Love at First Bite (Book 1 Just a Little Taste Series)

by Jade, Scarlett

  She pursed her lips. God, he wanted to kiss them. “How many companies do you own?”

  He looked at her curiously. “Interesting question to ask.”

  She sat up straight. “Look, don't pull the 'I don't trust you BS card' with me now. I just poured out about my life. I just asked a question as to how many. Not their names. Not your net worth. I'm just curious.”

  He shrugged. “True. I own eight companies. And my net worth is about $165 million, just so you know.”

  Her eyes bugged. “Wow. Impressive for a guy so young.”

  “I'm only a few years older than you, I think. I just got started really young and I had a lot of anger and drive.” He took a drink of champagne.

  “I'm twenty five.” She smiled.

  “I'm thirty.” He toyed with his glass and brushed his hair out of his face. She took another sip of champagne. “Any other questions?”

  A small smile crossed her lips. “Are you always scary around this time of the month?”

  He froze. “What do you mean?” He casually laughed, feeling his heart freeze in his chest.

  “Seemed like last night you were on your man period.”

  He genuinely laughed this time. “No, I just like to come out here every few weeks for a couple of days to just regroup and get myself together. I get prickly without some rest.”

  She nodded. “I can understand that. I haven't relaxed in years and I'm pretty prickly most of the time.”

  He looked at her and she swore he exuded sex from his eyes. “Maybe you need someone to rub out the kinks.”

  “No, I haven't finished making my rules yet.” She smiled wickedly.

  “Okay, Cupcake. What are your rules?” He crossed his ankles.

  “First rule is, I always get what I want.” She held up a finger.

  “Always?” He asked.

  “Always,” she responded. “Second, I get to be in control.” Up went a second finger.

  “In control of what?” He purred.

  “In control of everything,” she murmured, a flush dusting her mocha cheeks.

  “And what does everything entail?” He queried.

  “Whatever I deem it to entail,” she said firmly. “Finally, third, I get to do what I want, when I want.” A third finger went up.

  “Okay,” he replied. “So, let me get this straight. Your rules are, you always get what you want, and you get to do what you want, when you want it. And you get to always be in control while doing what you want, when you want.” He paused, smirked and said, “Seems legitimate.”

  She crossed her arms. “Good, because it is.”

  “Okay, so, the rule is I can't touch you off the table that.”

  She paused, realizing he had her in a delicate position. “It is, unless I'm not in control.”

  He thought about this. “How will I know you aren't in control? Will you tell me 'I'm not in control'? In those words?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, that's how you will know.”

  “Okay then. How about we head back to the house?” He stood and began packing things back in the picnic basket.

  “Alright.” She was quiet going back to the cabin. As they came up to the stairs, she looked at him and quietly asked, “A car is not coming for us today, is it?”

  Jeremy flushed slightly. “No,” he admitted. “Probably not.”

  She shrugged. “I thought that was what was going on. So, how many days do you need out here to regroup?”

  “Um,” he started. “Usually a few days.”

  “I need to let my mom know.” She turned the handle on the door and let herself in.

  “It's been taken care of.” He grimaced, waiting for her response.

  “Oh? So, you sent my info to your assistant, right?” She nodded slowly.

  “Yeah, Trevor handled everything.” He kicked his sandals off at the door and headed to the kitchen to get a bottle of water.

  “So, explain to me how I am supposed to keep my jobs?” She was entirely too calm. Jeremy knew she was smart, and he was being stupid around her, slipping up.

  “You don't have to worry about it. I'll take care of you.” He opened the bottle of water and took a drink. The ache in his throat was becoming incredibly hard to deal with right now, as was the ache in his cock.

  “What? Like a mistress?”

  He choked on the water. “Hell no! I mean, I'll give you a job. A secretary, something like that. Hell, you can even cook for me and I'll hire you as my private chef.”

  “So, you don't want my body?” She pouted then smiled.

  “Hell yes I do, but I'm not going to pay you to make love to me.” He drained the rest of the water and cracked open another one.

  “I see,” she said. “So, what would my salary be? Insurance? Vacation days? How does this all work?”

  He drained that bottle of water. “Um, I really don't know just yet. I'll take care of you. Name your price. Name your demands. Remember, you are in control, right?” He threw it away and cracked a third. She watched him drain that bottle as she stepped a little closer.

  “Thirsty?” She tossed her hair back, giving him full view of her jugular. Blood lust was becoming more than he could handle.

  “Just a little dehydrated from being on the boat. I feel much better. I think I am going to head out for a walk.” He was feeling antsy.

  She stepped closer. “Can I come?” Her dark eyes were mesmerizing. He knew exactly what her pulse was right now. 84. No, 88. It was slowly escalating and he was slowly losing his mind with each thump.

  “No, I need a few minutes to unwind. You want to get started on dinner? You could start earning your paycheck right now.” He pivoted quickly and got away from her, before he either drank her blood, or screwed her senseless, or both, which was his fear.

  ***

  She watched him tear out the door with a curious look. The wheels were turning in her head. She opened the refrigerator and saw, basically, half of a cow on the shelves. Hamburger, steaks, nothing but red meat. She pulled some thick steaks out along with lemon and herbs. She didn't see any garlic, so she grabbed the pepper off of the counter. Rummaging through the pantry she found some fingerling potatoes, which she started boiling. She found a grill pan and started it warming, seasoning the steaks with herbs, lemon and pepper.

  Taking a wild guess as to how Jeremy would like his steak, she started hers first. When the potatoes were tender, she whipped them with cream and butter. She found salad and dressing in the fridge. She put his steak on the grill, just as she saw him coming out of the woods, with no shirt on.

  She swallowed nervously. He smiled at her as he came in the kitchen. His mood seemed much better. “Hey, I see you found food.”

  “Yeah, I did. It's done, want to sit down?” She put his plate in front of him and served herself. She cut into her medium well steak and started eating. He cut into his steak and blood pooled on the plate. She watched his nostrils flare.

  He looked up at her and put his utensils down. He pushed his plate away. “What do you know, or think you know.” It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

  She cut another piece of steak, before popping it in her mouth and chewing. “I'm not sure. I have suspicions, maybe even theories.”

  “Okay,” He said slowly. “What are your suspicions or theories?”

  She laughed. “I feel I’ve been plopped into the middle of the movie Twilight. This is going to sound so stupid, but I wonder if you are a vampire. But, it makes no sense. You don't melt, or glow, or do anything in the light.” She paused. “But, I don't think I bought your vamp dick explanation, either.”

  ***

  He smiled, putting as much genuine warmth into his smile as possible. “Not stupid, but I'm not a vampire.” And I'm not, he told himself. Not 100% anyway.

  She ate another piece of steak. “Eat your food, it's delicious. No garlic in the fridge, so it's safe.”

  He laughed. “Garlic?”

  “Like I said, I assumed vampire.” She took ano
ther bite of her food. “I do know that blood bothers you, and I'm not sure if it's in a good way or a bad way. Want me to cook it more?”

  He shook his head. “No, it is okay. I'm not that hungry.”

  She watched him with guarded dark eyes. “What happened to your shirt?”

  He jumped. “I wasn't wearing one. I took it off on the boat, remember.”

  “No, you were wearing it when you left.” She sliced off another sliver of steak.

  “Shit,” he muttered under his breath. “Okay, I took it off in the woods.”

  “Why?”

  “I'd rather not get into it, Sasha.”

  She pointed her fork at him. “Nope, I'm in control, remember? And I always get what I want, remember?”

  He sighed. “What if I told you I was a government experiment? Would you believe me then?”

  She contemplated this. “Maybe.”

  “What if I told you that my secret has to be guarded with your life, would you believe me then?” His heart drummed in his chest.

  “Yeah, I'd believe you. Whatever is going on, you come out here for a few days each month to take care of it, right?” She finished her food and sipped some water.

  “Pretty much.” His heart was about to give out on him.

  “I won't tell. I don't even know what I'd tell if I would tell, which I won't.” She picked her plate up and put it in the dishwasher. “You won't hurt me, will you?”

  He shook his head. “I will do all I can to keep you safe.”

  It wasn't a 100% promise he wouldn't snap her neck, but it was as good as she could get. “I'd like to go take a bath.”

  He gestured upstairs. “Be my guest.”

  He tried not to focus on the sounds of water running and her bathing. He was going to go mad. Seriously mad. The moon was getting ready to come back up and it was just over the cusp of the moon being totally full, but he could still feel the effects. Even though he'd just drank his fill barely an hour before, he was burning through it faster than normal. He felt pathetic when he picked the steak off the plate and sucked every drop of blood out of it and poured the liquid from the plate down his throat. He groaned. The steam from her bath did nothing but intensify her incredible scent. He was going to die, he knew it.

  He tipped the air conditioner down a few notches and went out to the porch. The smell was permeating, even outside. If he didn't get blood soon he was going to lose his mind. He heard a small rabbit in the edge of the woods. Taking off at a dead run, he caught the rabbit and, before the poor creature had a second to feel pain, he had drained it dry. He rubbed his forehead. He'd never felt like this.

  He was still crouched on the ground with the rabbit in his hand when she found him. “I think I'd like you to explain more.”

  He froze. Lust was still pumping through his brain and he grabbed her, before he could think. His face was in the shadow and he didn't know how much she could see, right that minute he didn't care if she saw him as a monster. Maybe she needed a healthy dose of fear. Wiping his hand across his mouth quickly, blood still on his face, he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. He half expected her to fight or run. Which you would enjoy immensely, the predator in him screamed. She kissed back. Her fingers caught in his hair, he ground his cock into her crotch. Awareness hit him like a bolt of lightning. She is kissing me back. He pulled back quickly, stepping forward into the moonlight. He could see blood smeared on her face. Her eyes widened as she saw the blood on his face and her hand came to her mouth to stifle a gasp.

  “Can you let me go clean up? I'll do my best to give you more information then.”

  She nodded, stepping back with shaking ahnds. “Be my guest.”

  He made it to the house, before realizing he still carried the rabbit. He could do nothing but put it in the trash can and it made him feel sick and sad. He took the steps two at a time and hit the shower.

  He scrubbed until his skin felt raw. Taking a few slow breaths, he got out of the shower, dressed quickly and ran down stairs. She calmly sat on the couch, drinking a glass of wine; no more blood smeared on her face. Maybe she needed liquid courage, he wasn't sure. He sat down in a chair across from her. They sat in silence.

  He took another deep breath. “Okay. I will tell you as much as I can. It may sound stupid. It may sound crazy, but it's the truth.” He looked at her with agony filled eyes.

  “Okay, I'm listening.” She took another sip of wine, her hand shaking.

  “I am not 100% vampire. I am part vampire. My mother was a vampire. My father was a werewolf. They had a forbidden love affair that caused my father to lose his life when my grandfather found out. My mother was pregnant with me then. She lost her life in childbirth. I was raised by my grandfather. I was told, daily, what an abomination I was and how I killed my mother. When I hit puberty, I fell in love with a vampire girl named Isabelle. I lusted after her with all of my being. I attempted to get closer to her, to seduce her. I was nearly castrated by her father and kicked out of the clan. The werewolf clan refused to have me be with them. I had caused the death of their high ruler, my father. I was told I was an anomaly and they did not want my bad blood in their clan. I struck out on my own and here I am today. That's the simplest explanation I can give you, Sasha.” He hung his head.

  ***

  She was bursting with questions. “Why don't you have issues with the sun? Why don't you turn into a werewolf? How does all this work?”

  He looked at her in shock. “Aren't you scared?”

  She shrugged, “Maybe a little that you will suck me dry, but I've watched too many vampire movies I guess. It usually ends up okay.” You sound like a damn moron, Sasha. Good job. Sitting here lusting after a blood sucking freak. Pathetic.

  “It is a possibility. I've never smelled anyone that smells quite like you do and makes me want to bite them quite like you.” He said it matter of factly, a small smile on his face.

  She blinked. “Would it hurt if you bit me?” Don't even think about it, girl...

  He avoided the question. “To answer your other questions, the reason I don't have issues with the sun or turn into a werewolf is because I am not enough of either for them to take over. I only crave blood on the full moon and within a few days after. I am slightly more sensitive to the sun those days. As you can see I've burned today, even with sunscreen. I have never wanted to bite a human.”

  “But you want to bite me.” Oh man... he wants to bite me. That brought on some extremely erotic thoughts and she clenched her thighs together to stop the flood of arousal that threatened to burst. Oh man. STOP IT, SASHA!

  He nodded once, albeit unwillingly. “I want to do more than bite you.”

  “What if I was willing?” Sasha, why are you still talking?

  “Willing for what? Sex?” He looked at her.

  “Maybe. What if I was willing to let you bite me?” She could see him trying gauge her reaction. She kept her pulse normal, which was pretty easy since she had no reason for it to be elevated. She saw his nostrils flare and she knew he realized she was dead serious, even though she was waging a war with herself on the inside.

  “No.” He shook his head quickly.

  “Why not?” She got up from the couch. What are you doing, Sasha?! Oh God, he's going to tell you no. He doesn't really want you. Are you this desperate? She finally mentally bitch slapped the voice in her head. She was doing this.

  “Don't do this, Sasha.” She walked closer. He stood. She stepped. He retreated. He realized too late he was backed against the couch. He sat. She came closer. “Sasha, I'm warning you.”

  “Like I said, I get to do what I want. When I want. And I'm in control.” Before he could move, she was straddling him. Her hands were by her sides and she sat perfectly still. She waited. She watched his face. She whispered, “I trust you not to hurt me.”

  “Cupcake, this is not like the movies. I can't say this is a good idea.”

  ***

  His gums ached. He was not about to let his teeth loo
se right now. They would have to sit there and ache. He took a slow breath. Her smell was surrounding him. She slowly eased her arms around his neck. Her breasts were showcased in the lacy top she wore and they were within his reach. He brushed a quick kiss across them. She gasped and arched her back, which put her neck at an advantage for him. He looked into her eyes. Her pupils were dilating, making her eyes pools of sparkling onyx and she was starting to flush after only one touch.

  “I don't know if I can do this, Sasha.”

  “Jeremy, I'm in control.” She murmured, before fitting her lips over his.

  She kissed him slowly and passionately. He licked her lower lip. She groaned and his tongue slipped in her mouth. She sucked on his tongue, getting a growl from his throat. He ran his hands through her wild curls. She ran her hands down his sides. He skimmed his hands down her neck. She bit his lip gently and he groaned. He broke the kiss and looked in her eyes as he slowly touched her breasts. Her nipples responded immediately. She leaned forward and kissed his jaw and moaned softly as he caressed her breasts.

  “Will you take your shirt off?” He murmured against her lips.

  He held her hips as she leaned back and peeled her top off. Her incredible breasts were showcased in one of the unbelievably sexy bras Trevor had sent up, a black lace affair that was so sheer he could see her pink nipples straining against the fabric. He licked one nipple through the fabric, then the other, listening to her groan. He kissed her lips again, and before he knew what happened, his fang nicked her tongue and the taste of her blood filled his mouth and his senses. He sucked her tongue and ground his penis up between her thighs.

  She gasped and pulled back. “I'm bleeding, I think.”

  His eyes were heavy lidded. “I know, I'm sorry. We should stop.”

  She took a slow breath. “I think it was a great effort for your first time. Thank you.” She slipped off his lap. “You didn't suck me dry, and my tongue doesn't hurt.” In fact, the bleeding had all but stopped.