by Eve Newton
I take a sip of my tea as Scott leaves and I get down to work with my stack of files. Mostly just signatures required, but I always read everything I sign, something I learned a long time ago. Vampires eat and drink as humans do, but it does nothing for us except making us blend in and gives us something to do. We aren't dead, or undead, as legend has it. We are merely paranormal creatures who have been transformed into a higher state of being. We breathe and have heartbeats and we can see ourselves in mirrors.
Another knock interrupts me.
Looking up, I see Devon stroll in. He looks so good in his pinstripe Armani suit. A big smile crosses my face.
“Thank fuck,” I say, throwing down my pen. “I'm bored senseless. Tell me you have something other than work for me.”
He raises his eyebrow at me. “You are just insatiable right now, aren't you?” he asks quietly.
I smile. Slowly and seductively, I lean back in my chair. He walks forward around to my side of the desk and perches himself on the edge.
My breath hitches as he leans forward trailing his hand up my thigh to the hem of my too-short-to-be-appropriate-for-work-but-I-don't-give-a-shit skirt.
“We have a meeting with Geoff,” he whispers and pulls away with a wicked laugh.
Crap, I had forgotten. Well, touché, Mr. Savant, nicely played for the elevator.
“I know,” I snap, “I just lost track of time.” Which is true, I realize, when I look at the clock. My ruminating has used up too much time.
“Sure you did,” he says easily. I swat him as we exit my office laughing.
Scott looks up at us knowingly, but says nothing and goes back to his work.
CHAPTER THREE
Soon, it is Friday. On the ride home, I consult my watch. Traffic is bad and I’m impatient. I don't want to be late for my date with Cole.
“For fuck's sake!” I yell in frustration.
Devon glances at me in amusement. “Anxious, my dear?” he queries.
“Yes!” I snap, checking my watch again. Three hours until I have to be ready and back in the city.
Devon's hand reaches over to my thigh and pushes my too-short skirt up. Frustrated, I push him away and he frowns at me.
“Rejection?” he hisses, pissed off. “Since when?”
“Since I decided,” I say to him.
“Not fair,” he growls. “Don’t be cruel to me.”
“Cruel?” I scoff. “Hardly, Dev. I am just nervous about this date with Cole,” I admit.
“Why?” he asks, his annoyance at my rejection already forgotten. “It’s not like you haven’t been on a date with a human before.”
“I know,” I say with a look of irritation at his smart mouth. “All of this week, we have talked for hours on the phone, about everything and nothing…and yet…”
“And yet what?” Devon asks with a sneer. “You feel bad about lying to him about who you really are?”
“Yes,” I say in a small voice.
“What?” Devon asks incredulously. “That has got to be the stupidest thing I have ever heard. He’s human. He won’t keep your interest for longer than a few moments and then you will move on and forget all about him.”
“Hm,” I say, noncommittal. I’m not so sure. He is gorgeous, fun and clever, and so sweet. He sent me flowers after we stayed up all night talking, getting to know each other. We have a lot in common, surprisingly considering I am a thousand-year-old Vampire and he is a twenty-something human actor. Tonight, is no more our first date and more like our fifth, only this one will be face to face. His face against my face and way too close to my fangs for me not to want to bite him. That’s what makes my palms start to sweat. Well, that and whether or not he will think I am being presumptuous when I ask him to come home with me. And I am definitely asking him to come home with me. A week’s worth of flirting and innuendos has left me wanting him in the worst way.
Devon has the grumps with me now, but I just can’t deal with him. He will have to go and find someone else to satisfy his needs tonight.
I leap out of the car as soon as it stops and head straight for my shower. So little time left.
I dry myself off and set to work on drying and straightening my hair.
Having already decided on my outfit, I open the closet. A huge walk-in affair blocked off in sections according to the occasion. The back wall is dedicated to shoes. I pull out the chosen outfit: a long black skirt, with a simple black bustier and black Louboutins. Quite conservative for my usual style of night attire, but I don’t want to scare Cole off. I picture his handsome face, smiling at me and wonder for the hundredth time about the feeling I had when I first saw him, about him being a part of my destiny.
With my make-up complete, I head back downstairs and call for Grayson to bring the car around. Devon joins me by the front door, Bourbon in hand. With his tie discarded and shirt unbuttoned, I mentally swoon at the sight of him despite my earlier rejection.
“Well, Kitten, have fun tonight,” he says slyly. He has clearly gotten over it already which makes me glad.
“Stop calling me ‘Kitten’ and I intend to,” I respond, casting a quick glance at him. He's wearing a smug smile; absolutely confident I will return to his bed tonight as he bids me farewell.
I step into the car absolutely confident I will have Cole in my bed tonight. A pang of nerves hits my stomach unexpectedly. I remember the last time a man made me feel this way and it didn’t end well. I just don't know what it is about him that has turned my head.
Half an hour later, Grayson pulls up outside the restaurant and comes around to open my door. Checking my watch, 7:55, I alight gracefully with a nod of thanks. I make my way into the large, busy French restaurant that I chose for the occasion. Better to have some background noise in case of any awkward silences, although I’m sure there won’t be any.
My Vampire senses scan the room, finding Cole in seconds, standing at the bar. Punctual. Good. I make my way over to him, my confidence returning as every eye in the room is on me. Vampires are very alluring and downright irresistible when a bit of effort is put into it. Sensing me, he turns around. His eyes tighten and his lips part as he sees me walking towards him. I stop in front of him and it takes him a second to compose himself.
“Hi,” he breathes, taking my hand. He grazes his lips over my knuckles. A tingle goes down my spine as I smile in return.
“Hi,” I say.
“You look beautiful,” he murmurs.
“Thank you,” I say, looking him straight in the eye. No modesty from me. “And you look very handsome,” I return the compliment.
He relaxes as the maître d’ ushers us to our table. This gives me a few seconds to take in his gorgeousness. His eyes, so unusual, are dark blue this evening. I assume that has something to do with the navy dress shirt he has on. He’s wearing fitted navy pants that complete his outfit and show off his best features. The man knows how to dress to impress, and I am impressed all right. He is all kinds of good-looking.
Once seated with menus on the table, he smiles at me and I just want him to kiss me with that sexy mouth.
I shake my head to clear it and in order to bring my racing libido in check, I pick up the wine list to peruse. I tilt it towards him and ask, “Do you mind?”
He shakes his head, relieved to be free of that duty. I motion to the sommelier. I don't need to look at the menu, as I know what I want and order it in fluent French, much to the surprise of my date.
“That's pretty impressive.”
I shrug it off. “It's nothing. I have an affinity for languages. I find them easy to pick up.”
“Languages, plural?” he asks.
“Mm,” I murmur noncommittally. How does one say to a man that at only ‘twenty-six’, you speak twenty-two different languages fluently and that two of them are dead?
My phone buzzes. Glancing at the Caller ID it flashes ‘CK.’ Oh, for the love of all things unholy. What does he want?
Smiling apologetically, I hold my finge
r up in an ‘I’ll just be a minute’ gesture. I answer in Italian, adding to the sheer rudeness of my actions. But I can’t ignore him. I just…daren’t. “Hello, my sire. To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“Good evening, Liv,” CK’s glorious baritone comes down the phone. “I haven’t heard from you for a few days. Thought I’d check in,” he says smoothly.
Hm, interesting timing…
“Everything is going well with your new…friend?” he inquires innocently.
Crap, there it is. He knows already. How? I sigh inwardly because I should have known.
“Couldn’t be better,” I say a little too brightly, making Constantine chuckle. He knows me too well.
“Well, I can’t wait to make his acquaintance.”
Oh, hell no!
“Hm,” I murmur.
“Are you going to Monaco?” he asks, his usual abrupt change of subject startling me.
I respond quickly, “Yes, of course.”
He is referring to the Monte Carlo Grand Prix that I attend every year.
“Good. I will see you there then, my dear,” he says.
“You’re going?” I swallow nervously. CK barely leaves the confines of his beloved Italy unless he absolutely has to.
“I am,” he states as if daring me to contradict him.
“Okay, great. I will see you in a couple of weeks. I miss you,” I add suddenly. It has been too long since I have seen him this time, and all my recent reminiscing has brought up too much for me to ignore.
“I miss you too, my sweet.” He sounds pleased, and it makes my stomach flutter. “Now, have a fun night with your friend, and remember the rules. I love you.”
“Yes, my sire,” I say and roll my eyes. “I love you too.”
“So, you also speak fluent Italian?” Cole asks, as I hang up.
“Yes,” I smile up at him, conscious of the short answer.
“Hm, languages, indeed. Any more I should know about?” he asks jokingly.
“We’ll see.”
“So, who do you tell that you love them in Italian?” he asks, feigning innocence as he plays with the pepper pot.
Err…what? He was listening…and furthermore, he understood me?
Laughing at my expression, he explains his rudimentary Italian.
Fuck! I desperately think back to if I said anything he shouldn’t have overheard.
“He’s my…mentor,” I state finally. All true, no lies so far.
“Ah, I see,” he says.
Changing the subject swiftly, I ask about his day and the general conversation shifts onto easier topics for the remainder of the meal.
I sense a strong connection to him that passes by the physical and intellectual and onto some base level and it has me intrigued. I think he feels it too, as he squeezes my hand while we wait for Grayson to pull the car around. I move subtly closer and look up at him, my gaze sweeping from his eyes to his mouth and back again. His eyes hood with desire.
Works every time.
“Thank you for dinner,” I murmur.
“It was my pleasure,” he murmurs back, gazing into my eyes. “I feel like we should have done this days ago.”
“I know what you mean,” I agree. I step even closer and place my hands on his chest. I tilt my head back. He pulls me to him, our lips locking together in a kiss so passionate it probably isn't allowed in public or shouldn’t be. My fingers move up into his hair, pulling his head further down. I shove my tongue deeper into his mouth, swirling my tongue around his. He tastes divine. My fangs are aching to drop and sink into his flesh. Abruptly, I pull back, calming the Vampire down.
Whoa, that was intense. It's been way too long since I fed on human blood, choosing to sustain myself with just Vampire blood out of some sense of morality. It’s been even longer since I fed on my favorite blood type, which even from here, I can smell running through Cole's veins.
Breathing heavily, he leans his forehead against mine with his eyes closed, his hands on my hips.
“Is it presumptuous to say I want you,” he whispers.
My knees go weak as I say, “Not at all. I want you too.” Knowing this could potentially be a disaster waiting to happen, I pull his mouth back to mine for a second kiss that leaves me aching for him.
Life's too short to not go after what you want, dammit. Well, actually, my life is long. Very, very long, but in an effort to convince myself, I grab onto all the old clichés. Carpe diem and all that. After all, they are clichés for a reason, right?
Coming up for air, I ask, “Will you come back to my place?”
“Yes,” he says, before he reclaims my mouth.
Grayson's subtle clearing of his throat pulls us apart. Patrons leaving the restaurant are staring open-mouthed and the paparazzi is having a field day trying to get the best shot around Grayson's massive size blocking their way. Laughing, we climb quickly into the back of the limo and our mouths find each other again. So much for a low profile.
I climb onto his lap, feeling his erection in full force. I reach down to touch him, but his hand stops me.
“No,” he whispers against my mouth.
I pull back like I've been struck. I want to roar in frustration. I glare at him questioningly.
“Not here, not like this,” he mumbles, embarrassed. “I really like you,” he carries on, “and I feel like we might have something here?” It's a question requiring an answer before he continues, so I nod. He looks relieved. “I don't want our first time to be...”
“A fuck in the back of a limo?” I offer up with a raised eyebrow.
Startled at my crass choice of words, he then grins. "Exactly. Not how I would have phrased it, but yes.”
“Okay then.” I climb off his lap and sit chastely next to him with a small smile twitching at my lips.
“Okay then,” he says as well, taking my hand in his.
Christ, this is the longest drive home, ever. Why did I suggest a place in L.A.? Malibu has perfectly fine places to dine.
Sensing my impatience, he says, without looking at me, “Just think of the anticipation as foreplay.”
Holy hell was that the wrong thing to say. My blood pressure goes up several notches. Staring at him, he glances at me sideways and asks, “Do you live much further away?” He has an amused look on his face.
Grayson, thank the old gods, chooses that moment to announce our arrival.
“Not much further, no,” I reply thankfully.
He laughs in relief, which makes me smile.
CHAPTER FOUR
G rayson pulls up outside my front door and gets out to open the car door for me.
Cole follows quickly, staring up at the house in surprise. “Wow, this is some house you've got.”
“It'll do,” I respond, eager to get him inside.
Hoping Devon is nowhere to be found, since that's still a conversation needing to be had with Cole about our living arrangement, I push open the massive front door.
Stepping into the foyer, my heels clack on the marble floor. I quickly slip them off to keep the noise to a minimum. I can see that Cole is in awe of the grandeur of the place. I don’t have modest tastes, my favorite era being Renaissance Italy, so it doesn’t surprise me that he finds it a bit grandiose and over the top. I grab his hand, distracting him.
“I'm all anticipated out,” I whisper, pulling him over to the staircase. He follows behind me as we ascend the stairs, cursing to myself at how many there are. Fortunately, we don't encounter Devon on the way up. I can't sense him, so he is probably out.
Finally, we get to the third floor. Most of the top floor is my bedroom, bathrooms, and a sitting room that also functions as an office. I have never been more grateful to be opening my bedroom door in my life.
Once inside, Cole takes in his surroundings. My bedroom is out of a history book.
Frescoes on the ceiling, deep red plush carpet, dark wood furniture, a massive marble fireplace and the pièce de résistance, my bed: a king-size canopy, four-poster
handmade and hand carved out of mahogany with intricate detail, with deep red silk sheets to match the carpet and mountains of pillows.
“Wow!” Cole murmurs again. “Sumptuous.” He smiles down at me. I can't hold back any longer.
I pull him to me by his shirt. He crushes his lips to mine as his hands move up and tug on my loose hair. Groaning into my mouth, he moves one hand to the back of my neck and the other further down, trailing a soft finger down my arm. His touch sends me crazy with lust and I want more, so much more, of his hands on me. I pull away and turn around, holding my long hair out of the way, in a silent demand for him to unhook the bustier. I feel his hands reaching up and slowly unhooking the top. He leans down and kisses my shoulder softly. Slowly, so slowly, he unhooks the next one and kisses my other shoulder. Oh, the gods, there are twelve of the damn things! Torturously slow, he makes his way down to the final hook. I am aroused beyond belief. I want to unleash my Vampire dominance on him. I hold back though, wanting him to take the lead.
With the bottom hook still clasped, he turns me around to face him. My breasts are falling free, making his eyes widen in appreciation. Reaching around my back, he unhooks the last tether and the bustier falls, already forgotten to the floor. My breasts are in his hands, his strong fingers tweaking my nipples into two hard points. He is sending sensation after sensation through me. Oh, what this man does to me.
He leans down and takes a nipple into his mouth, sucking hard and grazing me with his teeth. I think I am going to come right there and then, when he stops.
“Take my shirt off. We seem to have a clothing ratio problem,” he says huskily.
My knees go weak again, but I do as he asks.
Reaching up, I just as slowly undo his top button. Two can play at this game. I smile seductively as I lean forward and kiss him at the base of his throat. Lingering for just a moment, I inhale deeply, feeling his pulse beat against my lips. My fangs aching to descend, I hastily pull away and undo another button. I kiss his chest and his breath quickens. He closes his eyes against the pleasure he's feeling, as another button gets undone, and another kiss. Only two more to go. Sinking to my knees in front of him, he grunts. His erection is right in front of my face. I brush my lips against the fabric. I feel him twitch as he groans softly.