by C. L. Quinn
Finally, he slipped off his bike and walked to the stone wall to look over the edge. It was earlier than it had been last night when he’d stopped, the moon higher in the sky tonight, the waves a little wilder. But the beach was empty. No beautiful naked woman.
It was just as well. In his pragmatic world, dreams didn’t come true. A man did his job as well as he could and hoped to have a little peace at the end of the day.
Jack hopped up to sit on the wall, his legs dangling over the side, and watched the waves break against the shore. It sure was pretty here.
His own house he’d bought six months ago sat elevated much like this with a great view of the sea below. He had yet to fully furnish it. Hell, there weren’t even any coverings on the windows. The house was over a hundred years old and featured no tech updates, which he found comforting. If he wanted hot coffee, he actually had to heat water on a stovetop. That, he found satisfying.
His thoughts returned to Ben. What the hell could he have gotten himself into? Why was he secretive about it? Ben should know he could tell his brother anything. Whatever it was, Jack would find out and deal with it. He was closer to Ben than anyone else in this world, so it was his job to protect him. Had been, from the moment his father had brought the two year old boy home and stood him in front of a ten year old Jack.
“This is your brother, boy. It’s our job to take care of him now. You look out for him, you hear me?” Elias had told him. Since that moment, Jack always had.
An hour earlier down the beach
The same waves that crashed against the shore that Jack watched, also crashed against the shore in front of Donovan’s beach house, long ago refitted for vampire residence, where Ife rose from bed.
Stretching, her arms over her head, she yawned.
What a beautiful evening! Being a child of the moon, she could tolerate brief exposure to late and early sun’s rays, so, rising, Ife slipped on a white sari wrap and wandered from the fully shielded bedroom to a balcony beyond to watch the final fingers of magenta paint the fading blue.
Since she’d been here, she loved the morning and evening skies, which had been consumed by trees most of her long life. In Zambia, their village buried in the forest, and now in the Amazon on low lying ground bordered by trees and mountains, she’d rarely been somewhere she could see to the horizon. Here, at sea level, so near to the place where land and sea and sky met, her heart and soul felt at home.
“This is like a dream world,” she announced aloud, sad to see the last bright colors fade as the moon, so high in the sky already, pushed toward the same place as the sun. Her feet ached to feel the warm sand again, so after preparing her first meal, Ife filled a large wine glass to the rim with MoonShine and bounded down the balcony steps to sink her bare feet into the soft grains.
She’d been surrounded by so many people all of her life, it was taking some adjustment to the quiet stillness. The waves never stopped, nor the roar they created, but other than that, she felt strange. Not lonely, never that, but just unsettled without other people nearby. It didn’t mean she wasn’t enjoying the unusual peacefulness.
Taking a generous sip of the wine, she smiled as she slid a hand down her throat to linger above her nipples. Not that she would mind the company of an attractive man. She’d been horny as hell for the last several days. Looking up to the steep incline that shadowed the road behind her house, she thought about the masculine presence she’d felt last night.
He’d watched her as she lay undressed on the sand. When she realized that someone was there, she’d pushed up to search the cliffs, and she’d seen his shape, but he was too far away and it was too dark to make out his appearance. Her empathic skill, though, so isolated out here, had zoned in on him and it had caused an unexpected sexual response.
As she’d lain in bed trying to sleep this morning, she found herself wondering who he was, curious to see his face and eyes. She could tell a lot about a person from their eyes.
Maybe it was time to head into town tonight. Past due for her blood meal, she needed to attend to it and resupply her food stock. Donovan had directed her to a restaurant that served wonderful local fare, and she had yet to try it.
Finishing off the wine, Ife meandered down the beach, and decided to go into town shortly.
“Maybe I’ll find someone interesting there.”
Brigitte would laugh at her and tell her to “just fuck some guy.”
Ife had never had the easygoing attitude toward sex most of her siblings and companions did. And sex, while pleasurable, had never driven her like her sister. Bridge couldn’t go two days without sex. Many times, Ife had been envious of Brigitte’s comfortable addiction to sex.
“I need to learn to relax and enjoy myself more. Yes, my sisters, I know I work too hard. Uh, oh, I’m talking to myself too much. It really is time to go into town and meet some people here in Oregon.”
Racing up the stairs, Ife refilled the glass with wine, still in a mood to embrace the sea air surrounded by only rushing waters and an occasional seabird. Her eyes went to the stretch of beach that led to where she’d seen the man who, just by his presence, fascinated her.
“Well it couldn’t hurt to take a stroll once more.”
Up on the stone wall, his whisky flask in his hand again, Jack sipped slowly, because at some point, he was probably going to go back to HQ, and one thing Elias did not tolerate was a hunter on the job drunk. A few more sips, a moment more to try to find some solace, and he’d head in. The calm grace of the moonlit night and the idea of his female vision of perfection brought a smile to his soiled soul.
The disappointment stung. If she’d been here, he was going to take San’s suggestion and go down to meet her. Boldness had never been a problem for any of the Remington men. It came with the job. Besides, she was a hell of a motivation.
But she wasn’t here and it was unlikely he’d ever see her again. Wind driven, the waves continued to crash against the shore, the caps illuminated by satin-glazed light. Before he left, though, he wanted to go down there.
Recapping the flask, he found the access trail beside the lookout to move down the hillside. Just before he hit the beach, Jack slipped off his boots, sliding his knife from a pocket in the right boot into his hip pocket, and walked onto the shifting sand, wiggling his toes into the mushy surface. He remembered a few days by the beach about ten years ago and how good it felt to walk barefoot on loose sand.
Just standing still while the cool water sluiced over his feet, Jack watched the lazy waves, and released a long breath.
“God, I really need this.”
“I sense that you do.”
He must have conjured that sexy breathy voice he heard. He must have, right?
Turning to look behind him, the answer was no. His vision from last night stood so near he could hear her dress flapping in the heavy breeze.
She looked like his memory, perfect, lovely, except that last night that dress had covered the sand and not those breasts his eyes dropped to for just a split-second before he lifted them back to hers.
“Hi.” What else could he say?
“Hi,” the vision responded. She stared at him for a few seconds before she laughed softly. “I saw you last night, on the hill, watching me.”
She had? Fuck.
“Sorry. It’s just… I’d stopped to take a break and eat a sandwich. Once I saw you…”
Jack let his eyes drop and then looked back into hers, which he found more mesmerizing the longer he stared into them. She was smaller than he was by six or seven inches, but that body, so near, the curves, barely hidden by thin fabric pushed against her by a willing wind…damn!
“Look, there wasn’t any chance I could look away.”
Jack’s grin widened, like that of an unapologetic boy being scolded for doing something he shouldn’t. “I’m a guy and you’re, well, stunning.”
He thought she might chastise him, but she shook that cloud of hair back from her face while the wind tore at it
.
“I’m not offended. The naked body is a beautiful thing.”
Tit-for-tat, Ife let her eyes move over the stranger’s form. Human, but extraordinarily fit. Jeans too tight, but she liked that, his tee shirt looser, but still showed powerful arms. “I’d look too. Care to reciprocate?”
Naughty, she thought. At first she meant it as a joke, but the moment she said it, she realized she’d quite like to see him take her up on it.
Jack stepped back, his eyes locked on Ife’s face. “Um, that would be a bad idea. It’s been some time since I… Let’s just say it isn’t wise.”
“I’m not your type?”
“Oh, fuck, gorgeous, you are any man’s type. You’re a goddess, and I don’t use words like that easily. I don’t mind saying you’re way too good for the likes of me, but you are all kinds of my type. I do apologize, though, for letting my eyes linger on you so long. I invaded your privacy. I don’t apologize for enjoying it.”
Ife kicked the water as she moved closer to the surf, her arms out to her side to feel the early evening air.
“It’s all right. I really don’t mind.”
Jack watched her wading like a child, the bright white hair flowing around her. It had looked white from above, but he’d thought it would really be blonde. It was, though, a brilliant cotton-cloud white. Everything about her seemed surreal.
“Ah. Well, I still took advantage.” He followed her. “It’s peaceful here.”
“Very.” The wind strengthened, whipping her long hair enough that she finally corralled it with one hand. She turned to face him and Jack received what he thought was the full force of her charm.
“I’m Ife.”
“Jack.”
“Nice to meet you, Jack. Do you live here near the sea?”
“I live outside of Florence, although I travel a lot on business, so I’m not home much.”
“That’s sad. I understand, though, I’ve done the same.”
Jack couldn’t take his eyes off her as she wandered deeper into the water.
He was certain he’d never seen a more beautiful woman. Her eyes were so pale, he wondered if they were white too.
When he realized she was looking at him again, he couldn’t help it, he moved nearer. “It is lovely…here.”
Ife kept her gaze on Jack, forcing self-control. Relaxed, happy, the presence of this erotically-charged man in front of her so unexpectedly, she wanted to push him down and crawl on top of him. Unaccustomed to urgent desire, she wasn’t sure what to do. She knew what her sister Brigitte would say…go ahead, fuck the guy!
What was it about this man that made her want him so? Probably her blood need and the fact that she hadn’t had sex in eight months, maybe a year? Plus, he was extremely attractive, and it was obvious he found her so as well.
Still, Ife often hesitated at the idea of sex with a stranger. She let her empathic talent roam toward him. His aura was pale, with broken edges and a charcoal smokiness.
He was a good man who lived a hard life. He loved what he did, but she sensed sorrow, hurt, a tenderness in him that he constantly stomped away to do what he needed to do. A gentle soul where gentleness had no place in his life.
This man needed something to hold onto so that he didn’t lose himself. Before she let herself understand the consequences, she told him what she felt.
“You need to seek solace. Jack, you’re fighting on two fronts against your own nature, because you feel you have to. You must pay attention to the man you truly are inside.”
She shouldn’t have told him, she knew it, but it just flew out. What was he supposed to do with that kind of odd statement from a woman who didn’t know him at all? She watched his expression shutter, his eyes lift to the ocean to break his gaze.
“That’s, uh, kind of specifically non-specific. Are you psychic or something?”
Ife moved closer to place her hand on the big man’s chest, partially to gain a better connection, but mostly because she really wanted to touch him. Her fingers slid against his smooth cotton shirt, but it wasn’t enough, so she curled them around the V of the neckline so that her fingertips slid beneath to touch his skin.
Instantly, she knew it was exactly what they both wanted, and a mistake. Her libido shot into hyperdrive. She wanted him, and based on his rough breathing, she knew she could have him. It wouldn’t require compulsion to take him to her bed. The problem was, she also wanted his blood, and this kind of desire, an inescapable need to taste a particular person’s blood, had never happened to her before.
Snatching her hand away, she reconnected their gazes. She should use compulsion to send him away. The moment she looked into his eyes again, the impulse to do so died.
Why shouldn’t she enjoy him? He wanted her too, so where was the harm? Her siblings and friends did it all the time, sex for pleasure, blood for food, then send the darlings on their way. For vampires, sexual needs were ingrained in their DNA.
He’d asked her if she was psychic or something.
“I’m something. Jack, would you like to join me at my house? I have some exceptional wine and food. Whisky if it’s your preference.”
She could have knocked him over with a breath. Was she asking him to come to her place? Was she…? It didn’t matter, he was in. All the fucking way in with anything she wanted.
“Uh, yeah. I’m a fan of whisky.”
“Then you will enjoy my stock.”
Nodding, Ife started toward Donovan’s house when she felt his hand on her arm.
“Just in case you didn’t know, you had me long before you offered the whisky.”
Two
Ife led Jack into the house, completely un-shuttered now, all the windows and doors open to the sea, the breeze following them into the cozy beach-style house that sat on stilts so near the water.
“This house belongs to a close friend. I’m here on a vacation. That’s an odd word, isn’t it? Va-ca-tion. Hmm. Anyway, it’s my first time doing this.”
“Your first vacation? Ever?”
“Yes. My life is busy. Richly rewarding, but my responsibilities are diverse, expansive, and quite vital to the survival of the planet’s health. I could never stay away for long.”
“I know what you mean. My vocation is the same. Sort of. Not quite as grandiose as your job sounds, but important nonetheless. What is it that you do?”
“I guess you could say I’m a master botanist.”
“That sounds cool. Fulfilling, I imagine.”
“It is.” She led him into the large lower-level living area. “Please, Jack, make yourself at home. I have some nice labels if you’d care to look.”
Stepping around her to a white-washed wood cabinet that held at least thirty bottles of Scotch, he released a low whistle. “I don’t know what to try. This is all top shelf stuff, and I’m more accustomed to the bottom of the bottom shelf. You know, drinking to get the buzz.”
“Then allow me to choose a couple of my favorites for you.”
Ife opened up three of the bottles and poured a generous amount into three crystal glasses, all of which made Jack aware that he was completely out of his comfort zone in this kind of environment. He was certain it was going to be an interesting night.
“And you, Jack, what do you do?” People’s stories always fascinated Ife.
“It’s a family business. Troubleshooting problems. Boring shit, but we help a lot of people.” Safe answer.
“Nothing can be more satisfying.” She held up one of the glasses. “Well, then, to kindred spirits.”
They tapped the glasses in an awkward toast.
After a quick sip, Jack tilted his head. “Oh, yeah, that’s excellent. Thank you.”
His eyes dropped to the white sari still wet from their wade into the sea. The water had reached just above her waist, and the lower part of the dress, soaked, clung to her body, almost transparent. The fabric framed smooth slim thighs, a curved butt, and the shadowed area between her legs.
“Um, do you
want to change?”
“No, it’ll dry. I’ve no need to cover up, Jack. We’re going to have sex soon, so there’s nothing to hide. I am right that you’re interested, aren’t I?”
Straightforward. He hadn’t expected that, but it worked for him on every level. Oh, fuck, yes, he was. Tamping down his answer to a more respectful level, he looked her in the eyes, which he could see now were an unusual pale lakewater blue.
“I would very much like to have sex with you. Probably right now.”
Sliding close, Ife lifted up on her toes and kissed him softly on the lips, almost no pressure, but she left him burning just the same.
“Soon, yes, but not yet. I truly would like to get to know something about you. Come onto the balcony with me.”
Grabbing two of the glasses of Scotch she’d poured for him, Jack did as she asked and dropped into a wide wicker chair across from an identical one.
Ife pulled her legs up and he nearly lost it when the dress split and he could briefly see her crotch. Waiting was going to be harder than he imagined.
“So,” he said, trying to distract himself. “How long are you staying here? Where do you go back to?”
At first, Ife didn’t answer him, she just stared at him for several long seconds before she set her own glass down and left the chair. Kneeling in front of him, her hands on his knees, she leaned in.
“Forgive me, but I think this will go easier if we get something out of the way.”
Her lips now inches from his, she looked into Jack’s eyes, then touched her lips to his again, but this time, Jack pulled her up onto his lap and deepened the kiss. His tongue pushed in, doing what his cock was already begging to do, and scored her mouth, his hands sliding beneath the sari where it split and let his fingers have access to her ass. He pulled her as close as possible while the kiss became so erotic, their tongues entwined, lips locked, that he almost laid her there on the wood decking and released his cock from its strangled prison in his tight jeans.