Scent of a Vampire

by Jude Stephens

  Tomorrow I would wake up and go to work and eat in the cafeteria. Go home and make dinner and watch old movies on TMC and life would be normal. Well, except for the part that I had a hunky vampire boyfriend. Roberto. I had actually let myself believe that he was normal. He would come by my apartment around seven, take me to dinner and a movie, come back to my place and make love all night.

  I remembered Roberto tonight, with his fangs out, his face a distorted mask of fury. Reality Scent of a Vampire – Jude Stephens

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  bites, and this was reality. A freaking hurt vampire lying on a bed of a sleazy motel.

  "Alex, what will happen if you don't have blood?" I had to know.

  He opened his eyes to stare at me. "I won't wake up from my sleep. I've lost too much blood.

  My body won't have enough blood to sustain me through the day." Well. That was that then. I was going to let a vampire bite me. I couldn't let him die. I can't even kill a bug for God's sake.

  In a shaky voice I asked, "Will it hurt?" Alex struggled to sit up. "Olivia, you don't have to do this. I want to live more than you can know. But we can try something else. Where are we?"

  "Philadelphia. I thought we would blend better in the city."

  "That was good thinking, but it doesn't lend too well for hunting animals."

  "It wouldn't have worked anyway, you're in no shape to hunt and there's no way that I can hunt anything."

  "You will have to lure someone here." He looked at me. "At least you're dressed for it."

  "You mean pick up a guy and bring him back here!?" I shook my head. There was no way I could do that. Alex lay back down on the bed. "Olivia. It's all right. I understand. This isn't easy for you. You've been thrown into a world you don't understand yet. I'm amazed at your courage and your tenacity under these circumstances." I couldn't help but let a tear fall as I stood there feeling so ashamed. I wasn't courageous. I was a coward. I was afraid to let him bite me and take my blood in order for him to live. He saw the tear and held out his hand. "Come here." I went over and sat down next to him on the bed. He pulled me down next to him and wrapped his arms around me as I cried. He kept whispering as he kissed my hair, "Shhh baby. It's all right.

  Shhh don't cry. When morning comes you need to leave here. Get to Buffalo. Roberto will meet you there."

  A feeling deep inside me began to build. It felt like an orange ball of fire sitting in the pit of my belly. I didn't recognize it at first but realized as it spread to every part of my body. It was anger.

  Not normally an angry type of person, it was no wonder I didn't recognize it. Ohhhh I thought, anger was good. Anger gave me strength. I stopped crying and rolled over on to my side. I took Alex's head between my hands. "Alex, I want you to drink from me." He started to protest and I cut him off and looked him in the eyes. "I need you to drink from me."

  He must have seen the resolve in my face because he rolled on top of me, which I had to admit felt really good and turned my head to the side exposing my neck. I tried to think of Roberto, but found the image of his face blurry.

  Alex said, "Olivia, I will take what you offer and offer you all that I have. Now and always"

  I had to ask. "Will this be sexual?"

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  "Only if you desire it to be. It won't hurt. It will give you a languid feeling." He swept his tongue along my carotid artery and I started to shiver with pleasure filled pulsations. Electricity raced through my body. He pulled his head back a little and I could tell his fangs were out when he spoke.

  "Thank you Olivia. You are a great gift and I will never forget this," and struck like a cobra.

  Chapter 16

  I felt a stinging, for a brief moment, as his fangs pierced my skin. Then I felt a warm sensation spread downward until I felt it all of the way to my toes. I was also very aware that Alex was aroused. I could feel the hard length of him pressed against my thigh. I could feel his erection throbbing when he started grinding against me. I began to feel the now familiar electrical currents race along my nerve endings. I was losing myself in a mounting tide of desire. I forced myself to concentrate on other things than the feel of Alex's body on top of mine and his mouth on my neck. I forced my mind to my parents. Magnolia and Jay Sherman. Mom with her sweet smiles and laugh lines around her eyes. I thought back to a day in third grade when some kids were teasing me and Mom had heard as she came to pick me up. She took hold of my hand and said in a serious voice, "Olivia, those girls are patooty heads. Plus, I'm pretty sure that they have cooties." And she scooped me up hugged me and took me for ice cream.

  These thoughts kept me grounded and able to control my raging emotions as Alex moaned and thrust against me. When Alex went still and began to lick my neck methodically I asked,

  "Mmmm, what are you doing? It feels nice." His breathing was a little ragged, "I am making sure the blood flow stops by using an anticoagulant agent in my saliva."

  "Ewwww, too much information, big guy."

  He looked up and to my surprise hugged me hard. "Olivia, you saved my life tonight. You are an amazing woman. Your blood is so sweet."

  "Whoa there. Did you have something to drink tonight?"

  "No, it's your blood. It's so pure. It's sooo, shit!" he sat back down on the bed hard.

  "Excuse me. Did you say my blood was shit?"

  "Yeah, NO! Olivia, I need to tell you something. When a vampire takes blood, we are usually very careful. If we take blood from someone who is sick we may feel some of the effects of that sickness for a while. The same goes for someone who is taking drugs or has had a lot of alcohol.

  We may feel high for a little while."

  I was confused. "I didn't drink anything tonight."

  "No, but your blood does carry the genetic material that causes you to have your Sensay Scent of a Vampire – Jude Stephens

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  abilities."

  "Are you saying that you now have my Sensay abilities?"

  "For a little while, I suppose. I really don't know. You are so rare that I never heard of any vampire taking the blood of a Sensay. Did Roberto take your blood while you were together?"

  he asked nonchalantly.

  "No. Of course not. He never asked to. I don't think I would have unless it was an emergency like it was with you." I cast my eyes downward. "Though it wasn't unpleasant." I felt I had to admit to the lust I had felt for him.

  "You showed great control baby. More than I had." He looked down at his pants. You couldn't help but notice the stain on the front of his jeans.

  I felt my face start to burn with my embarrassment and stood to put some distance between us but Alex stopped me.

  "Baby, don't ever be embarrassed because of a feeling that is natural."

  "But how can I feel such passion for you when I have feelings for Roberto?" I asked.

  His sexy green eyes clouded, with what I could swear was pain, for a brief moment before he spoke. "That, sweetheart is a question asked through the ages. Look, I know you have "feelings"

  for Roberto. I want to be straight with you. I have feelings for you Olivia but Roberto has asked me to back off. Since he is an elder, I am supposed to follow his orders. But I want you to know that I don't give a damn about his antiquated orders.

  "What I do give a damn about is you. You have just been thrown into a strange new world and have discovered things about yourself you never knew. I want to give you time." During his speech, he had come closer and closer to me until I found myself backed against a wall. He put his hands on the wall with me in the middle and leaned down until he was a breath away and said in a husky voice, "But be warned baby, I am NOT giving up on us. I want you. My body wants you so badly just the sight of you makes my blood boil and my cock hard. My hands want to reach out of their own accord and touch your wild hair and run the length of your satin skin.

  My tongue wants to tease and taste your slickness until you explod
e. I have no doubt that I and only I can take you on an erotic journey the likes of which you've never imagined. But most of all, my heart leaps in my chest the moment your eyes touch mine and it swells with pride when I see them light with your strength and determination." He brushed his lips softly against mine and his whole body shuddered before he stepped away from me. "I will not add to your confusion Olivia. I am willing to wait for you." I was trembling with the emotions that his words provoked. Lust filled images of Alex and I naked and clawing at each other came into my mind with such clarity that my legs almost gave out from under me.

  "I am so confused. When I'm with Roberto I know that I'm falling in love with him." The look of pain once again flashed across Alex's face. I continued, "But when I'm with you, I have a hard Scent of a Vampire – Jude Stephens

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  time picturing his face. God, this is a mess. I can't deal with this now. I need to concentrate on getting back to my family!"

  Alex sighed, "You're right. We need to get you home and then somewhere safe. Has Roberto told you where he will relocate you and your parents?"

  "No. He didn't say anything about a re-location. Do you really think that will be necessary?" He looked me straight in the eye. "Yeah I do. And I'm sure Roberto has begun all of the arrangements already. I know him well and he is like a general when he is planning a defense"

  "But he didn't mention anything to me about it. He would have mentioned something if he had made any arrangements already."

  Alex shrugged, "Maybe he didn't have time."

  "Bullshit. Pardon my language but he could have taken one minute to tell me something this important." Alex put up his hands, "Well maybe I'm wrong. He might not have had the time. I just know he had most everything arranged before you left the penthouse. He had already made the plans for Janel to go to his brother.

  "And, oh yeah, speaking of Janel, thanks a lot for leaving her in my hands. I swear that woman's libido does double time."

  Janel and Alex? The thought made my stomach turn. How could he sleep with her and then say the things he just said to me.

  I tried to keep the hurt out of my voice. "Janel is a beautiful woman and most guys seem to enjoy her libido."

  "I agree Janel is beautiful and it's obvious that she has a great passion for life."

  I couldn't help myself, "Well, I bet the two of you look great together. Your both blond and know how to have fun. You're perfect for each other. I hope you'll be happy." I was jealous! I recognized this immediately. Why in God's name was I jealous of Janel and Alex? A vision of them came to my mind of Alex biting Janel the way he bit me and I had to hold myself back from hitting him.

  "Whoa, baby, I don't want to be with Janel. She's nice and all but I wasn't joking when I said I had feelings for you."

  "You mean you didn't sleep with her?" Alex smiled, "No I didn't sleep with her. Why would you think that?"

  "Well you said she was beautiful." Now I felt like a fool.

  And Alex had the nerve to actually laugh. "She is beautiful, but she is not you. And one day you Scent of a Vampire – Jude Stephens

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  will understand that how I feel about you is real and even if you love Roberto with all of your heart and soul, I will not change the way I feel about you."

  I stared at him. I probably should not believe him, but I did. I won't lie and say it didn't feel good to have a handsome sexy man like Alex saying he wanted you with such force. It made me feel like I was cherished and that was really, really nice.

  I took his hands in mine. "Alex, you make me feel more special than anyone has ever made me feel in my entire life. Thank you for that. It's a really big boost after having my exhusband tell me what a loser I was." Alex's raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You were married?"

  Embarrassed I answered, "Yes and he left me for his secretary because he said I didn't satisfy his needs." Alex laughed. Alex laughed really hard. It was the kind of laughter that you heard and even though you don't know what's so funny, you have to start laughing too. I couldn't help but laugh with him.

  "What's so funny?"

  "Oh baby, if he only knew you were about to come into your Sensay powers. You are the hottest, most desirable woman on this planet. And he will never get a taste of it." Ahhh, the irony of the fact made me burst into a new fit of laughter and it felt so good after all of the tense situations of the last few days.

  When I finally stopped laughing, I heard my stomach growl. "I better see if I can find us something to eat. I think I saw a gas station next door when we pulled in. I hope it's open all night." I looked at the bedside clock radio; it was just after three am.

  I started for the door when Alex stopped me. "I know that I've asked a lot of you tonight. But I need to ask your help with one more thing tonight."

  Without any hesitation I said, "Sure, what do you need?"

  "I need you to cut me open and extract the bullet in my chest." He said matter of factly.

  "What!? I can't operate on you." I said in a rather shrill panicked voice.

  "Listen I wouldn't ask this of you if I had any other choice. But the bullet is lodged in my chest and hurts like hell. I think it may be against my breastbone."

  "But the wound is closed. You healed. I would need a scalpel, and equipment and I have never operated on anyone. I'm a physical therapist, maybe if I worked in the operating room I might be able to do this but I can't Alex!"

  "Olivia, I will help you through this. I've done this before." That thought scared me. "You've removed bullets from your body before? Do you get shot often?"

  "As a matter of fact, yes. Thus is the life of a vampire. I was born in 1834. I came to the United Scent of a Vampire – Jude Stephens

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  States from Sweden in the early 1900's. A lot of Swedes re-located to Minnesota, me included. I served in both World War I and World War II, so yeah I've been shot, a lot," he chuckled.

  "Do you move around a lot then?"

  "Yeah, vampires and other species as a whole tend to move around quite a bit. It has to do with the long life you live. I moved back to Sweden in the 1950's. I lived in London for a period in the 60's and Las Vegas in the 1970's. I found I liked the casino industry and when New Jersey started building casinos beside the ocean I knew I had to build a place there. That was one thing I always missed being away from Sweden, was the sea."

  I was amazed. I wanted to talk to Alex forever and hear all about his life. Imagine, living in London during the 60's.

  "I'm Henry the eighth I am. Henry the eighth I am I am." I hummed.

  Alex smiled at me, "I love when you burst into song like that. It makes me happy to hear you sing."

  "Are you kidding?" I couldn't believe someone found my habit of singing endearing. I thought about how Roberto complained about it.

  He leaned over and brushed a kiss on the top of my head,

  "Nope, not kidding. Not about the bullet either. You can do this Olivia. I know you can. We can do this together." I took a deep breath. "Okay, I will try. Let's see what Leeds packed for us and then if I need anything I can check to see what they have at the gas station." We went through the backpack first. Luck was on our side because there was a first aid kit in there, along with some packets of food, a poncho, and some maps. Alex said, "Leeds isn't so crazy after all. This is a pretty good emergency pack."

  I had gone ahead and opened the suitcase and said,

  "Sonofabitch."

  Alex dropped the backpack he was holding at my curse and hurried over to me, "Are you all right?"

  "No. Look at the clothes he packed in here." Alex looked in and pulled out a little white tube top and then a black thong that was trimmed in red fur. Next came out a black leather bustier. Alex held the bustier and seemed like he was lost in deep thought.

  I grabbed it from his hands and said in an angry voice,

  "Can you believe Leeds bought me this stuff?" Alex swallowed hard, "Ummm Olivia, with your Sensay power
s, do you ever feel like there are bolts of electricity flowing through your veins?"

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  "Yeah it does when I'm really excit ... ohhhh." I stammered. Alex must have been picturing me in the leather and got excited. I couldn't help but look to the large bulge in his jeans.

  Alex took a deep breath, "Its okay. Let's just concentrate on getting this bullet out. The first aid kit doesn't have a knife, but it has bandages and antiseptic, so we will just need to find something to make an incision with. Why don't you run over to the gas station and see if they have anything that might work. I would go but," he trailed off and glanced down.

  "Ummmm, okay. I'll pick up some food while I'm at it. Maybe some orange juice to get my blood sugar back up." Alex was at once concerned. "Did I take too much blood from you? Are you feeling dizzy or lightheaded at all?"

  I was touched by his concern, "No I'm fine. I'm just not sure if you might need to take more after your 'surgery'." Alex had that far away look on his face again. I shook my head, though I knew how he was feeling. The lust is very hard to control when the electricity starts running through your body.

  "Okay, I'm going to head over to the station now." I said as I opened the door and slipped out.

  Luck was on my side. The gas station was open all night. It was a short walk across the parking lot. When I opened the door to enter, the man behind the counter looked up. Taking in my appearance he dismissed me as a prostitute and went back to his car magazine. I went down the few food aisles they had first. I picked up some donuts, chips, and candy bars and put them back down. I couldn't let Alex see me pigging out on junk food. Though with the stress I was under it would have made me feel better.

  Instead, I walked to the back of the store to the refrigerated section and found some fruit and packaged cheese. I grabbed a quart of orange juice and headed to the check out. I put everything on the counter and when the clerk looked up I asked, "Do you sell any type of cutting utensils?" The clerk said, "You want a knife? We have some small pocket knives in aisle two."