by Rena Marks
FORGOTTEN KISSES
Rena Marks
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Remembered Kisses
Whispered Kisses
About the Author
Also by Rena Marks
Prologue
It was the oddest dream, even for me. I'd always been prone to strange dreams, dreams which whispered of the future or the past. But this one—this one scared me.
I sat up in bed with my hair wet, my skin slick and my heart pounding in my chest. I hoped to dispel the horror in my mind by reminding myself of my surroundings.
The dream had started like an erotic movie. Vivid but brief glimpses of flesh— yummy, muscled male flesh so tanned and tempting that I was frantic to see more. When I realized it was indeed my dream to do with as I pleased, I reached out to touch the slick, shining skin.
It was pure heaven beneath my fingers, satin below my touch. His heated hand reached up to cover mine, pressing it firmly against his warm flesh. Hard muscles glided beneath the heated skin and he trembled beneath my touch.
A sweep of golden, honey-brown hair blocked my view of his face but showed a glimpse of strong jaw that I longed to press kisses against.
I closed my eyes in ecstasy when he found my breast. While my eyes were still shut, he kissed me.
His mouth slanted over mine, urgently seeking, wanting and demanding. His tongue swept inside, dancing erotically against mine. I moaned at the taste of exotic, masculine perfection. Knew that my body reached for his as though seeking the missing half of my soul.
I broke the kiss, pulling slightly away so I could see his face and know the lover that fit me so perfectly.
And then the dream changed for the better.
Another lover arrived and there were two. Creamy skinned, which contrasted with his dark hair, his muscles hard but longer and leaner than the first.
I leaned toward him and his body was much cooler. So many differences between the equally beautiful men—solid, sleek muscles to bulging, defined muscles, dark skin tone to light skin, exotic heat in one’s touch and erotic coolness in the other’s.
I just wished I could see faces.
The pale one kissed down the side of my neck and then ran his tongue wetly between my breasts. His mouth attacked my nipple, kissing and sucking and licking all at once. I arched my back and my deeply inhaled breath sounded more like a hiss.
And then there was a heated mouth cupped hotly against my sex like a vacuum, as the first lover refused to allow me to forget about him.
I moaned while the two pleasured me simultaneously.
But again, the dream changed. We were in the middle of an ancient battlefield now, where swords clanged against metal shields. My imaginary lovers protected me, one on either side.
The tanned, muscled lover protected me from the pale fighters.
The pale, sleekly muscled lover protected me from the darker skinned soldiers. Both sides wanted to slaughter me, the only woman on the field and I had no idea why.
I wanted the eroticism back.
But in the distance, the dust blurred my vision as I watched a young man slowly appear on the horizon. The crowds of fighting warriors parted, creating a pathway as he walked directly to me and my two lovers. Now not only did the crowd part but the fighting soldiers were actually opposing races, bloody vampires and violent werewolves in various stages of change. The vampires and wolves bowed low as the man walked toward us.
For some odd reason, I felt extreme happiness as he approached. I had to fight myself to not run to him. I didn’t even know who he was but he had to be like me. Human.
As he approached, I realized it wasn’t as dusty as I’d imagined. It was his image. He appeared to shimmer, fading in and out and I saw his form shift from a young human to a werewolf, back and forth.
I didn’t care that he wasn’t as human as I’d originally thought. He’d stopped the vicious fighting and I was grateful for that. He was so near now and I was ready to grab him protectively into my arms when I saw he was even younger than I’d assumed. A teenager, really. He lifted his hand to my shoulder like he couldn’t wait to touch me and I saw that his eyes matched my own. He smiled broadly at me, just as happy to see me as I was to see him.
His mouth contained vampire fangs.
Now I sat in bed shivering, the sweat that had glistened on my skin drying and cooling me quickly. My heart wasn’t pounding as painfully anymore, and I was able to think again without the adrenaline racing unhindered through my limbs.
What was that about? A vampiric werewolf dream?
Maybe I dreamed the vampire part because I suspected that they’d moved into the business next door to mine.
And the werewolf portion? I’d had lunch with my friend Connie earlier and I’d known for years she was werewolf.
That’s it, I soothed myself, alone in my huge bed. There was no one else to comfort me, so I spread my pillows out along the length of my body, making a barrier to hug.
The only part I couldn’t explain away was the teen. Why would I dream that? I’d never had much to do with children, especially since the parting gift from my ex- husband was internal abdominal scar tissue which rendered me infertile.
Chapter One
I was just a regular, everyday person. Or so I once thought, before I discovered my memory had been erased.
A member of city council, my vote was what kept a known-vampire hangout, Bang's Bar and Grill, in business. Even in this enlightened day and age, prejudice is still prevalent.
During these modern times we employ the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. It’s illegal to discriminate against vampires now that we know they exist. But honestly, who’s going to enforce that? Especially when not every vampire has come out of the closet.
On that fateful day that marked a turning point in my life, my gym was slow.
Turning down the volume on the music, I decided to get paperwork done. When the door chimes rang, I glanced up. Three beautiful women walked in together. Lily, Anna and Nicki worked at Bang’s next door, and like most vamps, dressed to the nines. It was rare that the three weren't together.
“I knew you’d have your nose buried in the books. I’ll bet you haven’t even had lunch yet,” Lily said.
I peeked at my watch. It was way after lunch, and she was right.
“Will you watch the gym while I run next door and get something?” I asked. I normally avoided the bar next door, along with its breathtaking owner, but it was late.
“Sure. We’ll be working out.” She pointed to the workout clothes under her arm and gave me a smile. Lily was rarely without one.
I headed next door, trying to make it a quick trip even though I knew the three girls wouldn’t mind.
Entering Bang's always amazed me. It felt like crossing a threshold into another world. The interior was dark, the windows blacked out so no natural sunlight filtered through. First clue that screamed vampire, not that they were in denial. The bar catered to humans and vampires alike, the human wannabe's, the blood junkies, and anyone else who just liked to mingle. I wal
ked up to the glossy black bar which was set up on the side of the darkened room like a center stage.
“Hey, Johnny,” I called.
Johnny Hamilton was huge, at least six foot four and full of tattooed muscles. He was handsome but dangerous-looking. He wasn't pale like most vamps, but darker skinned, almost tanned looking. His well-shaped, smooth head gleamed so I had no idea what color his hair should have been.
“What’s it gonna be, Luscious Leah? Bacon cheeseburger and fries?” he asked teasingly.
“Oh, please. I can hardly have the smells of burgers and fries wafting around while my girls are working out, right? I’ll have the usual.”
My usual consisted of a salad.
Johnny grimaced. “Haven’t you ever heard that men like women with curves?”
“I have curves.” I grinned. “They're hidden beneath the sweats.”
Johnny laughed. “I'm sure you're a treasure underneath that atrocious attire,” he agreed. “It's why Julian moons after you.”
I rolled my eyes at him, not needing any reminders of turning down the undeniably attractive bar owner. It took no time for my salad to get bagged and ready. I handed him my cash.
He shook his head. “I can’t take your money, Leah. The boss’ll kill me.”
“If you don’t take my money, I can’t accept my salad. And then I’ll starve. I hardly think the boss would appreciate you letting me die over this, right?” I whispered dramatically.
I heard a chuckle behind me and whirled around.
There’s a reason why I avoid Julian Bax, the owner of Bang’s. It’s sort of like being an alcoholic. If you know you’re an alcoholic, you avoid alcohol. It’s too much temptation. Same thing with Julian. It’s hard to refuse him when he stands there so devastatingly delicious. A tempting male morsel to melt on your tongue. So I simply stay away.
Julian and I go way back. I’d met him years ago, shortly after the death of my husband. Since the funeral, Julian has tried sending me gifts which I’d refused, asking me out and using every excuse he can to have any sort of a relationship.
Now that I’m on city council and the only vote to refuse shutting down his establishment, he uses the appreciation excuse to send presents. However, I’ve learned the hard way about being indebted to supernaturals. My husband was obligated and toward the end, I found out he’d tried to use me as payment.
“You know I can’t accept free food, Julian.”
He reached for my hand, pressing the softest kiss to my knuckles. Despite my resolve, desire tingled through my body at the contact. Dammit, this was why I avoided the man.
“I know you won’t accept free food. And you know that it will not break me.” His dark eyes gazed into mine.
I lowered my eyes to his sexy, full lips. Time stood still.
The rest of the bar stood silent.
Most women plumped up their lips with injections for that kissy effect, but Julian had it all for himself. Glossy black hair with a superb, lean muscled body looked amazing in a silky black T-shirt and black jeans. His sexy body was one I frequently imagined nude in my lusty dreams.
I was lost in the beauty of Julian before I became aware he was speaking softly. “Let me walk you safely back to your gym, Anjelia.”
“Safely? It’s next door and it’s broad daylight.” But it was a sweet offer and I squeezed the fingertips still entangled with mine.
“She rejects you again and again and still you offer her protection? What can you possibly see in that human over a vampire?” A beautiful redhead glided toward Julian, her emerald-green eyes shooting daggers at me. Her pale complexion was set off to perfection by the deep emerald outfit she wore like a second skin. The shimmery, green material was so dark it nearly shone black.
When she was human, that pale skin had probably been covered with the ugliest smattering of freckles. She was no longer human though, and that was apparent with the way the adrenaline raced through my limbs, signaling the fight or flight mechanism.
This was why humans were terrified of vampires, I realized.
Julian stayed calm and looked into my eyes, completely ignoring the angry vampire as if she was nothing more worrisome than a fly.
I spoke quietly, for his ears only. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag, hmm?”
He knew what I was talking about. Until this point, he’d not yet publicly admitted to himself being vampire. Even so, I wasn't sure what the secrecy was over, since it was widely suspected and gossiped about anyway.
The bar went deathly still. Julian’s eyes never left mine as he uttered one word. “Johnny.”
The muscled bartender-bouncer took hold of the redhead’s arm and dragged her to the stairs from whence she came. I heard her pleas as she was pulled away.
“Please, I didn’t mean anything. I meant no disrespect. Really—”
There was silence when the door slammed. Soundproofing. Necessary for a nightclub, I justified. Julian acted as though nothing unusual had occurred.
“Shall we?” He offered me his arm.
Normally I wouldn't have taken his arm, but I was slightly shaken up by the scene with the redhead. He walked me slowly back to my gym through the shadows of our building’s hanging canopy and handed me my lunch bag. Since I now knew he was a vampire, instead of simply assuming, I knew he was extremely old to be able to walk outside in the shade. That was one of the reasons why I never quite knew for sure whether or not he really was one or whether he simply supported them in his establishment.
Nearly at my gym door, he turned to me. He pulled me close and stepped in, his lips hovering over mine. “Not only am I a vampire, but I'm the master of this city. You’re under my protection, Anjelia. She won’t bother you again.” His lips barely brushed mine and instantaneous desire slammed into my body like a whirlwind. Before I knew it, he was gone.
I was left breathless and achingly unfulfilled.
Lily, Anna and Nicki descended upon me immediately. Still bemused from the encounter with Julian, I just stared at the trio. As usual, Lily was in the middle, her pale blondness a stark contrast to the dark hair of the other two.
Lily was sweet, a gentle soul with dark, large eyes, like a doe caught in the headlights.
Anna was, well—Anna. Not quite a bitch but very close. Unless she liked you and I guess I was lucky in that aspect. She was athletic with dark hair and tilted green eyes. Full lips and heavy brows that seemed to fit her face made her overall features extraordinary.
Nicki was the intelligent one. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d been a rocket scientist when alive. And depending upon how long she’d been dead, of course. She was also the mediator of the group. She was slender, with eyes as dark as Lily’s, yet almond shaped instead of round. Her pale skin had an easy sprinkling of freckles over her cheeks and the bridge of her pert little nose.
“Are you okay? What happened?” Nicki asked.
“A redhead appeared out of nowhere. Said something about how she doesn’t know what Julian sees in a human over a vampire. Johnny pulled her away and Julian offered me his ‘protection’. Does any of this make sense to you guys?”
There was a minute of silence while the girls glanced back and forth at each other.
“The redhead is Danielle. She’d love to sink her claws into the boss. They used to be close centuries ago. For some reason Julian still keeps her around.” Lily shuddered. “He sired her. Unlike most masters, he's never abolished a bad seed.”
“What does this have to do with me?” I asked.
“She’s jealous. We all know that the boss has you in his sights.”
“A crush? He barely knows me. I avoid him more than I speak to him. I’ve given him a few votes, that’s all. I expect nothing in return. Especially now.”
“Especially now what?” Anna asked.
“Now that I know Julian is the master.” I held out my hands in a submissive gesture. “I don’t date humans, much less vampires. Can you imagine the scandal of why I'm the only vote keeping the b
ar within the city limits?”
Anna grinned. “Slut.”
Suddenly Lily grinned too. “This may just work out to our advantage. If the boss thinks you won’t go out with him because he was forced to tell you his rank, he’s going to be furious with Danielle. And we get to watch.”
All three continued to grin at each other. They were incorrigible.
“Play it as you will, girls,” I said, moving to my front desk.
They waved and headed back to the bar. At the door, Lily looked back.
“Oh, by the way, ‘protection’ also means you’re marked as Julian’s property. No one else can own you, mark you, bite you, or whatever. Bye!”
She left me standing with my mouth open.
Maybe, if I’d have known that I was about to embark on a dark, twisted path with the supernaturals of the world, I’d have packed up and moved away.
* * * * *
The next morning dawned bright and early, complete with birds singing. Ironic that such a beautiful day was marred by my monthly city council meeting.
Being a member is nothing to brag about. They’re a bunch of snobs. Plus, it’s an inherited position. My father was mayor of the city and my mother was the city manager back in the good old days before the council was corrupt. Both are deceased now but when I moved back home, an open position was offered to me based on my lineage. I’m sure that’s a decision now regretted, since I’m considered contrary. As far as I know, mine is the only appointed position until the next term.
I drove over to Main Hall and entered the conference room, taking my seat. I tugged my black blazer around myself. The air conditioning was always turned up full blast in these meetings. Half the council members were from hell and this was finally their chance to control the temperature.
“Been wearing a lot of black since you’ve been hanging out with the vampires.” The tone in the voice was snide and I knew who it was before I even looked up.
Glenn Grove would have been the head demon in hell.
“Councilman Grove. I do not now, nor have I ever, 'hung out' with vampires. If I do chose to, however, I would do so regardless of your opinion.”