Like I was going to tell him where I lived. My college was in a suburb west of Boston. “In that direction.”
“I’ll give you a ride.”
I paused, contemplating the invitation. Nope, not going to happen. I’d already decided I was all set with vampires. “No, thank you.”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’ll behave. We’re not all like that pathetic vampire.” His smile turned into a scowl. “Besides, James here is human. He will make sure you get home safely.”
A ride back to Cambridge in that nice car did have an appeal. It was certainly better than debating my other options. I’d already discovered walking the brick pavement to be hell on heels.
The other option was going back to Madam Lucia, explaining my change of heart, and hoping she’d let me stick around for a ride back later that night.
“Okay. But I’m going home,” I specified. “My home. Not yours.”
An amused grin formed on his face, and he gave a sort of bow. “Of course. As you wish.”
He opened the door and slid over before patting the seat next to him. After a moment’s hesitation, I climbed in. An Italian-sounding opera played at a low volume.
“I’m Renato.”
Renato, I repeated in my head. What an interesting name. It sounded much more enticing in his accent rather than that of the slick vampire inside the ballroom.
Without the mask, I had an unobstructed view. His handsome looks were timeless. I’d bet good money that no woman would find him unattractive. His eyes were rich like dark chocolate. He had the smooth pale skin characteristic of a vampire, but his bright eyes were what lightened his face. He watched me, face as still as granite, yet the intensity in his eyes signaled something within. A restlessness or yearning. Maybe both.
I might have been reading too much into this first—or second—impression. What would I, at twenty-one, know about a vampire who could be decades, if not centuries, older than me?
“I’m Mia.”
“Mia. Meaning mine in Italian.”
“It’s short for Marianna.” I wasn’t his nor any other vampire’s tonight.
“Where can we take you, Mia?”
“Harvard Square would be great, thank you.” I could take the student shuttle back to campus.
Renato eyed me with speculation. Was it due to my omission of a specific address?
“Not far from us. So, no trouble at all.”
James agreed and drew up a divider, giving us privacy.
“Perhaps it was serendipitous we met tonight.” Renato arched a brow in a suggestive manner and added, “To ensure you make it home safely.”
“Look.” I raised my hand, as I instantly went on to the defensive. “If you’re coming on to me, stop the car. Find some other bunny to hunt.”
Renato
“Bunny?” I couldn’t help but laugh at her choice of words.
Without the mask, I scanned her again. She was even more beautiful than I’d thought. Her blue eyes sparkled under long, dark lashes. Her pink painted lips had the perfect amount of pout to inspire kisses.
Or other things.
“Yes.” Mia raised her chin, but her hands shook. “You referred to me as a timid rabbit, and the courtesans as bunnies. To hunt. Can I just say—eww.”
Her offense amused me. “You mean when I was getting that buffoon to leave you alone?”
“Yes.”
“You have a strange way of saying thank you.”
“You have a strange way of offering help.” After a moment, she said, “Thank you for getting me away from him. Not for the comparison to prey.”
She was intriguing, no doubt. With a mix of innocence and that spark of something more intense within. An alluring combination.
And her scent. It was dizzying. It took all my self-control not to advance on her for a taste of her blood. Would it be as sweet and alluring as her aroma?
“You’re a blood courtesan, no?”
“Yes.” She scrunched her face. “No. I was for about a minute. But I decided it’s not for me.”
Ah, another one who got herself into something she didn’t understand. “Let me guess, you had some Hollywood notion of what it would be like to be with a vampire?”
Her mouth twitched, making me think I struck close to the truth.
She smoothed her hands over her dress. “I don’t like the tone or the question, so I’m not going to reply.”
That feisty remark shot another spark straight to my groin.
“I’ve seen it countless times before. Naive young women who have some romanticized version of the life of a blood courtesan. When reality doesn’t match their unrealistic expectations, they run.”
“You think you can nail me down in one observation without knowing a damn thing about me.” She raised a finger. “How long have you known me—a full two minutes?”
“I’ve been around long enough to know the signs.”
“Well, you can take your signs and shove them right up your—” She turned and stared out the window.
The costumed humans on the pavement laughed about something. What a contrast to her rising anger within the car.
“Wait.” I kept saying the wrong things. Then again, I liked seeing her riled up, fantasizing about what she’d be like in bed. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“Again.”
“Again,” I agreed.
Breathing heavily, she watched me. “You’re clearly amused by this whole encounter. I didn’t come out tonight to perform stand-up comedy.”
I peered at her. “You’re sitting down.”
“You know what I mean,” she spat, shaking her head in a flustered manner.
“Let’s start over.”
After a long pause, she said, “Fine.”
“You came to the ball tonight to become a blood courtesan. I’d like you to become mine.”
Her eyes widened. “Ha. After insulting me, you want me to be your dinner and entertainment? Thanks, but hell no thanks.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want to be some vampire’s plaything.”
“Then why did you sign up to be a blood courtesan to begin with?”
She stared at her hands on her lap. “Good question.”
The rest of the drive home included me trying to get information about her reasons and finding out more about her in general. She evaded answering by giving vague replies, which spurred my interest. After we dropped her off at Mass Ave, she slipped into a coffee shop.
On the ride home, one thing became clear. I wanted to see more of her fire within. And be the one to ignite the flame.
I had to convince her to become my next blood courtesan.
Pulling out my phone, I called Madam Lucia.
“I’m interested in the new courtesan, Mia.”
“Aren’t you all,” she replied. “Whenever we have a newbie, I have plenty of vampires putting in requests to be the first. You know she’ll be quite expensive, considering—”
“I don’t need the sales pitch,” I cut her off. I’d worked with her long enough to know the costs of new blood. “You know I have the money to make it happen.”
Madam Lucia said, “I don’t know where she is right now. I haven’t seen her since she checked in.”
“She isn’t at the ball any longer. I brought her back to Cambridge. Gideon scared her off. And I might’ve added to that.”
“And she didn’t come to me like she’s supposed to?” Then she laughed. “You two are always fighting over the same toys.”
I gritted my teeth. It was true. He’d had what I’d wanted from the very beginning. But I’d gotten what was mine in the end. And I was sure to do so with Mia.
“Make it happen. And soon.”
CHAPTER 3
Mia
Sunday morning, I had a phone call from Madam Lucia. I was sitting on my secondhand sofa in my tiny studio, reading from a biology textbook. I stared at the screen, debating letting it go into voice mail.
Mig
ht as well get this conversation over with.
“You disappeared last night.”
No hello. Eek, she was pissed. True, my actions weren’t the best way to go about my first night at a new job, even if I didn’t want it any longer. I’d texted her when I made it back to my apartment, but still—I’d run out on the job.
“I’m sorry. One of the—um—clients made me uncomfortable.”
“That’s when you come to me,” she replied in a stern tone. “One of my courtesans vanishes and that doesn’t look good for me, does it?”
She was right. I squirmed, glad we were only connected through a phone call, and I didn’t have to face her wrath in person.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I should have told you what had happened.”
“Instead I had to hear about it from one of my clients.”
“Who?”
“Renato. He told me how you were shaken by the initial encounter and he took you back to the city.”
Hearing his name affected me in a way I couldn’t pinpoint. I repeated it in my head, and a small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. In the short time I’d spent with him last night, my response to him had vacillated like a swinging pirate ship ride at a carnival. One minute, I was grateful to him for coming to my aid—and noting his dark, smoldering appeal and sultry Italian accent. The next, I was affronted when he said something insulting. My irritation grew when he called me out about why I ran away. Sure, he’d nailed a reason, and it sounded superficial, but he didn’t know me nor my situation. He didn’t know what I’d gone through that led me to walk into Madam Lucia’s office ready to offer my blood and body. Instead, he’d painted me with the same brush as any number of courtesans he’d met before me.
“Um, yes… that’s what happened.”
“This is a business, and I don’t allow anyone to ruin my business. If someone is bothering you in the future, you come to me.”
I rubbed one foot against the other, trying to make sense of this conversation. What did I know about how to act in the situation last night? This world was new to me. My brief orientation to the vampire world before I went to the ball had prepared me for what to expect that evening—except my reaction.
Searching around my tiny room, my eyes fixed on the open textbook next to me. Studying, that’s what I should have been doing last night, instead of trying to fit into a mold to shape a different type of woman. One who could tempt a vampire and tease him until he was willing to pay precious funds for a night with her. Not one who looked like a zombie when she tried a come-hither look. I slammed the textbook shut.
“I don’t think there’s going to be a future. Thank you, but this isn’t the right opportunity for me.” I cringed as I awaited her reply.
“It’s unfortunate that Gideon was the first vampire you encountered last night. He can sometimes be—aggressive. I should hope you don’t let the one encounter with him taint your expectation of how I run my business.”
It did, and I didn’t see how to undo that.
“If something like that happens again, you come to me, and I will take care of it,” she said. “My fees are expensive, and I protect my girls. If the vampires want to continue using my services, they follow the rules.” After a brief pause, she said, “One of my long-term clients has requested your services and will pay a rather nice sum for the experience.”
Despite my intentions of leaving this world, I was intrigued. “Who?”
“Renato. He was concerned about your wellbeing.”
The strange flutter that rippled through me on hearing his name and his interest did little to help my decision to walk away.
Didn’t you decide last night you had zero interest in being a vampire’s meal?
Renewing my resolve, I said, “Thank you again, but I don’t think that I am a suitable match for this role. I’ll make sure I get the dress dry cleaned and back to you.”
Money in the hole rather than in my pocket. Damn, I’d made a stupid mistake going this route.
“I see. We don’t want anybody here who doesn’t want to be here. But let me present the offer before you make a final decision. He asked you to spend three nights with him at his house in Cambridge. Although there are expectations for a blood courtesan, if you decide not to continue, you are free to leave.”
She then disclosed the financial remuneration, and my mouth dropped open. For three nights? That would make a nice tuition payment.
But could I go forward with what I’d decided wasn’t for me, just because of money?
Yet, I had to admit, I was slightly titillated by the offer. Even though he’d say the wrong things, he’d shown a more considerate side during the drive home. He’d asked me many questions, which had me wondering why he’d bother. If I was just another courtesan, why waste time trying to get to know me?
Not to mention, he’d made a special guest appearance or two in my dreams last night. Ones that made me blush as they flashed before me.
“Renato has a three-night maximum, so it’s not like you’d be stuck there forever.”
Madam Lucia snapped me out of my thoughts.
“What do you mean?”
“Some vampires go more for the relationship aspect of my service. They may request the courtesan for a longer period, such as a month or so. Sometimes they have the women live with them. Or take them as companions on expensive trips.”
“But not Renato?”
“He’s not looking for anything long term.”
Apparently, vampires weren’t different than most guys. Find a woman to screw for a short time before moving on to the next.
“Three nights doesn’t sound too bad.”
“Are you accepting the offer?”
I bit my lip as I considered it. If I didn’t give this opportunity a shot, I might regret it. “I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t take too long, my dear. I have plenty of other young women more than willing to take on that role. He’s one of my best clients. Get back to me by two o’clock, or I’ll send another courtesan.”
My stomach revolted with a strange flip.
“Don’t do that,” I blurted. “I’ll do it.”
Although I’d decided to give up on being a blood courtesan, fate apparently placed no value in my decision. Which was how I found myself walking from Harvard Square to Renato’s house later that evening.
New England was known for its autumns, and it had fully draped itself for a spectacular showing this October. The leaves clung to the trees for their grand finale in a tapestry of colors, as if they’d been kissed by the setting sun. Those that had fallen crunched beneath my feet, releasing their distinctive scent, as I stepped over the red brick sidewalks.
Walking down Brattle Street was one of my favorite routes. It was once called Tory Row due to the number of residents loyal to the King of England prior to the American Revolution. I loved to read the blue signs adorning the old, notable houses along the way. The most famous was likely the 18th century Longfellow House, which had a rich history, including serving as headquarters for General George Washington during the siege of Boston, and being the site where the Robert Wadsworth Longfellow penned many poems, including Paul Revere’s Ride. Now the house and gardens were a historic site open to the public for various events and viewings. I’d attended a few when I first moved to the Boston area for college and marveled at all the splendor of the rich history there.
Was Renato alive back then? It was difficult to gauge a vampire’s age. He appeared to be around thirty, but could be centuries old for all I knew.
As I progressed farther from Harvard Square, I’d often wondered who could afford to live in such expensive houses. Even modest-sized homes cost millions. This area was old money. The houses dated back centuries and were kept up to date with an impressive flourish. From the address, I guessed I headed toward one.
I marveled at the various architectural styles in the neighborhood, from old colonials to Greek revivals, as I took a right and headed down the t
ree-canopied sidewalks. Renato lived in a stunning Tudor house with a steeply pitched roof, ornamental half-timbering, and a stone base. More stones covered the archway above the rounded doorway. He had made some serious money in his immortal life or had inherited a family fortune. Nobody I knew or expected to know any time soon could afford to live here.
I took a deep breath and readied myself for the next portion of my life. Heading to a house I never thought I’d step into and into a role I never thought I’d take.
Renato
I watched Mia from my bedroom window as she approached the house. She wore a black coat over a long gray sweater dress, paired with boots in a darker shade of gray with tufts of fur peeking out of the top. Under the glow of the street light, she looked radiant, a perfectly wrapped present for delivery. I was quite pleased to be the recipient.
She stopped to take a long glance at the neighborhood, focusing on my house. I did not blame her; it was magnificent. Decades earlier I had ogled it in the same way, knowing my father lived there. Knowing my mother and I should have been living there, as well.
Ah, there I went again, thinking of things in the past I could not change. No point to it. They were both long gone, turned to dust. I had gotten what I wanted in the end.
Mia took a deep breath, as if fortifying herself, and stepped toward the front door. A strange sensation swept through me, which I could not place. What did it matter if she was just another courtesan? Many had come and gone.
Yet, something about her intrigued me. Even more bothersome was that I couldn’t place what it was.
The doorbell rang, jolting me from my thoughts. James must have opened the door and let her in, as she was no longer visible from my viewpoint. Time to leave my bedroom. No courtesan was welcome in there. After all, it was my sacred space. I didn’t trust anyone, except James, to be near me while I slept. It was too vulnerable a state for a vampire to be in around a human, no matter how weak they were. They’d found ways to send us to the grave, often in our sleep.
As I approached the stairwell, Mia spoke with James in the foyer, remarking on the beautiful interior. She no longer wore the coat, and the dress clung with perfect precision to her curves. It wasn’t tawdry and skintight, but touched all the right places to give me a tease of the lovely secrets beneath.
Pursued: A Vampire Blood Courtesans Romance Page 3
