Chapter 114-As It Should Be

“Good Morning, Love,” I said gently brushing her hair to the side.

Amari turned and smiled at me, giving her body a lazy stretch.

“Are you hungry?” I asked, leaning down to give her a soft kiss on her neck.

My hands roamed down the soft curve of her hip, easing the covers down to reveal her gloriously naked form beneath. Amari rolled to her back, wrapping her arms around my neck. When her lips met mine, the intense heat of desire burned through me quickly. Her eyes held a mischievous gleam as I settled between her legs.

“So breakfast in bed?” she asked. Her fangs extended and she sank them into the soft flesh on my shoulder as I entered her body.

Amari propped on her elbow, smiling down at me once we were finished a few hours later. She was more radiant now than she was in her human form.

“I used to really think I would live forever, but I do believe you are making it your mission to kill this old man.”

The musical sound of her laughter filled our room. The warm salty, breeze blew through the open doors. My fingers traced the outline of her jaw, before picking up a strand of her hair and twirling it around my finger.

Amari leaned down to kiss me. “Well, you shouldn’t taste so good for one. For two, maybe you should actually bring me food in the mornings if you are going to insist on waking me up with that question, yet never providing me sustenance.”

I quickly rolled us, pinning her beneath me. “I provide you with plenty of sustenance. Shall I show you again?”

I felt a warm hand on my cheek, I turn and see Amari’s smiling face looking at me.

“You look like you were having a pleasant dream.”

“Yes, a dream,” I replied taking her hand and bringing it to my lips. “One I wish I could share with you.”

Amari POV

I pulled my hand away and gave Mulo a small smile. I hated to admit it, but I felt empty, almost alone now that our link wasn’t there any longer. He’d been with me for so long, always there, always close, I actually missed it. We could still talk, if I concentrated on it, but it wasn’t effortless and it was limited.

“How are you feeling today? Are you hungry again?” He asked rolling off the bed.

“I am, but it’s not as bad as before. I think I’d like to try one of the alternate options today. The plasma fruit, instead of the blood, just to see how I handle it.”

Mulo turned and gave me a forced smile. “Of course, I’m sure you’re eager to get home.”

The melancholy in his voice was unmistakable. I grabbed his arm to stop him. Mulo and I had a long, complicated history, and as much as I should hate him, a small part of me would always love him. I knew he was sorry for most of the things he’d done and he would change a lot of those things if he could. The past was the past and dwelling on it didn’t do anyone any good.

 

“Thank you,” I said, letting my fingers run across his knuckles.

“For what?” he asked taking a seat again.

I dropped my head onto his shoulder, linking my arm through his. “For not taking advantage…”

Mulo turned and kissed me on the forehead. “As much as I want you, I couldn’t let you do something that I knew you’d hate yourself and more importantly, me for.”

“It always has to be about you,” I replied jokingly.

“But of course Love.”

Mulo turned, our faces mere inches from each other. His thumb caressed my cheek. I could feel the pull, the same one that had me acting out as this change transformed my body. It was strong, the unexplainable desires I had for him. I’d nearly committed adultery a number of times since the need was driven higher after I fed from Mulo. I knew he could have given in, and taken advantage of the situation, after all it was me that would initiate things, but he didn’t. Mulo was no saint, and he did enjoy me throwing myself at him so fiercely, however he always pulled back before letting me cross a bigger line. I could see in his eyes he wanted to kiss me and sadly, a small part of me wanted him to do it.

“Let me get you something to eat,” he said pulling away and breaking the connection.

I flopped back on the bed trying to push down my feelings of arousal. Mulo told me it was natural, that when the change takes over for a while our needs are strictly primal. Food. Sex. Sleep. Mulo tried to make me feel less guilty, saying I had no control, but it didn’t really help. I knew facing Marcus was going to be hard. He hated Mulo and Marcus would know how my body would have reacted since he’d gone through it. Intense feelings of guilt and shame hit me. I was glad Mulo wasn’t in my head at that moment. Marcus was a patient and understanding man to a point. His feelings about Mulo tended to cloud his judgment and I worried that my actions might be unforgivable to him.

“Here you are Love,” Mulo said, walking back into the room with a juice.

The gnawing feeling in my stomach was moving towards that painful point.

“Thank you.” I took a long sip, and waited.

I didn’t have to wait long before I was rushing towards the bathroom. Mulo stood with his arm out, waiting on me to do as I had been for weeks now. Mulo had brought me here, to this secluded place to keep me from hurting anyone. We had been at his home in France, but after I woke up and nearly drained three of his staff members in a single day, he felt it was better to not have me around people.

He feared I’d kill someone and he didn’t want that on my conscience. So as it went, I fed from him and he’d go out while I was sleeping and feed. As much as I wanted to go home, I couldn’t risk it. My urges were still uncontrollable and I didn’t want to risk hurting anyone. I had Mulo send word to Aric that I was okay. I knew it was the coward’s way out, not talking to Marcus directly, but I’d rather deal with that head on when I was stronger. Mulo pried me off his arm, and with his warm blood racing through my veins, the pain in my stomach eased.

With my need now sated, the earlier desires were intensified. My lips attacked his and he didn't fight me off. My body craved him, needed that physical connection but my head was screaming at me this was wrong. I loved Marcus; I needed to be strong, to fight this for him. I couldn’t keep betraying him like this. It didn’t matter that we never had sex, the fact that we’d gotten close, the fact that I’d wanted more even after Mulo stopped things, was betrayal enough. Marcus may never forgive me, but I had to at least try to not give in to the desire.

“Oh god, he’s going to hate me!” I cried, pulling away and dropping to my knees. I know it won’t matter what I say, how I try to explain it, I’ve been with the one person Marcus hated most.

“No he won’t, Love.” I felt Mulo rub my back, trying to comfort me.

I needed him to stop, but wanted him to continue. I hated this. I hated that I couldn’t handle the alternate food sources, it meant I had to stay with him longer until I could get myself under control. I hated that my body demanded satisfaction, no matter the source. The source…my senses tune into him immediately. So close. No! I can’t. I must fight it! I have to fight it!

I felt Mulo’s hand on my chin. No words are needed, he knows my struggle and I see his. I know in that moment that he won’t be able to keep telling me no, that we are both dangerously close to the point of no return.

“The cuffs?” he asks and I could only nod in response.

I was grateful now for Mulo’s more kinky side. Leave it up to him to have cuffs cursed by a witch made strong enough to hold a vampire. The first time he used them on me I was angry, but when the need passed I was grateful. They had quickly become both our saving grace…but for how much longer?

***A/N***

First I want to apologize for the delay in getting this chapter out. I've had it started for a long time, but well...I had difficulties. Mostly with trying not to have Amari be terribly, really, unforgivably bad. Yes I know she is still pushing a line which brings me to point two.

I've gone into hiding in anticipation of the pitch fork carrying angry mob that may come after me. Really...this chapter is the best rework of lots of reworks...all of them FAR FAR worse in outcome than what happened here. So see...bright side. :)