Cat's Choice (8 page)

Feeling himself slip into a dreamlike state, he frowned. This was something that had not happened for weeks, the last time he had woken pissed because there was nothing he could do to help his mate as she was attacked yet again but his crazy , childhood friend. Orfeo had no idea why he kept bringing the asshole from his past into his dream state, but he did, and it bothered him…

His mates stood before him both looking uncomfortable—this was new —it didn’t seem like it was in the present like the other’s had, no , this was more like the future. He could feel his female mate ‘s fear rolling off of her. Orfeo growled at the thought of his mate being terrified of him.

“Dude, relax, we have issues, we need to work out. Cat is willing to try, ” t he man said.

The female he referred to a ‘Cat ‘, stepped forward and held out her hand. “Please , we had such a wonderful day. I just want to sit and forget for a moment what Diavolo took from me , ” h is mate said.

Orfeo felt himself reaching out a hand to take hers; he somehow knew about her past and all the things Diavolo and the other Vampire s had done to her. She was afraid of his kind. He felt his rage and anger boiling inside of him. He wanted to find the ones who hurt her and show no mercy. They would die by his hand.

He felt himself turning in his bed, and he frowned; the scene was changing, oh; he liked this one more. He could feel the sexual tension in the room he ended up in. It was bathed in candle light, and only the smallest light came from the opened moonlit balcony. Flowers adorned the room, and he smiled to himself when he saw the misting figure begin to take shape in front of him…

Caterina stood before him with a gorgeous
full-length nightgown on, her hair hung over her shoulders, and he smiled at her. She had just had her hair changed back to its original color after all these years. It was a light , tawny brown and shimmered in the candlelight that surrounded them. He could feel his other mate standing next to him, and Orfeo turned and looked at him; he felt Tripp’s hand run down his back. His mate’s name was Tripp, Orfeo thought, as the other man kissed him. He could almost feel his lips as they touched, instantly dueling for control of the kiss. He felt himself pull his mate tighter and roughly kiss him harder.

His mate groaned against his mouth, and he felt the surge of power flow through him. Caterina had moved closer and ran her hands across his chest and kissed him lightly on the neck. Orfeo pulled back, and Tri pp moved just enough so he was i n back of their mate. Looking at each other over the smaller woman’s head, Tripp grinned and then moved her hair to the side over her shoulder, baring her throat and tilting her head.

He could see Tripp; lick the area where her pulse was throbbing. His cock went rock hard, as he felt Caterina become bolder and run her tongue around his nipple, teasing it with her mouth. Tripp kissed his way up, the side of her neck until her reached her ear. Orfeo couldn’t hold back anymore and he reached down and pulled her chin up to look at him. Grinning down at her lust filled eyes, he knew she was going to beg for them soon.

“Bed,”
he ordered. Tripp moved them both closer to the edge of the large bed without breaking contact at all. Orfeo drug the silky gown over their mate’s head and she stood before them gloriously naked. He took her full breasts in his hand s and kissed her. He felt Tripp reach around and put his hand s over his. Together they teased and plucked at their mate’s nipples until she was moving restlessly between them.

Tripp moved them all until they were against the side of the bed, and he laid their mate on the bed and moved her until she was in the middle. Before he followed and crawled to one side, Tripp once again kissed Orfeo with a passion that was almost his undoing. Orfeo felt the need to throw his mate on the bed and pound into both of them until they cried out their release. But he held back.

This moment was somehow special. He wasn’t sure why, for some reason, he couldn ‘t tell that. But he forced himself to be gentle and patient, and both of them took either side of their mate. Tripp slowly moved his head down her face and neck until his mouth rested against her breast, kissing and licking until she was writhing beneath him. Orfeo grinned and moved lower. This was the bonus of having two mates; one could take one area while the other focused on the other.

He could feel that somehow he had been in the middle before, as had Tripp. His mates were amazing when it came to giving. Once again, he felt his cock grow harder as he thought about what both of their mouths had felt like on him. But now was Caterina’s turn, she deserved all of his attention.

Moving slowly, his kissed her stomach, and her smooth mound. Then he moved to her legs, avoiding kissing her where she wanted him the most. It was n’t time for him to give her that pleasure; he wanted her begging.

Teasing
her, he brushed his hand across her mound again, loving the feel of her skin. “Please,” she whispered and Orfeo smiled. Not yet, he thought, and continued his kisses. He moved up her inner thigh on one side, and then the other, running his tongue slowly until he reached her apex and then back ed off and did the same thing over and over unti l she tried to grab his head and move him to where she wanted . Tripp’s hand joined his and they teased around the top of her slit, running a finger slowly down until it brushed her engorged clit.

Finally, he knew she was ready when she began to make those sweet noises of pleasure that he knew so well. Tripp spread her pussy lips for him and he licked her juices that were coating her already. Heaven, he thought before…

Orfeo wanted to scream in frustration when he woke up in a sweat—soaked bed and a raging hard-on. Once again, his dream ended in frustration. Would he ever actually feel the touch of his mates?

***

The grand hall was the largest room in the mansion. Shining, wooden floors spanned over 300 square feet leading to a small stage area where two elegant thrones sat, looking out into the rest of the room. Ten sets of French doors lined the outer wall leading to another patio and garden maze that ended at the fountain. Between each set of doors were iron light fixtures that at one time held candles, but now held light bulbs covered by custom made blown glass covers, mounted on the walls. With large handmade porcelain, planters filled with flowers , and ivy that spilled over the edges and grew so long they touched the floor. A large crystal chandelier hung in the middle of the high ceiling, casting soft rainbow hued light throughout the room.

Two hundred clan members stood on both sides of a crimson carpet that stretched to the stage, where Orfeo’s parents sat on the thrones. The clan members were dressed as if they were attending a ball. The women in sleek, stylish ball gowns, while the men donned expensive, tailored tuxedos.

His father was in a tuxedo with a crimson cummerbund. While his mother wore a long, crimson strapless gown that hugged her curves and had a slit up the outside of one leg running to the middle of her thigh. Both parents eternally young and eternally beautiful.

A gold chained necklace hung down his father’s chest, with a golden medallion that had the clan coat of arms etched into it —the moon and the lotus. The moon to symbolize renewal, and the lotus to symbolize transcendence. The medallion will be passed to Orfeo upon the end of the ceremony, and with it, the clan will become his.

In front of his parents, before the stage, stood a large altar made of stone, seven feet long and three feet wide. This is where Orfeo would lie, allowing each of the clan members to take a few drops of his blood, forming the bond needed for him to become their Sire. The high priestess of the clan stood beside the alter, holding the Scroll of Elders. Her robes were made of red silk, and gold that was melted and stretched into thin thread that was sewn into the silk before it cooled, to form the clan’s coat of arms on the back of the robe.

Beside the high priestess stood the high priest, dressed in identical robes, and holding a large, golden jeweled chalice that contained a small amount of blood from each of the clan members. Orfeo would need to drink all the blood in the goblet to complete the bond.

Orfeo followed the handmaidens of the priestess until he stopped in front of the alta r, where he rested his arms, at his sides as the two women untied, his robe and removed it, leaving him standing naked before the clan.

The women joined the crowd while Orfeo climbed on top of the alter and lay down to stare at the ceiling.

The priestess moved to stand at the center of the alter, facing Orfeo and the clan. She opened the scroll and began to read.

“On this night we have been gathered together to bid farewell to our most beloved Elders, Attilio Ambrosetti, our savior and our father, and Sofia Ambrosetti, our mother and our wise counselor. For they have gifted us with a new Sire , who will not only lead us with the same strength, compassion, and wisdom as they did , but he will guide us out of the darkness and into the light. With his guidance , we will no longer fear the sun, and finally be able to walk in the day, joining with all other life.”

She looked down at Orfeo and asked, “Orfeo, do you accept the Eldership of this clan, knowing that all of its members will depend on you, to protect, guide, and lead them? Guaranteeing that you will do all that is in your power to keep them safe and at peace ? Will you guide them into the light, eliminating their fear and insuring their existence for all time?”

A lump of nervousness suddenly formed in his throat, and when he tried to answer, he just croaked. He swallowed and cleared his throat before he tried again, “I do, and I will .”

“Because of his great gift, we will welcome our new Sire , Orfeo Ambrosetti.”

The priestess gently lifted his wrist to her mouth, and Orfeo felt the slight sting of her teeth piercing his skin before he felt the exquisite pleasure of her drinking from his vein. He closed his eyes on the bliss, then felt the priest lift his other wrist and drink as well.

Even though he grew weaker with each bite from another clan member, the pleasure of the bond being formed ran through his body, making him feel as if he were stronger than ever be fore .

For what felt like an eternity, each clan member took their turn drinking from different spots on his body. Some on his neck, others on his arms, a few at his thighs, and some on his chest. But each bite felt better than the last. Even though they only took a bit, each bite and each suckle brought Orfeo closer and closer to release.

Suddenly, it all stopped, leaving him bereft and unsatisfied. He opened his eyes to see the priest standing over him with the goblet in his hands.

“Orfeo, rise, and drink of your people.”

Lightheaded, Orfeo needed the help of a few clan members to sit up. At first, he couldn ‘t hold the goblet, as his arms would not even lift. The priest tipped the cup to his lips, and Orfeo swallowed as the sweet, tangy taste of blood poured into his mouth and down his throat. He closed his eyes and moaned at the delicious wine like taste.

His strength returned and he found himself holding the chalice, gulping the blood down.

As the last drops passed his lips, he suddenly felt a great surge of power through his body, as something clicked inside him, and he realized it was the bond. Lights danced behind his eyelids as he finally leapt over the edge and exploded into ecstasy.

He was finally connected to his people, and all their hopes, dreams, and fears were now his. They were now his, as he was theirs.