it a night then?â
âYes,â she murmured and she began walking towards the door. Placing her hand on the door handle, she went to turn it around when two swift knocks were heard on the other side of the door.
âMaster.â
It was one of the maids of the mansion.