Love Bite Ch. 04

Hey guys! Sorry about the wait but I have been working HARD!! Hope you enjoy!!

Lion's Den

Mia couldn't hear over the hammering in her head and as the room around her began to spin she was struggling to breathe. Surrounded by them. She was to be surrounded by murderers and killers.

Lucy ran her head against Mia's leg as she broke down. She absentmindedly brushed her hand over the cat's fur as she tried to organise her chaotic thoughts. Tears ran down her face as terror raced through her body with each frenzied pump of her heart.

Vampires. They were going to be everywhere she turned, every time she moved one of them would be there watching. Waiting to hurt her.

"Miss?" A hesitant voice pulled Mia out of her troubled mind and caused her to look towards the sound. A young woman stood in one of the room's doorways looking uncomfortable. Of all this though she was barely aware because the woman: she was human. "I've been told by Sir William to show you to where you'll be staying..." Mia continued to look at her in shock while her words struggled to sink in. The woman shifted awkwardly on the spot. "Are you alright, miss?"

Mia took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. She instantly regretted it when the human's scent filled her senses and she felt her fangs begin to elongate. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to regain control. When she had first changed she had found it impossible to resist any person who had walked past her. Her reactions had been brutal- animalistic and she had hated herself with such passion. She'd tried so hard to smother that part of herself that she wasn't going to allow it to get the better of her now. "Yes." She whispered. She just needed to get to her room and then she could escape the human and her alluring smell.

"This way then, miss." Turning around she started to leave the room before checking over her shoulder to make sure Mia was following. Forcing herself up off the floor, Mia picked up Lucy and followed her out of the room. The woman continued on silently, keeping her head down, her heart racing madly in her chest. Mia gently stroked Lucy's head as a distraction. The corridor seemed to stretch on as long as the silence and Mia's patience began to fade.

The woman also appeared to be affected. "That's a really nice cat." She commented warily nodding her head in the direction of the restless feline.

"Her name's Lucy," Mia explained. The woman's brown eyes looked up at her. "I'm Mia."

"I'm Jenny." She replied. Mia looked at the woman once more. Jenny appeared older than her by a few years yet her hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail suggesting a more serious nature. Some strands of her hair had come loose framing her round face.

Mia's probing nature caused her to ask what was bothering her. "Why are you here?"

Jenny face fell and she dropped her head to stare intently at the floor. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you miss..."

Understanding made Mia's face heat. "No, no! I didn't mean it like that! You're human."

She looked up in surprise. "Oh! Sir William saved my life." She frowned as she recited her memory. "I was dating this guy and he seemed really nice at first. He was gorgeous and I couldn't believe that he liked me. ME of all people! But then after a while he invited me back his place and that's when things turned... ugly..." She shivered. "He bit me and I just kept on screaming. The next thing I know Will- Sir William is hauling him off me and then everything went black. I woke up in this place. Sir William explained that my boyfriend was part of a tribe and that they'd come after me. He said he'd protect me and keep me safe and that all he asked was that I helped out."

Mia raised her eyebrows in surprise. William saved her? Jenny said that she was bitten so he must have had to resist the blood. Did he really have that much control?

Jenny suddenly stopped in front a door. "This is yours. If you need anything just let me know."

"Thank you."

With a quick nod she left. Still stroking Lucy, Mia looked into her room. Words couldn't describe the room enough. Elegant, gorgeous, detailed: everything seemed to belong from the satin sheets on the bed to the soft rug and the Kandinsky casually hanging on the wall. As Lucy continued to fidget in her arms, she lowered her to the floor. Lucy eagerly ran to her bed as Mia looked around in incredulity. Hurrying to the wardrobe, Mia yanked the doors open and gaped as she was met with her finest clothes as well as some new additions. Pale silk dresses and cashmere jumpers filled the space in front of her. Rummaging through each garment she shook her head in disbelief. Pulling open all of the drawers she was met with underwear and nightgowns. Very expensive underwear and nightgowns. Very expensive and LACY underwear and nightgowns. Shaking her head she found herself gritting her teeth. "Jenny!"

Jenny quickly emerged at the door. "Yes miss?"

"Where are all of my clothes?" Mia demanded gesturing at the wardrobe and open drawers wildly.

Jenny frowned. "I thought they were placed in your wardrobe?"

"Where are my others? My tracksuits? My jeans? My UNDERWEAR for God's sake!"

She flinched as her voice rose in volume. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down. Regaining control a sad smile crossed her face. "I'm sorry. That wasn't fair of me. It's just been..." Sighing she sat on the bed. "It's just been a long day..."

Jenny smiled sympathetically before hesitantly sitting next to her on the bed. "May I say something miss?" Rubbing her face in exhaustion, Mia nodded. "It seems to me, miss, that Sir William cares about you a lot and that he only means well. He hasn't hurt you and when he phoned downstairs he seemed genuinely concerned. He's given you clothes, a place to stay and this room." She looked about in wonder. "All of this is for you. I think he only means well."

Mia sighed. "Then why make me stay here? If I'm this so called 'mate' of his- if he's meant to truly protect me then why the hell is he subjecting me to this?"

Jenny looked at me her mouth slightly ajar. "You're Sir William's mate?"

"Apparently..."

"Then I know this is for your own good." She replied confidently.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I trust him." Mia looked at her in unconcealed surprise. Rising from the bed, Jenny walked over to the wardrobe and pursed her lips in thought. "Now, Sir William has requested you join him for dinner." Glancing over her shoulder, she looked at the lost Mia. "Do you have any preference?"

As Mia marched down the corridor she swore every curse she could think of as her black high heels clicked across the wooden panelling. Her white silk dress rustled against her skin as she stormed on unable to keep up with the rapid pace.

Jenny had given her directions to the dining room but Mia's mind only partly took notice as she rounded corners to her destination. She couldn't seem to pin point her anger to one specific cause but she certainly had many choices. Grudgingly, she had admitted to herself that she could have never afforded the clothes or the jewellery that now adorned her room but her frustration at his controlling nature could not be ignored. He had forced her into an impossible situation and then believed it in his right to decide what she was allowed to own. Her blood boiled. Arriving at her target she swung open the door. Her fury dispersed as she was left speechless. A long table covered in a white table cloth took up the centre of the room. Candles sat on the fine linen casting a romantic setting and caught the wineglasses on the table causing them to shine in the light. Grand chairs were positioned at either end of the table behind a complicated array of cutlery.

William was stood in front of the table modelling a black suit. Mia knew nothing of men's clothing but she could almost smell the designer.

"Mia," His deep voice caused goose bumps on her arms as he acknowledged her presence. "You look beautiful as always."

Reminding herself that she was meant to be angry she remained silent as she walked towards one of the chairs.

"Allow me." In a blink of an eye William was already there pulling out the chair for her.

Lowering herself into it she refused eye contact with him. "Thank you."

He chuckled darkly behind her and she suppressed a shiver. Dahm it!

Moving to his seat he sat down gracefully before placing the napkin over his lip. With some sort of unseen signal, a waiter walked into the room through a door on the far wall and offered William a bottle of red wine. Looking over it he nodded allowing the waiter to pour some of the substance into Mia's glass before his. Another scent wafted over Mia: he was also human.

"Is there anything else sir?"

"No thank you." William kept his eyes focused on her as the waiter retreated back through the door. She kept her head down at the hand clutching the wineglass. When the door clicked shut, he spoke again. "Why are you so angry?"

Looking up, Mia felt her face flush. She decided to start with the simplest explanation. "You're making me stay here." She whispered in a small voice. Whether it be the temptation of humans or the threat of monsters she was facing her own downfall.

"You're not under any threat, Mia."

Mia bulked. Alarm caused her eyes to flicker up to his. "How did you know what I...?"

"You're projecting your thoughts rather loudly. As your mate I hear them clearer than others would and my age also increases the clarity. You are young and untrained so have little control over hiding them."

More questions reeled in her head. How was she going to protect her thoughts, her private secrets if she could not even have the secrecy of her mind? How could she cover them up? Was there some way in which she could hide them?

William chuckled again. "All in good time, love."

Her gaze dropped again and her face turned even redder than before. At the sound of the door opening, Mia looked up to see the waiter enter once again except for this time he held two plates of food. Placing the pasta down in front of her she barely noticed as William received his steak. Pasta: her favourite food. How had he known?

"It was in your fridge at your apartment." He answered. "And there were plenty of sauces in your cupboard."

Mia was feeling more and more overwhelmed by the second. Picking up one of the forks she picked at the pasta pieces on her plate and thought of her next reason. When she felt the silk of her dress once again brush her legs as she shifted under his gaze it came to her. "Where are the rest of my clothes?"

"Gone." He responded simply.

Gone? She bit back her frustration. "Why did you replace them?"

"Mia, some of your clothes were worn and looked like they would fall apart at any second. You needed new ones- someone as magnificent as you should show her beauty not conceal it."

"Didn't you consider how it would make me feel?"

"I would have asked but you were a little distracted."

Oh right: the trip. Had that seriously just been last night? Everything was happening so quickly... "So you did it anyway."

"Do you not like the clothes?" He inquired a smile playing across his lips as he held his glass.

"That's beside the point. I can't dance in cashmere."

His eyebrows rose. "You dance?"

"Yes."

"What kind?"

"Contemporary."

"Ah," He took a thoughtful sip of wine. "And you cannot do that here..."

"No, which is another reason why you should let me go home." She persisted unable to keep her eyes off him.

"This is your home now, Mia. I did not bring you here to ham you; I brought you here to help you. You know nothing of vampires and of our society or how to reach your full potential. Here I can teach you this."

"I don't want to know my full potential or of your society. I don't want to have anything to do with this part of me!"

The glass which he had been raising towards his lips paused as he looked at her with a new set of eyes. "'This part of you'? Mia, this is not a PART of you- this IS you. Whether you like it or not you ARE a vampire and denying it will only make things more difficult. By suppressing your instincts you are suppressing any chance of happiness that you may have now or in the future."

********************

William stared at her with sudden understanding. That was the reason she refused to accept the connection between them; that was the reason she did not feel the desire as strongly as he did. She was refusing to accept herself and by blocking any inhuman characteristics or instincts she was blocking the full intensity of the bond.

She sat quietly with her head bowed, fumbling with the food in front of her as she pondered over his words.

Sighing, he turned his attention back to his steak. "You may have the spare room in my suite to accommodate your dancing."

"Thank you."

Her voice was even quieter than before and he began to regret his blunt words. She needed to learn how to trust him and his behaviour was only causing her to withdraw from him. An idea emerged in his mind and he quickly voiced it. "Ask me whatever you should so wish, I have nothing to hide."

Her eyes flickered up to reluctantly meet his. "Anything?"

He nodded.

"How old are you?"

She bit her lip as she waited nervously for his answer. For a moment the plumpness of her lips was the only thing that registered before he forced himself to focus on her question. "I was born in 1411 at this estate and was turned when I was 26."

Her face seemed to pale. "You're SIX HUNDRED years old?"

He nodded unable to hide his amusement at her reaction. She looked about the room as if she was struggling with the concept.

"Why are so sure about us?" She continued, her dark green eyes finally returning to meet his.

"I feel it. You yourself couldn't deny the connection."

She frowned unable to argue as she had another sip of her wine. "You saved Jenny."

"That's not a question." He smiled.

"Why?"

Leaning back in his seat he thought how to phrase his answer. "The... man she had been dating was a well known groomer. He enjoyed tormenting his victims before killing them. When I heard her screams, I was passing the house and thought to investigate."

"But why did you save her? Why not...?" Drink from her yourself. Her thoughts were so clear to him. Lowering her head in shame waves of endless guilt and disgrace crashed over her. To loath oneself so deeply...

"I saved her because," He took a deep breath and allowed her an insight into his past. "She reminded me of my sister. Losing one's family is painful but death is inevitable to all humans. I will never forget her though..."

Glancing up at him, her eyes met his and he could tell she respected his honesty. "Can you teach me that amount of control?"

"Love, I swear to teach you that and a lot more."

*****************

Mia looked down at her empty plate as her mind whirled. If she could learn to have that much self-restraint there could a chance for her to have a relatively normal life. She could interact with people: have a CONVERSATION without being at war with the never ending hunger...

The waiter removed their plates and quickly left as endless possibilities swam around her head.

William pulled her out of her thoughts. "May I ask you some questions?"

Sudden anxiety gnawed at her but she nodded. It was only fair.

"How long have you been like this?"

She noted how he continued to avoid the word she dreaded and she appreciated the gesture. Taking a sip of her wine she looked at him evenly. "A year."

His surprise was clear. "How did you learn how to hunt?"

Just as she froze, the waiter entered with two desserts and placed them in front of them. As he left she poked at the strawberry cheesecake: another favourite of hers. "An accident."

The room fell into silence as the mood plummeted. Taking an unsteady breath she cut a bit of her cheesecake with her spoon. "I'd just gotten back from..." She closed her eyes to fight the threatening tears before continuing. "And my flatmate was there. She saw how distraught I was and sat me down to calm me. I told her what happened and started to cry so she pulled me into a hug." She tried to keep the story factual even though her hand began to shake with the sudden emotion. "I bit her and killed her."

William's face remained the same. "I am sorry."

Her hand dropped back to the table causing the spoon the clank loudly against the plate. "Next question."

He was quiet for a little longer as he analysed her before inquiring once more. "Have you met any other... people like us?"

Mia shook her head. "I haven't really spoken to anyone since Kelly's death."

"Kelly?"

"My flatmate."

He nodded in understanding. "Did you have a partner before you changed?"

A serious blush coloured her cheeks and she looked down at her lap in embarrassment. "I've, erm, I've never had a boyfriend..." He was her first kiss and now he seemed confident he would be her last...

"I will." He confirmed. Looking at him she could see his pride. Good thing it was good for HIS ego...

"What do you mean?" He asked with a frown.

She returned his grimace. "I wish you'd stop doing that."

"My apologies, love, but your thoughts are so loud it is like you're speaking them. How is your lack of experience bad for you ego?"

If possible her face became darker. "It doesn't exactly make me feel good about myself." It had always been an issue for her. When her friends had been going out on dates and telling her all about the amazing sex they had with their boyfriends she had been the oddball: laughing with them at their stories yet not being able to empathise. She had never felt attractive or beautiful or- god help her- SEXY in her entire life.

"You are all those things and more."

Her face, if possible, became even redder as he once again responded to her thoughts. He chuckled darkly before she heard the scrape of his chair as he stood. Raising her head, she saw him stood next to her offering her his hand. Grabbing it she allowed him to pull her up. Looking into his eyes, she accidently stumbled in her heels and landed against his chest.

"I think I had too much wine..." She admitted causing him to smirk. She could feel his body heat through the thin material of her dress as well as the hammering of his heart. His arms were wrapped around her to steady her and she had never felt so safe, so secure in all of her life. Her breathing began to quicken as she looked up into his smouldering grey eyes. The feel of his skin against hers made her feel complete- made her feel as though she was home.

Glancing at his lips she registered the inviting curve of them and begged him to kiss her. Needed him to kiss her. Mia wet her bottom lip and once again met his eyes.

Lowering his head, William's eyes flickered to her lips and back as he pressed his lips against hers. Her response was immediate: her eyes closing in bliss at the intensity of heat that began to warm her flesh and ignite her very core. As his hand tangled in the loose curls of her hair, he pulled away breathing heavily. "Mia," He gasped. She could feel a hardness press against her and suddenly longed to touch it. He rested his forehead against hers. "Do not tempt me, love." Taking a steadying breath he stepped back. "I must get to your back to your room before I have you right here." His words sent a shiver up her spine but she conceded and allowed him to guide her out of the room and down the corridor. Her senses were still sharp but she felt looser, more relaxed. Common sense and reluctance left her as she held William's hand tightly.

They were almost there when a tall man with platinum blonde hair rounded the corner. His bright blue eyes lit up at the sight of them and a cruel smile crossed his face. Vampire.