Darlings of Paranormal Romance (Anthology)

by Chrissy Peebles

  I shuddered and nuzzled into Lucius’ neck. He groaned, but gently eased me away and off his lap.

  “Shower. Get yourself ready, and then I shall drive you to work.”

  Reluctantly, I left him and walked into an amazing bathroom. The floor and walls were all tiled a beautiful ivory color; the mirrors were wrapped in a beautiful, ornate, gold frame, reminiscent of Snow White’s evil step mom. Laughing to myself, I turned on the shower, and then stepped underneath a glorious, steaming cascade of hot water that drowned my fears and cleansed away the aches and pains, readying me for the day ahead. I reached for Lucius’ shower get, brought the bottle to me nose, and sniffed. The rich, woodsy smell reminded me of him and suited him perfectly. Hands slid down my arms, and I jumped and yelped.

  “Easy. It’s just me.” Lucius nuzzled my neck from behind as he enveloped me in a huge hug. He chuckled and grabbed the gel bottle out of my hand. “I need to shower too, little Ivy.”

  He released me and I turned to watch as he lathered up and slowly started rubbing the gel all over his exquisite body. My mouth went dry as I watched him. I could have stood there looking at him all day, but I had to hurry, now. With a heavy sigh, I turned away from him and finished my own lathering. Lucius grabbed a sponge and rubbed it over my back. How I finished my shower without becoming thoroughly distracted, I will never know, but a few minutes later, I slowly stepped out of the shower cubicle and reached for a towel from the heated rail. I wrapped it around my body, drinking in the warmth, but noticing it didn’t make me feel nearly as good as being in Lucius’ arms. A pile of clothes sat neatly folded on the counter, and as I reached for them, I realized they were mine, and someone had actually washed them. I turned to face Lucius as he stepped out of the shower behind me.

  “How did my clothes get cleaned? The last thing I remember, they were lying in a heap on the floor.”

  “I have two people who live with me here, one is my loyal companion for nearly a century, Fausto. He helps me with my day-to-day work and organizes my many charity functions. Gregorio is my house help; he cleans and makes meals for my guests.”

  Once again, I suffered through a feeling of inadequacy. Even my smile felt awkward.

  “Ivy, I told you before, there’s no reason for you to feel like that. I have lived a long time, I have worked hard, and yes, I’ve amassed some wealth. These men are loyal to me; you can be yourself around them. They will help you in any way they possibly can. They have already been told to be of complete service to you any time you need them.”

  I did not know what to say to any of this, so I walked up to Lucius and wrapped my arms around him. I held him close and rested my head on his chest. He stroked my wet hair, but after a moment, he took my hand.

  “Come, I will get you to work.”

  We descended the stairs of his beautiful home, and stepped out onto the front porch. Just as we were about to descend the steps, a man came out the door behind us. Tall and thin, he wore a dark, formal suit.

  “Sir,” he said, confirming my suspicions he was one of Lucius’ assistants. “There is a phone call for you.”

  The man then turned to me and gave a brief nod. I nodded back, but kept silent.

  “Ivy, I shall be but a moment. Please, go ahead and get into the car.”

  I released his hand I’d still been holding and descended the steps. The man who’d come to tell Lucius about the phone call followed me. As I reached Lucius’ vehicle, my scar began itching badly. I covered my left wrist with my hand.

  “Allow me, Miss Steele.” The man held the car door for me.

  I smiled, but somehow, I didn’t feel comfortable at all. I put it down to my nerves and all of this being such a new situation, and climbed into the passenger seat.

  As he was about to shut the door, he said, “My name is Fausto. If there’s anything I can do for you, you have but to ask.”

  Before I had a chance to respond, he quietly shut the door. I suddenly felt chilled and rubbed my arms furiously to try to warm up. The slight pain in my scar grew into a full-blown ache, and the blood red tear drop felt extremely hot to the touch. What did it me, I wondered. Was the pain an indication something bad was about to happen to me? Like, some sort of signal or forecast? I reflected on what Lucius had told me, and wondered how he dealt with the loss of his family, all the while knowing he’d lost them because he’d finally stood up to a king who did not deserve to wear a crown. History was full of tyrant rulers, but Lucius’ liege sounded like he’d been one of the worst. As I sat there musing, Lucius climbed into the car. Without a word to me, he started up the engine and fired up the dashboard heater. A few moments later, wonderful warm air blew from the vents, and I sat forward, holding my hands, palms out, before them.

  “Will you tell me more?” I asked him as he put the car in gear and we headed off down the drive.

  He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. “Such as?”

  “Such as, where you are from, for starters.”

  As he drove down the winding, country road, I studied him. He looked like he was mulling over my question. I decided not to push him. He’d speak to me when he was ready. While I waited, I returned my gaze to the countryside passing by the window and watched as a shower of dancing leaves fell from the trees. Their vibrant colors of red, gold, and orange made them appear as sparks of flame falling to the earth. Shuddering, I started rubbing my wrist.

  “I come from a land far away, a land most humans will never see. It’s impossible to see, unless you are like me, or unless you are a spirit or witch or fairy . . . then, perhaps, you could find it. But my home is protected from humans.”

  “Why? It’s not like a human could win a fight with a vampire.”

  Lucius looked over at me and gave me a sad smile. He took my hand and lifted it to his lips.

  “I’m right, aren’t I?” Sometime during the night, I had come to the conclusion Lucius fit my idea of what a vampire must be like—the eyes, the teeth . . . I’d imagined none of it. His appearance really had changed, albeit only for a moment. As crazy as it sounded, as insane as I would sound, should I share my theory with anyone else, it was the only answer that fit. I gave him a pointed look. “You are, aren’t you?”

  “Yes,” he said. “Yes, I am what humans refer to as a vampire.”

  He looked so uncomfortable, I decided to allow that point to rest, for now.

  “What do you call your home?” I asked. “Is it a place I may have heard of?”

  “So many questions, little one.”

  I studied his profile, noting how quiet he had become, and how his eyes had grown dark and somber.

  “I come from a town called Escuro de la Luna.”

  I opened my mouth to ask him what it meant, when he spoke again.

  “It means Dark Moon.” His smile softend his severe expression. He still held my hand, and now he lifted it again, placed tiny kisses on my fingertips, bit them playfully. “You are as curious as a cat.”

  I shivered as I remembered how said cat’s story ended and did not respond. Instead, I sat there quietly, reflecting on all I’d learned. Before I knew it, we were on the outskirts of town, very close to the Humane Society where I worked as director. Lucius pulled into a parking spot on the quiet street and climbed out of the car. He crossed in front and came to open my door. I grinned as I left the vehicle. Nothing made a woman feel more cherished and ladylike than a chivalrous man. When I got to the Society’s front door, I scrounged around in my bag, looking for my keys to open up. Just as I worried I may have somehow lost them, my fingers closed around the cool, metal keyring, and I pulled them out with a flourish.

  Lucius smiled and cupped my cheek. “I will come back for you tonight, to take you out to dinner. What time do you close?”

  “The shelter doesn’t close until 8:00 p.m., but I get off at 5:00,” I told him. “And dinner sounds wonderful.”

  “Then it’s a date. I’ll be back here just before five.”

  I nodded and stepp
ed back, then turned to unlock the door. I then turned to bid Lucius good-bye, but before I could speak, he bent and claimed my mouth with his. I heard my bag clatter to the ground as my arms snaked around his neck. Our soft moans filled my ears, and Lucius pulled me closer. The evidence of his desire for me pressed hard against my thigh. I groaned—I wanted him, and I wanted him now—and Lucius chuckled, no doubt having once again read my thoughts. Shamelessly, I grinded against my crotch against his. With a low growl, Lucius broke the kiss and lifted his head.

  “Ivy, please, you are killing me.” He gently pulled my arms down, then bent and kissed the tip of my nose. “If I don’t walk away now, I’m going to take you right here, on the front porch at your workplace. I don’t think that would bode well for you keeping your job. But rest assured, I will be in some pain until later.”

  Giggling, I turned back around and pushed open the door of the shelter.

  Chapter Seven

  As I stepped inside the shelter, I switched on all the lights. It was still early, and the sun had yet to rise on this cool October morning. I checked to make certain the heating was set at the correct temperature, and then walked into the kitchenette to start making the coffee for the busy day ahead. After I had the coffee percolating, I went into the back room of the shelter to start putting feed into the animals’ bowls. It took a good half hour to get them all filled with various foods and whatever medicines they might need. I carefully carried an armload of food into the surgery area and started feeding the sick animals first, some of which I had grown to love deeply. I half-wished they wouldn’t be adopted, as I’d never see them again if they found homes. Shaking my head, I sighed. The sad fact was that I’d get my wish with many of them, as quite a few would never see a loving home.

  The doorbell chimed. Visitors, already. I walked back through the surgery and into the foyer.

  “Gretchen,” I said, greeting the tiny, old lady. “How lovely to see you!”

  Although she stood barely five feet tall and was thin as a rail, Gretchen was a firecracker with a huge heart, and a regular volunteer at the Society.

  “And it’s always a joy to see you here, too, Ivy.” She spoke with a thick accent, despite having arrived in the U.S. from Germany over eighty years ago, as in infant in her mother’s arms.

  I smiled and reached for the bag the old woman carried. “Here, let me take that for you.”

  Gretchen always arrived with a donation of some sort—usually pillows she made herself and puppy or kitten food. Without people like her, we would be closed in no time. I set the bag behind the front counter, and then invited her into the other room for some coffee.

  We talked a while about some of the animals we’d had around for awhile and sipped our coffee. An hour or so later, a young couple came in, asking to see the kittens.

  Mr. and Mrs. Clark—Adam and Elizabeth—were new to the area, they said, and they wanted a new addition to their family. Just as I started to lead them into the back, where we kept the kittens, the phone in the little kitchenette rang.

  “I’ll get that for you, Ivy. You see to your customers.” Gretchen waved me away and headed off to answer the phone.

  I shrugged. The elderly woman knew almost as much about adopting a Humane Society animal as I did, so she could probably handle the caller just fine. I turned to Adam and Elizabeth.

  “Let’s find you a kitten, shall we?”

  While the couple examined and cuddled half the kittens we had available, we talked in depth about what was needed to raise a kitten to a healthy cat and how much shots and neutering or spaying would be. By the time they’d made their choice—a tiny, ginger-colored female I simply adored—the Clarks had agreed they could afford the expense and were ready to sign a contract. We walked into the surgery and I looked toward the kitchenette. Gretchen had the phone to her ear and appeared engrossed in a conversation. I led Adam and Elizabeth into the front room, where I readied their adoption papers while they chose a blue collar with a tiny bell on it and some kitten toys and treats from a display rack. They said they’d buy the rest of the items they’d need at their local supermarket, so I wished them all well and walked them to the door. Surprised to find the weather had turned sour, I stood and watched as the couple raced to their car through an icy downpour.

  The sound of Gretchen’s German accent reminded me of the phone call she’d taken, and I headed back to the kitchenette. She looked up and waved me over as I came to the doorway.

  Assuming it was the local vet, who rang regularly to see how his patients were doing. I took hold of the phone, noting Gretchen cheeky smile.

  “Hello?” I said hesitantly.

  “Ivy, it’s me. I just had to ring to see how your day is going for you so far.”

  My cheeks heated, and I squirmed as I noticed Gretchen watching me. I gave her a pointed look, and she giggled and went into the back, no doubt to find Max, an old shepherd we’d had for ages, and Gretchen’s personal favorite.

  “I’m fine, Lucius,” I said, returning my attention to the phone. “Thank you for calling me. What a nice surprise.”

  I found myself scuffing my foot on the tiled floor. I shook my head at my childish behavior and tuned back into the conversation.

  “Are we still on for five o’clock?” he asked.

  His soft accent brought a smile to my face. “Yes, I’ll be ready.”

  Without warning, the scar on my wrist flared with a searing heat and an intense itching, and I dropped the phone.

  “Ivy, are you there? Are you okay?”

  As quickly as it had come on, the pain eased, and I snatched up the phone. “Yes, sorry. My wrist . . .it started burning for some reason, but it’s stopped now.”

  “Make sure you have the phone close by you at all times today, and please be careful. Remember what I said about your wrist?”

  I assured him I was fine and I’d see him later that day. After hanging up, I found myself smiling uncontrollably. I felt so lighthearted and happy; I truly could not remember the last time I felt this way.

  “Ivy, I’ve never seen you look so happy. Who is this gentleman, Lucius?” Gretchen asked.

  I had almost forgotten she’d talked to Lucius for quite a long time. My face grew warm as I found myself beneath her careful scrutiny.

  “I met him last night,” I said quietly. “We’re going out for dinner tonight.”

  Gretchen smiled and took hold of my chin. “You need someone in your life, and this man feels right to me. Trust me on this . . . he’s good for you.”

  I nodded, a bit puzzled by Gretchen’s words, but passing them off as the essentricities of an old woman.

  “You might be right,” I said with a smile, and then walked into the surgery to put old Zeus’ collar on him. It was time for his morning walk.

  After shouting to Gretchen that I was heading off with Zeus, and telling her to ring my cell if she needed me, I zipped up my coat and headed out the back door of the shelter.

  For a few moments, Zeus and I walked quietly along the old track into the field beyond the shelter. It was very windy and cold, but at least the rain had stopped. Falling leaves flew on the breeze and hit our faces. Shuddering, I pulled the hood up on my parka and held Zeus’ leash tightly.

  “We won’t be out here too long today, old boy; I don’t want you getting sick.”

  Zeus looked up, and, as if in agreement, he waggled his tail. We plodded along the outskirts of the field, the tree line of the woods keeping us somewhat sheltered. Again, my wrist got extremely hot to the touch and very itchy. I looked around warily and checked in my pocket to see if I had remembered to bring my cell. I clutched the phone like a lifeline as we wandered along our regular path. Feeling more and more apprehensive, I decided to cut our walk short, telling myself old Zeus would catch a cold if I didn’t. As I neared the back door to the shelter, the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. I swung around, but saw nothing . . . not even a bird in the nearby trees. As I turned back around to open the door, Zeu
s started to snarl, and the fur on the back of his neck stood up. I gasped and rushed to open the door, knowing for certain I wasn’t alone. I pushed the door open and tried to pull Zeus inside, but he stubbornly stood there, as if determined to defend his territory. Against what, or whom? Lucius’ words ran through my worried mind. I reached for the phone to call him, but dropped the phone back into my pocket, feeling silly. After all, I had just met the man, and besides, nothing happened. I was fine. Shaking my head, I heaved Zeus’ leash and finally managed to drag him inside. Grateful for small mercies, I locked and bolted the back door. With a sense of relief to be safely inside, I took Zeus’ leash and collar off and walked him back into the surgery, where I gave him a small treat to compensate for his shorter-than-usual walk.

  Gretchen greeted me with a warm cup of coffee. Eyeing me, she frowned. “What’s happened, Ivy; you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  I shivered at her observations, but determined to keep my reality in check, I smiled. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just cold. It’s freezing outside.”

  She grunted, shrugged, and then walked to the desk, where she’d sit and do her knitting or read a novel, unless and until I needed her to help out with something.

  The afternoon flew by, between calls about animals that were available and people coming in to visit and play with the adoptees. All too soon, the clock struck four. Someone knocked on the front door, and I looked up to see Fausto walking inside. Again, my wrist burned with an intensely painful itch. I rubbed it furiously and pulled my sleeve down to hide my scar as Fausto approached me.

  He nodded and said, “Miss, Sir Valentine sent me to collect you.”

  I did not recall Lucius saying Fausto would come for me, and I was pretty sure we had arranged for five o’ clock, but I could have been wrong, as I was so easily distracted when it came to anything to do with Lucius. The shelter had become quiet over the past half hour, so I calculated that it was safe to leave early. Gretchen could handle anything between now and when the part-time evening manager, Georgia, arrived at five. We’d already fed the animals, and for whatever reason, Zeus did not want to go on his afternoon walk. I told Fausto I would meet him at the car in a few moments, as I needed to get my coat and lock up the shelter. He nodded and walked back out the door.