Heartfelt Declarations

ALEXANDER

Aya hadn’t responded to my question, and it was driving me up the wall. She just stared at me, her eyes wide with shock, before she burst into laughter and rolled away from me, giggling uncontrollably.

I didn’t find the situation funny, but I let her process her emotions.

The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I meant them with every fiber of my being. Nothing else made sense. I wanted her to be my wife, to be mine, forever.

I couldn’t envision a different life, nor did I want to. Living aimlessly through the centuries, girlfriend after girlfriend—it wasn’t fulfilling. She made my life worth living.

As dusk approached, I could feel the temperature dropping and the cool night air creeping in. I watched as Aya slid out of bed and began to dress.

I couldn’t help but admire the graceful, deadly movements of her body. The way she arched and stretched, tugged at her clothes, and fluffed her hair—she was breathtaking.

“Aya, I wasn’t joking,” I told her.

She froze, tying the belt around her waist and turning back to me, fully dressed.

I watched her eyes travel down my bare chest, to the sheets gathered at my waist, and my leg hanging off the side of the bed. Lust was easy to read in her gaze, but there was something more profound there too.

“Alex, you proposed right after we had sex,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “You can’t be serious. You’re just high on endorphins.”

I threw off the sheet and stood up, noticing Aya’s attempt to avoid looking at my growing arousal. I moved closer to her, and she looked slightly apprehensive.

“I’m not proposing because I can’t stop thinking about being inside you, or hearing you scream my name, or feeling your hips against mine,” I said, stepping closer until we were only inches apart. I towered over her, looking down at her petite frame.

She gasped, and her wide eyes turned a bright shade of crimson.

“I’m not proposing because you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, or because I need you, or want you. I’m not even proposing because you make me a better person, which you do. I’ve never liked myself except when I’m with you.”

I took her small hands in mine, lifting them to press a kiss against her soft skin. Her crimson eyes met mine, her mouth slightly open in surprise.

“I’m not proposing because I’m addicted to your scent, to your taste,” I murmured, my tongue tracing the veins on the back of her hand.

I could feel her reaction. Her body responded to mine. My arousal was evident, standing between us. She squirmed slightly.

“I’m proposing, Aya, because I love you, and simply put, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know I’ve hurt you. I know I have a lot of making up to do. And I’m sure I’ll mess up again in the future. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be worthy of you, Aya. But I know that I lost you once, and I can’t bear to lose you again.”

“Alex,” she whispered, her eyes welling up with red tears. I could hear her heart beating faster. Her emotions were a whirlwind. “A pureblood can’t marry a turned vampire.”

“That’s bullshit,” I retorted. And then, for emphasis, “Bull. Shit.”

“Alex, you’re a Night. You’re a pureblood prince! I’m an ex-servant. A nobody,” she shook her head, looking down at our intertwined hands.

“You’re not a nobody. Don’t ever say that again,” I said sharply. Then, cupping her cheek, I lifted her face to meet my gaze. “And I’m no longer a prince. Even if I were, I want you, Aya. I want you to be my wife. I want you to be my forever.”

Hope, confusion, and pain swirled within her. I leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.

“Please say yes, Aya. Please marry me.”

She seemed to choke on her breath, tears streaming down her face.

“Alex, you can’t ask me,” she shook her head.

“I believe I just did,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light, though her tears and pain made it difficult.

She was in love with me. I could sense it, deep within her. What was stopping her? I had no family obligations anymore. No looming responsibility of becoming the next king. We could be free. This time, it would be different. I would make sure of it.

“Alex,” she said, wiping away her tears. “I love you,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, kissing her tear-streaked cheeks.

“Just say yes,” I urged softly.

“I can’t give you a family, Alex,” she blurted out, a sob escaping her chest as she leaned into me, crying.

I immediately wrapped my arms around her, holding her trembling body against mine. My mind was racing. Did she think I wanted a family? Did she want one? Had I taken that possibility away from her too? How long had she been pondering this?

“Aya,” I whispered, gently stroking her hair. She buried her face in my bare chest, her fingers digging into my back.

“Aya, look at me,” I pleaded, gently pulling her back.

Her tear-streaked face looked up at me, her chin resting against my sternum. I lightly stroked her cheek.

“Do you want children?” I asked softly.

Her eyes widened in surprise, and I could feel her confusion. Had she not considered it?

“Don’t you?” she asked, her voice barely audible.

“Not particularly,” I admitted.

She just stared at me.

“Really? I thought you had to.”

“My grandfather is dead, and the current queen despises me. I don’t think she’s eager for me to reproduce,” I said, chuckling. “I can do whatever I want. And so can you.”

“But that’s what purebloods do, for generations. You come from one of the most powerful families. You’re the only male heir!”

“My sisters can have children if they want.”

“But the Night family name will be lost!”

“I’m not dead yet, Aya,” I said, chuckling. “And honestly, I don’t care. We’ve been around long enough. Even if the name dies with me, our bloodline will still be strong through my sisters.”

“Family means everything to purebloods,” she mumbled, clearly confused.

“Yes,” I agreed. “But the name doesn’t matter to me. You matter to me. You will be my family.”

“Alex,” she shook her head. “I can ~never~ have children. It’s not temporary. I will ~never~ be able to give you that. I’m completely barren,” she said, her face hardening. “I’m a turned vampire.”

I frowned down at her. “That’s enough, Aya,” I said, my voice stern. “I don’t particularly want children, but if you do, we could always adopt,” I suggested.

“When have you ever seen a pureblood up for adoption?” she scoffed.

“It doesn’t have to be a pureblood, Aya,” I said softly. “Humans need a loving home, too.”

Her eyes widened. “You’re crazy! We’d accidentally kill it!”

I shrugged. “The current queen was raised by pureblood vampires.”

“And she almost died—~frequently~. They had to fake her death!”

“That was only because of my grandfather. Times have changed. Aya, I’m not asking you to adopt a human baby with me. We have plenty of time. I’m just asking you to marry me. To link your life with mine, forever.”

She blinked at me. “A couple of days ago, I hated you,” she admitted.

“Hate is very close to love,” I said softly. “I would be worried if you told me you were indifferent to me.”

She pursed her lips, and I took the opportunity to gently kiss her forehead. She looked up at me, surprised.

“I don’t want a big wedding,” she whispered. “Just close friends. Do you have any friends?”

I could feel her mind working, trying to figure out the logistics. I didn’t care about any of that. I was overjoyed. My heart was pounding, though neither of us seemed to notice.

“Nope,” I replied, grinning at her.

“It’d have to be after the banishment too,” she said, starting to pull away from me.

I pulled her back into my arms, her small yelp of surprise making me smile. I held her against my chest, one arm wrapped around her back, the other cupping the side of her face.

“Was that a yes, Aya? Did you just accept my proposal?” I asked, unable to hide my grin.

Her crimson eyes met mine, her lips parting for a moment, then pulling back into a beautiful smile.

“Yes, Alex. I will marry you,” she whispered.

I pressed my lips to hers, too elated to utter a word. Our kiss was a whirlwind of desire. I was completely consumed by her. Her scent wrapped around me, stirring every fiber of my being. My lips danced over hers, tasting her, relishing her.

I gently parted her lips, cradling her petite face in my hands as I eagerly accepted all she had to give.

She let out a soft moan, her arms winding around my neck as she sprang up, her legs locking around my waist.

I held onto her thighs, the soft fabric of her dress brushing against my sensitive skin. My arousal pulsed. I groaned, feeling her body pressed against mine. Her soft breasts pressed against the fabric.

My fingers dug into her silky thighs, pulling her hips against mine. The sensation of her wetness sliding over me had us both groaning in pleasure.

I could sense her desire growing. Her primal need to consume me mirrored my own.

But there was something more to our wild, uncontrolled desire for each other. There was a promise there, a promise that this was just the start—that we wouldn’t let go again.

We had loved passionately before; we wouldn’t let ourselves lose that. We were a team now. Neither of us would ever have to be alone again.

The power behind that promise overwhelmed me. I had never been alone; I had grown up surrounded by family, but I had felt lonely—except for those few years with Aya.

I wondered how lonely she had been in the mansion, but her movements against me, breathless, quickly derailed my thoughts.

I pressed her against the cabin wall, trapping her in my arms.

“I want you, Alex,” she moaned. “I want you for the rest of my life.”

Her words seared through me.

“Mine,” I grunted, my hands roaming her body, squeezing and pulling down the straps of her dress. Her perfect breasts bounced in my face, and I latched on immediately. She gasped and moaned, grinding against me, her long nails leaving deep trails up my back.

I groaned as the pain mixed deliciously with pleasure. The scent of my blood filled the room.

“This is all mine; you are all mine,” the possessiveness in my voice surprised me. After hundreds of years and relationships, purebloods weren’t typically very possessive. But the thought of anyone else touching her made me want to tear heads from bodies and drain them dry.

Aya was mine.

She was tugging at her dress, trying to remove it, her thighs clamped around my waist. I could smell her arousal, the sweet, intoxicating scent of her desire. Her happiness seemed to radiate from her as well.

“Mine,” she responded, her crimson eyes meeting mine. “You are mine.”

I nodded. Of course, I was. One hundred percent. She owned me in every way.

With her help, I freed her from her panties and plunged into her in one swift motion.

She gasped and arched her body. I could barely contain myself; I held onto her hips, staying still so she could adjust to my size, even though I’d just spent the better part of the day buried inside her.

The slick sensation of her walls tightening around me was exquisite. I showered her soft throat with kisses, and the rhythm of her heartbeat echoed.

She writhed against me, her hips moving slowly. I pulled back, holding her hips. She looked at me, her fangs biting into her lips, her blood trickling down her chin. Her crimson eyes met mine, and she was the most sensual, erotic sight I had ever seen.

Fuck, I didn’t deserve this goddess.

I began to thrust into her, spurred on by her gasps of pleasure, her arms wrapping around my neck, pulling us close. I could feel my pleasure building, the mounting pressure at the base of my spine. She was moaning and gasping with pleasure, her hips slamming against mine.

With a deep growl, I sank my fangs into the side of her throat. Her blood flowed into my mouth, the most delicious taste in the world. I drank from her greedily, savoring every little moan. Her hands clung to my shoulders, her hips bucking against me, and I felt her tighten around me as she climaxed. Hard—my name on her lips.

I had to muster every ounce of self-control to keep from losing myself in her. Instead, I wrapped one hand around her neck, securing her in place, while I continued to taste her. My other hand found its way to her hip, pressing her against the wall to steady us.

Aya was moving rhythmically against me, her arms wrapping around my neck once more. As I lifted my head, I felt the sharp sting of her fangs piercing my throat. I couldn’t help but growl.

Her bite was painful, but when she began to suck, a groan of pleasure escaped my lips. I thrust into her, and she screamed my name as she climaxed for the second time, triggering my own release. I emptied myself into her, completely drained.

I was utterly amazed. We remained entwined for a few moments, neither of us making a move. Then, her legs slid down from my hips, and I allowed myself to pull back slightly.

My blood stained her lips, her eyes returning to their natural dark hue. She adjusted her dress, casting a fleeting glance at the ruined panties I’d tossed aside. I reached up, gently stroking the side of her face, tucking the loose strands of her hair behind her ears.

The bite mark on her throat had already healed.

“Let’s go find my damn sister and then get married,” I proposed.

“That sounds like a plan,” she agreed, a shy smile playing on her lips.

I took her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles, and gave her a playful wink. Suddenly, a creaking sound echoed from above us, followed by the unmistakable scent of a turned vampire.

I cursed under my breath. Someone was in the cabin above us. It was barely dark enough, which meant they must have been right on our tail last night.

Aya was already crouched down, silently reaching for her bag, her eyes fixed on the floorboard above us. The turned vampire could undoubtedly smell our scent permeating the cabin, but perhaps they assumed we’d already left.

I moved quietly to the bed, pulling on my jumper and jeans. Aya watched me, her eyes wide. The sound of footsteps seemed to reverberate around us as more joined the first pair.

There were at least five turned vampires now.

“They were definitely here,” a female voice whispered from above.

“Their scent is very strong,” a male voice agreed.

“I thought I heard something,” another confessed. “Do you think they’re still here?”

They all fell silent, and I knew it would only be a matter of seconds before they discovered the trapdoor leading to the cellar.

I reached for Aya, positioning her behind me as we faced the small staircase leading down into the cellar. I was determined to protect her, no matter what. She was mine, and I would defend her with my life.