All Souls’ Night: A Midnight Doms Boxset

by Renee Rose

  “You won’t get in trouble for not being at work, will you?” I ask.

  “No. I have a lot of personal time built up from over the years.” He flashes me a smile that hardens my cock again. “They’re happy to have me finally be happy and not broody, as I was called yesterday.”

  “I can’t imagine you being broody.”

  “Well, not now.” He reaches over and takes my hand, lacing fingers with me. “I have every reason in the world to smile now.”

  We spend more at the grocery store than I think I’ve ever spent in a month for groceries. I can eat at work, and take advantage of that perk every chance I get. But if I so much as look at something, into our cart it goes, and Ty won’t hear of me arguing with him about it.

  Guess this is part of what “being spoiled” feels like.

  Danged sure going to be an adjustment for me.

  As we head back to his house, I can truly process how wealthy he is. On the ride to my apartment, I think I was too entranced by his car to really see where he lived. It’s up in the hills overlooking the valley and surrounded by other…

  Well, mansions.

  It’s a mansion.

  He lives in a freaking mansion.

  Ty squeezes my hand as we await the front gate to roll open for us. “What’s wrong, baby?”

  Slowly shaking my head, I stare at the house above us. Large windows in the living room provide a gorgeous panorama of the landscape, but he’s got secure roll-down shutters in place right now. For security, I suppose.

  “Nothing,” I say as he drives into the garage. “That’s what’s got me worried.”

  I didn’t mean to say the last part out loud. I really didn’t.

  He shuts off the engine as the door silently rolls down, sealing us in. Then he turns to me. “I’m not going to deny I’m a man of secrets. You don’t live as long as I do and not accumulate those. Those are secrets I will tell you. I don’t want to hold anything back. But I want us to get to know each other.”

  My heart sinks. “You’re a mobster, aren’t you?”

  Something about his laugh lifts my heart. “No, baby. I’m not a mobster.”

  “Then how’d you earn your money?”

  He sighs. “Lucius Frangelico rewards loyalty. My brothers and I have been loyal to him forever, it feels like. We’ve earned our money all over the world, and now Lucius has mat—married. He wants to slow down and enjoy life for a change with his new wife. Frankly, he’s earned it.”

  It sounded like Ty started to say something besides married and changed his mind, but I don’t know what.

  I suppose it doesn’t matter.

  “Okay.” I stare at his hand where it lies on my thigh, his fingers entwined with mine.

  He wants me.

  Shouldn’t that be enough? Isn’t life difficult enough without me trying to find problems that don’t exist and sabotaging myself?

  “Are we good, baby?” he asks.

  I nod. “We’re good.”

  He leans in for a kiss. My eyes drop closed and I lose myself in the feel of his cool lips slanted over mine… and the world disappears.

  Every time he kisses me gets better.

  Shouldn’t I focus on what’s real and in front of me instead of trying to invent reasons this won’t work?

  He does let me help him bring the groceries inside, at least. We put them away and he sets about preparing to make us omelets while I brew us coffee. His kitchen is sleek and modern, with dark granite countertops polished to a near-mirror sheen, and gleaming black appliances set among ebony cabinets.

  “Why didn’t you have any food in here?”

  He shrugs. “I’m a night owl, and I work nights. I usually grab something to eat on my way to work and on my way home. When I’m not working, I go out. It’s just me, and that’s easier.”

  “And you have the money to eat out.” Oops. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.

  He turns and pulls me into his arms. “Baby, I know this is new and overwhelming. But you have to understand that I’m happy to spend money on you. I’ve been alone for so long, this is a welcome change in my life.”

  “Why?”

  He scowls. “Why am I happy I met you?”

  “No. Why have you been alone for so long?”

  “We’ve only been in Tucson for a few years. Before that, it wasn’t uncommon for us to travel a lot. It’s hard to put down roots when you’re on the move and working as hard as I was.”

  “Oh. That makes sense.” Now I’m feeling silly for being so suspicious. I rise up on my toes and brush a kiss across his lips. “I’d like to keep working, Ty. This is new. If something happens in a few weeks, I don’t want to need to find a new job on top of everything else.”

  I can tell he doesn’t like that, but he finally nods. “That’s fair. But you have to promise me if you need money for bills, you’ll ask me.”

  “I won’t make that promise right now because we don’t know where we’ll be weeks from now.”

  “Promise me you’ll think about it, then?”

  “That’s fair.”

  We get back to cooking, and he turns on music, something folksy sounding and in a foreign language that he sings along with.

  Finally, I have to ask. “What is that?”

  “What is what?”

  “That language.”

  “Norwegian.”

  “You speak Norwegian?”

  That sexy smile of his will be my undoing. “I speak several languages well, and even more not so well because I haven’t used them in years.”

  That makes him even sexier, which I didn’t think possible.

  Yes, I guess I’m still waiting for the other shoe to drop, even though I want to relax and enjoy this and try to stay in the moment.

  We sit down at the counter to eat and I take a bite of the best omelet I’ve ever had. “This is delicious. Thank you.”

  Ty wears a pleased smile. “You’re very welcome. I’m looking forward to cooking for you. I don’t cook very often.”

  My second bite is halfway to my mouth when my eye catches sight of movement in the gleaming surface of the fridge, which sits directly across from me. It’s not a perfect reflection, but the darkened glass of the computerized display on the front of it reveals me sitting there, eating, and the larger expanse of the living room behind me.

  What it doesn’t show is Ty sitting at the breakfast bar next to me.

  Just a disembodied fork full of food floating in mid-air.

  Chapter 14

  Next to me, I sense something’s wrong even before I glance over at my boy. It’s the way his pulse suddenly spikes in fear, setting every protective instinct in me on high alert.

  I set down my fork and turn. “Baby? What’s wrong?”

  He doesn’t answer and looks frozen.

  That’s when I follow his gaze and realize what happened.

  Well, fuck.

  There go my plans to ease him into this and break the news to him gently, over time.

  I guess we’re doing this. “It’s okay.”

  He doesn’t reply and slowly sets down his fork. It’s tempting to grab him and thrall him to keep him calm and make this easier, but the thought of doing that rolls my stomach.

  If you hadn’t guessed, it’s difficult to throw me off-balance.

  “Ty, what’s going on?” he whispers, his gaze fixed on his reflection in the refrigerator. I was careful during my earlier tour of the house to not appear in any of the mirrors in the bathrooms.

  I didn’t even think about this.

  Silently cursing my stupidity, I put my hands on his shoulders and turn him to look at me. “Baby, we need to tal—”

  “What the hell, Ty?” he screams.

  Okay, time for me to calm him down. I cup his face in my hands and use a smidge of my powers to make him listen to me. Since we have to do this, we’re doing it. I won’t lie to him. “I’m a vampire, baby.”

  His eyes widen in fear. “What?”


  “We’re real.”

  “How… how old are you?”

  “Really old.” He can wait to find out exactly how old later, once he’s calmed down and accepted who and what I am.

  If he does.

  When he tries to look at our reflections again, I gently keep his face turned toward me. “Baby, look at me. I’m real, and I love you. This is exactly why I am so certain I love you—because in my entire life, no one’s ever made me feel like this before. You’re meant to be my mate.”

  His breaths come in hitching gasps as his pulse skyrockets. “What did you do to me at the club?”

  “We talked, and we played, and we made love, baby. I didn’t force you to go with me. I needed to get you away from Taylor, though.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he’s a lot younger than me and not very careful. I didn’t want him to hurt you.”

  “Are… are you doing something to me now?”

  I opt to kiss him. I slant my lips over his and stop using my powers on him, to give him a chance to breathe and process this.

  Yes, I want to distract him, too. Try to derail his shock in the most pleasant way possible.

  He starts to reach for me, then his fingers ball into fists and he shoves me back. “You’re telling me the first guy I finally sleep with, and… and do other things with, and you’re not even… human?”

  I struggle not to thrall him again. “That’s not—”

  His eyes widen as he gasps. “That’s why I had to invite you into my apartment!” He recoils, the second, stronger wave of recognition apparently hitting him. “Because you couldn’t come in until I did!”

  Taking a deep breath, I slowly nod. “Yes. It’s—”

  “Well, I uninvite you!” His voice cracks. “Or disinvite you. Or whatever it is!”

  “Baby, please, stay calm.”

  “Stay calm?” He slips off the barstool and takes a step back. “Ty, I just found out you’re a freaking vampire, and you are seriously telling me to stay calm?”

  I blur the short distance between us, pull him into my arms, and kiss him again, holding his body tightly against mine.

  He’s hard, and so am I. At first, he tries to push me away, but then his arms wrap around me, tightly holding on to me, and I feel my hope grow.

  Maybe this will be okay after all.

  Only when he’s completely lost and compliant in my arms do I risk breaking our kiss. “Because I’m a vampire, I know you’re meant to be mine.”

  This time, the unfocused daze in his green eyes is due to passion—not fear, not my thrall. “Are… you going to kill me?”

  “I would rather walk into a sunrise than harm you, baby.”

  “But… you can force me to do what you want?”

  “That’s not how this works. I don’t want to force you to do anything. I want you to do something because you want to, not because I make you do it.”

  As he stares into my eyes, I see the doubt and desire swirling there. It’s a struggle to hold back my thrall, but I refuse to build our relationship on anything other than honesty.

  I mean, now that my secret’s out.

  Then his stomach rumbles.

  “Can we please sit down and eat?” I ask. “You’re hungry and need food.”

  When he finally glances at our plates, I know he’s considering it. Waiting him out is difficult, but I manage it.

  Relief fills me when he finally nods. I step back, giving him space and waiting until he moves toward his stool before I return to mine.

  He doesn’t speak, and I don’t try to force the conversation. He’ll talk when he’s ready, I’m sure.

  I mean, I hope he will.

  Chapter 15

  I wish I could claim this was a nightmare, but I’m wide awake.

  And I can’t stop looking at my reflection in the fridge door.

  Rather, I can’t stop looking at Ty’s lack of a reflection.

  Doesn’t it just figure that I fall for a…

  Freaking vampire.

  Even thinking it feels strange and otherworldly.

  Like I’m caught in a dream.

  I finish my food more because now a mix of terror and lust have vapor-locked my brain. I don’t want to give up what I’ve just discovered I need.

  Yet…

  Vampire.

  I escaped a life of lies and made-up fairytales of a toxic kind just to stumble into a myth come to life.

  When I’m finished, I set my fork down and lean back. I’m still trying to figure out what to say when Ty takes my plate for me and, carrying his, too, walks around the counter to rinse them off and put them in the dishwasher.

  I watch him as he does, knowing if I try to run, it’ll be pointless.

  My body’s betrayal as I watch him, led by my throbbing cock, also keeps me rooted to my seat.

  He’s a sexy man who literally made my sexiest dreams come true.

  But…

  Vampire.

  When he finishes with the dishes, he turns, approaching no closer than the end of the counter. “Can we talk about this? Please?” His pleading tone only adds to my confused mix of conflicting thoughts and feelings.

  “How many other lies have you already told me?”

  He sighs. “Technically, none. I just didn’t tell you the whole truth.”

  “And that’s better how, exactly?”

  He holds up his hands again. “I admit, it’s not the best way to start a relationship.”

  “Gee, Ty, you think?”

  His hands settle on his hips. “Why don’t we go talk?” He points down the hall, the way we have to walk to reach his basement bedroom.

  “You mean in your bed? I don’t think so.” Although my body thinks that’s a great idea. “So all the bullshit about being ‘security conscious’ was because you need, what, a basement hiding spot?”

  “Technically a crypt, but yes. But it is also a panic room. That’s what I told the contractors.”

  “Of course you did.” I wrap my arms around me because I really want him to hug me and comfort me.

  Problem is, he’s now the source of my current distress.

  For a few delicious hours, I thought my world was perfect, that my luck had turned around for the better.

  I knew it was too good to be true. I point to the windows. “Light-proof shutters?”

  He nods. “I fall asleep after dawn and usually sleep until evening. Not always until sunset. They allow me security while I sleep, as well as give me the ability to leave my room before sunset.”

  Something hits me. “You ate food.”

  “We can and do eat and drink food. We don’t need it, however. It cannot sustain us. We need blood to survive.”

  “I didn’t see any blood in your fridge.”

  “There’s another fridge, down in my closet, where I keep that.”

  My heart sinks. “Oh.” My mind’s a jangled mess right now and a memory floats to the top. “You bit me last night. When we played.”

  He nods. “Yes. And I fed you from my wrist.”

  Horror fills me. “Does that mean—”

  He’s already shaking his head. “Doesn’t work like that. I mean, it does, but it takes a lot more than that to turn someone. I’d never turn you without your consent. Vampire blood has healing properties.”

  “Is that why I’m so into you now? I’m addicted to you?”

  He leans against the counter. “Maybe you’re into me because you feel the same attraction to me. Maybe it’s because you share the certainty that we’re meant to be mates. Maybe, like me, you felt it from the moment we first set eyes on each other in the club last night.”

  “How is that even possible?”

  “How is any of this possible?” He gestures to himself. “I’m real. I exist. Here I am, and yet, I’m also a myth, a legend.”

  I turn away from him and head toward his living room, where a comfortable leather sectional sits in front of a large TV that’s hung on the wall. I’m aware of him follow
ing me, and force myself not to give in and fall into his arms.

  Pinching the inside of my arm makes me wince.

  No, I’m not dreaming.

  He doesn’t join me on the sofa, thankfully. He stands there, watching me, arms crossed in front of him.

  “How’d I sleep all day?” I finally ask. “What’d you do to me?”

  He sighs. “I did give you a suggestion that you’d sleep until I awakened, yes. But that was for your safety, and mine.”

  “This is why you didn’t want me walking alone at night, isn’t it? What else don’t I know about?”

  “I don’t want to tell you that right now.”

  “Why?” I shoot back. “Because you’ll have to…”

  My stomach curdles as I let that sentence trail off into silence.

  “No, I would never kill you, baby. But if you decide you don’t want a relationship with me, I’ll need to make you forget me, about vampires, and I really don’t want to do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I love you!” he roars, making me draw back.

  He runs a hand through his hair and walks over, dropping to his knees in front of me with desperation in his gaze. “Look, give me a chance. Please? Let me show you how good this can be between us.”

  “While you go prey on people?”

  He shakes his head. “I only get my blood ethically. I buy it, or I feed from willing club employees. I don’t hurt people.”

  “I thought you said hurting people was fun.”

  “Willing people, play partners, absolutely. I don’t harm people.”

  I can’t think. I can barely breathe. My body and soul are torn between wanting to fall into this perfect man’s—

  vampire’s

  —arms, and my brain’s screaming insistence that I need to run away.

  I take a long, deep breath. It doesn’t help that I can smell him.

  In fact… now that I think about it, my sense of smell seems particularly sharp today.

  It’s that final point that tips the scale in favor of my brain.

  “If I walk out right now, will you stop me?”

  The stricken look on his face nearly makes me reconsider. “Yes, but I have to ask you not to tell anyone anything.”