Ellie’s breath rushes out as he reaches for her hand and pulls her to her feet. Wrapping his arms around her, he tugs her close to his chest and leans his forehead against hers.
Whispering softly, “Lover, I feel like I’ve waited an eternity to find someone who speaks to my soul the way you do. You’re precious and dear to me, and I’ll do anything to keep you by my side.”
Ellie pulls back to look into his eyes. “I believe you, Ian, but this is so very sudden. I mean, honestly, how well do we know each other?” She pulls away and sits back down in order to put some distance between them. “You have only touched on the basics of what it means to be a vampire, and Jasper only confused me more.”
Ian walks to the other chair and sits down, turning it toward Ellie as he speaks, “I know we don’t know each other well, but I believe that we have something very special. Would you be interested in exploring it with me?”
Ellie twists her hands nervously in her lap. “Will you answer all of my questions? Will you tell me about the Hunger and tell me about your life?”
Ian sits back and crosses legs at the knee. “Yes, if you agree to explore a relationship with me, then I’ll tell you all that you need and want to know. Will you go with me to the bar tonight? I would like for you to have the whole experience as a patron if you are interested.”
“Would I be on the menu to be passed around?”
Ian smiles at her. “No, love, you’re a rare vintage and as the owner of the bar, I have exclusive rights. Can I pick you up at seven?”
She stands and reaches for her purse. “Can we make it eight instead? I have to do some packing.”
Ian reaches for her arm. “Are you leaving the cities?”
“Relax,” she says. “I’m heading up to a place I own in Detroit Lakes for about ten days. I’ll be back on the sixth.”
Ian brushes his hand up and down the length of her work blazer. “Would you be interested in some company? I happen to own a place up there as well and have been meaning to get away from the cities for a little rest and relaxation.”
Ellie starts toward the door and looks over her shoulder. “I think we should see how tonight goes before you invite yourself on my vacation. I’ll see you at eight, Ian.”
Faster than she can see, Ian cuts her off on the way to the door. “I think you forgot something, little one.”
She tosses her hair over her shoulder and looks up into those devastatingly sexy eyes. “What did I forget?”
“This,” he says as he crushes her against his chest and kisses her passionately. Tongues mesh and meld together in a rhythm as old as time. Ellie groans aloud at how quickly she grows wet when near this man. She can feel the moisture pooling between her thighs. Ian growls with desire as he walks her toward the couch in the corner of his office. He leans down, grasps her legs, and pulls them up and around his waist. Ellie squirms closer to the steel erection pressing against her warm, wet flesh.
She pulls the tie loose and starts opening buttons, desperate to feel the warm satin of his skin. Ian lets her legs down but does not break the kiss as he unbuttons the blazer and pushes it down her arms. Hands pull clothes off, as mouths devour in a passion-induced frenzy.
“Ellie, are you sure you want to do this with me? There are things you don’t understand yet, and if you want to stop, now is the time to say something.”
In answer to his words, she steps out of the trousers he had unbuttoned and pulls his hand to her thighs. “Touch me. You and I both know that this is meant to happen. Will anything bad happen to me if we make love? Will I catch something or will you drain me to the point of death?”
Ian looks down into the most trusting blue eyes he has ever seen. “Little one, I could never intentionally hurt you.”
Fingers probing the opening of her female flesh, he continues to stroke her desire. Laying her gently on the couch, he worships her body with his hands and mouth. He begins kissing, licking, and nibbling all in the desire to please the beautiful woman who is sharing her body and blood with him.
Locking eyes with her he pauses at the entrance of her body. “Look at me, little one. I want you to know that when I enter your body, we will be one.”
Ellie opens her passion clouded eyes. “Please Ian, make love to me.”
With one fierce thrust, he pushes inside and her world stops. Heaven on earth is a saying that Ellie would have laughed at if anyone else had said it. However, the feeling of Ian’s hard cock buried inside of her is pure heaven. The world could end right now, and she would be fine with it.
Ellie wraps her legs around his waist, whimpering as she pulls him deeper into her body. Ian increases his tempo, thrusting and pulling out to the tip and then driving back into her body. Feeling her orgasm come on her, his pace gradually declines.
Stroking her body, he sooths her with whispers, “Ellie, can I taste you when we come together?”
Ellie wraps her body around his, unable to say the words. Sex has never been like this before and she is overwhelmed. Nodding her head in a positive sign, she tugs his mouth to hers and thrusts up against him. Moving her lips away, she tilts her head exposing the curve of her neck. As the first ripples of her climax start, his fangs descend into her neck and Ellie explodes. She clasps Ian closer to her body as he drinks the blood she willingly surrendered to him.
When a vampire finds his mate, the one who can satisfy their Hunger, a connection is made between the two. It allows them to communicate in each other’s thoughts, and it allows the other to know when there is a fear component. During the aftermath of their loving, Ian can feel the relationship with Ellie growing. Whispers filter into his mind, vague snippets of thoughts that are running through her mind. Ian always heard that it would be a clear bond and is surprised at how disjoined their attachment is. He attempts to block his thoughts to her so he does not upset or send her into a panic. He slowly pulls out of the warmth of her body and sits up. Ellie looks up at him and flashes a sleepy smile. “Je vous aime, petit l'un,” he whispers.
Ellie looks startled and sits up sliding her feet to the floor. “Don’t say things like that, Ian. It’s way too soon for me. I’m enjoying the sex, but I’m not ready to jump into something that involves the ‘L’ word. ”
Ian gets up and walks toward the bath in his office. Reaching inside he pulls a black silk robe from a hook and brings it to her. Wrapping her in the silk, he kisses her forehead. “I know it’s too soon for you, my love, but I’m an old man compared to you, and I feel like it’s the right time for me. Make use of the bathroom and I will take you home. Are we still on for the night?”
Ellie leans down and starts gathering up her clothes. “Yes, Ian. I do want to go home for a little while. I can drive myself to Everlasting that way my car is at home for my trip tomorrow.”
Ellie heads to the bathroom to clean up. As he dresses, Ian can tell she is concerned at how close their connection has grown in such a short time. When she walks back in the room, he knows he has to set her mind at ease.
“Little one, would you mind if we changed our plans a little bit for tonight?”
“Of course not, Ian,” Ellie says as she leans against his desk. “What’s wrong? I have this feeling that you’re frustrated about something. That sounds so weird doesn’t it?”
Ian sits back and steeples his fingers. “I’m frustrated. I’ve been looking into a situation that came to my attention, but I’m having trouble locating what I need. Can you show me where we keep the employee personnel records?”
“Of course, come with me down to the storage area at the end of the hall.”
He gets up and follows her out the door and down the corridor. Entering the large storage area, Ellie heads to a door and unlocks it with her keys.
“We keep all the records in here. The filing cabinets have been labeled and everything is alphabetical. Here are the keys. If you just want to bring them tonight, I’m going to head on home to shower and do some packing.”
Ian takes the key ring
. “I think this might take a few minutes and I need to find it before we go out. Jasper will meet you at the club if I am running late.”
Ellie reaches up and draws him down for a deep passionate kiss, “Of course, Ian. I’ll see you there.”
Ellie turns and leaves Ian standing there, for a moment lost in thought. Shaking his head, he turns back and starts looking for the information he needs against Adam Thornton.
Ellie heads down the elevator and into the parking garage lost in thought. How did my life ever come around to this? That amazing man upstairs just told me that he loves me in French and all I can say is ‘It’s too soon for me.’ I’m an idiot. Opening the car door and sliding in, she realizes that she needs to make a stop by the mall in order to pick up something to wear for the evening. Like most women, she has work clothes but not really many ‘vampire bar’ outfits. The kind of outfit that sticks out and shows off the good parts of the body.
Putting the car in gear, she heads out of the lot and heads south toward the Mall of America. She pulls around toward the west parking lot since she knows that it will be a little easier to find a parking spot this time of the day. She opens the car door and steps out into the sticky heat of the day. She grabs her purse and heads to the elevator to take her to the nearest luxury department store. She knows just the section she is looking for. Hoping to find the perfect outfit to knock a sexy vampire to his knees and leave him panting for more, she heads into the mall with a smile on her face.
Ian walks into his office flipping through the file that he found. How Adam Thornton was still working for Lochlan Medical was beyond him. Ellie should’ve fired him after the first arrest.
According to his personnel record, he had been written up multiple times for harassment of female coworkers. He understood why Ellie was hesitant to pursue a letter of dismissal against him, but she could have come to him and he would have made sure this matter was handled long before now.
Glancing up, Ian sees that Jasper is looking through a similar file. “Is that the police report on Adam Thornton?”
Jasper grimaces. “Yeah, Ian. How did this man manage to slip through all of our routine checks?”
Ian sits down across from Jasper and sighs. “I believe that Ellie was protecting him. Once he started to abuse her, she didn’t want to have him fired and escalate the situation. This is something that we’re going to have to take care of ourselves, Jasper. I want to keep her out of it as much as I can.”
“No problem with that. I’m aware of how much Ms. Dawson means to you and our family, and I’m hesitant to bring her any distress.”
Ian picks up the phone and starts to dial. “Hello, Lorenzo. I need you to meet me at the hospital. I have an employee that I need to terminate and I would like to have you on the premises to handle any problems.”
“Shall I bring anything along?” Lorenzo asked.
“No, you should not need any of your special weapons. I’ll see you in fifteen minutes.”
“Not a problem, sir. I’m on my way,” Lorenzo replies.
Disconnecting with Lorenzo, Ian sighs as he lays his phone on the desk.
Jasper leans back in the chair. “Do you think he’s going to go quietly?”
“No, I don’t. I think he’s going to be a problem and I would rather not be caught in a fight with an employee on the six o’clock news.”
Ian pushes the intercom to the receptionist desk. “Alice, could you have Adam Thornton report to the executive conference room in half an hour?”
“Yes, sir. I believe he is finishing a marketing conference call but I will make sure he is notified of your desire for a meeting. Anything else I can do for you before I head out, sir?”
“No, thank you, Alice. Have a good weekend. I may be going out of town for a few days and I’ll send you an email with my contact information and agenda.”
“Not a problem at all, sir. If you do go out of town, then I’ll be working from home as usual. Enjoy yourself.”
“Thanks, Alice. Good night.”
“How long as Alice been with you, my lord?”
Ian strokes his chin thoughtfully. “I believe she was turned in 1926. She was bonded to Claude, but he was caught in the riots of 1929 and destroyed. She wandered the world for a bit and then contacted me about ten years ago looking for a position. Since they were both part of the family, I made sure she had a job here at the hospital and was taken care of.”
Both men fell silent as they remember the comrades that they have lost over the years. Those that were lost before they learned about the blood component needed for compatible turns, those that were lost to war, and those that were lost to hunters. When you have lived as long as they have there is always going to be a list of friends and family that are lost.
“Come on, Jasper, I believe Lorenzo should be here any moment, and we need to deal with the abusive Mr. Adam Thornton.”
Jasper rises and agrees, “Aye, my lord. We can’t have that kind of trash around the hospital.”
They walked down the hall together and entered the conference room. Lorenzo has arrived and is waiting patiently.
“Thank you for coming down, Lorenzo.”
“My pleasure, my lord. You need but ask and I will assist you. What kind of problem are we looking at with this gentleman?”
Jasper growls, “This is no gentleman. He abuses women and had the audacity to lay hands on Ellie Dawson.”
Lorenzo sat up straighter. “He hurt our little lady?” Turning toward Ian he growls, “Where do you want me to put the body, my lord?”
Ian raises a hand. “That’s not necessary today, Lorenzo. We are just informing Mr. Thornton that his services are no longer needed here at Lochlan Medical.”
“But, my lord,” Lorenzo starts to protest. “We are vampires. Let’s just get rid of this piece of garbage before he hurts anyone else. This could be a sign of fidelity to our new lady.”
“Lorenzo, I appreciate your protectiveness toward Ellie, it does not go unnoticed. However, she does not know my history or what being mated and easing the Hunger entails. We’ve not gotten that far. I’m going to discuss all of this with her tonight.”
Lorenzo nods. “Okay, my lord. I will make sure that this piece of garbage is escorted out of the building with no permanent damage.”
Knock, Knock.
“Come in, Mr. Thornton,” Ian calls out in a loud voice.
“Good afternoon, sir. You wanted to see me,” Adam Thornton says as he strolls into the conference room.
“Yes, Thornton. Have a seat. You heard in the meeting earlier when I was discussing the restructuring of some of the executive positions here at Lochlan Medical, correct?”
“Yes, sir I was. Before you continue sir, can I just say that it has been an honor to be with Lochlan Medical for the last several years? I’m so glad you finally realized how much of an asset I am to this organization. I’ve been interested in moving in a different direction within the corporation and have been trying to get a meeting with you for a few weeks to discuss it,” Adam states in a smug voice.
“Really,” Ian asks. “What kind of position do you see yourself in?”
Ian notes that Jasper and Lorenzo watch carefully as he speaks to Adam Thornton as if he has a real shot at continuing at Lochlan Medical. The man is so smug in his own importance that he does not even here the thread of anger in Ian’s voice.
“I’ve been in marketing for the last several years and I’m interested in moving into the Human Resources department.”
Jasper glances at Ian in disbelief.
Does this idiot really think that he is going to take Ellie’s position in the company? “Mr. Thornton, you do realize that the director of human resources is Eleanor Dawson and that she has been with the hospital for over five years now, correct?”
“Yes, sir, and she is one of the reasons that I was trying to set up an appointment with you. I believe that Ms. Dawson has been falsifying records on employees. I include myself in that comment, sir. I
believe Ms. Dawson has placed false reports in my file which have kept me from being advanced in the hospital executive hierarchy.”
“Interesting that these charges have not been brought to my attention sooner. Did you convey to my assistant, Alice, the seriousness and importance of the meeting you were trying to arrange?”
Adam starts to squirm a little in his seat. It probably would’ve gone unnoticed to the normal human eye, but to vampires it’s apparent that Mr. Adam Thornton is becoming very nervous.
“No, sir, I did not. I felt that it was not something that could or should be discussed with an assistant, but that needed to be handled with discretion. She advised me that your schedule was booked and that I should submit a confidential email to you with the topic of the meeting, and you would get back to me.”
Ian looks at Adam and asks quietly, “Did you send me an email? Did I somehow miss this information?”
“No, Mr. Lochlan. I decided that I would continue trying to setup a face-to-face meeting with you.”
Ian rises to his feet suddenly startling Adam and causing him to jump in his seat. “Mr. Thornton, let’s stop playing this game. I have here,” he tosses the file across the table to slide toward Adam, “your personnel file.”
Adam reaches out, picks up the file, and starts to thumb through it. “These reports and complaints are untrue, Mr. Lochlan. These are a blatant fabrication of Ms. Dawson’s doing. I would never hurt or abuse a co-worker nor a female of my acquaintance.”
Tossing another file across the table toward Adam, Ian crosses around the table toward him. “Try to explain the police reports to me, Adam. Tell me why the cops of Minneapolis are after you and why they are putting false records in that report.”
“Damn that bitch,” Adam says in a rage-filled voice. “She told you about us, didn’t she? Are you sleeping with her too? Is that what all this is about? You didn’t call me in here to promote me, did you?”
Ian places his hands on the table and leans toward Adam. “What ‘bitch’ are you referring to, and I will warn you to think carefully before you answer.”
Everlasting Hunger (The Hunger Mate Series) Page 5
