Night's Promise

by Sandy Lynn

  Holding her arm before she could move away from him, Duncan followed her line of vision and saw the woman she attacked the previous week striding into the club.

  “Why?” He was certain he knew the answer, but wanted to see if she’d admit the truth to him. Melissa had to leave because of her.

  “Because, if I stay I’m going to hit her. I promised Gareth I wouldn’t cause anymore trouble.”

  “So, where are we going then?”

  “We aren’t going anywhere, I’m leaving.”

  Duncan gave an easy smile. “We were in the middle of a conversation. Come on, I’ll make sure you stay out of trouble. I’ll buy you some lunch and we can finish our conversation.”

  “Our conversation was finished. I wanted to thank you. I did. See, end of conversation.”

  “I’m not letting go of your arm until you agree to let me take you to lunch.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “Fine, tomorrow is perfect for me. Of course, since lunch happens at noon, I’d love to see how you manage that.”

  Leaning down to her ear he inhaled deeply, his eyes closing at the pleasant smell of soap and only a hint of makeup. No perfumes or sprays masked her scent.

  “Then I guess you’re just going to stay in this club until we finish talking.”

  “That’s blackmail.” She glared at him.

  “Angel, I’ve been accused of much worse things. So, what’s it going to be?”

  Looking back and forth between him and the blonde, she finally agreed, through her teeth, “Lunch it is.”

  Guiding her to the door, making sure he didn’t bruise her flesh with his grip, he nodded at Bram before exiting the club. They were a few yards down the street when Melissa spoke again.

  “You know, you can let me go now. I’ll keep my word.”

  Even though he didn’t want to lose the minor contact with her, Duncan obeyed. He stopped and watched Melissa look behind them, as though she were afraid they were being followed. For a moment he wondered if Gareth would come kick the shit out of him for leaving with her.

  But when he followed her gaze, he immediately hissed in pain as he felt her foot coming down full force on his own, then her fist making contact with his jaw.

  His teeth lengthened and his eyes narrowed. Staring at Melissa, he watched her rub her knuckles and continue walking. An outside observer would never believe she’d just hit him. She gave no signs that anything had just happened, unless you saw one hand smoothing over the other.

  “What the fuck was that for?” he shouted.

  “I don’t like being told what to do. Now, are you still buying me lunch, or am I free to go about my business?”

  Shaking his head, a corner of his mouth twitched as he fought not to smile. “Nice punch.”

  “You damn near broke my knuckles,” she complained, but after she looked at him, she appeared much more relaxed.

  “If you don’t like people telling you what to do, how does your brother get away with it?”

  “He’s different.”

  “That’s pretty aggressive. I think I like it,” Duncan teased her. He couldn’t believe he’d never seen this side of her before. It was a side that excited him more than seeing Gareth and Lalita dancing. Her punch had his cock applauding, begging for more. With a chuckle he silently admitted, I never said I wasn’t a freak…

  She looked back at him, and blushed. “The foot thing was because I don’t like being told what to do.”

  “And the right hook?”

  “I don’t like people pushing me around. I didn’t appreciate you grabbing my arm and walking me away from Strigoi like I was a child.”

  Freezing for a moment, he was content to simply watch her walk. A hellcat with the face of an angel. What did I do right so I know how to repeat it? And, does the hellcat attitude continue over into the bedroom?

  After a few steps, Melissa looked back at him. “What?”

  Shaking his head, a huge smile on his face, Duncan chuckled. “There’s more to you than meets the eye. Where’d you learn to punch like that?” He resumed walking, easily catching up to her.

  “Gareth. He taught me how to defend myself.”

  “Your voice changes when you talk about him. You talk about him the way—” He broke off, unwilling to say anything else.

  “What? The way what?”

  Shaking his head, he continued the statement he’d tried not to say. “The way women talk about knights. Their voices get all soft, like they’re in love or some shit like that. Like being back in time a few centuries, having some guy sweep them off their feet is their idea of true romance.

  “And that is why I will never go watch one of those movies. Can’t stand that dreamy tone women have afterwards.” Duncan shook his head.

  “What’s so wrong with a woman wanting someone who will rescue her?”

  “Nothing, I guess. But what they fail to realize is life wasn’t actually like they show it in the movies. Chances were the knight that saved the day had ulterior motives. Someone was paying him, the reward the fair maiden would bestow, the reward the woman he was after would bestow; Doesn’t matter who gave it, there was always a reward. And we won’t even go into their bathing habits.” Duncan gave a small shudder at the memory.

  “Wow, I think you just managed to crush almost all of my youthful fantasies in five minutes. Besides, that’s not the truth. I happen to know, for a fact, that there are honest to goodness noble men out there. Men who will rescue a ‘damsel in distress’ even though there’s nothing in it for them.”

  “I see. And that’s what all women want isn’t it? A man that will rescue them?” Duncan shook his head. “I’ll never understand it. Especially when they start screaming about being treated equally.”

  What does it matter what she’s looking for? After all, it’s not like I want more than one night with her. Well, maybe a few nights. He looked up and down her body.

  “Maybe. But not me,” she said, walking into the twenty-four hour diner.

  *

  Melissa sat at an empty booth and forced a smile onto her face as she looked over the menu. The place was so similar to the one Gareth had taken her all those years ago on the night that forever changed her life.

  “So what do you want?”

  Duncan’s voice brought her back to the present and for that she was grateful.

  “Hmmm, their breakfast menu looks appetizing,” she answered, deliberately misunderstanding the question.

  “If you don’t want a knight in shining armor, what do you want?” he repeated, being more specific.

  “Honesty. I just want honesty. Why did you really bring me out to lunch?”

  “You’re sure you want the truth?”

  “Yes.” Pausing, she smiled at the waitress and ordered pancakes, bacon and hash browns with a large glass of orange juice. Duncan ordered bottled water.

  She waited for the woman to leave before continuing. In the nearly empty building, they were almost assured privacy, but that was no reason to press their luck.

  “Surprise me, tell me the truth.”

  “I’m horny.” He shrugged, smiling as he sat, completely relaxed in the seat opposite her. “I was just looking for a piece of ass tonight.” Before she could even respond to the chauvinistic comment, he held up a finger and continued. “I didn’t plan on running into you, you approached me, remember? But, I can’t say I’m disappointed.”

  “And you think after you feed me I’ll feel…grateful?” Anger filled her. This was a trick she expected from high school boys, not him.

  “Hell no. Actually, I was expecting a kick in the shin as soon as the word horny left my mouth.”

  Melissa couldn’t help herself. She laughed at him. She’d told him she wanted honesty and he certainly didn’t seem to be censoring himself for her sake.

  “You’re having problems sleeping. I just want to let you know that you can talk to someone.”

  “Why does everyone think I need to talk about my feelings?�
� Melissa almost shouted, her amusement and carefree attitude suddenly stripped from her. Closing her eyes she took several deep breaths.

  “Angel, I know the look. There are skeletons in your closet. My guess is there’s a few you don’t want to tell brother dear about.”

  “And how would you know what that look is?” she demanded, done trying to keep an iron control on her anger. “And why in the name of the gods, do you think I would tell you anything that I wouldn’t tell my own brother?”

  Watching him closely Melissa wanted to growl when they were interrupted again. He smiled at the waitress as she set down Melissa’s food. He waited long seconds that passed too slowly until she had stepped away before leaning on the table and addressing Melissa. “Because I’ve seen it. More in my life than you can imagine.”

  “You’ve got skeletons?” she asked skeptically, praying that someone really could understand how she felt.

  Watching him as he took a deep drink from the bottle, Melissa sighed and began to eat, certain he wasn’t going to answer her question.

  “Skeletons, cadavers, even a maimed body part or two. You see, Angel, of all people, I know how much easier it can be to talk about your fears with a stranger than it is with your own family, or your friends.”

  “But we’re not strangers,” she protested between bites. “So what makes you think it’ll be any easier for me to open up to you?”

  “Aren’t we? I may know your name and who your brother is, but that’s all I know about you, except that you don’t wear perfume and you’re having problems sleeping. What do you know about me? My name? That I work at the club? Yeah, you know a hell of a lot about me. We’re practically best friends.”

  Melissa looked up at him. He still gave the appearance of being as relaxed as when they sat down, but now she believed that was all a show.

  He’d been nice to her and she’d done her best to drive him away. She’d punched him, halfway hoping he would swing back so she could justify not wanting to spend any time with him. Instead, he’d laughed and complimented her. He’d even basically told her he had stuff hidden in his past and she responded by being rude.

  “It’s hard,” she told him, her eyes on her plate. “You go through the trouble to bury them deep, so deep that you’re sure they can never see the light of day again… Even then you put locks and deadbolts and chains around the sections you hide them in. You force yourself to forget where you put the keys, how to get back to those memories, and still, as if by magick, they come back.”

  “I know exactly what you mean. This one time I tried to get rid of a sorcerer that pissed me off. I tied him up, handcuffed his hands behind his back, locked him in a trunk, chained it and threw it in the river. But the next night the bastard was back in the same bar, annoying the hell out of me.”

  Melissa froze, staring at him, a bite halfway to her mouth. “O-kay… What does that have to do with me?”

  Duncan smiled at her as she finally began to chew. Reaching across the table, he wiped a drop of syrup from the corner of her lip then slipped his finger inside her mouth. Automatically, Melissa licked the syrup off him.

  Pulling his finger from her mouth, he said, “Because it’s the same principle. It does no good to bury someone, unless you strip them of their power first. Otherwise, they’ll just keep popping up, annoying the hell out of you.”

  *

  When she was finished eating, he paid the bill and they walked out of the building.

  “Tell me something personal about you,” Melissa said, turning to walk backwards so she could look at Duncan.

  “You mean the whole ‘I committed attempted murder’ story wasn’t personal enough?” he teased, enjoying the way she had finally relaxed around him again.

  “No. I want to know something personal. Something you wouldn’t normally tell anyone.”

  “Okay, that rules out my hard-on.” He laughed when she shoved him. “What? I’d tell any beautiful woman that was interested about that.”

  “I’m not… I don’t want to be beautiful.”

  “Why? Tell me. It will make you feel better, Melissa. I promise, whatever you say will go no farther.”

  “Let’s turn down this street,” she said, turning left.

  “What’s wrong with going straight?”

  “There’s a light broken. Besides, I want to go left.”

  Looking down the street he saw the streetlight she was talking about. He’d have never noticed it if she hadn’t pointed it out. Thinking back, he realized she had carefully kept to well-lit areas during their entire walk.

  “I’m not going to attack you,” he began, feeling offended. “I’ve never had to force myself on a woman yet. You’re safe with me.”

  “Why do guys always say that? Is it supposed to be comforting? Macho? What? What makes you think you can protect me if I’m not even safe in the comfort of my own head?” She glared at him angrily.

  “Who was he?” Duncan was pissed at how badly this poor sweet angel must have been hurt to feel such anger.

  “No one. As far as I’m concerned, he doesn’t exist.”

  Reluctantly he allowed the subject to drop. She wouldn’t talk about it before she was ready, and forcing the issue would shut her down completely.

  They continued walking in silence as the office buildings began to turn into elegant houses, the kind that boasted of owners with plenty of money and influence.

  “This is my stop. I guess I should thank you for walking me home.”

  “Can I come in?” he asked.

  “Still thinking about your dick?”

  “No. Thinking about my flesh since the sky is turning pink. And well, I don’t think I can get to another safe place before the sun is up.”

  Melissa blushed, and the gesture only made her more tempting to him.

  “I didn’t realize I’d kept you out all night. Yeah, sure, I’ll show you to the guest room. Do you prefer upstairs or down?”

  “I’m easy,” he told her, unable to stop thinking about how much he’d love to see what her room looked like. “Where’s your room?”

  She shook her head. “No way, cowboy. That is not happening.”

  “Can you blame a guy for trying?”

  “No. But it won’t succeed.”

  Duncan followed Melissa through the house. She took him down to the basement, and a beautifully decorated spare bedroom.

  “Sleep well, Duncan,” she told him before leaving the room.

  “Melissa?” he called out while the door was still ajar. “The offer to talk is always open.”

  She paused for a moment, then nodded once. “I’ll think about it. Thank you.”

  Sighing, he began to slowly strip down to his boxers. He’d leave those on, but only because it wasn’t his house.

  At the memory of the bags under her eyes, the tension filling her body, he hoped she took him up on his offer soon. At the rate the poor girl was going, holding stuff inside like she was, Melissa was going to get herself into serious trouble.

  *

  Melissa paced around in her room, unable to stop thinking about what Duncan had said. She didn’t want to talk about her stepfather. Ever. She’d bluntly refused therapy after Gareth rescued her. Now she wondered if maybe she should have gone.

  No, she shook her head. The therapist would have wanted to know all the details and I’d have been committed for thinking my “brother” was a “vampire”. Or worse, they’d have found out the truth and killed the only man who had ever meant something to her. The only man who had ever made her feel safe.

  “I made the right decision then, and I’m making the right decision now,” she told the empty room.

  Walking to a corner of the room, Melissa carefully unfolded a circular rug and sat down in the center of it. With a deep breath, she cleared her thoughts, preparing to reinforce the barriers her brother had taught her to build to help shield her from thoughts of her stepfather.

  The exercise was supposed to help guard her against the
nightmares, but as far as she could tell, her stepfather was nothing more than one giant walking nightmare.

  Her exercise completed, she took another deep breath then stood. Beside her bed, she stripped off her jeans, carefully placing them within easy reaching distance before she slid between the sheets.

  Her hand poised to turn off the small lamp she had beside her bed, Melissa hesitated. Instead of completing the action, she pulled her hand away. Curling into a ball on her side, Melissa forced her mind to go blank before she drifted off to sleep.

  *

  Travis stood outside, watching the house. He was so close to his goal, he just needed to be patient a little while longer. Then the little bitch would be his. He’d waited a long time to get revenge on her for what her and that freak had done to him. Lifting his hand to his neck, he wiped his hand across the spot where he’d been bitten. He’d never forget that night, the humiliation he’d suffered.

  Patience, he counseled himself as the desire to just slip into the house grew. If she had been alone, he wouldn’t hesitate. Hell, he would’ve made his move even if it had been that meddling fucker with her. Then he’d be able to catch them both at their most vulnerable. But he didn’t know anything about this new guy.

  After that little incident, he’d made sure to discover anything he could about vampires. People had laughed at him, called him crazy. His hand moved to the silver cross beneath his shirt. He’d learned how to protect himself from that stranger, but who knew what this new guy was.

  The little whore, he sneered. Did she spread her legs for every man? Did she let that pointy-toothed bastard pimp her out? Rage filled him at the thought. She belonged to him.

  A slow smile crept onto his face. Then again, at least now she’d be broken in. And he was positive they’d have taught her a trick or two. Things he’d be sure to take advantage of before he passed her around to his friends. He was sure they would pay for a taste of her. And he’d be sure she repaid him for every dime he’d spent tracking her down and that he’d had to pay that worthless bitch, Diane.

  Not even she could do her job right. He’d hired her to lure the man away. She’d never mentioned any other men hanging around. She couldn’t seem to do anything right. Perhaps he should make her earn her money another way…