by Rena Marks
I had the strangest urge to lift his shirt and wrap my arms around his bare skin. To warm his cooler body with mine.
Instead, I stepped back. “Let me take a quick shower and you can show me your basement, okay?”
Julian inclined his head and stood where I left him. I backed away, still fighting the insanely uncontrollable urge to lift his shirt.
I showered quickly and even washed my hair. I blow-dried it a little bit and put the rest up in a loose knot where it would dry curly. Finally, I hurried out to my living room where he still waited, this time casually seated.
“All done.”
He stood and his nostrils flared ever-so slightly. I was aware that he was sniffing me. I never wore perfume. My ex-husband didn’t allow it and now I was just out of the habit. I know now that perfumes are too strong for the sensitive noses of the supernaturals, and my ex was making me more attractive to them. All Julian would smell was the scent of just scrubbed skin and the faint aroma of the shower gel I used.
Grabbing my car keys, we drove to work. His work, the bar and my work, the gym.
“Where shall I park?”
“Here is fine. We’ll enter through the bar.”
We went into Bang’s and Johnny was behind the bar as usual. He waved at me and I waved back before Julian escorted me to the back stairs.
“Going up leads to my office. Going down, however…”
It didn’t look like a downstairs. It was a closed hallway. I looked at him, puzzled.
“It’s masked. Courtesy of Tanya, our resident witch. Humans don’t notice the opening. Here, take my hand and trust me.”
Julian walked slowly through the wall. His hand gently pulled mine through and the rest of me followed until I was on the other side also. I didn’t feel anything. My brain was befuddled, like it couldn’t comprehend my body going through a wall. He didn’t let go of my hand and I was too flabbergasted to notice that we stood there staring at each other, holding hands. This was the first glamour I’d ever seen.
The basement was huge, although a maze of winding passageways broke it up. It was faintly lit, the walls dark like those of a cave that went on for miles. Julian walked the length of it, pointing out small details. Actually, there wasn’t much I could see. Vampire vision must be a lot better than human vision.
His quarters consisted of one large room. There was a sitting area with a loveseat and chairs at the front of the room. A small door led to the bathroom.
“You live here?”
“I sleep here. I have lots of homes. Homes in other countries, other states.”
“Vampires don’t sleep in coffins?”
“We don’t need to, not always. But, if we’re injured and need to heal or if we need a recharging, so to speak, we have coffins for that purpose. Each one has healing soil enclosed, from each vampire’s homeland. Would you like to see?”
I nodded and we left his quarters. The coffin room was in the center of the basement. There were rows of coffins set in a circular pattern. Each coffin was a duplicate of the one next to it, no variance at all.
“How do you know which is yours?”
“A vampire can sense his own. Smell his personal soil even if two vampires come from the same homeland.”
“Where’s yours?”
He took me to one of the coffins and opened the lid. Sure enough, it had soil in it. “You can touch it.”
That was when I realized that he still held my hand. He released me and I dipped it into his coffin. The soil flowed through my fingers.
“It’s warm,” I said, astonished.
He nodded and looked surprised himself. The soil didn’t feel like plain old everyday dirt. It was silken to my fingers, flowing in and out and between.
“It can’t be dirt. It feels magical. It makes me happy.” I laughed, too happy to contain it. I felt bubbly, like I was filled with the effervescence of champagne. Leaning toward him, I confided, “I want to take off my clothes and roll around in it, like a mud bath.”
“You feel the magic?” He still seemed surprised as he looked back to the soil. “It should be simple dirt to you. You shouldn’t even feel the warmth.”
“I do. I’d like to lie in it.”
“Go ahead.”
“It’s a coffin. What if the lid slams shut?”
He climbed in gracefully and held out his arms. “Come on.”
I climbed in also and lay next to him. We were a little close in his one-man coffin.
It felt peaceful and relaxing, like taking a warm bath on a lazy day. Or, watching a storm outside when you don’t have to leave the warmth of your home. I snuggled into his body, relaxed and aware that I could sleep like this.
I basked in the comforting feeling of his coffin. Then I realized the comfort wasn’t wholly from the coffin but from the body pressed alongside mine. As soon as I realized that, comfort left and awareness began.
His arm was under my head and I was slightly turned facing him. I couldn’t see anything in the dark but I was very aware of where our bodies touched. One of his knees pressed between my own, innocently enough. The innocence would shatter if I opened my legs and let it slip further against me.
My heartbeat sounded in my ears. I could actually feel it thumping, pounding the blood through my veins. Certain he could hear it in the close proximity, I said, “We really should get out. I need to get home and I just feel like taking a nap.”
“Why don’t you spend the night, sometime?” He leaned over me and the muscles of his thigh pressed purposely between my legs.
It caught my breath.
Warmth pooled between my legs and I knew without a doubt that special spot was beginning to swell with pleasure, whether he knew it or not.
“It’s a little strange. I mean, it’s perfectly normal for you to sleep in a coffin but I’m human. How would I explain it?”
“No one needs an explanation. No one will know but you and me,” he whispered.
We were talking about two different things. Weren’t we?
“Be brave, my sweet.” I felt his breath against my lips and though it was dark, I knew how near he must be.
“Maybe,” I hedged, still wondering exactly what we were talking about.
His finger stroked alongside my cheek. It found its way to my mouth and traced my lower lip. Now I knew exactly what we’d been talking about. I paused while I fought the overwhelming urge to part my lips and suckle his fingertip.
“One day.” I promised and wondered what I was promising, whether it was to sleep in a coffin or more. No matter. In either case, I was sorely tempted.
My thoughts ran rampant. I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. As much as I fought prejudice against vampires, I didn’t want my own life linked to them. Not after the last time.
Although Julian made my heart race and my blood soar, I didn’t really want to be coffin-bait. I didn’t want to sleep with a vampire. But he was a temptation I’d never before known.
Sure, I blamed my squeamishness on almost being sold to the supernaturals. Still, I wondered. Deep inside, was I as prejudiced as the rest of my race?
I realized I was too far gone, and it had been too long since I’d had any male companionship. My core heated and my body creamed.
I turned that tiny bit and sucked on the finger so near my lips. After feeling the desperation in the long, deep pulls, he knew exactly what I needed. He took it gently from my mouth, quickly unsnapped my jeans and pressed on my swollen clitoris with the finger still wet from my mouth.
Electric shock zipped through my body at the sudden warm succulence of his moist finger. I moaned when I felt the connection. My hips thrust at him. Slow, smooth circles rotated in rhythmic undulations.
“That’s it,” he whispered. “Lose your inhibitions. No one will know. Come for me.”
His finger was pure magic. He inserted it deep within my slippery passage while his thumb pressed against my clit.
I was on fire for him, vampire or not. My breathing
grew heavy while enjoying his ministrations and I wondered exactly how wet I was. I wondered if my slickness ran down my thighs, if it covered his fingers in sticky juices. If he would smell me later should he bring his fingers to his face.
That thought sent waves of pleasure spiraling throughout me. My muscles clenched around his fingers as the orgasm slammed into me, the splendor going on and on, reaching every nerve ending in my body until I thought I might die from sheer bliss.
“Julian,” I called out on a sigh.
His lips found mine and he kissed me slowly, bringing me back down to earth.
I began to relax and he removed his hand when my muscles released, cradling me to him while my thunderous heart finally calmed.
When we climbed out of his coffin he closed the lid regretfully as though he didn’t want to leave. It was the oddest thing. I should have felt like I had to brush myself off but I didn’t. He took my hand again, leading me from the coffin room. I allowed it, pretending that I needed to be led in that poor lighting.
Ignoring the fact that I’d just climaxed in his coffin. A vampire’s coffin.
I decided to pretend it didn't happen, because I didn't know what else to do.
We went back upstairs to the bar. On the way up he asked me if I would mind waiting while he fed.
“How, exactly?” I covered my neck with my hand. Was this payment for the orgasm?
He laughed. “I meant with a glass of O Negative from the bar, Anjelia.”
“Oh. Why O Negative?”
“It’s my favorite.”
“I just wondered. O Negative is my blood type. I wondered if you knew.”
He laughed again. And hugged me. “No, I can’t smell your blood type through your skin. I would never dream of feeding from you without your invitation.” He stopped hugging me but was still standing close. Close enough to kiss me, again and again. “I do think you’re perfect for me though. You feel the healing magic of my coffin although you’re human. You’re just my flavor and”—his voice lowered to a whisper—“you respond to me wonderfully.”
He kissed my lips briefly.
We headed to the bar where Johnny was tending as usual. He nodded at me and slid a red glass down the counter to Julian.
“Leah, can I get you something?”
“No, Johnny, I’m fine.”
“Anjelia,” I heard behind me.
I turned to see Nicki.
“When did you get here? Come see Anna and Lily for a minute. I’ll bring her right back,” she said to Julian.
She grabbed my hand and led me through the crowded dance floor to a table where Anna and Lily sat. I went with her, relieved because I wondered if Julian wanted to drink in private. I wasn’t sure how I felt about watching him drink a glass of blood. The thought turned my stomach. Blood stains, doesn’t it? I imagined it staining his lips, staining his teeth. I fought down the revulsion.
As we walked away from Julian, several thoughts crossed my mind. I can’t believe I was just in a coffin with a vampire. Did I really lie close to him and let him touch me? Did I moan with pleasure and have the most wondrous climax of my life?
I didn’t have time to ponder it further because Nicki and I reached the table and sat down. I looked at the other two. Lily leaned into me, face curious. Anna slouched back in her chair with a bored expression on her face.
“What’s up, Leah? Not much of a bar hopper, are you?” Anna said.
“Looks like I’m hopping right now,” I said.
“And you’re with Julian. Miracles happen.”
“I’m not really with him. We were just visiting, like friends. I ran into him earlier.”
“Then how did you end up here?”
“Well, as you can see, I’m not exactly dressed to be on a date. He was just showing me around and we wound up here.”
I waved my hand around the bar as if it was no big deal but they didn’t fall for it.
There was a pregnant pause. “Well, to wind up here, he would have been showing you around downstairs, correct?”
I didn’t know quite how to answer.
Lily smiled. “Fess up, girl.”
“Yes, we were downstairs. He was just showing me his coffin.”
That didn’t sound good. Especially with the way all three girls stared at me.
“I mean, our clothes were on. That is, just showing me his coffin. We didn’t do anything. We weren’t even thinking about that. I mean, I wasn’t. Not that Julian was. What? Say something.” I finally stopped talking.
Nicki spoke. “A vampire doesn’t share his coffin, Leah. Ever. Especially a master vampire. To know where he slumbers when dead to the world, you’d have the power to destroy him. Did you notice that all the coffins were the same? No one knows which coffin belongs to him. Even us. We can only sense out our own.”
Julian chose that moment to appear. He placed his hand on my shoulder and I looked up. I felt that momentary life pause, where the world just stopped as I gazed into his dark, penetrating eyes.
“I thought you were bringing her back to me, Nicki,” he growled, while returning my stare.
She was unrepentant. “She’s been gone two minutes, Julian. I was going to bring her back in two and a half.”
“Smart aleck.”
He took my hand and led me away. The music was loud and he held me close, wrapping his arm around my waist as he spoke into my ear.
“Do you want to dance?”
“No, I should be getting home. I work tomorrow morning.” While reluctant to leave, I really felt like I had to get home and collect my thoughts over what had happened in the coffin.
I thought he might argue but he didn’t. He simply nodded and we walked back out to the parking lot. Once we arrived at my car, he got in with me. I looked at him in surprise.
“I’ll see you home,” he said.
“But how will you get back? We drove here in my car.”
“I fly,” he said easily.
I drove to my house and he walked me to my front door. I wondered if he would kiss me but he didn’t even try. He just inclined his head toward me, told me he’d had a fun evening and then he was gone. I shut my front door, bemused. I actually had fun too. With the vampires.
With Julian.
Chapter Three
Two nights later my doorbell rang. When I opened the door, Julian stood on my front porch, looking devastatingly handsome as always.
“Good evening. I thought I’d let Johnny handle the bar for a while. But you know how it is when you’re in charge, you want to jump in. I had to remove myself so I wouldn’t be tempted, so naturally I thought of visiting you.”
“Come in,” I said, stepping aside.
“Will you let me take you out to dinner?”
“I didn’t know vampires ate. Food, I mean.”
“We don’t. Unless we have a human servant, in which case the ability to taste returns. Probably a trait from the caveman days to give vampires and humans something in common.”
“What’s a human servant?”
“A binding between a vampire and a human. It’s rare since it has to be a master vampire. It’s like your human version of a marriage. But permanent.”
“So you’d like to take me to dinner and watch as I eat?”
“I’ll have a glass of wine. You do eat, right? You’re not something other than human?” he teased.
“I eat.”
“Go on, then. Put on a fancy dress and I’ll take you out to an even fancier restaurant. It’ll be fun.”
I nodded. For some odd reason, I was comfortable with Julian as if I’d known him a lot longer than I really did. I headed to my bedroom to change. Once inside, I called out to him. I’d left the door ajar so he could hear me.
“Will you explain more about vampires to me?”
“Of course. What would you like to know?”
I thought about that. “I don’t know. I like Anna, Lily and Nicki. I’d like to know more about your race, I guess. I’d hate to make a s
ocial blunder like cutting my finger and sucking on it in front of a vamp.”
He laughed at that. “You can suck your own blood if you wish, my sweet. The blunder occurs in not offering a lick to the vampire.”
I stuck my head out the door. His eyes were glued to the opening. “What? I should offer a lick of a bleeding cut to a vamp?”
He nodded. “It’s courteous. The vampire will accept and in doing so, you have the promise that he’ll protect you from any harm that night.”
“Harm by the vampire? If he gets hungry for more blood?”
“Or if he sees you in danger. Any kind of danger, whether from another vamp, a racing car, a speeding bullet. He will automatically rescue you. A courtesy.”
I pulled my head back into my room to finish getting ready. That opened up a whole lot more questions. I sauntered out of my bedroom, adding the last earring.
“You’re beautiful,” he said as he rose from the sofa and kissed my cheek.
“This old thing? It’s been sitting in my closet forever,” I teased.
That statement actually was true. I bought it as one of those “just in case” dresses and I’d never worn it. I sighed. It was a silky green dress and strapless looks good on me. It ended at mid-thigh which was a little shorter than I’m comfortable with but I’d actually bought the dress for its color. I’ve never owned anything in green and I found the color made my hazel eyes turn the same. Now, I’ll never be able to wear it again because he’ll know it’s the only dress I own.
Except for the “funeral” dress. It's all black and the last funeral I wore it to was my husband’s.
Julian drove a sporty little black car. I am not good with cars. I’m not totally ashamed to admit that I don’t know a Corvette from a Buick, although I have heard the names and I know the Corvette is more expensive. All I knew about this little black number is that it attracted attention. We stopped at a red light and people stared.
At the restaurant, we were seated in a private room. I wondered how much money he had to command his own room. I debated whether that was one of the questions I could ask and decided against it.
I ate alone while he enjoyed his glass of wine. “I almost feel guilty eating in front of you. Almost, but it's just so delicious.” I grinned.