Shadows and Stars

by Becca Fanning

  “I thought you were going with her?”

  “Why would I do that? Everything I want is right here.” He grinned and picked up his drink.

  ELEVEN

  PENNY SANK INTO HER CHAIR, her hands trembling. She twisted her fingers together. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

  “Do what?”

  “What Gerald wants. I can’t pair people up. I can’t match them the way he wants, and I can’t spend the rest of my life with Neville.” She took a deep breath and looked up to find Vincent in front of her. He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear before reaching for her hand and drawing her to her feet.

  “I couldn’t live with you like that, either. What a stupid little man he was. Talking about going to Gerald—to say what?”

  It didn’t matter. If Neville went to Gerald with any complaints at all, he’d surely find a way to punish her for whatever he decided her transgressions were, anyway. She sucked in a shaky breath. “What am I going to do?”

  “I don’t know.” He tilted his head to one side as he studied her, narrowing his eyes in thought. “How about this?” He rested his forefinger under her chin and tilted her head up as his lips met hers.

  At his touch, desire pooled in her, and she melted into him. As his tongue swept across her lips, she opened her mouth and allowed him in, then she wrapped her arms around his waist as he let out a small sigh. As his kisses grew more urgent, she slid her hands under his jacket, running them over his chest until she brushed against one of his shirt buttons. She toyed with it for a moment before slipping it free, then moved down to the next.

  Vincent cupped her bottom, bunching the fabric of her dress in his hands, then he kissed down her neck, trailing his lips across her collarbone and the tops of her breasts. He darted his tongue out, and she shivered. Her breathing sped up, and she sighed as he slipped the delicate straps of her dress down her arms. As he exposed her left breast, baring her nipple, he smoothed his palm over it until it formed a hard peak before taking it into his mouth. She groaned and pushed against him, winding her arm around the back of his head and hooking her fingers into his hair. Anticipation buzzed through her, and she shivered.

  He pulled back. “Are you cold? Am I making you cold? Am I too cold?”

  At his stricken face, she giggled. “Never too cold. You’re making me hot.”

  He swept the place settings from the table and sat her on the edge, then reached to find the zip at her back. He drew it down tooth by tooth as she ran her fingers over his shoulders, pushing his jacket back until he finally shrugged it off. It wasn’t enough. She attacked the rest of his buttons, unfastening some, twisting others off, until she touched his skin, and electricity skittered through her.

  “Are you sure we should…?” His voice rumbled against the base of her neck.

  “No.” She released the word on a whisper, fighting against every reason not to let him love her, to love him, while still clinging to him with a surge of strength she didn’t know she possessed.

  He looked up, desire warring with frustration in his gaze.

  “But I want you.” The words spilled from her lips as she gave up on reason.

  He gasped and kissed her again. “You’ll only ever be mine.” He delivered his part warning, part promise between kisses, and she held him tighter.

  “I already am,” she whispered, and the truth filled her, freeing her, scaring her.

  She sat, skirt and bodice both around her waist, wanton with lust, and pushed her hand down between them. Vincent rocked against her palm until she caressed the length of him. She unfastened his trousers as his fingers trailed across the inside of her thigh, then moved against him, mimicking his motions until they both panted in unison. Desire drove her, and she pushed his hand towards her core, groaning when his fingers finally brushed against her. As he pushed past the flimsy barrier of her underwear, she used her other hand to guide his face back to hers and took his mouth, sliding her tongue between his lips, licking and sucking the delicate skin of his lips.

  He turned his head. “I want you too much.”

  “Never.” She arched her back, pressing herself further into his hand, feeling the invasion of his finger at her entrance.

  He buried his face into her hair, and she turned him to look at her. “Let me see you.” She pushed his trousers down the backs of his legs and took him into her hand.

  “I can’t.” His voice was thick, and he shook his head again. “It’s too much.”

  Tilting his head so she could meet his gaze, she drew in a breath. His fangs were long with want, and his eyes verged on wild. Her excitement increased as a flood of need rushed to pool between her legs. She urged him towards her as she drew his head to her neck. She yielded to him completely.

  “I’m a vegan. I don’t…” His pitiful whisper barely reached her ears.

  “You’re my vampire. And you can.” She closed the distance between them, stiffening as he filled her and flinching as he pierced her skin.

  He held her head with one hand, his other between their bodies, stroking her, toying with her passion until she moaned. He thrust into her and drew from her vein, and sensations overwhelmed her. She spun out of control, winding tighter and tighter until she reached release and floated free.

  Vincent froze before pulling his mouth from her neck and grinding out a guttural groan of finish. Her legs twined themselves around his waist, holding him to her as he flicked gentle laps over her puncture wounds, healing them, sealing their love.

  “You’re incredible.” He smiled at her as he nudged teasing thrusts inside her, setting off a fluttering spasm with each one.

  “Stop it.” She choked on a gasp as he continued to stoke the fire.

  “I could do it again and again.” He rained kisses on her face.

  She snuggled up to him, closing her eyes. “So could I.” A shiver trailed down her back.

  “Hot still?” He chuckled.

  “A bit chilly…and maybe a bit scared.”

  “Of me? I’d never hurt you. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  “No, but…we can’t do this.”

  “Then I must have done it wrong because we already did.”

  Her mouth quirked in amusement her heart didn’t share. Dread seeped up through the floor, into her toes, deadening her legs and turning her cold. She’d given in to base desire…to Vincent…to love. She loved her best friend, but their love wasn’t allowed. What had she done?

  “Mine,” Vincent murmured into her hair.

  Penny threw her battered leather handbag onto the bar in her usual gesture of defeat, levered herself onto the stool, and groaned. She cursed the dress she’d chosen to wear to meet Neville, then herself for not going home to change before drowning her sorrows. After she’d run from Vincent, she hadn’t wanted to be alone, didn’t need the space to examine her feelings or consider what she’d done too closely.

  “Tough night?” Geraldine’s face creased in sympathy.

  “A bit,” Penny conceded. “It didn’t go quite to plan.”

  “Drink?” Geraldine already had a glass in her hand as she reached for a bottle of wine.

  “God, yes.” Penny face-planted in the soft brown leather.

  “You can tell me all about it. Wait…wasn’t tonight date night? Did you meet Neville? Was he everything he should be?” Geraldine sighed, and Penny could almost see the cupids dancing in her head.

  “I….” Penny covered her neck with her hand, casually concealing her puncture marks by allowing her long hair to fall forward, but Geraldine’s eyes narrowed.

  She held the drink just out of Penny’s reach. “Pretend it’s just us girls.” Her big face-splitting grin fake-beamed in Penny’s direction like the spotlight of an SS interrogator.

  “I think he might take some persuading.” Penny smoothed her hair into place again.

  “Just him?” Geraldine’s voice took on a sharper edge.

  Penny threw back her drink. “You know, I’m sure it’s just a teethin
g difficulty. One of those kinks that happens with anything new. He’ll get used to it. Everyone will as they meet their true partner.” She stood, her movements deliberate and slow as she tried to conceal her hurry. “I should get home. Change. Get some sleep.”

  Geraldine sniffed the air. “Maybe take a shower?”

  Penny hesitated.

  “You really shouldn’t be in here stinking of sex when you and Neville still need some persuading.” As she spoke, Geraldine’s manner changed, until the eyes pinning Penny to the wall belonged to Gerald. “You have let me down,” he rasped.

  “Where’s Geraldine?” She stammered the words as she edged her way towards the door, careful never to look away from where Gerald remained behind the bar.

  “I’m here, now. I think you need more guidance than anyone else can provide. I’ll have to take over managing this situation.” He nodded, his face serene before he slammed a bottle of whiskey onto the wooden bar. “Stay a while. Drink with me?” His nose twitched as he leant towards her.

  Penny feigned a drawn-out yawn. “Maybe another time. I have work to do and sleep to catch up on.” Nearly there. Her left foot hovered over the threshold to the corridor.

  He grabbed the bar towel and turned his attention to wiping the spot in front of him. “Management will be in touch, then.”

  TWELVE

  PENNY SIGHED as she tugged on her best jeans. She’d woken to Vincent knocking a full drum-band percussion on her door, and Gerald’s version of ‘management getting in touch’ lying on the doormat inside her room. She ignored Vincent until he walked away, even though her head ached more after he’d given up, then read Gerald’s missive over and over through the day.

  He’d summoned everyone to the bar, and the tone of his note left no room for argument. She winced as she skimmed the curt note again. It announced Geraldine running a speed dating night, suggesting an end to Penny’s short career as dating agency owner. She should have applied for a job in the Desert, after all.

  She forced her feet into her most fashionable shoes, ignoring the way they pinched her toes, and styled her hair over the two healing punctures on her neck. They were barely visible, but they still tingled whenever she thought about them. Vincent.

  She allowed her fingers to drift over the silvery marks he’d left on her, and a spark jolted through her. His.

  Acid churned in her stomach as she walked down the corridor to the bar, possibly to sit opposite Neville for thirty seconds in a free-choice lie. A life with him just didn’t feature in her plans, and he’d probably only turn up to scope out the nymphs, so they were perfectly matched in that respect. She choked on a giggle. Or he’d attend to report her to Gerald, of course. The night wouldn’t be the one anyone wanted.

  Geraldine threw a greeting out from her usual spot behind the bar, and a nervous smile sliced across Penny’s face. Butterflies of anxiety beat their paper-thin wings in her chest, and she struggled to draw enough breath to speak. Her reply sounded less breezy and more asthmatic.

  “You’re first here.” Geraldine’s statement landed in an empty room, and Penny’s gaze skimmed over the row of waiting tables and chairs.

  “Yes. Yes, I am,” she confirmed, and panic twanged in her gut.

  “I thought I needed to see you first to just say that—” Geraldine scrunched her face up as though considering a difficult problem “—It’s really not working, is it? You and the dating thing, I mean? Only one couple is happy so far. Maybe it’s best if we just go fast and get it sorted in one go?” Her questioning tone left room for reply.

  “If you’re sure that’s the right way.”

  Geraldine’s posture slumped. “It’s the only way to keep us all safe, to keep the species going until we reach our utopia. I need to do this. Everyone should be in pairs. And everyone needs a protector, another half. Someone who understands them better than they do themselves.”

  Penny took one step towards the bar. Maybe if she could just reach inside Geraldine, appeal to her gentler insincts, none of the prescribed pairing needed to happen. People could find their own happiness. “Have you got that person, Geraldine?” She kept her voice gentle, as though she was dealing with one of the wild animals on board, and used her name in an effort to connect.

  Geraldine’s eyes filled with tears, then she spun around. Her shoulders rose and seemed to broaden, her stance becoming more masculine as her posture straightened.

  Gerald turned back. “You are no longer required. Please leave. I’ll deal with you later.” His voice was low, lethal. He reached a clenched fist across the bar and Penny backed away. She’d pushed things too far, and Gerald was in control.

  “I….” The reply she hadn’t thought of yet was interrupted by the sound of chatter, and she swung to look at the door as a crowd of people entered the bar. Relief weakened her, and she gripped the back of the closest chair to stay upright.

  When she looked over at Gerald, Geraldine stared her back, her expression one of benevolent blankness. Yet, Gerald still lurked in her posture, and Penny shrivelled a little inside her skin.

  “Everyone!” Geraldine trilled. “Take a seat, and we’ll begin the evening’s entertainment shortly. I’ll explain the rules, then get you all a drink. First one’s on the house!”

  Penny ignored the row of chairs and glanced at the faces filing past until… “Vincent!” She grabbed his arm and yanked him out of line to stand next to her.

  “Oi…what? You again? Get off.” Victor shook her loose.

  “Shit. Where’s Vincent? What are you doing here?” She needed her other half, her match, her mate. Geraldine had been right about everyone needing someone, but Gerald wasn’t right about the method to achieve it.

  “Don’t know.” Victor stared past her, his gaze narrowed on Geraldine. He angled towards her and sniffed. “Oh, you stupid people. Anyway. I’ve come to sort out a few things of my own.”

  “What do you mean you don’t know where he is? Aren’t you talking to him? At Victor’s blank stare, she indicated her head with a brief twirly finger gesture. “You know…up there.”

  Victor’s mouth twisted. “Just because we can doesn’t mean I have to.”

  “But…but you could…he could—”

  “What? Arrive here?” Victor shrugged. “He might, I suppose. That would be interesting, watching the alpha male come to claim his woman from the clutches of a speed date.”

  Penny’s face turned cold. “It wouldn’t be interesting. It would be suicide. And it would be your fault.”

  “Nothing to do with me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my mate has arrived.” He raised his hand.

  Penny tugged it back to his side. “What are you doing? We have to get you out of here.” Her hissed words attracted the attention of some of the people milling around them, and she glanced at the bar, from where Geraldine also watched their exchange. “We need to go now, before this gets any worse. Let’s get you back to your room, I’ll find Vincent, and we’ll calm things down.”

  “What? How? How do you propose to ‘calm things down’?” He mimicked her as he spoke, and she flinched at the unexpected cruelty from the man with Vincent’s face.

  “Is everything all right over there, Penny? Vincent is staying, right?” Geraldine’s voice cut through the crowd noise, and the bar fell silent.

  “Yes! Absolutely! Everything is just fine.” Penny shouted back, her response verging on joyous as she tried to appear casual. “Vincent was actually just explaining he has a headache, though, so I told him I’ve got some painkillers in my room that we can fetch. We won’t be a minute.”

  “No need.” Geraldine reached below the bar. “I’ve got some paracetamol right here.”

  “Allergic.” Penny’s cheeks burned as she forced her smile up a notch and fought the panic escalating inside her. “I’ve got something herbal he can tolerate.”

  “I bet.” A ghoul next to her nudged Penny’s shoulder and directed a sly wink her way. “I’ve got plenty I’d like to give him in private.�
��

  “We’ll be just a minute, but feel free to get started on the festivities and everything.” Penny spun Victor before he had chance to resist her and propelled him back towards the door. “Honestly, we’ll be right back. Don’t worry about anything at all.” She looked over her shoulder to check Geraldine’s reaction, but the horror on the bar owner’s face as she looked beyond Penny and Victor stopped her mid-stride.

  In painstaking slow-motion, Penny turned her attention back to the doorway. There, as though in his own custom-made frame, stood Vincent.

  THIRTEEN

  “WHAT’S THIS? Why are there two?” Geraldine’s voice, confused and weak, broke the sudden silence in the bar.

  Penny glanced between the two men.

  They said nothing, just locked their gazes on each other.

  “YOU ARE AN ABOMINATION!” Gerald stood in Geraldine’s place, face flushed the colour of rage, and Penny jumped at the noise of beads scattering across the floor as he ripped Geraldine’s necklace from around his neck. “There should never be two the same. Get out…get out. Everyone, GET OUT! The bar is CLOSED. This atrocity must be dealt with.”

  “Wait.” Victor climbed onto a chair, his expression determined. “What are you even trying to do here? Match everyone up? Make your perfect little pairs so you can play a huge game of real life happy families on some distant planet? That is not my idea of utopia, not my idea of happiness. I’ve already chosen my partner, my mate, and I’m happy. Will you let me be happy?”

  “You’ve chosen? You think you can choose?” Sweat beaded on Gerald’s forehead.

  Victor laughed. “Of course I’ve chosen. I found my mate a long time ago. In fact—” he broke off and sneered a dare in Gerald’s direction “—back on Earth, I married him.”

  Only Gerald’s harsh breathing cut through the room. Everyone waited, everyone watched. His face spasmed as though he tried to subdue an internal struggle. Penny watched them all come to the fore in turn – Geraldine, frightened and lonely; Gerald, out of control and desperate; Hazel, calm and business-like. Not Gerald, not Gerald, not Gerald…the chant rang again and again in Penny’s head, and she willed Geraldine back to take control of her bar.