My heels padded soundlessly as I danced my way down the school corridors. Every now and then, I would add a twirl into my whimsical skipping, though it did not slow me any from the speed with which I travelled. I would have been nothing but a blur to the human eye, apart from maybe a throw of chestnut ringlets swinging out as my body disappeared around a corner. I was a tease to linger in the forefront of your mind, one that would never satisfy you.
Well, I wouldn't satisfy all but one; the one I had had set my sights on for months now. Never before, had I felt such a burning rush of desire for a man, such a need to protect and love, and I was going to do something about.
I let a delighted giggle leave my full, parted lips when I arrived at my destination. I had skipped to a halt, soft ringlets brushing against my pale cheeks when I stopped, and now stared through the small glass window on the classroom door. His back was to me, clearly displaying the large, defined muscles of his shoulders and biceps, almost making my mouth salivate with desire. His shirt was thin, as though he had intended to tease me, his black trousers just fitted enough to display the pert shape of his backside.
When I opened the door, Mr Marshall turned around to face me, features lit with surprise. His rosebud-shaped lips had parted open and his eyebrows were raised as he put one hand on his hip to stare at me. “Arabella, what are you doing here?”
I let my eyes flicker across his broad chest for a nanosecond before settling on his face. The sight of his sculpted cheekbones and warm brown eyes was familiar, as well as the hair that perfectly matched his irises. “I’m surprised you haven’t figured it out yet, though I can tell you have your suspicions.”
Mr Marshall’s eyebrows knitted over in confusion, and I could tell that it wasn’t false. I truly had him convinced I was some average little human. “What are you talking about? Have you forgotten your homework again?”
I let a small sigh out and went to sit on one of his desks. Regardless of whether or not he thought me a student, he couldn’t help but let his eyes rake up the bare length of my long legs, which paid homage to my incredible height. I couldn’t yet figure out if that was because he truly liked me, or because of the superficial attraction I oozed through birthright. “I know what you are, William. I saw you drinking a packet of blood two nights ago right in this very room.” I gave a wide, dazzling smile, flashing the pointed fangs I usually kept hidden.
Yet again, surprise flitted across his inhumanly handsome features, but it vanished much more quickly this time. His shoulders soon relaxed, and an easy-going smile took over his lips when he sat down in his desk chair. “How old are you?”
“Oh, I’m very much eighteen, sir. I’m not into all those magic tricks- false advertising, y’know?” Not unlike popular belief, vampires did engage in some magical practices similar to witchcraft. Only, that kind of thing spooked me out. I hated the idea of changing oneself with a potion or bread, only a small bit of smoke and odour to show signs of what had happened. “And you’re really twenty-three.”
William looked slightly wary as I got up off the desk to approach him, but didn’t protest when I slowly lowered myself onto his lap. Yet again, I couldn’t tell whether it was superficial, but I made no sign of opposing when his large, warm hands slid under the hem of my shirt to grip my waist. A shiver of delight passed through my body, and I couldn’t help but smile when I felt how his hands shook with nervousness. “How do you know that? And how did I not hear you coming- when I drank the blood and just now?”
I didn’t answer verbally, but held his gaze as I started to unbutton my shirt. Slowly, it fell away from my ivory skin, exposing more and more tender flesh with every unclasped button until all that covered me was the red lace of my bra. William still looked confused for a moment before he caught sight of the small, black R that was inked into my skin, just below my left breast.
