When the Clock Strikes

by Joanna Mazurkiewicz

  ‘Let me just get my stuff,’ she said and went back to the bedroom. I liked having her in my apartment. She lightened up the rooms and I didn’t feel so lonely. Maybe we had a future together.

  When she came out all ready to go, I waited for her in the corridor.

  ‘I won’t be cruel and I won’t ask you to take off my shirt and trousers.’ I grinned, opening the door for her, so we could leave.

  ‘Ha, ha, ha, very funny. Be careful, I might just change my mind about our date,’ she said. We went to the car park and I opened the door for her to my Audi that I used occasionally.

  ‘So what are you going to do after you drop me home?’ she asked.

  ‘I don’t have any plans. I’ll go to the gym and will be thinking about you, Julia,’ I said. ‘I’ll pick you up at seven.’

  ‘Seven is good.’

  ‘Relax; I’m not going to eat you yet. You’re safe with me,’ I assured her.

  ‘A powerful dark wizard said the same thing and in the end he turned out to be a control freak, possessive, and mentally unstable,’ she told me.

  I wrinkled my forehead, wondering if she was talking about her ex-boyfriend. Obviously he was an arsehole, letting go of a girl like her. Hmm, so she went out with a wizard; that was interesting.

  ‘I will never force you to do anything, Julia, but it’s all about trust. I assume that this dark powerful wizard was a man whom you chose to be with?’

  ‘Yes, my ex-boyfriend who still stalks me sometimes.’

  I dropped her home and then went to the gym, pleased at how things turned out. I hadn’t expected to have a wonderful date with Julia, just before Christmas.

  At exactly seven o’clock I parked outside her apartment. She came down a few minutes later looking sexy and elegant.

  ‘Beautiful as always,’ I said, stepping out of the car to open the door for her. She didn’t have to worry. I was planning to be on my best behaviour tonight.

  ‘Thank you, Mr. La Caz. May I ask where we’re going?’

  ‘It’s a surprise.’

  I switched on the radio and soon we were both lost in our thoughts. I was planning to find out as much as I could about her during dinner. She brightened my evening and I was most definitely looking forward to dessert. I called Roberto and he showed up quickly when I parked the car.

  ‘Good evening, Mr. La Caz. What time should I be available?’ asked the troll.

  ‘I’ll call you, Roberto. I’m not sure how long we’re going to be out,’ I said, patting him on his back. Roberto nodded to both of us and I handed him the keys. Julia walked beside me, looking calm and relaxed.

  ‘This way,’ I said and guided her towards the restaurant that I had chosen for us this evening.

  Inside, a werewolf named Jacob showed us to our table. We didn’t waste a lot of time and as soon as food arrived, we ate quickly. It looked like we were both starving. We talked a little about my work and the way my father lent me some money when I graduated to start a business. Our conversation flowed smoothly and I was enjoying myself.

  After dinner, I took her to the Onyx nightclub, one of the paranormal clubs that humans couldn’t enter. Throughout the dinner I hadn’t touched Julia, although I was tempted. When we approached the entrance, I put my palm on her back. An instant dose of energy ran through my skin. I could tell that she didn’t expect it, but I just couldn’t help myself wanting to feel her delicate skin.

  ‘Mr. La Caz, welcome,’ said William the bouncer, letting us through, giving me a smile. There was a long queue on the other side and a few vampires gave us an irritated stare.

  ‘William, good to see you,’ I said as we entered. I’d helped the owner with investments in this club, so I was always treated like a VIP guest. I took Julia upstairs through the dark neon light and the smooth music that was floating around the space. The club was busy. The magic coursed through the air, and I knew that Julia felt it as she glanced around with curiosity. We both spotted a few witches who were talking fiercely; the air around them was soaked with spells. A few vampires that I dealt with stood at the bar and nodded towards me as we entered. A few fairies, elves, and witches turned to check us out.

  We reached the stairs, where Chris, a giant, let us in to the VIP area.

  ‘Impressive,’ Julia muttered as we were walking up the stairs, and I couldn’t hide my smile. On the first floor, there was another bar with comfortable sofas. I noticed a number of wizards who were chatting and having a quiet drink at the bar. I didn’t know them.

  ‘This way,’ I insisted and headed to a sofa where I spotted my father. He was immersed in conversation with some witch that I didn’t know. Julia looked gobsmacked when she saw him, probably because we looked so much alike.

  ‘Julia, may I introduce you to my father, Philip La Caz,’ I said. He smiled, showing off a faint scar on his forehead. ‘Father, this is Julia Taylor, my date.’

  ‘It’s such a pleasure meeting you,’ said Dad, with his usual thick French accent. He took Julia’s hand and kissed it. She giggled and I wished that I could have been so old-fashioned like him, so I could touch her.

  ‘Hello, Mr. La Caz.’

  ‘Violet, please leave us,’ Dad said, and the witch with pink hair vanished. They were probably discussing his next business venture, but I didn’t care. Dad was always busy with new ideas.

  ‘What would you like to drink, Julia?’ I asked her.

  ‘I don’t know. If you can just choose a cocktail for me, please, that would be great.’

  ‘For you, Dad?

  ‘I’m all right, son. I’ll have a chat with your lovely friend here,’ Dad replied, waving his hand. I nodded and headed to the bar. When I glanced at them, my father was already chatting, probably asking her millions of questions. I didn’t even know that he was in London until today. He always showed up unexpected. I ordered a cosmopolitan for her and whisky for myself and went back to them.

  ‘I hope my father isn’t bothering you with insensitive questions,’ I said, sitting next to her.

  ‘So far, I found out that you don’t want to become a full vampire.’

  I smiled and took a sip of my whisky. Of course they were talking about that. Why wasn’t I surprised? My father was afraid of death and I wasn’t getting any younger.

  ‘Immortality doesn’t appeal to me,’ I said, not taking my eyes off her. My desire for her was back, hitting me hard and I wanted to kiss her.

  ‘See? I tried to talk him out of this, but he doesn’t want to listen. His mother was the same—stubborn, and she never listened to anyone, especially to me,’ Dad joked, patting me on the back. I gave him a sharp look. I didn’t like it when he talked about Mum that way. He knew that I didn’t like it. My thoughts trailed back to the night when my father left for what seemed like the last time.

  I’d heard noises downstairs. Someone was shouting, so I ran downstairs apprehensive because I knew Dad was leaving again, but this time for real. Whenever he came home he always smelled of blood and that made me yearn to taste it, my tongue eager to savour the thick red liquid that ran throughout the veins of humans. Mum hated seeing me like this, hungry and anxious. I was eleven when I saw my mother crying by the door. My father stood in the entrance looking paler than usual.

  ‘Philip, I told you I don’t want to go through this again. It hurts too much,’ I heard her saying. I got to her and threw my arms around her neck inhaling the scent of her warm skin.

  ‘Bea, I’m sorry. I won’t come back. Please let me say goodbye to Nathaniel?’

  ‘No, don’t you dare touch him. You broke my heart, but you won’t break his!’ she shouted holding me tighter. My father dropped his head down to his chest. I didn’t understand why he kept hurting us like that, showing up unexpectedly and then leaving over and over again. Every time he showed up, Mum was happy. She danced, sang and cooked those amazing dinners. Hours after his departure she’d fall into a gloom. I remembered seeing her in tears for weeks.

  ‘I’m sorry, Nate,’ Dad s
aid to me that night, locking the door behind him.

  Mum burst into tears, hugging me so hard that I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t understand then why he kept doing this to her.

  ‘Your dad says that he loves us, but it’s a lie because he keeps walking away, choosing his vampire friends over us. Don’t ever fall in love, Nathaniel because you will always suffer from it.’

  This was the last time I saw my father as a child while my mother was still alive. She couldn’t handle being without him. It was in his new nature to be away, he couldn’t sustain a normal human family life being a vampire. My mother died from a broken heart a few years later.

  ‘Is your accent French?’ asked Julia, stirring me away from these painful memories. I was glad that she changed the subject. My mother was right when she said that love was for fools. That vicious emotion had nearly killed me before. Was I was truly ready to try again? I didn’t want to think about the past when I was picturing a bright future in front of me with Julia.

  ‘Yes, I was born in Marseille,’ Dad said. ‘I met his mother, Beatrice, in London. We got married when we were young and I never went back. But my surname is Spanish. It means destroyer of the sun, which I think is appropriate. I think my mother’s father was Spanish. He was in the army in France.’

  She sipped some of her cosmopolitan, listening to my father with obvious interest. He probably noticed how delicious she smelled, but he was controlling himself well enough. Dad fed off fairies, so he was aware of their alluring scent and the incredible taste of their blood.

  ‘Father travels to France often,’ I said. ‘Sometimes we go together. I have a lot of business contacts there. Vampires there are more patient, when it comes to blood.’

  Dad was already distracted. He got up suddenly and said, ‘Unfortunately, I have to leave you, my dearests. I forgot that I was going to meet a skilled witch for dinner five minutes ago. Keep her close, son; she is such a distraction.’

  He gave Julia a quick, unexpected kiss on the cheek, and then he was gone. This was just Dad, he couldn’t stay in one place for long. He would probably show in my apartment tomorrow, but I was happy that he left us alone. I was planning to make out with Julia. Finally.

  ‘You must forgive my father; his manners can be confusing sometimes.’

  ‘He seems nice. I wasn’t expecting to meet him tonight,’ she said, clearly aware that I was much closer to her now.

  ‘I’m glad he’s gone,’ I whispered, drawing her towards me, ‘because now I can finally kiss you.’

  I moved my face, so my lips were only a couple inches away from hers. She shivered and this turned me on even more. I could tell she was waiting for my move. I inhaled and closed my eyes. ‘I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself if I kiss you,’ I whispered.

  ‘I don’t care. I want you to kiss me,’ she said.

  ‘You are brave, Julia.’ I moved away, drawing a long rasped breath. She smelled so heavenly. My mouth watered, and my cock was rock hard now. As I sat there thinking maybe I shouldn’t risk it, I noticed she looked disappointed.

  Fuck it, I want her.

  In a fraction of a second, I was beside her again, placing my mouth upon hers. I wove my fingers through her hair, drawing her closer to me. Her lips parted under mine and I deepened the kiss, feeling like I was falling, unable to control the sudden burst of lust and thirst for her rich blood. I slipped my tongue into her mouth. She tasted better than I dreamed. Without warning, my fangs extended and I growled. Panicking, I pushed her away breathing hard, my heart was jackhammering in my chest.

  ‘Have I done something wrong?’ she asked, sounding frightened. I ran my hand through my hair and drank the rest of my whisky, feeling on the edge.

  ‘No, but until I have you in my bed, this will continue to happen,’ I responded in a husky tone.

  I sat back, breathing heavily and trying to understand what was happening to me. I’d kissed many women before, but I never lost control like this. Julia wasn’t like Isabelle; she was sweeter, lighter. She injected new life into me. She brought me back from the dead, making me believe I could feel happy again. I stared into her eyes seeing that it was time to admit that I was falling for her.

  I still had a long way to go before I could reveal my feelings, but I could sense that I was on the right path. This was only the beginning of what I hoped we would create together.

  Please sign up for the newsletter on my blog, to find out more about up and coming release or like my Facebook page.

  Other books by Joanna Mazurkiewicz

  Beautiful Pain (Contemporary romance)

  When the clock strikes (Paranormal Personnel Saga # 0.5)

  £6.19 per Witching hour (Paranormal Personnel Saga #1)

  Past the Witching hour (Paranormal Personnel Saga #2)

  The Whispers of the Sprite (The Whispers Series #1) (Currently free)

  The Dark Night Whispers (The Whispers Series #2)

  Her Secret Whispers (The Whispers Series #3)

  My Last Whispers (The Whispers Series #4)

  The Whispers Series, book 1,2,3

  All about you, part 1

  All about you, part 2