Chapter 3: Be My Surrogate
1045 Words
ELLIE
I looked up at the bakery sign and straightened my shoulders. I came here every day for work so a meeting with a complete stranger should be safe. Right?
If the author of the letter had asked to meet anywhere else, I would have said no, but I knew this place like the back of my hand. I would be safe here.
And the promise of a large sum of money for seven months of work was too tempting to resist. With that I could pay off our debt and maybe get ahead of my sister's medical bills.
I pushed through the shop's door and looked around. There was only one person sitting alone, and he happened to be the one person I would never want to meet alone anywhere else.
Right away, I knew he was a vampire. Though I'd only run across a few in my life, they put off an unmistakable aura of death. The hair on my arms raised, but I lifted my chin and strode in his direction.
When I neared his table, he looked up, and I barely restrained my gasp.
Though he was sitting, I could tell he was tall, at least six-foot-three, and built with lean muscles that accentuated his height. His sharp jawline and cheekbones were clean-shaven. His ink-black hair was swept back with shorter sides. The vampire's skin was pale and flawless and as he smiled at me, I couldn't help but focus on his pointed top canines. His black eyes stared back at me. There was nothing friendly about his expression. His eyes were deadened, and his smile was tight and forced.
“Are you Cohen Kremin?" I asked.
He nodded and waved to the empty chair on the other side of the table. I took it.
The promise of money was too great to turn away from him just yet. Plus I didn't want to be one of those people who didn't like vampires just because they were a little creepy.
The more I looked at Cohen, the more my attraction to him grew. I couldn't exactly understand why. Yes, he was hot, but I'd never been affected by someone so intensely before. My hands ached to reach out to him, and I was barely managing to hold them in check.
“Do you know what I am?" he asked, his voice dark and silky.
I nodded.
“Does that scare you?"
I shrugged noncommittally. “Should it?" It didn't really, but it did make me a bit wary. I didn't have much experience with vampires, so I didn't know what to expect.
He stared at me for a beat before nodding. “Let's get straight to business. I'd like to wrap this up and leave town as soon as possible."
I nodded and didn't say anything. What could I say to that?
“You have a lot of debts and I have a lot of money. I'm willing to pay off all your bills and take care of you for the next six to seven months if you become my surrogate."
I frowned as thoughts flew through my head. Surrogate? Was that some fancy way of saying 'prostitute'? I didn't understand. I knew another meaning was to have a baby, but this man looked like he'd never held a baby, let alone wanted one.
“Surrogate?" I asked.
He gave a stiff nod. “I need an heir, and I want you to produce it for me."
Relief flooded my veins, but then it mixed with confusion.
Why me, of all people? Why would he come to this town for me?
My cheeks flushed red before my mind caught up with them.
Sex.
Sex with Cohen.
I probably should have hated the idea more. That said, he looked like he'd f*ck like a zombie. He wasn't exactly cold; he was just uncaring. Aloof.
He'd probably make no sounds, bang me, then leave my climax to me.
Lame.
But the money...
I couldn't just walk away from that. I was desperate to get out of my situation.
“What would this involve?"
“You would move to my home and live with me. There, we would perform all the tests and impregnate you. You would stay for the duration of the pregnancy, so six months, and then you'd stay for a few weeks to recover and get the baby adjusted. Then you would be paid and sent on your way."
I nodded and stared down at the tabletop.
That was... a lot.
I knew to most people having a baby would be a huge deal, but all I could think about was how last weekend I'd had to choose between eating and paying the electric bill. I'd gone hungry.
Someone stepped up to the table, and I flinched as I felt their dark vampire aura. I looked up and found another male, this one blonde and golden.
He smiled down at me and slid a packet of papers across the table to me with a pen resting on top.
“I'm Lance, Cohen's Second in Command. Here's the contract that lays everything out and should answer a lot of questions for you."
I nodded and shot him a small smile before looking at the contract.
But my eyes didn't focus on it. I looked back up at Cohen. “Second in Command?"
Cohen shot Lance a glare. Lance just smiled and walked away.
Cohen looked back at me. “You've heard of the Supernatural Council?"
I nodded.
“Well, I'm the Vampire King."
My breath left my lungs in a rush.
He was royalty, and he wanted me to have his baby. I shook my head, then nodded; then shook my head again.
“Why are you here?"
Cohen hesitated before sighing. “I believe we are compatible in this area."
I instinctively knew that there was more to it than that, but that Cohen wasn't going to say more.
I looked back down to the contract and flipped through it.
This was a huge decision. I desperately wished I had someone to talk this over with but there was no one. I didn't have time for friends, and I would never put more stress on Kate.
I was on my own.
- Writer
