Their apartment was only a ten-minute drive from the mall. Her nerves were on edge the closer she got to home. Wearing lingerie was supposed to be a fun way to spice up a relationship, but all she felt was stress.
Deep breaths! Relax. He loves you. There’s no reason to worry.
Her stress level jumped to one hundred as she pulled into her apartment complex and saw Derrick’s Jeep Wrangler parked in their covered spot.
Before a full-on panic attack set in, she remembered that always-prepared Jaclyn had given her a solution to this little problem too. Not that she wanted to run with it, but even this contingency was planned for.
She pulled into the open guest spot and ducked into the back seat of her car, taking the little red bag with her. “Just walk through the door wearing the lingerie and see what drops first, his jaw or his pants,” Jaclyn had said.
Why she listened to Jaclyn, Daphne would never know, but she did, and had done so many times over the years than she cared to admit. Sure, her schemes were off the wall, but they did get results. If it weren’t for Jaclyn urging her to go clubbing, Daphne would have never met Derrick in the first place. Still, walking through the parking lot of her apartment complex wearing lingerie was not her idea of a good plan.
She needed something for extra cover. Something long enough. Something like a jacket.
“Ah ha!” she shouted to herself. Stuffed into the back of her car was a wrinkled, but still wearable, raincoat. She’d just wear that over her nightie and enter the house before flashing her goods. Seemed everything was working in her favor now. That had to be a sign this was the right thing to do.
Dressed—sort of—and covered enough that she wouldn’t get arrested for indecent exposure, she drummed up the courage to leave the car. She walked—well, ran—towards her apartment, hoping not to give any passersby a peepshow.
When she arrived at her door, she took a quick, cleansing breath before sticking her key into the lock. “Now or never.”
It took all the bravery she had to fling the door open and stand in the frame proudly, but no one was there to see her triumphant expression. She was more than a little disappointed to find the couch, and the entire room, empty. How was she ever going to muster up the courage to do this again? She shut the door behind her and slipped off her jacket. The red faux-fur edges of the lingerie danced in the air conditioning breeze as she tossed the jacket over the edge of the couch.
A giggle caught her attention, coming from the bedroom. He must be watching TV, she thought. Good, he’s already in the bedroom. That makes things easier.
Another deep breath calmed her nerves. She’d done it before, and she could do it again. Just toss open that door and shake those goods, as Jaclyn would say.… now or never. She held her head high and strolled over to the bedroom door, ready. Before nerves could get the better of her, she flung open the door and stood proud, chest out, hands on her hips, head held high.
“Derrick, honey, I’ve got a …”
Shock stole her voice before she could finish the sentence. Frozen to where she stood, she couldn’t take her eyes off the scene in front of her: a mass of crumpled sheets, blonde hair, and Derrick’s flexing ass cheeks.
To make matters worse, Derrick said nothing. He turned his head back at Daphne, eyes filled with contempt, and just stared at her, angry at her for interrupting.
His glare was like a kick in the chest that shattered her heart and stole all the air from the room. Her mouth hung open before her brain lurched into overdrive. Now she knew why he was so angry every time she called. This explained all the strange hours, and why they never had time or money for a night out. He’d checked out of their relationship a long time ago and just never had the balls to tell her.
The world came crashing down all around her, and it was all she could do not to crumple with it to the floor, blubbering like an idiot. She’d do that later… in the comfort of Jaclyn’s home. That’s where she needed to be now. Safe, with her friends.
If Derrick cared at all, there was no sign of it on his face. He all but said, “Get out” with his angry glare. And that was exactly what Daphne did.
Without a single word, she turned around and walked away. Her life, as she knew it, was over. All the plans they’d made, all the sacrifices, meant nothing. Derrick had been her life, her love, and now… it was all gone. He’d shown her exactly what she meant to him: nothing.
She was nothing.
She walked away from the apartment, not bothering to lock the door behind her, hardly realizing she was still wearing only the red lingerie. No home. No boyfriend. Barely a scrap of clothing to cover her. What was she going to do now?
Read More One Night With A Vampire. Look for this book and others by
Rozlyn Sparks / Katie Salidas
About the Author
Rozlyn Sparks is a thirty-something lady who’s been around the block a time or two. A Sin City native, she believes what happens in Vegas is fantastic inspiration for fiction! She knows the best stories are the ones that need to be shared. Give her a pen, some paper, and a Redbull and Vodka and she’ll spin tales that will have you begging for more.
http://www.katiesalidas.com
Or Email her directly at mailto:[email protected]
From Three Furies Press:
https://threefuriespress.com/
Dangerous Angle
Rebekah Jonesy
Ten years ago, Connor’s parents died, and Connor took over raising his little sister. To complicate matters, a someone began stalking him the day of his parents’ funeral. Ten years of this has made Connor a suspicious and angry man. Then he comes face to face with a strange woman on his doorstep and he thinks she just might be the one. She says she has good reason to be there, but he’s not buying it no matter how logical those reasons sound—or how sweetly she responds to his touch.
Tabitha thought she was ready for anything: she prided herself on being a prepared and organized journalist. When a story she was working on led her to show up unannounced at Connor’s house, she wasn’t ready for the angry, paranoid, and suspicious man who faced her. However, interviewing him made her want to get to know him better— off the record. The passion she felt for him broke her main rule: never mix business and pleasure, it will only get you hurt.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V7GFDZK
A Flutter of Darkness
Jason LaVelle
A flutter is a gathering of butterflies. Elegant, ethereal, inspiring joy and wonder. But not all butterflies feed on flowers and light. Some are drawn to decomposing bodies and trickling pools of blood. Some, are drawn to darkness.
This collection of short stories and novellas is the perfect place to admire those creatures. Whimsical and beautiful, splattered with terror, these stories show the darkness that lies hidden within us all.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y5QGTYY
Unsuitable
Rebekah Jonesy
Leslie needs certain things in life, acceptance, love and respect. The things she yearns for she keeps locked away and hidden. Fictional fiery passion doesn't belong in her world.
Stuart Altmann's tailored suits hid a complex man with hidden assets and twisted desires. He'd given up on finding love. His kinks were too extreme for most. But when Leslie asked him for a taste, he couldn't deny her.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WYS25V6
Truth Revealed
Rebekah Jonesy
Brandy has been working so hard for so long and sacrificed so much, but it has finally paid off. All those nights of studying and working while ignoring her love life are over. She can finally let her hair down and enjoy herself.
Adam has waited patiently hoping she would take him seriously and not just as a casual flirt. Now that she has gotten her big break, he's not waiting any longer. He's determined that tonight is the night, and he will do anything to make her see the truth about how he has always felt about her.
The truth has a way of changing everything.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WRQK28K
Two Faced Wife
Rebekah Jonesy
Tim's wife Laura has been sneaking around. He doesn't want to believe that she could be cheating on him. But when she sends him a to do list that sends him all over town, he fears the worst. The list seems to be designed to lead him to a very specific place where a very hot blonde is waiting for him. He's not sure if it’s a trap or a coincidence when she propositions him. But he does know that something about this woman will make him test the limits of his marriage vows. And hopefully will show him the face his wife has been hiding.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082LRX875
Melissa’s Men
Rebekah Jonesy
While attending a party in honor of her friend's accomplishments, Melissa starts to think about her own. When the night turns out to be rowdier than planned and her old flame Tommy shows up, Melissa decides to push the envelope further than she ever has before. And she finds several men who are willing to help her. Who knew the gang bang she asked for, would just be a starting point for her wild weekend? Or that there was so much more to Tommy than she could have guessed.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QMWPJ9D
Keep Her Safe
Rebekah Jonesy
Recently out of an abusive relationship, Mandy is feeling the need to get wild and frisky, something that her controlling ex never allowed. Going on a weekend trip with old friends is just what she needs to get back to her old self. And maybe, just maybe, one of her old friends would be willing to help her ease some of the tension that's been building up since she became single.
When Kurt agrees to go camping with Mandy and her friends, he never thought it would be such a struggle for him. The lively young woman that is his best friend's little sister is starting to tempt him in ways he didn't think possible. And when he learns about her plans to get more experience he wants to jump at the chance to teach her all the ways a woman can enjoy a man. But first he has to let go of his own loss, and harness his frustrations, before he can allow himself to be the kind of man a woman can be with.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SKPL3MZ
One Night With a Vampire
Rozlyn Sparks
One Night With A Vampire.
Sometimes the only way to forget the pain of a broken heart is to get back in the saddle. At least that is how Daphne’s friends see it. And since Daphne isn’t showing any signs of making that happen, they take the matter into their own hands.
Daphne is whisked away to the famed House of Immortal Pleasures, a Vampire-run brothel in Pahrump, Nevada, for a night of fun to exercise her demons of a sex life gone bad.
With a few shots of liquid courage, a pat on the ass, and a donated gold card, Daphne is unwillingly sent to meet her fantasy lover of the night, Connor to get the kind of workout she never imagined.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083M7ZNF1
Forever Mine Page 10
