CHAPTER FIVE

"Shit, not here!" I heard Anthony shout through my muddled brain. So close. He is so close to us. I could feel my teeth tugging and extending into pointed fangs, completely unlike the large canines I was used to in my Lycan form. These were razor sharp, drawing trace amounts of blood as they rested against my bottom lip.

In seemingly the blink of an eye, the man named Rory was gone from my sight, having been dragged into the nearby staff room to my right. I quickly changed course to follow him, my mom hot on my tail, brimming with curiosity. I rushed through the heavy oak door to find Rory being restrained against the far wall by Anthony, who was seemingly struggling to hold him back. Rory was hissing and glaring at the man, who I now noticed was remarkably similar in appearance to him.

They both shared the same dirty blonde locks, though Rory's were worn longer and without any gel. He was fair in complexion, though not sickly pale like most people imagined vampires to be. His flawless skin was highlighted by plump, soft pink lips, and his jaw structure was subtle but beautifully handsome in a way that melted my insides. His posture instantly relaxed when I entered the room, and he straightened his 6'2 slender but fit frame to meet me. I watched as his own fangs extended and Anthony stepped aside.

Then, it was like the whole world had vanished around us. I could hear the harmonious rush of blood through his veins beckoning to me, calling to me like a siren on the seven seas, moistening my taste buds and sending my heart straight through my chest. He licked his fangs, doing things to my body that I never thought possible. I wanted to taste him. I had to taste him.

We sauntered towards each other in perfect unison, matching each focused step with another, before we could finally touch each other. My hands moved on their own, snaking their way up his chiseled torso and pulling him down to me. The touch itself was enough to drown me in pleasure, and I moaned loudly, with no regard to my mother being in the room with me. He gripped onto my hips in turn, pulling me even closer to his heated body and releasing a deep and sensual groan of his own at the intense emotions flowing through our touch.

Simultaneously, as if it had been rehearsed a million times, we leaned into one another, making a home for our faces in the other's shoulder before sinking our fangs into the groove of the other's neck. I was going to drink of my royal. A tidal wave of sensations flooded me, and my vision went white as I lapped up the rich and savory blood of my royal. The best cooked hickory bacon couldn't hold a flame to how delectable his blood was on my tongue, and I wondered if I would bleed him dry on the spot. It proved an impossible theory, though, and my tongue jutted out of my mouth as my fangs retreated all in one swift motion. I licked over his puncture wounds, watching in awe as they healed themselves, blending back into his creamy skin.

Then, a whole new round of sensations hit me. I collapsed to my knees as my body was racked with tunnel vision and scorching pain throughout. I cried out in response to the suffering, gripping onto my temples with white knuckles while my head filled with a plethora of noises surrounding the whole of ARIA. Slot machines, trysts, and even drunken brawls overwhelmed me.

"What's going on?" Rory's enticing and overall arousing voice beckoned above the sounds.

"I think her vampire has been released." My mother responded, concern and worry being the forefront of her tone. I felt a soothing hand resting on the small of my back and I immediately recognized it as Rory's.

"Love, try to relax. Focus on me. Only me. Listen to my voice. Take a deep breath and limit your mind." His soft-spoken words were an answer to prayer, and after a long, deep breath, I was back to only hearing the sounds of the room. My breathing fought to regulate itself, and sweat was forming on my brow, but I felt safe under the touch of my royal. I took a risky glance at the man hovering over me, half expecting to see disgust on his glorious face. Instead, my eyes met bright blue pools of love and adoration.

"What is your name, love?" He asked, his head cocked in wonderment.

"Aria Loraine Wilson." I replied shyly, still in awe of the god-like man before me.

"Aria... Aria?" Sudden realization flashed across his face and his eyes darted to Anthony. "Dad, Jasper's daughter Aria? The hybrid?" My stomach tightened in anticipation of his response to the news. Anthony grinned proudly back at his son, turning to my mom with a knowing look. "Why don't we give these kids some privacy. Looks like you'll be having drinks with just me tonight, Kim." My cheeks would have flushed if I wasn't already so nervous for Rory's acceptance of me. His eyes flickered down and he seemed to be in deep thought. He didn't want me.

"I-I'm sorry. I can go..." His hand jutted out faster than I could follow to keep me from standing, his twinkling eyes not far behind.

"What? Why? Why would you leave, Aria?" He seemed panicked at the prospect, his hand tightening on my delicate wrist desperately.

"I-"

"Are you disappointed to have a royal?" What?

"Disappointed? Me? Of course not." I scoffed. "I just... I thought you were disappointed to have a hybrid like me..." He wore a confused look before softening his eyes as if he finally understood what was happening.

"No, of course not, Aria. I mean, it's surprising. I didn't expect to find my royal so soon, and I definitely didn't expect it to be you, but that's only because you are so special and unique. It's an honor to be your royal. Hell, look at you." He gestured with his free hand, raking over my body with greedy eyes and a darkening expression. "You're hands down the sexiest woman I've ever seen. Just being this close to you is driving me wild." His eyes momentarily flickered red, but he corrected it. I completely understood where he was coming from. Rory's Dior cologne mixed with the addicting smell of his blood made me want to pounce on him, to tear away every scrap of high-end fabric from his delicious body and allow him to take me in whatever way he saw fit. My fantasies running wild resulted in me releasing an involuntary growl, my eyes black with lust. Rory swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing in his throat.

"Damn, okay. That's hot." His words snapped me back to the present, and I could feel the blood rushing to my face. I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, turning away from him.

"I'm sorry. I don't know what's gotten into me." I mumbled, pulling up the top of my dress. He chuckled, and I swear, all of the stars aligned when I heard him laugh for the first time. His voice was so rich and smooth, like warm honey down the throat, and his mouth formed into the most breathtaking smile in this universe, his pearly white teeth gleaming brightly throughout the room.

"Would you like to get a drink with me?" He asked, amusement gracing his words. "If we don't get out of here now, I might accidentally traumatize our wait staff with a tryst." Ignoring his suggestive remark, I took him in quizzically.

"How old are you?" I hoped I didn't sound rude; he just didn't look old enough to drink. Hell, I didn't look old enough to drink.

"Just turned twenty. One of the perks of owning the resort." He gave me a simmering smirk that made my thighs rub.

"Okay, yeah, I see what you were saying. Maybe we'd better head to the bar."