She sniffed and put her nose in the air. "Well, it's not my fault they have no self-control. It doesn't give you the right to blame me because of my clothing choices."
Since her back was to me, I let a small smile grace my lips. "It is not the clothing choice, but the fact is that the less clothing you wear, the more we can scent your blood, and the artery in your inner thigh is most fragrant of them all."
I could see the blush rising up the back of her neck at my words, and it almost had me out of my seat and going to her. However, I curled my fingers into my hands, letting the pain my nails caused cool my need.
Instead of rushing off, she straightened her back and flipped me off. "That's not my problem either." Piper then stomped out of the office and slammed the door behind her.
I chuckled to myself as I listened to her grumble in the hallway. She had lost most of her timidness around me ever since the talk we had a few weeks ago. The topic had been about the matter of her self-pleasuring herself so loudly the whole house could hear her. I believe I had told her she sounded like a dying cow. That, of course, was untrue, but I had to do something to dissuade her, to ease the ache I felt every time I was around her. She had not taken my description well.
Now, Piper walked away from me when I wanted nothing more than to bend her over my desk and have my way with her. However, that would make me no better than my brothers who couldn't keep their cocks in their pants for longer than a week let alone a century. At least, I had Darren to stem off some of the constant need. Not that it was one-sided in the least. I enjoyed our time together as much as he did, but after a while, a little bit of female company would be nice.
Thankfully, my thoughts on our sexy little maid were cut short by the ringing of my phone. I picked it up and saw the caller flash across the screen. Valentine? Why would that bastard be calling at this time of day? Why was he calling period?
I never liked the man in the first place, but ever since he tried to take advantage of Piper, I'd grown to dislike him even more. If we didn't share a sire, one that currently favored Valentine, then I would have ignored the call altogether. But seeing as a snub to him would be a snub to our sire, I couldn't very well do so.
Pushing back my irritation, I pushed the answer button. "Hello, Valentine. What causes you to call me as such a late hour?"
Valentine's laugh poured through the phone, and I held back a shudder. "Don't pretend like you weren't already awake. We all know you can't stop working for a heartbeat."
"Yes, well, some of us cannot rely upon our sire to take care of us," I drawled out and leaned back in my chair. I pulled my long blonde hair over my shoulder and began to braid it while holding the phone against my face.
"You could as well if you came home." Valentine was constantly trying to persuade me to dissolve my house and rejoin the family, something I wouldn't do in a million years, even if they begged me. I'd spent my time under our sire's thumb long enough, and I wasn't about to go back there to subject my brothers to it again.
"I am perfectly content where I am but thank you for the offer. Now, if you could tell me the nature of your call, I would very much like to retire to my bed." I tried my best to be polite and not sound like I wanted to stab him in the back with a blunt stake while my fingers moved through my hair, looping one lock over the other.
Valentine chuckled. "Well, aren't we cranky? That little maid of yours ruffling your feathers again? How is she by the way? Still as lovely as ever?" The way he said it made me think he was licking his lips in anticipation of tasting her.
Not in this lifetime.
"She's fine," I let out in a clipped tone in the hoped of bringing him to his point sooner rather than later.
"Oh, I bet she is." Valentine let out a little dreamy sigh and then continued, "In any case, she is partly the reason I am calling.Hewants to see you and your little maid."
I sat up straighter and dropped my partially finished braid so I could hold the phone more firmly. "When?"
"Next Sunday. Say eightish?"
I gritted my teeth and bit out, "That's quite short notice. I will have to pay extra to get the plane ready in time to—"
"Great,” he practically crooned. “I'll see you then."
There was nothing but silence after that. I glared at the phone, not quite believing he had just hung up on me, but of course, he had. He was our sire's little errand boy. He delighted in causing pain and misery, especially if it benefited him.
Once upon a time, I was the favorite son. I was my sire’s greatest achievement, and he wanted nothing more than to show me off to the world and take advantage of my gifts. Then one day, I saw what he was doing to me, to my brothers, and wanted no more of it. I requested our freedom... because nobody demanded anything fromhim... and, for some reason, he allowed it.
Ever since then, Valentine had taken my place up as the favorite son. It was something he relished in, and he took great pleasure in rubbing my face in it.
Not that I cared. I didn't want the position. He could have it and all the horrors that came with it.
With a sigh, I stood from my desk and adjusted my suit jacket before flipping off my desk light and walking to the door. After meticulously turning off the lights and closing up my room, I angled my head to the side to listen to where Piper had run off to.
I heard faint, off-key singing down the hallway in what sounded like Rayne's bedroom. Satisfied that she was truly occupied, I made my way down the stairs and then into the basement. There, I found all but two of my brothers asleep.
Marcus and Wynn sat at the couch playing a game of cards. When they heard me coming, they paused their game to glance my way.
"I was wondering when you would be coming to bed." Wynn laid his head against the back of the couch. "Did you have fun messing with Piper? I could hear her grumbling from down here."
I didn't bother to respond to his question. Wynn was nothing more than an immature child on the best of days, but if you threw in something he wanted, he upgraded to a jealous teenager. Not much of an improvement, but at least then you could talk some sense into him.