“It’s not that.” She walked up to him and appreciated how he peered at her face without staring at the scars. “Some people are rude enough to ask what happened to me.”
He reached up and tenderly traced the largest scar. “You’re beautiful.”
She searched his gaze, believing he really meant the compliment. “I didn’t leave my house much and only went shopping when I had to, always in the middle of the night to avoid people.”
“There will be no more hiding as my woman. Wear your scars with pride, Matty. They are a part of you, and no one would dare offend you.” His expression hardened. “Not twice.”
She laughed. He was a big man, intimidating, and she could see how he’d discourage anyone from saying a word to her that might hurt her feelings. “You’d beat them up for me?”
“I would.” He lowered his hand and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. “I’d do anything for you.”
She was falling in love with him even more. “Thank you.”
“It’s my honor to defend you. Even from blind, petty fools with no brains.”
She laughed again. He had a way of making her happy and amused. “My hero.”
“I aspire to be that, now and forever.”
“I appreciate it.”
He leaned in and she held her breath, heart pounding as he brushed his mouth over hers. She closed her eyes and opened her hands on his chest. He pulled away too fast, making her long for a deeper kiss than the teasing one he’d given.
“We should go upstairs. I’ll introduce you to everyone and then take you to the feeding room.”
“That sounds ominous.”
He chuckled. “Never. One of the biggest difficulties I faced after being turned was knowing I’d need blood to survive. It’s a different time now. I shall make it easy for you. We acquire our blood by buying it from humans. The werewolves run a truck that collects it a few times a week and we store it in the feeding room. We provide a little money for those who donate; they give us what we need.”
“You said I could drink it directly from you, though, right?”
“Aye. It will be highly enjoyable for us both. Plastic will never need touch your bonny lips.”
“But I have to give up food?”
“You could eat it, but that means you’ll still have to deal with body functions.”
She arched her eyebrows, not certain what that meant. She could guess but it would be better if he spelled it out.
“Your digestive system works differently for food and other drink than it does for blood. The bathroom, Matty. Once you stop eating food, the toilet only collects dust. Is that a delicate way to put it? My body absorbs blood without causing waste.”
“I understand.” She didn’t have to give up chocolate after all. It would just come at a small price. One that she was already used to as a human. “Let’s go and see what you want to show me.”
He took her hand, placing it in the crook of his arm. “My pleasure.”
She took a deep breath, allowing him to lead her out of the bedroom and into a living space. There was no kitchen in his apartment. She guessed he didn’t exactly need one since he didn’t cook. They exited through a solid door into a well-lit hallway. The basement seemed pretty large. Another sturdy door blocked the end of the hallway, behind which they came to stairs.
“Why so many doors?”
“Protection in case the basement is ever breached by hunters.”
“Is there an escape route?”
“Of course. There’s an old sewer system we could flee through and stay underground until the sun set. Lethal is all about survival.”
“Why did you move out of here again?”
“No matter how much soundproofing we tried, the music is still audible to our kind. I grew tired hearing it every evening while the club was open.”
“Ah.” That made sense to her.
Blaron led her through the club’s kitchen, smiling at the werewolves who worked for them. They gave Matty pleasant glances and a few waves.
One of the cooks stepped into their path, looking at Matty. “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Velma. Just let me know if there are any specialty foods you enjoy, and I’ll be happy to provide them.”
“Thank you. That’s so nice.” Matty flashed him an uncertain look.
“Velma is a werewolf.”
Matty’s eyes widened, then fixed on Velma. “Wow. You look so normal. I never would have guessed. I mean, I’m sorry. That was so rude of me.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m not offended. We hide in plain sight. We’re just glad one of the masters found a companion.”
“Masters?”
“That would be me and Lethal,” Blaron stated. “It’s a polite way to refer to us older-than-dirt vampires.”
Velma laughed. “Both of them gave us jobs where we could be ourselves. We’re grateful. It’s difficult to work for humans. We have to watch our every move and word in case we reveal too much. The club also doesn’t require drug testing. That’s a great thing.”
Matty’s eyebrows arched. “Um, is that a problem?”
“They aren’t human,” Blaron explained. “A simple blood test can be dangerous if the results come back as odd. At the very least, misunderstandings happen, like assuming they purposely messed up the test to hide something.”
“As if we might take drugs, when in fact only a moron would,” Velma added. “They don’t have the same effect on us as they do on humans. Give a werewolf cocaine and he’d puke his guts up for days. It’s like food poisoning to our kind.”
“Oh.”
Blaron cleared his throat. “We must be going. Thank you, Velma.”
She stepped out of the way. “Have fun.”
He led Matty out of the kitchen and behind the bar. Chase waited there, playing bartender. He introduced them. Chase bowed, shook her hand, and winked.
“It’s nice to meet you, Matty. Nice job this morning. The Barlo brothers filled me in. You tied up a vampire hunter. That was very courageous of you.”
“Don’t flirt with her.” Blaron narrowed his eyes, glaring at his friend. “She’s mine.”
Chase chuckled and stepped back. “She’s a beauty. You’d better keep her close, lest someone try to steal her away.” He grinned at Matty. “You’re with a man who wears a skirt. Not everyone could pull that off.”
Blaron relaxed, realizing Chase was just being friendly. “’Tis a manly kilt. You’re just jealous that you have knobby knees and feel the need to cover yours.”
“Aye,” Chase mimicked him. “’Tis manly since you terrify anyone you glower at.”
He tugged Matty out from behind the bar. Some of the regulars had arrived already but it wasn’t crowded yet. Some couples were dancing but most were sitting at tables, grouped in numbers of two to four, chatting. He immediately held the gazes of some of the vampires who picked up Matty’s scent, silently warning them to think twice about approaching her. She wasn’t an unattached human they could attempt to seduce and take a sip of blood from in the heat of the moment.
“Would you like to dance with me?” He wanted to hold her.
“It’s eighties music. I grew up listening to my mom play this stuff. Do you know how to dance to New Wave?”
He turned his head, caught the attention of the DJ, and made a hand signal. The music abruptly ended, a slow song coming on next. He gripped Matty’s hand, faced her, and then placed her other hand on his shoulder. Smiling, he put his arm around her, turning them in a circle.
“Ever waltzed before?”
She appeared stunned. “No.”
“I’ll teach you. Just follow my lead. This is a simple one.”
“There’s more than one type?”
“There are many.”
“I didn’t know that.” She smiled though, relaxing in his hold and swaying with him.
He noticed a few of the vampires rising from their tables, taking partners, and coming out to join them on the dance flo
or. He looked down. Matty had also realized they were no longer alone. She stumbled when the couples began to waltz around them. He pulled her a little closer.
“What’s the matter, lass?”
“I was sure we’d be the only ones out here with this elevator music playing.”
She amused him. “It’s called orchestra music, and vampires love to dance. It brings back a lot of good memories for the older ones, and the younger ones love the romantic idea of it.” He leaned down, lowering his voice. “Ever heard of vampire balls?”
Her mouth parted in an “O” shape.
He chuckled. “We do love a good ball. We hold one here every New Year’s Eve. I can’t wait to bring you. I’ll teach you the most popular dances and buy you a beautiful gown.”
Her features softened as she peered up at him. “You’re a romantic at heart, aren’t you?”
“Just a bit.” He spun her, loving the feel of her in his arms. “You bring it out in me, Matty.”
Chapter Eight
Matty was in love with Blaron. It was that simple. She’d had a fantastic time in the club dancing with him. It hadn’t been anything like she’d expected. He’d taught her a few old fashioned dances and introduced her to some of his vampire friends. They’d been polite and likeable. He finally led her out of the club when more people arrived and the music turned to something more contemporary.
The kitchen staff was busy preparing food orders when they passed through to reach the hidden basement door. It was located next to a walk-in freezer, behind a false brick wall front. The first door at the bottom of the stairs, one they’d passed earlier, led to the feeding room. It looked more like a cozy studio apartment, with a tiny kitchen and open living room space with two couches and a coffee table.
“Surprised?”
She nodded.
He released her hand and pointed to a barstool at the counter that divided the kitchen from the couches. “Take a seat. We store the blood in the fridge here. Are you ready for this?”
“I think so.” She climbed up onto the padded barstool, getting comfortable.
He paused by the refrigerator and tilted his head. “I want you to know all of me, Matty. Feeding is a requirement for me to survive. I do this every other day. I can go longer but I don’t recommend it. I get a bit testy and my fangs won’t easily retract when I’m feeling hunger. It’s like suffering from your grumbling digestive system on an empty stomach.”
She appreciated that he was being so open about things. “Go ahead. I’m ready.” She braced for whatever would come next.
He turned and yanked open the fridge. Inside were bags of blood, several dozens of them. He took one out and closed the door, walking a few steps to the bar on the other side of her.
“Why are there so many of them?”
“We sell it to vampire customers at the bar, as well as what we drink. It’s all stored here. My fangs act like tiny straws. Are you ready to see me feed?”
She hesitantly reached out. He held still as she pressed her fingertip to the side of the bag. “It’s so cold.” Her gaze held his as she lowered her hand.
“It tastes better warm. I won’t lie. But the colder the better when drinking from a bag. The chill deadens the taste buds, you could say.”
“I’m ready to watch this. Go ahead.” She was curious.
He opened his mouth, allowing her to watch his fangs slide down. They appeared pretty sharp and long. His movements were slow as he lifted the bag with one hand over his head, using his other hand to support the bottom of it better. He winked, then bit into the bag as he lowered it to his mouth.
The blood just slowly drained out of the bag. None of it ran over his lips or onto his clothes. Less than a minute passed before he folded the empty plastic, withdrawing his fangs from it. He licked both bloodstained tips clean, then closed his mouth, staring at her. More seconds passed.
“Well?”
“That was okay. I mean, you’re so neat about it.”
That earned her a smile. “Good. I’m glad I didn’t frighten you.”
“So that’s it?”
“That’s it.” He leaned over, opened a cupboard on the other side of the bar, and tossed the bag away. “This is what I’d do, then I’d allow you to feed from me if you agree to be mine forever, Matty. To be a vampire doesn’t mean you have to harm anyone, or that you’ll become a monster. We buy the blood from humans. No one is harmed or forced. You’ll stop aging. The only drawback is avoiding the sun. You can still see it though. UV rays don’t come through televisions. I have a video of sunrises I watch when I miss the beauty of it. It’s almost like being there, only without the burning.” He chuckled. “Be mine, Matty. Let me love you.”
“You tempt me to say yes,” she confessed.
He came around the bar and held out his hand. “Let’s return to our room.” Desire showed in his eyes and sounded in his husky tone. “I could convince you, lass. Let me take you to our bed.”
She slid off the seat and clasped his hand. “The more time I spend with you, the less I want to be without you.”
“That’s how I feel as well.”
They returned to his apartment and he locked the door. She led the way to the bedroom and began to get undressed. She wanted Blaron. He stripped out of his boots, the socks, and then his clothes. His body took her breath away.
“How do you stay in such amazing shape?”
He glanced down his body, then wiggled his eyebrows. “I spar with my sword.”
“Is that a euphemism for sex?”
“No. I actually practice my sword skills with Lethal often. He wields a blade well and keeps working me into a sweat.” He lunged at her, grabbed her, and swung her up into his arms.
It wasn’t frightening. She laughed, loving how strong he was and how easily he lifted her. He tossed them both on the bed, turning in the air so she landed on top of him. She turned, splaying her hands on his chest, and stretched out over him. She loved how he felt under her, their skin touching.
“I’m a very hands-on lad,” he rasped. He showed her by cupping her ass with both of his hands, massaging her. He rolled them over, pinning her under him. “You’re so incredibly sexy, Matty. Do you know what you do to me?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, playing with his hair. “I can feel. You’re getting hard.” She spread her legs apart to make room for his hips in the cradle of her thighs.
“Aye. You’ve got me wrapped around you, lass.”
“I think I’m the one wrapped around you.” She bent her knees more, hooking her calves over the back of his ass.
“It doesn’t matter. We have each other, and I’m not letting you go. Say yes to me, Matty. Be my vampire wife.”
She licked her lips, loving the way he watched her tongue slide over them, and the low groan he made. His cock stiffened even more, pressed against her, trapped between their bodies.
“You said something about convincing me?” She smiled, teasing him. “Show me.”
He lowered his head, kissing her with enough passion to steal her ability to breathe right. He adjusted his body a little, slid his hand between them, and began to play with her clit with his fingers. She moaned against his tongue, arching her body into his.
He played with her until she was almost ready to come, then eased off her clit to reach for his shaft. He entered her slow and broke the kiss. They both made pleasured sounds as he sank into her, joining their bodies.
“Stay with me forever, Matty. Say yes.”
It wasn’t a hard decision to make. She never wanted to go back to her old life. Not when she could spend the rest with the sexy man who wore a kilt. “Yes.”
He kissed her again, the passion between them igniting, and he slowly began to fuck her deeper. Matty moaned when he pulled his mouth away. Their gazes met.
“Drink from me, love.” He brought his wrist to his mouth, bit down, and pressed it against her parted lips.
She thought she’d gag, but he began to fuck her
hard and fast as his fangs sank into her neck. Pleasure and pain blurred as she drank. The taste of blood barely registered. It was just Blaron, the bliss his body gave hers, and the taste of him. She grew lightheaded as she came. The climax made her pull her mouth away from his wrist when she cried out his name.
Blaron’s fangs left her skin and he licked her wound. He turned his head, met her gaze, and smiled while he licked his wrist closed.
“That’s it, my love. Sleep. I’ll clean us and we’ll cuddle until we wake. I’m with you.”
Matty closed her eyes, too tired to even speak.
Epilogue
Matty woke when two strong arms lifted her. She was confused until she met Blaron’s gorgeous eyes. The blue of them seemed more brilliant, more breathtaking, and he’d put her on his lap, straddling him, as he sat naked against the headboard on their bed. Memory returned and she stared at him as her hands gripped his bare shoulders.
“I survived? Am I dead?” She flushed at her words. “I mean, am I the living dead now?”
He grinned. “You are alive, but you’re a vampire.”
She hesitated, trying to see if she felt any different. She didn’t. Disappointment hit. “I don’t think it worked. I’m still just me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Mmmm.” He grinned. “This is going to feel really good. Just go with your instincts.”
“What are you talking about?”
He released her hip and reached over to the side of the bed. She saw the small dagger in his hand and tensed. He grinned wider and pressed the tip against his neck.
“The things I’m willing to do for love...but you need to learn how to bring your fangs out. The scent of blood will trigger it. Just don’t fight or think about what you’re doing.”
She watched in horrified fascination as he cut his skin. Blood welled and he tossed away the dagger, grabbing her hip again. The copper smell of it filled her nose, her eyes widened. Her gums tingled, nearly seemed to throb, and she opened her mouth to ask him what was happening to her.
“Whath—” She paused, her voice sounding funny, and she touched her mouth. Something sharp made her cry out and stare at her finger. Blood welled at the tip.
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