Tempted by a Vampire (Immortal Hearts of San Francisco Book 1)

by Susan Griscom

  She stopped dancing suddenly, and I worried that I had done something offensive.

  “Is everything all right?” I asked.

  “Yes…um, no. I should go home. Please, which way is the ladies’ room?”

  “I’m sorry. Of course, it’s this way,” I said, leading her to the restroom, fighting the temptation to compel her into staying with me. I didn’t want to force this lovely creature to do anything she didn’t want to do. I needed her whole and of sound mind, and so, I resolved myself to the knowledge that this seduction would take time. I’d need time to earn her trust. To get her to believe that I would never hurt her. “I’ll wait for you out here,” I assured her as I held the entrance open for her.

  She nodded, and the door closed. I exhaled the breath I’d unconsciously been holding as we’d walked through the club. My lungs now burning without her presence beside me, I didn’t understand the pressure in my chest as the sound of my immortal heart reverberated through my ears.

  A few minutes later, she emerged, more beautiful than before. Though I knew nothing had changed with her, only my perception of her.

  Her infectious smile rendered me lightheaded. I took her hand in mine once again, but now that didn’t seem nearly enough as the beat of her pulse soared through my mind, urging, teasing. An uncontrollable need had me pinning her up against the wall. I positioned my body up against hers, pressing myself against her, holding her still. She didn’t resist. I didn’t compel her to acquiesce. The last thing I wanted was for her desire for me to be forced. I wanted her to be with me because she wanted to be. But that idiot, so-called slimeball of a boyfriend she kept feeling guilty about—if the look on her face were any indication—continued to invade her mind, giving her doubts about what she was doing with me.

  “Magdalena, you’re so beautiful. Do you know that?” I whispered against her ear, feeling the tug of her pulse as my lips skimmed down the side of her neck, the vein that I desperately wanted to taste calling to me. Just taste. I would never hurt her, but she was so intoxicating.

  “I should go,” she breathed into my neck as I pressed my lips gently against her vein.

  “If you must,” I mumbled, not in the least believing my own words.

  “You’re difficult to walk away from,” she breathed.

  “I think I like hearing you say that.”

  “Unfortunately…”

  “You have a slimeball of a boyfriend who cheats on you, and you feel the need to be loyal to him,” I said in a rather cynical tone. I instantly regretted it.

  She sighed. “He only cheated once.”

  “Once was not enough?” I asked, unable to lessen the amazement in my voice. How was it possible for a beautiful woman to put up with someone so disloyal?

  She sighed again.

  “You do that a lot.”

  “What?”

  “Sigh.”

  She did it again and laughed.

  “See?”

  “I guess I do that when I’m frustrated.”

  “So, I frustrate you?”

  “You might say that.”

  “I’m not going to pretend that I’m not interested in getting to know you better. I think, if you stay, you’ll learn that I might have more to offer than that boyfriend of yours.” As difficult as it was, I’d been trying very hard not to read her thoughts. For some reason, invading that part of her, when I felt it was perfectly acceptable for me to do it with anyone else, seemed wrong.

  “Is that so?” Her eyelashes fluttered open as she looked up at me, revealing her beautiful blue eyes full of…desire?

  “Yes.”

  “You certainly are sure of yourself.”

  “I have nothing to lose, Maggie.”

  “Now it’s Maggie?”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Well, I was just getting used to the way my real name sounds when you say it.”

  “Ah. Well, then, I will try to make a conscious effort to call you Magdalena.”

  “You are a temptation.”

  “Whatever it takes, Mags.”

  “Now you’re just being mean.” She laughed. “Your charm, or your lack of charm, whichever one you use, isn’t going to make me stay.”

  “Do you want to leave?”

  “Not really. But I need to.”

  I pressed my lips briefly against hers, just to see what would happen. As I guessed, she didn’t resist. “You do have a choice, Magdalena. Come.” I took her hand in mine. “One more dance, then you can leave. And even though you’ll be breaking my heart, I’ll even pay for your cab home.”

  She followed me to the dance floor, and I took her in my arms. As I held her close, inhaling her intoxicating smell, she whispered in my ear. “Cian, I wish I could stay. I really do.”

  “Shhh. No talk of leaving. Let’s just enjoy the moment we have together.”

  When the song ended, I took Magdalena’s hand and walked her through the hallway that led to the outside. It was dark and I couldn’t resist one last shot at exploring her luscious body. I stopped and turned her to face me. I stepped closer, pinning her gently against the wall, and covered her lips with mine. This kiss was much different than the brief skimming I’d allowed myself earlier.

  This kiss held all the allure I wanted her to feel, along with the promise of what could be if she only allowed herself the pleasure.

  The cleavage protruding from the top of her dress left me weak in the knees, and my lips found their way to that spot as if they’d been possessed. I kissed the tops of her breasts, and she kissed my neck right below my ear. My fingers ached to touch the skin beneath her silver dress, and I moved to do just that. I found her thigh soft and silky. Almost as silky as the material she wore. My fingers inched up her thigh, massaging gently. I waited for her to stop me. I could have compelled her to let me do whatever I wanted to, but this woman was different. I wanted her to want it. To want me. When she didn’t stop me, I skimmed my forefinger along the edge of her panties and slipped it between her thighs, finding her oh so gloriously wet. My gods, she was stunningly beautiful.

  My cock stiffened, a prisoner locked behind a zipper of steel.

  “Cian,” she breathed against my neck, and I silenced her with my mouth, exploring every inch of hers, tasting, taking what she seemed so willing to give me as my finger teased the soft skin of her thigh just outside of her very wet undergarment. “I need to go.” The dreaded words flowed from her swollen lips like poison to my soul, and I had to fight the too-easy urge to compel her to stay.

  Chapter Six

  Magdalena

  The loud sound of birds chirping, as well as the sun beaming in through my new bedroom window, had me pulling my pillow over my head, begging for just a few more minutes of sleep. Coming in at three in the morning had left me a bit drained. Normally, I would have welcomed the sweet chirps and the thought of another new day, especially now that I didn’t have to worry about test scores and whether or not I had enough units to graduate. Landing this job with the network was a godsend, and one that I would not take for granted.

  I rolled over, removing the pillow from my head. The birds had quieted down, and with the sun now behind my back, I slowly opened my eyes and stared at the bare wall across from my bed. My new bed, my new wall, my new room. My first morning in our new apartment. I briefly squeezed my eyes shut, remembering the club last night. Cian. I had almost given in to him. I had almost cheated on Kellen. God, how could I? Could I be that easily swayed by the wiles of another man just because he was gorgeous? There was something about Cian, though. The lure had been so strong. I’d never been tempted by a man that way before. Of course, I’d never put myself in a position to be tempted like that. Not until last night.

  When Cian had led me into the hallway last night after dancing so close together, I’d felt as if I’d lost all sense of right and wrong. By all rights, Faithfully by Journey should have made me want and miss Kellen. But in the heat of the moment, I’d wanted Cian and everything he had to offe
r. I had no clue what that could be, except pleasure. The strong temptation overwhelmed me. When his lips had been on my neck, I’d wanted to put mine on his. I’d wanted his mouth on mine. I’d so wanted to taste the sweetness of what I thought his tongue would deliver. Experiencing the tenderness of his touch on my skin had almost left me helpless as his fingers skimmed along my waist. His breath against my neck was intoxicating. Where had he been all my life? The two years I’d spent with Kellen now seemed wasted. Did I love Kellen? I had at one time. I must love Kellen, or I wouldn’t have stopped Cian when I had. Cian made me feel special, as if I were the only woman he ever wanted to be with. I fought hard to think of a moment in our relationship when Kellen had made me feel that way. My mind went blank. I couldn’t think of a single moment in the entire two years we’d been together where I’d felt like I was the only woman Kellen wanted. I knew he had wandering eyes, and he’d had that one-night stand with that woman. But he’d sworn after that that he’d never mess around again, saying it had only been that once, and he’d just been so lonely without me. He’d said he loved me, and I believed him.

  Thinking about Kellen made me a bit homesick for him. I reached for my phone on my nightstand. The time on the screen read 10:58 a.m. Wow. I’d slept late. I wondered if Vanessa was up. Oh, God. Had she even come home? I’d let Cian put me in a cab after trying to coax Vanessa out of the club, but she’d been having so much fun with Tanner that she didn’t want to leave, and Tanner had promised to bring her home. Cian had assured me that she would be fine with Tanner.

  I threw off my heavy coverlet and hurried to Vanessa’s room, curious to see if she was there. Hoping she was, her door slightly ajar, I peeked into her room. I let out a sigh of relief, squelching all the horrible thoughts of her lying dead in a ditch somewhere. There she was, on her side, her pink, silk sheets tucked up to her chin and fisted in her hands as she slept snuggled with them. She looked so sweet and innocent. Though, I knew better.

  Vanessa always wanted something, or in this case someone, she couldn’t have. At least not at that very moment. She’d had the full attention of a very nice guy, but last night, she hadn’t been after nice. I knew she’d had her eyes set on Lane. Lane was everything Vanessa usually fell for. He had that rock star, bad boy persona, and I knew she’d practically been foaming at the mouth to mesh her lips with his. Though Tanner was a great looking guy and all, I knew she’d wanted to hang around to see if Lane would return from whatever obligation Cian had said he had. That had been a strange way to put things. Clearly the guy had been preoccupied, was possibly in a relationship, but to call it an “obligation” didn’t sound like a normal or willing type of commitment. Since Vanessa had come home, Lane must not have returned.

  Speaking of commitments, I thought I’d better give Kellen a call. I went back to my room, hopped back into bed, and scrunched the covers up to my chest. San Francisco mornings were a bit nippy. Something I hoped to get used to. I snatched my phone off the nightstand. After scrolling through my contacts and finding the adorable picture of him wearing his Giant’s cap, I tapped on his number. He answered on the third ring.

  “Hello?” a female voice crooned into the phone.

  I sat up, stunned silent.

  “Hello?” she said again, and I heard her sigh in annoyance. “If you’re looking for Kellen, he’s in the shower.”

  Quickly pressing the disconnect button, I stared at my phone, not quite comprehending what had just happened.

  I rubbed my hand over my face and stared at my phone again. Kellen’s cool, adorable picture stared back at me. Mocking. Kellen was cheating on me. Again.

  I hadn’t even been gone for a full twenty-four hours, and he already had some…some bimbo answering his phone.

  “What’s up?” A groggy Vanessa yawned and slipped under the covers beside me. “Man, it is freezing. Maybe we should turn the heater on.”

  “I’m not cold, at least not anymore,” I grumbled.

  “No?” She tipped the phone in my hands toward her. “Kellen making you hot?”

  “Yeah, but not in a good way. Some woman just answered his phone.”

  “Fuck! What a creep,” she groaned and slid almost completely under the covers so that the only parts of her that showed were her eyes and forehead. Then she turned toward me and lowered the blanket a bit to reveal her mouth. “See? Kellen is a slimeball, just like I said. Mags, you’re too good for him. Kellen has never treated you like a boyfriend is supposed to treat his lady. Boyfriends are supposed to respect you, bring you flowers, worship you, and show you how much they enjoy being with you by the way they treat you and talk to you. Kellen has never done any of those things.”

  It was hard hearing that from Vanessa. I wanted to cry, but I couldn’t. The more I thought about it, Kellen always did seem to go out of his way to make everything about him and not me.

  There was a part of me that wanted a relationship with Kellen, but another that knew he’d never been right for me. And I had to think that maybe I was more in love with the idea of a relationship than I was with Kellen.

  “I know. It’s over.” There I’d said it, weakly, but at least it was out. Except I felt a bit like a failure to all women for allowing Kellen to manipulate me for the past two years.

  “You met someone last night who seemed to be totally into you and he did do most of those things I mentioned. Already. I saw it. Kellen has never acted like Cian did last night. Never. You know I’m right.”

  I bit my bottom lip and sniffed in the non-existent tear that I’d tried so hard to conjure. If I cared so much for Kellen, why couldn’t I shed a single tear for him? I was mad as hell, but not sad. Sorry I’d wasted two years of my life, but not upset it was over. “You know what?” I asked.

  “What?”

  “I think I feel a bit of relief that it’s over. I’m glad he cheated on me. Now I don’t need to feel guilty about pursuing my own dreams.” To think I’d given up an opportunity to get to know Cian last night, worrying about Kellen, when he was cheating on me anyway. Yeah, I was more than a bit relieved. I was beyond relieved. I was pissed. I could hardly wait to tell him it was over.

  “That-a-girl,” Vanessa reassured, patting me on the back. “Look out San Francisco, the bitches are here!” she shouted and pumped her fist in the air. I lifted mine to match hers, and we laughed. “We should go back to that club tonight. Maybe Lane and Cian will be there even though they won’t be performing? Which would be even better since they could spend more time with us.”

  “I can’t tonight. I have a meeting first thing Monday morning, and I really need to get my shit together so I can prepare for it.”

  “Ah, yes. First day jitters. I can completely relate. I have a few of those myself. You’re right. I guess we’ll just have to wait until next Saturday, then.”

  “Sounds like a plan. But weren’t you hitting it off with that guy, Tanner?”

  “Ah, my dear, sweet Magdalena. You should know me by now. Must I teach you the ways of the single woman all over again?”

  I laughed. “Possibly.”

  “Repeat after me. ‘Variety is the essence of true happiness.’”

  I was beginning to believe her. Kellen must have found true happiness because it was clear to me that monogamy was not in his current repertoire of good relationship practices.

  Putting my thoughts of Kellen and our wrecked relationship aside, I spent the entire morning organizing my room. Just as I placed the last picture of my parents on my dresser, the doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it!” Vanessa called out from the living room. “Oh, my. Thank you very much,” she said to whoever was at the door.

  At that pleasant reception, I strolled into the living room to see her standing there holding a vase filled with a dozen long-stemmed roses. There was one red rose surrounded by eleven white ones.

  “Wow, those are beautiful. Are they from Tanner?”

  She looked at the name on the envelope. “Nope. They’re for you,” she said,
holding them out for me to take.

  “For me? Are you sure?”

  “I do know how to read, silly. It clearly says, ‘Magdalena De le Rosa.’”

  “Magdalena? Nobody calls me tha—”

  “Except Cian,” she interrupted with a grin that rivaled the Cheshire cat’s.

  I placed the flowers on the table, and Vanessa plucked the card from the plastic holder it had been secured to. “Here. Open it.”

  I glanced at her, then at the card. I carefully took the envelope from her, opened the sealed flap that had my name on it, and removed the card.

  “Well, what does it say?”

  I glanced at Vanessa and then back at the card.

  “My beautiful Magdalena,

  A rose for a rose, if you will pardon the cliché. But there is no other than the delicate petals of a rose that could ever compare to your rare beauty. Like the red rose in this bouquet, surrounded by all the white flowers, your beauty stands out, while all others pale in your presence.

  Please be my guest this Friday evening for dinner. I’ll send a car for you at seven o’clock.

  Yours,

  Cian DeMarco”

  I swallowed to try and quench the dry spot in the back of my throat. “Did you give him our address?”

  “No. I didn’t even give it to Tanner. I took a cab home.”

  “I never gave Cian my last name either. So, how do you suppose he knew where I lived?”

  She shrugged. “He is resourceful, that’s for sure. You are going, right?” she asked as she cleared the rectangular glass coffee table of all debris, leaving the flowers sitting in the middle of it. They did look beautiful.

  “I don’t know. I’m worried about Kellen.”

  “Who cares about Kellen? I thought you broke up with him.”

  “I haven’t officially broken up with him, yet. I’m planning to, but what if that woman who answered the phone was just a co-worker. She could have been there with friends and they were all waiting for him to get ready for all I know.” There had to be a good explanation for that woman answering his phone.