Burned

by J. Nichole Parkins

  He demanded everything from me. Pushed me to let go. Showed me there was nothing wrong with softening, just a little. In indulging in a little light fun.

  But I didn’t feel comfortable with his repeated request to bite him. Really bite him, not what we had played around with up to this point either. I’d managed to put him off the last few times, distracting him in some way or another.

  He whispered it again as he nibbled on my earlobe, sending an almost violent response through my system. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to; I had to resist the urge on a regular basis. I could smell his blood so close to the surface. It called to me sometimes, making my mouth water.

  The last real relationship I’d had was with another shifter, biting wasn’t something I’d had to worry about with him.

  Daniel was only human. I’m not sure I trusted myself not to do some serious damage.

  “Bite me,” his plea was whispered against my neck, where it met with my shoulder. Abruptly he bit down hard, almost breaking the skin. Unable to stop it, a moan slipped from between my lips.

  “You know you want to.” Kisses rained down my shoulder, soothing the hurt away.

  I knew what he wanted, how he wanted it. He was aspiring to be a vampire for fuck’s sake. A neck fetish was par for the course.

  Desire warred with hunger. I struggled to breathe as he shifted, exposing his neck. Vulnerable. Heart pounding, I kissed him. His sweat salty on my tongue.

  In a haze I finally gave in to his pleading. The flesh of his neck was tender between my teeth as I gently bit down.

  “Harder,” he gasped. Energy began to swirl around us as my anxiety increased. He didn’t know what he was asking of me. What he was risking. And it was my fault that I didn’t tell him.

  I fought to stay in control.

  To keep from breaking his skin.

  To fight my instincts.

  Failing as the first trickle of blood touched my tongue. Its metallic taste burst, filling my mouth until I was unable to resist and bit down again. Hard.

  Unaware of my battle, lost in ecstasy Daniel moaned. The sound reverberated through my lips, thankfully bringing me back to the surface.

  Just enough to stop.

  Blood flowed down his neck, more than I would like but not enough to do any permanent damage.

  My heart pounded in my chest. Daniel looked at me with hooded eyes, running his thumb along my cheek. Pulling his hand back this thumb was covered in blood, his blood. On me. He licked it off. I didn’t know whether to be creeped out, or turned on.

  “Your eyes turn more copperish when you are turned on.” He kissed my lips gently, following the trail of his thumb. When he reached my ear he whispered, “But now they are almost glowing.”

  I jerked away and rushed into his bathroom, staring shocked into the mirror. He was right. My irises almost swirled, an effect that made them appear to luminesce.

  Nausea burned in my throat.

  Fear stole my breath.

  What was I?

  Daniel watched me yank my clothes on, his top teeth worrying his lip.

  “Don’t go,” he pleaded, running his hand along my arm. Tingles followed in the wake of his fingers.

  “I have to.”

  “You are freaking out.” Grabbing my face between his hands he stared into my eyes, his own narrowed. A determined glint in their depths. “You are.”

  I was. Totally freaking.

  I took a deep breath. I needed Spencer.

  “Fine. I am totally freaking out,” I admitted. “But I really do need to go. I will call you, I promise.”

  Examining my face slowly he nodded, seeing something there that answered a question he never asked aloud. His soft lips met mine, helping to shake off the chill that had invaded my soul.

  I wanted to run, but I had nowhere to go. I spent my life running, but I could never escape myself.

  I slammed my keys down on my counter-top causing Spencer to jump. I had called him as I left Daniel’s place, and he met me at my loft.

  “I can’t fucking do this anymore,” I admitted, head hanging down as I stared at the pattern on the marble slab. The flecks of crystal embedded in the counter-top caught the light. The dark gray lines spidered through like roots.

  “What happened?” Spencer’s hand rested on my elbow, the now familiar zing pulled the seemingly endless pool of energy from me.

  “I could have killed him,” the whispered words were barely out of my mouth when a sob escaped. I clamped my mouth tight, covering it with a hand. Fighting to keep it in.

  He turned me towards him, repeating, “What happened?”

  “What the fuck do you think happened? I almost lost control. Again.” I shrugged his hands off my arms, wanting to pace. “I just can’t risk keeping up this charade. I can’t risk hurting Daniel. I-” I swallowed, my breath hitching. “I care about him.”

  I stared out the window watching the bay below. Its calm seeped into me gradually stilling my inner turmoil.

  “I don’t know enough about what I can do, what kind of risk I pose to others. What I am.” I turned back to my partner, confusion swirling in his eyes.

  “Yes, what I am.” The silence was heavy, broken only by the hum of my air conditioner as it clicked on, cooling the ever-present sweltering Florida air.

  I waited, giving him a few moments to process my declaration. Waiting for the inevitable barrage of questions.

  “Kyra,” Spencer walked around the counter to grasp both my hands in his, “what you are doesn’t matter. Who you are is more important. The fact that you are worried about hurting someone, the fact that you care, says more about you than any label will.”

  Frustrated, I tried to pull out of his grip.

  “No.” He gripped my hands harder, narrowing his eyes. “If you are worried about hurting Daniel, back off some until you learn more control. But don’t isolate yourself. Don’t worry so much about finding some arbitrary label that may or may not define who you are.”

  I took a deep breath, the tension slowly leaking away through his hands that continued to grasp onto mine. Somewhere along the way Spencer had moved from partner to friend. Regardless of my desire to keep people at a distance, it seemed they were finding their way in.

  “So what had you sounding so serious over the phone?” In my rush I shut the door to his apartment a little harder than I intended and it slammed against the frame. “Sorry.”

  Worry creased his forehead as he stared at his feet, avoiding my eyes. Uneasiness coiled around me, making my chest tight.

  “I have to take you to Alejandro.” While I was glad to finally be making inroads into the House, I didn’t like the apprehension radiating from him.

  “What do you mean have to?” Confusion laced my words. “Isn’t he your boss? Why would I have to meet him?” My arms crossed and my eyes narrowed. I didn’t like orders.

  “He is my boss, but it is a little more complicated than that.” He sighed, running his fingers through his hair, mussing his mohawk. It was white-blond today. “When you bit me, it marked me. Alejandro is pissed and he’s demanding to meet you.”

  I shook my head. “But what does me marking you have to do with him?”

  “The bite isn’t healing like it should if you were human. He wants to determine what you are and make sure you aren’t in another family or House. Those are what the vampires call their covens, their groups.” Pausing as if to gather himself he added, “If he isn’t happy with what he learns, it is possible that he will kill you for marking me and me for allowing it.” He rushed out.

  “But I’m not a vamp!” I wanted to meet him, but not to have a confrontation or anything. I especially didn’t want Daniel harmed.

  “I know you aren’t and he’ll know that as soon as he sees you. It’s just - the bites just aren’t acting like normal.”

  “You know I’m not exactly human - I’ve got powers but I’m no threat to him. I’m not in a family or anything. I don’t really even associate with vampire
s.”

  “You don’t have a problem with them do you?” His eyes shied from mine again, body tense and waiting.

  “No, not really.” And I didn’t. I preferred not to generalize a species like that. He relaxed at my words, his relief almost palatable.

  “I mean, if one tires to hurt me I’ll fight back, just like with anyone. I’ve known a few vampires. They usually try to keep a low profile like me.” Although, it seemed like I wasn’t as low profile as I used to be.

  “I’m sure everything will be fine.” Gathering my hands, his azure eyes looked hard into mine. “I am so sorry I dragged you into this.”

  I freed one hand to smooth the lines of worry on his forehead and gently brushed my lips against his.

  “Don’t apologize to me. We couldn’t know what would happen. There’s no use placing blame.” His troubled eyes shifted their focus to my lips watching as each word was formed. Daniel was never this serious, I wanted to shake him out of this morose mood but instead my tongue darted out licking my lower lip. As I figured, his eyes heated as they followed the movement.

  He leaned closer, close enough that I could feel the heat of his breath on my face. The mingled scents of coffee, cigarettes, and Daniel’s unique smell were heady, intoxicating. I wanted to taste him. I closed the remaining distance, licking his lower lip. A moan rumbled in his chest as I bit down, the sound vibrating through my own. His heartbeat sped up against mine. I was pretty sure he was no longer worrying about who was to blame. Fully in the present, focused only on me, on us. That’s how I wanted him.

  Never one for patience - not that I was one to talk - his lips devoured mine. When we were together, the rest of the world faded, dulled. Everything else became less important.

  The only thing that mattered was how I made him feel, how he made me feel. Important. Cherished. Loved. I hesitated, shocked at that last thought.

  I didn’t love Daniel. I was using him.

  I couldn’t love anyone.

  My heart had hardened into a block of ice years ago. The moment I realized I was hurting everyone around me. The moment I realized I was damaged irrevocably - that no matter how hard I tried I would cause everyone around me pain.

  I pushed aside thoughts of the past, focusing instead on Daniel’s mouth as he kissed his way down my neck. His hands as he lifted my leg to his waist dragging his fingers up the back of my thigh.

  I focused on nothing but losing myself in the moment. In the passion. The heat.

  Chapter Nine

  Alejandro’s office, ironically enough, was upstairs from The Harmony, the posh restaurant I had eaten lunch at with Allison the other day. Alejandro owned the building and everything in it - the condos, offices, and two restaurants.

  Daniel and I rode the elevator up the fifteen floors in silence. Our reflections in the mirrored walls stiff and unnatural, I was ready to shove my fist in the speakers spewing a jazzy version of Hotel California. Who would turn such a great classic into elevator Muzak? It was sacrilege. At least it distracted me from my claustrophobia.

  The power slammed into me the moment the doors slid open. I gasped at the unexpected feeling, struggling to control myself. Alejandro radiated power, it seeped from him like a heavy fog. Urged me to wrap myself around him, to rub against him like a housecat.

  Feeling my sudden stiffness, Daniel squeezed my hand gently, urging me forward. I shook myself out of my aberrant stupor, forcing myself to focus. I’d need all my wits about me to survive this.

  Alejandro was dangerous.

  His office wasn’t what I expected for a quasi-mobster vampire. While it was the requisite uber-expensive executive suite, the décor was modern. I’d expected Louis XIV, not the contemporary furnishings displayed before me. The sleek white marble floors and walls were broken by the red accents of abstract paintings and sculptures exhibited throughout. All the furniture was black, an opulent couch with matching chaise lounge lined the wall. An elegant redhead perched next to a mahogany desk in the far corner. The moment the elevator doors opened a tall Hispanic man rose from behind the desk, walking towards us. His dark chocolate eyes were shrewd and piercing. I could feel their weight across the room.

  “Welcome Ms. Richards, Daniel has told me much about you.” His accent hinted of Central or South American roots, the words more formal than modern-day speech. His cold hand lifted mine as he kissed the back of it like a gentleman. But I wasn’t fooled - he was trouble.

  “Call me Kyra.”

  “Kyra then. You may address me as Alejandro.” I stifled the sudden and uncharacteristic desire to curtsy.

  “This is Arabella Anthony, my associate.” He gestured to the striking human woman now standing next to him, her crimson hair falling in waves midway down her back. As I took her long tapered fingers in my grip, I inhaled her scent. Artificial tones of jasmine from her Channel No. 5 burned my nose, but it would do nothing to hide any marks from my preternatural scenes of smell. I was surprised to scent no blood or bite marks. Interesting. A non-donor human deep in the thick of vampires. I bet she was witness to a lot of things she’d rather forget.

  She studied me intensely, her emerald eyes roving over me like a caress. Almost like she was expecting to see answers to some unknown question on my body. The hair rose at the nape of my neck and I wondered about her role with the vampire.

  “I’m sorry for this unusual meeting,” the apology fell falsely from his narrow lips. Alejandro’s hands splayed in front of him, a contrived movement of innocence. “You had marked what is mine. I would be remiss if I did not follow up and ensure you were not a threat.”

  “I assure you sir, I am completely alive.” I motioned at my body, promptly furious for my fumbling gesture and even more so at the heated blush that resulted.

  His laugh floated through the room. “Alive. Yes, you certainly are that.” Pointing to Daniel with a long manicured finger he continued. “We take care of our people and in return expect absolute loyalty from them. When I saw your marks I was concerned that Daniel had betrayed me.”

  “Sir, I would never dream of such an offense-” he was silenced by an abrupt wave as Alejandro glided to Daniel.

  “I’m sure you understand that after hundreds of years, one sometimes has a difficult time trusting others. Loyalty is one of the most sacred oaths when entering a family, especially the House. My House.” He patted Daniel’s head like a child who has been praised. “Daniel is one of my most loyal subjects. That is why he was given the opportunity to bring you here, others I would have not provided that chance.” Fear trickled down my spine at just how close Daniel had come to being killed – killed over my inability to control myself.

  “Kyra, while it is obvious to me that you are not a vampire and are of the living, it still escapes me exactly what you are.” I absolutely did not want this man, this creature, having that much interest in me.

  “I’m not completely human. I have powers.” I hoped that this was enough of an explanation, but doubted that it would satisfy him. “But I never knew my parents. I was raised in foster care.”

  “What an interesting gift you have brought me Daniel; a mystery.” The fear blossomed in my chest, at the excitement dancing in his cold eyes. Tendrils of energy began to weave their way into my limbs. Gliding closer he added, “Of course, I had you investigated before inviting you to this meeting.” The piercing interest in his eyes caused fear to chill my blood. “The House could use someone with your rare talents.” He ran a long nail gently down my neck, his grin showing the tips of his fangs.

  “I can’t wait to taste you,” he announced eagerly.

  Arabella, who had been still and quiet like a piece of the furniture, narrowed her eyes.

  Daniel stiffened beside me, brushing his hand reassuringly against mine. He moved to the couch next to Arabella who crossed her arms and mumbled to him. A spark of something unfamiliar ignited inside me when he gently - albeit briefly - laid his hand on her arm. I pushed the unaccustomed feeling aside to concentrate on t
he problem gliding closer to me with every breath.

  Despite dreading this with every fiber of my being, I knew this was bound to happen when I signed on to infiltrate the House. They didn’t let any old riffraff into their inner sanctum. Alejandro had been in charge of the Tampa Bay area for at least a century. The vampire was no pushover.

  Forcing myself to relax, I allowed Alejandro to bend my neck and pull me closer to him, my back pressed against his chest. His body was surprisingly warm considering the coolness of his hands. I was expecting him to feel cold but he was only a little cooler than a human, similar to how skin would feel on a cool day. I’d obviously read too many vampire stories.

  He ran his nose along my neck, breathing deep, as if he were scenting a glass of fine wine. His hum of appreciation vibrated along my skin. Warm breath caressed my neck. The sharp scrape of his teeth along my cardioid artery caused my muscles to tense, preparing for the pain. The combination of the anticipation, the adrenaline, and the almost familiar scrape of his pointed teeth caused my toes to curl, but I stayed steady, waiting. He struck almost gently, teeth sliding into my skin, piercing, penetrating. Surprised how quickly the pain shifted to intense pleasure, a moan escaped from between my lips. Applying pressure, my life-giving blood flowed faster into him and the pleasure blossomed, radiated from my body like no other.

  My hands, which I had forced to relax at my side, rose of their own volition to dive into his thick hair, pulling him closer. The vampire growled, the sound vibrating through my neck causing shivers to flow down my spine. He jerked away, abruptly licking the wound closed. His eyes bored into mine, wide with shock as I turned.

  His mouth, smeared with my blood, came down hard on mine. The kiss was full of power and promise.

  I tasted the metallic flavor of our mixed blood. He must have sliced his own lip when claiming mine so harshly. Power, like I’d never felt before rushed through me. Tempting me.