It had taken me most of the afternoon to finish my mountain of work, and I was craving that four o’clock drink. As I drove toward the bar, I thought of all that stolen blood. How fucking hard would it be for me to give a rat’s ass and actually do something good for a change? With that thought, I made a u-turn, which was no easy feat at the corner of Grant and California, and headed south to the closest blood blank I knew of.
I parked my car in a metered spot and put an hour’s worth of time on my credit card. I strolled into the small building, took a form from the receptionist, and sat down to fill it out. Fifteen minutes later, someone called my name.
A cute little thing in a pink-flowered medical outfit led me back to an empty cot, similar to an exam table you’d find in a doctor’s office.
“Have you ever given blood before?” she asked.
“No,” I replied, remembering when Chelle had taken my blood straight from my wrist so she would heal faster. That was different, I reminded myself. “Where does the blood go from here? I mean, who gets it?”
“It depends. It goes to whoever needs it the most. Now, you just sit back and relax. There’s nothing to it. Try to think about something else.” She pricked my arm, and I watched the blood flow into a bag. It looked exactly like the bags Chelle and the other vampires drank from. I shrugged it off, leaned back, and closed my eyes. Several minutes later, she was removing the needle from my arm and offering me a chocolate chip cookie. I took the cookie and thanked her. As I was leaving, I saw a man toward the back who’d just arrived, taking off his coat, getting ready for the nightshift I presumed. He wore a green medical laboratory outfit. He turned toward me and I just about choked on the cookie.
“Josh?” he called out when he saw me.
“Grayson. Hi.”
“Did you just donate blood?”
“I, uh…yeah. Doing my part to help replenish from the robberies, I guess.” I ran my hand through my hair. Seeing him there made me nervous.
“That’s kind of you.”
I wanted to ask him how Chelle was, but that would only make me want to go see her.
“What are you doing here? This is a normal Red Cross blood bank, right?”
He smiled. “It is. And blood gets donated to whoever needs it the most.”
“Seriously? You’re still stealing blood for…vampires?” I whispered that last part so no one would hear me.
He frowned. Taking my arm, he led me into another room and shut the door. “Not stealing. Vampires like Cian and Lane make substantial donations to the Red Cross in exchange for blood. Their money helps buy supplies the Red Cross would never be able to afford. Things to help many cities during emergencies from natural disasters and such. Without their donations, a lot of people would go without. I’m sorry if you think that is wrong. But I assure you, nothing is being stolen.”
I nodded and munched on the cookie. “The only problem is no one knows their blood is possibly going to a vampire instead of a human.”
“Does that really matter? Before a vampire became a vampire, they were once human. Do you really care which unfortunate being receives your blood once it leaves your body?”
“No, not me. But somebody might.”
He laughed. “I think you’re grasping at straws to find something wrong with this so that you feel better about your decision to leave Chelle.”
“What? That’s crazy.”
“Is it? It’s nice to see you again, Josh. Thanks for your donation. Maybe we’ll see you in here again.” He patted me on the shoulder and walked away.
Fuck me. I took a deep breath then headed for the door, snatching another cookie on my way. By the time I got to the bar, it was almost six. As if my car had a mind of its own, I drove right passed Clint’s bar and parked in the lot next to the café. I could wait until I got home to have that drink.
Chapter Forty-Six
Chelle
“You’re mine and I’m yours, forever,” Josh says as he trails his tongue along the underside of my calf. His kisses are sweet, methodical, and loving as he works his way up my thigh. “I’ll never let you go, baby,” he huffs, his breath laden with desire.
My breath hitches when his talented tongue glides over my clitoris. The tingle makes me buck my hips and groan as he pleasures me. Life with him is so much like heaven. When his lips graze up my stomach and settle at the vein at my throat, I brace myself for the tantalizing prick of his fangs.
I struggled for air, grasping at the emptiness in my arms. Josh wasn’t on top of me, nor were his fangs—that he didn’t possess—sinking sweetly into my neck. Sweat beaded between my breasts. I shoved off the heavy comforter and ripped the thin nightgown from my body, throwing it to the floor.
I stood as the heavy iron shades rose with a hum as the motor cranked them open. The sun had gone down, and it was once again evening. I bet Josh would be at the bar where I’d first met him. After three months, I still couldn’t shake thoughts of him. Dreams like the one I’d just had were all I had left. When we were together, he’d told me that the bar had been a nightly routine, one he’d been glad to give up to be with me. I pictured him there now, playing pool with that biker. I smiled at the memory.
I’d thought I was in love with Lane, but that had only been a misguided affection. It was nothing like the way I yearned for Josh.
I ached to have him in my arms again.
Was I doomed to pine for Jose Barrett for the rest of eternity? Lucky him, he was human, his suffering would only last sixty or seventy years, while mine would last forever. But then, maybe he wasn’t suffering. Maybe he didn’t feel the same for me as I felt for him. If he had, he never would have walked out on me that day.
He certainly hadn’t loved me enough to want the most precious thing I could give him. My blood. But his blood was in me, and for as long as he lived, his essence would always taunt me.
Fuck that.
I had a life to live. And it was a pretty damn good one, too, if I were any judge. I lived in a beautiful mansion, surrounded by beautiful people, correction, vampires, but no matter. We were family. I came and went as I pleased, I answered to no one. I wanted for nothing. I owed nothing. Josh Barrett was in the past, and he no longer had any control over my feelings.
I turned at the knock on the door.
“Come in.”
Maggie graced me with a smile. “Tomorrow night is a full moon. Tonight, everyone is going out to hunt and then meeting later at the club.”
I nodded with a renewed spirit and returned her smile. “Okay. I’ll be there.” I hadn’t been out of the house since Josh walked out. I’d been pathetic. I should have been enjoying the new relationship I had with my dad instead of wondering where Josh was, what Josh was doing, what Josh was thinking, blah, blah, blah. Tonight, that was all changing.
“Good. I’m glad. It will be fun.”
“Yeah. We’ll celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?”
I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and we stood facing the window. It was a beautiful night, perfect in fact. The almost full moon hung low and bright in the sky with no clouds to hinder the view of it or the stars.
“Tonight, I start a new life. I am a new woman. No more moping around, feeling sorry for myself. I’ve given enough of my twenty-first year to men who clearly don’t have a clue about who I am.”
She hugged me. “This is the best news. Everyone has been so worried about you.”
“No need to worry about me anymore. My new motto is ‘this girl is all about fun.’ I’ll meet up with you all at the club later, right now, I’m going to call my dad. I think he could use a night out, too.”
“Perfect.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Josh
I sat in the booth Chelle and I’d spent time in on several occasions, thinking about what Grayson had said. Remembering the first time I’d seen him, and the way Chelle and he had stared at each other in the diner, not knowing who they were or what they’d meant to each other. I
t was a small world.
The memories of it all caused me to lose my appetite.
Fuck. I threw the menu down on the table, headed toward the door, and took off for my car. My stride was interrupted when a body, soft and feminine, slammed into me. With my hands on her shoulders, I held her steady, catching myself from the abrupt surprise. I gulped as I stared into Chelle’s beautiful blue eyes.
“Josh!”
My eyes traveled to her lips as they parted to speak. Plump, pink, and kissable.
“I…I’m sorry,” she stammered, my mind incapable of comprehending her words. I sucked in a breath, but air wouldn’t penetrate my lungs. My insides screamed with need. Something stirred deep down in my gut and let me know I’d been depriving my own animalistic urges. I’d been the catalyst in my own demise. Need swamped me like a muddy river. Deluged with elation that our worlds had collided once more, I couldn’t stop myself. I didn’t want to. My mouth covered hers with a heat hot enough to reignite the embers dormant inside my heart. Her arms shot up and around my neck, tugging me against her. I shoved her against the wall of the building to keep us from falling over. Her lips melted against mine, our tongues frantic for one another. Her leg rose up and wrapped around my thigh.
I was done for. What else did I have to live for? I needed her. I knew that now. Grayson had been right.
“I’m sorry,” I huffed out between kisses on her lips, her cheeks, her eyes. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
“Josh, I…”
“Don’t say anything. Just let me kiss you.” Her lips were mine for the moment, and I planned to devour them. I couldn’t bear it if she told me to stop. If she wouldn’t forgive me for walking out. I wouldn’t blame her, but I didn’t think I’d want to go on. I took and she gave. My hands roamed over every inch of the body I’d missed so much. The touch of her hands roving over my back and my waist, a feeling I didn’t ever want to forget.
We edged our way over to the back of the building by the rock where we’d had our first kiss, our first brush with lovemaking. Her hands frantically undid the button of my jeans then slipped up inside my t-shirt, kneading her fingers on my stomach and my chest. My cock grew harder and harder with each caress.
“I missed you,” I breathed against her chin then dragged my tongue down her neck all the way to the top of her pants.
My erection was like an iron bar against her thigh.
“I missed you, too.” She reached in my pants and grabbed hold, squeezing oh so firmly.
I growled through my teeth, wanting to be inside of her. I slipped my fingers down the front of her jeans and found her so wet already. I circled my finger over her nub until she cried out. “Shhhh, remember, we’re outside.”
She laughed. “I don’t care.”
“I care. I love you too much to share any part of you.”
“Oh, Josh, I’ve loved you for so long.”
Chelle shoved her pants down and straddled me much like that very first time, then she sank down, my cock easily slipping into the warmth of her core.
“Tell me what you want,” I said in a hushed voice. “I’ll do anything you want. I want to please you. I want you to take my vein.”
“We don’t have to do that,” she huffed.
“I’ve come to terms with it. I made a giant leap and gave blood today.”
She laughed against my mouth. “That’s not the same.”
“I know, that’s why I want it this way now. With you. It was nothing like when I gave you my blood. I want that feeling. So, yeah, this is what I want. I want that euphoric sensation with you again, except this time, I want the rest of the pleasure I’ve heard so much about.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very sure.”
“I love you, Josh.” I braced myself for the sting, but when her fangs pierced my skin, I barely felt it. In fact, it was only a tingle. Nothing like the bite when Lane had torn open my wrist. I knew now that he’d made it hurt more on purpose. But I quickly forgot about Lane, forgot about people mingling around, and closed my eyes, reveling in the pleasure as Chelle’s hips moved up and down and around while she sucked at the vein in my neck. My release came much sooner than I wanted. The intensity of the blissful wave that bowled through me was beyond tsunamic. The gentle sucking against my neck stopped, and Chelle licked over the spot.
“Thank you,” she huffed. “That’s enough for now, since you already gave blood today.”
When the frenzy of our lovemaking settled, she sighed against the corner of my mouth. I held her face in my hands and studied her. Her cheeks wet from tears and my kisses. “I hope those are happy tears.”
“They are. Believe me, they are.”
“I’ve been a fool. A stupid idiot, and I’ve wasted the past three months of our lives because of it. Please, can I take you home?” I whispered into her ear.
“Only if you stay until morning,” she breathed against my neck, warm and huskily.
“I’ll stay. I’ll stay for as long as you’ll have me.”
“I’ll have you forever, if I can.”
“Whatever you want, baby. I’m yours. I’ve been yours since that very first night when you captivated me with your beauty.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chelle
It had been difficult tearing ourselves away from each other long enough to drive to the mansion. I’d never expected to bump into Josh that way. I’d tried talking my dad out of meeting at the café, but he’d insisted.
Now in the car, I couldn’t bear to let go of Josh’s hand for fear that this was just another dream.
“Why did you come to the café tonight?” Josh asked.
I hesitated to answer. Would he be upset that I hadn’t come for him? I knew there would be a possibility of him being there. But I’d agreed anyway.
“To meet my dad,” I said. “He suggested we meet there since it was close to the clinic. Everyone is going out tonight. Tomorrow is a full moon. We don’t hunt on nights when there is a full moon.” He afforded me a sideways glance in question. “Werewolves,” I supplied. “We like to try to avoid them.”
“Okay, sure. Why not? If there are vampires and witches, why not werewolves?” he said, and I laughed as I noticed the white of his knuckles as his fingers clenched tightly around the steering wheel.
I placed my hand on his thigh, squeezing a bit, and he relaxed.
“I gave blood today,” Josh announced proudly again as he drove; a smug smile plastered on his face.
“Twice.”
“Yeah. How about that? It was no big deal, at the blood bank, I mean, not with you. With you, it was amazing.”
I sighed. Happiness coating every one of my cells.
“I saw Grayson there. At first, I was surprised. But the more I thought about it, what better way for vampires to get blood when they can’t, you know.”
“Take a vein,” I supplied. “He didn’t mention that he saw you.”
“He didn’t? Well, like I said, it was no big deal.”
“Hmmm…now I’m beginning to wonder.”
“What?”
“My dad. Why he insisted on meeting me at the café. He knew you’d be there. And then he didn’t even show up. I have to admit, my dad is sneaky.”
“I’m beginning to like your dad.”
I smiled a huge grin. I’d never been happier. My dad was alive, Josh was back with me, and I was finally able to embrace my vampirism. I was extremely happy to be alive.
Note to Readers
If you read this book before reading the first book, Tempted by a Vampire, that’s okay. There are no spoilers in this book, but if you want to go back and find out how Cian and Magdalena met, please check out Tempted by a Vampire. They can both be read as stand-alones, but if you’re a stickler for continuity, you should start with the first one.
Here’s a little insider secret about one of my cover models. In Tempted by a Vampire, I used my editor’s first name for a female character, Chelle. She loved the idea and when I
started writing Captivated by a Vampire, I asked her if I could use her picture for the cover since it was Chelle’s story. I was thrilled when she said yes. I think she’s beautiful and makes a wonderful Chelle.
And, if you loved this book, I’m positive you will love the first one as well.
You can find the first and second books on Amazon, and both are free with the Kindle Unlimited program.
Tempted by a Vampire, Book 1- Cian and Magdalena
Captivated by a Vampire, Book 2 – Chelle and Josh
Rocked by a Vampire, Book 3 – Lane and Vanessa – coming summer 2016
What’s next?
Throughout 2016, I have plans to publish three more books, maybe four if everything works out. I’ll be working on consecutive books in the Immortal Hearts of San Francisco and I have a contemporary series building, something completely different. It should be fun, and I’m looking forward to diving into that.
Right now, I am working on Rocked by a Vampire. Lane and Vanessa’s story and they are already keeping me up late at night with their shenanigans.
If you loved this book, please consider leaving a short review on Amazon, because reviews generate sales. So if you like my stories please help out by writing a review and I thank you in advance.
Please feel free to sign up for my newsletter so you can stay informed about contests and new releases. You can sign up at my website and each month I have a drawing for a winner to receive a signed print copy of one of my books.
Captivated by a Vampire: Billionaire, Rock Stars, Vampires in San Francisco (Immortal Hearts of San Francisco Book 2) Page 18