Blood Veil

by Megan Erickson

  On the couch behind them, a male vampire lay on top of a human woman, his hips churning between her legs. Even with the pounding bass, I could hear her loud cries of ecstasy.

  Cassie exhaled loudly. “See? We can get vampire dick and cash. Sign me the fuck up.”

  “Pretty sure you already signed up, tiger.” I nodded to the dance floor. “Get out there.”

  She ran her tongue over her teeth, moving her body in a way I wished I could. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and shot me a sexy grin. “I love it here. It feels so free!”

  I guessed that was one way to describe it.

  I tapped her on the shoulder as one vampire who’d been checking her out strode toward us. “Hey, uh, I’m going to grab a drink. Go do your thing.”

  She lashed out a hand and gripped my wrist. “You okay?”

  I smiled and lied. “Yep, fine! We’ll meet up in the Feeding Room, okay?”

  She blew me a kiss, and then turned right into the bare muscled chest of a vampire who looked like he was going to devour her. Literally.

  I skittered away, the dance floor making me feel claustrophobic. I wasn’t sure where to go. I was here, so I wanted the cash. Maybe it would be better to stay out of the way, then head to the Feeding Room at midnight, get bitten, and get the fuck out. Did I really have to make a friend? As amazing as orgasms were, I was kinda cool keeping my pants on, too.

  Why did this have to be a social thing? Where did I sign up for the quick feeding with zero house music and orgies? Vampires needed to know about drive-throughs.

  Near the bar was a small hallway and I ducked into the entrance, hoping to blend into the shadows. Too bad I hadn’t brought a book. I slid my back down the wall until I sat on the floor. Bending my neck forward until my hair formed a curtain to hide my face, I prepared to wait until I was shuttled into the Feeding Room at midnight. I’d make up a story to tell Cassie of course. Something that involved a sexy vampire with a big dick and talented hands. I would let my fantasy steer toward his tongue between my thighs, but I had questions about fangs and delicate skin.

  The music changed, and I closed my eyes, wondering if I could get a quick nap in. Then the light shifted, just a slight flicker that I noticed from behind the thin skin of my eyelids. I opened my eyes, not lifting my head yet or making any sort of movement, to see two giant black boots planted in front of me.

  I wasn’t stupid. Of course whoever was attached to those boots saw me, but I told myself if I didn’t move, maybe they’d go away. Move on. Go meet someone interesting who wasn’t cowering in a dark hallway.

  But then the vampire crouched, his massive legs folding so I got a glance of thick thighs and massive hands that could palm my skull.

  One of those hands extended toward me. It took everything in me not to flinch or run away. My heart was pounding out of my chest, the beat of it rivaling the music out on the dance floor. One finger touched the bottom of my chin and lifted.

  My gaze went up, taking in a muscled torso and broad shoulders covered in a dark T-shirt. I squeezed my eyes shut before I got to his mouth. He had to be a vampire; he was huge. Bigger than Zeb. Bigger than the ones I saw on the dance floor.

  Wait, maybe this was a good thing he was big. Surely he’d want someone with more blood, right? A larger person?

  “Look at me,” his deep voice rumbled.

  The command was like a hand plunging itself into my throat and tightening around my heart. I had to obey. There was no ignoring this voice.

  I opened one eye to look into the dark gaze of a vampire. His black hair was brushed back, although a few strands fell down his forehead, nearly covering one eye. His full lips were parted slightly, just enough that I could see the tips of white fangs touching his lower lip. His chin was pronounced, cheekbones high and sharp. And those eyes were pools so dark that I nearly tipped over and fell inside.

  He didn’t say anything, and so I opened my mouth and said the first thing that entered my brain. “Okay, I’m looking at you.”

  He didn’t grin. He didn’t react at all, and that finger of his hadn’t left my chin, like he knew if he let go, I’d break his gaze. I wouldn’t. I was pretty sure I couldn’t. Did he cast a spell on me? I had thought vampires didn’t have magic, but that was before I saw them make a door out of a solid wall.

  I probably shouldn’t be back here. Would he kick me out? Shit. I needed this money, and I hoped I didn’t blow it. “Am I in trouble? I just came back here to get a breather.” Shit. I was rambling, the words tumbling out of my mouth like blood from a burst vein. “I’m totally prepared for the, uh, feeding and stuff. All about giving up the blood. Totally cool with it.” I held up my wrists and rotated them. “See? Clean. Good to go.” I beamed a bright smile.

  The vampire stared at me for a long time, and just when I began to tremble a bit under his heavy glare, his gaze shifted to my neck.

  My pulse was out of control now, an escalating ra pam, ra pum, ra pum in my neck. Could he see the veins? Could he smell the blood as it rushed underneath my skin?

  “Do you—” my throat went dry, “do you need to feed?”

  His head tilted slightly, and then he reached out and wrapped his long fingers around my forearm. I held back a gasp at his grip as he studied the underside of my wrist. His thumb brushed the skin before dropping my arm. I shuddered at the brief touch.

  “First time?” he asked. I nodded as I nibbled my lip. His gaze dipped again then rose back to meet my eyes. “I don’t need to feed from you.”

  “Oh.” I didn’t know what to think about the pang of disappointment that streaked through my chest. I was terrified of this guy. He’d probably rip out an entire vein with that massive mouth. He cleared this throat, and I realized I’d been staring at his lips.

  I shook my head, wondering what was wrong with me. I relied on my wits, and here I was caught staring at this vampire’s lips, wondering what it would be like to feel them on my neck.

  The vampire rose to standing and gestured for me to stand up. It took me a bit to scramble to my feet and I wobbled slightly on my heels. He steadied me with a hand on my elbow. “I’ll escort you through the club and set you up in a private room until it’s midnight.”

  Well, that was nice. He wasn’t giving me the option of staying here in my dark hallway, but what he suggested couldn’t be bad. Except…“I’m sorry, but who are you? Do you have ID or a business card or something?”

  He stared at me like I had three heads. “Dru.”

  “Is that your name or some vampire title?”

  Again with the stare like I was fucking crazy. “My name.”

  “And—”

  “I’m head of security.”

  Head of—Oh. Oh. He was a big shot. “Nice to meet you. I’m Roxy.”

  His lips moved, like he was sounding out my name, but he didn’t make a sound. He dropped his hand from my elbow, jerked his head in an indication for me to follow him, and walked into the club. I did my best to keep up with his long strides.

  We skirted the dance floor, and I kept my head down, eyes on my pinched toes. When a husky moan reached my ears, louder than the bass of the music, I assumed we’d moved into the couch orgy portion of the club.

  The moans were plentiful, and the obscene noises coming from the couches had my head coming up, my gaze sweeping the area. Because, really? Who wouldn’t stop to look at this?

  Three female vampires were topless, writhing on a couch in a mass of limbs…wait was there a fourth? I counted off the legs I saw, but got lost at five and had to start over.

  My head whipped to the side at the sound of some filthy words, and I saw Cassie on the couch, head back, legs spread, her skirt pushed up around her waist. A male vampire flicked a nipple on her pale breast, his white fangs flashing in the eerie light of the club. A shudder ran through her entire body as his lips grazed
the underside of her other breast and he made his way down, down…

  Cassie’s head fell forward, she opened her eyes, and locked gazes with me. Fuck, I was a voyeur, spying on my friend. But damn, she looked so happy, face flushed with pleasure. I shot her a thumbs-up, which was geeky as hell, but the only thing my hands wanted to do. Her shoulders shook with a silent laugh, and then she winked at me just as the vampire did something between her legs that had her eyes squeezing shut as she moaned.

  Okay I needed to look away now. My friend was happy and clearly being take care of. So, yeah. She was getting hers. I was being led to a private room where I could be by myself. At least one of us was enjoying the full vampire club experience.

  A shadow fell over me, and I realized that I’d been planted in one place, staring at Cassie. Dru was probably not pleased. I glanced up, an apology on the tip of my tongue, only to look into the eyes of a vampire who was decidedly not Dru.

  This one wasn’t quite as big as Dru but still bigger than a human. His lips were pulled back, fangs massive in his slick grin. His hair was long, brushing the top of his shoulders. His nostrils flared as he peered down, and his gaze settled on me like a rain of icicles. My hands instinctively came up and I wrapped them around my middle, glancing around for Dru. Fuck, how did I lose the biggest damn vampire in the place?

  “Ah, pretty human,” he said, his raspy voice like a swarm of bees. “No need to hide. I see how you’re intrigued by what’s happening around you.” He took a step closer and alarm bells rang in my ears. I should step back, get away. “I can make you feel so good, better than you’ve ever felt in your life.”

  I opened my mouth but with a quick movement, he had me backed up against a wall. I couldn’t see Cassie from behind the male’s big body, and I wasn’t sure she’d hear me anyway, not with the loud music.

  My stomach dropped as the vampire lifted his hand, a single finger brushing my hair off the top of my breast. He licked his lips as he stared at my flesh. I was a human to him, a network of veins, and while this is what I signed up for, being pressed against a wall with this vampire at my front was not my idea of a fun time.

  My voice was failing me. Every time I opened my mouth, only a series of clicks came out. The vampire pressed his thigh between my legs, and the scent of him clogged my senses. Panic set in, and my heart pounded, my palms sweating as I raised them to half-heartedly push him away…

  His body disappeared.

  The heat of him was gone, his scent, everything, and in his place was the massive hulking form of Dru.

  The vampire who’d pressed me against the wall was on the ground, Dru’s boot on his throat. Dru hissed something at him, words I couldn’t hear because my heart was still pounding a drum in my skull. I placed my hand on my chest, confirming the organ was still there, that I was still alive and breathing, that my blood was still in my body.

  The vampire was hauled to his feet by two other massive vampires and dragged away. Dru finally turned to me, his face like thunder. “Where the fuck did you go?”

  “I didn’t go anywhere!” Now my voice worked.

  “Then why weren’t you behind me?”

  Oh so this was my fault? Rape culture was a thing in vampire world too? “I stopped to say hi to my friend. I didn’t expect a freaking vampire to come out of nowhere and press me up against the wall and threaten me with a good time, okay? Is this my fault?”

  Dru growled and, honest to God, a tingle raced down my spine. I shouldn’t be turned on by that, especially after what just happened. But I was. Goddamnit, I was. Did they pump aphrodisiacs through the air vents in this place or something?

  Dru leaned in, placing a hand flat by my head, and bending down to speak inches from my face. He sighed heavily before he spoke. “This is not your fault. And I’m sorry. Volmer will be punished for what he did. He’s been a little aggressive lately, and he went too far this time.”

  All the fight went out of me, and I slumped against the wall. “Okay.”

  Dru’s hand rose slowly, and then curled around my neck. He lifted my chin with his thumb, and the heat of his palm spread over my chest, tightening my nipples. I bit my lip to cut off a moan, and Dru’s eyes shifted. “Are you all right?”

  I nodded, unsure I could speak. I was aroused; there was no other explanation. I rubbed my thighs together, trying to ease the ache and the pooling heat in my stomach.

  His hand tightened, fingers digging into the back of my neck, and I arched into it, pressing my breasts against him, not knowing what was wrong with me, but unable to stop it.

  He dropped his hand, lurching away from me, and running his hands into his hair and then down his face. I stumbled a bit at the loss of his body against mine. Had I done something wrong? Was there some sort of vampire make-out etiquette I didn’t know? Cassie seemed to be doing just fine.

  “I thought—”

  “Do you want me to leave you here or do you still want to go to a private room to wait?” His voice was strained, but I didn’t miss his meaning. Leave you here.

  I blinked at him. “Would you stay with me, or—”

  “No, I have to work. You pick. Stay here or private room?”

  That stung a bit, but what did I expect? I hadn’t exactly been charming since I’d met Dru. If my options were to stay here alone or in a private room, I wanted the private room. When I told him, he nodded at me curtly.

  This time he took no chances. He wrapped long fingers around my wrist and didn’t let go, even as I had to jog to keep up with him. My heels were killing me, and I focused all my energy on staying upright.

  We sped by the couches, and I didn’t look up. I kept my gaze on the way his T-shirt stretched across his muscular back and broad shoulders. He pushed open a door and then we were in a long hallway. I didn’t have time to look around because seconds later we were through another door which opened up into some sort of lobby.

  He didn’t drop my wrist, but I dragged my feet to slow us down, because I wanted to get a look at this. Also because my feet felt like they were going to fall off. The lobby was a semicircle, and a large staircase was in front of us, leading up several stories. The floors gleamed and for a second, I imagined I was in some fancy hotel I’d only ever seen in the movies.

  We walked around to the back of the staircase, where a female vampire sat behind a desk. She smiled at Dru, and her gaze drifted to me briefly before snapping back to him. “Hello, Dru. Would you like a room?”

  “Yes,” he said shortly and snatched the key from her outstretched hand. “Block it out all night, please.”

  She nodded with a polite smile, and then Dru was once again tugging on my wrist, pulling me toward one of several hallways lining the outside of the circle. Except this time, my feet were done. My right ankle said, “fuck this shit,” and collapsed like a drunk at an open bar. I cried out as the pain shot through my leg. I would have hit the floor in a lump of tired human, but I had a vampire companion who could move at the speed of lightning. He scooped me up into his arms, his dark eyes smoldering as they took in my body.

  “What happened?” he demanded, his brows a straight line of anger. “Are you in pain? Was it from Volmer?”

  I shook my head and pointed at my feet. “These heels. I’m not used to walking in them. My ankle rolled.”

  He stared at my foot, then back at my face as he continued to walk down a hallway lined with doors. “Why would you wear shoes you can’t walk in?”

  “They’re sexy,” I muttered.

  He stopped at a door and unlocked it quickly, despite my weight in his arms. He didn’t set me down inside the door. Instead, he kicked it shut with his foot, and then carried me to the bed, where he placed me down gently. He knelt at my feet and removed my heels, his warm hands caressing my ankle bones. “Which one?” he asked.

  I pointed to my right.

  He gripped
it and rotated the joint, watching my face as he did. “That hurt?”

  “A bit.” To be honest, his touch was making me forget about the pain. I hadn’t expected him to be gentle, but he held my foot like it was precious.

  “Forgot how fragile humans can be,” he said, almost to himself.

  “Hey,” I said. “We’re not that fragile.”

  He raised an eyebrow, just one, and I got Jason Momoa vibes that made my blood heat. “We’re not,” I insisted. “It’s just those stupid shoes which I only wore because the dress code had made it clear we should come looking hot as fuck. And those shoes are definitely hot as fuck.”

  He wasn’t looking at my shoes on the floor. He was looking at me. My face. “You don’t need the heels, Roxy.”

  I swallowed, wanting to yell at him to let go of my foot, which barely hurt anymore. He lifted his hand, and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. “You’ll have your pick when it’s time to head to the Feeding Room. I’m sure there’ll be plenty lined up, eager to get a taste of you.”

  Don’t you want a taste of me? That was the first thought that flashed through my head. I bit my lip to prevent the words from flying out of my mouth, and his gaze immediately dropped. My pulse raced and I gripped the sheets of the bed, wondering why my body was lighting up, why I couldn’t stop staring at his lips and wishing his hands would travel up my calf higher and higher.

  He stood up abruptly, dropping my leg like it was on fire. I stared at his back as he faced the door. “Dru?”

  “I need to go,” he said. He didn’t even glance over his shoulder at me. “You’ll be fine here, I’ll have someone come get you when it’s time.”

  No, he couldn’t leave. I wasn’t sure why yet, but I was in a panic. “Dru—”

  “Bye, Roxy.” He turned the doorknob and opened the door.

  “Dru!” I said, standing up quickly, which was a bad idea. As soon as I put weight on my ankle, pain shot up my leg. “Shit, fuck, ouch.”