VAMPIRE PRINCE

Chapter 4: Lost in Thought

Tristan

“What’s got you in such a brooding mood?” Rowan stops in front of me, startling me from my scattered thoughts.

I shake my head, still unsure about what happened between Giselle and me. Did I really kiss her? And what a life-changing experience that was. It was amazing. I swear I saw fireworks and hearts float around me as her sweet lips met mine.

Blinking steadily, I glance toward the door Giselle fled through and wince, “I’m fine,” I mutter steadily before walking to the bar and ordering a drink.

Rowan’s brow furrows as he accepts the glass the bartender slides toward him, “So what’s up with you and Iliana?” he asks.

My head snaps in his direction, “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Rowan scoffs with disbelief, “That’s bullshit, bro. The way you spoke to her and called her Giselle showed some familiarity between you, so spill.”

My nostrils flare with irritation as I consider how I will reply. I don’t like being cornered, but I know the truth will eventually come out. Seeing that I need to answer, I pull my brother to a private corner of the bar.

“Alright…What I’m going to tell you has to stay between us. You can’t even tell Jules.”

Rowan leans close, intrigued by my secrecy, “Alright, I won’t tell her.”

I glance around to ensure we’re getting some privacy and say, “Several hundred years ago, our parents arranged for me and Giselle to be married, but I left before we could exchange vows.”

Rowan’s eyes widen with shock, his head reeling as if I had struck him. He leans close, his expression shocked as he gruffly mutters, “Holy s**t. Are you kidding me right now?”

I shake my head and sip from my glass, “No, it’s all true.”

Rowan’s expression falls, “I don’t understand. Why would our parents do something like that? Is she your mate?”

I shake my head and shrug, “To be honest, I never stopped to think about it. I was pretty horrible and avoided her as much as possible. My only excuse is that I wasn’t happy about the arrangement considering that she was sixteen years old, and I was upset with my parents for putting me in such a position.”

Rowan shakes his head, “Damn, that’s nuts, bro. At least that explains all the tension between you two.”

I nod, “Yeah, and I kissed her earlier, so I’m sure she hates me even more now.”

Rowan sputters with surprise, nearly toppling his drink, “What the f**k, man? Why did you kiss her?”

I drain the rest of my glass and shrug, “I don’t know. One minute we were talking, and the next, we were kissing. It was incredible.”

Rowan’s brow quirks incredulously at my words, “Of all the females to do that too, Iliana should not have been the one. I mean, you ditched her on your wedding day, and she doesn’t seem like the forgiving type.”

His words give me pause. s**t, I’m surprised Giselle didn’t kick my ass for that stunt. But then I consider that she seemed to enjoy it too and go back to being confused.

“Yeah, I guess, for now, I’ll keep things professional between us. I can brush it off as a lapse of judgment.”

I shrug it off, feigning a casualness that I don’t feel. I mean, the kiss really was life-changing. My lips throb at the prospect of kissing Giselle again.

“Seriously, bro, this is blowing my mind. I can’t believe you were engaged to Iliana,” Rowan states.

I nod, feeling a pang of regret strike my chest. Thinking back on it now, I wonder how things would have been if I had stayed. I recall how Giselle’s gaze became glacial when Tresh’s hand rested on my shoulder earlier. Something about her expression gave me pause.

Was she jealous of Tresh?

I don’t know why but the thought delights me.

I feel so confused. Is it possible I made a terrible mistake leaving her all those years ago?

The thought leaves me feeling disquieted, but I try not to dwell on it because I have to make plans.

That night, I drink blood from a bag and fall into an exhausted slumber. However, my sleep is not restful. As my consciousness fades away, I am pulled into a distant memory that I never quite let go of.

I walk down the palace corridors, my thoughts rioting at the prospect of what I’m about to do. I can’t believe my parents are making me marry someone who isn’t my mate? As I turn a dark corner, I stumble when I see the female in question walking around the palace’s vast courtyard. Slinking back in the shadows, I observe Giselle stroll through the short maze of rose bushes before settling down on the bench next to the large stone fountain with a goddess pouring water from a large flagon. The goddess is covered in a simple shift, her eyes serene as she pours out her offering.

However, my eyes are glued to the beautiful girl gazing off into the distance. Unlike my pale one, her skin is golden, and her body is long and slick with just enough curves to make my mouth water. Her violet eyes are solemn, and her pouty lips are turned down as she distractedly slides her fingers across the satin material of her pink dress.

I don’t want to want her, but my body heats at the prospect of sliding between her silken thighs and pounding inside her virginal body. However, my mind wars with the idea of giving in to my parents’ edicts.

Inhaling deeply, I stifle a groan when she leans down to pick something up from the ground, displaying the curve of her firm breasts and delicate shoulders. Giselle seems so innocent that it’s difficult to grasp that she comes from a line of powerful hunters. However, I know she is a skilled fighter beneath all the frills she’s wearing because I’ve seen her train occasionally. Of course, Giselle doesn’t know I’ve watched her since I do it secretly. She also doesn’t know that I become so aroused after her sessions that I rush to my room and pleasure myself.

As I observe her, I can’t help but think that I’d want her under any other circumstance. I love my parents, but with their inability to see beyond gaining more power and their biases toward other supernaturals, I must constantly be wary of their intentions.

I’m about to turn around and leave when Giselle rises from her perch and walks down the garden’s path toward the forest. Curious of her intent, I quietly follow at a safe distance. Birds chirp above us, and the breeze swirls between the tall trees, stirring the leaves as the scent of clean grass permeates the air. It’s a beautiful sunny day with white clouds and a serene blue sky. Contrary to vampire lore, vampires can walk in the sunlight. We can also eat small amounts of human food, but it doesn’t sustain us. I like to drink wine and mead but cannot become intoxicated unless I imbibe large quantities.

For several minutes, Giselle keeps walking, the grass muffling our footsteps until she reaches a quiet stream. Hiding behind a tall tree, I watch as she approaches the stream, nearly choking when I see that she’s removing her dress.

My heart is pounding wildly in my chest, and my throat is dry as I observe the dress slither down her velvety spine and rounded bottom. My eyes drink in the dimples above her buttocks and the slight glimpses I get of her round breasts.

Unaware of my enraptured gaze, Giselle walks into the stream, her tiny feet wading into the water until she is submerged up to her waist. I swallow hard as she lifts her hair and reveals her perfectly shaped breasts and hard, mauve n*****s.

My c**k hardens beneath my breeches, and my hands ache to touch her perfect skin. I have to stifle a moan when I see Giselle glide through the water, glimpses of her skin playing peek-a-boo as she wades in and out until her body is completely submerged inside its silky depths.

My fangs ache, and my eyes begin to change as every torturous second of watching her take enjoyment in the water passes. I’m about to turn around and leave when I see movement by the river.

Jaw tight, I observe a male berserker creep toward the river. The male looks scruffy with a thick beard, leathery skin, and a large frame. Berserkers are wild and humanoid creatures living on our kingdom's fringes. Like wolves, they are strong and agile creatures who tend to be brutal with their kills. Most berserkers are hired by enemy kingdoms, so I know he’s not here for a friendly visit.

Seeing that I have no choice, I walk to the river and call out, “Get out of the water Giselle.”

Giselle’s eyes widen when she sees me. However, her surprise is short-lived when her gaze sharpens with suspicion as she menacingly growls, “Are you following me, Tristan?”

My lips tighten as I watch my quarry while I rebuke Giselle. I gather her dress and stand on the embankment’s edge, “I don’t have time to argue with you, Giselle. Now, will you please get out and get dressed.”

Giselle ignores my command and continues to wade through the water, uncaring of my commanding tone, “I don’t think I’m ready to get out. Now, how about you turn around and leave?”

Shaking my head, I slip off my shoes and glide into the water.

“What are you doing?” Giselle cries out with outrage.

I don’t answer as I swim toward her, take her in my arms, and carry her back to the clearing’s edge. Giselle flails around, her body slipping and sliding against mine distractedly, “Let me go, you swine!”

I shake my head and try not to look at her rounded buttocks though my hands can’t help but caress the skin of her thighs.

Once we reach land, I set her on her feet, letting her body slide against mine until she’s standing before me. Giselle gives me a fuming glare as she accepts the dress I toss at her. Her long hair sticks to her dewy skin, and her long lashes are spiked, making her violet eyes look bigger, “Just what do you think you’re doing?” She asks as she unabashedly stands before me, the dress still hanging between her delicate fingers. Something slides to the floor that falls from her dress, but I only have eyes for her.

My jaw ticks as I try to avoid looking at her bare form. Using my anger, I gesture toward the area where the berserker is hiding, “What I am doing is pulling you out of imminent danger, my lady. A berserker is lurking nearby and….”

At my words, Giselle turns, gazes toward the berserker’s hiding place, and slides on her dress.

Sighing with relief, I gesture toward the kingdom’s path, but rather than walk toward the mansion, Giselle strides purposely toward the berserker and confronts him, “Who are you, and why are you watching me Bathe?”

The berserker gives her a sly grin before he pulls out a sword and moves to strike.

Rushing forward, I give a warning, but Giselle is not easily surprised because she produces her own knife, kicks the berserker’s sword away, and buries hers inside his chest. The berserker looks down with surprise before choking on his own blood, slumps to his knees on the ground, and dies.

Giselle rolls her eyes as she takes back her knife and mutters, “That’s for ruining my bath.”

I look on with admiration and surprise as she turns toward the path and strides back toward the mansion as if she didn’t just kill one of the most dangerous creatures in our kingdom.

I follow behind her and call out, “That was impressive.”

Giselle turns back to face me and pushes wet strands from her face before she asks, “How did you know I was here? Where you watching me?”

I open my lips to reply, but before I can, my father’s manservant steps into the courtyard and allows me to escape this conversation, “There you are. Your father is calling for you, Prince Tristan.”

I nod, keeping my expression clear of any emotions. Giselle scoffs as she strides past me and disappears into the other side of the shrubs. Jaw tight, I glance down and see a small pin shaped like a lily with an amber gem centered in the middle. Before I leave, I pick up the pin, put it in my pocket, and continue as if I didn’t just watch her bathe her delicious body.

Her bare image haunted me so much that I had to take cold baths for the next few days.

It was also harder to stay away from her after that. Even when I was mean to Giselle, I couldn’t help wanting her.