178 The news- Part 2

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Madeline's face had turned red with embarrassment by thinking how she was going to face the same people next time when they were going to meet. Calhoun had in no way been discreet about what he wanted. His actions and words spoke volumes as if he was claiming her in front of everyone, on how much he wanted her. 

The King was shameless, and he didn't hold back on what he wanted. 

On their way back in the carriage, Calhoun had not touched her, but that didn't mean Madeline had not sat with her defences up as if he would attack her. Once they reached the castle, Calhoun stepped out, walking up the stairs and Madeline dragged her feet. She was worried that he was going to pounce on her. He did say he wanted to bite her. Her nerves were going haywire, and her nails dug into her palms. 

Madeline wondered what would happen if she detoured to go somewhere else and hide until Calhoun's thirst for blood would die down. But she doubted it would end well. 

"Looks like your legs have turned weak," said Calhoun when Madeline had fallen back, "Need me to help you with it?" he asked her. She gritted her teeth, walking a little faster to close the gap.

Which prey ever eagerly went to present itself in front of its predator?

Asked Madeline to herself. He was alright in the morning, their conversation much more normal, which had not hinted anything about him wanting to drink blood from her nor touch her. What happened suddenly? Wait...did he drink the wine made for vampires? But then he had drunk it before too, and she was the only wobbly person. 

The servants quickly bowed their head, moved back towards the wall to give more space without hindering the King's path. She noticed that they were not heading to the place where Calhoun had taken her blood the first time. This was the place where he had taken blood from the woman Julianne. 

When they entered the room the doors were already open as the maids were cleaning. Calhoun ordered, "Out."

Within a second, the maids quickly stepped out from the room as commanded by the King, closing the door behind them like an unspoken order, they left Calhoun and Madeline alone in the room. 

Calhoun turned around to look at her, "One of these days you should pick the bed. It is much more comfortable than the couch."

Madeline didn't believe things would go well if she were to pick the bed. Having him take her blood on bed sounded too erotic in her mind. She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts.

Calhoun took his coat off, throwing it to the side before he sat in the middle of the couch. Madeline's eyes moved to look at the space on the couch. Any side she would pick to sit, it would be the same distance but then was there a point in her keeping a distance between them when he was going to drink blood from her. 

"Come here, Madeline," he coaxed her, an order which was unlike the one he had given the maids a minute ago. As sweet as his words were, Madeline knew they were only used to ease her tension. The intention of Calhoun was only to lure her in, "Take off your shoes," he said, and Madeline didn't know why he was asking her to remove her shoes. 

"Why?" she asked him.

Calhoun tilted his head, his eyes raking over the girl standing in front of him, "I like my couches clean. Is that a good enough reason?" 

It wasn't, but she complied. Pulling her shoe one after another, she placed it in the corner, her movements slow so that it would prolong the time. Not able to push any more time, she finally made her way towards the couch.

Madeline saw Calhoun raise his hand for her to take, and she moved her hand to place it in his. In one single swift movement, Calhoun pulled her to him. This had her fall and straddle him uncomfortably with the number of layers her dress had. 

"Looks like we will need to reduce the layers," murmured Calhoun, one hand of his moved across her waist, before it pulled out the first two layers to drop it on the ground. 

"Wait! Wait!" Why was he undressing her?! Madeline's eyes turned wide-eyed. 

"I have waited enough," said Calhoun. With the fabric out of the way, he asked her, "I would prefer you in your chemise of petticoat, but then you haven't given me any opening lately that I could get your extra clothes out," he said in an unashamed tone that turned Madeline's cheeks red.

"Is that all you think about," she glared, her eyes moving to look at the skirts that had been discarded. How did he remove them so easily?? Her attention was brought back to Calhoun, who was in front of her. 

Calhoun chuckled, "I think about what I can do once I have your clothes disappeared from my sight." 

There was a teasing smile that adorned his lips, as he touched her waist. Things were getting better between them, so much better and Calhoun was pleased to see how Madeline reacted to his touch. The first time, there had been nothing but fear, but since the time that incident that took place, it seemed that unconsciously she had started to open her heart and he was seizing every opportunity. 

Madeline caught sight of his sharp fangs. She realized it wasn't just the fangs that scared her, but it was Calhoun's lips, hands and words that whispered to her. In the room alone with him, Madeline could hear her heart flipping in her chest. 

"You cannot undress me," she said when his hands moved to her back testingly.

"Why not?" he asked, his eyes on her waist, "Put your legs on either side, sweet girl," he instructed her. 

Calhoun was pushy, and Madeline had come to taste it over and over again since the very moment he had laid his eyes on her. It had started with a dance in the Hallow, to end up here on the couch where he looked like he wanted to devour her. She was compliant with his orders only because she knew there was no way out. The more she tried to run and push away from him, his hold on her tightened. 

She was not a child, but she listened to him. With no layers of skirt, it made it easier to sit, and it looked like she was straddling him. 

Madeline didn't know what was going on in Calhoun's mind. They weren't married yet for him to take her clothes off without notice. If she reminded him, she felt he would prepone the wedding which Madeline was not ready for. She decided to close her mouth shut, and Calhoun noticed this. She wondered if there was anything he didn't catch. 

Calhoun was not a fair King, he was the King who played dirty, and she was yet to learn the things he indulged in apart from her. 

She heard him say, "Tell me what's on your mind."

"That you're going to drink my blood," she answered, and Calhoun's gaze moved to meet her eyes. The room was bright when they had entered because the doors let the light in, but with it closed, and the windows draped over by curtains, the light had reduced in the room. 

"You haven't perfected your lie," he said, "Let's try again, shall we?" saying this his hand moved towards her bottom before pushing her to sit closer to him. Calhoun moved forward, making more room for her legs.

Madeline didn't want Calhoun to know everything she thought. His eyes were always eager to catch each and everything about her, "Why don't you guess it yourself." 

Calhoun didn't reply to this, and this had her wondering if he was trying to guess. 

"I don't need to guess. Giving me such an opening. Have you been waiting for me to bite?" asked Calhoun to her, "I can smell fear. But I also smell the tinge of eagerness in there that is laced with nervousness," Madeline shivered when his nose moved across the side of her neck.

"You want to bite a scared person. How can you enjoy drinking blood from a scared person?" Madeline asked with her eyes closed. 

Calhoun laughed next to her ear, "You want to know how? Let me tell you a secret, sweet stuff," he said, "The emotions heighten the taste of the blood. Most of the night creatures like to take blood from the people who belong to high status because of what they consume. The emotion of fear is the second most tasteful a blood can be. The first being sex, but it can also include when a person is aroused. If you taste like heaven right now, I wonder how you will taste later."

"You cannot speak to a woman like that."

He pulled away from the side of her face, "Right, but I can speak to my future wife, can't I?" Calhoun's hand moved up to feel her back, "Need any help with the corset."

Madeline glared at Calhoun. She said, "It is loose enough."

"Maybe we should tie it then," he suggested to her, "Shall we see how your blood tastes when you are aroused?" His words were playful, but the look he gave her told a different story.