His Captive Mortal

by Rose , Renee

  My shelves are pretty bare. I’m too busy with school and work to cook much, even though I enjoy it when I have time.

  A glance behind me shows me my vampire stalker has gone back into the living room.

  “Master, what shall I cook thee?” I snark under my breath.

  “Be careful, love,” he calls from the other room, making me jump. “I’ll punish you again, and I promise this time it won’t make you laugh.”

  I stick my head back in the fridge. My bottom seems to tingle in response, the warmth traveling even lower, to my sex. What’s wrong with me? I know he’s super hot, for an evil vampire, but is the idea of being punished actually turning me on?

  I close the refrigerator door and fish out a box of graham crackers from my cupboard, along with a jar of peanut butter and the bottle of chocolate syrup. Pulling out a plate, I arrange eight crackers on it then spread each one with peanut butter and drizzle chocolate over the top.

  I carry the plate back to where the vampire now lounges like a king on my couch and hand it to him.

  For the first time, he looks less assured. “What is this?”

  “My version of s’mores.”

  His lip curls.

  “Just try one. They’re tasty.” I pick up a square and hold it to his perfect lips. My heart skips at my own bold gesture. “I promise I didn’t poison them with roasted garlic spread or anything.”

  His mouth twitches in amusement, and he opens it a crack, as if only to let the tiniest bit of food in. Nibbling a corner, his eyes hood as he samples the treat. “Not bad.” He takes the cracker from my hand and accepts the plate. “I guess I won’t make you crawl around on your hands and knees and lick my hand.”

  What the fork? I don’t know whether to laugh or kick him in the shin. “I beg your pardon?”

  “My dear fairy, I have many ways of punishing you, and all of them involve your subjugation.”

  I stifle a shiver, meeting his eyes with a narrowed gaze.

  “In my day, women were taught to obey men.”

  I cock my head to the side. He sounds so serious, but there’s a twinkle in his dark eyes. “Something tells me you’re full of shizzle.”

  Another chuckle. “You are most amusing. If you would like to sit at my feet, I always enjoy subservience, but you are also welcome to sit beside me.”

  Am I seriously verbally sparring with a vampire? “I don’t know if you’re kidding or not.”

  “Come and find out,” he dares with that sexy smirk. And this time, it doesn’t scare me. I must be warming up to him or something because I give a nervous bark of laughter. I plop down beside him and make a show of snatching one of the crackers from the plate on his lap.

  I bite into the cracker and watch him chew, studying his beautiful face.

  He’s loosened his black tie and leans back against the cushions, but his show of studied casualness and businessman attire doesn’t make him look any more normal. If anything, they’re a costume, an act. His beauty makes him remote, otherworldly. Not human! my senses scream. Vampire! Run!

  But another part of me is fascinated. My body warms sitting next to his, and I’m all too aware of the contact of his shoulder against mine.

  I finish my cracker and reach for another one, but he slaps my hand, holding the plate away. I make a sound of outrage.

  “Say please,” he orders.

  “They’re my crackers!”

  “Are they?” he challenges, his black eyes connecting with mine in a stare-down I cannot not win.

  I grit my teeth and look away. “Nevermind.”

  He crosses one long leg over the other. “You see, there’s a pecking order here, love. The sooner you learn it, the easier things will go between us.”

  “Go to hell,” I mutter, pushing to stand up.

  He scoops me up like I weigh nothing and plops me onto his lap. “I am your hell, sweetheart. Believe it.”

  I would be more annoyed, but I sense he’s just trying to get a rise out of me. I reward him with a roll of my eyes.

  Maybe I’m not taking all of this seriously enough, but come on. Magic?

  “Listen, I’m not a fairy. I don’t know anything about curses or magic. Even if I wanted to help you, I can’t.”

  He reaches out and wipes the corner of my mouth with his thumb, showing me the dribble of chocolate syrup he swiped before popping it in his mouth to suck it off. His lips are smooth and full, and for a dizzying moment, I imagine him drizzling chocolate syrup on other parts of my body, so he can lick it off…

  Crap on a cracker, I’m perving on a vampire! My nipples tighten. As if he can see through my clothing, his gaze drops to my breasts before traveling slowly back to my face. “I believe you don’t know or understand your abilities,” he says. “But I will help you get up to speed.”

  “How?”

  He shrugs and offers the plate of crackers. I reach for one, and he pulls it away, “Say please.”

  I huff. “Please?”

  He grins. “You see? That wasn’t so hard.” He lets me take one. “As for how, I’m not sure yet. It’s been a long time since I’ve been around anyone with fae blood. We thought them mostly extinct by now, most moved to living in a parallel dimension where nature ever grows.” He says the last part about nature in a falsetto tone, like he’s quoting someone. “But you have so much natural power, it can’t be that hard.”

  “What is the curse?”

  His eyes hood and a muscle twitches in his jaw. “You’ll know when the time comes,” he says stiffly.

  “Okay.” I rub my face. I’m done. Vampire, curse, fairies. This is not something I’m prepared to handle at one a.m. on a school night. “Look, it’s way past my bedtime. I know you’re nocturnal, but I need my sleep, or I get very crabby. So...ah, are you going to let me go to bed?”

  The corner of his mouth curves. “I’m glad you’ve realized who is master here.”

  My heart does a slow flip at the glint in his eye. Dang if his dominance doesn’t light my fire. “Alone?” I clarify.

  He lifts me to stand and rises before me. He’s much taller, and although he has a lean build, he’s much bigger than me. Grasping my jaw, he tilts my face up to his.

  I stiffen, staring at his glinting fangs. He bends his face to mine, his heavy-lidded gaze mesmerizing. There’s no hint of fang when he brushes his soft lips across mine. He kisses me as if we’ve reached the end of a first date, rather than the bizarre exchange of attempted murder, spanking and...what? Kidnapping? Hostage situation? My thoughts are shorting out, shooting sparks as the kiss continues. I’m paralyzed under his light caress, smelling the sweet chocolate on his breath.

  “Aurelia.” He repeats my name as if committing it to memory. “Lovely little fairy. Be a good girl and go straight to sleep. If you run, you won’t like the consequences. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir.” What else can I say?

  For a moment his dark eyes search mine. He must like what he sees because he nods.

  And then he disappears. Poof! Gone. Leaving my senses tingling, searching for the solid body that was just standing in front of me. But he’s gone, and I’m alone in my living room, my heartbeat doing a wacky tango.

  I reach out and let my hand hover in the air, in the blank space where the vampire used to be.

  “Wait,” I say. I should be relieved, but instead I feel empty inside. “I don’t even know your name…”

  Chapter 4

  Charlie

  As soon as I materialize in my bedroom, I want to return to Aurelia’s. If I didn’t know better, I’d say the little fairy cast a spell on me.

  But no, she wasn’t lying when she claimed to have no knowledge of her true power. She’s a virgin magic user, untouched, untried, but not unwilling. Not with the right motivation.

  I won’t let this one get away.

  I gather my things quickly. A threat might hold my little fairy fighter but not for long. Fortunately, I have the power to dematerialize and reappear again. Not every
vampire can do it, but I’m one of the lucky ones. It’ll help me go undetected in Lucius’ city. I’ll have to restrict myself to Aurelia’s apartment, but that will be no hardship. Little Miss Tinkerbell might protest, but her scent tells me she’s as intrigued about me as I am with her. Which will make things easier. I’d rather master her body and win her cooperation through the dance of sexual domination than to actually harm or threaten her or her loved ones.

  But I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get what I want. As a lone vampire, I have one allegiance: to myself. The one time I trusted another, I got hit with a curse.

  I won’t let my guard down again. Not even with Aurelia. Not that she’ll let me.

  So adorable, the way she came at me with the sharpened stake. Quick thinking on her part, assuming she’d never met a vampire before or contemplated killing one. Impressive. And, dare I say, sexy. I’m drawn to her.

  And not because of her lithe body or beautiful face. Perhaps it’s her innate power or the way she stood up to me even when terrified. It makes me want to grab a handful of her thick, shimmery hair in my fist and bang her hard from behind. Show her who’s master.

  But no. Satisfying myself with her body is the last thing I need. It’d be of no use. The curse has seen to that.

  I hoist a box of supplies and trace back to Aurelia’s. Her living room is empty, but the door to her bedroom is open a crack. She’s curled in a ball under her covers, her brows drawn together as if in concentration. Her face looks so young and innocent in sleep. It stirs my lifeless heart. Watching her dream, I almost feel...what? Compassion? Affection? Caring of any kind?

  No. Impossible.

  I return to my apartment and transport another batch of supplies, then repeat until I’m done.

  Now, to make this apartment mine. I grab a roll of duct tape, and cover every window in the place. Next I’ll nail sheets of plywood in front of them in every room but Aurelia’s--I’ll save her bedroom for last. I close the door to keep from waking her. She will need her rest to begin her studies tomorrow.

  My preparations for dawn are crude but effective. When all the moonlight is gone from the place, I finally relax.

  Operation Break My Curse has begun.

  * * *

  Aurelia

  I run down Congress Street. A monster is chasing me--a giant black shadow with white fangs. Ahead, in the middle of the road, Gwen dances on top of her yellow car to K-pop music. The faster I run, the slower I go, my feet aching. There’s a rhythmic banging--like someone’s hammering something just out of sight. The monster is catching up, and flyers for Club Toxic rain down on my head--

  “Shhhh, wake up little fairy. You’re having a bad dream.”

  I flail and someone catches my wrists. I squint in the dark at a narrow face. As soon as my gaze meets his dark eyes, my body softens. “Vampire,” I breathe. “You came back.”

  “I did. I’m going to be staying for a while.”

  “Here? With me?”

  “Yes, sweetheart.” He bends his head and whispers a series of commands. The words sink into my bones--don’t touch the windows, don’t touch the doors, don’t leave without permission.

  “What?” a small part of me rouses enough to struggle. “What are you doing?”

  “Shhh,” the vampire easily presses me back into bed. He whispers more commands I don’t quite catch and traces my lips with a finger when he’s done. “Sorry, love. I hate to compel you. I wish it could be different, but there’s no time.”

  “What are you talking about?” My thoughts are heavy, my voice sleepy. He’s so pretty, this vampire in my bed. I don’t know why I was panicking at all.

  “You’re not quite as compliant as my usual prey,” he murmurs. “A natural defense side effect of your fae blood?” He strokes back my hair. “No matter. I enjoy a challenge.” His tone turns wistful. “It’s been so long since I’ve had one.”

  “Happy to oblige,” I say with a sigh, burrowing deeper into the covers and pressing closer to the solid body next to me.

  The vampire goes unnaturally still. “What are you doing?”

  “Snuggling.” It’s weird snuggling with someone who’s dead. I listen for a heartbeat or breath, but hear nothing. But I’m too tired to really care. “It’s nice.”

  “I’m not nice, love.” But his fingers in my hair feel so good. I murmur in pleasure as he pets me like a kitten. I get the sense that I’ve been here before, done this before, but I don’t need to think about that right now. Right now, I want to enjoy the snuggle.

  Moments pass before the vampire murmurs. “I haven’t done this in a long time.”

  “You’re good at it. Like riding a bike.”

  “I suppose.” A long pause. “I didn’t used to be this way. Believe it or not, I had a lady love. ”

  “Yeah?”

  “I don't know why I’m telling you this.” His hand rests on the back of my neck. “I’ve never felt this before. A compulsion to confess.”

  “What?” My eyes flutter, but I can’t open them. They’re heavy, like they’ve been cemented over.

  Cool lips brush my forehead.

  “Sleep. You won’t remember this tomorrow.” But his final comment follows me into my dreams. “I better be careful with you. Seems little fairies are my weakness.”

  Chapter 5

  Aurelia

  I wake with the whisper of a dream still surrounding me. I remember nothing of it, but the magical feeling—I felt safe and loved. Not my usual state of being by any means.

  I didn’t have a traumatic childhood, but I was on my own, at least emotionally, for most of my life. My mom was a single parent who struggled with making ends meet, getting ahead in a crappy career and her own dating life, which wasn’t particularly rewarding. Me and my brother were latchkey kids, and I’ve been supporting myself since the day I graduated from high school.

  I keep my eyes closed, wanting to stay in the lovely feeling. Memories of the night return with a jolt—the vampire and the spanking. And the kiss. Rather than throw me out of my pleasant mindset, they fill me with a delicious sexual awareness, my entire body tingling in memory of being handled. Though my logical mind screams danger, my body has no interest in caution where that very sexy male is concerned.

  My body will take any punishment he has to give and want more.

  I toss one leg over a pillow, undulating my pelvis to create friction against my mound. The cushion provides exactly what I need, fitting between my legs, hard and firm. I rub myself against it, drifting in the delicious place between sleep and awakening, heat burgeoning as the hard pillow rubbed over my clit—

  Hard pillow? My eyes fly open, and I choke on a gasp.

  Beside me lies the vampire, grinning sleepily and reaching to cup my ass, which lies sprawled over his thigh. I was grinding on him, my folds slick and plump, dripping wet.

  I yank my leg off and roll away, leaping off the bed. “What the—”

  “I’m going to sleep a while longer, but you are welcome to hump me all you want,” he says in a dream-thickened voice.

  “What are you doing in my bed?” I demand, but his eyes already slipped closed again. Sprawled on my mattress with his shirt off, his masculine chest and arms are as cut as a Greek statue. He lies on top of the covers, and I still wear my pajamas—that’s a good thing. He didn’t have his way with me while I slept. Although... the thought tweaks my already aroused core.

  What time is it? I peer at the clock and then gasp. Four in the afternoon?

  “Fork! I overslept!” And that’s not all. It doesn’t feel like dusk because my windows are boarded over with plywood. “What the—?”

  Well, of course, the vampire can’t be out in daylight, and he declared his intent to stick with me until I remove his curse. I rub a hand over my face. This is all too weird.

  The vampire lies in my bed, sleeping like the dead. I guess, in a way, he is dead. Not that that keeps me from perving on him.

  I pad out to the living room
to see, not surprisingly, every window sports the same covering.

  Darn him all to heck. This better not affect my rent deposit.

  For a moment, I consider tearing some of it down, but my skin gets prickly. The idea repels me. Of course I won’t remove it—he would die. And while I tried to kill him last night, I don’t really want to end his life now.

  He hasn’t bitten me. Or tried to drink my blood. He hadn’t hurt me, other than the spanking.

  I eye him sleeping as I head toward the bathroom. How had I not noticed him climbing in bed with me? Or nailing boards to my windows? And what about those incredible dreams? I’ve never dreamt like that before. Does it have something to do with the proximity to him?

  My stomach flips like it’s on a rollercoaster. Perhaps it does have something to do with the vampire. I don’t think I’ve ever been this turned on.

  I sneak into the bathroom and lock the door, pulling off my pj pants to finger my sex. And I clench my teeth to keep from groaning at the prod of my fingers. The sensitive pleats are engorged from my shameless masturbation on his leg. Fork me. I humped a vampire. How am I going to face him after that display?

  It takes great willpower, but I withdraw my fingers and climb in the shower, keeping the water cool to clear my head. I need to wrap my mind around my current situation. I have a live-in vampire roommate who wants something I don’t know how to give him. Fantastic.

  How the hell will I get myself out of this mess?

  I step out of the shower and dry off, wishing I brought my change of clothes into the bathroom with me. Wrapping the towel under my armpits, I peek out of the door to make sure the vampire still sleeps. His eyes are still closed, long lashes fanning over his cheeks. He’s even more pretty than I remembered. Stop perving on the vampire!

  I tiptoe out and snatch a pair of shorts and tank top, putting them on speed-dresser style, like I do at the department store when I’ve got ten items in a changing room and fourteen more in waiting.