Love with Fangs (The Witching Hour Series Book 1)

by Joanna Mazurkiewicz

  He raised his eyebrows in surprise and smiled. Our conversation was interrupted by the catering staff who began serving the first course. One of the older wizards joined our table with two Chinese elves who looked like they wanted to avoid the vampires.

  "Don’t listen to whatever he said. Those times are behind me. I don’t feed on humans for fun anymore."

  "And you never told me that you went to Oxford." I couldn’t hold on to this new information any longer.

  "It’s no big deal. It’s just a good school, that’s all. There is a lot that you still don’t know about me, my firecracker," he whispered.

  I was going to ask him to tell me more, but then the food arrived. The vampires were probably eating some kind of bloody imitation of my dish.

  During the short break between the starter and main course, Nathaniel introduced me to another wizard, who was also a businessman. His name was Malcolm; he was an American who imported flying carpets from Egypt.

  "I don’t want to be rude, but I found out that your Lucrative Shot has been replicated. A few young vampires were trying to sell something similar to a friend of mine," he said after Nathaniel confirmed to him what he was doing. The waiters began to serve the second course, but Nathaniel looked angry. I almost choked on my drink and started coughing.

  "Mixed blood that allows vampires to survive without feeding on humans?"

  "Yes, my friend was impressed with that replica. Other vampires feel threatened by you. They’re insulted that someone dared to introduce this sort of product," Malcolm said. "News in London is spreading fast."

  Nathaniel thanked the wizard who left our table in a hurry.

  "I can’t believe that someone copied your product! The replica must contain fairies’ blood. Maybe that’s why there are so many kidnappings?" I hissed. "Dad mentioned that elf blood had been found in the injection that was found where my cousin vanished."

  "That changes everything. The person that I was suspecting is no longer relevant. I knew that many vampires were pissed off at me because of Lucrative Shot. They also know that you and I are together." He looked into my eyes. "Maybe someone targeted you purely by coincidence, or maybe they tried to kidnap you because of me."

  "Who is it you suspect now?"

  "There are quite a few possibilities, but we can’t talk about this here."

  The two Chinese fairies were glancing at me and then to Nathaniel, but I ignored them. I wasn’t going to eat any more; I’d lost my appetite. Nathaniel took my hand and kissed me.

  "Don’t talk to your father yet. I’ll give him some leads myself and tell him about the replica. You have to be very careful with whom you talk to about this from now on. People know who I am and now they also know who you are, and they won’t hesitate to hurt you," he said calmly. "Now eat your dinner."

  “I’m not hungry."

  "I can hear your stomach growling. You only had a few spoons of soup and way too much alcohol that I know you can’t handle."

  I pulled a face and started eating the second course, but I could barely swallow anything thinking that we finally had a lead. Nathaniel kept telling me everything was fine, but he looked tense. Someone was deliberately hexing his business, so I wasn’t surprised he’d lost his good humour. He spoke to a few more people and collected some business cards. Close to eleven, when we were discussing his experiences abroad, the Romanian goddess approached our table. Her skin was white, beautifully pale, and I wanted to pluck her eyeballs out. She had large green eyes and a tall, slim figure. When she walked through the room, everyone turned to look at her.

  "Nathaniel, darling, we have to meet for a drink to discuss my proposition," she said, leaning towards him and caressing his arm. My stomach tightened with jealousy. I wished she would get her skinny hands off him. I seriously wanted to punch her.

  “I’ll see, Regina. Meet my girlfriend, Julia." I gave her a faint smile. She looked at me with resentment, raising her perfect eyebrow.

  "Well, think about it, darling. Nice seeing you, Julia." I didn’t like the way her strong Romanian accent pronounced my name. In fact, I didn’t like her at all, or the way she sashayed across the room like she owned it. I took a sip of my wine and looked toward the ceiling. Bitch.

  "What kind of proposition was she talking about?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

  "Complicated one. It’s not worth talking about right now. Let me take you home." I nodded. We said goodbye to Bruce who insisted we meet for dinner. Nathaniel called Roberto who arrived within ten minutes.

  Soon, we were sitting in Nathaniel’s limousine. I felt frustrated that this evening had ended in such a gloomy atmosphere. As the excess magic slowed my pulse, the adrenaline washed out of me and left a numb feeling in its place.

  The car stopped at my apartment. Waiting anxiously for my goodbye in the darkness, I looked into Nathaniel’s eyes, trying to guess what he was thinking. My mind was spinning, and my body was drenched with sweat. My fingertips inflamed, causing every nerve in my body to push the magic out of my system. For a long moment, neither of us said anything at all.

  "Julia?"

  "Yes, Nathaniel?"

  "What are you waiting for? It’s late and you should be in bed." His voice was hypnotic, sending a violent tremor throughout my entire body.

  "I..." I began, but I was unable to finish, feeling his sweet breath near my cheek. I was a coward. I wanted to tell him to fuck me, but this forbidden word wasn’t going to pass through my lips. In the darkness, he could see how my energy was reacting to him being so close.

  "Tell me; what do you want, my firecracker?" he asked, whispering in my ear.

  "Spend the night with me," I replied in a small voice.

  "Are you sure about this? After all, my self-control can only go so far," he said, still in a low tone that made me want to forget about my stupid rules, about what was right and wrong.

  "Yes."

  "Roberto, we won’t need you anymore tonight. I will call you tomorrow," Nathaniel said firmly.

  Roberto nodded. Excitement mixed with desire filled my stomach, but now I couldn’t control my flaming fingertips. Despite that, he took my hand. My heart was beating like a drum in my chest when we got into the lift.

  "Do you want me to kiss you, my firecracker?" He pulled me closer to him. I nodded and pressed the button for the fourth floor. My hands were shaking with anticipation. "Well, I don’t want to ruin your lovely dress, so I’m afraid you will have to wait a little bit longer."

  Every word was only making me feel more anxious, but I could tell he was doing this on purpose, torturing me and my magic. We reached my floor and outside in the corridor, I began searching for my keys.

  His hand was running over my back while I was shaking with eagerness. Finally, after a long moment, I found the keys and opened the door.

  "Fuck the dress," he said and before I knew what was happening, he had lifted me off the floor and pushed me forward. The door to my apartment was still open, but I was pinned against the wall and he was between my legs, hard and ready. I pulled myself onto him and hitched my legs around his waist. His hands moved beneath my dress to my breasts. He licked my neck while my heart thumped in my chest.

  "Inside," I gasped, tangling his hair. He pulled away and then I saw it—a dark fire brewed in his eyes, a hint of unexpected danger. His fangs were fully extended. Instantly, fear filled me. His eyes were unrecognisable, as if he were ready to strike like a hungry lion.

  "Not to worry, my firecracker." He breathed out, then with a quick movement using his sharp fangs, he tore my dress in pieces. His fangs were inches away from my flesh. Before I knew it, the dress fell on the floor and he was carrying me inside my apartment.

  "To the right," I said. He looked slightly disoriented. When I was finally lying on my bed, my fingertips were burning and the skin on my neck and breasts was tingling. Our tongues connected, feeling each other thoroughly. His hands were on my thighs and breasts; his lips kissing my neck. He moved on top of me, still fu
lly clothed, spreading heat straight between my legs.

  "What do you want me to do to you, Julia?" He pressed his erection against my leg.

  "Fuck me, Nathaniel. I want to be fucked tonight." I heard something inside the room crack, then we both heard the noise of smashed glass falling to the floor. I finally told the man what I wanted, and I wasn’t ashamed of it.

  "With pleasure." He grinned wickedly, then took off his jacket. I helped him with the buttons of his shirt, but I was too impatient, so I ripped his—most likely very expensive—shirt off, digging my fingers into his chest.

  The scent of lemon and cedar notes was pounding into my brain, tightening my breasts, sending a pulsing ache between my legs. I wasn’t hurting him when my flaming fingertips ran over his flexed body. He fumbled with my bra, that he soon slipped off, and moved his other hand beneath my knickers. I moaned when his fingers found my swollen clit.

  "Firecracker, you’re so wet," he groaned and started circling his tongue around my hardened nipples while his hand was teasing, moulding my sex, driving me insane. I moaned with hunger, urging him on. My skin tingled while magic passed through me. I needed to get rid of it. He lifted his body and pulled my knickers off. I sat up and started to unzip his trousers.

  "Impatient, are we?" He chuckled.

  "Shut up. Just fuck me already." I gasped when his trousers and boxers were finally on my floor. When his mouth found mine again, I drew him in deeper, tangling my tongue with his. A moan escaped my lips when I felt his erection between my legs. His hands moved alongside my body. My energy was making my skin more responsive, and his touch sent shock waves of pleasure through my core. Electric current mixed with flames raced along my skin when he lifted my leg around his hips. He moved his lips down my neck to my collarbone, still rubbing my nipples. His cock was hard, pulsing against my swollen clit. He slipped two fingers inside me, bringing me to the edge of orgasm.

  I moan and gasped, "Nathaniel!"

  "My firecracker," he whispered. He pulled his fingers away and positioned himself near my entrance. Then he pushed his hard cock inside me. So many things happened at once. I cried out, and a few lightbulbs blew. We both smelled them burning.

  "See what you have done, my firecracker." He laughed but didn’t stop.

  I lost all ability to think clearly. I didn’t know what was happening to me. I felt lightheaded while he pounded into me. Nathaniel flexed my hips as he lifted and lowered me. He kissed me again, cupping my face in his hands, riding me harder and faster. A mild shock travelled through my spine, but I wasn’t accumulating any more magic; the energy exploded through me. He groaned and moaned, pressing me closer to him. He was pushing in and out, fast, rough and raw.

  "Are you close, my firecracker?" he asked, looking at me.

  "Yes..."

  I tightened around him, and he lifted me, pushing harder. My pulse was pounding; my lips parted with gasping breaths. Sweat misted my brow as we both came. The climax was powerful, soaked with magic and my pulsing energy. The lights over my bed were flashing and then the bulbs exploded. We both cried out, and then flopped, exhausted, onto my bed.

  He curled towards me and I pressed my cheek against his chest. Several minutes passed, but he just held me close, caressing my back. I was spent.

  "Are you okay?" His voice was raw.

  "I have never been better."

  Bright light poured into the room. I blinked myself awake, covering my eyes with my hands. A warm long body was pressing against mine. I smiled, wondering if he was still sleeping. I lifted my head and looked around the room.

  The large mirror that was given to me from my grandmother was smashed to pieces. Two lamps on the bedside tables were blown up, and the main light on the ceiling was gone as well.

  "You are my own personal firecracker," said a low silky voice, and then he flipped me over to face him. He had sex hair and his hazel eyes were more amber today.

  "That’s never happened before." I giggled.

  "Haven’t you got any other way to release your magic?" he asked, bringing me closer to him. We were still naked, lying on my clean sheets, enjoying each other’s closeness.

  "My father and grandmother tried to teach me, but I got bored and wasn’t that interested in that side of me anyway."

  "So, this will keep happening every time I fuck you?"

  "Maybe if we have sex often enough, then it will stop."

  He raised his eyebrows and his lips curved into a smile. "I can fuck you all day long, but I won’t. Your scent nearly drove me insane. Next time, I might be rough, and you could get hurt."

  "I trust you."

  "You shouldn’t, and now, don’t tempt me," he said in a husky whisper. We got out of bed a few minutes later. I was too close to start kissing him again. My bedroom was in a right state, but my body was pleasantly numb.

  He stood up in all his naked glory and I gasped, seeing his tall, lean body that now belonged to me.

  Chapter twenty-seven

  The confrontation.

  "You’re such a beautiful creature, Julia," he said, kissing me. "And I do want to fuck you again, but I know that if I do, I won’t be able to resist biting you this time."

  Then, with vampire speed, he left the room. I looked around and concentrated on a cleaning spell and soon all the glass was flying to the bin in the kitchen. For the first time in years, I didn’t mess up the spell. I was impressed with myself. I still needed two new lamps and a few lightbulbs. Nathaniel was back in the bedroom, watching me.

  "Are you going to stand there naked the whole time, or are you going to put some clothes on and have breakfast with me?"

  "You know that my hunger can only go so far, but let’s feed you because you’re starting to get grumpy and your magic might want to come out and play again. Then I would have no other choice but to fuck you hard." He smiled mischievously.

  I stole a kiss from him and then walked to the living room. I couldn’t even compare his apartment to mine, but there was nothing to be ashamed of. My kitchen was basic, set in grey colours. He made me breakfast, and we spent the rest of the day indulging in each other. We talked about my life and Nathaniel’s plans for the future. Mum called in the afternoon, asking me whether I was coming for Sunday roast. I had to refuse, making up some lies. I wasn’t going to tell her we were serious again.

  He left me in the evening, stating that he was going straight to the police station to speak to my dad. I could only hope that Dad was going to behave and take him seriously.

  The next day, I surprisingly got a phone call from my father. He mentioned that Nathaniel went to see him. The new evidence changed the trajectory of his investigation, but he was still going through with his large undercover action. He sounded more cheerful and he didn’t try to convince me that I shouldn’t see Nathaniel anymore.

  It was cold this morning, and in the Tube, two witches were staring at me throughout the whole journey.

  "Morning, Julia," Kate said, walking in holding her magic wand.

  "Morning. Coffee first." I vanished into our kitchen cupboard to force caffeine into my system. Alexandra was still on her way and Kate was already going through her emails. I placed a cup on her desk.

  "Julia," she began, looking at me, bewildered. "You had sex with a vampire?"

  I nearly dropped my cup; my jaw hit the floor.

  "Maybe I have, but he’s a Dhampir." I smiled. She was staring at me as if I were a space invader that just landed on planet Earth.

  "You slept with Nathaniel La Caz?" she choked out.

  "Yes, but how did you even know that—" I didn’t have to finish, because I realised what she was talking about. He deliberately left his scent all over my body, so everyone would know I had been with a vampire.

  "How could you not notice it?" she asked.

  "Oh, I don’t know," I paused, turning pink, "Can you get rid of it? No wonder people in the Tube were staring at me like I was some kind of a freak."

  "It’s a complicated spell, darlin
g, but I can try. Let’s do this before clients start coming in," she said and dragged me to the interview room. She used a lot of fairy dust to remove Nathaniel’s scent. I was a little pissed off that he didn’t tell me what he was doing. I shook my head thinking about his antics and decided that I would hold off speaking to my Dhampir about what happened. I had a busy day ahead of me.

  A few hours later, I was unharmed. A few elves walked into the office asking about a call centre job. When I was about to make a phone call, I spotted Rufus who had just entered. I glanced at my watch; it was only twenty past two and I wasn’t expecting to see him today.

  "How are we, ladies?" He placed his suitcase by my desk. Something was off in his expression. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was, but he looked tense, maybe slightly disappointed.

  "Fine, as usual. How are you?" I asked him.

  “I’m marvellous. I need to have a private word with you, Julia," he said, sounding serious. I didn’t like his tone.

  "Yes, sure," I replied and rose, dragging my bottom to the interview room, where I’d once had a little chat with Nathaniel. I sat, staring at him; his eyes were unreadable.

  He tightened his jaw and cleared his throat. "I don’t know how to say this, and please don’t take this the wrong way."

  If he planned to sack me, then I was going to lose it. "Just say it, for God’s sake," I blurted out, irritated.

  "Are you dating Nathaniel La Caz?"

  My smile faded away and I looked at him, feeling as if someone just punched me in the stomach.

  "Rufus, I don’t think this is any of your business," I said, forgetting I was talking to my regional manager.

  He frowned. "I didn’t want to ask, but I just want to tell you to be careful. He’s not the sort of man who can commit himself to anyone. I heard about him before he called me, and I have to tell you that La Caz is a dangerous man. I’m only saying this because I care about you, Julia," he said, shrugging. "Besides, your father thinks that he’s a suspect. Have you thought about your cousin?"