by Eden (lit)
He helped her slide on the dress before walking her over to the full length mirror. Catrina had never thought of herself as beautiful and was actually afraid that to think so would make her vain. But as she gazed at her reflection, there was no other word.
“It’s not vanity,” Viktor said, reading her thoughts. “You are entitled to think you look good every now and then.”
Catrina was suddenly overcome. She turned to the vampire and pulled him down for an enthusiastic kiss.
“Thank you,” she said.
Viktor probably would have blushed if he’d had more to drink that evening, but as it was his sheepish smile said it all. Catrina wanted to watch him get dressed, not so much because she was interested in his clothes as much as she was interested in just looking at him. She was convinced that Viktor was one of the reasons God had given her 20/20 vision. She was also convinced that Alexander Anderson was another. And it was the werewolf who kept creeping into her thoughts as she waited for Viktor by the fire.
No matter how much she begged he wanted his outfit to be a surprise. Any minute she expected him to leap out of the closet wearing something outrageous. She almost wanted him to, because she’d feel better if she laughed. Catrina hated waiting, it made her nervous. In fact, she was so wrapped up in her own thoughts and nerves that she didn’t even hear him leave the closet and begin to walk toward her.
She turned around suddenly and her breath caught at the sight of him. He was wearing another pair of black slacks that fit like a second skin. But this time he’d traded in his knee high polished boots for a pair that reached up his long legs to mid thigh. His shirt was also black and hung completely open to the waist, revealing many of her daydreaMs. Ruffles replaced buttons down the front of the shirt and they slid further apart as he moved. He was also wearing a short yet elegant cloak which reached to the middle of his calves. Viktor moved with the grace of a tiger. He was a vision. He was the face she saw when she closed her eyes. And he was getting closer.
“You forgot your shoes,” he said softly.
Catrina sat back down. Actually, she sort of fell back into the chair when her knees wouldn’t hold up any longer. Viktor knelt down and placed one of her small feet against his knee. For a second she had a vision of Cinderella. But these weren’t glass slippers and Viktor was no prince. He was way better.
Once her shoes were on, Viktor reached for Catrina and pulled her to her feet. He leaned in close and the smell of his cologne was like a caress to her senses. He smelled like a man was supposed to smell and like a vampire with expensive taste. He brushed back her hair and Catrina nearly wet herself when he pressed a soft kiss against her throat, right above her jugular.
“This is how vampires greet one another,” Viktor explained as he rose back to his full height. Next he took her hand and held it out, turning the palm up. He bent down and pressed his lips against her wrist. “This is how a vampire greets a human. But I will greet you as a vampire as a show of my respect in front of others.”
“Good grief that was sexy,” she panted. “You mean vampires are going to be doing that to me all night?”
He shrugged and managed to make the gesture look elegant. “Not everyone has my charm,” he teased. On their way outside he continued to explain a few key points to her. “Don’t look any of them in they eye unless you are invited to do so. Not only is it a sign of disrespect to look a vampire in the eye, but it could be dangerous. My power will protect you from most anyone. They know it and I know it. But to openly flaunt such knowledge would be arrogant and we don’t want to offend.”
On their way out the door, Viktor threw a black fur wrap around her shoulders as Catrina said, “So, offer up my wrist, don’t freak when they go for your neck, and don’t look them in the eye. Anything else I should know?”
“Yes,” he said, smiling. “Remember to have fun. Most vampires are social creatures, except for most of the council.”
“Great.”
Chapter Twenty One
Viktor opened the limo door for Catrina to get in first. As she slid across the backseat she asked, “Where are we going anyway?”
“The Morgue.”
Viktor got in beside her and the driver closed the door.
“The Morgue?” she questioned.
“Yeah, it’s just a place for regular stiffs.” Viktor laughed so hard at his own joke that tears came to his eyes before he noticed that Catrina wasn’t nearly as amused. “I’m sorry,” he said, still snickering. “Bad undead joke. The Morgue is a vampire club. It caters to some of the locals as well as the occasional fang bait tourists.”
“Ah,” she said, as if that explained everything. Catrina was trying desperately to not be nervous, but she’d never been around vampires in a social setting before. Well, not including Jacob and Viktor.
Viktor noticed her hands were trembling. Though she had them folded neatly in her lap, the fine tremor running through her was still noticeable. He reached over, took one hand and put it in his lap.
“If it makes you feel better, I’m not wearing any underwear either,” he whispered.
Even though she was genuinely amused, her laughter still sounded strained.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t expect this.”
“Why not?” he teased. “It’s not like this is the first time you’ve had your hands on me.”
“You know what I mean,” she said, and her smile was more natural this time. “I’m really nervous about this. Even with what you’ve told me, I’m still not sure how to act. What if I offend someone unintentionally and start a fight? I don’t have any weapons.” She was starting to sound panicked. “I couldn’t fit any underneath this dress,” she pleaded.
Viktor put an arm around her, sliding his hand underneath the fur wrap so that he could touch her skin. “I’m the only weapon you’ll need if something like that were to happen. But it isn’t going to. Come here,” he said softly. Viktor lifted her onto his lap and held Catrina tight, pressing his face against hers as he whispered, “Let me inside your mind. I can calm your nerves.”
Catrina let down her guard and Viktor’s voice brushed against her consciousness like velvet. “There, that’s better,” he purred. Catrina felt her heartbeat begin to slow as well as her breathing. It felt like the vampire’s hands were all over her body at once and in other places they couldn’t possibly reach. Where Viktor’s touch normally sparked a flame within her, now it soothed her nerves. As he held her, Catrina felt herself begin to go limp in his arms until her face rested against his chest.
She rested there for several minutes with her eyes closed. She breathed in the scent of his cologne and took comfort in its familiarity. She pressed one hand against his chest, moving his shirt open further to touch his skin. He was hers. No matter what else Viktor Van Helsing may be, or might have been Catrina knew for certain that he belonged to her. Maybe that was why she didn’t mind so much being his. As soon as the thought crossed her mind she started to worry again, started to think about Alexander and Viktor intervened. His calm cool presence in her mind helped Catrina to let go of the werewolf, even if it was for a short while. Viktor would never attempt to wipe her memory of Alexander, but for tonight she didn’t need to worry about him.
It seemed like no time at all had passed before the car stopped and the driver was tapping against the window.
“We’ve arrived,” Viktor said, shaking her gently. Catrina looked afraid all over again and he squeezed her hand comfortingly. “Just hold onto me,” he said. “I can keep you calm.”
Catrina nodded her agreement. She was afraid that if she tried to speak her voice would falter. With a nod from Viktor, the driver opened their door and Viktor stepped out into a buzz of voices and camera flashes.
“Occasional fang bait, huh?” Catrina asked as she scooted carefully to the edge of the seat. Viktor watched appreciatively at the way she managed not to flash the cameras.
“Very nice,” he said. His smile said everything he didn’t and she was torn betw
een wanting to slap him or kiss him.
“I had no idea there’d be cameras here,” she said, taking the vampire’s arm as he led her toward the entrance. Catrina glanced at all the people held back by velvet ropes along both sides of the sidewalk. “You could have warned me.”
“It would have only made you more nervous. Besides, you look wonderful so don’t worry about it.” When she looked at him skeptically he said, “Remember you are with the master of the city. My arrival was sure to be noticed.”
Even though she had seen Viktor in the news before, it always came as a bit of a shock to Catrina to realize how popular he was. He’d always been just Viktor to her. Okay, so he was never “just” Viktor. But he was a familiar face even before he became her lover and she had difficulty thinking of him as a celebrity.
“Did you think you had me all to yourself?” he asked, bending down so that he whispered in her ear. The gesture was picked up by a number of cameras, and some of the pictures were bound to make it into The Harbinger, Eden’s local paper. Whatever her feelings might be, Catrina’s relationship with Viktor was definitely not a secret anymore.
“One can always hope,” she replied.
Two men stepped forward to open the doors and Catrina took a deep steadying breath as they stepped inside. The Morgue was not what she expected and it was anything but dead. They were immediately greeted by a blond male vamp who seemed very eager to see Viktor.
“Master,” the blond said, bowing deeply.
He released her arm and took the other vampire by the hand. Viktor was nearly a foot taller than the other man and bent down to place a kiss against his throat. His hair spilled over the blond vamp’s shoulder, contrasting nicely with his dark blue suit. The gesture made both Catrina and the other vampire shiver. When Viktor withdrew his hair blended back with his own dark attire, adding to the imposing image he presented.
“Cameron, allow me to present Catrina Ravensdale, my lover and my servant.”
His voice was so seductively honeyed that Catrina couldn’t even take offense at being called a servant. She did however, blush to the roots of her hair at being openly introduced as his lover. She wasn’t shy about sexuality, hers or anyone else’s, but she wasn’t used to immediately announcing whom she was sleeping with either.
The way Cameron accepted this statement so easily let her know it was commonplace to say such things in the vampire world. Cameron reached for her and without missing a beat Catrina extended her hand, palm up in greeting. The vampire smiled his approval as he bent to kiss her wrist. He was gorgeous and Catrina had to keep reminding herself not to look him in the eye. She looked respectfully at his chin as he informed Viktor that his usual table was waiting.
From this interaction she assumed that Cameron ran the place. She looped her arm back through Viktor’s as they followed the blond across the room. The Morgue was one of the largest clubs Catrina had ever seen and was like no place she’d ever been. It was dark and not just the lighting. Darkness seemed to creep over the place like a shadow. But it wasn’t a frightening shadow, it was the kind that lovers hid beneath on a park bench or down a dark alley. It was a welcoming darkness, filled with so many wicked things. The place was lit by lanterns hanging from the high ceiling and candles on the tables. They passed a large dance floor and Catrina was almost overcome with the urge to move to the music. It too was dark and seemed to reach out to her like a pair of roaming hands. She couldn’t explain it, but the music wanted to touch her and she wanted to let it.
Cameron led them up a wide staircase to a wrap-around booth on the balcony with a view of the entire first floor.
“I’ll have a waiter come out to take your order,” he said to Catrina before turning to Viktor and asking, “The usual?”
“Yes.”
Catrina watched as the other vampire bowed again and walked back down the stairs. She scooted closer to Viktor and asked, “What’s the usual?”
“O positive, preferably with a high alcohol content and freshly donated.”
Viktor slipped out of his cloak and Catrina followed his lead, taking off her wrap. She had expected to be cold because of the weather, but the temperature inside The Morgue was surprisingly pleasant. By the time the waiter returned the music was really starting to get to her. She wanted to put her hands on Viktor, preferably below the waist. Catrina ran one hand up his thigh and cupped as much of him as she could in her hand. To Viktor’s credit, he didn’t let on as the waiter put a glass of blood in front of him.
“And for you?” the young man asked.
“I’d like something hard,” she replied seductively. “What do you have that’s stiff here?”
The waiter smiled appreciatively as he answered, “I’ll see what I can do. Any preference other than stiff?”
“Surprise me.”
As the waiter walked away Catrina turned toward Viktor, leaning into him so that one leg rested almost on top of his. “Every time I’m near you I want to touch you,” she said. “But that music makes me want to take off all your clothes right here in this booth.”
He smiled and it made his silvery eyes sparkle. “First time around enchanted music, huh? It does that to some people. So, what’s stopping you?”
“From what?”
“From taking off all my clothes right here in this booth.”
Just the suggestion got her hot. Catrina made an effort to slow her breathing as she replied, “There are other people here. I don’t want them to see.”
“Then they won’t.”
As he said this Catrina understood through their connection that Viktor was capable of clouding the minds of everyone in the club, both human and vamps alike. He could make them see what he wanted them to see, or overlook what was none of their business.
With a wicked smile Catrina slid underneath the table and disappeared under the black tablecloth. Viktor couldn’t wipe the smile off his face, but he could make people turn their heads in the other direction, suddenly having no desire to look at the master of the city. She unzipped his pants and Viktor lifted up to accommodate as Catrina tugged them down as far as she could. There was no getting his pants off without removing his thigh-high boots, which she was obviously too impatient for.
Without warning she took him in her mouth and his concentration nearly broke. Viktor leaned back and his eyes rolled to the back of his head as she ran her tongue up and down the length of him.
“Slow down,” he panted. “Let me get a grip on the situation.”
“What’s the matter,” she asked. “Am I breaking your concentration?”
“A little,” he admitted. In less than a minute he said, “Alright. Now I’m prepared.”
Now everyone in the club knew the master of the city was present, they just didn’t know exactly where he was because he wasn’t at his booth. He called the darkness to him, wrapping it around the booth until all that was seen was emptiness where he actually sat, writhing beneath her touch. Viktor pulled back the tablecloth to watch her and placed his hand against the back of her head.
Finally she pulled back, gasping for air as she asked, “Can anyone see me now?”
“Only me,” he said breathlessly.
Catrina crawled back up his body until she faced him and straddled his waist. Viktor could barely contain himself as he watched her pull the dress up around her waist. She took him all in one move and covered her cry of pleasure with his mouth. Being as in tune to him as she was now, Catrina knew what he wanted. She could feel what he felt and even more excitement coursed through her when she realized it was her he wanted. When Viktor closed his eyes it was still her face he saw.
She opened his shirt wide and bent down to bite his left nipple.
“Ah,” he gasped. “Telepathy is a wonderful thing.”
“Yes,” she whispered, letting him know how she needed to be touched. “Now, give me what I want.”
Viktor ran a hand through her hair, tangling his long fingers until he had a firm grip. He tugged gently a
t the nape of her neck as he began to move faster, meeting her body each time she arched forward. There was no need for words, only breath and skin and the smell of his cologne. He released her hair and Catrina slid down the straps on her dress so that she could press her breasts against him.
Viktor held her tight as he whispered, “I’ve been waiting for you.”
She knew what he meant. He had searched for someone to share his tastes, his appetites, and his body. There wasn’t just magic in the music, there was magic in the body that touched hers that night. It was in his lips as they kissed her and in his hands as they wrapped around her neck. Viktor didn’t choke her, nor did he apply any real pressure. He just held her face right where he wanted it while he brought her to orgasm. Above the music a few people heard her strangled cry, but no one knew where it came from.
Several minutes later, Catrina excused herself after Viktor told her where to find the bathroom. When she returned, all his clothes were set to rights and her drink was sitting on the table.
“I thought you said they couldn’t see us,” she asked, still somewhat breathlessly.
“They couldn’t. He delivered the drink not knowing we were here.”
She took a few very relaxed breaths before asking, “Can they see us now?”
A tension seemed to leave his body before he answered, “Now they can.”
A few people nearby jumped at their sudden appearance and Catrina couldn’t help laughing.
“That was bad, Viktor.”
“Bad? I thought you enjoyed it,” he teased.
“I loved it,” she purred. “But I mean tricking all these people. Won’t some of the vamps be pissed if they know what you were able to do? I mean, to block them out so thoroughly has got to be an insult.” She was sure to keep her voice down while expressing these concerns.
“It is,” he agreed. “But wasn’t it fun?”
Viktor stretched out his arm toward her and Catrina leaned into him as she answered, “It was amazing. I just can’t believe I did it. You know, having sex in a public place is usually not my thing.”