"Who do you think you...?"
"Okay you two, that's enough. Now you're giving me a headache. Can't the two of you get along for one day without arguing?"
"No." We both replied simultaneously. Then he smiled at me. He fucking smiled, knowing how much that irritated me when I was mad.
Truth of the matter was, his smile melted my cold heart, but there was no way in Hell was I revealing that little tidbit of information to anyone in this room.
"All right let's get you home so you can seek shelter and safety from hurricane Gia." Noah joked.
Rhett laughed and winked at me as he stood up from the stool. "Yeah, I think I'll come back tomorrow when the hot wind has died down."
I raised my hand to him and stuck my middle finger up. "Blow it out of your ass."
"What dirty language to come out of such a beautiful mouth." He turned and walked toward the front door with Noah at his heels. He waved behind him. "See you girls later."
Chapter Two
“Hi Gia!” Patience said as she walked toward me, throwing her sweater across the bar. "Can you put this back there for me?"
I looked at her then went back to cleaning the glasses. "You're late." I wasn't mad that she wasn't on time tonight, but she really irritated me sometimes. Her perkiness was just a bit too much for my liking and I am not in the mood for that right now. I'd much rather keep to myself and wallow in my own self-pity.
"I know. I'm sorry. I missed the bus so I walked here."
"Why didn't you take the subway?"
"Eww, gross. Be underground with every weirdo in New York City? No. Besides there are rats the size of cats down there. I'd much rather walk thank you very much. Well, I guess I'd better go upstairs and get some more asses in these seats."
She turned and made her way to the front door. She was wearing one of her signature outfits. A short black backless dress that revealed the numerous different colored butterfly tattoos that seem to flutter across her back as she walked.
Patience was a human we hired last year to help bring in customers off the street into the club. We'd just opened and since we couldn't go out in the sun, she was an asset to us by handing out flyers and talking to passersby about the club during the daylight hours. She has more than tripled our revenue since then. Men flock to her like a moth to a flame, bringing more and more men into the club so that we could feed.
She doesn't know the truth about us; otherwise I seriously doubt that she would have come to the interview in the first place. The less she knows about us the better so we can continue to feast on the city.
As Patience exited the club, Rhett walked in passed her and gave her a smile. Something evil stirred inside me when he looked at her and I felt a sudden urge to rip her head right off her prissy little body. It kills me that she could be everything he needs in a woman and I couldn't give him a damn thing. She'd be able to give him a fulfilling life. They'd be able to get married, have kids, and be a real family. All I could ever give him would be a never-ending life filled with an insatiable hunger for blood and maybe even a death sentence dealt out by the Hunters.
I had completely forgotten about the Hunters for the last couple of weeks because I’ve been so occupied with hiding my secret. That's an even bigger reason why we couldn't be together.
Rhett pushed through the dancing customers and approached the bar. He sat on the stool in front of me, grabbing the bowl of peanuts I placed in front of him; he popped one in his mouth. "Hey sweet cheeks." He gave me a mischievous smile that warmed my belly every time he flashed it my way.
I stood still; my face was like stone as I tried my best not to show him how much he truly affected me. "Please don't call me that."
"Okay sugar lips..."
"My name is Gia. It's three letters, is it that hard for you to remember?"
"Fine Gia. Can I have a drink please?" He replied in a sarcastic tone before he smiled again.
"Didn't you have enough to drink the other night?"
"What are you my mother?"
"Fine. What do you want?"
He popped another peanut into his mouth. "Surprise me."
I grabbed a tall glass and a few bottles of liquor off the shelf, following the recipe Keira had given me for a new drink she'd come up with. Besides our Bloody Mary we have been introducing new and sexy named drinks to get some attention so people would stay longer and buy more. I placed the drink in front of him and stuck an orange slice on the edge of the glass.
He took a few sips. "This is good. What is it?" He drank in a mouthful.
"Dirty Little Leg Spreader."
He spit out the remainder of what was left in his mouth, spraying it all over the bar. He coughed and wiped his hand over his mouth. "What?!"
"That's what the drink is called, dirty little leg spreader. Don't look at me like that; it was Keira's invention, not mine."
He cleared his throat and wiped his shirt with the damp towel I handed him. "Well, I'm sure you’ll sell a lot of those with a name like that."
We both laughed. My hand slid back and forth along the mahogany surface of the bar as I cleaned the mess he’d made. He caught my wrist as it crossed in front of him. "Why don't you let me take you out sometime? You never leave this place. Aren't you a bit tired of the scenery?"
I yanked my arm away, throwing the dirty towel into the bin behind the bar. "Why don't you take Patience?" I told him snidely.
"Why would I take Patience?"
"Because she's more your type."
"My type? Please enlighten me on what my type is."
I leaned forward and placed my elbows on the bar. "You know blonde, sparkling green eyes, a sweet disposition. A woman who would cater to your every wish and fantasy." I rolled my eyes and straightened.
He laughed. "You're jealous aren't you?"
"Me? Jealous of who? Patience?"
"No. Jealous because you think I want her."
I averted my eyes because what he was saying couldn't have been more true. I can't stand it when he looks at another woman. Just the thought of him being interested in someone else made my blood boil. But of course I'm not going to tell him that, so I lie. "That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard."
"Oh really? Is that why you looked at her like you wanted to skin her alive when I walked in here? You're jealous, just admit it."
"I am not!"
"Okay, suit yourself. But you're not fooling anyone. I know you want me. You know you want me. The sooner you're ready to acknowledge that fact..." He took my hand and drew me in closer, whispering in my ear. "The sooner I can fuck you."
I pulled my hand back so fast I almost hit Keira, who was standing in back of me making a drink. "Fuck me?" I leaned back over the bar and lowered my voice. "Even if I were blind, destitute, desperate, and begging for it, I wouldn't let you fuck me."
"Oh, I think you would sweet cheeks."
"Well, you sir, are sadly mistaken. And stop calling me that!"
"That's okay, I like a challenge." He yelled to me as I walked away.
I stomped around Keira and pushed the doors leading into the kitchen open. I picked up a pan and slammed it down on the metal table, the sound echoing throughout the room. Both Bijou and Chanel jumped and turned to face me. They both shook their heads as they continued to prepare food orders.
I looked around the room and noticed one of us was missing. "Where's Luna?"
Bijou placed a few burgers on a tray and handed it over to Chanel who took it out into the bar. She wiped her hands on a nearby towel and placed it back on the table. "She was depressing me so I told her to go downstairs. What's your problem? Is it your hunky human boyfriend?" She said as she fluttered her dark lashes.
"He is not my boyfriend!"
Bijou waggled her eyebrows. "But he is hunky."
"I'm going downstairs if anyone needs me."
I threw myself face down on my bed and squeezed my eyes shut. I was seething. How dare Rhett speak to me like that? Like I was some cheap piece of ass. Oh who was
I kidding? I was treating him the same way for the last couple of months. I felt like utter shit for taking advantage of him just so I could satisfy my uncontrollable needs.
A soft knock on the door interrupted my self-loathing. I don't want to be bothered. I don't want to have to look at anyone's face. I'm the lowest kind of scum and I don't deserve to walk the earth. I screamed even though it's probably one of my sisters and they would be able to hear me even if I whispered. "Go away!" The soft knock got louder. I forced myself off the bed and padded over to the door. I didn't open it, instead I yelled again. "I said go away!"
"C'mon sweet cheeks, open the door."
Taken by surprise my voice softened involuntarily. "Rhett? What are you doing here?"
"I came to apologize; can you open the door please?"
I leaned my forehead against the door. I could smell his delectable scent through the wood and curse d myself for having heightened senses. I have to get rid of him. I can't do this anymore. I can't be with him like all those other nights. "Please Rhett, just leave."
"Gia, I'm not leaving. I'll sit out here until you come out, but I would rather you open the door so we can talk."
I don't know which one of my sisters told him it was okay to come down here without asking me first, but I was going to give whoever it was a piece of my mind. I let out a heavy sigh and relented. No matter how many times I promised myself that I never wanted to be alone with him again, I knew it was a lie. I opened the door to find him leaning against the door jamb with his arms crossed over his chest.
He unfolded his arms and motioned behind me. "Can I come in?"
"No, what do you want?"
He walked past me and closed the door. He leaned in toward me, capturing my lips between his teeth as he pushed me back against the door. He licked the raw spot and kissed me slowly, tenderly at first, then he deepened it.
He took my hands in his and lifted my arms above my head. He slid his tongue along the curve of my neck until he reached my ear and nibbled on the lobe. My panties were drenched from the exquisite torture he was putting me through. I couldn’t stop him. I didn’t want to stop him. I could easily overpower him if I wanted to, but I need him. My body burns for his touch.
His hand coasted down my stomach and into the elastic band of my panties as he held my arms up with the other. His finger skated over my swollen clit before sliding it between my slick folds. My knees weakened with the first stroke and when he pushed two fingers deep inside me, I gasped out of sheer pleasure. I let out a low moan as he touched a part of me no other man ever had before. "What are you doing?"
He smiled against my neck and licked my shoulder before delving his fingers inside me even deeper. "I'm apologizing. Do you forgive me?"
The low, raspy tone of his voice commanded my complete attention and I wished he didn’t have so much control over me when all I wanted was for him to stay away from me. I wanted to flee, I wanted to protest, but I couldn’t; my head was too clouded with need to say anything other than one barely whispered word. "Yes."
"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you."
He thrust his fingers inside me harder; once, twice, three times, and my belly began to warm as my climax neared. "Yes, I forgive you." I tried to speak louder, but I could barely think while his fingers were working me into a greedy frenzy.
He nuzzled my ear. "I still can't hear you sweet cheeks. Louder. Scream for me."
He placed the pad of his thumb over my aching clit causing me to throw my head back. Tiny pin pricks of light flashed behind my closed lids as I cried out my response to his demand. "God, yes." I came hard in his hand, soaking it with my release.
He stroked his finger between my drenched folds a few times as my body quivered under his touch. "That's my girl." He lowered my hands as he brought them to his mouth for a soft sensual kiss.
He ran his lips against my knuckles and I could feel my knees begin to buckle out from under me. He made me completely weak and vulnerable and I loved every minute of it. Whenever I'm with him I feel like a woman and not the indestructible vampire I am. He makes me feel soft, delicate, and...loved.
I haven't felt like this in centuries. It's been so long since I've been with a man who I let take control of me, who I let into my heart, and I don't want to let him go. But, I have to. I have no other choice than to wipe away his memory and with it everything we'd done tonight. Tomorrow night I'd have to have a discussion with Noah and tell him that Rhett was no longer welcome in the club. It's going to break my heart, but it has to be done. There were no other alternatives other than to drive him away from here and away from me forever.
Tonight on the other hand, I will bask in the glow of his tenderness, his compassion, and the warmth of his heart for one last time.
He walked backward a few feet guiding me to the kitchen island. I love that he takes control when we're together. For that brief moment in time no else exists and I don't have to make any painstaking decisions. I only have to follow his lead and enjoy the erotic ride.
He leaned me against the cold marble countertop, lifting my shirt over my head as he gently brushed his hands down my lifted arms. He wound his hands around my back and gripped my ass with both hands giving it a hard squeeze.
His hands slid into the tight leather fabric of my pants and pushed them down a bit. "Take these off." He demanded with a growl and I couldn't move fast enough to remove them.
I got them to my ankles when he suddenly lifted me up onto the counter, pulling the stretchy material from my body. He licked a blazing red hot trail all the way up my leg, nipping me every few inches. He stopped when he reached the apex of my thighs and I swallowed hard at the feel of his warm breath between my legs. He ran his tongue over my already soaked panties with one long, languid, earth shattering stroke and I almost came from the sensation.
The corner of his mouth tipped up before he grasped my silky panties in one hand, tearing them off me in one swift motion. "I want these off too."
Chapter Three
“Noah, we need to talk." I grabbed his arm and pulled him into my apartment without anyone else seeing. I slammed the door shut behind me.
"What's the problem?"
"Shh, Caressa will hear us."
"She's still sleeping.” He grinned from ear to ear. I kind of wore her out last night."
"I think I just vomited in my mouth a little. Can we not discuss your sex life please, I have a problem."
"Okay, what is the big secret that you can't talk to Caressa about?"
"It's Rhett."
He sat on the edge of the sofa with his long legs stretched out in front of him, crossing them at the ankles. "What about him?"
"You have to tell him not to come by here anymore."
"No I surely don't."
"Noah! This is serious. He is not welcome here."
He folded his arms over his chest. "By who?"
"By me! That's who."
"Well, your opinion doesn't matter."
"You are so lucky you aren't human anymore; otherwise I'd snap your damn neck. What do you mean my opinion doesn't matter? This is my club!"
He unfolded his arms and placed his hands on the arm of the couch. "Last time I checked this club belonged to all you girls, not just you, and if I were to ask the others if they felt Rhett was a danger to them, I can almost guarantee they would say no. It seems the only one he's a danger to is you." He sighed." Give him a chance Gia. Tell him what you are."
"Are you fucking crazy Noah? I can't tell him. I will not tell him."
"Well, I'm not going to tell him he can't come here anymore. He's my only friend and I won't do that to him. Besides, it's not me he comes here for anyway. I can go to his house anytime, it's you he wants. You're the reason why he comes here. So, if you don't want him here then you're going to have to do your own dirty work. You know I don't see the problem with you telling him. I'm sure after the initial shock he'd still care about you and want to be with you. Stop closing people off and let someone in that
cold dark heart of yours. That man loves you and I'm not going to be the one to break his heart." Without saying another word, he straightened and walked out the door slamming it behind him.
Well, that hadn’t gone as I’d planned. So much for asking him for help. I guess I have to do what Noah said. I have to be the one to tell him. The only problem is, not only will Rhett be heartbroken, but so will I. It's the right thing to do, I know it is. Yet, I can't bring myself to think about what it would be like not to see him every day. He's become such a large part of my life; I can't imagine it without him.
I took my place behind the bar and organized the glasses before the club opened. I'm sure Rhett will be here soon, so I prepared a well thought out speech in my head before he showed. I recited it over and over until I thought it was perfect enough. I have to let him down easy. I don't want to hurt him, but it's not a choice anymore. It's a decision I have to make to protect him. He needs to be protected from the Hunters and from myself as well. He deserves so much better and I plan on letting him go so he can move on with his life with someone who will be worthy of his love.
Keira snapped her fingers in front of my face. "Hey, earth to Gia."
"What?!"
"You said to let you know when Rhett was here. He came in through the back and I told him to wait for you in the office downstairs. What's wrong? You've been acting really weird lately."
"Nothing."
I left Keira in charge of the bar and took the stairs instead of the elevator, trying to delay the agony both Rhett and I were about to endure. I hoped with each passing second he didn't take what I have to tell him too hard. But how could he not? The man is absolutely head over heels in love with me. The problem is he doesn't know that because I've erased his mind so many times. I'm surprised his brain hasn't turned to mush from the countless times I've used my powers on him.
I stepped off the last stair and slowly made my way down the stone hallway past the wine cellar. With each step I took it appeared as though the door to the office moved further and further away into the distance. I felt like a death row inmate taking that excruciating long walk to the electric chair. How I wished that death would come creeping by and snatch the life out of me so I wouldn't have to go through with hurting him.
Fallen (A Club Blood Erotic Short #2) Page 2