Passion Follows Pain (Passion Series Book 3) by J. A Melville Page B

Lucian, can I please come in?” Sirene’s voice was muffled by the thick wooden door but it was her voice.
    Damn her, he couldn’t tell her to fuck off. They all loved her. She’d brought about such a transformation in their sire since she’d been in his life. “Come in.” He said almost wearily and turned as she stepped into his room.
    She walked over and sat down on his bed, putting out a hand to rest on his knee. “What is wrong? Fabian has told me about the girl over the road and I understand she’s not falling for your natural charm.” She grinned and he couldn’t help the reluctant smile that curved his lips at her comment.
    “I have tried for weeks with her and nothing. I did kiss her a few nights ago and she seemed to be liking it, I think but when I pulled her closer she freaked out and ran home. I’ve asked her to come out with me on Saturday night but I doubt she will. I’ve done everything I can to persuade her but she’s still timid, like a wild animal and she panics if she’s cornered. I don’t know what to do.” He sighed.
    “Do you love this woman?” Sirene asked and Lucian snorted.
    “No Sirene. I don’t know her to love her but I am drawn to her. She makes me feel things I’ve never felt before, but it’s not love. I want her so badly and I like her very much, but it’s not just because she’s driving me crazy with the need to fuck her, it’s simply that I enjoy being around her.”
    “Fabian tells me you have asked this young woman to come out with you on the weekend. She obviously has not agreed to do so?” She gave him a questioning look and he nodded. “I know my impatient vampire likes to interfere at times but he has told you he wishes to meet this girl and so would I. Would you like me to cast a spell upon her so she is more, how shall we say it.” She tapped her chin with a long fingernail. “So she is more accommodating.”
    Lucian catapulted upright at her suggestion. “NO!” He said vehemently before sagging back against his pillows. “No, I want her to want me preferably without witchcraft or mind control. I just hope I have the patience to wait, because she is really testing my self-control and I’m tired of being frustrated and resorting to fucking women I don’t really want.”
    “Oh Lucian.” Sirene’s expression was sympathetic. “We will go and meet this woman tomorrow and see what it is that troubles her. Fabian suspects it has something to do with her father.”
    “It does, she mentions her father quite a bit but he sounds like a control freak; he has lied to her to keep her under his wing and not allow her to grow and mature I think.”
    “Hmm, I know, Fabian has told me.” Sirene stood up. “I will leave you now as Fabian and I need to go and feed. We will wait and see what tomorrow brings.” She smiled at him and left the room, leaving Lucian to his thoughts.
     
    Chapter Six
    Arissa
     
    For what felt like the hundredth time I wiped the palms of my hands down the front of my jeans as I walked slowly and nervously up the driveway of the creepy looking sprawling home where Lucian lived. How on earth had I let Daisy talk me into this when I could have just waited to see if Lucian came out to walk with me? ‘He hasn’t come out to walk with you since the night he kissed you.’ The little voice inside me pointed out.
    I stared up at the imposing looking house and felt my heart hammering behind my rib cage. What was wrong with me? I was just going to knock on the neighbour’s door and speak to the neighbour after all. No big deal really. I shivered, no big deal? I was crazy for doing this and even crazier for letting Daisy talk me into it.
    The front door left me in awe. It looked like it was made of steel or something. Steel, did people really have steel front doors? Well apparently Lucian’s home did.
    I stood staring at it for a moment wondering how much it was going to hurt to knock on it and how effective that would be anyway. It was