Chapter 1 - The First Kick
Marcus;
I’m sitting here sandwiched between my mother and my plus one for the night, Cynthia, as we travel into the luxurious hotel, The Canton.
We’re off to my father’s engagement party to help celebrate.
Not that he and Bella need our help to celebrate.
They’re already so happy together.
The very picture of perfection…
They show it every single fucking second that they’re around one another… it’s sickening.
Still, I couldn’t say no when I was invited, and I intend on making this night as interesting as possible.
I’m thinking of inventive ways that I can fuck up their big night, when I hear Cynthia’s voice and realise that she’s talking to me.
“Marcus, baby… what do you think of my gown?” she queries, waiting for my response.
And of course, I need to sell it.
If I’m going to have her hanging off my arm all night, I’ll need to make her think I’m interested in what she does or says.
“It’s a perfect fit.” I proclaim with a smirk.
“And it’s zip-up at the back… that makes it much easier for us later on…”
“Marcus, not while I’m in the car, please dearest.” my mother Vanessa chimes into the conversation now with a roll of her bright yellow eyes.
“Sorry, mother.” I apologise with a playful grin.
“I completely forgot that you were in here with us.”
Cynthia smiles brightly while snuggling in against my upper chest and wrapping her arms around me possessively.
And I let her… for now.
“This is going to be so exciting.” Cynthia beams.
“I’ve never attended one of your family’s prestige events before. No doubt it’ll be incredibly fancy, I mean, look at what we’re all wearing.”
This is the barrier between Cynthia and I.
Money.
She comes from a rough upbringing, whereas I come from wealth and prestige.
That’s why it could never work between us, not that I’d ever tell her that.
Not while she’s still of some use to me.
“Behave tonight, Cynthia.” I warn her in a suddenly stern tone of voice.
She pouts at me, but I hold firm in my expression.
“I mean it.” I go on.
“Tonight you’re representing the Valerone name as my plus one. You can’t afford to do anything that might shine a bad light on us. You understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”
Cynthia rolls her eyes at me and smiles.
“Of course, darling.” she muses.
“You know I’d never do anything to embarrass you, Marcus. You’re far too important to me.”
I lean back in my seat and sigh.
“I purposefully chose a white gown for you to outdo the future bride.” Vanessa declares, looking to Cynthia now.
“Make me proud, won’t you?”
Cynthia’s smile widens unnaturally.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Valerone… I’ll make you proud. I promise.” Cynthia declares with confidence, and I notice how she used the title of Mrs. Valerone to address my mother.
This only causes my mother’s grin to widen; true, they’re not married anymore but she still must love hearing it.
“Marcus, dearest… don’t forget that you and Cynthia here need to sell the fact that you’re together at the party tonight.” my mother reminds me for the fiftieth fricking time.
“Do it by any means necessary, do you understand?”
“Oh, that won’t be difficult, Mrs. Valerone.” Cynthia reassures, running her hand down the length of my chest in a seductive manner.
“Marcus and I are already very close… aren’t we, Marcus?”
I sigh again, reaching into my jacket and taking out a packet of cigarettes along with my trusty metal lighter.
Placing the cigarette between my lips, I am about to light it when my mother’s hand shoots out at the speed of light, yanking the cigarette from my mouth before tossing it onto the floor of the limo with disgust.
“Really, Marcus? Smoking? In the limo?” she speaks in outrage.
“What the hell’s gotten into you? Why are you acting so irritable?”
I brush it off as nothing, sitting back again and resting my head against the headrest while Cynthia runs her hand suggestively over my pecs and abs, hidden beneath my expensive tux.
As she does so, I find my mind drifting back to that night with Bella a week ago, in the master bedroom.
In my father’s bed.
The night I finally claimed her in the most intimate way.
And then mesmerised her afterwards so that she’d forget the entire thing.
But I haven’t forgotten…
Not the sounds she made as I pounded into her.
Not the scent of her arousal or the taste of her fresh, warm blood.
And definitely not the look in her eyes when I came deep inside her…
Fuck…
Now I’ve got a hard-on, right before the party.
Damn it.
I must think of something else to soften my cock before we arrive.
I can’t exit the limo with a raging hard-on; not with all the press!
How would that look?
If I’m being completely honest, I haven’t been able to get Bella out of my head since fucking her that night.
She’s all I’ve been thinking about.
I want her again… badly.
“Looks like we’re here.” Vanessa declares, glancing out through the tinted window of our limousine at the gathered press and media with their sea of flashing cameras.
She looks to me and Cynthia one last time.
“You both ready?” she enquires.
“Yes, Mrs. Valerone.” Cynthia replies obediently.
I scoff, straightening my tux jacket as I respond with confidence.
“Bring it on.” I proclaim.
“Tonight’s going to be fun…”
Bella;
Vincent looks at me and smiles and I feel my walls come crumbling down.
This man…
He does things to me that no one else ever has.
Suddenly, I feel a strange movement in my belly and frown, glancing down at it in wonder.
Vincent notices, and he turns to look at me in question.
“Bella, what is it?” he asks.
“Is something wrong?”
I meet his gaze and smile.
“Vincent, I felt movement.” I admit.
“I think… I think it was the baby moving.”
His face lights up and he shuffles in a little closer on the seat.
“May I?” he enquires, reaching out his hand to feel and I know I would never refuse him.
He’s the father of this child.
I nod, taking his hand and guiding it in over my protruding belly.
It feels warm to the touch as it spreads out over my belly, his fingers outstretched.
I watch Vincent’s expression, waiting for the movement to happen again, and the moment it does, I see his eyes flash with excitement.
They brighten as he smiles.
“I felt it!” he proclaims happily.
“The baby, it kicked.”
I smile, nodding.
“It’s really something, isn’t it?” I remark, placing my hand over the top of his, still spread out over my belly.
“That’s our child in there… a new life we’re bringing into this world.”
I consider something.
“Would you prefer a boy or a girl?” I ask him.
Vincent chuckles warmly.
“It means no difference to me, as long as the baby is healthy, I’m happy.” he declares.
We stay like this for another five minutes, simply feeling our baby’s movements together in silence, smiling the entire time.
I wish I could stay like this forever…
Just then, the limousine pulls up just outside the entrance to The Canton Hotel and Vincent looks to me with his usual warm smile as he removes his hand.
“Now remember, I’ll be with you every step of the way tonight. If you need to go anywhere without me, you’ll be escorted by Gerald or one of my security team. You go nowhere alone, understood?” Vincent warns.
I roll my eyes, smiling back at him.
“Are you sure you won’t grow bored of me?” I challenge, cupping the side of his face with my outstretched hand.
He turns his head, kissing my open palm.
“How could I?” he counters.
“You’re absolutely breathtaking tonight. I’m half considering turning the limo around and taking you back home.”
I look into his eyes with a seductive smirk.
“Oh? And what would you do to me at home?” I continue pushing his buttons on purpose.
He matches my expression.
“Wouldn’t you like to know.” he declares, his eyes flicking down towards my lips.
He then leans in and kisses me, taking complete control of the kiss and causing my panties to dampen within seconds.
I feel his tongue slide along mine and an ache in my lower belly causes me to pull away suddenly from our kiss.
“Ah…” I grunt, scrunching up my face in discomfort.
He immediately looks worried as he grabs my upper arms and looks me in the eye.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he questions me.
“Are you in pain?”
The aching feeling slowly fades and I look to him again, forcing a smile.
“It’s nothing. Just a cramp. I guess our baby’s movements came with a price. It’s gone now, don’t worry.” I reassure him.
Vincent takes a moment before nodding in acceptance.
The car door opens and a blinding sea of flashing lights fills the limo as Vincent slides out towards the open door.
He exits the limo with such grace, buttoning his tuxedo jacket neatly before then turning and holding out his offered hand to me.
I take in a deep breath to ready myself for tonight before then reaching out and taking his offered hand, stepping out of the limousine and into the blinding lights.
Vincent takes the lead, holding my hand and leading me along the red carpet, towards the main entrance to the hotel.
As this is our engagement party and the press have all come for us, he leads me into the centre of the carpet before stopping and posing with me there by his side.
Proudly and with a warm smile.
It’s funny that mirrors can’t show a vampire’s reflection, but cameras can… I still don’t understand that logic.
But it’s true.
The press go crazy, firing off shot after shot of us as we stand side by side happily.
Vincent then does something I didn’t expect; he takes my left hand, the one with my engagement ring on it, and lifts it up, kissing it tenderly as the flashes erupt even more violently around us.
He’s putting on a show.
The show off…
As he kisses me, he smirks devilishly and I can’t help but fight a shy smile as it threatens to form.
Vincent then leans in to whisper into my ear.
“You look so fucking tempting right now…” he muses, stunning me a little by his words.
“I’m having a hard time keeping my hands off you.”
His words cause me to blush, and I squeeze his hand in warning.
I give him a look, narrowing my eyes, and he knows he’s pushing his luck.
With one last smile and a wave to the gathered crowd, we make our way inside the hotel’s main lobby, headed for the grand ballroom where our engagement party is set to be held.
How am I going to last tonight?
