Tainted (Vastow Vampires Book 1)

by J Johnson

  It’s fifteen minutes before eight before we finally settle on something. Not something I would have picked myself, but much better than the other one she was trying to force me to put on. Another long sleeve shirt with a miniskirt. This time there are no leggings and instead of boots, I’m wearing heels.

  “Just don’t let him touch your legs.”, she says. “He shouldn’t be touching you, anyway. Unless you want him to. He is sexy as hell.”

  “Okay.”, I let out a breath and ignore her comment. “How do I look?”

  “You look amazing as always.” She glances at the clock and starts shooing me out the door. “You need to go. You’re probably already going to be a few minutes late.”

  “Maybe I should cancel. We could do it another night.”

  “Oh no, you don’t. Go. Have fun. Smile.”, she says. “You deserve to have some fun, Ash. Go have some.”

  If I thought my nerves were bad before, I was so wrong. The urge to barf is so strong I’m not sure I can walk to the door. I take a few deep breaths, hoping it’ll help, but it doesn’t. Not even a little.

  This is it, Ash. Either get out of the car and go inside or leave and never look back.

  I debate on putting the car in drive and taking off, but force myself to get out instead. Zoe is right. I’m never going to have anything or anyone if I don’t take a risk every once in a while. What’s the worst that can happen? I pace in front of the door before finally turning to open it. I scream when I see him standing on the other side staring at me. He opens it up and frowns a bit.

  “I didn’t mean to scare you. You look amazing.”

  “Thank you.”, I reply.

  It’s actually more of a squeak. I can feel my cheeks heating, which embarrasses me again, which only makes them heat faster. He doesn’t seem to notice, or he’s too polite to say anything, which I’m grateful for. I’m having a hard-enough time as it is.

  “Follow me. I hope you like Italian.”

  “Italian’s good.”

  He takes me to the same room we were in before, but this time he’s set up a small table with two chairs in the middle of the room. The food is already prepared and served along with two glasses of wine. Once seated I take another deep breath to calm my nerves.

  “Everything looks nice.”, I start, not exactly sure what to say. What do people talk about on dates?

  “Thanks.”, he smiles then touches my hand from across the table. “Relax, Ashlyn. You look like you’re about to hurl.”

  The vision that would usually start doesn’t. I’m torn between being freaked out that he’s different somehow and excited because I can actually touch someone.

  “Is it that obvious? Sorry. I’m just a little nervous.”

  Again, I don’t know how I’m talking without stuttering and sounding like an idiot. With him, everything is different.

  “No reason to be nervous. We’re just having dinner and getting to know each other. Why don’t you tell me what you do for a living?”

  He picks up his fork and takes a bite of his food, giving me the push I need to take a bite of my own. It tastes fantastic, but I’m not really that hungry. I eat it anyway, so not to be rude.

  “Did you make this?”, I ask.

  “I did.”

  “You can cook.”

  “Does that surprise you?”

  “Honestly, yes. You don’t meet very many men that can cook. Not well anyway.”

  He smiles and nods. “So back to my question. What do you do for a living?”

  “I’m a social worker.”

  “Interesting. Do you like it?”

  “I love it. I love helping people, especially children. What about you?” He looks up from his plate and raises a brow at me. “Right. The tattoo shop. Sorry.”

  He chuckles at me, then takes another bite of his food. The way he chews it distracts me, and all I can focus on is his mouth.

  “What else do you do? Any hobbies or anything? Children?”

  I’m so focused on his mouth that what he says doesn’t register for a minute. I snap my head back down to my plate and focus on the food.

  “I don’t really have any hobbies. I volunteer at the local hospital where Zoe works. Most of the time I stay home and read. And no. I have no children. What about you?”

  “I like to draw. One reason I opened the tat shop. And no. No children here either.”

  We remain silent for a few minutes while we eat. A million questions are running through my head, but none of them seem appropriate for a first date.

  The question I always come back to is why he doesn’t cause visions and why I can’t hear his thoughts. I open up my mind again, just to be sure. I hear our utensils hitting our plates. I hear soft music coming from somewhere behind me. I hear the air conditioner kick on, but no voices. It’s so strange.

  “Are you okay?”, he asks, making my head snap up. The minute our eyes meet, I suck in a breath.

  What did he say?

  “I’m sorry. What?”

  “I asked if you were okay. It seems like you have something on your mind.”

  “Why did you ask me to come here?”

  “Because I wanted to get to know you.”

  “Yeah, you said that already, but why. I’m not what most people go for, so I’m just wondering why me.”

  Again, I’m surprised at how bold I am. Normally I would just run away like a small frightened child. One time I crouched in a corner because two guys were yelling at each other and I thought they were going to fight.

  “You intrigue me, Ashlyn. From the moment I saw you in the alley, something drew me to you, and I intend on finding out why. Does that bother you?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “You don’t go out on a lot of dates, do you?”, he chuckles. I feel my face heat again and I glance down at my plate. “That wasn’t meant to be rude or anything. I like the fact that you’re so shy. It’s cute.”

  “Cute is for puppies.”

  “True, but I just said that I find your shyness cute. Which makes me wonder why you came here tonight. I was certain you wouldn’t. What changed your mind?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You can do better than that.”, he winks at me. I’m almost certain I just drooled a little.

  “I don’t know. There’s just something about you.”

  He nods as if he understands what I’m saying, even though I don’t understand it myself.

  “Then we owe it to ourselves to find out what that something is. Don’t you think?”

  “I guess.”

  “You are exquisite, Ashlyn.”

  “Thanks.”, I mumble, then blush every shade of red known to mankind. If I keep blushing like this, he’s going to think I have a skin condition.

  “You’re welcome.”, he smiles.

  My God, he’s gorgeous.

  After dinner, he offers me the sofa and asks if I want a drink. I take it, hoping it will take the edge off a little and calm my nerves that are still making me somewhat nauseous. I don’t know how I got through dinner without barfing, but I managed it somehow. When he sits down on the sofa beside me every cell in my body comes to life begging for him to get closer. If I look hard enough, I swear I see a current between us just waiting to connect. My grip on my glass gets tighter as I try to ignore the pull.

  “So, tell me about your friends.”, he says, taking a sip of his dark-colored whiskey. “What do you do for fun?”

  “I only have a few friends. Zoe mainly.”, I tell him, then think about Jordan. “And Jordan too, I guess.”

  “You guess? Does that mean he might be something more than a friend?” His eyebrows raise as he waits for my answer.

  “No. Nothing like that. Although he told me he wants more. But I don’t think it’s a good idea. Not only is he a friend, but he’s also my boss at the hospital.”

  “I think you made a wise choice. Dating co-workers is never a good idea. Not to mention, if you had, then we may not be sitting here right now.”r />
  The grin that spreads across his face does something to my insides, making me squirm in my seat.

  Holy cow. Get a grip, Ash. He’s just a man. A sexy, I want to jump his bones kind of man, but still… just a man.

  To change the subject off of Jordan, I ask him the same question about his friends.

  “I don’t have any friends.”

  “I highly doubt that. You must at least have one friend.”

  “Nope.” He’s shaking his head. “Friends cause nothing but trouble most of the time, so I try not to get involved in too many people’s lives. It’s better that way.”

  “What about JJ out there? He seems to be the friendly type.”, I snort. “Or the girl with the green hair. She’s just brimming with friendliness.”

  He laughs and oh boy. The sound of his laughter makes my insides flop around like a fish out of water.

  “Syn is okay. She’s just one of those that has to get used to you before she loses that feistiness you saw. JJ is a tough guy, but a big teddy bear underneath it all. We associate with each other, but in the end, they are just my employees. We don’t hang out or go places as friends do. So, no… They aren’t my friends.”

  “Syn? That’s her name. Like a transgression against the divine? You’re joking.”

  He laughs again. “It’s short for Syndi, but yes, that’s her name.”

  “Figures.”, I mumble.

  I can’t help but imagine the two of them rolling around on his office floor doing sinful things. The idea makes me extremely jealous. I shiver involuntarily at the mere idea of him sleeping with anyone else.

  “Are you cold? I’ve got a blanket.”

  He gets up and I reach out to grab his hand, surprising myself again. When did I become so brazen?

  “No. I’m fine.”

  He looks down at my hand still holding on to his and his expression changes. His eyes turn a darker shade of gray and he pulls on me gently standing me up in front of him. The light hits his eyes exactly right, giving them a shine that almost makes them look like they’re glowing. It’s mesmerizing.

  “Ashlyn.”, he says, his voice raspy.

  We’re so close I can feel the heat from his body. I lose all ability to think or speak. All I can do is feel. And right now, I feel like I’m going to burst into flames. It’s as if I’m locked in his gaze and there’s no escape.

  “Breathe Ashlyn.”, he whispers.

  I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath. I let out a whoosh of air and if that wasn’t embarrassing enough; I start panting. Where our hands are linked, it feels like tiny shocks pulse out of him and into me. With each pulse, they reach further, until eventually it’s all over my body. I know if he were to touch me somewhere else, it would feel the same. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. With his eyes shut, I feel like I can breathe again. Sort of. He takes a step back, releasing my hand. I have to bite my lip to keep from moaning from the loss.

  “Ashlyn.”, he says, opening his eyes again.

  “What’s wrong?”, I ask him. “Did I do something wrong?”

  “No. Never.”

  “Then what is it?”

  Before I realize what’s happening, his lips are on mine. The moment they connect, everything stops around us. I can hear my heart beating wildly in my chest. My arms fall to my sides limp as if saying he has all the control. My body literally has given itself over to him.

  The kiss is soft at first, but then he deepens it, devouring my mouth with his. The next thing I know he has me backed into the nearest wall, caging me in. He breaks away from me, leaving me feeling empty and wanting more.

  His eyes lock with mine and I gasp. They’re glowing. A bright silver in color, lighter than his usual gray. He closes them for a moment. When he looks at me again, they’re back to the normal stormy gray color.

  “Your eyes.”, I stutter. “They were glowing.”

  “I think I may have kissed you senseless.”, he chuckles. “Speaking of. We can’t do that again unless you plan on staying the night with me. I don’t think I can control myself around you.”

  I stare at him wide-eyed, a million things running through my head. Was it a trick of the light that made his eyes look like they were glowing? Why can’t he control himself around me? Holy hell, this man is sexy. I want him to kiss me again. If I kiss him will he kiss me back or will he turn away? Maybe I should go home.

  Without thinking about or even realizing what I’m doing, I step forward, put my hands on the back of his neck, and pull him down towards me. When our lips meet again, I moan into his mouth spurring him on.

  His hands run down my sides, around my back, then to my ass. He backs me into the wall again, moving his hands back to my face gently cupping it. His lips leave mine and I moan in protest, but only for a second. They find my neck and I moan again in sweet relief.

  “Ashlyn.”, he growls against my skin. “We have to stop or I’m going to carry you to my bed and ravish you all night long.”

  A shiver runs through me at the mere thought of him ravishing me. It sounds intoxicating. I squirm brushing my body against his making him groan. Suddenly my feet leave the floor and I wrap my legs around his waist. He pushes himself against me, making us both moan with pleasure.

  “We have to stop.”, he growls again.

  “Don’t stop.” My voice sounds foreign. Raspy, needy. “Please.”

  I pull him towards me and take his mouth again. I want more. I want all of him and I want it now. Something is happening to me, but I don’t care, nor do I take the time to figure it out. All I know is that if I don’t have this man right now, I just might die.

  “Fuck, Ashlyn. Are you sure you want to do this?” He nibbles on my neck, making it hard to think straight.

  “Yes. No. Oh, God. I can’t think straight.”

  He stills immediately and puts me down. I slide down his body slowly, only making it worse for both of us. He walks to the other side of the room where the bar is and pours himself a drink. He downs it, then turns back to me.

  “As much as I would love to take you to my bed, I can’t. Not until you are sure. I’m not that kind of guy love.”

  “Okay.”, I reply, still glued to the wall. Honestly, I’m afraid to move for fear that I will go straight to him and wrap myself around him again. “So now what?”

  “I’m trying really hard not to cross this room and pick up where we left off, so I propose that we call it a night for now.”

  “Okay.”

  My vocabulary has left me, apparently. I force myself to move, grab my purse and head for the door. Before I can it open, however, he’s right behind me trapping against it. I turn to look into those beautiful eyes again and forget to breathe.

  “Come back tomorrow. Eight o’clock.”, he whispers. “Please.”

  I nod, not able to speak. He leans down giving me a quick but gentle kiss, then steps back allowing me to leave.

  If I thought for one second that I’d be able to bask in the amazing evening I just had alone, I was sadly mistaken. As soon as I get inside my tiny apartment, my phone rings.

  “Hi, Zoe.”, I answer, ready for the barrage of questions.

  “So how was it? Did you have a good time? Was he a gentleman? Ooh, did you lose your v-card?”

  “Okay. Slow down.”, I laugh. “One thing at a time.”

  “Well, don’t leave me hanging here. What happened?”

  “It was…”, I start. I can’t think of an appropriate word to describe what happened. “It was extraordinary.”

  “Ooh. Do tell.”

  “We had dinner. We talked a little then…” My mind wanders back to the heated exchanges that took place. I have to bite my lip to keep from moaning into the phone. That would be embarrassing.

  “Then what?”, she asks.

  “Then he kissed me. It was amazing.”

  For the next hour, we talk about my date with Zane and the fact that I have another one tomorrow night. She was a little weary about not being able
to hear his thoughts or see his future, but no more than I am. I still don’t know what to make of it. When I finally get her off the phone, I fall down in the bed exhausted. The last thing I see before drifting off to sleep is stormy gray eyes.

  “Ashlyn.”

  “Ashlyn.”

  My eyes search the room for the culprit. There’s nothing. Nothing but darkness. The tiniest sliver of light beams through a crack in the curtain from the moon. My heart beats frantically as I wonder if I’m crazy.

  “Ashlyn.”

  My head snaps to the left, looking in the corner. The smallest movement catches my eye and I crawl further up the bed. Then I realize who it is. Zane.

  “You scared the shit out of me.”

  He chuckles. “I didn’t mean to scare you, love.”

  “Why are you here? How did you get in?”, I ask him.

  In the back of my mind, I can’t help but wonder why I’m not scared of the fact he’s here in the middle of the night while I sleep. My only thought is, why isn’t he over here with me?

  “I couldn’t stand another minute of not seeing you. I had to see you.”, he says while strolling towards me. “If you want me to leave, then all you have to do is tell me. Tell me to leave Ashlyn. Tell me.”

  My breathing changes the closer he gets and once again I can’t think straight. My brain is yelling to tell him to leave, but I can’t seem to form the words. At the same time, my body is begging me to grab him and pull him in the bed. I pull the covers back and will him to get in beside me.

  He rips his clothes off except his boxers and climbs in. The next thing I know, he’s on top of me with his lips on mine. I desperately try to get my shirt off and finally he helps me. He throws it on the floor and looks down at my hardened nipples.

  “So beautiful.”, he mumbles.

  Suddenly, the window breaks. Glass flies everywhere, including the bed. Blood trickles down my arm from a piece that’s embedded in my skin. A shadowy figure stands at the end of the bed with something in his hand. Zane moves fast across the bed and tackles him to the floor. The sounds of punches, grunts, and groans fill the room as I scoot up the bed away from the melee.