“Mags, when are you going to wake up? He hasn’t even called you. I bet Kellen is whispering sweet nothings into the ear of one of those bimbo lobbyists he hangs out with right now. Literally, as we speak, with his hand up her skirt.”
I sighed. She was right. He’d done it before. But, up until this morning, I’d been positive he’d changed. I had loved Kellen. Had. But I wasn’t so sure I still did. And if I did, wouldn’t it sting just a little bit more that he was possibly cheating on me? Again! One thing was for sure, I couldn’t go out with Cian until I officially broke things off with Kellen. I didn’t want it to seem or feel like I was cheating. I hated that Kellen cheated. I didn’t want to be like him.
Vanessa and I spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon decorating our new apartment with the items we’d collected from college, and then decided we should hit the stores for some cool and new San Francisco décor. Plus, we shopped for some of the essentials like dish soap and other kitchen necessities, bathroom supplies, etc.
We ventured into a small art gallery and stopped in our tracks in front of one of the paintings. It was a beautiful woman lying on a bed of white silk, looking as if she’d just experienced a moment of complete ecstasy, her heavy-lidded eyes alluring with a silverish-orange glow. Her dark curls hung loosely over her shoulders, stopping just above her naked breasts. She wore nothing but a necklace with a ruby pendant. She lay on her side, her curves sensual and full. Her lower arm was bent at the crook of her elbow, and she rested her head on her hand. The other arm was up behind her, clutching the neck of an equally gorgeous, naked man who lay with her. His dark hair curled slightly over his ears, and his strong, angled jawline was dusted slightly with stubble. It stirred me. The slight appearance of fangs protruding from his upper lip excited me, as well as the small spot of blood lingering at the corner of his mouth. His eyes held more of an orangish sheen than hers—like fire. The couple was beyond sexy. Hypnotically striking.
We bought the picture.
We hung it above the fireplace and stood side by side, facing it. Mesmerized by its beauty.
The picture’s exquisite presence bestowed a captivatingly sexy allure to our new home and made the entire apartment manifest the promise of great adventure.
“Vampires are real you know,” Vanessa spoke in such a hushed voice I almost didn’t catch her words.
“Why do you say that?” I asked without taking my eyes from the beautiful piece of art.
“I feel it. In here.” Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed she’d placed her palm over her left breast. A couple of seconds later, she placed her other hand in mine. It was something we did when we recognized the depth of each other’s mental imagery; when we realized it was something profound and unusual and felt the need for support.
“If they are real, they must have a very good resource for survival,” I said and shivered a bit at the thought of one of them sucking on my neck. “I wonder if all the legends are true and if they actually kill, or just take what they need to survive.”
“I think this picture says it all.”
“Lust and nourishment without the kill,” I agreed.
“Does it frighten you?”
Not sure whether she meant the picture or the idea of vampires being real, I answered referring to both. “No.”
Chapter Seven
Cian
“Cian, get your head out of the clouds, man. We are trying to get this song right, and you’re just sitting there staring out the fucking window. At what? Darkness? Stars? Come on, man, get in the groove.” Lane’s annoyance at me was beginning to gnaw at my nerves. I placed my guitar on the floor, leaning it against the wall, and walked out of the room and to the bar. I needed a drink. I pulled down the bottle of scotch and poured two fingers into a tumbler. Didn’t even bother with ice. The burn flowed down my throat but quickly turned to nectar as the age-old liquid coated and soothed my anxiety.
I was pathetic. I couldn’t think of anything but Magdalena. Why did she have such a profound effect on me? She hadn’t returned to the club the entire week. I hadn’t seen or heard anything from her. Not even after the flowers and invitation I’d sent. But what did I expect? I hadn’t left a number for her to call, simply because I didn’t want her to decline. I’d figured if I didn’t give a number, she might just show up since she wouldn’t be able to contact me to refuse. But now, I feared I might have screwed it up by not giving her a contact number. Suppose she couldn’t make it. Not because she wouldn’t want to, but what if she fell ill and couldn’t notify me. I would want to know if she were sick. I’d need to be by her side if she were unwell. Gods, listen to your sorry self, Cian. Maybe the card I’d sent had been too corny. Maybe I should have asked her out to dinner and a movie instead of just dinner. Maybe I should have said I would be there to pick her up at eight o’clock instead of sending a car at seven.
“Cian!” My brother’s damn annoyance pestered me again.
“What is it, Lane?”
“You can’t just walk out on us. We need you. You’re the fucking lead vocal on this song.”
“I don’t feel like singing right now.”
“Do you need blood?” he asked, and I felt his presence close behind me. I took another swig of the scotch.
“No. I’m fine.”
“When’s the last time you fed?”
“What are you, my keeper?”
He sighed, placing his hand on my shoulder. “I can have someone brought in.”
“I told you, I’m fine. I don’t need to feed.” I honestly didn’t care if I ever sucked in another ounce of blood again, unless it was Magdalena’s. I hadn’t even tasted her, but I knew from her scent it would be the only blood I’d ever have, her essence beckoned and excited me.
“Then for the love of the dead, please come back and let’s finish this fucking song.”
“Fine.” I gulped the last of the scotch down, wishing it would give me the buzz I craved.
Somehow, I managed to concentrate and we finally got the song to the point where everyone was happy with it. Music for me was a necessity. I suppose the same applied to my brother. We’d always performed. Even before we’d been turned. We’d been musicians in London and had been traveling to the States to pursue a new life—a daring young man’s dream and an adventure to see if we could make a living. We didn’t need the money these days. Being vampires made earning money easy.
My brother and I had traveled to California after having lived for ten or so years in several different states along the east coast. We’d eventually made our way west, settling in various states along the way for several years at a time before moving on. It was difficult to stay in one place longer than ten or so years before people began to make comments about our young appearance, but with the turnover of residents in San Francisco and the ability to compel humans, we hadn’t had much of a problem with that. We own Club Royal so there’s never any question about our ages, and if there ever is, well, compulsion works very well.
I stood at the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. The city was beautiful this time of the morning, a couple of hours before sunrise. I’d been resolute in my control to not stalk Magdalena. However, my self-control was slipping, and I knew it was only a matter of time before I would lose the battle. Standing here at the top of the bridge with her bedroom window in my sights wasn’t helping.
I ached to see her, to touch her, to inhale her sweet, delicious scent. Tomorrow night couldn’t come soon enough.
My foot slipped and I began to fall, flashing into space, and soon I found myself on the ledge of Magdalena’s building. Damnit. Five short steps and I’d officially lower myself to creepy stalker status. I’d never stalked a woman. I know of several vampires who do, however. Lane is not one, thankfully. At least not that I knew of, and I’m sure he would have told me. I’ve never had the desire to just sit and stare at a woman before. Not until Magdalena entered Club Royal last Saturday night. Her scent had been strong, and it had pulled me closer
.
The next thing I knew, I was standing outside her window, watching her sleep. I’d heard rumors of vampires meeting their soulmates. Someone whose scent drove them insane, so crazy that they couldn’t stay away from them no matter how hard they tried. Causing them to do things they wouldn’t normally do. In all my two hundred years, I’d never believed the stories. But now. I wasn’t so sure. Because whatever it was that lured me to her window—to her—was so strong I was powerless to fight it. I wondered if she felt the same.
She stirred slightly and I panicked, not sure if I should dematerialize or just stay still. I opted for the latter, mostly because I was frozen in fear that she would discover what a sick pervert I was. I hoped if I simply stayed still, she wouldn’t wake.
I was an intemperate imbecile to think I could stay away. I watched as she sighed heavily in her sleep. I wanted to stroke my fingers through the beautiful dark curls splaying across her pillow and brush the stray strands away from her bosom so I could feast upon her silky flesh. She was magnificent. There wasn’t another creature in the entire world so beautiful. It stole my breath to be so close to her.
I glanced around her room, wanting to take in as much of her surroundings as I could, to learn her likes and habits. The roses I’d sent sat on a desk next to a closed laptop. I knew there were many things I could learn about her from that laptop. That would be too much of a violation, though. Vampire or not, I did possess a few moral principles.
Magdalena.
She stirred again as the sound of her name manifested in my mind. She smiled, and I wished I could go to her. Could she be dreaming of me? My cock hardened at the thought.
I needed to be cautious. If she found me standing on the ledge, watching her, she’d hate me and never agree to have dinner with me. Hell, dinner was the least of the things I wanted to do with Magdalena, but I didn’t want to reveal my vampirism to her. At least not yet.
One more night until Friday, my love.
Chapter Eight
Magdalena
A cool breeze flowed across my face and I jolted awake. I sat up, startled.
“Who’s there?”
No one answered, and I didn’t see anyone. But I’d felt a presence, as if…as if someone had been in my room. But that was ridiculous. I was positive that I had locked the window, and it was clear that no one was in my room. But still, a chill ran down my arms and I got up and grabbed my robe before walking to the window to double check. I stood and stared out, fascinated by the view. The lights on the bridge were all lit up, making it all look very majestic, and the entire city glowed with a radiance that made the Christmas tree at Radio City Music Hall seem dull.
I picked up my phone from my nightstand to check the time. It was five o’clock in the morning. Another hour and the sun would be up, stealing away the magical ambience the lights on the bridge and the city rendered.
My throat became dry and I walked to the kitchen for a glass of water. I had a half thought that maybe Vanessa had been in my room, but when I peeked into hers, she lay asleep.
“Silly thought,” I whispered to myself.
I gulped down a glass of water then took myself back to my room, stopping at my desk to smell the beautiful roses Cian had sent. They were so gorgeous, and so unusual to have all white roses and one red one, but he’d wanted to make a point I supposed. I picked up the card and read it again. I couldn’t stop smiling as I got back into bed. No one had ever sent me flowers before. Kellen had given me flowers on Valentine’s Day, but he’d never had any sent to me. I hadn’t fully decided to accept Cian’s invitation for tomorrow night yet. However, the flowers were very enticing, and the temptation to join him for dinner was growing the more I looked at them.
It was useless to try and go back to sleep; I needed to be up in an hour anyway. This first week at work had been a challenge, but one I felt completely comfortable with as I learned the ropes. Tagging along with Josh, a fellow reporter, had been a great introduction to the news industry. He was easy to get along with, and really knew what he was doing. We’d become friends rather quickly. I loved my job, and the thought that Kellen might not want me to stay in the city made me a bit angry. To think that up until last weekend, I might have actually succumbed to his wishes and quit, moving back to Sacramento with him if he’d asked me to.
Kellen.
I still needed to officially break up with him. I hadn’t tried to call him after last Saturday morning when that woman had answered his phone. But he hadn’t tried to call me either. Perhaps she’d never told him his phone rang. But still, he hadn’t called me to even see how I was getting along in the city. He didn’t seem to care whether or not I missed him, and he obviously didn’t miss me or he would have called. Another reason I didn’t need to continue that loveless relationship. It was clear to me that Kellen didn’t give a damn about me.
Almost as if he knew I’d been thinking about him, my phone sang out the special song I’d programmed just for Kellen’s calls. That was going to change.
I almost didn’t answer but decided it was best to get it over with.
“Hi, Kellen.”
“Mags. Hey, listen, I’m sorry I haven’t called you, I’ve been tied up.”
“I bet.” I’m sure my sarcastic remark went right over his head since he had no idea I knew he’d been cheating on me.
“I’m coming to San Francisco this weekend. I’ll be there Saturday afternoon. I have a business luncheon at noon, but I’m free after that, and I figured I might as well take advantage of the drive to the city to see you, too. We can go out if you want, unless you’d rather just stay home and rent a movie. And boy, I’ll tell you, after the week I’ve been having, relaxing with you by my side is just what I need.”
Really? He was coming to San Francisco for a business lunch. A business lunch! Not just to see me. And as an afterthought, he decided it would be good to see me. That was the last straw. I couldn’t do it any longer. The future I’d thought to have with Kellen was no more than a pipe dream. I needed to stop this right here and now, or I’d find myself a poor little housewife stuck at home with the kiddies while my husband went on business trip after business trip, fucking every female legislator and lobbyist that crossed his path.
“Kellen,” I sighed.
“I’m excited to see you, Mags.”
“Kellen,” I repeated, wondering if I sounded as exhausted as I felt. The Kellen situation had me drained with fatigue. It and the temptation to see Cian were the only things I had been able to think about this entire week. “Don’t come here.”
“What? Why not?”
“Because I don’t want you to come here. I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”
“Maggie? What the hell are you talking about? You’re my fucking girlfriend.”
“That’s the problem, Kellen. I was your girlfriend. I was your “fucking” girlfriend, right up until you decided to sleep with all those other women. I’m tired of being your doormat. I’m done.”
“Mags, come on, baby. You know those other women don’t mean anything to me. It’s for my career. I have to be amicable. You know it’s you I love.”
Did he really just admit to sleeping his way to the top?
“It’s not just the other women, Kellen. You’re coming to the city for a business meeting and are only coming to see me because it’s convenient. You haven’t called me once this entire week. I just don’t think you care about me and I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”
“What are you saying, Mags? I have missed you! I told you why I haven’t called. I love you.”
“I don’t love you, Kellen.”
How could I have been so stupid? I could never love a man who would sleep his way up the corporate ladder. Where was the respect in that?
“We’re through. Don’t call me anymore. I don’t want to see you. Goodbye,” I said and ended the call.
“Bravo!” Vanessa stood in my doorway, clapping her hands together. “You actually b
roke up with the cad.”
I nodded. “How did I put up with that for so long? I’m such an idiot.”
“Nah, you’re just too forgiving. But, yay! We need to celebrate. After work today. Let’s meet at that little bar on Grant Avenue that we talked about checking out.”
“Sure…but just for one drink. I need to come home and get ready for my date with Cian.”
“So, you decided to go out with him, after all.”
“Yes. Just now, actually.” I grinned, looking forward to seeing Cian again. “And, at least now I can go with a clear conscience and not have the guilt of cheating on Kellen hanging over me.”
“Mags, I’m proud of you.”
It was official. Kellen and I were no longer together. It felt extremely good to be free from him.
“How do I look?”
“Gorgeous. I bet Cian’s going to have that dress off in less than two minutes, though.
I gave her an I-doubt-that look, but I considered whether or not I would give in to Cian. He’d been so hard to resist last week, and now that I didn’t have guilty feelings about cheating on Kellen, I most definitely wondered. I’d need to be strong, that’s all. After all, what kind of girl would he think I was if I gave in to him so easily and slept with him on the first date? I finished the final touches of my makeup and put in my small heart stud earrings.
“Miss Magdalena De la Rosa.” Vanessa said my full name in a deep, formal voice, and I laughed. But my eyes widened when they followed her pointing finger out the window and down to the street where a large black limo sat at the curb. “I think your ride is here.”
“He sent a limo?”
“What did you expect? He said he’d send a car.”
“Yeah, but a freaking limo?”
Chapter Nine
Cian
Ari was on his way to pick up Magdalena. I chastised myself one more time about not going along for the ride to retrieve her. I should have just driven to pick her up myself. But seven o’clock was still light out this time of year, just before the twilight hour, and I couldn’t go out just yet. Too much direct sunlight would drain me of too much energy. Energy I hoped I’d need later in the evening, if you get my meaning. However, draining my energy would be an understatement. Aside from bright sunlight destroying our eyes—a good pair of Ray-Bans were a vampire’s best friend since our pupils remained forever dilated—it would also render me paralyzed. To a vampire, the sun was like Superman’s Kryptonite. Maybe I should have said eight o’clock. That way I’d have been able to go along. But it was what it was.
Tempted by a Vampire (Immortal Hearts of San Francisco Book 1) Page 5