The Alpha's Mate and the Vampire King
The Alpha’s Mate and the Vampire King Chapter 13

Viktor carried his mate into the bathing chamber. He sat her on the vanity and went to the stones to make sure they were heating in the open flames of the pit next to the bath. He had no issue with immersing in cold water, but he wanted this to be an enjoyable experience for Eden.

He opened the large spout and water rushed into the pool. It would fill fast and he would be able to wash away the perfume Eden had detected on his clothing. The lingering scent made him uneasy and he wanted it gone.

As the bath filled, Viktor stood in front of his mate. He watched her as she watched him slide off his shoes, then his stockings.

Eden wet her lips when Viktor removed his shirt and threw it aside. He was a work of art, a giant marble sculpture come to life.

Every part of his physique was incredible—and large. His pale skin stretched tight across sinewy muscles shaped to perfection. The dips and curves were a landscape Eden wanted to explore with her touch.

Viktor’s broad shoulders dwarfed everything around him. They held the weight of arms that could easily crush her.

His chiseled chest gave way to defined abdominals. A smattering of dark hair trailed below his navel and disappeared behind his trousers. The large bulge in front had her coughing nervously.

Viktor grinned at the panicky look on Eden’s face. She would soon learn not to fear what was so uncomfortably hard for her. His throbbing flesh would give her nothing but gratification, especially when his fangs were piercing her supple flesh.

He dropped his pants and Eden looked away.

Give me your eyes, my sieva.

Little by little, she did as he ordered. They drifted from his feet, up his powerful legs, which he was steadily widening.

Viktor grabbed his e******n and stroked it leisurely. It was the most erotic thing Eden had ever witnessed, had ever fantasized. She wanted to know what it felt like in her own hand.

Abruptly, he ceased his motion and Eden made a small squeak. She wanted to watch.

Soon, he promised. It would have to be soon. His hold over himself wouldn’t last much longer.

Viktor went to check the stones again, dying to get them both in the water, to get his hands on her once more.

I can heat the water. If you would like, she offered, hopping down from the vanity.

By all means, warm our bath, Sieva.

I already washed.

I know. Next time, I’ll be the one to clean you. You’re not to wash it away again. Understood?

Of course, my lord, she replied in a saccharine-sweet tone. Unless you disappear on me. Then, who knows what I’ll be inclined to do.

He ignored her little barb, curious how she would heat the pool. Eden knelt and placed her hands in the water, shooting her energies down into the pool. The water bubbled and fizzed.

The shirt she was wearing shifted and Viktor caught a glimpse of what was underneath. He tore his eyes away and focused on the water, lest he mount her from behind.

Eden didn’t shoot actual flames underwater, but the magic that produced fire still pushed out the same amount of energy. It was more than enough to boil the liquid, if she chose. If the vampire continued with his overlord attitude, she just might cook him alive.

Viktor found her use of magic just as stimulating as the sight of her bared under his shirt. When she withdrew her hands, the water was steaming.

Viktor took her elbow, helping her stand. Raise your arms.

Eden put both hands in the air and Viktor pulled the shirt over her head, dropping it beside her feet. He picked her up and waded down into the deepest part of the pool, pleased she didn’t shy away from him. He moved her body so they were face to face.

Eden automatically spread her legs to straddle his waist, like it was the most natural thing in the world. She slid her arms up his chest, over his shoulders, and encircled his neck.

Her nudity hadn’t made her uncomfortable. His nudity hadn’t made her anything other than aroused. She felt a sense of belonging—of rightness—wrapped around the Vampire King.

It could be the result of the cicatrice, but it mattered not. She’d felt Viktor’s pull the second she’d laid eyes on him, the first male to ever spark her desire.

If her attraction to him hadn’t been a sign, then she had to consider their marks. She didn’t believe in coincidences. The cicatrices were perfect matches, created by forces beyond her knowledge or comprehension.

Even if she mistrusted her new libido, all her logic pointed to the evidence that she was Viktor’s sieva. Eden would not borrow trouble by fighting it, and she would never question the Goddess above.

Viktor kissed Eden chastely, a reward for her boldness, then whispered, Hold your breath.

Her nose crinkled in confusion, so adorable he almost changed his mind. Almost.

Eden was suddenly pulled under the surface. Just as fast, they shot out of the water. She wiped at the water streaming down her face, giggling.

What was that for? she accused, trying to sound indignant.

That was for how you spoke to me. I didn’t like it.

Eden snorted, causing Viktor to grin at her impish and unladylike manner. People did not speak to him in such a way. And no one questioned him. Ever.

He didn’t know why he liked it now—or why he was smiling. Viktor was being truthful about Eden’s words from earlier. He did not appreciate her attitude, and he certainly did not like the reminder he had disappeared on her.

Yes, well, I didn’t like how you spoke to me, either, Viktor.

She was still smiling, and it did things to him he could not put into words. Needing to occupy them both before he divested her of her virginity in the bathing pool, he moved to the edge and grabbed one of the soaps.

Wash it away, Eden.

Eden’s smile waned, recalling what it was. She made no move to take the bar from his hand.

Viktor waited her out.

She bit her l*p, drawing his eyes to her mouth. A thrill danced along her spine, feeling sexually powerful when she’d been anything but all these years. Determined, she took the soap, meaning to lather it between her hands, but her glove was still on.

Viktor could tell she wasn’t sure what to do, was likely afraid to expose her cicatrice after he’d all but ordered her to keep it away from him.

Remove the glove, he told her.

Are—are you sure? Washing him, she believed she could handle. Soul-bonding in the bath was far more intimidating.

Viktor nodded, feeling the gravity of what they were going to do. It was more than b***d and s*x. Today he would bind his soul to his sieva. To Eden.

He’d never thought he would want it, had previously believed it an inconvenience, a curse. It interfered with his long-standing obligation to his dearly departed friend, Dmitri. Now that Eden was in his arms, Viktor could not deny it was what he wanted.

He would have his mate, be bound to her, and still fulfill his end of the contract he’d agreed to so long ago. He believed Dmitri would have understood, having been bound to his own sieva for hundreds of years. Though, he did not look forward to explaining it to his mate.

Eden slipped her hand out of the glove, expecting it to force itself upon his skin. She observed it closely, but the cicatrice only hummed slightly. She pitched the glove across the room and rubbed the soap between her hands.

Viktor g*****d when Eden began working the soap into a lather against his skin with her fingers. She started at his head and massaged down his neck, tenderly. Suds dripped down his face and she wiped them away from his eyes.

You should go under to rinse before it stings.

He ignored her words and brought her mouth to his. He couldn’t be so close to her and not k**s her. As his lips worshipped hers, he slowly lowered them below the surface.

Under the water, they continued their k**s. Eden rubbed his hair, getting rid of the lather. When they resurfaced, she clung to him, undulating against his front.

The crown of his e******n was poking her bottom. She arched her h**s away until there was enough space for it lay in between them. Once it was where she wanted it, she ground against it, shamelessly.

Viktor’s fangs extended, and he grazed her throat with one. She mewled and rocked frantically, daring him to do what he wanted.

She needed him inside her. Brazenly, she reached for his shaft and he flexed at the feel of her small fist around him. She positioned the head where she wanted it most and tried to lower herself.

They were both panting. Eden licked at the water trickling down his skin and nipped at his shoulder, feeling as though she should bite it, being encouraged by the cicatrice to draw his b***d. So, she did.

Eden broke the skin and Viktor’s fingers dug into her ribs. He was probably bruising her. He’d never been bitten before and struggled with his response to it. He remained taut, trying to stop himself from climaxing before he’d even fully entered her body.

The small amount of b***d she ingested affected her greatly. His little mate keened and cried, working her h**s to get more of him inside her as she licked at his shoulder, which was already healing. He didn’t know how he was able to deny the urge to yank her down hard onto his c**k.

Lift your hand, Eden.

She disregarded his command, continuing her quest for more of him. She really was perfect. Viktor loved how needy she was, but he required her attention. He would not force their hands to touch. It had to be her choice.

His iron grip stilled her h**s.

Please don’t stop, Eden pouted.

Eden. Lift your hand.

Once his words registered she opened her eyes. Viktor’s left hand was lifted out of the water, his palm facing her. There was no reluctance in her movement, as she reached up to join her cicatrice to his.

The power of their hands finally coming together rocked through both their bodies. Unimaginable bliss filled their souls. It was as pure as it was magnificent.

Unable to hold back any longer, Viktor ported them to the bed and drove his c**k inside the rest of the way. Eden shrieked, coming so hard around him she drew out his seed.

Viktor forcefully turned her head and struck hard, suckling on the divine lifeforce of his mate. His chest rumbled with possessiveness as he thrust into her heat, launching her into another o****m.

He drank until he’d emptied the last drop of himself deep inside her tight channel. He licked the puncture marks, using his saliva’s healing power to close them. Prajna healed quickly, so he’d never had to perform the act on another. He would gladly lick Eden’s wounds daily, and then some.

Viktor put his forehead to hers, listening to her erratic breathing, feeling for the bond. It was like a thread tethering her to him. It wasn’t visible, but he could feel it. Strong and true, it would tie them together for eternity. Only death could sever it.

“How do you feel, moj vestica?” My witch, because now she was truly his.

I—I don’t know if I have a word for it.

He smiled against her skin, in total agreement. There was no word for it.

Are you sore? he asked, lifting his head enough so he could gage her emotions.

Surprisingly, no. I feel good. Wonderful, actually. At least, in the physical sense.

Eden had always presumed s*x would be painful, more an obligatory experience to be endured than the fevered whirlwind she’d just experienced.

Viktor kissed her throat and licked the shell of her ear, making her squirm. His c**k flexed in response. He wanted to ask her about the bond, to know exactly what she felt, but he was still cocooned inside her slick heat—his new favorite place to be.

We have things to discuss, but I cannot concentrate in this position, he admitted, nestling his face into the crook of her neck.

She couldn’t see it, but she could feel her soul touching his. She wondered if they weren’t physically touching, if it would still feel the same. She did not ever want to lose the sense they were connected so completely.

Stranger or not, she was his and he was hers. Their joining had been centuries in the making. If the rest of their lives together was a fraction as wonderful as their coupling, Eden would thank the Goddess every day for such a blessing.

Eden was quite comfortable where she was, delighting in the feel of his weight on top of her. But Viktor was right, they did need to talk. Despite being bonded, they knew hardly anything about one another.

Plus, Eden had questions. About the bond. About her role in Prajna. Would he be willing to do a binding ceremony, as Nora and Kellan had? They were soul-bonded together for eternity, so he may feel a ceremony was unnecessary. The Prajna might not even perform marriage rites.

Despite wanting to stay exactly as they were, she offered a more practical option.

Do you want to get up? We can go over by the fire again.

No, Eden, he murmured, nipping her shoulder. I do not want to go over by the fire.

Then what do you want?

Viktor rolled his h**s, effectively ending the conversation. He fully intended to keep her in their bed until morning.