by Paige Patton
Camille couldn't argue with that. These two had taken more than the average woman would have taken in a lifetime. After running away from Saint Ann's they lived on the streets, bunkering down in doorways, under freeways and in back alleys. Anywhere they could find a spot to lay their heads for the night. There were days when they stood on the streets with their hands out begging for money, eating out of trashcans, and stealing when it became absolute necessary. They were headed down a dark and dangerous road when Nina Stone found them sleeping in the alley behind her strip club. She offered them a small room above the club in exchange for doing odd jobs like scrubbing the floors and taking out the garbage. It was a fair deal, and she watched over them like a mother. She had truly been god sent.
Nina had a few strict rules for the two girls that she stuck by no matter what. Stay in school, plan for college, and no stripping.
The beauty and talent of the strippers fascinated Desiree and Camille. They watched spellbound as they worked the pole with gymnastic proficiency. To top it off, they were rewarded with money. Loads of money. Some of the girls got extra. For what, they didn't know but would soon find out.
Desiree and Camille choreographed a routine. Each morning they would get up early to practice. They wanted to be perfect. You would think that they were about to enter a dance-off the way they put so much energy into the routine. They knew that stripping would not sit well with Nina. They had to be different. They had to amaze her.
When they felt confident, they approached Nina and begged her to watch. They performed like professionals.
Taken aback by their routine, Nina reconsidered her decision and let them spotlight a few shows a week. The girls were introduced to the very lucrative VIP room and all the very important customers soon after. It was quite rewarding. They were amazed at the amount of money both men and women spent for a few hours of pleasure.
It was a nasty job, but it paid their way through college. Nina's businesslike mind inspired them in many ways. Two Lady's cleaning took off, and they never looked back.
Camille stood and grabbed her purse. “Fine- May as well get this lunch from hell over with. But next time I’ll gladly take the spanking, and you won’t hear me bitching about it.”
“Deal!” Desiree said as she stood to embrace her one and only true friend. She knew that Camille had a thing about dogs, but she would jump into a blazing fire if Desiree asked her to. She would do the same for her. They were more than just best friends. They were sisters.
Desiree decided to take another trip to the college campus; she wanted to spend the entire day trying to get a feel for the place and the people. She wanted to walk in Grace’s footsteps the day she went missing. Hopefully and with just a little luck, she would come across something that would help shed some light on her disappearance.
Since all of Grace’s friends were overly zealous to help her, Desiree decided why not take full advantage of the opportunity. They took her all around campus showing her all of Grace’s favorite hangouts. Grace’s best friend, Lisa, explained once again how they had planned to meet at the library after class.
“We all went ahead, but Grace needed to speak to Professor DePaul about her grades.”
“Did he ask her to stay behind?”
“No. He was halfway out the door when she stopped him.”
Since they were on the topic of Professor DePaul, Desiree figured why not find out a few things about him. “How would you describe Professor DePaul?”
“He’s a fair teacher.” She said shrugging her shoulders. “He’s a history buff, knows everything about every event. It’s like he lived through it.”
Desiree cleared her throat before asking the next question. She didn’t want to come off sounding like a jealous girlfriend or anything. “I bet a lot of the female students liked him, huh?”
“Not really. Don’t get me wrong, he’s crazy hot, but he’s a little old for us.”
Desiree couldn’t understand why that made her happy. She had zero interest in the man and could care less about his romantic endeavors. For some reason she wanted to reach out and hug the girl for saying that the Professor DePaul was too old for them.
Only a few cars remained in the visitor’s parking lot making it easy for Desiree to spot her car. She hadn’t learned anything new about the disappearance of Grace Bauer. No one saw a damn thing, and Grace had seemingly vanished off the face of the earth. She wanted to find the poor girl and get her home to her father. The man had paid them a king’s ransom, and they had nothing to give back.
Digging through her purse, Desiree pulled out her cell phone to call Camille. Maybe she was having better luck on her end. It was already after five, which was Appletini time. She was feeling a little jealous picturing Camille perched on a bar stool somewhere throwing back a few.
She punched in Camille’s number and waited for her to answer. After the fourth ring, her voicemail picked up. “Hey, it’s me. I’m just leaving the campus. I’ve got nothing new to report, hope you’re having better luck. I’m going to head home to soak in a hot tub, and then crawl between the sheets early. See you tomorrow. Bye.”
She tossed the phone back into her purse and removed the clip from her hair that was holding it up. A cascade of curls fell perfectly across her shoulders.
Blessed with thick, long hair, she never needed to mess with wigs, extensions or any chemicals. Her hair was just one of the things that added to her natural beauty. She often fantasized about her parents, picturing them as possibly Latino and black. At any rate, she wanted to thank them for passing down such good genes. It wasn’t just her hair; she was damn near perfect in every way. There was not one thing about her body that she was not happy with and she was always in perfect health. She never once had a cold or any other childhood illnesses. Growing up it was hard not knowing where you came from or not being able to see a resemblance of yourself through someone else. Her lineage started and stopped with her. It was a reality that she was forced to live and die with.
She looked around as she neared her car. It was oddly quiet; not another soul was in sight. It was as if she was the only person on the campus. How strange and creepy she thought as she picked up her pace.
Desiree wasn’t alone. Roman was lingering close by, invisible and watching her every move. His senses went into overdrive whenever she was near. Her smell was intoxicating, penetrating his nose awakening every desire, craving, and emotion in him. His primal urge to fuck her right there took over as he watched the movement of her body. The way her breasts bounced with every step, she took, the way her hair fell across her shoulders and gently moved in the breeze. He loved everything about her.
Ivy was the last woman that he had ever loved. Oh, he had fucked many since her, but never had he fallen for another the way he fell for her. After the tragic, but unavoidable death of her husband, things were never the same between them. He couldn’t leave her there to hang for his crime, so he brought her with him. He thought he would never feel anything close to the way he felt for her, but looking at Desiree sparked some of those old feelings.
He had to find a way to control his urges for her. If he didn’t, it would make his job as her master difficult. How would he be able to punish her when all he could think about was to feel the strength of her legs wrapped around him as he fucked her? He could taste the flavor of her skin; hear her moans and cries of pleasure as he satisfied her. She was constantly in his head fucking with him. She was driving him mad.
Desiree slid in behind the wheel of her silver BMW 528i. She bought it brand spanking new off the lot a year ago. It was her first new car- Ever! She treasured it as if it was gold. Why not, it was the first big-ticket item that she could afford after starting up their cleaning business. She worked her ass off, and she was damn proud of all of the accomplishments she had achieved on her own without the help or support of a man. She was a woman. Not only did she roar but also she fucking rocked.
Desiree could not wait to get home and immerse herself
in a tub that overflowed with bubbles. She had a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon that she was dying to break open. Buying a home close to the beach where she could watch the sunset was her second big-ticket item. Her life was finally starting to come together. She had envisioned the good life for herself. Hard work and perseverance were paying off, and it felt good. Now with their new P.I. business, the sky was the limit.
Inserting the key into the ignition, she turned it but nothing happened. Not even that god-awful noise you heard when your battery was dead. She tried it again and still nothing. “Fuck!” She yelled releasing the hood of the car as she stepped out.
Desiree knew a thing or two when it came to the basics of car repair, but by no means would she consider herself a mechanic. She simply thought she might be able to pinpoint the problem. Of course, she would have no idea of how to fix it. She sure as hell wouldn’t even try because she was wearing Versace from head to toe.
She lifted the hood and leaned in. God forbid that it would be something easily recognizable like corrosion on the battery.
“Is everything okay, Miss Chase?” The voice came from out of nowhere. It startled her and caused her to jump.
“Shit!” She said to herself as she looked around praying that it would be campus security or better yet, an auto mechanic.
No such luck...Of all the people in the world, it had to be the one person she desperately did not ever want to see. In fact, she had made it a point to avoid the vicinity of his office but, damn, the man was looking irresistibly handsome as he leaned out of the window of a black Silverado hybrid pickup.
“If everything were okay I wouldn’t be standing out here with the hood up, now would I?”
“Excellent point,” He said good-naturedly. “Need help?”
“Not from you, but thanks anyway.”
“No problem. I hope you get it fixed soon. I think there’s going to be a storm.”
She looked up to a clear, blue sky, not a cloud anywhere. “I’ll take my chances, Professor DePaul. You can run along now. I wouldn’t want to keep you.” Actually, she did want to keep him. Tucked away in her bed she thought.
Being a vampire came with many benefits. Controlling the weather was just one of them. Roman had unlimited control over the elements. He could raise a fog or summon a storm just by wishing it so. That’s what he did. Delilah warned him against using magic on Desiree. She said nothing about using his magic in other ways.
The first drop of rain surprised her more than anything. The second drop made her look up at the sky that had suddenly grown darker in a matter of seconds. It was the downpour pissed her off and soaked her through and through.
“I hope you know how to fix a flat tire. Looks like you have two of them.”
“No fucking way!” Desiree said as she went around checking her tires. Both of them were flat. “Damn! How did that happen?”
“You probably ran over something sharp. It happens if you’re not careful.”
“I wasn’t talking to you!” She screamed at him.
“I’m sorry. Was that a rhetorical question?”
“I wasn’t talking to you, Professor Nutbag, so please just shut up.”
God she was even more beautiful when soaking wet and frustrated he thought as he watched her kick one tire and then the other as if that would solve the problem. He couldn’t stop himself as he made the rain come down even harder, and then caused the wind to pick up as if a typhoon had hit southern California. He watched, amused as she closed the hood of her car, and hurried around to get back inside the car and out of the rain. Using his powers, he quickly locked all the doors.
“Shit!” She yelled, looking inside the car and seeing the keys still in the ignition where she had left them. “Fuck!” She screamed at the top of her lungs.
Roman watched, as she grew angrier by the second as rain pounded her. The wind whirled around her at the speed of a freight train snapping branches and sending debris flying across the parking lot. The sound of thunder clashed. Lightening lit up the sky like firecrackers on the 4th of July.
“Are you kidding me? Lightening?” Roman struggled to hold back his amusement as he watched her floundering like a fish out of water. He could not remember the last time he had been this amused.
“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to help you? I’d hate to leave you out here alone like this.”
Desiree was starting to worry just a little. It was thundering and lightening. When had that ever happened in San Diego? She was starting to think that maybe she could use some help, but she did not want it from him. “No! Just go away!”
Without any warning, a tree toppled over just missing her by a hair. Startled, Desiree jumped back tripping over her own feet. She hit the pavement breaking off the heel of both shoes. She had forked out eight hundred for these red-bottoms, come fuck me babies and now they were ruined. “Son of a bitch!” She screamed, picking one of them up and tossing it across the parking lot.
Roman leaped out of his truck and was at her side before she had a chance to toss the other shoe. He scooped her up in his arms so quickly; Desiree didn’t have a chance to protest. Not that she would have, but if she wanted to, that opportunity was taken away by the jolt of fierce pleasure that shook her just by touch.
Roman had to fight himself to remain calm and rational. It took all the strength he had to keep from making her clothes disappear and taking her on the hood of her car.
“It looks as if you do need help, after all, Miss Chase.”
Perhaps she did need his help in more ways than she cared to admit. In ways, she knew nothing of. Feeling helpless and pathetic was the last thing she wanted to portray, but strange things happened whenever she was around the professor; things that had no rational rhyme or reason. She almost didn’t mind coming off as a damsel in distress. It felt like the right place to be with him. All she wanted to do was to put her head on his chest. To stay wrapped in his sweet embraces sheltered from a world that had been nothing but hard and cruel to her.
He helped her into the passenger seat of his pickup truck then went around to the driver’s side and slid in.
“Thank you,” Desiree said softly looking down at her hands. She didn’t dare look at him. Her body was already ablaze and her heart pounded with awareness of him. Looking at him would only exacerbate the problem.
“You’re welcome.” He replied moving a strand of hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear.
The man had merely touched her and yet she was thoroughly aroused. Unable to think straight and unable to move. Her head was reeling with why’s. Why was this happening to her? Why did he have a hold on her and, why did they always end up in anomalous situations?
His smile was more than she could bear. It touched her in ways that scared her, yet opened her eyes to the possibility that Roman DePaul was indeed, different from all other men. It made her realize that maybe just maybe he was the last good guy, the last genuine man. Of course, she would have to wait to see the story that time would tell.
The campus cottage was a place used for staff who traveled to the University from out of state he explained as they pulled into the garage and entered through a side door. It was a small two-bedroom cottage, equipped with all the comforts and amenities of home. It had a nice size kitchen and dinette area, a large bathroom and living room. It was well furnished, and kept neat and clean.
Feeling like a wet Raggedy Ann doll, Desiree felt vulnerable, yet unexplainably safe with this man as she stepped in looking around. She was more concerned about how she looked. She was dripping wet with makeup running down her face. Her heels were missing from both shoes, a split running up her skirt and patches of dirt covering her backside from the fall she took.
Roman stood in front of her looking down. His gaze burned through her with an intensity that left Desiree panting. She could no longer restrain herself. If he touched her, she would crumble, crumble to his feet, and beg him to take her.
“We need to get you out of th
ose wet clothes, Miss Chase.” He said, picturing her naked standing in front of him. He could feel her heart beating through her chest. He could smell the scent of her desire, the wetness that moistened her panties because of him.
Desiree pictured him helping her out of her clothes. The thought of him touching her naked body made her clit react with excitement. “Yes.” She murmured.
A ghost of a smile appeared on his face as he pushed past her and disappeared into the bathroom. He wanted to skip through all the bullshit and just fuck her until the aching throb that stiffened his cock was satisfied. This was the reason he did not care to deal with human women. They never understood his primal sexual needs that were deeply rooted into his DNA. He was a predator with inherent characteristic attributes that wanted what it needed and didn’t know the meaning of the word, no.
He returned with a towel and dry clothes for her to change into. “The bathroom is that way,” he said inclining his head to his right. “If you require privacy; I’m fine either way.”
Desiree rolled her eyes and shook her head as she took the items from his hands and headed into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
Get ahold of yourself, she mused. Nothing is going to happen between you and the professor. God how she wanted to believe that but her insides were burning with need. He was doing this to her. Some way, somehow he was making her act this way. God help her because she didn’t care. She wanted him.
Ivy materialized next to Roman. She knew that he would be annoyed, but she would gladly pay any price for her freedom.
“This had better be good or you will pay for this intrusion!”
Over the last several years, Roman had become impossible to serve. He was an unbearable grouch on most days and even worse on the other days. Ivy was at her wits end dealing with him. He needed a consort in the worst way; someone bold and strong like Desiree. But what he needed the most was to get laid. He was not fucking her anymore and from what she could tell; he wasn’t fucking anyone else. Ivy was going to make sure this union happened. It had to for the sanity of all parties concerned.