Latin Lover [Del Fantasma]

by Tina Bendoni

He thrust into her quickly and she screamed as she came around his hard shaft. He thrust into her again and again, her back propped against the wall of the shower as she came continuously, her body a ball of hot need. The last thing she was aware of his was his shouted, “Grace” as he shot his orgasm into her waiting body.

  Grace came to probably seconds later. Her body was still sandwiched between the tiles of the wall and Eduardo. Her breathing had slowed down a bit, her legs still locked around his waist.

  "Dios mio,” Eduardo groaned, leaning his forehead against her shoulder. “Never have I had a woman make me lose control so easily as you."

  "That's okay. I've never had a lover as, um, enthusiastic as you."

  "Oh, querida. I'm sorry. Are you okay?” Eduardo leaned back and held Grace as she unfolded her legs. He held her until she was standing securely and then stepped back.

  "Yeah, just give me a minute.” Grace shook her head as she breathed deeply. Good lord, this man was potent. Not to mention thorough. “Let me just, um take my shower"

  "Querida."

  "No, please, Eduardo. I don't want to talk right now. I just need to take my shower.” She closed her eyes as she put her hand toward him. She just couldn't take him right now. She needed the time to breathe.

  She was surprised when he grasped her hand gently and kissed the palm before letting go. By the time she had opened her eyes he was gone.

  Grace took her time showering, knowing she needed to clear her head and decide what she wanted to do about this strange man—vampire—that had invaded her life.

  At least he wasn't spouting off all that crap about lifemates and being meant for each other. The last thing she needed was a man that insisted he knew what was best for her for the rest of eternity.

  Finally done showering and changing, Grace opened her bedroom door to brave the man that had been all she could think about for the last fifteen hours. It was nearly ten o'clock, and she didn't care what Eduardo had told Cody, she was going into work tonight. Now to convince Eduardo of that.

  "Eduardo, I need you to take me back to Del Fantasma.” Grace figured a direct offense was her best bet. Don't let him start setting down rules, set down her own, and she would be able to keep things moving the way she wanted them.

  "I don't think so, querida."

  "Fine, then I need you to leave because I am going to call a cab to come get me."

  "I don't think so, querida.” Eduardo sat there in the middle of her kitchen, a cup of tea in front of him.

  "Excuse me?"

  He handed her the tea and sat back, more relaxed in her house than he had any right to be. “You are not going in to work tonight."

  "And when did you become the boss of me?” Grace cringed at her wording. It made her sound like a preteen.

  A raised eyebrow was the only response.

  "Eduardo, despite what happened earlier, you do not have any say in what I do."

  "I beg to differ, querida."

  "A fucking roll in the sack does not make you my lord and master."

  Eduardo stood up and was suddenly in her personal space. Personal space? Screw that, he was millimeters from her. She felt his breath wave over her body as he spoke. “If you want to play Master and slave games, querida, all you had to do was ask."

  Grace stepped back. Quickly. Pushing him away wouldn't have done any good. “You are so fucking infuriating."

  His smile sent shivers down her spine. “Wait until you really get to know me."

  "What makes you think I want to?” Her heart clenched at her words. She did want to get to know him better. Her body burned when he was near, and her heart soared with pleasure. Every time she looked at him she felt content, needed, not alone.

  "I think you want to very much, Grace. The question is are you going to let yourself?"

  She couldn't live life like this. Her mother had lived like that, and Grace had seen what it had done to her. Living for another person, whether it be a man or a child, never ended well. You needed to have your own life, and she knew that Eduardo would take over her life completely. She could already see him doing it.

  He only ordered a mattress, Grace.

  And pillows. And now he is telling me I can't go to work.

  He knows you are tired and stressed from yesterday. He only wants to keep you safe.

  Grace did her best to ignore her inner voice and stop arguing with it. It wasn't going to win, no matter how right it might be. She did not need a man like Eduardo in her life.

  "You don't know anything about me, Eduardo. So get over yourself and stop trying to psychoanalyze me.” Grace walked out of the kitchen and into the mudroom. It was the only area of the house Eduardo hadn't cleaned up this morning. And she knew that was only because of the large window that let in unfiltered sunlight. By the time he was done with the living room, it would have been too sunny in there for him to do anything.

  Finally she heard him get up and go upstairs. The sound of running water assured her that he had climbed into the shower and would be at least a little while. Now was her chance.

  Grace looked at the clock above the bar. Nearly four o'clock in the morning. Her shift was almost over and still Eduardo hadn't shown. Maybe she'd misjudged him. Maybe he didn't care that she snuck out while he was in the shower. Hell, she'd been so paranoid she hadn't even called the cab from home. She'd used her cell phone and had it pick her up a couple blocks away. But even with that, Eduardo could have beaten her to the bar easily. She hadn't pegged him as someone that would give up that easily.

  "What makes you think I gave up?"

  Grace turned around at the sound of Eduardo's deep voice, but saw no one behind her. She was alone. Well, as alone as one ever got in the middle of a crowded bar like Del Fantasma. But damn, she could have sworn she had just heard his voice.

  What the fuck was wrong with her?

  "Grace? You okay?"

  Grace spun around again, this time to face the bar and Cody standing behind it.

  "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, thought I heard something."

  Cody gave her a strange look. “Are you sure you're okay after what happened?"

  "I'm fine, Cody. Stop worrying about me. I'm a big girl you know."

  "Fine. Then tell me at least how you liked your Latin Lover last night."

  "What?” If she'd been drinking, she would have spluttered it all over him. How the hell did he know what happened between her and Eduardo?

  "The drink I gave you last night. It's one I found on the net. What did you think of it?"

  The drink was called Latin Lover? God damn Cody and his drink, as well as his matchmaking habit.

  "It was fine. But one is more than enough for me,” she responded tartly.

  The smile on his face made goosebumps pop all over her body. Damn him and his ability.

  "One is all you need, querida.” This time, when she turned around Eduardo was right behind her. Mere inches away.

  "None suits me even better.” She shot at him before storming away to clean up a table just vacated. Of all the nerve. She'd told him she didn't need his help, didn't want him in her life. But did he listen? Of course not. He was the big Uber macho vampire, come to protect the little lady.

  So then why didn't he come protect her earlier?

  "Perhaps I knew you were safe."

  Gods, it was bad enough when she was talking to herself in her own voice, now she was talking to herself in his voice.

  She tamped down the feeling of warmth that flooded her knowing he was here looking after her. She didn't need that.

  Cody had called the garage to pick up her car after Eduardo called him. It had only been the alternator, and they'd replaced it and recharged her battery while she was at home. Thankfully it wasn't much, and the garage said she could make payments. So the car was waiting for her in the parking lot.

  Now if she could only get home without Eduardo stopping her.

  "Don't count on it, little one."

  Grace looked up to see Edua
rdo still across the room. There was no way he could have said that. She was going freaking nuts.

  Clean up done, there was little more to do than wait until the rest of the patrons left. The other waitress had urged Grace to go home earlier, and she had refused, knowing she'd rather be working than home alone. But after seeing Jane with only a couple tables full, Grace changed her mind.

  Eduardo was deep in conversation with Brandon and another vamp. It was now or never. Gesturing to Jane, who nodded back, she snuck out the front door and made it to her car in record time. It started better than it had in years, and she sighed in relief as she pulled out of the parking lot.

  The thought flashed across her mind that she should flatten Eduardo's tires, but she just couldn't do it. Anyway, the bastard would probably just turn into a bat and hunt her down that way.

  Grace continuously checked the rear view mirror the entire drive home. She didn't know what she was more worried about, Hank or Eduardo.

  She finally had to laugh at herself. She had no proof that Eduardo had come to see her tonight. The way he and Cody were talking, he seemed to be an old friend. Just because she had never met him before didn't mean they weren't. She only just started working the late shift since she got laid off from her day job. Up until a week ago she'd been working the earlier shift.

  And if he were that interested in her, he surely would have made more of an effort to keep her at home tonight. Or if not that, at least to speak to her at the bar tonight. The fact that she had avoided him was irrelevant. If he had wanted to, he would have found a way. Hell, there was no way she would have gotten away from him if he had really wanted her there.

  Girl, what the hell do you want? You get pissed when he gets bossy, you get pissed when he gives you space. Why don't you make up your mind?

  Grace knew she was being irrational, but she couldn't help it. She lost all sense when she thought about him. If it was like this after twenty four hours, how would it be in the long run?

  But what would it be like to have a man that wanted you for you? That cared for you because of who you were and not what you could give him? Eduardo could have any woman he wanted, and he had already told her he wanted her. The feel of hands running down her body made her shiver in excitement and warning simultaneously.

  God, she must really need sleep. Between hearing people that weren't around, and feeling hands that weren't there, she was seriously screwed tonight.

  By the time she'd gotten home, she'd forced herself to accept her reasoning. Despite Cody's matchmaking abilities, he'd failed this one time. Now if this nervous feeling in her stomach would only listen to her head and go away.

  The garage door was still closed, and Grace groaned when she remembered they'd locked it from the inside earlier in the day. Dammit, it meant she'd have to go through her front door.

  Scanning the area around her townhouse, she saw nothing suspicious so climbed out of her car. Hank wasn't likely to come back. Hell, she still wasn't sure why he had shown up in the first place. She had given or thrown away all his shit months ago, and it wasn't like she ever had much in her hidey-hole.

  Relocking the front door behind her, she reset the alarm immediately. It took her a second to remember her new pin code, but the alarm was rearmed and ready. It looked undisturbed. Score one for the good guys. Hopefully she could catch a few winks before the men showed up to wire the top floor.

  Grace tossed her keys onto the entry table as she walked toward the stairs and the kitchen. Food sounded really good right now. She made it to the top of the stairs before she was grabbed and pulled back. Hands wrapped around her mouth and neck.

  Instantly, she knew it wasn't Eduardo this time. The stench of old blood and unwashed male assailed her senses. It was almost strong enough to make her gag.

  "Goddamn fucking cunt, where is it? You better fucking tell me or you're fucking dead.” It was only then that she realized that Hank held a knife to her throat.

  "Hank, what are you talking about?"

  "Goddamnit, bitch. Where's the fucking money? Harrison found me thanks to your new fuckin’ boyfriend. He said the asshole made sure they knew you were done paying them. Where's the fuckin’ money?"

  New boyfriend? Done paying? “Hank, what are you talking about? God Dammit, I have been paying them, you asshole!” Anger started to overcome the fear she had felt when he had first grabbed her. For the last six months she'd been paying off this asshole's debts, working two jobs, eating ramen noodles, and he not only broke into her house, but now he wanted more money. No freaking way.

  "Bitch, don't make me mad."

  Grace opened her mouth to tell him exactly what she thought of him, but the voice from the shadows stopped her cold.

  "I think you need to let go of the lady before you don't live to regret it."

  "What?” Hank spun them around frantically. The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.

  "You heard me.” Eduardo's voice dripped coldly with malice.

  Grace hoped he never had reason to turn that tone of voice to her. It scared her to death, and at the same time she felt relief run through her. Eduardo was here. She was safe. She knew that as well as she knew her own name. He wouldn't let anything happen to her.

  "Show yourself or I cut the bitch here and now!” Hank was practically screaming as his arms tightened against her. Grace felt the knife break her skin and a drop of blood run down her neck. Nice knowing you, Hank.

  It was over in an instant. She knew she'd never be able to explain what had happened next in any detail. One second she was held prisoner, the next she was held by Eduardo in his arms while Hank writhed on the floor screaming about his broken arm.

  "Be silent.” Eduardo's commanding tone had Hank suddenly silent, tears running down his face as he rolled around in pain.

  "Querida, are you okay? I'm sorry, I was too late.” Eduardo squeezed her tightly, only to pull back and look at the nick on her neck.

  "Too late? I'd say you got here just in time."

  "No, I never intended to let you enter the house alone. I was detained, though, by Cody and Brandon. I will never forgive myself, or them for that."

  Grace laughed. Apparently Cody's abilities to match up people were a bit stronger than they realized, either that or it was just plain luck.

  "Eduardo, I am fine. But I think we had better call the cops and get Hank taken care of."

  Eduardo's sigh had her smiling. Hopefully she would still be smiling later. They had some things to discuss.

  "I have to admit that I really do like this mattress set."

  Eduardo said nothing, just pulled her tighter into his arms.

  Grace let him, snuggling against him before she started asking the questions she'd been dying to ask ever since he showed up. “What did he mean about Harrison?"

  "I have no idea of what you are speaking.” He kissed her temple, then her cheek, working his way down to her jaw line.

  "Hank said Harrison told him my new boyfriend said I was done paying, and he needed to get the money from Hank."

  "Boyfriend?” He kissed her neck, down to her clavicle, licking under the spaghetti strap of her tank top. “Do you have a new boyfriend I should know about?"

  He knew damn well she didn't have a new boyfriend. And the only new man in her life was him. “Fine, what did you do to Harrison?"

  "Mmm” was the only response he gave her as he nudged the strap to the side.

  "Eduardo, stop! We need to talk.” She knew if she didn't stop him now, she wouldn't be able to stop him in a couple minutes. Never mind whether or not he would be too far-gone, she knew she would.

  Eduardo sighed deeply before pulling away from her slowly. He turned them both so she was tucked under his arm, his back to the headboard.

  "All right, what do you want to know?"

  "What did you tell Harrison? And how do you know him?"

  "Querida, I am over four hundred years old. You don't think I got this far without having some cont
acts, do you?"

  "No, but—"

  "Let's just say that I took care of it. You don't have to pay Harrison anything else."

  "But—"

  "Nor do you have to worry about any of Hank's other bills."

  "Eduardo—"

  "Let me do this for you, querida, please. It will make me feel better that I did not make it in time tonight."

  "Eduardo, I'm fine, I wish you would stop saying that."

  "You are not fine. That pendejo hurt you. If I had been here on time, it would not have happened. I never should have let you out of my sight."

  "So then why did you?” Not that Grace liked the idea of him thinking he had the right, but, hey, he did rescue her. And she did like having him in her bed. He felt nice. Not to mention he was an incredible lover. “Why did you let me get away?"

  "Because you were never really away from me."

  Grace opened her mouth to respond, when she realized he hadn't spoken aloud. He'd said it in her head.

  "What's that? How are you talking in my head like that?” She arched her head to look at him.

  "It's because we shared blood."

  "Shared blood? We didn't share. I didn't drink anything last night.” She hadn't agreed to any thing like that. She agreed to him drinking her blood. That was it. Full stop. Not that she didn't like him here, in her bed. And in her body.

  "Doesn't your brain ever stop, querida?"

  "Explain it to me, Eduardo."

  "You are correct. We didn't exactly share blood. Forgive me for my wording.” He stroked her arm as he answered her. “Once I took your blood, I was able to tell where you were and what you were doing."

  "You can read my mind?” Grace yelled, trying to sit up.

  Eduardo held her close to him, preventing her from moving. “When it's not shielded, yes."

  Damn men. She knew it. Freaking Alpha male vampires, always bossing people around. Sneaking in people's heads, thinking they knew what was—

  "Grace!"

  She settled down and let him finish, but she crossed her arms across her chest to let him know she wasn't happy.

  "I know you aren't happy."

  "How could you keep this from me? I asked you last night if there would be any repercussions."