by Hart, Lane
I laughed even as tears fell from my eyes. "You probably are after all this," I waved my hands around at the incredible model in front of me, unable to imagine how amazing the actual facility would be. "But my answer is still yes."
"Yes? Really?" he asked with a huge grin, making him even more adorable.
"Yes," I nodded with my own ridiculously happy smile. I sat down on his knee, wrapping my arms around his neck to kiss him.
"Thank God," he muttered. He opened up the box to show me the single solitary diamond ring with a silver band. "I know you don't wear jewelry, and wouldn't want a huge outrageous ring. Is this okay?"
"It's perfect, and I love it," I told him as he removed it from the velvet cushion and slid it on my finger. "Wow, it's so beautiful."
"You're going to actually keep it?" he asked, sounding surprised.
"Of course I'm going to keep it!"
"Good," he said with an exhale. "I thought you'd make me take it back and get a ring pop."
I laughed and kissed him again. "This isn't just a piece of jewelry. It's the ring you chose for me, and it represents our promise to each other. I'll wear it with a wedding band for the rest of my life."
"Goddamn right. And that's all you're going to be wearing for the next few days," he said, then carried me back to bed and proved he hadn’t been bluffing.
The End
Epilogue
Seven months later …
Will Reavis
I laid my head down on the mattress, right where just seconds ago the most gorgeous woman I'd ever met had been lying. Up until I’d opened my mouth and sent her running.
It wasn't like I had a choice. It was already ten o'clock, and Dylan and Jules' plane was due in around noon. Besides, I knew Lacy would never date someone like me, especially after she found out I'd lied to her. She could have any man she wanted, so why would she want more than a night with me to get over some other man who had broken her heart?
I wallowed in my own misery for a few more minutes before I got up, striped the sheets off the bed, and threw them in the wash. Jules would be pissed if she found out I fucked someone in their bed. I better throw in some extra chemicals in the hot tub to clean it from the sex, too. And I'd never be able to get in the elevator in this building without thinking about Lacy. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I cleaned up the apartment and had finished putting the clean sheets on the bed, just before I heard the key in the lock.
"I'm still here," I warned them, when they came in kissing and all over each other. My sister was in Dylan's arms, since he was apparently carrying her over the threshold. And here I was interrupting their moment.
"Shit, Will!" Jules exclaimed. "You scared the piss out of me. Seriously. I'll be right back," she said, as she wiggled out of Dylan's hold then headed quickly down the hall.
I looked back at Dylan, who seemed tanner in his cargo shorts and tee, and like he hadn't stopped smiling in days.
“How was Hawaii?” I asked, then cringed, changing my mind. “Never mind, I don’t want to hear any details about your honeymoon.”
"How have things been going here?" Dylan laughed.
"Your life sucks," I told him.
"My single life sucked. My married life is fucking awesome! Did you see the woman I get to spend every day and night with forever?"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
"You're awfully grumpy. Does that mean you didn't get any ass with my Porsche? I thought it was a sure thing," he said, bringing their luggage inside and shutting the door.
"I got some alright. She was so out of my league it's not even funny. Then I fucked it up."
"Well, back to the real world after tomorrow. For all of us."
"You mean you're actually going to work for the first time in your sorry-ass life?" I joked.
"Yeah, I've got a wife to support now," he replied with a big grin.
"Right," I said, rolling my eyes. Dylan had never worked a day in his life. He'd just graduated from Madison, and next week he was going to work as the VP of his dad's company, Daughtry Brewing. But I was willing to bet that over the years his parents never let his trust fund dip below nine figures.
"Whew, I feel better," Jules said when she returned to the living room. Her hair, which was the same plain brown as mine, was braided in pigtails, her normally fair skin was tan, and her green eyes similar to mine sparkled. She looked happier than I'd ever seen her, and I was glad for her. For them. Hell, I wished I had what they had.
"So what've you been up to this week?" she asked.
"Oh you know, work, mostly. I went out to Sin with Joe last night," I laughed, remembering how I'd left him. "The man has it bad for the enemy."
"Enemy?" Jules asked in confusion.
"Prosecutor. Apparently one that loves making an ass of him."
"What about you? Did you pick up any gold diggers in his car?" she asked.
I didn't think Lacy had been a gold digger, but she wouldn't have wanted a nobody like me.
"Yeah."
"Then why do you look like someone just ran over your puppy?" she asked with a grin.
"It was just a one-night stand. I don't know her last name, and didn't get her phone number before she ran out of here this morning."
"You didn't fuck her in our bed did you?" Jules asked, having told me more than once I was only to sleep in the spare room.
Heat flooded my face before I could try to lie convincingly.
"You did! You asshole!" Jules exclaimed, jabbing my shoulder with her tiny fist.
"I washed the sheets. Oh, and I put extra chemicals in the hot tub."
"Ew," Jules said with a shiver. "That's the last time you're allowed to stay here while we're gone."
"Was she hot?" Dylan asked with a smile. Jules turned around and smacked him on his chest.
"Hell yes she was. A fucking knockout. Too hot for me."
"What? Why would you say that?" Jules asked.
"Look at me. Average size, average looking, not rich and never will be. Why would a woman who can have anyone want me?"
"Oh, stop putting yourself down. You're a good, sweet guy, and you'll find someone that’s a keeper soon."
"Right," I said, grabbing up my phone and keys. "Well, I'm heading back to my shitty life. You newlyweds have fun. Take care of my sister, jackass," I said, pointing a finger in warning at Dylan.
"Always,” Dylan assured me. “Thanks for not wrecking my Porsche. I've already inspected it."
"Sure. See ya’ sis," I told Jules, then let myself out.
After living Dylan’s filthy rich life for more than a week, walking into my normal size, average looking and lonely apartment, and climbing into bed alone made me feel even shittier.
Little did I know that in a few short weeks my bed would be getting crowded, my criminal record would be longer, and I’d be taking a paternity test, all because of the gorgeous woman I met at Sin. Crazier still, even if I could I wouldn’t want to change a single thing about the future, especially falling in love with Lacy.
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Chapter One
Sam West
I pulled the pillow tighter over my head. I was trying ineffectively to block out the sun shining through my bedroom window, and the alarm clock screeching out a horrible pop song. I don't know why I leave it on this shitty radio station, except for it beats waking up to beep-beep-beep.
I blindly reach
ed over to the nightstand and slapped my hand around until I found and hit the snooze button, giving myself ten more minutes. Work begins for me at the ungodly hour of eight a.m., and since there were bills to pay and video games to buy, the next time my alarm went off, I'd make myself get up.
I felt the dip in the foot of my mattress an instant before I heard his annoying voice.
"Get up jackass. I'm hungry, and you're going to be late for work."
I grabbed the pillow and swatted at the fat-ass orange and white tiger-striped cat to knock him off my bed.
"Get the fuck out of my room Chris!" I yelled at him. I have got to remember to lock my damn door!
"I bet a slash across your face will get you moving,” he threatened.
"I'll feed you in ten minutes if you'll leave me the hell alone! But I swear, if you scratch me with your filthy shit covered claws, I’ll snap you in half!”
"That reminds me, you need to change my cat litter too, asshole," he said as he finally gave up and sulked away.
"You know how to use the fucking toilet!" I screamed after him.
"I know, but my claws slip and I fall in. Then I have to spend the whole damn day licking piss water off myself," he whined.
Chris had been annoying the shit out of me for years, but he was one of the few friends I had. Five years ago he'd been on the run from the D.R.A and turned himself into a cat. He'd been one ever since because the idiot didn't stir the counter-spell before transforming. It wasn't the cat part of him that bothered me, it was his non-stop mouth. Why the stupid spell left him with the ability to talk was just my luck.
I really should give the guy some slack though. There didn't seem to be an end in sight for his feline days. He'd showed me how to do the spell reversal, and we’d tried it at least a dozen times, but using his kitty blood was always a no-go. Dumb ass.
When the alarm went off again I finally rolled out of the warm cozy bed and headed to the bathroom. I did remember to lock the bathroom door before I found my way to the toilet. My eyes were still closed as I took a piss then turned on the shower and got undressed.
As soon as the steaming water in the shower hit me I finally started to wake up. I washed my face then scrubbed my head with shampoo, feeling more and more like myself. Then I really woke up as my washcloth grazed my morning wood.
Finishing that task only reminded me of my lack of a love life, but it's hard to form lasting relationships with women when you're a disgusting leech.
I grabbed the plush green towel from the rack beside the shower and ran it over my body before using it to dry my dark blonde hair. Damn, I was in desperate need of a haircut, but I just didn’t give a shit. I could use a shave too, but didn't feel like wasting the time on it.
I brushed my perfectly straight white teeth, pulled on the clinic's white logo polo, a pair of jeans and my grey New Balances, then I was out the door.
Shit! My foot was hovering on the first step of the porch when I remembered I didn't feed Chris. I reluctantly turned back around and unlocked the front door, heading to the kitchen. He could just rip open the bag of food with his claws if he got hungry enough, but then I'd be the one who'd have to eventually clean up the mess.
"Hey, Chris," I yelled. "Do you want bologna or cat food today?"
A second later he came bouncing all nimbly-pimbly into the kitchen from his bedroom, directly across from mine. "Bologna! And make it two slices," he answered.
Since he’d been a cat, his food preferences had tended to be that of a regular feline, which was fine with me. Bologna and cat food were cheap, and saved me a shitload of money at the grocery store.
"Fine. Here," I said as I threw the slices on a plate and sat it down on the floor. I hated when he ate on the counter, getting his little white and orange hairs all over everything.
"Thanks man. See ya' after work," he told me.
I turned on the TV in the living room for the poor bastard, then went back out the front door again, this time actually making it to and sitting down in my blue trash filled Mazda 3 Sport.
Looking at the clock on the dash I had a good five minutes to spare, so I made a detour for a caffeine and sugar rush. Luckily the drive thru lane at Donut World was short, and with four coffees and a dozen doughnuts for myself and my equally grouchy coworkers, I headed to the clinic. It would be my Happy Fucking Friday gift to them.
On blood drive days I'm supposed to check in at our headquarters downtown by eight a.m. to get everything packed up before we hit the road. I work at the local blood bank, but usually once a week we take our enormous blood mobile out around the community.
It was a little over eight years ago that I had the brilliant idea to go to school and get my certification in phlebotomy. Even as a vampire, I was one lazy son of a bitch. Having to go out and find my own blood sources was too stressful and tedious, especially when giving in to one lust usually led to the other.
Why go through all that trouble of finding someone to bite when I could just work at the place that always had a supply? It's like they were paying me to survive. I don't call taking a bag of blood here or there "stealing" per say. I know humans need the blood donated for accidents and surgeries and all that other blah, blah, blah. But what I do is a freaking public service. Besides, I try to only drink the bad shit.
Since I've been consuming blood for over fifty-eight years I can smell and taste the difference between healthy, sick, and really sick donor blood. Over the years, each and every time I've sniffed or slurped one of the closet deathbed cases, I've been a damn fine Samaritan. I get their phone number from their records, call them right up and tell them that our "laboratory tests" suggest they have an illness, and they should contact their doctor immediately. I've lost count of the number of lives I've possibly saved. Of course our tests will show when someone has HIV and a few other diseases, and the donor might get notified weeks or months after they donate. My way is much quicker.
I pulled into my parking spot in front of the rundown brick building almost ten minutes late, and noticed all three of my coworkers were already there. They overlooked my lateness however, when I walked in the door and they saw what was in my hands. All three ladies converged on me with a, "Thanks, Sam," to grab up breakfast and devour it at their desks so we could hit the road.
Doris was the oldest and shrewdest of my three female coworkers, and technically my boss. In her fifties with salt and pepper hair, spare tire around her midsection, and permanent frown, she scared the shit out of me until I realized she wasn't as mean as she looked.
Then there was Anna. She was in her mid-thirties and a single mom with two small brats. She'd given up on appearances and rocked her ponytail every day without the care or hope of ever finding a man. She’d only been here at the clinic a few years longer than I had, and she pretty much kept to herself, just trying to get through the daily exhaustion that was her life.
Finally there was Betsy, the anti-Doris. Always happy and pleasant to the point of annoyance, she was just out of college and still acted childish. She showed up to work today, just like every day, as if we were having a damn beauty pageant. Her face was caked with bright colors making her look like a clown, and her bad blonde dye job was sticking out and smelled like it held a can of hairspray. I knew Betsy had a thing for me but she was so not my type, and I didn't just mean her blood.
I wasted no time putting down my two doughnuts and coffee. Hell yes I still had to eat and drink regular food, even though I happen to be a bloodsucker. Then, since I was the only male in the building, it was time for me to start loading up all the heavy boxes and equipment onto the bus.
All three of the women were the stereotypical horrible drivers, so I took over the blood mobile’s huge steering wheel, and we made our way through honking rush hour traffic to one of the local colleges. I was all too familiar with the perfectly landscaped and picturesque campus of Madison University.
As every guy in this town knew, Madison had an overwhelming majority of rich bitches attend
ing, most of them all caught up in their artsy-fartsy majors. Twice a year the sorority girls took a timeout from their partying and hazing to hold blood drives. It gave them the chance to put out signs and get on the local news, bolstering their "community service" image.
On a good day the school could usually get about fifty of the four thousand students to donate. Forty-five of those donated to get out of class for the entire day, and the other five gave just because they were decent human beings.
By nine-thirty we already had two takers, or givers as the case may be. The first went to sourpuss Doris, and the second to scatterbrained Anna. Since Betsy was still learning the ropes and mostly doing the administrative paper shuffle, it meant I was up next.
I was still arranging my supplies in the tiny cramped work area on the back of the bus when I heard Betsy tell our next contestant to come on down. I turned around with my professional smile to greet my first donor, then instantly frowned and let out a sigh. Of all the people that could walk through my blood mobile, it was just my luck that I would get stuck with her.
Chapter Two
Kate Adams
I was already awake and getting ready when my alarm went off at eight a.m. Since I had nothing else to do other than study, I'd been going to bed by ten p.m. most nights. God my life sucked. I thought college would be different, that I would be different here.
After a year of begging my father to let me leave the house for college I was shocked when he finally agreed. I couldn't wait to get to Greensboro, North Carolina and finally live on my own. I thought my father had given in because of the full scholarship Madison had offered me, but I had been so wrong. I should have been more suspicious of his agreement, especially since for the last eighteen years, he hadn't let me out of the house. Shit, I couldn’t even hang out on weekends with the few friends I had from my all-girls Catholic school.