She emerged from her room, closing the door behind her, and plopped down on an overstuffed lounge chair in the living room. She sure wouldn’t miss being in New York with him, but she would miss the apartment itself and actually getting to go out without him over the last few days. They hadn’t spoken in over three days. When she first left the building on her own after finding an extra set of keys, she expected him to follow, but, if he did follow her, he never revealed himself.
She was gone from the time she woke up until the time she went to bed, and only stopped in occasionally to freshen up or use the bathroom. A public restroom in New York City was almost as rare as a unicorn, and she found herself desperate enough to trek all the way back to the apartment and deal with him just to find some relief.
He came out of his bedroom in a rush with an irritated look on his face. “Get your bags and go downstairs. Wait out front for me.”
She stood and picked up her two bags, slinging one over her shoulder. “Yes, master.” Her hand went to her forehead, military style, as he walked away from her.
Reaching for the door knob, he stopped dead in his tracks. His body stiffened and his head cocked slightly to the side. Her heart pounded rapidly until he continued out the front door a few seconds later. He’s still a vampire. I probably should try not to piss him off anymore.
She followed him onto the elevator and out the front door. She stood alone with two suitcases as he disappeared around the corner.
A few minutes later, a silver BMW 4 Series convertible pulled up to the curb. Expecting to see a yuppie stock broker exit the car, she looked away to avoid eye contact. In an instant, Remy stood beside her, grabbing the bags from her hands. Her mouth dropped open as she really eyeballed the gorgeous car. Then she felt bad, like she was cheating on her Toyota.
Remy sighed heavily before addressing her. “Why are you just standing there? Get in already. We’ve got somewhere to be.”
Part of her wished he’d be a gentlemen and open the door for her. She always swooned over men in movies that did that for their woman. The realization that he would never do anything like that for her set in. Maybe there was someone out there that had been meant for her who would’ve done all those romantic hero acts of kindness for her, but that dream was dead now.
She climbed in the car as Remy waited impatiently for her. As soon as her door was shut, he revved the engine and took off faster than she’d expected. She scrambled to buckle her seatbelt, as he weaved in and out of traffic at breakneck speed. Her stomach flipped every time they had a near collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian. Traveling through the Lincoln Tunnel was horrifying. Look on the bright side, if he gets you killed now, you’re free.
Her right hand clung to the arm rest. Her stomach churned as her breakfast threatened to reappear. “Could you slow down a little, please?” Her body jerked as he swerved into the adjacent lane, nearly missing a delivery truck.
“No.”
“Remy, you’re scaring me. Please, slow down. I know you want me dead, but this isn’t the way to go about it.”
He relaxed his tense muscles, and eased off the gas a little.
“Thank you.”
“You wouldn’t die even if we did crash.”
“Glad you’re confident about that, because I sure as shit am not.” Her grip on the armrest loosened slightly.
“I would shield you from impact if we crashed, but we wouldn’t.” After a few minutes of silence, he spoke again. “I don’t want to be your master.” His head tilted slightly toward her.
“Yes, I’m aware. You don’t have to keep rubbing it in. I know you don’t want to be around me. If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather you stay away once we get home.”
“I meant I don’t want you to think of me that way. I have no desire to rule over you.”
“Then why do you? If you don’t want to, then don’t do it.”
“I can’t stop. Bastian has commanded me to watch you and keep you secure. I physically can’t disobey.”
“You have to do everything he says? I can’t imagine you taking orders from anyone.”
“He sired me, which means I have to obey him. I have no control over my actions in regard to the task at hand once he’s commanded me.”
“That sounds kind of sucky.”
“It isn’t an issue most of the time.”
“What about the past few days when I went out alone?”
“You’re sure you were alone?”
She shifted in her seat, and peered out the window. “Sorry I’ve been such an inconvenience for you.”
Silence fell over the vehicle en route to where ever the hell they were going.
Chapter 9
“Are we stopping soon?” She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and crossed her legs.
“I don’t plan on stopping until we get there.”
“Can we please stop?”
“I don’t see the point. We’ll be there in a couple more hours.”
“We’ve been on the road for six hours, and I NEED TO PEE!”
A disgusted groan rumbled in his throat. “Like I said, we’re almost there. I don’t have time for your biological functions.”
“Almost there? Two more hours is not almost there.”
Glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, he said, “Calm down. Two hours isn’t that long. Nothing to go off your trolley over.”
“I will calm down after I pee. Now, you can either stop somewhere that has a restroom, or I can piss all over this seat. Your choice.” Her eyebrows raised as she looked at him.
He said nothing, but only a few minutes later, they stopped at a Burger King that sat right off the highway.
“Be quick.”
“Don’t worry about me. Once again, sorry I’m such an inconvenience.” She walked a little slower than usual toward the restaurant, and could feel his gaze cutting through her like daggers.
When she finished, she decided it was of the utmost importance to finger comb her hair, touch up her make-up, and thoroughly wash and dry her hands – twice. Might as well get something to eat while I’m here, too.
All in all, it had taken her over 20 minutes from the time she got out of the car until she got back in. As she approached the door to the restaurant, she looked through the glass toward the car. The tinted windows obstructed her view, but she knew Remy was most likely seething with anger. I should be terrified to make him so mad, but screw him. I know he’s not going to hurt me. He’s not allowed.
His nose crinkled and his hand quickly pinched his nostrils together after she got in the car. “That smells horrid. Get rid of the bloody stuff. I don’t want it stinking up my new car.”
“No. I have to eat, and this is where you stopped. It isn’t horrid at all. It’s the best food I’ve ever tasted in my entire life.” She smirked at him in his discomfort. It was her turn to play the jerk.
Two hours later, they finally pulled up to a rather plain looking two story home on a huge plot of land an hour away from the nearest city. Several vehicles varying from clunkers to top of the line luxury vehicles were parked all around the front of the house. Remy pulled the car into the large driveway, and put it in park.
They hadn’t said a word to each other since their pit stop. Now was not the time for the silent treatment. He had to explain to her what was going on and how she needed to act. He still expected resistance from her.
He turned to her and rested his arm on the headrest of her seat. She leaned away. “I need to tell you some things before we get in there. Once we’re inside, we can’t have any slip ups or someone will have you for dinner. Clear?”
She nodded. She wasn’t ready to speak just yet, but, for her own safety, she listened.
“Everyone in there has to believe we fancy one another. They have to believe that you’ve tamed the beast, so to speak. If you act like you hate me, they’ll see right through it, and we will both be in trouble.”
“What would they do to you?”
&n
bsp; “Nothing, but I’m not too fond of finding out what I would face if I go back to Willow Creek without you. I’m not worried about my safety here, only yours. You have to trust me.”
“Okay, but I will never trust you ever again if someone tries to eat me.”
“Stay where you are. I’m going to come around and open your door. I expect a smile from you waiting for me when I do.”
It was just the kind of thing she wanted to happen, but it wasn’t sincere so it didn’t matter. He strolled around to her side of the car and opened the door. He took her hand in his and helped her out of the car. Never letting go of her hand, he walked beside her up the steps and onto the front porch. Before either one of them had the chance to ring the bell, a tall man with a goatee and dark eyes opened the door.
The two vampires stared at each other with fire in their eyes. Deep growls emanated from both of them. She squeezed Remy’s hand, hoping to pull him out of whatever state of mind he was in. That’s all she needed was for him to get in a fight with another vampire and leave her vulnerable for the picking.
Remy stepped forward. His hand left hers, and she prepared for impact. The other vampire threw his arms around Remy. They both laughed from their bellies as they embraced each other. It was the strangest greeting she’d ever seen.
“Who is your lovely guest?”
“This,” he paused to take her hand once again and brought it to his lips, “is my Sabine.” His lips softly kissed the skin on her hand and sent tingles up her arm. She wanted to hate him. She tried to hate him. Even though she knew it was all an act, she still couldn’t shake how good that small amount of attention made her feel. Shit! What if this guy can hear me? I can’t do this. I’ll never be able to keep up this charade. “Sabine, this is my mate, Martin. We’ve known each other for over 300 years, and he is like a brother to me.”
“Nice to meet you, Martin.”
“Likewise. I look forward to getting to know you. Please, come in. I’m sorry I don’t have many refreshments for you, Sabine. Is there something you might like? I could send someone out to get anything you’d like.”
“No, thank you. I’m fine. I ate a little while ago, and I have a bottle of water in my purse.”
“Very well, then. The others are all inside. They’ve been quite anxious to hear what you’ve been up to. No one has seen you in such a long time. We’d begun to think you had perished.”
“Still alive, though I didn’t feel like I was until I met her. I spent a lot of time around Europe by myself until recently. I was visiting Bastian when I met Sabine, and I’ve been hooked on her ever since.” He smiled sweetly at her and wrapped his arm around her waist.
“I’m glad you found someone to make you happy. I never thought I’d see the day.”
“It feels good to love.” He sounded so sincere. If she let herself, she could easily fall in love with him acting like she was the love of his life. She figured she might as well enjoy it while she could. The contempt he held for her would return soon enough.
“I trust she hasn’t quelled your thirst for vengeance?”
“Never.”
“The one you seek has not yet arrived, but I have it on good authority that he will be here, none the wiser, after sundown. He always shows up when we have our gatherings.”
“We will return later tonight. I have no desire to scare him off if he realizes I’m here when he arrives. Give my regards to the others until I return.”
Martin nodded his head and returned inside the house.
An hour later, they pulled into the parking lot of a hotel. Remy left Sabine waiting as he go them checked into a room. It seemed nice enough from the exterior, but it wouldn’t compare to Remy’s apartment in Manhattan. Sabine yawned and stretched once she was out of the car.
“I hope you aren’t too tired. You’ll have to be ready to go back to Martin’s in just a bit.”
“Can I please just rest my eyes for a few minutes? It’s been a long day, and it looks like it’s going to be a long night. I don’t get why you can’t leave me here while you go do your thing. You know I’m not going to leave.”
“I don’t know that you won’t, therefore you have to come with me. Your scent would be long gone by the time I return. You don’t have much time, but I suppose you could nap for an hour or so before you have to make yourself presentable again.”
They were parked right outside of the room they were to share. Sabine waited by the door as he retrieved the bags from the trunk of the car. He unlocked the door, and they stepped into the room.
“One bed? Seriously? One bed? You couldn’t get a double with your endless supply of money you like to throw around?”
“I didn’t think it was a big deal. You can easily sleep on the floor. There’s an extra pillow, and I have no need for a blanket, so I suppose you could have the one on the bed.”
“Why do you hate me so much?”
“I don’t hate you. You’re just too easy to rile. You take things too seriously.”
“Well, it’s not like you’ve ever really been all that nice to me. How else would I take it?”
“I have been nice to you. Need I remind you of the clothes I purchased for you, or the fact that I didn’t tell Bastian you tried to run away? I even fetched you your favorite breakfast once.”
He had a point, even though she protested him buying the clothes for this very reason. She didn’t want it thrown in her face. Rather than escalate the conversation, she decided it was time to rest. “May I lie down now, master?”
“You have no idea what a master really is, but yes, go ahead.”
She pulled the bedspread back, slid in between the sheets, and fell asleep only a little while later.
*
The room was quiet, save for the soft, steady breath and beat of a heart coming from across the room. She seemed so peaceful, and, in that moment, the feelings he worked so hard to repress came bubbling to the surface again. The more he studied her, the harder it was to deny he cared about her and her wellbeing, but he could never be what she wanted him to be. He wasn’t capable of it anymore. Those days were long behind him.
He quickly pushed her to the back of his mind and focused on the one vampire in the world he longed to kill - Jackson Carter. The thought of him almost made his blood boil. He was the only one who’d ever managed to steal something from him and get away with it. Being a thief was bad enough, but Jackson took something Remy held dear to his heart. The item wasn’t just some random, meaningless piece of jewelry or trinket or even cash he had lying around. Jackson took the last bit Remy had of his mother - a necklace given to him shortly before he was married. It was the only thing his father hadn’t managed to strip Remy of before he was forced into slavery under his father’s command.
Jackson would pay for taking the only thing in the world that mattered to Remy. What made it worse was that he knew Jackson carried the necklace with him to flaunt it as a trophy. It would only be a bonus to get the jewelry back. The true prize would be thrashing the despicable excuse for a vampire until he was obliterated.
For over 150 years, Jackson managed to elude him, but not this time. This time, Remy was one step ahead of him.
His phone vibrated from within his pocket. He reached in and pulled the phone out without bothering to see who was calling.
“Hello?”
“He isn’t coming tonight. He phoned a few minutes ago and said he’s been held up by a personal matter, but that he intends to be here tomorrow morning.”
Remy sat straight up in his chair. Rage ran through his veins. “Do you think he knows?” His jaws clenched.
“No, I’m certain he does not.”
“You’re sure the others haven’t alerted him?”
“I’m sure. I’ve been watching them closely.”
“Very well, then, Martin. I will see you in the morning.”
He placed the phone on the table beside him. Had Jackson eluded him once more? The thought of Jackson slipping away once again
pissed him off to the point he wanted to break or kill something. He turned and focused on her to calm himself. What was it about her that made him so calm?
He couldn’t help but think of all the times he’d watched her sleep – all the times he influenced her to dream of him. It was just another way he tried to convince himself that she was nothing more than a plaything and to get under her skin.
Sabine stirred. He walked quietly to her bedside. He reached out with his mind and quickly pulled back. He would let her be free to dream of whatever and whomever she wanted. The lids of his eyes grew heavy as he watched her sleep. He stripped off his clothes – all of them – and crawled into bed beside her. She would be in for a surprise when she awoke. He smirked to himself as he thought of her face seeing him lying naked next to her. That would be much better and more entertaining than making her dream of him.
*
Her eyes fluttered open. She squinted to focus her vision as she looked at the clock on the nightstand - 4:30a.m. Why didn’t he wake me up hours ago? Maybe he left without me. I could only be so lucky. She stretched her legs and rolled to her back. Something beside her in the bed caught her eye. She looked over, surprised to see Remy sound asleep. I can’t believe he actually got in the bed with me. I thought for sure he would make me sleep on the floor when he was ready to go to bed.
Then she saw him. Really saw him. All of him.
“Oh my god!” She jumped out of the bed and flipped the bedspread over his most private of parts.
Without opening his eyes or otherwise moving, he spoke calmly. “What are you screaming about? Can’t you see I’m sleeping?”
“Put some pants on! I don’t want to see that!”
He smirked and draped his forearm over his eyes. “What’s the matter? You’ve never seen a real man with a real knob before?”
“I have, but I don’t want to see yours!”
Craving: The Willow Creek Vampires Series Page 8