Midnight Sun, Inc. (Crimson Romance)

by Debbie Vaughan

  “Ooo! Ahhh!” Bianca said appreciatively. “Gorgeous, and it feels heavenly!” The fabric slithered across her forearm. “And you’re going to let them have it back? Why?”

  “When would I wear it?” Bianca opened her mouth to speak. I waved to shut her up. “And even if I could, have you ever seen anyone wear the same outfit twice at those things?”

  “Well no, but … ” she stammered.

  “And it costs more than I make in a year.”

  “Oh shit!”

  “Yeah, tell me about it. I’m just praying I don’t spill anything on it.”

  Bianca blanched at the thought. “Maybe I should whip up a protection spell.”

  “You can do that … to a dress?” I asked in amazement.

  “Hell, yeah.”

  “Then you’ve got to do the shoes, too. They are mine.” I carefully removed them from their box and held them up for viewing. “Maybe you should zap me too, so I don’t break my neck?”

  “Promise me pictures, lots of pictures and I’ll do it.” She sighed as she reached for the shoes. “Mmm! Has Tom seen these yet?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Man oh man … ”

  CHAPTER 20

  I awoke alone on Friday. The big day! Yesterday Jimmy had stopped by on his way home from work. He explained Dee thought I might have too many last minute things today, so he’d come early. He’d seemed a little more comfortable around Raf this time.

  Was he more comfortable because Bianca was there or was he warming up to Raf? I wish. He told me to come get Willy “whenever,” so we carted all his little doggie stuff to the truck.

  I don’t know where Tom ran off to. He left mumbling something about errands or some such. So Raf and I were having some quality time as I re-painted his toenails.

  “So, how did you and Tom meet? Tom told me a little about his past but we didn’t get around to that.” I felt my face heat up when Raf waggled his eyebrows.

  “Well, among the many identities Tom acquired over his years of vampire-dom, he worked as an archeological assistant.”

  Tom told me there was always a war somewhere. Spending time in the Middle East only made sense. War has been ongoing there for thousands of years.

  “His team found an ancient ruin. One of those lucky discoveries. They were searching for a good dig site and not finding a damn thing, when along came a sandstorm. Lo and behold, a lost city! I’d almost lost hope when I felt his presence like an echo in my mind. I called out to him.”

  “Huh? Where were you?” I looked up from examining his big toe for smudges. I was getting the hang of this.

  “I was in my crypt, in a burial chamber beneath the city.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I thought I might be dreaming, but the voices grew stronger. I reached out with my thoughts and he heard me. The voices grew louder, angry, when the silence returned I feared I had imagined it all.” He took a deep ragged breath and smiled. “Turns out Tom had a rousing fight with the head honcho who seemed to think they’d found all there was to find. Tom told him more was buried deeper in a secret chamber. He finally had to use some ‘vampire mojo’ on the old goat!”

  “But honey, where were you?”

  “Below the first burial chamber was another, even older. Everything in the room was completely obliterated leaving no clue as to who occupied a sarcophagus which refused to open. I was so weak I wasn’t sure I had the power to keep them out. That night when everyone was asleep, Tom returned and opened it. He saved me.”

  “How long had you been trapped? Why were you there?” I asked, paying no attention to the nail polish until a blob dropped onto Raf’s foot. I hastily wiped it off with a cotton ball and screwed the top on the bottle.

  “I had been hiding for centuries and grown so weak I was unable to free myself.”

  I couldn’t even begin to comprehend what it must have been like for him, to be alive, all alone, starving. For a millennia or two! That was some big, bad, scary something to make a fella so desperate.

  “If Tom hadn’t come along when he did — well — it was close. Tom let me feed from him, a little at a time.”

  “How did you manage on the way back?” Visions of dead rats popped into my head and I tried to shake them loose.

  “In the state I was in, it wasn’t safe for me to feed on a human. I might have drained them by accident. Every night Tom slipped in the cargo hold and I fed. Vampire blood is more, filling, for lack of a better word.”

  “Sort of like condensed milk?” I tried to wrap my mind around what he told me. “What about Tom?” I envisioned more dead rats. Bad Connie! No more vampire movies.

  “Tom would feed off the crew and the passengers, a little here and there, not enough to kill or rouse suspicions. By the time we reached the States, several months had passed and I was recovered. No one noticed the extra passenger.”

  “So I call him boss,” Raf answered my unspoken question. “He saved me. I could call him Lord or Master or some other term of respect, but it would make him uncomfortable.”

  “But you’re way older, so you’re stronger, more powerful?”

  “Yes, in the ways you mean, but those aren’t the only kinds of power.”

  “But if things were different, you’d be his boss?”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

  He was ready for a subject change. We watched T.V. for a while, but Raf’s story was on continuous loop in my brain.

  I took a long nap, a necessity for a human living with vampires. I slept soundly without Willy there to disturb me. So this is what it would be like if I had a yard and a doggie door.

  I made coffee and brunch, eating slowly for a change, instead of wolfing my meals as I had of late. With the kitchen set to rights, I washed a couple of loads of clothes and changed my sheets before Raf put in an appearance.

  “Morning, you!” Well, close enough. “You sure are a sleepy head today.”

  “And I got the bed head to prove it. I tossed and turned all day!”

  Oh, that cracked me up. “Honey you don’t flick an eyelash much less toss and turn.”

  “Do so. I know I sleep like a stiff sometimes, old habits die hard, but not all the time. Look at the hair.

  He was right. I had never seen it so disheveled.

  “Sort of resembles mine the other night when I forgot to brush the product out before bed. I looked like a porcupine or a punk rocker.” I handed him the nuked RR. “Got to keep up your strength for the big night.”

  Raf made a face, and for the first time, seemed less than enthused over his beverage. “Honey, can I tell you something? Promise not to get mad?”

  “You can tell me anything. I can’t say I won’t get mad, but I’ll get over it.” I said honestly. I just never knew what might tick me off these days. “Has the blood gone bad?”

  “Closer than you think,” Raf said as he hung his head in his hands. “This stuff’s not all it’s cracked up to be. The flavoring helps but a key ingredient is still missing.” The look in his eyes told me what his mouth didn’t.

  “The human factor?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Am I supposed to run screaming now?” I asked.

  “Are you planning to?” Raf looked decidedly uncomfortable.

  “Tom told me he wanted the donation centers to add human blood to the mix, maybe even replace the porcine entirely. I don’t see a difference between that and going to a hospital for a blood transfusion. We donate blood to keep people alive. It’s the same thing, right?”

  “Honey, you are one of a kind. If everyone thought like you, well then … Hell, I don’t know what would happen!” He started to squirm a little. “But that’s only part of it. I mean having human blood will be so much better, but it isn’t just the blood. Not only the blood. It’s the contact.”

  “I take it you don’t mean the whole, ‘I can taste the fear in your blood’ thing?”

  “No, in that moment when part of you becomes part of us, just for tha
t instant we’re one. I don’t think we can bottle that.”

  “Oh. Oh!” I remembered Tom saying he couldn’t — you know — without biting me. Was this why? No wonder vampires were sex symbols on the silver screen. Their bite was another form of penetration. And Raf. Poor Raf wasn’t getting any …

  What the hell am I supposed to do with my newfound information? Good question, very good question. My first thought was to open a vein and knowing me, I probably would if it weren’t for the awards ceremony. “Raf, I get it. People are the same way. They even have a name for the syndrome. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve heard of it. And, I would let you bite me except for a couple of issues. First and foremost, Tom says you need a taste before you can a- a- ah — have an orgasm, and you’re gay so that wouldn’t be a good thing right? Stop laughing at me!”

  “But doll, an orgasm is always a good thing!” Raf giggled at the prospect, before attempting an apology. “Sorry. It’s been a while. I’m being a perv.”

  I glared at him, but cut him some slack. Was there such a thing as a bad orgasm? Not likely. “Then there’s the whole where to bite thing. I only know three places and two of them show and sweetie, the third, is totally off limits to you!”

  “Now who’s being a perv?”

  I crossed the small distance in a flash. Raf looked like he expected me to sock him or something. Instead, I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed, before planting a big one on his very kissable lips. Damn, what was wrong with the gay men in Arkansas? “Honey, I love you to death.” I gazed into eyes like melted dark chocolate. “You want to cuddle? I’m your girl. Need a shoulder to cry on? I have one with your name on it. And if you really need a taste, well, we’ll figure something out. Just not tonight. This Tom thing is about all I can handle.”

  A pink tinged teardrop rolled out of one of those cow eyes. I caught it on my fingertip and without thought touched it to my tongue, sweet and irony, like molasses.

  “We’re good?” I asked.

  “Honey, we’re just fine,” he said into my hair. Drawing back a little, he took a deep, shaky breath, “Now you better hit the tub. Try to keep your nails out, we don’t want them floating off. I’ll hit the shower in hopes of taming this bed head. We’ll reconvene here in one hour for hair and makeup.”

  “Aye, aye sir!” I gave him a snappy salute and headed upstairs. Life with a vampire best friend certainly wasn’t dull. I was still trying to wrap my head around having one as a boyfriend.

  So was this my destiny? Being blood donor and Dear Abby to vampire kind? Who the hell knew? Certainly not yours truly.

  The closet of my mind was packed but I managed to squeeze in the latest conundrum. I ran a nice warm bath and sank into the fragrant oblivion. After soaking a bit, I carefully shaved my legs and underarms. No nicks or Band Aids tonight. After patting dry with a fluffy white towel, applying moisturizer all over, I blew my hair dry wearing only a smile. There would be no water spots on my beautiful gown. What if Bianca’s protection spell didn’t take?

  Slipping into beige stretch lace panties that wouldn’t show through the fabric of the dress, I carefully worked the stockings on so as not to snag them. Thank goodness Willy’s at Dee’s! With a pair of socks over the stocking feet I wrapped the fluffy robe around my near naked self, went to visit my beauty consultant, Mr. Raf.

  “We could be twins!” Raf, back to his normal self, wore a robe just like mine. He had the bar stool positioned and makeup case at the ready. It took him no time at all to repeat Wednesday’s artwork. “You need help getting into your dress?” he asked as he checked his handiwork one last time.

  “I might with the zipper and the halter I don’t really have the hang of these nails yet. I’d hate to chip my polish.”

  “I’ll be over as soon as I get the monkey suit on. Scoot.”

  I scooted.

  After carefully removing the robe and socks, and checking to make sure no sock fuzz was left behind, I removed the dress from its satin hanger, lowered the zipper carefully and stepped into it. Voices drifted from across the hall. Tom finally made it home. A few seconds later, my door opened and Raf stepped inside. Without a word, he zipped the back and fastened the two tiny hooks connecting the halter top. I sat gently on the edge of the bed as he placed the red shoes on my feet as if I were Cinderella, and helped me to stand. I took a few tentative steps and turned. “Well?”

  “You look gorgeous! You were right about the shoes, so here.” From his jacket pocket he produced a tiny red beaded evening bag. A lipstick, compact and a credit card would fill it, but it totally matched the shoes. “Now you can’t say ‘I told you so’ okay?”

  “Deal,” I agreed.

  “Shall we?” He extended his arm.

  In consideration of the four-inch heels, we took the elevator.

  Tom stood in the living room. The look on his face made the effort worthwhile. Raf handed me over to him, giving me a twirl for the full effect. I managed to stay upright. Yea me! Tom took me by the hand and led me to the sofa where he picked up a velvet box.

  “I wanted to add something to your outfit. Seeing you now makes me think it might be overkill, but I hope you’ll want to wear them.” He opened the box and I thought I might faint.

  In the box was a necklace and earrings set in white gold or platinum. What do I know? The stones were a little darker than my shoes and bag, but held the same red fire when the light hit them. “Rubies?” I asked in a strangled whisper. “They’re rubies right?”

  “Don’t you like them?” Tom asked, sounding wounded. “I thought diamonds, but Raf told me you picked red shoes — well I thought — these … ” He trailed off staring hard at me.

  I batted my eyes furiously and blew upwards into them, trying to keep the tears from ruining my makeup. I wanted more than anything to forego the party and drag him upstairs. Geeze Louise! “Enough. I can’t stand it anymore!” I turned to Raf and asked, “Is everything still in place?” I fanned my eyes with my hand.

  “You’re perfect.”

  “And you,” I stuck my finger in Tom’s chest, “You will get what’s coming to you when this is over. The ceremony will give me time to decide what that is exactly! Springing this shit on me, almost making me ruin Raf’s hard work.” I gave Tom my very best glare and knew the instant it failed. We both smiled.

  “He couldn’t have worked very hard. You were already beautiful,” Tom said quietly as he fastened the necklace around my throat.

  “Oh stop it, please!” I wailed and started the fanning and blowing again.

  “Okay. Okay! We’re going to ignore you. Just stop.” Raf fanned frantically. “Your eyes will get all puffy.”

  Something chirped in Tom’s coat, his cell phone. “Our chariot awaits, Darlin’.”

  I gave him the eye, hurriedly positioned the earrings and took his arm. Raf draped a white beaded shawl across my shoulders, and we sashayed to the elevator.

  Our chariot turned out to be a white stretch limo. I was sure making up for not attending my senior prom. Tom and I sat in one seat and Raf took the one facing us.

  “When we arrive,” Tom said, “let Raf go first, then me, and I’ll help you out.”

  “Sure. Fine. Whatever.” Again, what did I know? I’d follow their lead. My hand wandered from the necklace to the weighted beads of the shawl unable to find a place to settle, until Tom took it in his.

  “Aww. Smile.” There was a little flash as Raf snapped the photo. It would be the first of many.

  It didn’t take long to reach our destination, which was good because it didn’t give me a lot of time to get nervous. I held my breath as the car made the curve of the drive, but the driver handled it with aplomb. Security opened the limo door. At least I assumed he was, a big, burly guy in a dark suit, with an ear bud.

  “Mr. Thornton’s party has arrived,” he said to the air, or whoever was on the other end of the earpiece.

  “The Thornton party. Correct.” He remembered to smile, “Right this way folks.�
� He glanced at us briefly before his eyes resumed their search of the area.

  Raf stepped out first and did his own scan of the area. I figured he could see a lot better in the dark than the security guy. He gave Tom a nod and stepped back, allowing him to make his exit. Tom reached for my hand. One red shoe touched the sidewalk. I took a deep breath, and stepped out beside him. We walked between the twin fountains toward the main entrance.

  There were a few camera flashes, none from Raf who surveyed the area; mostly there were news cameras. With Mr. Security in front, Tom at my elbow and Raf bringing up the rear, we walked to the door. Upon reaching it Tom turned back to address the reporters.

  “While I want to thank you for coming out this evening, we have been asked to keep our comments short for security reasons. So I’ll only make a brief statement. My lovely companion is Miss Constance Bennett and I believe most of you are acquainted with my friend Rafael. It is a very special honor for me to be here tonight. Again, thank you all for coming. We look forward to seeing you inside.” With that, security opened the door, Tom ushered me in followed closely by Raf, who snapped a couple more photos with his phone.

  When we passed successfully through the metal detectors at the door, a young lady in black slacks and vest over a white shirt asked if she might take my wrap. Although I hated to be parted from it, I figured it would be safer with her. She gave me a claim check, which I stowed it inside my little bag. The maître d, an older gentleman dressed in a somber black tux, led the way down the corridor and into the banquet hall.

  Our round table looked like it would seat about ten people. Towering above was a huge, and by huge, I mean gigantic, floral arrangement set in a slender, vintage, moss covered urn. I immediately saw the benefit. People seated at the table could still see and speak to one another easily as the fullness of the flowers was elevated above head height. Very practical and well planned.

  The arrangements were lovely in shades of red, white, and blue. The colors of the Arkansas flag as well as those of the United States. Red roses formed spires, while white tulips on arched stems draped artfully with the intense blue of hydrangea adding fullness. Each of the twenty tables had a slightly different but complimenting centerpiece. The tables covered in white linen with crystal goblets at the ready, had been arranged with a clear view of the raised dais.