Mastered: Ten Tales of Sensual Surrender by Kate Pearce, Portia Da Costa, Opal Carew, Marie Harte, Jennifer Leeland, Madelynne Ellis, Emily Ryan-Davis, Carrie Ann Ryan, Joey Hill, T. J. Michaels, Sasha White Page A
Authors: Kate Pearce, Portia Da Costa, Opal Carew, Marie Harte, Jennifer Leeland, Madelynne Ellis, Emily Ryan-Davis, Carrie Ann Ryan, Joey Hill, T. J. Michaels, Sasha White
Ads: Link
of a stone, and a foundation of compassion and generosity of spirit structured with steely self-discipline. His grandson showed all those burgeoning traits. It made her miss her own grandfather all the more when she was around either one of them, and was another reason she’d bonded with John.
“Sorry about that, sir.” John crouched in front of Kane. Studying the chocolate smeared on the little vampire’s mouth, he gave him a gimlet eye. “Your daddy is going to whip your butt for sure if he finds out you got hold of that.”
“I should have put it away,” Debra said.
“No,” Brian said. “He knew it was wrong. You don’t learn self-control by not testing it. Here.” Pulling it off the table, Brian knelt by John and handed it back to Kane. “Take the rest. Eat it. See what happens.”
“My lord,” John said, surprised, but Brian gave him a sharp look.
The boy subsided, pressing his lips together. Though John was clearly protective of his friend, he didn’t sass his elders, human or otherwise. It was respect rather than fear, however, for Debra knew no one on the estate except his grandfather would ever touch a hair on his head. Lady Lyssa’s protection was upon the human child as much as that of her own son. Not only were the two children fast companions, it was an oath she’d made to Elijah Ingram when he’d agreed to be majordomo of her estate.
Kane knew he wasn’t supposed to be disrespectful to adults, either, so he didn’t snatch the bar back like a wild animal. But after he took it, he didn’t put it in his mouth right away. Instead, he studied Brian, his green eyes measuring the scientist’s intent, thoughts whirling in his busy brain.
If a vampire ate too much human food, they’d feel deathly ill for a day or so. Like seasickness, no amount of vomiting relieved the feeling. The person suffering would wish they were dead, for sure, but death was not the result. Just massive discomfort and, as Helga had noted, there was no aid for vampire indigestion. Most vampires only had to make the mistake once never to repeat it. No matter how many centuries they lived, it was a lesson that never faded from the mind.
While Kane’s parents and most of the estate had been trying to keep him from experiencing that, Brian had obviously decided that letting a child touch a hot stove was the best way to learn not to touch it, especially for a child carrying the genetics of two very stubborn people.
But he also had their shrewdness. Kane considered Brian’s unsmiling face. “Sick.”
“Very sick. But it won’t kill you.”
“Tastes good,” Kane complained.
“Yes, it does. Want to see a way around it?” Brian put out his hand.
After a considering pause, Kane turned over the candy bar. Reaching out, Brian clasped Debra’s hand and placed the candy bar against her pulse point, smearing chocolate there. Then he lifted it to his mouth, tasting the sweetness just before he bit into the vein, a light penetration that nevertheless had her fingers curling so they grazed his chin. Brian’s lips curved against her flesh. He took a small draught only, then closed the wound, licking the rest of the blood and chocolate off of it.
He nodded to Kane. “Putting a flavor you like over the blood gives it a lasting taste in your mouth. It helps satisfy the urge without eating too much.”
He handed back the candy bar. “Beyond the issue of making you sick, it wasn’t your candy bar. It was mine.”
“On her desk. Servant.”
They learn young, Debra thought, trying not to roll her eyes. She saw a similar flash of exasperation on John’s face. All the human staff were familiar with vampire arrogance. John could probably vouch firsthand for just how early in life a vampire started cultivating the trait.
Brian gave her a sidelong look. Vampire arrogance? Even me?
I didn’t mean you, my lord. She wondered if it was possible to pull off an inward version of a poker face.
You’re not good at the outward
“Sorry about that, sir.” John crouched in front of Kane. Studying the chocolate smeared on the little vampire’s mouth, he gave him a gimlet eye. “Your daddy is going to whip your butt for sure if he finds out you got hold of that.”
“I should have put it away,” Debra said.
“No,” Brian said. “He knew it was wrong. You don’t learn self-control by not testing it. Here.” Pulling it off the table, Brian knelt by John and handed it back to Kane. “Take the rest. Eat it. See what happens.”
“My lord,” John said, surprised, but Brian gave him a sharp look.
The boy subsided, pressing his lips together. Though John was clearly protective of his friend, he didn’t sass his elders, human or otherwise. It was respect rather than fear, however, for Debra knew no one on the estate except his grandfather would ever touch a hair on his head. Lady Lyssa’s protection was upon the human child as much as that of her own son. Not only were the two children fast companions, it was an oath she’d made to Elijah Ingram when he’d agreed to be majordomo of her estate.
Kane knew he wasn’t supposed to be disrespectful to adults, either, so he didn’t snatch the bar back like a wild animal. But after he took it, he didn’t put it in his mouth right away. Instead, he studied Brian, his green eyes measuring the scientist’s intent, thoughts whirling in his busy brain.
If a vampire ate too much human food, they’d feel deathly ill for a day or so. Like seasickness, no amount of vomiting relieved the feeling. The person suffering would wish they were dead, for sure, but death was not the result. Just massive discomfort and, as Helga had noted, there was no aid for vampire indigestion. Most vampires only had to make the mistake once never to repeat it. No matter how many centuries they lived, it was a lesson that never faded from the mind.
While Kane’s parents and most of the estate had been trying to keep him from experiencing that, Brian had obviously decided that letting a child touch a hot stove was the best way to learn not to touch it, especially for a child carrying the genetics of two very stubborn people.
But he also had their shrewdness. Kane considered Brian’s unsmiling face. “Sick.”
“Very sick. But it won’t kill you.”
“Tastes good,” Kane complained.
“Yes, it does. Want to see a way around it?” Brian put out his hand.
After a considering pause, Kane turned over the candy bar. Reaching out, Brian clasped Debra’s hand and placed the candy bar against her pulse point, smearing chocolate there. Then he lifted it to his mouth, tasting the sweetness just before he bit into the vein, a light penetration that nevertheless had her fingers curling so they grazed his chin. Brian’s lips curved against her flesh. He took a small draught only, then closed the wound, licking the rest of the blood and chocolate off of it.
He nodded to Kane. “Putting a flavor you like over the blood gives it a lasting taste in your mouth. It helps satisfy the urge without eating too much.”
He handed back the candy bar. “Beyond the issue of making you sick, it wasn’t your candy bar. It was mine.”
“On her desk. Servant.”
They learn young, Debra thought, trying not to roll her eyes. She saw a similar flash of exasperation on John’s face. All the human staff were familiar with vampire arrogance. John could probably vouch firsthand for just how early in life a vampire started cultivating the trait.
Brian gave her a sidelong look. Vampire arrogance? Even me?
I didn’t mean you, my lord. She wondered if it was possible to pull off an inward version of a poker face.
You’re not good at the outward
Similar Books
