VAMPIRE: PARANORMAL: Out For Blood (Vampire Alpha Shapeshifter Romance) (New Adult Paranormal Fantasy Short Stories)

by Powers, Miranda

  It was a grand party with no expense spared. There was a seated string quartet in the far corner of the garden and plush furniture set up in various spots. Large banquet tables were decorated with flowers and adorned with enormous amounts of food and drink. I looked up to see hanging baskets of flowers and plants. Indeed, it was a garden fit for a king. We walked around taking it all in. The guests were nice and cordial and nodded as we passed.

  I sampled the rich foods and loved all the delicious flavors. After an hour or two I was exhausted and needed a little break. As I walked through the garden paths, I got the feeling I was being followed. I looked over my shoulder briefly but didn’t stop walking. I turned down a corner path.

  “Are you lost?” A low sultry voice said from behind me. It had a thick Italian accent

  I turned around. Before me stood a tall man in a black vest that he wore over a white pressed shirt, and tight black trousers with mid-calf high boots. He had dark hair and green eyes. He was absolutely captivating, but also very bold. It was improper for him to talk to me with out formally being introduced. It was even more so that he had followed me down the isolated garden path.

  “I am not sir, I thank you,” I said as I sped passed him in a hurry before any one could see us.

  As I passed he acquired a cocky and arrogant smirk. It was infuriating, but also very attractive. I was immediately intrigued even though I was not allowed to show that I was.

  After the party we made our way home for a nap and to get ready for the ball that evening. I did not tell Abigail about the incident. I didn’t want to seem improper or wild and be forced to stay indoors by her husband William. That would be an absolute horror.

  I picked a soft pale lavender ball gown for the evening. The empire waist of the dress was a slightly darker shade of lavender and it laced up the back. I looked at myself in the mirror. I was feeling giddy, I wondered if I would see the mysterious man again. Abigail rushed into my room.

  “Oh Regina, I’m so excited I feel like I could burst! William looks absolutely divine and his friend Mr. Grace has just arrived. He is a day early. He is a very handsome man indeed. He is to stay with us. Isn’t that exciting?”

  Abigail was always rapidly ranting away like this. She was a little chatter box. Her dress was a crème colored fabric of silk and lace. I gave her a look of disapproval.

  “Abigail, this better not be some clever ploy that you and mother have come up with to marry me off to some stuffy old friend of your husband,” I said.

  “It’s not. I promise. William only told me just now that we were expecting a guess. He said he had told me a week ago, but I don’t remember.”

  I sighed. I was not pleased that I would now have to share a house with man that I was sure was here just to tempt me into marriage. I was very annoyed.

  Abigail and I made our way down the stairs and into the drawing room where the men awaited us to escort us to the ball.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Mr. Grace

  “My dear wife, Abigail, and her sister, Mrs Regina Turner, may I present my dearest friend Mr. Antonio Grace,” William said as soon as we walked in.

  I froze in my tracks. It was the attractive man from the garden party earlier. He gave me a knowing look and then bowed. Abigail curtsied and stood there not doing anything. Then I remembered myself and curtsied.

  “Shall we be on our way then?” William asked.

  “Oh yes, my love, I can’t wait to dance and dance,” Abigail said. She looped her arm in William’s arm and they strolled out the room.

  Mr. Grace looked at me and said nothing. He pushed his arm out for me to take it. I gave him a snub look and walked out ahead of him. I could hear him laugh at me as he walked behind me. It took all of my willpower not to turn and slap him with my glove.

  We arrived at the ball a short while later. We walked into a vast entryway where the hosts were greeting their guests. The ballroom was massive. There were enormous ornate columns around the outside and gorgeous crystal chandeliers twinkled in the dim light. Everything was white. The walls hung with shimmering white fabrics. White linens covered the tables and all the furniture was white. There were all kinds of white flowers in white vases. It was beautiful.

  A loud tapping interrupted the low murmur of conversations. Everyone’s attention went to the balcony that overlooked the ballroom floor. There tapping on a violin the way someone would tap on a wine glass before a speech, was a man dressed in a white wig. Everywhere people took to the ballroom floor. The man started playing a waltz. It was so beautiful I felt tears of joy welling in my eyes. I found a small niche with a plush chaise lounge and white fabrics flowing from the walls giving it a bit of privacy. I sat down. A man sat next to me. His scent was intoxicating and yet familiar. I looked at him waiting for him to say something, it was Mr. Grace.

  Excitement and lust rushed through my body. He stood up from the chaise and bowed in front of me extending his hand out to me.

  “May I have this dance?”

  I placed my hand in his. He swiftly moved me around the dance floor. I felt light as air. We didn’t talk. We only locked eyes as we danced. I could feel the tension between us. Every now and then his gaze would fall to my cleavage with the plunging neckline of my dress. It was shocking really that he did not try to steal a glance. Instead, he looked freely. If I had been a maid still, I would have walked away from him. But that was not the case, I was now an experienced woman. I was a woman that had been in an unhappy marriage with a man that knew nothing about romance and attraction. So I found myself welcoming the bold glances of Mr. Grace. It was almost intoxicating how he made me feel when he looked at me in that way. After two dances he led me to the side of the room. He bowed in front of me. I didn’t want him to go. For the next two hours of the ball I danced with the acquaintances of William, but the entire time Mr. Grace watched me. I could feel his eyes on me even when I was across the long room.

  I needed fresh air so I walked out of the many glass French doors that lined the room. Through the doors was a large veranda that was dimly lit with burning torches. I saw a few couples off in the distance taking walks in the garden below.

  “It’s a fine night, Mrs. Turner” I heard a voice say behind me.

  I didn’t have to turn to know who it was. I knew immediately.

  “Yes, it is Mr. Grace,” I said.

  “How long have you been a widow?” he asked.

  I turned and looked at him in shock, “Mr. Grace that is not an entirely proper question!”

  “I’m not a proper gentleman,” was his response. He arched an eyebrow at me and moved closer to me.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Being improper,” he whispered as he moved closer. His chest brushed across me and leaned over looking down at me. I gasped as he rubbed his body against me. I felt aroused and the amount of desire I felt for this stranger was making me anxious. Then he leaned closer. His lips brushed across mine softly. A soft whimper left my body. Then he pressed stronger against my lips in a full kiss. His tongue explored my mouth and I let him. I knew we could get caught at any moment and then I would be cast out of society as a harlot. In the moment, however, I did not care. I leaned into the kiss. I let my breasts rest against his chest. I reached my arms up and around his neck and ran my fingers through his thick dark hair. His arms circled my waist and he pulled me in close. I needed to pull away and soon. I needed to stop him from doing this to me. I indulged myself for a few more seconds and then I pushed him away. I stopped and looked around quickly. I could not see anyone looking at us, so I think we were in the clear. I straitened my dress and ran my hand on my head fixing my hair.

  “Don’t worry I think your reputation is still intact,” he said as he looked around.

  I narrowed my eyes at him. I was angry that he would take such a risk with me and then brush it off so playfully.

  “If you’ll excuse me Mr. Grace. Please do not follow me inside. It will look bad,” I said as I walked back into
the ballroom.

  I looked around and saw that no one set of eyes were on me. I was safe. I walked through the ballroom and into one of the many side rooms that were set up with tables for sitting and eating. I found my sister Abigail and sat at an open seat next to her.

  “My Regina you do look flushed,” she said.

  “Oh, it must be all the dancing. I just need to rest a bit,” I said trying to avoid eye contact with her. I did not want her to see through me.

  “Oh there’s Mr. Grace. He is a fine dancer is he not Regina? I saw you two dancing and dancing. I know you won’t want to hear it, but I think you make a handsome couple,” she giggled.

  “Shhh… here he comes,” I said trying to make her quiet down.

  “Mr. Grace are you enjoying the ball?” she asked in a most giddy way while looking at me and not him.

  I was mortified.

  “I am Mrs. Wallston, thank you for inquiring. May I join you two lovely ladies at this table?”

  “Yes, of course. My husband is talking business with one of his acquaintances and will be back shortly. You can entertain us with your tales of adventure until he returns,” she said motioning to the empty seat near me.

  “Adventures?” I asked.

  “Oh yes, Mr. Grace works with the East India Trading Company and often accompanies the ships on their voyages. Don’t you Mr. Grace? My husband has told me you have many grand adventure stories,” she said.

  Oh that was just perfect I thought to myself. He was a rogue adventurer. He was the type of man that would never settle down or be tamed. It was a hopeless case.

  “Yes, I do accompany the trades sometimes. I have been to very exotic places and experienced many cultures,” he said.

  I could only imagine what he was doing with the women of those cultures and all over the world.

  Then William joined us at the table.

  “Mr. Grace are you telling the women about your adventures? Do not pay any attention to this man, it is how he charms everyone,” he said playfully.

  The servants set down dishes of small game hen and potatoes in front of us. I was famished from all the dancing and I was happy to have any distraction from Mr. Grace’s eyes on me. I ate quietly while the gentlemen talked and congratulated themselves on their latest achievements. I rolled my eyes at all of it. Though I wouldn’t admit to myself that the longer I heard tales of Mr. Grace’s adventures and achievements, the more I wanted him. He was a man. He was a real man of bravery and strength. It was a very attractive quality. After I ate I started on the wine. I needed to numb myself from the desire I was feeling. We all decided to go back to the ballroom and dance a few more dances. I was sore when Mr. Grace did not ask me to dance again. It was infuriating. So I continued to drink two more glasses of wine. Then he looked at me from across the room. He headed straight for me. I prepared myself for his attentions and then, he did the most annoying thing. He asked a woman sitting directly next to me for the next dance.

  He walked away from me and I watched as he asked another woman to dance. She was stunning. I grabbed a glass of wine off a tray and drank it down, then another, and another.

  I walked around the old vast estate exploring its beauty and history. I was feeling drunk and it was best that I removed myself from company. I walked into the billiards room and it was quiet, but a part of me was secretly hoping I was being followed, and I was.

  “Why are you doing this to me? If you are alone like this then I will not be able to keep my hands off of you,” he said in a breathless whisper. I could tell that he had a lot to drink as well.

  He didn’t give me a chance to answer. He kissed me softly on the lips. He wrapped his arms around me and I kissed him harder. It felt so good to be this close to him.

  He pulled away and said, “I guess we should get back.”

  “Yes,” I responded but I didn’t move.

  His hands went wild exploring every curve of my body. I ran my hand down his trousers and rubbed along his large cock. He moaned and I quieted him down with a “Shhh…we’ll get caught.”

  “Maybe I want to get caught,” he said.

  He kissed me harder and ran his hands over my breasts. I wanted him right then and there. If I weren’t wearing a gown with lots of material and underthings I probably would have.

  I finally tore myself away from him. It wouldn’t be right to get caught. I would not humiliate my sister and her husband like this.

  “Don’t go,” I heard him say behind me but I was already gone.

  The rest of the evening was torture. I only wanted to be with Mr. Grace. I only wanted his strong arms on me over and over again. When it was time to leave I was more than happy to go. Abigail and William were both as intoxicated as I was. We were a merry party in the carriage on the way back to our house. Abigail and William laughed and joked and poked fun of people at the party. I was glad they were in such high spirits because it kept them from noticing the glances that Mr. Grace and I were exchanging. It was very sexual. He winked at me and I licked my lips quickly but seductively.

  The carriage pulled in front of the house and we stepped out of the carriage. Mr. Grace extended his hand to help me out of the carriage and he did not quickly let go. We made our way into the parlor where a roaring fire and a few delicacies were waiting for us. We sat and talked and had a few more libations.

  As it grew later, Abigail and William left Mr. Grace and I unattended. They said their goodnights and gave us knowing glances. I felt exposed but I was feeling drunk and did not care as much as I normally would. I sat on the plush bench and Mr. Grace came and sat next to me. He looked into my eyes and smiled. I couldn’t help myself anymore. I pushed my face on his and kissed him. It was a sloppy kiss. I was drunk.

  Mr. Grace pulled away from me and said, “Lovely I think you’ve had too much wine.”

  I felt silly and humiliated. I pouted like a child. That was all I remembered.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Black Out

  A few hours later I woke up in my bed. What? How did I get here? I got up out of bed and noticed that I was dressed in a white silk nightgown. I definitely did not put that on. I didn’t remember climbing into bed. Then I remembered I had made a fool of myself. I sat down in embarrassment. How dare he though. How could he not take advantage of me in my drunken state like a normal hot-blooded male? Did he not know I was a widow? I worked myself up into a fury. I paced the room thinking about it. I was no longer drunk and I was thinking clearly. I got so worked up that I thought it was okay to leave my room and storm into his to tell him off. I opened the door and stomped down the hall. I came to a large wooden door at the end of the hall and realized I had never been in his room. That thought only held me back for a second before I opened the door and stormed in. I thought he would be asleep but he was not. He was sitting up in bed reading a book with a bedside lamp lit.

  From the look on his face, I had startled him, but it quickly faded into that unnerving smirk that I loved and loathed.

  “Yes? Are you lost?” he said playfully.

  I went off. “I wasn’t that drunk! I was fine. You wouldn’t kiss me, and I don’t understand why. You had been kissing me all night at the ball. How did I get into my bed? And who put this nightgown on me? Did you take off my clothes?”

  He laughed. I was even more annoyed at the sound of his laugh as he made fun of me.

  “Well if you were not drunk then you should know the answers to all those questions, shouldn’t you?”

  I opened my mouth to continue yelling at him but he was right. “Well, I’m not drunk now Mr. Grace.” I stood up straight and proud and was huffing in a childish way.

  “No, you are not, and call me Antonio, not Mr. Grace.” Antonio stood up from his bed. He was completely naked and he was hard. My mouth dropped open from the shock of looking at him. His wide shoulders were square and flowed into his strong long lean arms. His chest was covered in light brown fuzz but not too much. The trail of it went down, down, into a darker m
ound that surrounded his large pink cock. His strong thighs flowed into his long legs and his posture made him look like he was a proud beast. I nearly fainted.

  He took a few strides to me and planted a kiss on my lips. I could scarcely breath I was so caught off guard. He pulled away and looked at me, waiting for me to protest. I did not.

  He picked me up cradling me like a baby. He threw me on the bed and I let out a little whimper as I bounced off the mattress.

  “I wouldn’t take advantage of a drunk woman, but since you are sober now. I have no control over myself,” he said as he climbed on top of me like a predator over prey.

  I didn’t care anymore. All sense of propriety completely disappeared. I could not stand it anymore. I needed him and I needed him now.

  Antonio moved his face over mine and we locked eyes. I breathed in deeply and felt a sudden bittersweet feeling come over me. His lips were on mine and kissing and brushing across them sweetly. I was now focused on that sensation.

  “Regina, you’re so beautiful.”

  I pulled him closer to me. I wound my fingers in his hair. I pecked kisses on his cheeks, over his forehead, and on his closed eyelids. I just wanted to be affectionate all over him.

  “What do you want me to do?” he asked.

  “Kiss me here,” I placed my fingers on the sensitive spot of my neck.

  He kissed me and licked me. I moaned in response to him.

  “Now where?” he asked again.

  “Here,” I said placing my fingers down my silk nightgown between my breasts.

  Antonio moved his lips down my neck and onto my chest. He gently kissed me between my breasts.

  “And now?” he asked.

  “Take off my nightgown,” I breathlessly whispered to him.

  Antonio maneuvered himself to my legs and slowly pulled the nightgown up passed my knees, up my thighs and under the curve of my bottom. He let his hand slide on my belly as he lifted it and up over my breast. I lifted my head to let him remove it from me completely. My body was already responding to him as I felt myself grow wetter every second.