Love Bites

by Aleera Anaya Ceres

  “Woah, what’s wrong?” She steadied him when he swayed again.

  “Nothing, nothing. Just feeling a little unwell. But I’ll be fine.”

  Concern crossed her flawless features. “Is there something I can do for you?”

  His stomach bubbled.

  “No,” he gasped. “Well, maybe, we could call it a night?” He grinned despite the pain that gnawed at him.

  “Yes, of course. Go home; get some rest. Do you want me to walk you to your house?”

  “No, no.” He righted himself and waved her off. “I’ll walk you back to your hotel.”

  “I don’t think so, Ignacio,” she said, sternly. “You can barely stand. Get in a cab and go home. I’ll be fine.”

  He wanted to argue, but the fiery glare she gave him told him that there was no room for argument. So he obeyed as she sat him in a taxi.

  “I apologize, Katheryn,” he whispered to her before the taxi could take off. “I’ve ruined a night in your vacation with my illness.”

  She waved that off. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not your fault, and my night hasn’t been ruined. I actually had a good time.”

  “I’m glad.” His head was out the cab window, and she bent down so their faces were at the same level. “I hope to see you tomorrow, for I had a good time as well.”

  Their lips were only a few inches apart, and for a moment, it made all sickness and pain fade away, forgotten. Heat crackled between them. Their eyes met, yellow and blue. Their bodies seemed to draw together, magnets pulled them closer. The tips of their noses touched ever so slightly. The need to press his lips to hers was strong. He wanted to, by God, he longed to explore what he only had in a dream.

  “I’d like that,” she whispered, blowing her breath against his lips. She smelled sweet. “To see you tomorrow.”

  “Good.” He wanted to close the space between them, but she stood back and tapped the cab. “Call me?”

  “See you tomorrow,” she whispered as he drove away.

  Her absence jolted him back to his full senses and his pain. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Antonio. He couldn’t go home now. Not if his mother was going to be there. She would worry senselessly about him and fuss and lecture him.

  “Antonio!” he cried gruffly when his friend answered. “I’m coming over!”

  He hung up, gave the driver Antonio’s address and heaved the whole way there.

  “Dude, what’s wrong?” Antonio reached for his friend as Ignacio fell from the cab and dry heaved on his hands and his knees. “You’re sweating like a pig.”

  Ignacio wiped his brow with the back of his hand. He felt disgusting. A pain twisted his gut like nothing he’d ever felt before. “I...” He heaved. “Ate!”

  “You ate?” Antonio squawked. “Well what the hell did you eat?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Don’t tell me...you ate human food?”

  Ignacio nodded and heaved some more.

  “Dear God, why would you do—” He paused. “It was a girl, wasn’t it?”

  When his friend didn’t answer, Antonio continued. “If you risked your health for a goddamn human girl, Ortiz, I—”

  “Not...just a girl...” he wheezed.

  “What are you talking about?” Antonio shouted, incredulously.

  “Soul...Mate.” He fell to the ground on his stomach, using his arm to cushion his face and hide his expression.

  “Soul Mate?” Antonio repeated with breathless wonder. “Are you sure?”

  Ignacio nodded. “Positive.”

  “Damn.” Antonio let out a breath. “And I gather she doesn’t know you’re her Soul Mate or a vampire, does she? Hence the food...”

  Ignacio shook his head.

  “Well, who is it? It’s not Rosa, is it? Where did you meet her?”

  A chill passed through his body, and it began shaking. Coldness overtook him as his body attempted to expel the food from his system. “The redheaded...”

  “Oh my God.” Antonio interrupted. “That bitchy tourist from the other day is your Soul Mate? So that’s why you panted after her like a dog in heat.”

  Ignacio shot him the finger.

  All the worry left Antonio’s voice and was replaced with sarcasm. “Geez, Ortiz,” he laughed. “You’re such a dumbass.”

  “Oh, fuck you.”

  8

  Katheryn fell onto her pillows with a sigh, and all she could think about was Ignacio. She was worried about him. He’d looked positively ill. His face had gone pale and was covered in sweat and basically looked as if he were about to hurl.

  Maybe it had been her fault. She had forced him from stand to stand and had practically shoved food down his throat. Maybe he had a tummy ache or—oh, my God—she bolted up in bed and stared, wide-eyed, into the darkness. What if he was diabetic? Was that why he had seemed so shy about eating at first? As far as she knew, diabetic people could only eat a little bit at a time or their sugar levels got all whacked.

  Maybe that’s why he’d looked all sweaty and sick.

  She fell back to her pillows and groaned. Great, Katheryn, you’ve gone and nearly killed a foreigner.

  She turned to her side and hugged her knees to her chest. Tomorrow—if she saw him again tomorrow—she’d make it up to him. She’d investigate, ask around if they knew where he lived. She could take him some soup in bed or some medicine. The people in the stands were bound to know who he was. He had said he was a musician, so they probably did, right? She sighed. But if she did that, would he think that she was some crazy person obsessed with him. Would he? It was hard to tell.

  Katheryn barely knew the man but when she was with him, there was a part of her—a part she knew she’d fight—that felt as though he completed her. It wasn’t just the fire he ignited inside of her or the nerves and jitters she felt around him. But sometimes, when he looked at her, his expression was unreadable then other times, he’d look at her as if she were the most fascinating creature in the world. He undressed her with his heated gaze.

  If Katheryn was in her right mind, she’d say all he wanted was sex, but she didn’t feel that way. Sure, she wanted to rip off his clothes, kiss him until her lips bled and pass out with his name on her lips. She’d be surprised if he didn’t want that, too. But there appeared to be something deeper with him. He looked at her with yellow eyes that blazed like the bright rays of the heated sun with love.

  Katheryn halted her thoughts right there. Love? She barely knew the guy! But she could swear she saw something akin to it in those honeyed depths.

  She shook off her crazy thoughts. It wouldn’t do any good to think about love where there was none. She’d do well to remember that. Still, he had been kind to her, had asked for nothing in return.

  Yet, a small voice of doubt whispered into her ear. He hasn’t asked you for anything in return yet. But it’s only a matter of time before he uses you for his own gain.

  But there were still kind people in the world, people who did things for others without the need for payment.

  Oh, really? Who? Don’t fool yourself. This world is give and take. Just look at Hunter. You were good enough as a decoration on his arm. He wanted you, he got you, but you weren’t enough. You’ll never be enough. You’ll be used—

  Katheryn groaned into her pillow, making an attempt to push aside her bitterness. She wouldn’t become bitter. She refused to allow Hunter and her family to control her. She’d had a smudge of bad luck but no more. She would be who she’d been before her rich life.

  With a determined sigh, she snuggled against her pillow. All right then, she closed her eyes. Tomorrow, if I see Ignacio again, I’ll make it up to him.

  Katheryn didn’t see Ignacio the next day. Or the next or the next. She’d called the number he’d given her from the hotel room phone, but he hadn’t answered at all. She’d looked around town in quiet desperation, but she hadn’t found him. After each failed attempt during the day, she’d retreated into her hotel for the night.

  She found herself f
eeling lonely without his presence. It was strange. She had gone to Spain to get away from a man, and now, she found herself desperate to find one. It was embarrassing and damn near frustrating. She should have been out having fun, drinking, visiting museums and meeting new people. Not whining and waiting for Ignacio to show up.

  She glanced at her cell phone, ignoring the many missed calls, to check the time. It was late, which meant the bars would be bouncing. She had never been to a night club and hadn’t frequented many bars either. She had never really had the chance. But now, there were no rules. Now, she was free, single and on vacation. She could be as wild or crazy as she pleased.

  She’d go to a bar, she’d drink, meet people and have a one-night stand if she wished.

  She hopped into the shower to get ready. A little later, she observed herself in the mirror. She wore an emerald green halter top that showed off her pale, freckled stomach. A black mini-skirt hung low on her hips, hugging the curve of her body, showing off her shape. Her breasts, although moderate in size, seemed to squeeze together and push up in the top, giving a nice view of cleavage to any onlooker. Her wavy curls were tied in a ponytail, leaving her shoulders bare. Long black boots caressed her calves and completed the outfit.

  Makeup smudged her eyelids, pink blush on her cheeks brought color to her pale face and dark mascara brought out the bright blue irises of her eyes. The outfit and makeup were supposed to make her feel sexy. Considering she’d never worn anything like it before, it only made her feel awkward and all too much like a Spice Girl.

  She did a twirl in front of the mirror.

  The clothes hugged her everywhere, causing her to do a double take just to make sure she didn’t have any excess flab hanging out in places where it didn’t belong. She’d never considered herself fat, not even close. Her figure, if she had to describe it, was that of a pear. Small breasts, waist and wider hips and derriere; her thighs and legs were neither large nor scrawny. She’d always thought of herself as average. Nothing compared to the tall, slender blonde with the mile-long legs that had wrapped around Hunter who knew how many times...

  Katheryn cursed then twirled again. It wouldn’t do good to feel self-conscious, so she grabbed her purse, slung it over her shoulder and left, closing the door behind her.

  The bar was packed, but not so packed to where people were cramped up against her, breathing down her neck. The music was loud but not deafening; the people practically ignored her, but they weren’t rude. A few curious glances were thrown her way but not so much as a hello. The lights were dimmed to a dull glow, casting yellow rays against the blue and black walls of the place. The barstools were made of black leather, small circular cushions on metal tubes.

  Katheryn sat at one now, twirling on the seat as she looked over the menu. It was all in Spanish, and she had a hard time translating. Finally, she waved the bartender over and just pointed at a picture of what looked like a martini with olives.

  She swiveled in her chair after he left, bobbing her head in beat to the music when her harsh ringtone interrupted her happy thoughts. She groaned and dug her phone out of her purse. HUNTER, the caller ID read. She scoffed and shoved the phone back in her purse.

  “Ex-boyfriend?” The sweet, accented voice that sounded next to her ear had her turning abruptly.

  The woman was young and beautiful. With skin that was slightly golden from the sun and hair that was so straight and shiny it made Katheryn wonder if it was a wig. She was the color of brown sugar all over; even her eyes, which were perfectly shaped, as rounded as a baby’s, but the corners curved into sensual tips. Dark eyelashes arched upward, drawing a viewer even more to her face. It was in the shape of a heart, she had perfect cheekbones and full lips with a touch of cotton candy pink to them.

  The beauty was wearing a leopard-print top that arched in a heart, matching the swells of her enormous breasts. Black lace was stitched above said breasts, swirling up her bodice in patterns and ending as a choker around her long, delicate neck.

  Katheryn felt pale in comparison.

  “Something like that,” Katheryn muttered, fighting the urge to smooth down her mass of tangles that had slipped out of her ponytail and curled around her cheeks.

  The woman nodded, smiling. “You aren’t from here, are you?”

  “What gave me away?”

  She threw her head back and laughed, the sound pleasant, nothing compared to Katheryn’s husky one. Katheryn shook off the thought off as soon as it came.

  “My name is Rosa de Leon.” She held out a hand in greeting, which Katheryn took. It was as smooth as silk. “It means ‘the Lion’s Rose.’”

  “Katheryn Meyers.” She didn’t know what it meant, but she didn’t say that, out of fear of feeling stupid.

  “So, where are you from, Katheryn?” Rosa turned in her stool so she faced Katheryn completely, giving a better view of her entire outfit. The top wasn’t a top at all, but a dress that clung to her thighs, riding up as she crossed one perfect, muscular leg over the other. She wore strappy, black heels.

  “Washington.”

  “And what brings you to Spain?” Rosa took a swig of her beer. She even did that sexily.

  Not wanting to give too much information about her misfortunes, Katheryn decided instead to be aloof. She shrugged. “Just taking a small vacation.”

  But one look from Rosa told her the other woman wasn’t buying it.

  “Broken heart?” Rosa asked.

  Was it that obvious? Katheryn wanted to scream. Instead, she swallowed the lump in her throat but didn’t respond to Rosa’s question. She busied herself with the drink the waiter had dropped off. It was fluorescent yellow, with green olives at the bottom. Katheryn toyed with the rim of her glass.

  “Been there,” Rosa said, as if Katheryn’s response weren’t at all necessary. “It.... How do they say it in America? Bites. Yes, love bites.”

  Katheryn chuckled. “It sure does.” She sighed and leaned her elbow on the bar, resting her chin on her hand, echoing Rosa’s words. “Love bites.”

  “But to make you feel better, I will buy you a drink. I think, at the end of the night, we will become great friends.”

  Rosa patted Katheryn’s back then waved the bartender over and ordered her a beer.

  Despite her initial shallowness, Rosa turned out to be a nice person, if a little shallow. She was a model, though that didn’t really surprise Katheryn. With a body like that and the way he sneered at anyone who was even remotely badly dress kind of gave it away.

  Besides her weird beauty obsession, Rosa was great company. She made Katheryn laugh, made her feel comfortable and to her surprise, it was like finding a long lost friend.

  A few beers and martinis later, Katheryn felt her face flame warm red. Rosa also looked a bit flushed. “So, why is someone like you single?” Katheryn asked after a bout of laughter.

  Rosa flushed deeper than before, and it wasn’t the alcohol.

  “Well, you see,” she began, her tone borderline exasperation, but jittery and...in love. “I’m not single. I mean, I am but not for long. There’s this guy—”

  “There’s always a guy...”

  Rosa laughed. “Well, I’m madly in love with him! We had a romantic encounter a few months ago...” She blushed, brown eyes flashing as she obviously recalled the moment.

  “So, you had sex?” Katheryn blurted, reading between the lines, causing Rosa to turn nearly the color of Katheryn’s hair.

  “Yes,” Rosa admitted. “And it sparked something in me. I just knew it was true love. That he was the other half of my heart.”

  Katheryn didn’t know why she thought of Ignacio, but when the image of his face formed, she pushed it to the back of her mind and slammed that door shut.

  “He likes to play hard to get, but I know he’ll come to me, once he realizes he can’t be without me.” Rosa fluttered an exaggerated sigh and fanned herself with a menu.

  Katheryn studied Rosa, resisting the urge to tell her the man probably wo
uldn’t look for her, that the reason he was playing hard to get was because she had been just another hit-it and quit-it on his list.

  Bitterness talking, she reminded herself and kept quiet. It wouldn’t do good to crush Rosa’s hopes just to make herself feel better. Better to let her live and relish her fantasy. After all, ignorance is bliss.

  Katheryn’s harsh ringtone interrupted their conversation. This time, she didn’t even bother to look at the caller ID.

  Rosa eyed her curiously. “Is it the ex-boyfriend again?”

  Katheryn shrugged. “Could be my parents.”

  “And why do you ignore them?”

  “Because I don’t feel like talking and explaining.”

  “They do not know you are in Spain?”

  Katheryn shook her head.

  Rosa’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline. “Will they not be worried?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, you must answer then and explain things. Tell them what happened with the hunter, and they will understand.”

  Doubt it.

  “Parents must be there for their children, and if they are worried for you, at least tell them you are doing well, yes?”

  Katheryn sighed. Rosa was right, of course. Her parents had the right to know she was okay. She had ignored them for days. For all they knew, she’d been kidnapped or murdered. She’d call them and tell them she was fine. She wouldn’t explain anything about her situation with Hunter. Not yet.

  “You’re right,” she decided. “I’ll call them now.”

  She stood from her stool, handed Rosa some bills and gave her a quick, affectionate hug. “Thank you so much, Rosa. I hope to see you again.”

  Rosa squeezed her back. “We will, hermosa. We will.”

  Katheryn ran out of the bar and ducked into a side alley, dialing her mother as she hid in the shadows. She pressed the phone to her ear, taking deep breaths. All she had to do was explain she and Hunter had had marital differences and that she was fine, taking a small vacation and would be back to face the pack soon enough. Simple, short and to the point. There was no need to tell them where she was; she knew if they told Hunter, he’d come down looking for her and Katheryn didn’t want that lying, two-timing sack anywhere near her.