by R. M. Sotera
Stiletto Sanction
Cassadaga Moon
In the quaint town of Cassadaga, Florida, life isn’t quite what it seems. For the strictly raised Catholic Mia Christini, life is nothing like it seems. There are only three things Mia is sure of—her best friend Cindi might just be crazy, her boss is losing control, and morals are overrated.
Weary of existing by a moral compass, she is ready and waiting for a one-night stand. She’s twentysomething, and it’s about time.
When Jordan De L’croix sets his sights on her, she finds out that her integrity isn’t the only thing she needs to worry about, especially from a man who gets, or takes, what he wants with ease.
And what he craves isn’t just her virginity. He craves her blood, redemption, and true love.
Note: Hero and heroine involved in acts of vampirism.
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 69,956 words
R.M. Sotera
EROTIC ROMANCE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance
Copyright © 2011 by R.M. Sotera
E-book ISBN: 1-61926-099-9
First E-book Publication: December 2011
Cover design by Jinger Heaston
All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
Letter to Readers
Dear Readers,
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Regarding E-book Piracy
This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.
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This is R.M. Sotera’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Sotera’s right to earn a living from her work.
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DEDICATION
To my husband (Scott) and son (Austin) who believed in me and pushed me through the five years it took to finish this book. I am forever thankful for the love and support you show me everyday. I love you both.
And to all the real vampires out there, the ones who live in the shadows, thanks for being so utterly gracious and letting me crash your world. A special thanks goes to Merticus and Zero with the AVA
– Atlanta Vampire Alliance - Your honest answers to my never-ending questions helped me to understand the lifestyle better, thus you made it easier for me to write the hero in this book. May all of your days be filled with immense love and happiness.
And finally to my dear friend, Linda Bitz – Our memories and friendship will live on forever long after we leave this earth through Cindi and Mia. You’ve always had my back – soul sisters we shall always be.
Stiletto Sanction
R.M. SOTERA
Copyright © 2011
New Beginnings
“Blood is one of the body’s vital fluids, and for some people drinking blood is deemed more of an intimate act than sex. Although blood drinking is the most common form of bloodplay practiced, blood sports practitioners—people who play with blood—are certainly attracted to blood’s ritualistic and vampiric connotations.
Blood is the essence of life. Blood is dangerous. Blood is thrilling and frightening simultaneously. Playing with blood requires an incredible amount of trust, care and understanding, and time between play partners. Bloodplay is true intercourse between players. It is beyond pain and pleasure.”
Arlene Russo, Vampire Nation
9
Prologue
Journal entry—October 31, bloodplay room
When Jordan slices through my skin, with slow, steady precision, I need to tell him how good I feel, but I don’t know how to construct the house of words and then invite him in. Am I completely nuts? Should I have run fast and far away from him?
I’ve read about alternative lifestyles and concluded those types of people were misfits. Then I met him, Jordan De L’croix, professor of religious studies and believer in twenty-first-century vampirism. The Gothic Sanguinarian.
He’s changed my life forever.
The cuts only sting for a moment. It’s the sensation of his lips against my flesh that sets my body on fire. When he looks into my eyes and whispers, “Baby, trust me. I won’t hurt you.” I believe him.
Lately, my love for him is all I think about. I have this feeling that soon it will strangle me. Yet, in some strange way, I anxiously wait for it to devour me.
10
R.M. Sotera
PART I:
Kissimmee Moon Rising
Chapter One
True love and redemption, two things he knew better than to desire. In his life, the game remained the same. Meet, cut, then suck.
And more than likely fuck.
Why would tonight be any different for him?
Blonde, brunette, redhead, who’s the lucky one tonight? Jordan De L’croix leaned against the back wall of the massive room near the bloodletting supply table. Incredulous, he gazed at the swarm of women gathered in the Firestone Club, prepared to make the ultimate move.
The techno music blared through the building, impregnating the smoke, the alcohol, and the eardrums of hundreds of raving vamps and vampire lovers. Overhead, cyberlights in encased prisms forced arcs of vibrant colors across the mysterious pandemonium.
Female donors were here to meet their very own vampires.
Though it was common knowledge these vampires weren’t the undead, the ladies still carried on as if they were giving their blood to the mythical storybook vampires.
He intently studied a young woman with fiery red hair as she strolled across the floor toward him. The space between her eyebrows wrinkled. Oh, yes…come closer, darlin’. He snickered, guessing she contemplated which pickup line to use. Nonchalantly, she eased her back against the wall next to him.
“So, are you here alone?” Her to
ne crossed between sticky-sweet and sappy-seductive.
11
“I am.” Jordan tilted his head, surveying the goods. A vanilla aroma lifted from her pores and encircled the air around him. The overpowering, heady scent was better than the earlier intrusion of ill-smelling sweat up his nostrils.
She glanced at him, checked the crowd, then turned to him and softly spoke. “I’m not with anyone tonight, either.” Perhaps you will be, and very soon. He studied her. Her demeanor was tight and cautious, with her shoulders pulled back, and her arms crossed her chest. The olive-toned, tanned skin around her neck and shoulders showed no sign of a recent blood donation. Of course, that didn’t mean there weren’t marks on her inner thigh, the place in which he preferred to feed. Though he wasn’t a betting man, he’d wage a week’s salary on the fact she was a blood virgin.
It surprised him that such young women never thought twice about bloodletting. His gaze slid down her body a second time. Yeah, he could see her in his bed tonight. He slipped from his thoughts back to the present and the blood virgin in front of him. If she only knew the dangers that lurked in the shadows of the club, she might think about twice about her actions. Maybe…but probably not.
He admired the beauty of her cherubic face. “What’s your name?”
“Tanner.” Her brown-eyed gaze slid slow and seductive over the length of his body.
“I haven’t seen you here before, Tanner. I’m Jordan.” He slid his hand forward, gesturing a handshake. She reciprocated. The moisture from her palm lingered on his skin once she pulled away. You should be nervous. This isn’t a good place for you. He couldn’t help the chuckle that came next. Actually, I’m not good for you.
“You seem a little nervous, doll.”
An angelic smile changed her pretty features, and then her tanned face contorted in stern concentration. She lowered her gaze toward the floor. “It’s that obvious, huh?”
Written all over your face, darlin’. “A little bit. How about I give you some advice? You can take it or leave it.” 12
She nodded.
“You seem like a nice young lady, but you need to be aware of what you’re getting into in this atmosphere. Blood drinking is a very serious act. What do you know about it?” She brushed her palms over her black satin mini and sighed before regarding him quizzically. “Honestly, I really don’t know much about it. I’m here with my friend who has been letting vamps drink her blood for the past couple months. She’s always talking about how exciting it is. What a rush it is.” Her lips curved into a playful slant.
“When Susie visited New Orleans last year, she went to this underground club called Fang and had a blast. I’ve wanted to experience it since then.”
“Oh, I see. Curiosity is getting the best of you.” Perhaps he shouldn’t insist she walk away. After all, it was her life, her choices.
On the one hand, he wanted people to respect real vampirism, to take it seriously. The teacher in him demanded he attempt to educate those who were unaware of the lifestyle. But on the other hand, the pretty girl could turn out to be his mark for the night. Not to mention, it had been awhile since he enjoyed a rogue night of blood drinking.
He thought about his situation for a moment, and realized that drinking from her would be the best education. Hands-on was always the best way to learn.
Interested to see which way she’d go, he gazed into her eyes and placed a hand on her shoulder. She flinched like a skittish colt. Ah, an innocent. Forgoing his usual tactics, he decided to walk away and let her experience whatever it was she thought was going to happen. But before he went his happy way, he needed to warn her. Walking into a club like this, with a naïve attitude, would be dangerous in the end.
“Don’t do anything tonight that you’re going to regret or maybe even die from. Instead, if I were you, I’d go home and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, do some research on the computer about real vampirism. Then, after you have gathered information, learned all you can, and taken the proper steps to insure your own safety, find
13
yourself a vamp looking for a long-term donor. Trust me, most of the time you won’t find real vampires looking for donors in places like this.” He stopped, tired of preaching. After all, he wasn’t on the clock at the university.
He glanced around the club. Where the hell is Jamison?
Tension tightened the delicate features of the girl’s oval face.
“You can actually die from this?” The words crackled.
“If you’re not careful, yes.”
She straightened and pushed her shoulders against the wall, appearing superglued in place. There was fear in her eyes as her gaze hit the wood floor.
He sighed when he realized he’d frightened her. Oh shit, don’t stand there like that. Just leave from this place…trust me, it’s best.
Before I decide to fulfill your desire.
Tanner sucked in a deep breath and stepped forward. “I’m going to go now.” She turned to move away from him, then stopped. “What about you?”
“What about me?” Ah shit.
“Well…would you be willing to?”
She batted her big brown eyes at him, doe-like orbs of vampire innocence, and his exact cup of tea. “Would I be willing to do what exactly, darlin’?”
A cute chuckle came before she said the words. “Would you be willing to be my first try at having some fun with blood drinking?” He was minutes from a quick getaway. Yes, he was only minutes away from walking away, but not now. Seductively, he stepped in closer until his lips touched her ear. “I would love to be your first. I’m waiting for a friend, and after we talk, you and I will find a secluded spot in the club, and I will make you my blood doll for the evening.” A whisper sounded between them. “Really?” Now it was his turn to chuckle. “Yes, darlin’, tonight your wish is my command.”
14
He studied Tanner as the excited smile stretched across her face. It amazed him how certain females wanted to be blood dolls, how they would let just anyone take their blood. He usually was extremely particular with his donors. Tainted blood was a serious threat, a danger he worked hard to stay away from. But there had been times when he had been less than careful in his practices. The current situation at hand would be one of those times. He usually tested the blood first, but tonight his hunger wouldn’t allow it, nor would the urgent need for pranic energy funneling deep in his gut.
He slid his hand into hers. “Let’s go find my friend.”
“Okay.”
She tightened her fingers around his as they moved across the floor toward the bar. Passing the VIP section, he observed a petite blonde standing at the supply table, her well-manicured eyebrows knitted together as she studied the merchandise. She quickly gathered up a lancet and alcohol wipe with her black-lace-gloved hand, then walked past Tanner and him toward a tall, dark-haired man dressed in full vampire regalia near the DJ booth. The made-up count’s black velvet cape hung to the floor. A scarlet-red satin lining peeked from underneath as the boy reached out and pulled the woman against him.
Role-players.
It continued to intrigue him how some people dressed to the extreme, even donning fake fangs for effect. Visions of San Francisco and New Orleans flashed through his mind then disappeared. Just as quickly, recall of specials broadcast on the History Channel and the Biography Channel about his kind fragmented in his thoughts. Very rarely did people who considered themselves the real deal dress in crazy costumes. The role-players chose props. Most of his kind preferred to keep their personal lives secret. Yeah, until recently.
“I’ve been looking all over for you.” A tall man with long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail handed Jordan a beer.
15
Jordan glanced at his friend as he grabbed the cold beer. “You found me, Jamison, but you were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago. Where’ve you been?”
“Stuck in traffic.” Jamison pinned his attention on Tanner. “And who do we have here?”
“Tanner, meet Jamison Rierson.” Jordan smirked. The incredulous look on Jamison’s face was loud and clear.
Tanner delicately shook Jamison’s hand. “Nice to meet you.” Jamison smiled and then turned his attention to the blonde girl standing with the role-playing vamp. Jamison shrugged a shoulder in what appeared to be a not-interested gesture. And then he gave a second look in the girl’s direction.
Jordan scanned the room for a table then cleared his throat, hoping to detract Jamison’s uninterested feeling from the blonde female.
She’s mine, too.
“Let’s grab that empty table.” Jordan pointed, and the threesome moved across the crowded floor, dodging bodies swaying to the music. The aroma of sweat, mixed with incense, permeated into every crevice of the room. Jordan’s abdomen muscles tightened. The intense mixture was the one smell that made him instantly sick to his stomach, not to mention the vanilla stench from earlier still caked on the inside of his nose.
As soon as they sat down, Tanner excused herself to the restroom.
Jamison’s gaze followed her until she disappeared from view.
“So?” Jamison took a swig of beer. “What’s with Tanner?”
“Virgin blood doll,” Jordan replied then added, “Don’t give me a lecture on safe blood practices. I’m well aware of them.”
“Then what are you doing?” Jamison arched a brow. “Seriously, what are you doing?”
