He disappeared into his closet, returning with an armful of clothing. “Be careful how you look at me, Bailey Ross, or I’ll take you right back to bed.”
The way he’d used my full name made me giggle like a naughty school girl. He made me laugh—made me feel like I could just be me. I didn’t have to be afraid of what was around the corner in his world. Granted, there were all kinds of crazy, supernatural creatures in his world, but they seemed like decent people, unlike most of those I’d encountered since my parents died.
I continued drying my hair, greedily watching for glimpses of his bare body in the mirror as he dressed. My efforts were rewarded when he let the towel drop to the floor. My heart leapt into my throat and moisture pooled yet again between my thighs.
“I can smell you, kjaere.”
I turned off the hairdryer and lay it on the counter, picking up a bottle of leave-in conditioner instead. I spritzed a healthy amount over the length of my hair and smiled back at him in the mirror. “I can’t help it.”
My stomach chose just that moment to growl and gurgle as loudly as it possibly could. Heat raced to my cheeks, turning my face bright red yet again. Way to ruin the moment. What was wrong with my stomach? I was starving, but still. Why did it have to be so loud?
He appeared beside me, dressed and ready for the day. A pair of dark, loose-fitting jeans rode low on his hips and a short-sleeved t-shirt covered his spectacular chest, leaving his arms on full display. Arms that any human man would envy.
“Here.” He handed me a colorful stack of clothing items. A bright pink bra and panty set and a tank-style maxi dress in royal purple. “I pulled these from the closet. We’ll have to stop by Calliope’s later today and let you pick out a few more things. I’m afraid all I got you are these two outfits.”
“Thank you. They are lovely. I’m sure I don’t need anything else right now. I’ve made do with a pair of jeans and little else for a long time. You don’t have to keep getting me—”
His finger touched my lips. “I will do as I please.”
“But—”
He pushed harder. “Say, yes sir, thank you.”
“Yes s-sir, thank you,” I repeated slowly, tilting my head to the side. Sir? Was he just playing with me or was he asserting a little more dominance than I’d seen so far? He knew I was uncomfortable with that type of role-playing, yet just that little demand made my heart speed up and stoked my seemingly constant state of arousal.
“Good, kjaere. Now why don’t you put these on?” He smiled, gave me a soft kiss on the lips, and then pressed the clothes into my arms. I stood frozen, still absorbing our small exchange. He stepped back slowly and sat on the edge of the tub in the center of the bathroom.
“Are you going to just sit there and watch?” I asked, when words finally returned to my brain.
“Yes.” He nodded and grinned, a wicked sparkle shining in his bright blue eyes.
Two could play this game. I plopped the clothes on the counter and unhooked the towel, letting it pool on the floor around my feet. My eyes never left his face and I smiled when his eyes widened. My dare excited him and I felt a sense of power I’d never experienced.
I slowly slipped on the panties and then the bra, the underwear cinched and stretched in all the right places until they fit better than a glove. I grabbed the hem of the dress and pulled the large loose garment over my head. It hung on my body like a sack until the enchantment began working. The upper part of the dress tightened around my torso and bust until it fit like a second skin. At my hips, it flared into a full skirt and lengthened until it just brushed the tops of my feet. I twirled, watching myself in the mirror.
It was beautiful. I couldn’t wait to actually go into Calliope’s shop myself and look around.
“The color is perfect on you.”
“Thank you.”
He rose from the edge of the tub and followed me out the bathroom door. Grabbing the hem of my dress, I went barefoot down the stairs and padded into the kitchen.
The black and white color scheme was clean and modern, but lacked personality. It was cold in more ways than one. Goosebumps populated my arms as I opened a cabinet to look for a frying pan.
Nothing. Completely empty.
I opened another door. Same thing.
“Shit.” He growled behind me. “I forgot to grab a pan and some cooking utensils last night at Bella’s.”
I closed another empty cabinet and turned to face him.
“I’m sorry. It’s been so long since I fed anyone.”
“It’s okay.” The idea that he wouldn’t have any pans or dishes hadn’t even crossed my mind.
“I’ll stop while we are out today and pick up a few more things.”
I flashed him a supportive smile. At that moment he looked more like an embarrassed boyfriend than a millennia-old vampire who’d seen empires rise and fall. I liked it. It made him seem more real.
He took my hand and led me toward the front door. I slipped on a pair of sandals as he opened the door. “We’ll get you some breakfast and then—” His words stopped suddenly and he turned, looking down to meet my gaze. “Rose wants you to meet Arlea today. Do you think you are up for that? If not, I will insist it wait.”
“I don’t want you fighting with Rose. If I need to meet this woman today then that’s what I’ll do. It can’t be that bad.” I searched his eyes for some hint of reassurance. What I saw was uncertainty. He knew this Arlea woman. Why would he be so against my meeting her? “Is she mean?”
He looked away and shook his head. “No, she’s not mean. Just old and ...”
“And what?”
“Arlea is an Oracle. She sees fates.” A long sigh slipped from his lips and he shrugged his shoulders. “All the Sisters are seers of some variety. You need to be prepared.”
“For what?”
“For something you may not like.”
Well that wasn’t vague at all. Something I might not like? Was she going to read my palm and tell me my fortune? That was all such bull. No one could see the future. Though only a few days ago I would have said dragons and pixies didn’t exist either.
We exited his apartment and walked down the stairs to the sidewalk. Across the street stood two tall men, one with short brown hair and the other with shoulder-length black curls. The first was in loose jeans and a white t-shirt. The one with black hair sported Western jeans, boots, and a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up just a little, showing muscular forearms. They glanced up when we reached the bottom step and nodded toward us before going back to their conversation.
“Are they vampires?”
He took my hand and led me around the corner to the town circle. “Yes. Marcus lives in the apartment they were standing in front of. The one dressed like a cowboy is Javier. His place is next door to mine. They are Protectors, like me.”
“So they have the tattoo that protects them from the sun, too, I guess.” I mentally pinched myself. That was a stupid question, seeing as how we were all outside and the sun was up.
“Yes.”
“Are all the Protectors vampires?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“We are stronger and faster than many supernaturals. Also, we don’t grow old.”
“So it makes you the perfect soldier.” There were definite advantages to being a vampire. But not being able to enjoy the taste of food ever again had to be high on the list of cons. And for most of them, daylight wasn’t an option either.
“It certainly makes us difficult to replace. The Protectors are chosen by the Oracle of Lamidae, Arlea. Rose bestows the magick needed to gift us with immunity against the sunlight.”
“Are there other vampires in town who aren’t Protectors?”
“No.”
We turned onto the main circle of town and passed Calliope’s shop. A pretty, ocean blue dress in the window caught my eye and I couldn’t help but stare, if only for a moment. The color of the dress reminded me of Erick’s eyes.
“Vampires, as a rule, prefer their space. You won’t find them in groups. That Sanctuary is the home to four of us already is quite stressful because we need to feed. In a small town, there are not many options. No hospitals and clinics mean no blood banks. Most vampires keep to large metropolises and stay as anonymous as possible.”
“So then do they all feed from Rose? She was going to let you drink her blood.”
“Several of the Protectors have taken up with other people in town. That helps with the feeding, but Rose still provides when we need extra. Though she has not fed me since you arrived.”
“Do I taste different?”
“Very.” He nuzzled my ear and opened the café door. “Your blood is sweeter and lighter.”
He made it sound enticing. I couldn’t imagine the draw. I’d tasted my blood before, several times after being beaten by Kevin. All I remembered was a bitter, metallic taste and the pain I’d associated with the taste. It was the furthest thing from sweet and light. Still, it made me curious.
“What does Rose taste like?”
The bell rang, announcing our arrival into the dining room. “Her blood is rich and potent, like a perfectly aged scotch. A very little will go a long way.”
“So you need more of my blood to be satisfied than hers?” My jealousy surprised me.
His hand guided me forward and toward an empty booth. I sat, sliding to the center and adjusting my dress so it fell neatly over my legs. “So many questions, kjaere.” He smiled at me from across the table. “And, yes. I do require a larger dose of your blood than Rose’s to be sated. It would be the same if I drank from most any supernatural. Human blood is sweeter, but not as potent.”
The delightful scent of baking bread and sugar wafted from the window behind the breakfast bar. The food coming out to others in the dining room made my mouth water and my brain forget about what I’d asked. A large plate of what looked like a cross between a cinnamon bun and some type of bread loaf was delivered to the table just across from us.
“Bailey?”
I glanced back at Erick’s laughing, blue eyes. A smirk curved his mouth and pulled up the corners of his eyes.
“Sorry. The food distracted me. You were saying how sweet I tasted and then I saw a mutant cinnamon roll slash pound cake.” I gave him a quick wink and sat back against the cushion of my seat.
He waved at Raven and pointed to the concoction on the table next to us. Minutes later, I was devouring my own plate of sticky, sweet cinnamon goodness and washing it down with a glass of OJ. She’d also brought me a small plate of eggs and bacon, which Erick insisted I consume as well. There’s no way I would have been able to eat everything, but his regular feedings kept my body in a constant state of hunger, besides the unnatural libido I’d developed. I polished off the sweetbread and the plate of protein in record time.
When I looked up, he sat quietly, watching. His bright blue irises caressed my face with a glance and heated my skin as his gaze traveled down to my cleavage, which I had to say looked quite nice thanks to Calliope’s designs.
Now she was a woman who knew how to pick the perfect fabric and weave an amazing enchantment. I’d never worn anything so amazing. Between the attention Erick lavished on me and the confidence the new clothes provided, I started to believe Sanctuary might be just that—a safe haven for me. Somewhere I could stay. Make friends. Build some semblance of a life.
It almost felt like it could be a home … almost.
“I need to speak to Rose for a minute before we leave. Will you wait for me here?”
“Sure.” I nodded and took a sip from my water glass. I took a quick glance at his fine ass as he moved quickly to the counter and then disappeared into the kitchen. Shaking my head, I sighed. It was strange. I never thought I could enjoy sex again or even want it, for that matter. But with Erick, lustful thoughts were never far from the front of my mind.
An old jukebox on the far wall caught my eye. I’d seen pictures of them before, but I had never seen one in person. Music with words, like literature, was now government-controlled in most places. Most of it was dry and boring. Instrumental music was mostly what I’d grown up listening to. I couldn’t believe they’d been able to keep this from being confiscated.
My curiosity got the better of me and I rose from my seat and walked over to it. There was a list of songs, none familiar. Titles like I Walk the Line, Your Cheatin‘ Heart, Coal Miner’s Daughter, I Fall to Pieces and dozens more. Some of them sounded terrible. Why would anyone sing about a cheating heart or falling to pieces?
“Rose always liked classic country.” Raven’s voice piped up beside me. “You can pick one. She has it fixed to play without putting in money. Just push the button for the corresponding song number.” She pointed to a row of silver buttons below the glass display area.
“No one will mind?”
“Course not.”
I stared back at the list and looked for a title that sounded pleasant, finally deciding on I Can’t Stop Loving You by Kitty Wells. Arms and levers moved inside the jukebox. I watched, fascinated, as a circular black disk was placed on a tray and began to spin. A raspy woman’s voice rolled out from the machine slowly. The soft lilt in her voice made me want to rock back and forth. I’d never heard music like this before. General music nowadays had no words. At least that was what played on the radio stations. I heard about concerts and singers in the newspapers, but unless you were rich and part of the elite, or well-versed in black-market trading, you never got to hear them.
“Ahh, pretty girl, you can’t play a song like that and not dance,” an unfamiliar, deep bass voice rumbled next to me.
I turned toward the man and took a step back. Where the hell had he come from? Before I could squeak out a response, he grabbed my hand and twirled me around. A moment later I was flush to his hard, cool body, held in place with his other arm. I recognized his plaid shirt and long black hair. He was one of the vampires from outside Erick’s apartment this morning.
I looked across the dining room and gave Raven a pleading glance. She stood frozen by the counter with her mouth hanging open. Everyone was staring.
“Please let me go.” I spoke firmly, but quietly, not wanting to make a scene. He wasn’t hurting me. I just didn’t really want to dance with him. I especially didn’t want to be this close to his body. Unlike Erick, this giant of a vampire made me nervous. “I don’t want to dance.”
“By the way Erick’s scent coats your sweet skin, I’d say you’re more than comfortable in a man’s arms.”
What a nerve! I reeled backward, pushing against his chest. He dropped his arm from where it was wrapped around my waist and cocked an arrogant eyebrow, which only served to further infuriate me. My palm connected with his face. The terrifying crack echoed through the already silent dining room.
Fear shot through my body, freezing me in place. What had I done? What kind of stupid human slaps a vampire across the face? Me, apparently. I’d only been here a couple of days and already my brain had gone to mush.
I waited for him to snarl and attack. His lip curled a bit, but he made no move to retaliate.
“Your chica packs a bit of a temper, no?” He grinned and glanced toward the counter.
Erick stood next to the counter, his eyes black as night and his fangs fully descended. His body strained against a hand wrapped around his wrist. Rose held him with one hand. There was a bit more to this Sentinel than anyone had shared with me. I’d seen what a vampire was capable of doing. One woman didn’t have a shot in hell of holding back an angry vampire, yet she stood calmly, holding his wrist, without appearing to exert much effort.
“Javier, you shame yourself with such behavior,” Rose’s soft voice broke the silence. “You know very well Erick has claimed Bailey.”
He licked his fangs and took a step toward me, making a crude gesture toward my groin. “Maybe she likes a little variety between her legs. I bet a good smack or two in the right place would get her all hot and
bothered.”
Air rushed from my lungs and anger simmered beneath my skin, mixing with terror. His comment brought old memories rushing forward. Tears burned down my cheeks and a scream tore from my throat as I lunged toward the giant vampire.
Seconds later I was surrounded by Raven, Maven, and Rose. A blur of bodies exited the café. The door closed behind them with an ominous thud. I squeezed my hands into fists and winced in pain. I opened my palm, surprised to find a steak knife in my right hand. Somewhere in the rush of the moment I’d grabbed the utensil from one of the tables next to me. Blood flowed from a deep gash where I’d gripped the blade. Damn.
“What the hell?” I dropped the knife and swallowed nervously as it clattered to the floor.
“That, my dear, was a bit of a brawl,” Rose said, patting my shoulder. “Just give them a few minutes, they’ll work it out or I’ll do it for them. Let’s get your hand tended to before they come back.”
“They’ll both come in? Together?” Shock didn’t even begin to describe my feelings.
“Javier is several hundred years Erick’s senior. In fact, he is the eldest Protector in Sanctuary. I did not think he would try to take you from Erick, though. Your very presence in the town was not by chance. The claim was clear.”
“I’m not going anywhere with Javier. Why would he think I would?”
She grabbed my wrist and pulled me through the dining room to the kitchen. “You are not marked. To a vampire that means you are available. Erick was foolish to heal all his bite marks.”
I knew he’d healed them so I wouldn’t have any extra scars. His thoughtfulness had only endeared him to me more.
Rose dragged me to the sink and started running cold water over the wound on my palm. The water ran red with my blood and slowly went back clear as the bleeding slowed. “I have bandages in my office. Raven, would you fetch the first aid kit from my desk?”
The colorful pixie dashed off and I turned back to Rose. “I’m not going anywhere with Javier.”
My Viking Vampire Page 13