Awakening by A.C. Warneke

in a fog of lust and desire.
    “Ahem,” the butler cleared his throat for a third time , finally breaking through the sensual haze.
    “What is it, Francois?” Adam asked, not looking at the man.
    “Would you care for some privacy?” he asked deferentially.
    Celeste lowered her lashes, ending the silent exchange; her cheeks pinking in embarrassment at being caught with her hand between her lover's legs. She watched as Adam’s smile lost a little of its lasciviousness as he turned his head and looked at the butler. “No. However, I need something for Celeste to wear; something with a high neck.”
    Francois looked at the girl’s throat and gasped. Covering his mouth with his fist, he coughed a few times to cover his response. Celeste might have heard him mutter That’s impossible , but she wasn’t sure. “I will leave the clothes in the bathroom down the hall.”
    “Thank you,” Adam nodded his head, dismissing the man. Turning back to Celeste, he grinned, motioning towards the smorgasbord of food in front of her, “Eat.”
    “Drink,” she whispered, eyeing the glass of water, her thirst returning with a vengeance. Grabbing it, she brought it up to her mouth and let the cool liquid rush down her throat, relieving the dryness that had been plaguing her since waking up. Sighing with pleasure, she sat the glass back down after she had drained the entire thing, ready for another glass or six. Smiling sheepishly, she glanced at Adam, “I was very thirsty.”
    “I know,” he smiled, refilling her glass with the pitcher that sat before them. “Today I want to give you a brief tour of the vineyard and then we can return to the city proper this evening for a more… intimate tour.”
    “Will we be coming back here then?” she asked, torn between her desire to spend more time with this man and the need to return to the hostel to pack.
    “No,” he shook his head, taking a bite of his croissant. Celeste fought her disappointment, but then he continued, “We’ll stay in my apartment in town.”
    She smiled, excited about what the day ahead promised. They still had another day together before she had to return home; she never thought that she would regret leaving to go back home. Surreptitiously, she glanced at him, studying the strong profile, the smooth plane of his cheek, the straight white teeth as they bit into his food; he was devastating to her senses. She was really not looking forward to leaving him. Twenty-four hours just wasn’t enough time to get her fill. Twenty-four lifetimes wouldn’t be enough.

Chapter 4
     
     

     
     
    Adam held Celeste’s hand as they strolled through the streets of Paris, content just being with her. Even though she spoke no more about returning to the States, about leaving him, he sensed her resolution just beneath the surface. She still planned on going. Tonight he was going to redouble his efforts to convince her that she belonged to him, with him. If he had to remain bound to the Queen by the slimmest of threads at least he would have Celeste by his side to make it bearable.
    Smiling to himself, he knew that she would not be able to resist him again and tomorrow they would be returning to his chateau. He would feast on blood and sex, on Celeste. One thing was certain: he was never going to let her go. If necessary he would ask Auberon to aid him in his effort to keep her, to compel her to stay.
    “This has been so wonderful,” Celeste sighed, resting her head against his arm, her fingers entwined with his. “There is so much history in these old buildings ; the beauty camouflages so much darkness. This has been an amazing day, Adam; thank you.”
    “But I was doing all of the talking,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head. “I never got the chance to learn about you.”
    “I’m not very interesting,” she protested, smiling slightly. “I much prefer listening to your voice as you tell me about the history of Notre Dame and everything else.”
    “I want to