Her Beating Hart

by J. L. Ostle

  Caspian seems the type that he doesn’t open up much, so I want to enjoy talking with him as much as I can. I am drawn to his words, what he has to say.

  “Yeah, that looked like a fun century. Too bad I was born in the nineteen-hundreds,” he chuckles.

  “What were you like as a human?”

  “Honestly?”

  “Always.” I turn my body to face him.

  He looks at me, looking into my eyes before looking ahead of him. “I was shy.”

  I giggle. “I can sense that.”

  He chuckles. “I liked to keep to myself; I was such a momma’s boy.”

  “You must have had the pick of ladies though.”

  He shakes his head. “No, women didn’t look my way since we didn’t have much money. I worked hard, but women were never on my radar.”

  “Why did you change? How did you turn into a vampire?”

  He looks at me. His mouth opens when Zeke sits next to us, handing us each a bottle of beer. “I think your friend is getting angry with Rush; you probably want to save her.” I look over at Emz, and Rush is pressing his body against her, saying something to her.

  I completely forgot about her. I am such a shitty friend. I was so engrossed with Caspian and hearing the things in his life, I left my best friend to fend for herself.

  “I swear that boy is going to get a slap.” I stand up. “Talk later?” I ask Caspian, but it seems like he’s closed himself off again; he just shrugs. I walk over to Emz, wearing a look of relief when she spots me. “Rush, back off.”

  “What? We were just talking.”

  “He is trying to get dirt on you. Wanted to know where we grew up, about our parents, friends, boyfriends. He thought he was being clever and charming, but he failed,” Emz confesses.

  “You really know how to put a damper on things.” He downs the rest of his beer.

  “Like I would cough up information because you say a few sweet nothings. Yeah, you’re hot, but Ivory is my best friend.”

  “Rush, leave my friend alone. Go and find yourself a floozy. Try and use your charm on her without any vampire powers. Do you have the ability to get a girl on your own merits?”

  He stands in front of me, his body pressed against mine. “Trust me; I can get a woman without using any help. I know what a woman wants,” he says so smoothly that his voice feels like a blanket over me.

  “Oh really?” I murmur softly.

  “Yes.” He leans in, his mouth near my ear. “I know where to touch, where to lick, where to bite.” I then feel his fanged tooth scrape along my neck. “I bet you would taste so sweet, and I do not mean your blood.” His words send shocks between my legs. “If you ever want to play, you know where to find me.” He then steps back, and my body is vibrating with electric currents.

  He winks at me before walking away, and my body feels like it weighs a ton.

  “Holy crap girl, that looked hot. What was he saying?”

  How can I even repeat what he said? “He was using his clever words to tell me how he can please a woman.”

  “It seemed like you were enjoying it. You were pressed right up against him like a cat in heat.”

  “No, he was pressed against me,” I argue defensively.

  “At first, then he started slowly moving back, and you followed him.” We look at where Rush went. “You are stuck with them for two months. Are you going to be on the same bus they are?”

  “No, like hell I would be on the same bus with them. I would go mad. I need my space and knowing Rush, I wouldn’t be able to sleep with him around.” I know he couldn’t hurt me, but it doesn’t mean he wouldn’t leave my personal space alone.

  “But the positive would be seeing them half-naked, or even fully naked if you were on their bus. I swear if any one of them is ever shirtless, film it. Snapchat it. Get evidence okay.”

  “You know I won’t do that. I am sure I could get fired for that type of thing.” I laugh at her.

  “That sucks.”

  “What sucks?” Slate interrupts. I jump at him coming out of nowhere. “You should be careful when you say that word.” He laughs. “What are you girls talking about?”

  I blush. “Just girl stuff.”

  “Us then.” He laughs. “Trust me; after a few days being with us, you will think we are like any other guy. We are slobs, pigs, whatever word you want to use.”

  “Great,” I say sarcastically.

  “Are you a tidy person?” he asks me.

  “I am; I like things in their place. I’m not a neat freak, but I couldn’t live where clothes are all over the floor and bed and you can’t tell what’s clean or dirty.”

  “That’s the joy of it, the surprise if what you picked up is clean or not. It’s like a game.”

  “You’re gross,” I laugh.

  “You’ll get used to it. Come on, let’s go dance.” He grabs hold of my hand, and I quickly take hold of Emz’s hand dragging her along with me. If I’m going to dance, she is coming with me.

  “Ivory,” she whines.

  “If I’m going down, you are going down with me.” I stick my tongue out at her.

  We are on the VIP dance floor; it’s hardly crowded. “If you want to request a song, go ask, they normally play it straight away,” Slate tells me.

  I smile, heading to the DJ box and requesting a song that will get me jumping around. The DJ tells me that my song will be next.

  “What song did you pick?” Emz asks.

  “You will see.”

  The song ends and mine comes up, and Emz shrieks with joy. I am hoping the band will appreciate it as it’s their style, rock-pop. Andrew W.K. “Party Hard” is a song you have to dance to.

  It’s not normally my cup of tea, but it’s so catchy.

  Emz and I know most of the words so when the guy starts singing, we sing along. When the chorus comes on, we shake our hair, moving our hips to the beat. I look at Slate, and he is watching us in shock before he starts to join us.

  Zeke and Caspian soon join in; we all sing the words, the guys moshing during the chorus, playing with invisible guitars and drums. At certain parts of the song, you have to fist the air, and we all do it in sync. I am smiling so big, moving my body to the music; when the song ends, I wish it hadn’t. It was so much fun.

  “Who knew our girl here could dance like this?” Zeke exclaims, and it’s strange to explain, but hearing the word ‘our girl’ makes me warm, but I shake the thought away.

  “Okay, I’m going to request a song.” Emz jumps up heads to the DJ box.

  “Oh no.” I know she is going to put on something really poppy.

  “She not have good taste?” Zeke asks, looking at Emz.

  “She has very girly taste,” I reply.

  Soon, Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend” starts, and the guys start to walk off the dance floor, but I block their path, singing along to the words, pushing them back. I sing along, acting like I’m acting out the words.

  The guys just stand there, Emz and I dance around them, singing to the words. I like anything that’s catchy, but I can’t believe Emz put on a song like this, knowing the guys wouldn’t dance to it.

  Emz and I soon stand side by side, singing the words, doing a choreographed little dance. Smiling, I look over at Rush, and he is leaning against a railing near the dance floor, watching me. I look away, continuing singing along and shaking my ass.

  The song ends, and the guys looked relieved. “You are never allowed to pick songs again,” Caspian tells Emz.

  “In the words of Slate: you will get used to me and my taste in music.” She starts singing the song again even though a different one is now on.

  “Please, make her stop.” Zeke covers his ears dramatically.

  “Let’s go get a cocktail.” I link my arm to a pouting Emz. “Don’t listen to them. You know I love those songs too. They are just too masculine to appreciate a good girly song.” I make sure they can hear me.

  “Damn straight, we are masculine. We are al
l man,” Zeke shouts out. We turn, and he and Slate are flexing their arms. I roll my eyes and head to the bar.

  Chapter Four

  Ivory

  I order our drinks, and after taking a sip, I know I need the bathroom. “Can you look after my drink and the guys, make sure they behave as I use the little girl's room.”

  “You know you can say girl’s room.” She laughs.

  “Girl’s room sounds weird,” I giggle, and she bursts out laughing.

  I look for the restroom signs and head that way. I look behind me, making sure everyone is behaving themselves. I walk in the women’s room and do my business.

  I wash my hands, looking at my reflection in the mirror, and I sigh to myself. I look tired. I guess I need to start changing my body clock and sleep during the day if I want to make sure I don’t look like a zombie.

  I am looking at my eyes when I feel a shiver, and I know someone is behind me. No one appears in the mirror except me, but I know someone else is here.

  “You do know this is a girl’s bathroom, right?” I say, not turning around. I continue to look in the mirror and feel a body press against my back.

  “You should speak to the owner; the mirrors aren’t vampire friendly.” Rush’s voice gives me goosebumps.

  I turn around, his face close to me, his eyes piercing mine. “What are you doing in here?” I try to sound stern.

  He bends his head down a little more; I move back a little, but the counter stops me from moving very far, and he just comes closer. “I wanted to make sure nothing happens to you.” I know that’s just an excuse.

  “I am a big girl; you don’t need to worry about me.” My voice is a little breathy.

  “You are going to be working with us, being at our beck and call; I need to make sure that nothing bad happens to you.” Hearing him say beck and call it makes it sound like I am his groupie who he can have whenever he clicks his fingers.

  I press my hands on his chest. It is like stone. I push him, even though he doesn’t budge. “Move it,” I demand.

  “Did I offend you, petal?” He moves in even closer; if he could breathe I am sure I would feel his breath on my lips.

  “Move.” But my body doesn’t match my words.

  “Have you ever kissed a vampire?” he asks.

  “No, I haven’t. The vampires I meet end up being assholes.” I raise my eyebrow at him, indicating he is in that group.

  “But you are attracted to me,” he says confidently. I open my mouth to protest, but his fingers cover my mouth stopping me. His fingers linger over my lips, his eyes following his movements. “I can hear your heartbeat, it’s beating so fast.” His eyes move back to mine. “If I kissed you, would your gift push me away?” he asks so softly that my legs almost buckle underneath me. “You are letting me touch you, you let me kiss your cheek before.”

  I have never kissed a vampire; I don’t know if he would be blown away from me if he tried.

  “I don’t think you should risk it; besides, I don’t mix business with pleasure.” His eyes darken hearing me say the word pleasure. I am fascinated by it. My eyes stay focused on his now black eyes. “Do your eyes always turn black when you drink blood? And when you’re turned on?” I ask boldly.

  “I guess they do.” I raise my hand to his face, touching around his eyes. He just watches me.

  My hand glides down to his chest to where his heart should be; I feel nothing. No heartbeat, nothing. “No heart, but you can feel. Do you remember being human?”

  “I have my memories, but I have long forgotten what it’s like to have a heart beating in my chest.” His hand covers mine, and I look up at him. “Being around you though, it makes me feel more human.” I am shocked by that.

  “Good thing that you haven’t scared me off quite yet.” I smile at him, but he doesn’t return it; he just continues looking at me.

  “Your heart is still beating fast.” I pull my hand back, pressing it against my chest, feeling my own heartbeat against my palm. He soon places his hand over mine again. “It is such a beautiful sound.”

  “I think we need to get back.” My lips are dry, so I lick them, and his eyes focus on my mouth. He lowers his head, his mouth closer to mine. I hold my breath; I can’t seem to move.

  His lips press against mine. He pauses, both of us waiting for him to be magically pushed away. But nothing happens. He starts to move his lips, and I follow. The kiss is soft, slow and gentle. My eyes close, my body heating up. When I realize what I’m doing, I break the kiss, pushing him a little so I can step around him.

  “That shouldn’t have happened,” I tell him, my breathing coming a little faster.

  “But you wanted it to; you let me in.”

  “It was a mistake on my part.” His eyes are still dark, but they soon turn a little angry and then they are back to normal.

  “Yeah, a mistake.” He walks past me, walking out the door, the door slamming behind him.

  Holy crap what was that? I just kissed a vampire, not any vampire, a vampire I will be working very closely with for the next couple of months. I’ve only been on this job for a couple of hours, and I’m already kissing my employers.

  Shit.

  I compose myself before leaving, and I walk back to Emz. When she sees me, she studies me. “Something happened; you’re all flushed.” She eyes me up and down.

  “I kind of let Rush kiss me,” I tell her. Her eyes almost pop open. I am not going to hide this from her; she is my best friend, and I need her to tell me when I’m being stupid.

  “You lucky bitch, I’m so jealous.” Okay, that wasn’t the response I was expecting.

  “Emz, I just kissed the lead singer of Beaten Hart.” I say each word slowly.

  “Stop rubbing it in my face; was it good? Oh, wait how did that happen? I thought if a supernatural being got too close to you, they get zapped away?”

  “That’s what I thought, but I guess if my body and mind allow it, they can touch me intimately.”

  “Holy crap, so if you wanted to sleep with Rush, you could?”

  “I am not going to sleep with him, but least I know if I ever did want to sleep with a vampire, I could. But I won’t.”

  “You didn’t answer the first question: was he a good kisser?” I think of his lips on mine; I swear if I wasn’t working with them, I wouldn’t have stopped it.

  “It was good; he is good. But it can’t happen again, and I have told him that too.” Emz looks behind me, and I turn, seeing what she’s looking at and I spot Rush, sitting on a black couch with a girl either side of him. However, his eyes are on me. “Looks like he is happy to move on.” I shake my head.

  “Don’t vampires have very good hearing?” she asks me, and my eyes pop open. I remember when we were doing research on vampires; it said that they have super hearing. Did Rush hear everything I just said? Had the band?

  I look at Rush, and his eyes are still on me. “Rush, can you hear me?” He smirks at me and nods. I feel my face turning red. I turn back to Emz and groan. “Fuck my life! He heard everything I said. Oh my god this job is going to kill my sanity,” I complain. I turn to the other band members, and they all look from Rush to me. When they see me looking at them, they look away as if they weren’t staring.

  Great, just great.

  “You all suck, you know that,” I mutter, knowing they all can hear me.

  “You really need to stop saying suck when you are around vampires, petal,” Zeke says, putting his arm around my shoulder. “So Rush kissed you, knew it wouldn’t take him that long to try his luck,” he says.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Rush uses all that bad boy exterior to keep people at arms lengths. You, my sweet flower, have made him rethink himself. You are different, which means you fascinate him. Plus, you’re hot; even a cold-blooded man can see how gorgeous and warm you are.” He winks at me before walking over to Slate.

  “You kissed the lead singer and got a huge massive compliment from the drummer. I would lo
ve to be in your shoes for the next two months. You better fill me in if you kiss Rush, or any other band member, again.”

  “I won’t be kissing anyone. I am going to stay professional,” I tell her.

  “If you say so,” she sing songs.

  Zeke

  Of course, Rush wasn’t going to be able to keep his hands to himself for long; I knew he would find and opportunity, and it looks like he did. I am surprised that he didn’t get blown away like he did at the meet and greet room.

  I’ve never seen anything so funny, but seeing her stand up for herself, not taking the shit he throws on people, it made me respect her. I might be a vampire, but that girl does warm me.

  I love seeing her strong side, but I also love seeing her shy embarrassed side.

  It makes her even more human.

  It’s rare I hang with a human, only because I know that they eventually leave and soon pass away. I try not to get attached to anyone; I have dealt with enough pain over the years that I try and not feel it again.

  Watching Ivory dance with her friend, her hips moving to the beat, her hands in her hair, she is so beautiful, and I know that she doesn’t really see it.

  Rush comes over and stands by my side. “Was the kiss worth it?” I ask him, but I know the answer already.

  “Yeah, it was, just disappointed it stopped.” He crosses his arms, his eyes on her.

  “You do know you probably scared her off; she isn’t like the girls who throw themselves at us. She has self-respect for herself,” I tell him.

  “I know that, but I know she likes me. Her heart was beating like crazy; it was the hottest thing ever, seeing her cheeks and chest turn pink, knowing her blood was warming up. I swear my cock jumped.”

  “She is here to protect the innocent around us,”

  “I know, but why did Finn want us to act like we didn’t know who she was? Giving her title as a personal assistant?”

  I shrug. “I guess he wanted to see how she would handle herself. We didn’t know what gift she had. Now, that was interesting to find out, and see how she used it on you and against Courtney.” I laugh.