As late evening settled, I sat alone in the living room, still basking in a feeling of smug satisfaction. I had delivered a harsh lesson to Damon, a lesson he undoubtedly needed. My actions had seemingly rippled through the Salvatore brothers, as they began strategizing, each vying to be the one to confront me.
But Damon, ever the instigator, held a glint in his eye, hinting at a challenge to come. The first step was the adjusted point system. We retained the existing structure, but now weekly factors could deduct or add points. For instance, each week of pregnancy would cost a point. Similarly, sub-optimal weekly lab results would result in further deductions, making it difficult for me to accrue points as my pregnancy progressed.
Maintaining my standards with five babies on the way seemed nearly impossible. My solution was to do less; it was a matter of adjusting my attitude, delegating more to my male servants. This prompted a glare from Damon, but I could be ruthless when I needed to be.
Now, however, I sat in the dim light, the toddlers asleep, well-fed, with a bottle of ice-cold, dry white wine and a small pouch of my strongest black wizard at my side, which I always added to my wine. This was my time for introspection, reflecting on my past, both the good and the bad, without yet planning for the future.
Soft footsteps approached, and I anticipated it was Wulfe. Instead, a sharp passionfruit scent filled the air, and Damon walked over to join me. He surveyed the high-backed, wide, and supremely comfortable chair I was in, then settled into an armchair, resting his long legs on the footstool and leaning back to observe me. I poured some wine, added a touch of blood, and handed him a glass.
"It might not be your drink of choice, but it gives a nice buzz," I said softly.
He took a sip and grunted, "Hmm, is this an apology?"
I raised an eyebrow, "For what? I broke you, exposed your flaws, and benefited from it. So, no, not an apology, just a drink, so you don't feel the need to snatch mine. Why aren't you with Mariella? What brings you here?"
I was curious, and as he sipped his drink, he said, "I'm not in the mood for being a fucking machine. Besides, the lesson hit home, and for good. I want more. You're one hell of a teacher, and to teach me, an over-millennia-old creature, that I'm not as good as I thought isn't an easy feat. I heard the story about Belfast, Jake, and his jealousy, but you never told me how it ended. What happened?"
I looked into the fireplace, even though we had no fire lit.
"Hmm, that was some time ago," I said. "Well, he didn't apologize; he was furious, and for good reason. But as he was a decent guy, he wanted to make it up to me, or something. And as it was near Christmas, we ended up experiencing Christmas in Belfast. He knew my musical taste, even Christmas songs. And well, I'm not sure if you know a band called The Irish Rovers? It's not the original, hell no, the originals died long ago. But their boys and others took the name, and generation after generation kept the band going. It wasn't an official concert where Jake took me, more like some Christmas happening, but they played and sang there live, like my favorite Christmas carols, as well as Auld Lang Syne. They sang it so damn well. Jake was with me because his wife was once more pissed off at him because he hated her cousin, a rich, snobby guy who had never approved of Jake. This cousin was so important to his wife, but he just couldn't be around him, so he usually worked when he came around."
Damon was silent. There were many emotions on his face: jealousy, as Jake had gotten to experience something unique with me; amusement about the whole story; amazement at what I had seen; longing, he wanted to be the one showing me things, making me experience new things; and a certain weariness and self-blame, as he knew he had fallen short and I had ended up in Belfast because of him. He was also kind of funk, as he wasn't sure if he could ever give me anything like that, or if Mariella would always be the one for him.
As I sat there, lost in memories, letting my mind wander, a thought surfaced.
Looking at Damon, in the dim light of the living room where golden curtains shimmered and warm, honey-colored rugs added to the coziness, I blurted out, "At first, well, it was when I discovered I was unkillable. After being killed about 369 times or so, I ended up in Bran's house in Montana, but he poisoned me with choral hydrate. Then Adam and Samuel took me away, and we ended up in Minnesota. That house is still there; I'm not sure if Adam sold it, but it was a nice house, not for this pack, as it's kind of small for our crowd. Still, it had this gorgeous canopy bed and a marble shower with a color-changing shower head that shifted with the water temperature. Adam made my rooms back then."
Damon grunted. "We'd been in that house sometimes with Mariella, at least once, I think."
Time goes by, and it's nice sometimes to recall how my story started and everything I'd been through, though it made me feel really old and jaded from time to time. But then again, life changes, and it has lessons for us all. Damon looked at me, a weird expression on his face, as if he hesitated to bring something up.
"What's bugging you?" I asked. "If you want to know something, ask away. If it's nasty, Wulfe's spell in my mind makes sure it doesn't really hit me and keeps him busy."
Damon's voice was rough as he said, "Do you… You still have the chair…?"
There was pain in his voice.
I furrowed my brow, racking my brain to remember which chair he was talking about. "What chair? I have many chairs; be more specific. My memory, being what it is, needs more directions."
He swallowed, meeting my gaze and said in a quieter voice, almost asking for forgiveness, "The chair you sat in when you woke up in Moldova after the divorce at the start of those seven years."
I smiled and said, shaking my head, "Nope. After all that, you think I drank so much for a week that I was legless most of the time? That chair was pissed and probably shat too. Magnum and Wulfe got rid of it; it was beyond salvaging, too dirty."
He seemed somehow relieved, smiling slightly as he thought it through.
"This chair," I said, pointing to it, "is a fun chair. I'm not sure if you recall, but it was in my office when you visited and when we took down those vampire women. It was a good chair to sit in, and Magnum rescued it when that base was taken down. The Sarks dismantled about 65% of our bases when they took over my original fleas, so I have a lot of my gear in warehouses and in my new bases as well."
Damon smirked, then said, "Hmm, maybe that chair should be sanctified properly."
I shook my head. "Sorry, dyslibido here. Not interested in sex, and I have plans for the upcoming days. No time to be a sex kitten, so if you have needs, go to Mariella."
He hummed, slightly leaning back. I could see he was thinking about it, but there was nothing wrong with that. He was free to go have fun. I wasn't in the mood, and I knew that my pregnancy was affecting me.
It was just one thing that alpha females had when they were pregnant: pack first, meaning libido goes down as a new generation is cooking, and there's no need to fornicate, leaving the female free to do other things.
Sure, I wasn't just a set of instincts, but most of them made sense, and I was who I was, meaning even though sex was amazing and perfect, it was hardly my world right now. I had so many plans for kids and food, and also my wirewrapping, plus a few new ideas. I also intended to keep most of the Salvatores busy so they wouldn't harass me to teach them all things pheromones.
Life didn't have to be too complicated; sometimes the simplest things could be the most perfect.
I said out loud, "You see, no need for me to fuck all the time. I have a batch in the oven, so I'm free to do other stuff. And do I have plans? And then some! Meaning, if your little point system limits my part of daily chores, there are truckloads of hobbies for me, from knitting to wirewrapping, to all new things. And there are chores that aren't listed, like making sure the toddlers have the next size clothes ready and named, as well as shoes and such reserved. I have big storage rooms full of baby stuff, unpacked, so I have time."
Damon tilted his head and said, "Thank you, my wife. I just informed the boys, and they'll add those to our list. So, let's see if you're the one choosing when it comes to your libido. Don't even think I'm going to let it fly; I will seduce you at some point, and that chair is going to get it, and get it good. It's up to you, my love, if you want the toddlers to be aware or not."
His voice was a husky murmur, and I blushed; it was a rather blatant declaration. I had no argument against it right now. I needed to come up with some reason or make sure this damn seducer was busy. No need for the kids to see us if we were... sanctifying that chair at some point.
Still reeling, I said, amusement coloring my voice, "I mean, do you remember our first day? I was literally rolling my eyes every five minutes as you just stormed into my life and my heart and rearranged everything. I can still remember how frustrated and messed up I was, and Adam and Samuel just stood there and didn't stop you."
Damon smiled, his voice amused. "I know Wulfe sees you as a unicorn, but so did I. You were something utterly new to me, even for me, and that's saying a lot. After all, I had thought I had seen it all, but no, the universe threw you in my lap. I guess both of us were finding something new, and look at us now; our relationship is beyond complex. I must admit, you've woken up a part of Mariella that makes me question my control over her again, and I might end up dealing with her. But I can't help but think, did you do it on purpose, push me away?"
I shrugged and said, "She woke her beta power; it's as simple as that. And we... well, time is something we have. Besides, I have my little game going on, or maybe it's a competition between Mariella and me, called 'Which Salvatore shall I take now?' Meaning she wants the one who is with me, leaving me free to snatch someone else. It's a fun game, and who knows, maybe you are part of the game too, if you want. That's it."
Damon was silent, thinking, then smirked dangerously as if he'd had some sort of epiphany. "Darlin', you know me and my promises. Well, I have another one for ya. How about this? I promise you that you and I shall sanctify that chair, meaning I shall pound your brains out, make you squal with ecstasy, and I won't care who shall witness it before you give birth to those five."
I swallowed and blushed.
This side of Damon rarely made promises, and he was even less likely to seduce someone. But here he was, promising to essentially have sex with me in this very chair, and in a limited amount of time. His smug expression didn't help as I struggled to find words. I tried to get my voice working while simultaneously coming up with a witty response.
My voice was unsure as I replied, "Well, that was quite a promise. But sure, we'll see. I have some oils and such to get me in the mood... at some point."
He smirked and said, still talking lazily and predatorily, "I won't need oils to get you whirring, sex beast. My fingers, tongue, and dick will be more than enough."
Again, I was speechless.
Fine, let's try a bit of distraction or misdirection. "I've only gone to a hairdresser once in my life, when I was human. I recall you had planned to take me, but then you became a teeth vampire, and there was no need. Nowadays, I'm so damn sensitive it would be an almost impossible feat, unless it's a dog grooming salon."
He looked at me and said, "Oh, baby, what I can make you feel with my teeth, lips, and tongue... you'd be pleading and begging quite nicely already."
Oh my fucking god, this guy was relentless. He was talking dirty, seducing me, and making me blush and stammer. But then I heard footsteps.
Mariella walked in, smelled the air, looked at Damon, raised one eyebrow, smiled, and asked, "Did I interrupt something?"
Damon coolly replied, "Well, I gave baby here a promise. I promised to fuck her brains out in that chair before she gives birth, as she says she's not in the mood."
Mariella smirked and said, "Good for you. Mimi can be a bit of a hard case. She's efficient at using her lust for other things, and I reckon she has some plans, not in bed."
Damon nodded. I thought, fine, time to fight fire with fire. I got up, walked up to Mariella, and threw her against the wall. I slammed my lips against hers, kissing her, keeping her still, and dominating her. Damon watched, smiling, but didn't move. I grabbed Mariella's wrists, holding her prisoner.
Damon said, "Oh, baby, you know how to seduce me. That is actually hot. Now, show her how an alpha female does it."
Oh, really? Fine. I lifted my leg, wrapping one arm around Mariella's waist and then the other, pressing my pussy against her. I kissed and nipped her, grinding against her, making her whimper. I was here to awaken her lust, and my plan was to direct her towards Mister Seducer. Let's see how our plan will work.
I needed to get Mariella utterly lustful first, and I was letting my superlust come out, knowing that, as an energy creature, she would have a hard time resisting the temptation to snatch some of it. Since it was the strongest in the pack, it would pack a wallop. Then, she would surely take Damon, leaving me in peace to work on my plans and do my own thing.
I was greedy, and I was the alpha female, not an easy mark for Damon, not in the slightest. Mariella was getting there, pretty damn nicely. As a good wife, I sent a hefty dose of my lust, pure stuff, via our true soulmate bond to Damon as well, flooding the hive with it, making sure the pack might be mighty busy for a few days.
I wanted to have me-time with the kids, and making the pack have a nice, eager orgy seemed like a very good plan. However, I hadn't foreseen everything, and it might be that this might end up being a lesson for me as well.