My 3 Contract Lovers

[13]

[Bianca]

I looked up to see Dante standing directly in front of my aunt, officially blocking her, and I shook my head.

“Let her pass,” I said loudly, but Dante didn’t move.

“I admit that I didn’t know about your aunt,” Dante said to me, even though his eyes were locked on my aunt. “But don’t you think she should at least…ask,” I scoffed at that as I left the bedroom. I folded my arms as I stared at him.

“Are you seriously saying that to me right now?” I questioned, and he finally met my gaze.

“Bianca, I am sorry that I didn’t ask your permission,” he said softly, and I shook my head before I went back to the bedroom. I was feeling raw and emotional. Not only had I experienced something amazing with him back at the penthouse, but I was also feeling embarrassed and angry.

“Go and pack your stuff, Aunt Viv,” I said over my shoulder. I didn’t hear anything for a moment, but I soon felt his presence and I spotted him leaning against the doorframe.

“I really am sorry, Bianca,”

“Yeah, I get it, but do you?” I snapped as I started pulling out our clothing from the cupboard.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you understand why I am upset about it?” I slowly folded up the clothes and set them aside as I emptied out the cupboard.

“Because I didn’t get your permission,” he stated, and I shook my head. “Then why?”

“Why? Think about it for a second Dante,” I said tiredly. “Seeing the ambulance outside my apartment. Seeing my mother being hauled out on a stretcher…I had no idea what was going on. My mother has cancer, Dante. She doesn’t just have the flu or something…shit!” I cursed as I gave up on trying to roll up the socks. I turned to him, and I took pleasure in the guilt in his eyes. “What do you think I thought seeing that? I had no idea you were planning anything like that…I thought…” my voice cracked, and I turned away from him to try again with the socks.

“Bianca, I admit that I didn’t think it through. I simply wanted her to have a comfortable and safe journey to your new home. I don’t know why I didn’t think to ask permission or talk to you about it. But believe me, when I say, I didn’t do it with any intent to upset you,”

“I know,” I whispered. “I know you didn’t mean it, Dante…but…shit…you see…this thing between us…I knew you were going to get us an apartment. Ok, I didn’t know it was like…for life, but…I was waiting for that…this was a complete shock,”

“I apologize,” I could feel him right behind me and I straightened. It reminded me of what had happened earlier, and I shivered. “I vow never to do anything like that again without your full consent,”

“Thank you,” I said as I slowly turned to face him. I looked up into his creepy red eyes and my mind was still stuck on what had happened at the penthouse. “Dante?”

“Yes?”

“Why didn’t you…you know…back at the penthouse…?” although I felt shy about asking him such a thing, it was bothering me.

“Bianca, I don’t think now is the time to discuss that,” he said as he took a step back and he looked around the room. “You should hurry,” he added before he left the room and I sighed loudly. Of course, he wasn’t going to tell me. Suddenly I realized that although he had made me feel sexy and wanted, it may have nothing to do with me and just…my blood. He didn’t want me like that, maybe it was just a reaction and I had to force myself to finish packing up our stuff. And I wasn’t even surprised to see a moving company van parked outside. I wasn’t surprised that a few men came up to collect our furniture and the few boxes. And oddly enough, I wasn’t even surprised to see that Dante had left and I was forced to drive with my aunt to our new apartment.

“Is everything all right?” my aunt questioned, and I considered ignoring her. I knew better though, so I sighed softly before I told her about what had happened. It was embarrassing, but I didn’t have any friends to talk to about it and I was confused. “From what I know, it’s part of the process,” she said, and I frowned.

“What do you mean?” I asked curiously.

“Well, it’s almost like being put under a spell…like…they don’t want you to panic or feel scared, so they do this thing…I’m not sure how to explain it to you. I’m sure Dante would explain it better, but basically, it’s something they do to calm you down, to relax you,”

“And the s****l part of it?”

“Yeah…that is part of it, unfortunately,” she remarked, and I turned to look out the window. “Again, it’s all part of subduing you so that they can feast without a fight,” I didn’t want to listen to it anymore because all it did was confirm that I was an i***t and that Dante didn’t actually want me. By the time we pulled up to our new apartment building, I was feeling beyond tired. “He got you a penthouse apartment?”

“Yeah…it’s a bit much, right?” I asked as I stared up at the building.

“I’m not sure…maybe?” I didn’t answer as we entered the building and headed to the elevator. “Why do you think he didn’t…you know?” I asked and my aunt glanced at me before she shrugged.

“I have no idea, Bianca,” she admitted. “It could be because it was his first feeding with you. It could be that he didn’t want to take advantage, or it could just be that he doesn’t use his consorts for s*x,” I had no words to respond to that, so I kept quiet for the rest of the ride. However, I was once again super annoyed to see Frederick standing by the door and not Dante. My aunt ignored him and headed inside the apartment, but I stopped and glared up at him.

“Where is he?” I demanded. Frederick didn’t even bat an eyelash as he looked at me apologetically.

“I do apologize milady, but mine Lord Hudson had some work to attend to,” he offered softly, and I sighed as I ran my fingers through my hair. “Your mother has been set up in the first bedroom and there is a gift for you in your bedroom,” before I could ask or say anything else, he turned and I watched him walk away. I considered stopping him and questioning him, but the man had done nothing wrong. I entered the apartment and closed the door behind me. It was time to truly take in my new surroundings. I had been, admittedly, nervous the first time and completely awed by the beauty of the apartment. The small foyer looked over the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living room area. The wooden floor gleamed and shone from the natural sunlight that came in through the large windows. The blinds had been opened once again and the view of the city was truly breathtaking.

“This place is incredible!” I heard my aunt exclaim and I smiled. It was incredible. The kitchen had top-of-the-range appliances that were shiny and silver. The white marbled countertops only added to the luxuriousness of the apartment. The dining room had a round dark wooden table with four chairs and they sat near the window. The living room looked comfortable and inviting with the dark brown couch and armchairs. The coffee table was an actual coffee table, and the TV was large and mounted against the wall above a fancy-looking fireplace. A lush cream rug fitted in perfectly and I slowly made my way into the living space. Just these three areas were bigger than our old apartment. I headed down the short passage and passed by the bathroom that I had used earlier and now avoided. The first room was a bedroom and I leaned against the doorframe and gazed upon my mother, who looked peaceful and comfortable in the new queen-sized bed. The room was beautiful and spotless. The dark brown carpeted floors added a warmth to the room that made me smile. The cream walls were bare of any art but I knew that would change at some point. Since I didn’t want to disturb my mother, I left the room and continued down the hallway.

“Do you like it?” I asked as I saw my aunt unpacking a bag. She looked over at me and smiled.

“Like it? This room is bigger! I feel like I may get lost in it!”

“Hmm,” I looked around and it was much like my mother’s room, so I left her to finish unpacking. The next room was a small office space with a desk and chair. A couch sat close to the window and a bookshelf graced one of the walls. It was cozy but I wasn’t sure it would be used. The next room was my bedroom and it looked as though it was the master bedroom at that. The same mahogany brown carpeted floors and cream walls but the bed was clearly bigger, and I spotted an adjoining bathroom. I also saw a box sitting on the bed and couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t a large box or anything and I wasn’t sure what was inside, but I could just imagine that this was Dante’s way of saying sorry. Again. I slowly pulled off the golden bow and set it aside. “Oh Dante,” I whispered as I gazed down at the items. However, I first picked up the folded note.

To Mine Dearest Bianca,

I do apologize once again for not consulting you on many things today, but I do hope you will accept this card. Use it for whatever you want or feel like. New clothes, food, accessories, electronics, whatever your heart desires.

I will stop by in the morning to discuss a visit to the hospital with your mother so that we can start treatment as soon as possible.

I also hope that you will join me for dinner so that we can discuss my feedings.

In the meantime, I hope you feel comfortable in your new home.

Yours sincerely,

Dante

I read and re-read the note before I picked up the little black card. I set it aside before I pulled out a beautiful cream-colored dress. I held the dress against my body and turned to look at the floor-length mirror that stood in the corner. That was when I noticed another box at the foot of the bed. Upon opening that box, I found a pair of golden heels that matched perfectly with the dress. However, before I had any time to ooh and ahh over the outfit, my phone rang.

“Hello?” I answered breathlessly.

“Bianca?” I frowned immediately as I realized it wasn’t Dante.

“Yes?”

“Good, hey! It’s Tyson by the way,” he said, and I relaxed slightly. “Sorry it’s taken me a hot minute to contact you, but I wanted to invite you to the pack,”

“Oh, when?” I asked nervously.

“We are having a barbeque and I think it would be the perfect time for you to meet everyone and for us to discuss things,”

“Sure…that sounds great,” it didn’t, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.

“Great! Just text me your address and I’ll come to pick you up…say tenish on Saturday,” before I could agree or disagree, he hung up and I sighed. I was starting to rethink my decision to take on three immortals.