The sleeping Labrador was roused from his dreams and sat up with a jerk, looking out of the open bathroom door, ears perked and the hair on his neck raised. Zoe sat up to see if she could hear what had alarmed the dog but assumed that it must be something that only his sensitive ears could hear and therefore probably not much of a threat to her. She laid back in the tub once more, this time fully submersing herself, listening to the sound of her own heart in her ears. A loud crash brought her to a sitting position, staring intently through the door as she reached for her towel. Pulling the drain, she stood up and wrapped the towel above her breasts then stepped out onto the plush blue bathmat that was placed beside the tub. Walking across the cool linoleum, she made the few steps out of the bathroom and into the hall where she called,
“Hello?” Waiting for an answer, she felt foolish and wondered what she would do if someone actually spoke back to her. She slipped into her bedroom, grabbed a pair of shorts and a t-shirt then throwing them on with haste, hurried into the living room to peer from the front window. She saw no movement and nothing out of the ordinary, so she peeked from the window nearest the kitchen to find nothing there as well. Telling herself that it was the neighborhood dogs again, she walked to the kitchen to check the garbage cans by the back steps. After assuring they were in proper order, she turned and locked the door behind herself before leaning against it with a sigh.
“Great. That could have been a really nice bath, Homer.” She looked to the curious black lab, who stared back at her with a toothy grin at the mention of his name. She walked to her room and stood on the bath towel that she had left on the floor and slid it down the hall by her foot, wiping up her wet foot prints all the way back to the bathroom. Entering the bathroom, she thought she saw a shadow outside the window but when she peeked through the blinds, once again she was met with nothing unusual. “I need a vacation.”
She tossed the towel into the hamper and switched off the bathroom light and as the switch clicked, there was a knock on the door that was met by a whooping bellow from Homer. Curious that the canine didn’t give more notice, for he usually alerts her as anyone makes their way up the driveway and onto the property. “Who is it?”
She called from the middle of the living room, waiting for a response before nearing the door. Given no answer, she called again. This time her query was responded to with,
“I just need to use a phone, ma’am. My car broke down and my cell phone is dead.” She laughed at her heightened sense of paranoia and walked to the door. She opened it to reveal a man with pale skin and dark eyes and he flashed a pearly white smile. “Good evening. I’m broken down just down the road a way. This is the first house I came to. You’re pretty secluded out here, huh?” Something about him gave her an eerie feeling and even Homer seemed to be on edge by him, but she was drawn to him somehow. Upon second glance, she could have sworn his eyes were dark red.
“I’ve got neighbors through the woods here and my brothers up the dirt road a piece. I’m not as alone as it seems.” She placed her hand on the shotgun that she kept behind the door and smiled to him as Homer whined. She spotted her cell phone on the table, so she reached for it and passed it through the door. He took it in his hand and brushed her fingers with his cold fingertips and looked into her eyes as he asked,
“May I come in?”
Chapter Five
The urgency on the wind expressed to Barry the importance of arriving in time. The woman’s dog had an intense sense of trepidation by her visitor and he couldn’t place his smell. Homer had been able to smell anything on all types of men. Mail men smelled different that the farm man and the butcher and even when he had gone to the lake and smelled the fisher man, he could tell that he was a man. What had knocked on his door tonight was not any kind of man that Homer had smelled before and to let his nose tell it, he was not a man. His eyes told him that the man was a man, but his nose argued profusely. Homer’s cries were carried by the wind to the owl, wolf and bat, who carried the urgent message to the ears of Barry Norris. If he was right, there was a mutt at the home of Homer and hopefully he could arrive before the woman did anything stupid…like invite him inside.
“Well, the place isn’t really ready for visitors.” She smiled as her hand lingered on the cellular device that she tried to pass him but instead of taking it and attempting to make a call, he just stood there, smiling at her with his chilling glare.
“I just thought that you and I could get out of this night air and have a civilized conversation while I wait for the tow truck.” His gaze seemed to penetrate her thoughts and she had to fight the urge to invite him in. Something about him didn’t feel safe and Homer pressed himself against her leg as he began to whine.
“But you haven’t even called them yet.” She said in a slow monotone, as if lost in a dream. The stranger grabbed the phone from her hand, tossed it into the yard and pulled back his lips to reveal a gleaming set of fangs. His hand went for her throat and Homer barked just as Barry quickly appeared at his side and grabbed him by the throat and threw him against a tree. Zoe shook her head as if coming to from a nap and within the blink of an eye, Barry was near the man with his hand grasping his hair, pulling his head back as he plunged a stake into his chest, causing him to catch fire and dissipate into a cloud of ash.
“What the FUCK?” Zoe cried from her position on the porch. She walked into the night air and hugged herself with her arms. “What the…” Barry looked to her from his position in the yard and shrugged his shoulders.
“Well.” He took a step forward, causing her to take a step back and he grinned. “I just saved your life. That’s what the fuck.” He took another step, noticed that she again retreated and stopped in his place. “You know that if I wanted to, I could rip your throat out before you can take another step.” His smile was the most beautiful that she had ever seen. Something in his eyes was trustworthy and even though they were as dark as the previous stranger, they didn’t have the menacing quality that she had seen in the other. He spotted her cell phone and in a moment’s time, he had retrieved it from where it lay almost thirty feet away, dropped it on the porch beside her feet and returned to his spot in the yard, all before she could complete a blink.
“So, what do you want with me?” She asked as she reached down to pick up her phone. Homer sat happily beside her, lightly panting with a goofy grin on his face.
“Nothing, really. It’s what I wanted with him.” He nodded to the area where the stranger had disappeared into the night. He watched her expression as the mind control effects that the mutt had used on her faded and she regained power of her own thoughts once more.
“He wasn’t human.” She pointed past Barry and he confirmed her accusation with a nod of his head. “You too! You aren’t fucking human, either.” She raised her voice as she took a step back but noticed that Homer seemed ambivalent to his presence as he continued to lick himself.
“No. I am not human but I am not your enemy either.” He folded his hands in front of him and stood still as she evaluated him, trying to make sense of the strange occurrence that had just taken place. “Never invite them in. They cannot hurt you as long as you are inside and don’t invite them in.” Zoe stepped through the threshold of her door and stated,
“Then you aren’t invited.” Barry laughed and turned to walk away, proving to her that he was disinterested, which only piqued Zoe’s curiosity, forcing her to say, “Wait”. He stopped and turned back to face her then took a few steps towards the porch.
“Yes?” He stood in her front yard, next to the azalea bushes that she had planted last spring, and awaited her answer. He thought she looked so demure, standing behind the door and the dog, looking to him for some clarity on the event with the stranger.
Zoe opened the door wide, feeling a rush of exhilaration in what she was about to do. She had a good feeling about Barry and felt that she would be safe if she allowed him entry to the home. The dog didn’t seem to mind and he had given her no reason to
be fearful, other than admitting he’s not human and turning a man to dust before her very eyes. She lifted her gaze to him and with certainty in her voice, asked,
“Won’t you please come in?”
Chapter Six
Zoe tried to listen to Barry’s words but she was too enthralled in his presence and mannerisms. She noted the way he stood: tall and proud, reminiscent of a soldier. His shoulders were strong and wide and his arms were as stout as she had ever seen. She was sure if she looked hard enough, she could make out each muscle in his well- defined form. He was physically exquisite and when he shook his head to the side, his hair fell sexily into his eyes, prompting him to mindlessly wipe it aside as he spoke. She was sure she wasn’t paying attention but she knew that she did hear him say “vampire”.
“Excuse me? Like…” She made a “peace sign” with her fingers then bent them, putting them to her lips to resemble fangs. “Dracula, vampire? Vampire?”
“I’m unfamiliar with Dracula but, yes. Vampire.” She got up from the couch and paced a few steps before turning to him and saying, “And angels? Vampires and angels? I’m dealing with vampires and angels? That’s what you’re telling me?” She made a look of being lost in thought for a moment and said, “I can handle that, I suppose. As long as there aren’t demons after me, I guess that’s cool.” He chuckled at her humor and replied,
“I don’t know that he was necessarily ‘after you’ so to speak, just hungry I would imagine.” He looked to her and winked, “You smell divine.”
“I do?” She asked with a chuckle and short smile before managing to blush six different shades of red in two seconds flat.
Barry had vowed to never fall in love with a mortal woman. He had made a promise to never let his heart get in the way of his mission of annihilating every mutt on the face of the earth and allowing feelings to come into play was his number one rule.
This human was making him think of breaking the rules. He hadn’t come across one such as this. She intrigued him. Excited him. He felt as though he wanted to know more of her and let her know of him in return, he just simply could not. She sat back down on the end of the tan sofa and placed a throw pillow in her lap, nervously kneading it as she said,
“So, let me wrap my head around this real quick. You were an angel but you’re not anymore. He was a vampire and there’s many more and you have vowed to wipe them off the face of the earth because they are from a defiled bloodline from the original vampire, who was also an angel?” She looked at him, wanting to laugh but trying to maintain a serious composure and almost lost it when he answered,
“Yes. Mutts born of the blood of the bite and not of the birth must be destroyed”. A giggle escaped her lips as she asked,
“What if one who was bitten has a baby and it’s born? Does that count?” She got up and walked towards the kitchen.
“You make light, woman. This is no laughing matter. Everyone knows that the undead cannot reproduce.” His face was stoic and strong as stone as he stared at her before allowing a grin to cross his lips, softening the expression in his eyes.
“Do you drink? Beer, I mean.” She asked from the refrigerator, standing in the open door as she opened a beer for herself.
“No, I do not, thank you.” She closed the door and walked back into the living room.
“So what do you drink?” She took a sip and maintained eye contact as he replied,
“Unfortunately, my diet consists of human blood.” Her eyes remained on him and she discontinued swallowing as she slowly removed the bottle from her lips. Gulping the remainder of what she had in her mouth, she said,
“And I smell delicious?” He extended his arm and touched the side of her face, slowly dragging his fingertips down her jawline.
“Oh, yes. Yes, you do.” He put his hand on the back of her neck and buried his face in her hair, inhaling her delectable scent as he ran his hand down her arm. Zoe gasped as the fear and exhilaration of the moment filled her and her body shuddered. Barry stood to look at her, still loosely holding her. Staring into her eyes, he leaned forward, deciding whether or not to give in to the desire to kiss her or pull away before it’s too late to stop. He sensed her pulse quicken and almost as if that was the sign of a decision of her own that had been made, she reached for the back of his neck and pulled herself to him. Barry wrapped his arms around her small, warm frame and picked her up from the floor, holding her close to him as he explored her delightful mouth with his tongue. She reveled in the solidity of his body, almost as if he were a walking statue in the form of stone come to life.
A gasp escaped her lips as she broke contact with his mouth so she could take a breath and she ran her hands in his shaggy hair, grasping handfuls of it and using it to press him closer to her. Her mind raced as she thought,
“You are making out with a vampire. He’s a fucking vampire who could kill you and thinks you taste delicious. This is fucking awesome.” Barry sat her on the floor and stood to face her, brushed the hair from her face with the back of his hand and said,
“I’m not a fucking vampire” before sweeping her into his arms and kissing her with the hunger of a thousand demons, running his hands along her back, down to her small, firm ass. She raised her knee along his leg and his hand ran from her ass to the bend of her leg, lifting her with ease as she moaned passionately. He walked the two of them through her bedroom door then kicked it shut with his foot, walking to the bed without missing a stride.
Chapter Seven
Making love with Barry had been the single-most thrilling experience of her life, the first time they had done it that night. Zoe’s body hadn’t been quite prepared for what Barry had done to it after he shut the door to her bedroom. His touch alone caused her to quiver and climb to the brink of climax, so when he placed his fingers between her moist legs, she had an orgasm almost immediately. Her body quaked with powerful response to his and Zoe had never felt so alive than she did in this moment. His kisses were strong yet sensual and the feel of his skin, though cold, was extremely soft. After they had undressed and he had pleasured her with his hand, he placed himself between her thighs and held himself over her, staring at her naked body and taking in every dip, curve and imperfection but paying closest attention to everything that was perfect. He looked into her eyes and leaned in to kiss her as she ran her hands from his shoulders, slowly down his back to rest at his waist as he grasped his firm manhood and placed the head in the warmest, most moist area of her. She gasped at the sensation of his frigid, rigid cock as he entered her, feeling almost as if being penetrated by a long, thick ice cube. The feeling was phenomenal, having the contrast of her extreme heat and the chill of his body mingling inside of her as they acclimated to feel as one temperature with each thrust. She felt as if she were truly becoming one with Barry, feeling him delve deeper into her as he slightly circled his hips before pushing forward. She could feel his muscles rippling under her hands and she couldn’t remember ever touching a more perfect male specimen. He was absolutely breathtaking.
Barry held his weight with his left hand as he played with her breasts with his right, twisting and playfully pinching each nipple, watching her giggle and squirm in response to his touch as he thrust rhythmically with his hips. Leaning in to kiss her, he placed his hand on her side and grasped her skin as he powerfully placed his lips to hers, tasting the wine that she had prior to her bath. She moaned as her body bucked underneath him, in time with the movements of his own. She felt the tingle of climax as the familiar rise in heat from her toes to her midsection began with great intensity, sneaking up on her as she exploded in desire. His concentrated strokes seemed to reach in to her very core and pull an orgasm as freely as one would pick a flower. Her body writhed as she clawed his skin and lolled her head back and forth on the pillow as would a woman possessed. He bore down in to the bed and pounded her relentlessly as he pulled forth another electrifying climax immediately as the first one had ended. All she could do was mutter sounds as the shockwaves that
pulsated throughout her body held her in a state of mindlessness. Her tiny frame seemed dwarfed by the muscular body of the angel as he wrapped her in his arms as she completed pulsating on his tumescent cock, rigid with anticipation for release of its own. He raised up on his knees and grabbed her hips, pulling her light body to him with the greatest of ease, tilting her hips to allow a different angle of penetration. He held her breasts in his hands as her legs draped over his and he began to thrust into her with the ferocity of a caged beast. She almost felt as if it were too much and wasn’t sure that she would be able to take him at this intensity, so she placed her hands on his chest to brace herself and allow her to better maneuver underneath him but as soon as he felt her position change, the sensation was what he needed to send him over the top. His eyes closed as his hips rammed forward and he ground himself into her as his lips found her neck, digging his sharp fangs into her neck and tasting her as he reached his climax. She wrapped her legs around him and interlocked her feet, using her legs to pull him into her as his hard dick throbbed and quivered within her as she felt the sting of him penetrating her neck. He lowered himself and she released her grip on him then he fell on the pillow beside her. She closed her eyes and placed her hand on his cold thigh, catching her breath as he lay silently with a look of content on his face.
She broke the silence when she said that she was thirsty and got up to head to the kitchen as she rubbed the side of her neck. “I’m not going to turn into anything, am I?” He only laughed as she threw on an oversized t-shirt before asking him if he wanted anything, then remembered that he didn’t consume human sustenance and shook her head saying, “never mind” then went to the kitchen. She fixed a glass of ice water and returned to her bedroom to find it empty with no trace of him having ever been there. She sighed and took a sip of her water, sat it on the nightstand beside her bed, sat on the edge then fell backwards, arms stretched overhead and said,
Fallen from Eden: Vampire Romance Page 2