I felt my face relax into a large smile and I cleared my throat loudly. “Feeling the need for some metaphysical self-help?” I questioned innocently, still fighting my internal giggles.
Stefan looked up at me, his eyes twinkling. “I am happy that I amuse you.” His gaze moved appreciatively over me, not missing one inch of my body. “You look beautiful, Josephine. Mouth-watering.”
Stefan had changed into another pair of jeans and had paired them with a dark gray t-shirt that was as thin as tissue, the muscles of his chest outlined through the transparent material. A shiver moved down my spine as my eyes traced his torso longingly. I wanted to explore his chest with my hands and rip the shirt from him since I knew what was underneath. Shaking my head, I tried to clear my muddled thoughts and stomp down my growing, needy libido.
“Are you ready, Romeo?” I questioned as casually as I could manage, focusing on grabbing my purse and keys from the table. Stefan effortlessly unfolded himself from the couch and walked over join me by the door. He pulled me against the hardness of his body, his lips in my still-damp hair.
I felt him inhale slightly against me. Was he smelling me?! My body temperature rose when I realized that not only was he smelling me that I liked it. I knew it was time to change direction before dinner and our clothes became a distant memory.
“So, where are we going?” I asked curiously, pulling slightly away from him and tugging at his hand to follow me. We left the house and I stopped long enough for me to lock the door behind us.
“A restaurant called ‘Deus.’ I hear it has acceptable food.” Stefan wrinkled his nose again. I had to admit that was one of his more adorable facial expressions. A six-foot plus vampire wrinkling his nose was not anything I ever expected to see.
“And what are you going to do while I eat? Can you eat?” I asked as he opened the car door for me, patiently waiting to close it until I'd pulled my legs inside of the small, expensive car. I was amazed that someone his size could squeeze in a car this small. I heard the driver's side door close and I realized just how fast he could move. It took him less than two seconds to make it around the car and get inside. My face must have reflected my shock because he grinned smugly at me.
“I cannot eat food. I will send most of my time pushing food on my plate and enjoying your company. Do not worry about me. I plan on eating later, vackra.” His eyes burned into mine as the double meaning of his words sank in, causing me to squirm uncomfortably in my seat.
Reaching behind me for the seat belt, I clicked it into place. I tried to arrange my face into something that resembled a smirk, but I probably failed miserably. “I told you that you need to translate. I don't speak Swedish.”
He laughed loudly at my statement and started the car, the engine a quiet purr. “Soon, vackra. Until then, you will just have to wonder. Du är vacker när du är arg.”
I angrily crossed my arms under my chest. He was still laughing as he pulled out of my driveway onto the main road, heading into town.
***
We were sitting on the patio at Deus. It was nearly nine o'clock at night and the restaurant/bar was crowded with locals and tourists alike. It was artsy with surf boards and motorcycles on display throughout the building. I picked at my duck salad and greedily sucked down mojitos. Stefan moved chicken wontons around his plate while twisting his mouth in distaste, switching glasses with me when mine would empty, which was quite frequently.
“I think you're trying to get me drunk. Is that what you're trying to do?” I giggled as I downed my second drink, slamming the glass on the table. He smoothly switched drink glasses with me, so quickly that I almost didn't catch the movement of his hand.
“Explain what the purpose would be for me to do that, Josephine? We are already well acquainted and I have no need to try to get into your pants,” Stefan teased, his eyebrows waggling seductively. “In fact, there are numerous parts of you I would like to revisit.” He seemed to be distracted by watching me eat and drink, his eyes tracing over the curve of throat as I ate my dinner.
“Interesting. Care to share what places you'd like to revisit?” Biting my lip, I slipped my foot out of my shoe and slowly rubbed my foot up the inside of his leg. Stefan rested his elbows on the table and tented his fingers under his chin, grinning cockily. The alcohol was making me feel very bold and uninhibited. I was just getting ready to lean across the table when a tap on my shoulder interrupted my plans.
“Josie Anderson is out two nights in a row? Should I alert the media?”
Glancing up, I was stunned to see Anna and her companion of the evening standing at the edge of our table. I rose unsteadily to my feet and hugged Anna briefly, wondering why I hadn't been able to see this happening. This was at least the second time I'd been caught off guard by not having a mental vision to forewarn me. Anna patted me on the shoulder and pushed me back down in my chair, interrupting my inner thoughts. She flipped her dark brown curls over her shoulder, grabbing her date by the arm.
“Do you mind if we join you?” Anna asked, her brown eyes wide as she took in our table. I took a moment to focus on her date, noticing the similarities between Stefan and Mr. No Name that stood beside her.
He wasn't the kind of man Anna usually chose to date. She normally went for the blond surfer type, the kind of man that was all action and not much of a mental challenge. Her date tonight wasn't as tall or handsome as Stefan and looked to be a few years older, but he had the same iridescent quality to his ivory skin. His short hair was black and his ice blue eyes had a familiar sparkle to them.
Glancing across the table at Stefan, it was obvious by the look on his face that he knew the mystery man. A tiny smile lifted the corners of his lips and he winked at me.
“Please sit down. Josephine and I would love for you to join us. Lukas, it's good to see you,” Stefan said, motioning to our table. Anna took the seat next to me and Lukas sat down across from Anna, next to Stefan. I had no idea my night out was going to include watching ‘VampBook’ in action.
“My manners are shitty, Josie. This is Lukas Meijer. He came in to look at properties two weeks ago and we struck up a friendship. Yada yada yada, he stopped in today before I left work and asked me to dinner. So, Josie this is Lukas. Lukas, my good friend Josie Anderson that I told you about. And Lukas, it's obvious you know Josie's friend. ” Anna gave Lukas one of her patented death stares. I'd been on the receiving end of one of those looks once and I shivered involuntarily at the memory.
“Put that look away, bitch. It won't work on me,” Lukas lisped in a loud voice. My eyes widened in surprise as I realized that not only was this vampire not Anna's date, he was flamboyantly gay. Lukas grabbed menus from the server that been silently standing by, watching the whole display with wide eyes.
He handed one to Anna and looked at the server. “She'll have an Amaretto Sour. And make it a big one so Ms. Bitch here will untighten the knot in her panties,” Lukas paused for a dramatic effect. “And I'll have a Cosmopolitan.”
“Of course you'd have a Cosmo. You're gayer than a unicorn farting out a rainbow.” Anna rolled her eyes at Lukas. I felt another giggle escape from my lips as I looked across the table at Stefan in disbelief. His broad chest was shaking with silent laughter at Anna's cutting remarks. I was beginning to wonder if I was in some sort of Twilight Zone episode. I'm intimately involved with the sexy beast of a vampire seated across from me and now I'm in the presence of a vampire version of a much prettier Rupert Everett. Shaking my head in amused disbelief, I downed the rest of my third mojito in one swallow.
Anna shot Lukas another black look before opening her menu. “If I hadn't had to listen to you whine like a little bitch for the last hour and a half I wouldn't be in this mood, Lukas.”
Lukas cocked his head to the side and sniffed, busying himself in studying his menu. I put my chin in the palm of my hand that rested on the table, my eyes darting back and forth as they bickered. I swallowed another giggle, deciding it was time to enter the conversation.
“So how do you know Stefan, Lukas?” I asked him, watching as Stefan's smile disappeared and he sent Lukas a look of caution.
He shot Stefan a pointed look, then focused on me after he closed his menu and placed in on the table in front of him. “Stefan and I worked on a project together many years ago. We struck up a friendship and the rest is history.” He puckered his lips at Stefan. “I'm hurt that you didn't mention me to Josie. I thought we were better friends, Stefan.” Lukas made a production of pulling his napkin out and wiping a non-existent tear away from his eye.
Stefan sighed heavily and rubbed his hand over his face in response to Lukas' theatrics, leaving me to wonder if I was in the presence of the gayest man, or should I say vampire, in the world.
Anna didn't try to hide her very visible eye roll. “Lukas. Take it down 15 notches on the Drama Queen scale. I still need to be able to eat tonight.”
The server returned with their drinks and Stefan pointed to his empty drink glass, silently requesting another drink. I shook my head at Stefan, picking up my glass and taking a tiny sip.
Lukas and Anna ordered appetizers, and after the server left Anna turned to face me in her chair. She'd known me for quite some time and she had never known of me to even give the time of day to any man in Bali. Her curiosity and confusion was so strong that I had to slam my shield into place to block her.
“I see Georgia didn't have to kick Stefan's ass this morning. I'm assuming all hair was accounted for?” Anna asked snarkily, stirring her drink with the tiny straw and raising it to take a deep swallow.
“Yes. Georgia was overjoyed to see that Josephine was in good hands when she used her key and entered Josephine's villa this morning. Uninvited,” Stefan replied dryly. He stared at me intensely and I could feel the heat and lust rushing through that one burning look. My stomach did a flip flop as I thought of different ways to undress him later, uncomfortably crossing my legs under the table.
“That's Georgia. Accept it now, it'll be easier for you than fighting it,” Anna said as she finished her drink. She started looking around for the server to get a refill. “Lukas, I'm going to the bathroom. If our server comes around, get me another drink please.” She slid away from the table and disappeared inside the restaurant. Lukas waited for Anna to get out of hearing range and then turned to Stefan.
“So this is the mystery woman.” Lukas looked at me critically. He was quiet for a moment as he focused on me and turned his head from side to side, making me feel like I was under a microscope. I realized that this “dinner date” was no surprise by his comments and obvious scrutiny. “She's as stunning as you described she'd be. I'm assuming she knows.”
“Yes. She knows of what we are. She is extremely perceptive. And beautiful,” Stefan responded in a low voice, reaching across the table to take my hand. I shot Stefan a look filled with ire, a flush creeping across my cheeks. I hated being talked about as if I wasn't there, like I was a child that was incapable of keeping up with the conversation. Stefan raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised at my sudden irritation.
“Hello, I'm sitting right here! You don't have to talk about me like I'm not here!” I exclaimed loudly. Stefan's thumb rubbed a calming circle on the palm of the hand he was holding and Lukas observed my display with an excited giggle, his eyes twinkling.
“I like her. She passes,” Lukas said as he clasped his hands together. “Oh, Josie. I thought he'd never find you. I was starting to think he was crazy.”
Letting out a muffled laugh, my mouth twitched in response to Lukas' statement. Stefan was the crazy one?!? I'd witnessed more drama and craziness from Lukas in the last 30 minutes than I had all day.
The server approached with Anna's food and Stefan's drink and Lukas took the opportunity to place a new drink order for Anna. After the server left, he leaned around Stefan to pour half of his drink onto the patio. He picked up a few of the wontons gingerly with his fingers and placed them into his napkin, wadding it up and tossing it under the table. He placed one on his plate and then turned to Stefan again. It was apparent that I was getting a crash course in Vampire Eating 101.
“The Council will want to meet her,” Lukas advised simply as he turned his attention to me. “Has he explained the Council to you?”
Stefan's face darkened. “I have only known her for a day, Lukas. I mentioned the Council. There is no reason to scare her. Enough,” Stefan muttered, his handsome face becoming severe and frightening.
For the first time, he looked like a vampire to me.
Lukas bowed his head and sat back in his chair. I was scared about whatever this ‘Council’ was, but I was turned on by the sense of power that Stefan had over Lukas. Stefan's nostrils flared, smelling my arousal. I sighed and self-consciously pressed my legs together, wondering if I was the human equivalent of a plug-in for him.
Stefan must have read my thoughts because his face lightened and he chuckled quietly in response.
I looked up to see Anna approaching the table, the server behind her with her drink. “It's about fucking time. I was wondering what a girl had to do to get a refill,” Anna announced to the table. “And I see you started eating without me, Lukas. Don't you need to watch your girlish figure?”
Anna was one of those people that made you either laugh or cry with her biting sarcasm. She took no mercy on anyone.
“I'm sure it would be nothing you haven't already done. Sit your bitchy ass down and drink your drink,” Lukas retorted loudly, causing her to shoot Lukas another look. Vampires must be immune to Anna's death stare because Lukas simply rolled his eyes and pushed the drink closer to her.
Stefan and I stayed for another hour, mainly to laugh at Lukas and Anna. I soaked up Anna's happiness like a sponge. She was thrilled to have finally found her gay friend here in Bali. Lukas alternated between lamenting over his lack of love life and exchanging snarky barbs with Anna. Finally calling it a night, we paid the bill and made our way to our respective vehicles.
Anna pulled me into a hug. “Stop by the office. We can chat about sex on a stick over there.” She jerked her head towards Stefan as she whispered in my ear.
Hugging her back, I pulled away to give her a non-committal smile. “I'll do that.”
Stefan came up behind me and wrapped his long arms around my shoulders, resting his chin on the top of my head. I leaned back against him, enjoying his cool embrace.
“No you won't. But I still love you like a sister.”
I shrugged and smiled weakly. Anna knew me too well.
“Anna. It was a pleasant surprise seeing you again this evening. Lukas, be safe getting her home,” Stefan said, tugging me towards his Audi and opening the door for me. I waved goodbye to Anna as Stefan to slide into the driver’s seat. He started the car and headed down the road to my villa. We had barely been driving for a minute when I started asking questions.
“Explain why I would need to meet the Council?” I wasn't waiting for Stefan to explain this to me in a smooth, sugar coated version. I needed more information and I didn't want to wait for him to decide when he wanted to explain it to me.
“They know of you, of course. Other vampires have talents, Josephine. A telepathic vampire was able to see my vision of you many years ago,” Stefan murmured, his voice quiet. I silently scanned his face, illuminated by the interior lights on the dashboard. “You would be a powerful ally for us to have. You have the ability to see what I cannot, which is the future of humans.”
I swallowed back a gasp, a mixture of anger and fear making my blood run cold. I was going to be used to read the futures of humans for vampires? My stomach churned and I felt like I was going to vomit.
“Is this the real reason you found me? You and your ‘Council’ need me to read humans?” I spat, feeling my eyes fill with angry tears. Without thinking, I went into panic mode. I knew it was too good to be true. I'd been lied to once again. Stefan and his vampires would use me like a toy, only to be thrown away when my usefulness had run its course.
When I felt the car come to a stop and pull slightly off the road, my jaw was clenched in anger.
“It is nothing like that,” Stefan said, his voice strained. I ignored him and stared straight ahead, refusing to meet his eyes. “Josephine, please look at me.”
I turned my head slightly to look at him, my expression hard. Stefan's handsome face was pained, his eyes fearful. I felt my resolve soften slightly as I took in his appearance.
“You must believe me when I tell you that was never my intention. I have loved you for over two centuries. I never searched for you just to find you and use you,” Stefan hesitated for a moment, his voice thick with emotion. “Josephine, you have to believe me. What can I do to make you to trust me?”
Hot tears leaked from my eyes in earnest. I may not be able to read Stefan's emotions but I could see them as if they were written on his face. He was tense and worry flashed in his eyes. He was possibly more afraid than I was at the moment.
“Prove to me that you're telling me the truth and give me time to trust you,” I whispered in the darkness of the car.
Stefan smiled, the stress leaving his face. “I can do both. I have all the time in the world, vackra.”
The car began to move again and I let my head fall back against the head rest. I sighed softly when I felt his hand take mine, intertwining our fingers together.
A small smile broke across my face as he squeezed my hand gently. My heart skipped a beat as I my mind drifted back over the only part of our conversation that really mattered to me. He had said he had loved me for over 200 years.
He loved me.
Chapter 4
Stefan made the sharp turn into my driveway, his behavior filled with trepidation. The remainder of the trip home had been silent except for the sound of the wind blowing in through the open windows. He stopped the car and turned off the engine and made no attempt to move.
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