Eden

by Eden (lit)

  Catrina took another sip before asking, “Viktor, will you get drunk if I do?”

  “Maybe.”

  A few glasses later, they had their answer.

  “Let’s dance,” Viktor suggested as he got unsteadily to his feet.

  It was the first time Catrina had seen him make any move that wasn’t entirely graceful. But even drunk he could out dance any partner she’d ever had. Viktor pulled her against him and his graceful movements returned as if he’d flipped a switch. They started to sway to the music and because of their height difference her face was pressed against his chest rather than his cheek.

  Catrina opened his shirt wider and rubbed her face across the hair on his chest.

  “You smell so good,” she whispered. “It’s even better than a werewolf on the full moon.” Catrina quickly realized her faux pas and said, “Oh, Viktor I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m--”

  “Drunk and horny and the only man who flips your switch besides me came to mind. You really don’t have to explain it to me.”

  He twirled her around and cupped her butt with both hands. It wasn’t the most elegant dance move, but it worked.

  “I don’t know what to say,” she admitted.

  “How about oooo or ah?” he suggested with a smile. “But enough about him,” Viktor said, dancing her closer to the chair again. “You’re here with me tonight.” He flung her down into the chair and began to unbutton his shirt with a practiced ease. “This is my bedroom,” he purred sexily. “This is my body,” he reminded, running his hands up and down his chest. “And by God you will scream my name tonight.”

  Catrina watched breathlessly as he stripped to the beat of the music. She didn’t think her heart could beat any faster, but when Viktor flung back his long hair she was proved wrong. He unzipped his pants slowly, but he didn’t take them off. He just left them to hang open at the top. Catrina followed the trail of hair with her eyes which ran from his chest in a thin line and disappeared into his pants. Knowing what was underneath only added to her excitement.

  Viktor dropped to his knees and began to crawl toward her. His movements reminded her of a big cat on the prowl and the way his dark hair fanned out over his back and shoulders brought to mind a panther. When he finally reached her, Viktor put his hands on her legs and slid the silk dress up to her thighs. Then he placed a hand on each knee and opened her legs.

  When Catrina looked up she could barely breathe. Never in all her years of looking at the world had she ever beheld such a sight. The firelight reflected off every curve and nuance of Viktor’s handsome face as he looked at her. Shadows touched his body in ways that an artist’s hand would have done if he were a painting. But the heat from his body and the press of his flesh let her know that this vision was real.

  Viktor leaned in close and wrapped his arms around her as he whispered, “If this isn’t a real relationship, then I don’t know what is.”

  Catrina wrapped her arms around his neck and surrendered herself once again to the vampire’s touch.

  * * * *

  Several hours later they were both luxuriating in a bubble bath when Catrina remembered a question she’d been meaning to ask.

  “You said that there’s one more step to me becoming your human servant, right?”

  Viktor, who had been resting back against a bath pillow, seemed surprised by the question. He sat up a bit as he answered, “Yes. But that’s not a decision I expect you to make any time soon.”

  “I know,” she said. “I just kind of wanted to know what it was.”

  The vampire leaned forward and pulled his legs up so that his face rested against his knees. He looked at Catrina with the most unusual expression. There was an emotion in his eyes she couldn’t quite figure, because she’d never seen it before. Wet strands of ebony hair clung to his back and shoulders and some fell forward against his face. She had never seen him look more vulnerable or more desirable in all the years she had known him.

  “It’s permanent, for one thing,” he said.

  “I know that.”

  “Do you?” he asked softly. “We’re not talking about merely a lifetime here, Catrina. We’re talking about the possibility of all eternity.”

  Catrina scooted closer to him and put her hand against his back, rubbing slowly across his skin. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

  “If I have to spend eternity with someone,” she whispered, “I could do a lot worse.”

  “Everyone you’ve ever known, everyone you’ve ever loved will die. In time you may come to hate me for this,” he said.

  “I’m already bound to you,” she replied. “I know what it feels like to be a part of you and that’s not something I want to lose.”

  “What about Alexander?” he asked. “Werewolves do live longer than humans. But he will grow old, my darling, and eventually … he will die. Is this something you can live with?”

  Catrina felt her insides grow cold at the thought of Alexander dying. He was so vibrant, so full of life. The world would be a darker place without his smile.

  Viktor watched the way her face fell when he mentioned Alexander’s mortality and said, “I didn’t think so.”

  “Wait. You said he was your animal to call?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, isn’t there some other alternative, something that can be done?”

  He sighed. “There is always something. But I don’t think Alexander would be happy about it.”

  “Well, what is it?” she insisted. “I know werewolves can’t become vampires. But could you possibly have two servants instead of one?”

  Viktor took a moment to think before he answered her. He wanted Catrina to understand what she was asking for.

  “It would be something like that, yes. But my connection to Alexander wouldn’t be exactly the same. For those of us who have animals under our control we can choose one to share our lifetime, just as a human servant would do. Their relationship is more for protection than to be our eyes and ears to the daytime world.”

  He paused and Catrina prompted, “Go on.”

  “For Alexander to agree to this, he would also have to take my blood. But for him one time would be enough. He would be bound to me for all eternity. But he would not just owe me his allegiance; he would owe me his protection and that of the entire wolf pack, should I ever call them. And should I ever call him, he would not be able to refuse.” He waited a moment for her to digest this information before continuing. “If he were to agree to this, the two of you must also be bound to one another. This ritual is not one of blood, but flesh. And of course this is all on the assumption that he is not a murderer, which remains to be seen.”

  Catrina grew very still and he was wondering if he’d explained things too harshly when she said, “I’m afraid of death, Viktor. I didn’t realize I was until I nearly died … but I am. When you offered to share your lifetime, well, that was very generous I thought. As a matter of fact, nothing had ever sounded so good.”

  Viktor reached over and put his arm around her as he said, “There is no shame in having a fear of death. Many have sought out vampires over the years because of the same fear.” He shifted so that he was sitting Indian style and pulled Catrina onto his lap. She curled up against him like a child and Viktor rubbed her back comfortingly as he spoke. “There is something else that you should know. If Alexander agrees to this, and that’s a big if, it would most likely put all our lives in danger.”

  “Why?” She pulled back to look at his face.

  “Because no one vampire has had that kind of power for a very long time.”

  “But why should that matter?”

  “We would add to each other, the three of us. We would all become stronger. For my strength to increase at all would rival that of some council members. Depending on how this visit goes, that could be reason enough for them to challenge me.”

  “Challenge you?”

  “Pick a fight,” he clarified.

  Catrina thought abou
t that for a moment. “But if everything goes well and we don’t cause a stir, and Alexander goes along with this, then we could all live happily ever after?”

  He laughed. “Perhaps.”

  “You know,” she said softly, “if it turns out that Alexander didn’t have anything to do with those murders, I’ll eventually have to tell him the truth.”

  “You mean about us and our plans? Why?” He looked shocked.

  “Because I like him and it’s the right thing to do.” Viktor opened his mouth to protest and Catrina said, “I wouldn’t keep something like that from you.”

  He sighed again. “I suppose you’re right. But sugar-coat it as much as you can, alright?”

  “What if he turns me down?” she asked. “What if he gets pissed about the whole thing and doesn’t want any part of us?”

  “Then fear not, my darling,” he purred. “All paradise is not lost.” And to emphasize his point, he kissed her.

  Having sex with a vampire was an exhausting activity, but twice in one night was enough to send some people to the hospital. For this reason it was no surprise to Viktor when she fell asleep in his arMs. He sat there for a few more minutes before attempting to get them out of the tub. He listened to her slow easy breathing and thought to himself that surely Catrina must love him if she was willing to spend eternity with him.

  But her feelings for the werewolf were also obvious. What was this hold he had over her? Viktor couldn’t understand it, but he had a pretty good idea. Through Catrina he knew what she felt when she thought of Alexander and he couldn’t honestly say he’d want to give that up either if he were in her place. He had also sensed enough of Alexander’s emotions at Ravensdale Manor to know that he was either madly in love with Catrina or well on his way. He might agree to the arrangement Viktor had suggested just to have a future with her. Viktor didn’t like the prospect of using someone in such a way, even a man who had been his enemy. However, he could not deny that the power such an arrangement promised did appeal to him.

  He held Catrina more securely against his chest and lifted her out of the water. He continued to ponder the possibilities of such power while he wrapped her in a towel and carried her back to bed. Viktor was fairly certain that he could summon the alpha werewolf now if he chose to. But if he were to agree to be his familiar, then he would not be able to refuse. He’d never had an entire pack of three hundred plus werewolves at his disposal before. The thought could go to one’s head.

  He deposited Catrina atop the crimson sheets and went back to get the blow dryer.

  “I don’t want to be a council member,” he said to himself while he rummaged through the bathroom cabinet. “But the council challenges all vampires they consider a threat to their power. If I defeat one of them, I may be stuck with it.” He took a deep breath as he decided, “I’ll just have to do my best to not look threatening.”

  He plugged the blow dryer in beside the bed and crawled up beside Catrina before realizing he hadn’t dried himself.

  “What are you doing?” Catrina mumbled.

  “Drying your hair,” he said. As he spoke Viktor wiggled his toes and turned the dryer toward them.

  “That doesn’t look like my hair,” she said with a weak laugh.

  “It will be in a minute,” he promised.

  Catrina dozed off again, laughing to herself at the thought of his toes turning into her hair. Of course that wasn’t what he’d meant, but she was very tired and her brain couldn’t quite grasp the concept.

  She woke up again while he was drying her hair and blinked up at him slowly.

  “Thank you,” she said, sighing as he ran his fingers through her hair.

  “No problem. I don’t usually like to go to bed with wet hair either.”

  “I meant for letting me stay with you tonight. After that fight with the werewolf … after getting hurt so bad, I just feel vulnerable.” She smiled. “It’s a new concept for me.”

  “You’re always welcome here,” he assured her. “Now go to sleep.”

  Chapter Twenty Four

  The next moment she was aware, Viktor was tucking her in. She signed contentedly as he crawled into bed beside her.

  “Talk to me,” she requested softly. “I want to hear your voice while I fall asleep.”

  Viktor reached for her and Catrina snuggled up against his side, resting her head against his chest.

  “What would you like me to talk about? You want a bedtime story?” he asked.

  “I dunno, tell me what you want out of life.”

  Without hesitation he replied with a smile, “I want to be the first man you remember, and the one you see when you close your eyes at night. I want to haunt you in the most romantic way possible. And if you decide to leave me one day, I want to be the one you won’t forget.”

  Catrina smiled at his words and fell asleep while he continued to talk.

  * * * *

  It was early, obscenely early when she heard her cell phone ringing. She was amazed it still had battery power, since she’d forgotten to charge it the night before. Catrina looked longingly toward Viktor before wriggling out of his embrace. Whatever it was, it had better be an emergency. The phone stopped ringing before she stumbled out of bed, but whoever it was would still be on her caller id. She shivered on her way to the closet where she’d left the phone in her purse.

  On her way in the closet, Catrina put on one of Viktor’s robes to keep from freezing. The phone rang again just as she picked it up. It was her sister.

  “Mandy?” she asked groggily. “Is everything alright?”

  “That’s what I called to ask you,” her sister replied. “Have you seen today’s paper?”

  “Honey, all I’ve seen was the back of my eyelids and you messed that up.” She paused to yawn before asking, “So, what’s in the paper?”

  “You are,” Mandy said bluntly. “When were you planning to tell me you were dating the master of the city?”

  “Oh,” she said. “I really hadn’t thought about it.” Especially since their relationship wasn’t supposed to be real, but she left that part out.

  “You start dating one of the most famous vampires in the world and it doesn’t occur to you to tell me?”

  “Nope. Sorry.”

  Mandy, knowing her sister well, started to laugh. “You are really unbelievable sometimes. So, are you happy?”

  Until her sister asked Catrina hadn’t actually thought about that either and the answer hit her like a sledge-hammer in the face. “Yes. I am.”

  “You’re also not at home, because I’ve been calling there for the last hour.”

  “I’m at Viktor’s,” she admitted.

  “So how is it?” Mandy asked.

  Even though her sister had suffered a brutal attack years ago, she handled the topic of sexuality fairly well. Most of the time. Relationships beyond sex? That was another matter entirely. Mandy was blunt in her mannerisms to the point that most people considered her cold. But Catrina knew different, it was self defense.

  “You mean sex with a vampire? It’s wonderful. I can’t put it into words.”

  “Try.”

  For the next half hour Catrina sat in Viktor’s dressing room and discussed the vampire with her sister as if he was her boyfriend. She spoke as if a plot involving dead vampires didn’t exist and for a few minutes, it didn’t. The way she smiled involuntarily when she said his name helped her to realize more than anything else that Viktor was her boyfriend, no matter what they might have agreed upon. When she got started talking about him, Catrina found she knew things she hadn’t realized. Different little quirks about his personality came to mind, jokes he told, facial expressions, so many things she didn’t know she’d been paying attention to. Not only had she paid attention to them, but she had adored them.

  Finally she asked, “So what are you doing up so early?”

  “I was on my way to the firing range,” Mandy said. “Thought I’d get off a few rounds before work.” Of course Mandy didn�
�t have to go in to work at the crack of dawn, especially since she owned the place. But, she liked what she did. Uncle Harry had left her enough money to start what was now a multi-million dollar security corporation. She handled everything from private home security to bodyguards for celebrities. “Oh, that reminds me,” Mandy said. “Have you seen Father Marion? I can’t find him anywhere and the church said he disappeared.” She sounded frantic.

  “Try my house again. Ask for him when the answering machine picks up. Trust me, he’s listening.”

  Mandy sort of sputtered for a minute before any real words came out. “You mean to tell me that Father Marion has been living with you? Catrina, what the fuck? I mean, he’s good looking and all, but he’s a priest.”

  Catrina laughed. “It’s not like that, but I’ll let him explain. Look, Dee, my battery is about to die, but everything is alright. And I’m not sleeping with Father Marion. Give him a call, he can explain everything. I promise.”

  Catrina decided while she watched Viktor sleep that she would spend the rest of the weekend with him. She needed to be around vampires as much as possible before the council visit. She was convinced it would also help add to the appearance that she lived there most of the time. After all, she was supposed to live with her master. They could track her scent just like a werewolf, and if one of the council members didn’t think The Palace smelled enough like Catrina they might think something was up.

  She had just plugged her phone into the charger when it rang again and she didn’t recognize the number.

  “Hello?”

  “Catrina, it’s Alexander. Look, I know it’s early I was just worried about you after the other night. How are you feeling?”

  A minute before she had been contemplating going back to sleep, but now she felt energized by the sound of his voice.

  “Good,” she answered, smiling in welcome even though he couldn’t see it. “I feel surprisingly good. I can’t believe I got cracked in the head and last night I was dancing.” Naturally, she left out what else she’d been doing. Come to think of it, that also amazed her after the injury she’d sustained.