A quarter to midnight, Allana came back to me holding two glasses of champagne. She offered one to me, so I abandoned the other glass.
“Have you finished your hostess duties for the night?”
“Yes. Nico is pouring more champagne for the toast.”
“You’ve done great. Everyone is fat and happy. Especially me.”
“I’ve seen you naked. And I can say with utmost confidence that you don’t have any fat on you.”
“Coming from a fitness guru, that’s a pretty good compliment for a software engineer. We’re not known for our buff muscles.”
“Guru,” she repeated with a snort. “Hardly. It must be all the rock shows that keep you in shape. I’ve seen the way you jump all over the place onstage. Must be some cardio. You work up quite a sweat.”
“I aim to entertain.” I bowed.
Nico turned down the music and said, “Everyone have a glass of champagne or something else to toast with?”
A lot of murmurs of agreement followed. He turned on the television, tuned in to a station airing the celebration, and then put it on mute. Lily handed out horns and other noisemakers. When the numbers flashed on screen, we counted down along with the clock from ten to one.
“Happy New Year!”
We cheered and blew horns. I dropped the spinning device Lily had given me. I pulled Allana into my arms and leaned her back as I planted my lips on hers. She held on to me as she responded with a fiery passion. This was unlike any New Year kiss I’d ever experienced. No awkwardness, no pressure of things to come, just one amazing night with Allana.
Just one night.
It excited me to bits, no doubt. I was going home with a beautiful woman who had kept me in a semi-erect state all night. But why did it also leave me with a sort of emptiness? As if I was missing out on something more.
After the midnight celebration, guests began to leave. Allana and I helped bring plates in off the dining room table, especially the food that was perishable. I ended up with Nico in the kitchen area while Allana talked to Lily.
“Look at you loading up the dishwasher,” I teased. “The rock singer domesticated.”
“Ha ha,” he said, loading plates. “Sounds like the bad tag line for a reality show.”
“Totally,” I agreed. “I can see it now. Follow the band from the tour bus to the stage and then to their lives at home.”
“Except in our case, it’s still a tour van.” He closed the dishwasher. “Moving on up slowly in the rock ‘n’ roll world.”
“I wouldn’t want to be in a reality show, anyway. Who would want people in their business? Why do all those celebrities do it?”
“No kidding. Lily would freak out if I even joked about it.”
Nico nodded to where Allana and Lily were chatting in the living room. “What’s up with you and Ally?”
“We’re getting along smashingly.”
“You are?” Nico squinted. “You mean a woman who you slept with is still talking to you? Shocking.”
“I know. She’s a good one.”
“I thought you drove them all off.”
“I do. And I did with her. But apparently she’s not impervious to my natural charms.”
“Or, she’s had too much to drink and lost all sense.”
“For shame, Nico. For shame,” I exaggerated. “As if a woman would have to be drunk to sleep with me.”
Nico let out a doubtful laugh. “You mean some aren’t?”
Ally
Lily pulled me aside in the kitchen. In a low voice, she asked, “Are you sure you want to go home with him?” Lily asked.
“Yeah, I’m sure. Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because before tonight, you were pissed at him for not remembering who you were.”
“I know.” I broke eye contact and cast my eyes on a sparkly New Year’s noisemaker on the counter. “I’m over that already. It was one night months ago, and he’s not good with names.”
When I glanced at her again, Lily narrowed her eyes. “Did he put some kind of weird voodoo spell on you or something?” She waved her hand for emphasis.
“No. Not at all.”
“I don’t get why you’d hook up with him again.”
Since I’d been trying to justify this to myself the past couple of hours, I had a ready response. “Well, if you must know. One—I get the keys to my studio tomorrow and I’m kind of freaked out. Rather than tossing and turning all night worrying, I’d rather toss and turn doing something a little more fun. Two—we’d already hooked up once before, the chemistry was great, and since we’d already slept together, it doesn’t count. And three—he’s hot as hell. Being around him turns me on so much, I—”
“Okay, okay. I get it.” Lily’s brows tightened in a concerned expression. “Be careful, though. You know what he’s like.”
“I do. And I’m taking advantage of the situation. One night. No strings attached. I don’t have time for anything else in my life right now. Tomorrow, we’ll go our separate ways.” When her expression turned doubtful, I asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because I remember you saying something similar over the summer. And that didn’t stop you from getting hurt when you ran into him at Vamps.”
“I wasn’t hurt.” Glancing away, I crossed my arms across my chest. “I was as humiliated as anyone would be running into someone they’d slept with who didn’t remember them.”
Lily sighed. “I think I should try to talk you out of this, but something tells me I’d be wasting my time.”
“Don’t worry about me, Lil. I’m a big girl. I’m going to have one last night of fun before I bury myself in my business. No harm done.”
After we said our goodbyes, Mike and I left in his car, a black Ford Mustang. He lived about fifteen minutes from Lily and Nico’s, but with the way he drove—like a grandma on a Sunday afternoon—it would take us twice as long.
“You realize this road is a fifty mile-per-hour limit?” I said. “You’re not even going forty.”
His knuckles were white clutching the steering wheel. “Tons of drunk drivers are out. And I want to get you to my place in one piece.”
“Are you always this protective of women in your chariot?”
“No. I have far too many speeding tickets to my name. But, I lost a friend in high school to a drunk driver on New Year’s Eve.”
“Oh.” A pang of compassion hit me. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. Like I told you, I’ve had this compulsion to protect you since the Viking guy entrusted you into my care.”
“It’s really strange,” I said. “You don’t have to worry about me anymore. Whatever danger was there is gone, and I can take care of myself.”
“I’m sure you can, but humor me, okay?” His grip relaxed, and he inched up near forty-five miles an hour. “I’m accelerating. Are you happy?”
“Yes.” I smiled and reached my hand on his thigh. “I’m looking forward to getting to your place.” I rubbed in light circles, working my way up.
A guttural sound escaped him and he leaned back. I reached up to stroke his promising erection.
“Good God, don’t do that now, woman. I’ve had a semi-hard-on all night. If you touch me like that, I might not be able to woo you with my—”
“Velvet cock?” I giggled.
“Exactly.” A roguish smile crept over his face. “I like the way you say that.”
I kissed him on the cheek and whispered, “Say what—velvet cock?” making sure to stretch the syllables long and low. I sat back in my seat.
“God woman, you’re killing me.” He adjusted his pants. After several seconds, he asked, “Who was that woman you were with at Vamps?”
I straightened. The strangeness of that night still perplexed me. “No idea. She looked familiar, like I may have seen her there before. But, I don’t really remember how we ended up backstage. We just ended up fooling around.”
He glanced at me, eyes wide, and turned
back to focus on the road. “Then I am a lucky guy indeed to have witnessed it.” He grinned. “What about the Viking guy?”
I shrugged. “I’ve seen him at the club. Maybe he’s a bouncer.”
Mike scrunched his face as he thought. I reached over and ran my fingers through his chestnut waves. “Forget them—that night’s over. And we just celebrated a new year, which means a new start.”
“Right,” he agreed. “Big year ahead for you.”
I glanced at the cars moving in the opposite direction. “And you? Any specific plans?”
“We’re recording a new album, so we’ll spend a lot of time this winter working on it. Which is fine by me, we’ll be indoors rather than traveling from club to club.”
I glanced at his profile. It was strong and rugged with his facial hair. “Will it be like the other albums?”
“Yes and no. I have a feeling since Nico is in love with Lily he’s going to bring more of a romantic element to the lyrics.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Yeah, why not?” He grinned. “Ladies love that. And although they don’t admit it, the guys do, too. Big romantic softies at heart.”
“I can’t see Chee Keydood as a big romantic softie.”
“True. Not his style.” He turned at me with an earnest expression. “But Chee Keydood is a stage persona. One with zero depth. He’s not me.”
“I understand,” I replied.
As if insisting on the point, he added, “He’s not real.”
“I know.”
“Do you?” he asked. “Who are you expecting to go home with tonight? The rock guitarist from the Velvet Cocks?”
Something I hadn’t thought of. I’d had the rock star fantasy last summer, but kind of liked this other version of him. It was more real. I put my hand on his knee. “No you—Michael Rodrigo Harvey—the guy who acts aloof, but took care of me, even when I was a stranger. I find that admirable.”
Although he faced the road, his profile revealed how he lit up. A blink later, he wiped the emotion away, turning stone-faced.
“This conversation is getting a little too deep for a one-night stand.” He turned and flashed a wide grin, more Chee than Mike. “I’ve been thinking about the things I want to do to you all night. And it’s time we get that started.”
Chapter 4
Nike
After the incident with the woman at Vamps, I’d been avoiding Michel, ashamed at what I’d done. We’d just closed for the night at Rock Hard Climbing, the indoor rock climbing center he owned, and I summoned the courage to confide in him.
He held open my black duster for me and then put on a black peacoat that suited him well. The cool winter night didn’t affect me the way it used to, but I’d take warmth over a brisk bite.
“You’re trembling.” He put his hands on my shoulders and rubbed them.
I leaned against the brick wall and bit my lip. “Michel, I’ve done something wrong. But I don’t understand exactly what I’ve done.”
“What is it?” His eyes darkened with a flicker of concern.
I’d put off telling him until the guilt became too heavy to bear. “When you were here the other night, I went to Vamps.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you ask me or Maya to go with you?”
That would have been the sensible thing to do if I had any sense that night. “I don’t know. Something came over me.”
Michel’s expression was unreadable.
“Let’s walk.” He took my hand and led me down the sidewalk.
Not having to look into his eyes as I confessed what happened made it easier. Michel always knew instinctively what I needed.
“What happened?”
Staring ahead at an intersection where two cars had stopped, I stammered, “I-I was filled with a compulsion. A need.”
“A need for what?”
“B-blood.”
A groan rumbled from deep within his chest. “I was afraid you’d say that.”
“That’s not all, Michel.”
I peeked over to see him run his fingers over his chin stubble, what he did when something troubled him. He appeared to age ten years in seconds. No small feat for a vampire. I hated being the cause of his distress.
“Start from the beginning, Nike, and tell me everything.”
“I don’t know if you’ll understand it. It was an overwhelming compulsion to be with this woman.”
“Of course I understand.” He squeezed my shoulder and then turned to face me. “Sexually?”
“Yes.” I nodded, averting my eyes to focus on a crack in the sidewalk. “And drink from her.”
Michel’s hand returned to stroke his chin. “You felt a thirst.”
It didn’t sound like a question, but I answered. “It was awful. I couldn’t control it. My fangs emerged again and—” Taking a deep breath, I admitted, “I bit her.”
“Nike.” He blinked and kept his eyes closed for an agonizing second.
I’m not sure he knew what else to say. Ever since I’d been bitten by one of Michel’s enemies, I’d experienced symptoms. Sunlight bothered me, but it didn’t burn me like it did him. It wouldn’t kill me.
Michel had bitten many humans in his long history as a vampire, but as far as he knew, they didn’t experience the symptoms I had. He’d never brought anyone over. Since I hadn’t been drained of blood and forced to drink any of his enemy’s blood, I wasn’t converted. I remained human as far as we could discern. So, why did I have these symptoms? Ones that had come on quickly then abated, but now grew in intensity again.
“Did you drain her?” he asked.
“No!” I replied. “I didn’t kill her.”
“You were able to control your thirst?” He appeared relieved.
“Um, not exactly.” My cheeks burned as guilt resurfaced.
Michel furrowed his brows, as if waiting for me to elaborate.
“Danton stopped me,” I said.
“The gargoyle?” His eyes widened.
“Yes.”
“Ah,” He nodded. “He’s taken on shifts as a bouncer at Vamps in human form. Mostly to protect Tracy, I think.”
“Well, he protected another woman, too. From me.” I pointed at my chest. “I’m the threat. A gargoyle you brought here had to protect someone from me.” My shoulders sagged. “Can you believe it? Me?”
“Nike, the thirst is difficult to control, but not impossible. You’ll learn to manage it.”
“But, I’m not a vampire. Not like you, at least.” I threw my hands up. “What the fuck am I?”
“A wonderful woman whom I love and will do anything to protect.”
“I’m turning into a monster.” The thirst started as a tickle in the back of my throat months ago, but grew stronger with time.
“Never,” he said. “Don’t ever think that.”
“It’s true.” I grabbed a lock of hair and twisted it around my finger. “If Danton didn’t stop me, I don’t know what would have happened.”
“You would have quenched the thirst and stopped.”
I gave him a flat stare. “I could have killed her.”
“You wouldn’t have.” He ran his fingers over the back of my neck, tipping my head back so I looked at his face. “You would have found a way to stop.”
Unconvinced, I shook my head. “I wanted her.”
“The desire for sex and blood is so close for vampires, they’re almost intertwined.”
“I’ve never seen you lose control.”
Michel gazed off. “I’ve been a vampire for long enough to control the urge.”
I raised my hands and dropped them. “We should just finish it, Michel. What does it matter at this point? I’m already tainted.”
We’d had this conversation countless times. Michel dreaded the idea of bringing me over. I didn’t really want to become the undead myself, but the pull was growing too strong to ignore.
“Don’t talk like that, Nike. Whateve
r is going on, we’ll figure it out.”
Would we? We’d traveled much of Europe after I’d been bitten, to keep me from hurting loved ones and to search for answers, which we did not find. My reaction was uncommon. Some even suggested it was all in my head as a way to identify with Michel.
That didn’t explain how I’d grown fangs.
Jackasses.
“We’ve searched so long already and found nothing.” I waved my hand in a circle with frustration. “I’m afraid the only answer is I’m some sort of mutant vampire freak.”
“I will never give up on you.” He took my hand and gazed at me, imploring me to listen. “Don’t you, either.”
“I’m trying not to.”
“You’re a fighter. You always have been. Your career was fighting fires, for hell’s sake, before all this happened.” He tilted my chin up. “Fight it, Nike. Stay with me.”
Some tension that had clamped around my lungs loosened. Michel didn’t find my actions a betrayal. Yet, still, the question about what was happening to me remained.
I took a steely breath. “I’ll try.”
But, would I succeed? The thirst had been growing, blinding me. Was it only a matter of time before the hunger won?
Ally
Mike parked in the driveway of a Cape Cod house painted white with green shutters.
“This is where you live?”
It appeared normal for someone who sported plated armor tunics while stomping on stage in giant boots and strumming an electric guitar painted like a dragon. I thought of other women who had been here before me and likely experienced the same reaction. A pang of jealousy shot through me, but I quickly buried that emotion. What was the point? It would only serve to undermine my plan for one hot night before I buried myself in my business.
“Mi casa.”
“I thought there would be fire-breathing dragon statues or something like that.”
He grinned. “I like that idea.” He leaned over and kissed me lightly.
That slightest brush of his lips ignited my need. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him more deeply. We clutched each other with urgency and ended up spread across the front seat like a couple of overheated teens.
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