Mastering Darkness

by Kate Wendley

“Mr. Foster. I called in a reservation for this evening.”

  She looked over her clipboard and flatly stated, “I don’t see your name on the list. It’ll be a two hour wait. Would you like to be put on the list?”

  Kaia watched as the male employee that had been up here came back, give both her and Anthony a once over before a sneer came to his haughty face again, then start fussing with items on the shelves behind the hostess stand. Kaia’s temper was really rising…

  In the meantime, Anthony calmly told the hostess, “No, I already called in. There was to be a table for two ready for us.”

  The woman gave him a stare that was probably meant to make him wither, and said in an escalating tone, “I already informed you, Mr. Forester, that we do not have your name on the list. There is a two hour wait. I can put you on the list if you like.”

  When Anthony didn’t even blink at her tirade, the woman eventually broke eye contact and looked behind him in irritation. With her eyes on whoever was coming this way, she said, “I’m going to have to ask you to step aside while you decide what you’d like to do, Mr. Forester.”

  She rudely gestured for him to move, and Kaia almost told Anthony they should just leave, but his arm tensed as tight as she’d ever felt it, and she wasn’t sure what to do.

  He gently nudged her aside as he stepped closer to the hostess stand to cut off the other party that was clearly going to try to step around him. And if Kaia hadn’t gotten to know him these last couple of nights, and knew he could be a nice guy, she’d have freaked out a little at the utter calm and fury that simply radiated from him.

  He flatly said to the woman, “I’ll tell you what I’ve decided, Miss Katherine Louise Belmont, daughter of Louise Gladys Jackson. I’ve decided that I’d like you to tell your uncle Oni that I was here tonight, and you will tell him that I expect a phone call within the next twenty four hours. And since it appears that your family funded education at the university is lacking, let me tell you my name again. Please write this down since it seems to be a tricky one and let me know if I need to spell it for you. It’s Anthony Foster. Tell your uncle to call Anthony. Can you do that Katherine?”

  Katherine blanched pure white, and the man behind her at the stand dropped the stack of menus in his hands as they both stood absolutely frozen for a few moments.

  Bright red alarm bells rang in Kaia’s head at Anthony’s temper. Was this what he got like when he didn’t get his way? Granted they were being jerks, but since it appeared he had some clout around here, did he like to throw it around whenever things didn’t go his way? That was… not cool.

  The man and woman finally remembered to breathe. “I’m terribly sorry Mr. Foster. Of course your table is ready. It’s right this way, sir. Please, follow me.”

  “No. We will not be dining here this evening.” He glared at them both. “I expect to hear from your uncle.”

  He held his arm out for Kaia and she let him lead her back outside because she definitely didn’t want to stay here anymore. The conversational noises of the people waiting to be called for their tables disappeared behind them as they stepped into the fresh night air, and she was now conflicted about Anthony. She hadn’t expected him to snap like that. And like he had earlier when she’d suggested they reschedule their date. He’d snapped at her that time. Was he actually a control freak and she just hadn’t recognized it until now? She was not going to get into a relationship with a man who thought they could tell her what to do. She hadn’t made this life for herself, on her own, just to give up her sense of self to someone else, no matter how sexy they were.

  **

  Anthony was furious. Since he always kept his power so tightly contained, less powerful shapeshifters frequently mistook him for human, which was bottom of the food chain as far as they were concerned. And many supernaturals had never actually met Anthony, and therefore had no idea what he really looked like. But that was still no excuse for any shifter’s disrespect. If Kaia hadn’t been with him tonight, he’d have done worse than simply threaten Katherine with her uncle’s wrath. He’d have likely let her have a taste of his magic simply because he was tired of so many shifters’ disdain for vampires… and because he was tired of playing the human game.

  But Kaia made him care again. Just enough to not physically hurt anyone.

  He opened the passenger door and helped her back in his car, then got in the driver’s side before he realized he hadn’t said anything to her. He tried to calm down as he turned to face her. “I apologize for all that. I had no idea their service was so terrible.”

  “You’ve never been here to eat before? You seemed to know at least one of those hostesses.”

  If he wasn’t mistaken, Kaia seemed irritated. At him. Why though? Because he got upset at Katherine?

  “My particular diet doesn’t allow me to eat what most restaurants serve, so no, I’ve never dined here.”

  “But you knew that hostess?”

  “I know Oni, the owner. I counsel him on the financial side of his business. He’s apparently a wonderful cook, but his business skills are… lacking. I don’t usually see, or even know his extended family personally, but since they’re all part of the organization I manage, the names do ring a bell. That’s how I eventually remembered who she was. I suppose my temper got the better of me with her, though. Oni tries extremely hard, this is his life dream, as he frequently tells me. It would be a shame for his own family members to sabotage his business by acting so unprofessional.”

  Kaia frowned and almost looked a little guilty when she more quietly said, “Well she definitely recognized you once you gave her your full name.”

  He opened his senses just a touch, being mindful that Kaia was a sensitive, and realized she was in fact upset. And that made him mad.

  He leaned closer and tried to keep his calm as he said, “Katherine and the others behind the booth saw something that displeased them, and they reacted as many do.” He gestured to his scarred, deformed face, and his temper rose even more. Who was Kaia to get angry at him for his actions? She didn’t know what he had to deal with in his life. “It should not have mattered who I was. But her actions before she knew my name made her moral character rather obvious, didn’t it? And then, when I gave her my full name, it was even more clear what kind of person she and the others were because they suddenly bent over backwards to treat me well.”

  He narrowed his eyes at Kaia, whose heart was now thumping loudly in her chest. “But that’s the taint of power, isn’t it? Original revulsions are quickly forgotten about when power, or perceived power, is introduced to the mix.”

  Now his heart was thumping wildly because he was furious, but not at Kaia. He was mad at himself for venting at her, and mad at himself for sounding like such a petty fool. It was stupid to let people like Katherine get under his skin, yet he still let it happen.

  But he didn’t believe Kaia was like Katherine and the others. She’d never treated him that way. In fact, she’d done nothing but show him how attracted she was to him, and she had no idea who or what he really was. And now he’d gotten angry at her for no good reason at all. Dammit.

  He turned away because he didn’t want her to look at him right now. He needed time with his own hideousness now that he’d called himself out for it. And he hated to admit that he was still self-conscious around her.

  She touched his shoulder, then leaned across the seat towards him and quietly said, “Hey.”

  He couldn’t look at her. He felt horrible for being so mean, and didn’t know what to say to make things better.

  “Anthony. Please look at me.”

  He took a deep breath, and she put a delicate finger under his chin to gently nudge him. Her touch was like a warm magnet that he was powerless to pull away from as he turned to face her and her kind eyes.

  “I don’t know anything about you, do I?”

  His heart started to calm. “I disagree. I think you know something very important about me. Maybe the most important thing abou
t me.”

  “I do?” She reached up and finger combed his hair out of his face and he shivered at her gentle touch.

  With a whisper, he said, “Yes.” She knew how to tame his darkest, monstrous urges. At least for now. Who knew what would happen once this ‘gift’ the Vampire Mother gave him grew inside of his belly.

  Her warm hands cupped his cheeks and she slowly leaned in to kiss him. Guilt ate at him because he shouldn’t be involving her in his world, but he needed her here with him, badly.

  Her lips were warm, soft, and searching. The first kiss was tentative, but her energy was anything but. She was being gentle with him on purpose, and he didn’t want to think about why that might be. Did she think he’d deny her? She truly didn’t know him well enough if she thought he’d ever do that.

  He let her play her game because he still wasn’t in complete control of himself. Guilt again reared its ugly head at that thought. She was too delicate to be with him. Too soft and human. But when she flicked her tongue out, teasing him, reaching for him, he decided guilt had no place in this relationship. She’d already gotten to know him well enough to decide if his ways were too much for her. He’d been surly when they first met, then constantly tense and fighting his inner demons since then. He knew she’d noticed at least some of that, whether or not she knew the reason for his moods.

  If she was brave enough to be here with him, and seemed to like him enough to put up with him and tempt him with her sweet, womanly ways, then he was going to try his damned hardest to be a good man to her. If that were even possible…

  Her teasing kisses stoked the fire inside him, and soon he couldn’t hold back. Her bare neck, that’d been so tempting to him all night so far, was warm under his cool hands when he leaned in closer.

  He felt her body warm at his touch, and she became just as anxious as him. She whimpered as they tasted each other, their tongues tangling desperately as if they were long lost lovers only recently reunited.

  He’d only ever had this kind of raw chemistry with a shifter before, and that was only because he knew that relationship was going to be a one night stand… and because he knew he didn’t have to worry about being particularly delicate with them. It was an entirely hedonistic, brief affair. But with Kaia… he could see himself spending time getting to know her better. He wanted to know her better.

  She pressed closer to him, but the car seats and the center console between them didn’t make for a comfortable embrace. Still, she tried.

  His own eagerness quickly brought his fangs in full and sharp in his mouth, and he didn’t want to nick Kaia with them. He anxiously trailed kisses across her jawline because he didn’t want their intimacy to end yet, but had to remind himself more than once to be careful with her, too. He was much too strong for her.

  But when she arched her neck for him, his vampiric urges nearly got the best of him. He wanted to sink his teeth into her warm, sweet flesh and bite her anywhere and everywhere. He trembled at the nearly overwhelming desire to do just that.

  He startled when he realized he was now holding her as if he really was going to bite her. It was a battle for him to stay calm knowing she wanted him just as bad as he wanted her. Just one delicate bite… just a taste…

  “You’re too tempting, my sweet.”

  She silkily said, “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  It was very bad. She had no idea how close to losing control he was. He turned his head away from the thumping vein in her neck and sighed in frustration. He needed a taste of his addiction to abate the gnawing need inside him, but that would only turn Kaia into a screaming madwoman, which would force him to turn her into a lifeless, entranced human. He didn’t want either of those things, so he made himself ignore the temptation.

  But she wasn’t done with him, it seemed. She was too persistent, too free with her affection, and he both loved and hated it. Her warm body and loudly thumping heart teased the monster inside him, but her soft touches, sweet kisses and womanly sounds tamed his never ending restless unease. Despite his overwhelming need to bite her, he hadn’t felt so good in… ever.

  He was no fool, though. He only needed to slip once for her affections to come to a screaming halt. She only had to see his fangs once, his glowing eyes, his… scar? No. He hadn’t covered that up with his power… his mask. Not for her. She’d seen him. The beast to her beauty. He’d even been angry at her that night at the bookstore, but she stuck around and kept talking to him. Kept trying to get him to talk to her because she liked the sound of his voice. And tonight, he’d lost his temper again, and yet here she was, cozying into him, touching him, kissing him…

  A feeling of inner peace filled him, even though he knew this would all inevitably come to a heartbreaking end. For now he was going to enjoy what time he had with her, even though it meant he’d have to keep parts of himself hidden. It was better to feel something with her than going back to being alone and feeling nothing at all.

  So he pulled away and looked down while he took shaky breaths. It was hard to concentrate enough to keep his eyes and teeth masked around her, especially with the heady scent of her desire filling the interior of his car. He wasn’t used to letting himself get so near to losing control with a human.

  He needed time to calm himself, and nearly came apart when she possessively ran her fingers through his hair again. She massaged his scalp as she did, and it felt sensual. It was almost more intimate than anything they’d done so far. A deep shiver of desire ran through his entire body, and a satisfied groan escaped him. Her fingers continued to explore as he sighed in contentment, and he wished he could open his eyes and look at her. To do that, though, he’d have to focus on using his power for his mask and he’d rather focus on her incredibly warm, soft hands instead.

  She eventually combed his hair back on one side and tucked the long strands behind his ear. Her heavy breaths and harshly pumping heart filled his mind and senses, nearly overwhelming him as she trailed her fingertips over the sensitive skin of his neck.

  She leaned closer and whispered, “You like that, baby?”

  He quietly moaned, afraid to open his mouth even a small fraction to respond. This wasn’t the time for her to find out he was vampire, not while she was touching him like this. It felt too good.

  He heated up even more when she leaned in and kissed his neck, then made her way with light, butterfly kisses up to his ear.

  He gingerly ran his hands over her shoulders, keeping her pressed close enough that she wouldn’t see his mouth when he spoke. “My sweet, you are too kind to me. Much too kind.” He shivered at the erotic feel of her warm body in his cool hands as he kissed her neck. She quietly whimpered, and they both quickly became more passionate for each other. The feel of her exposed skin made him think of her naked underneath him while they made love, with a bite to her neck sending him over the edge as they were wrapped up in each other’s arms.

  He really needed to cool off. They had such a strong physical attraction between them, he’d almost forgotten about trying to be a gentleman with her.

  He pulled back from her kisses and finally looked her in the eyes. He held his mask firmly in place and huskily said, “My sweet, I can’t get enough of you. If I haven’t been a gentleman tonight, I sincerely apologize. It seems difficult to stay calm around you.”

  She looked at him with hooded eyes while her heavy breathing eventually calmed. Her eyes roamed from his lips to his eyes and back a few times, before saying, “You’ve been a complete gentleman, Anthony. You’re a good guy. A really good guy.”

  She sat back in her seat and adjusted her dress and shawl while he took some deep breaths that did nothing to calm him. Looking at her in her beautiful dress that was snug in all the right places, her lips swollen from kissing him, her hair pulled up and away from her lovely neck, her beautiful chest rising and falling with her deep, desirous breaths, and her bare legs showing below her dress’s hemline, he didn’t think he’d be calm again until he dropped her
off and was back home at the club. He looked away and tried to think about something else to distract him from his urges.

  “What school did you go to?”

  He looked at her in confusion. “School?”

  She cocked her head. “Yeah. Did you go to a prep school as a kid? And then on to college? You have a formal way of speaking.”

  He froze at her questions. Was he actually ready to share himself with her? These were questions that would allow her to get to know the real him. Not the ‘Master’ face he wore every day for everyone in his community, but the man he’d been before he’d stopped caring. The man underneath the mask.

  “I was schooled at home as a child, by my mother and grandparents. After my mother died, and then my grandparents, my father, whom I’d never known, came into my life. He took me away from the farm I grew up on and privately tutored me. I’m afraid he was quite formal, and due to his own upbringing, he was accustomed to a certain way of things. It is now, and I suppose forevermore, hard to be any different from how he groomed me.”

  She looked surprised at his admission. He was, too, but he wanted this. He wanted more than just physical attraction between them, he wanted someone to share himself with. He’d never truly had that with a woman. And while it was too soon for complete honesty with Kaia, he’d give her as much as he could.

  “I’m sorry to hear your mother passed away. You grew up on a farm? Really?”

  “Yes, I−”

  “And your dad could afford private tutors but he didn’t send you to college?”

  “No, he−”

  “And you never knew him growing up? Where was he? How did he find you?”

  He opened his mouth again to respond, then stopped. This was getting dangerously close to him either having to tell her the truth, or continue to talk around it. Could he just tell her he was vampire? Now? And that he’d been alive for hundreds of years? That the life his father gave him back then was actually considered quite privileged?

  For the briefest of moments he thought about telling her everything, but he didn’t. “Apparently he and my mother had a falling out before I was born so he didn’t immediately know that she was pregnant. He tried reconciling with her a couple years later and saw me as a toddler, but she still didn’t want him around. He stayed away because of her wishes, for a time, at least. He eventually came back years later, much to my shock and surprise. I’d always been told he was dead.”