by L. Rosario
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The Wild Rose Press
www.thewildrosepress.com
Copyright ©2006 by Lora Darling
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NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.
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Praise for L. Rosario's erotic vampire romances
"Blood Ritual ... has what one looks for in a longer novel compressed into a short story. Miss Rosario keeps you breathless with every step Sylvia takes in the ritual to become ... queen. At the same time, you yearn to see more when you find yourself at the last line.” Reviewed by: Debbie for FALLEN ANGEL REVIEWS
"(Bound by Blood) is full of highly charged sexual emotions that will have you tingling all over. Ivy and Benedict burn for each other and you will enjoy every moment reading about them. (L. Rosario) manages to keep her readers engrossed in every page of this story. You will thoroughly enjoy this book; so do not hesitate in reading it."
Candy Cay: Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance and Karen Find Out About New Books
"You aren't leaving, are you?"
"Let's go over here, Becca, and leave the spoil sport to her own devices."
To Sera's horror, Becca allowed Jen to lead her away. Fine, if they didn't want to be with her, she'd leave. She turned back toward the door, only to have her way blocked by a solid male body. She stumbled to a halt, stared at the open collar of his dark brown shirt, then lifted her gaze slowly to his face. Her heart, which most definitely never raced, sped up and flipped over as she recognized Valentino from his pictures on the website. He had been handsome online, in a poster boy sort of way, but in the flesh he was staggering.
"You aren't leaving are you?"
Sera searched for her voice and forced it out past the lump in her throat. “Um..."
Valentino smiled, showing a set of dimples and a mouth full of perfect white teeth. “I'll take that as a no.” He reached for her and slipped his fingers around her elbow. “Can I get you a drink?"
"Shouldn't you be working?"
His smile grew, and he jerked his head to toss a few sable locks out of his eyes. His hair had a natural wave to it that was really sexy, and his eyes were deep chocolaty brown. “I have a few minutes before I need to clock in, and I thought I should spend them convincing the sexiest woman in the place to stay a little longer."
Captive Fantasy
by
L. Rosario
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Captive Fantasy
COPYRIGHT ©
2006 by Lora Darling
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Contact Information: [email protected]
Cover Art by R.J.Morris and Lora Darling
The Wild Rose Press
PO Box 706
Adams Basin, NY 14410-0706
Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com
Publishing History
First Scarlet Rose Edition, November 2006
Print ISBN 1-60154-026-4
Published in the United States of America
Dedication
For Diana, my wonderful editor. Thank you for believing in this story and for wanting to see it in print as much as I did. I'm proud to call you my friend.
And of course, my husband, your love gives me the courage to dream!
Chapter One
"I have a solution to your problem."
Seraphina Scala looked down from her perch high atop the library's shelving ladder and found her friend and coworker, Becca, staring up at her. “What problem?"
Becca rolled her eyes and glanced around before answering. “Your problem.” She moved closer to the base of the ladder. “You know? The one you told me about the other day."
Oh, Sera knew, and she had regretted that little conversation from the moment it ended. So much for hoping Becca had forgotten about it. Climbing down from the ladder, she met her friend face to face. “I did not tell you about that in order for you to discover a solution."
"Nevertheless, here.” Becca shoved what looked to be two tickets toward Sera. “They're for tonight."
Sera took the tickets, read the name emblazoned across the front, then gaped at Becca. “You've got to be kidding?"
Becca shook her head, causing her wild red curls to bounce around her cheeks. “Nope, no joke. We'll bug out of here early and get there before midnight."
Sera shoved the tickets back. “No, we won't.” She turned away and grabbed another stack of books. Becca huffed and then jumped between her and the ladder.
"Why so set against it? Don't you want to have an orgasm?"
Sera nearly dropped the books. “Keep your voice down,” she hissed.
Never mind that the library was closed, and they were the only two still here. For two years they had shared the “graveyard shift” as Becca called it. They came in a half hour before the big old library closed and worked through the night to get it ready for the next day. Sera loved the quiet peace of the vacant library. Becca tolerated it, but she took classes during the day, so she didn't have a choice.
"You are too uptight for your own good, Sera, that's why you've never had an—"
"Enough! I get it, Becca, so stop saying it."
Becca giggled behind her hand and stepped aside to allow Sera to climb the ladder. Her voice followed her the whole way up. “We're going tonight, whether you want to or not, and Jen is going to meet us there."
"You'll have to hog tie me and drag me there against my will."
Becca clucked her tongue in disgust. “Finish putting those away and then meet me in the computer room. I'll show you tons of reasons why you will not have to be forced to go to Captive Fantasy.” With that, Becca walked away on the tiny tips of her ridiculously high heels.
Sera shook her head. No matter what the website offered, she wouldn't agree to go. Captive Fantasy—although touted as the greatest experience a woman could have in San Francisco—was nothing more than a glorified strip club. She really doubted sitting in a room full of drooling women while a guy gyrated in front of her was going to solve her problem. It was a problem she'd had for over 300 years, after all, and things like that didn't get fixed in one night.
But Becca didn't know that because Sera had been hiding an even bigger secret than the fact that she'd never had an orgasm during sex.
She'd been hiding the fact that she was a vampire.
* * * *
Becca was already tapping away at the computer when Sera strolled into the room. She beamed and waved toward the screen. “Come here and take a look. I dare you not to see something that gets your blood flowing faster."
Sera rolled her eyes and moved to stand behind Becca's chair. The computer screen flashed a red scrolling banner with the words Captive Fantasy written on it. Becca clicked on one of the twinkling stars at the top of the page, marked “the men,” and another page opened. Tiny thumbnail pictures began to fill the screen, and Becca glanced up and over her shoulder. “Do you prefer light haired guys or dark?"
"Does it matter?"
Becca sighed and turned back to the computer. “We'll
say blond, since you're so dark.” She clicked on the third row of thumbnails, prompting another page to show the headshots larger. At least a dozen beautiful men stared out from the screen. “See anyone you like?"
Sera wanted to say no and walk away, but she knew how Becca was once she had a bone between her teeth. Squinting at the screen, Sera focused on one guy with bright blue eyes and a slightly crooked nose. “He's cute.” She tapped the screen with her nail, and Becca immediately clicked the picture.
"Stefano,” Becca read once the guy's face filled more than half the monitor. “Says here, he's good with his hands,” she snickered and glanced back. “If I click on the star, we can see him naked."
Sera reeled back from the chair. “Oh my God, Becca, this is ridiculous.” She blushed, despite how difficult it was for a vampire to do so.
Becca took it upon herself to click on the star, and in seconds Stefano was displayed in all his glory. No woman, dead or otherwise, could have possibly not looked. “Well, I'll be,” Becca breathed and leaned closer to the screen.
Sera's blush intensified. If this kept up she'd need a little snack.
"I have never seen a man built like that.” Becca moved the cursor and clicked another star. Stefano, in another provocative pose, appeared before their eyes. “Admit he's hot, Sera."
"He's hot,” Sera said robotically. Of course the guy was hot. He was paid to be hot. That didn't mean watching him strip would make her come.
Becca backed out of Stefano's pictorial and aimed for another blond. “Raphael."
If possible, Raphael was hotter than Stefano. Of course Becca clicked the necessary star to see him naked and Sera gasped. “That can't be real."
Becca glared over her shoulder. “According to Jennifer, these guys are very real and much more impressive in person."
"We'll see about that."
Becca's eyes blazed with triumph. “Does that mean you agree to go?"
Nothing like walking right into a trap. Sera pulled her gaze from Raphael and reached around Becca to take control of the mouse. “Let's see what else there is."
Becca giggled, and they spent the next hour clicking on various thumbnails. Eventually, they each had a favorite. For Becca, it was Raphael. For Sera, it was a dark haired guy named Valentino. Becca shut down the computer. “Let's hope they're both working tonight."
"Let's hope Mr. Henry doesn't figure out how we were using the computer.” That would be beyond mortifying.
"He never comes in here,” Becca assured her. “Let's get the rest of the shelving done, so we can bug out early enough to go home and change."
Sera glanced down at her practical black slacks and white blouse. “What does a girl wear to a place like Captive Fantasy?"
"Something sexy.” Becca left the room without looking back.
Sera had been afraid that would be the answer. She didn't do sexy.
* * * *
Jennifer was waiting for them in front of the club. She was dressed in tiny cuffed shorts, a halter top, and a pair of killer stilettos; all in black. With her long blonde hair, big brown eyes and wide smile, she looked exactly like Jessica Simpson. Damn her. She frowned at Sera. “You've got to be kidding. Jeans?” She then looked at Becca, who was dressed in a sparkly, emerald-green, mini dress. “You let her wear jeans?"
Becca shrugged. “It was all she had, trust me."
Sera saw nothing wrong with her outfit. The dark wash jeans were tight and low cut, she'd allowed Becca to convince her to leave several of the buttons undone on her black blouse, and her black lace bra peeked out as a result. Surely she didn't look that bad? Her boots even had heels. “I promise to go with you the next time you guys make a run to sluts are us, okay?"
Jennifer was not amused. She spun around and headed for the door.
Becca shot Sera a dark look. “Must you irritate her?"
"Must she belittle me?"
"It's her way."
"Well I don't like it,” Sera admitted.
Jennifer glanced back with an impatient look as she reached the door. “Coming?"
Becca grabbed Sera's hand and dragged her toward the entrance. “Try to have a good time, okay?"
Sera began to nod, then froze as she came face to face with fantasy land. The club was not at all what she had expected. There were no large round tables, no bar, and no stage. Where did the guys dance then?
Women, all dressed in the same vain as Jennifer and Becca, milled around with drinks in their hands. Their mixed voices caused a low drone of noise that actually hurt Sera's sensitive ears. This was why she avoided clubs. The sounds and smells were just too much for a vampire, not to mention all the heartbeats.
As a rule, she didn't drink from humans, but at one time, she had. It was too easy to remember the feel of flesh pinched between her teeth and warm blood dripping down her throat. The need to escape this place increased by the second.
Becca tugged her hand and she had no choice but to move deeper into the club. The sharp smell of incense clogged her senses and made her flinch. Piled on top of the droning voices, she could hear liquid dripping and wood scraping against wood. Other sounds reached her as well, but she refused to identify them. The thought that there might be rattling chains somewhere left her more than a tad uneasy.
"They are with me,” Jennifer said to the doorman.
Sera pulled her gaze from the unusual environs and focused on the large man holding his hand out for their tickets. At first glance she thought he was naked, but then she noticed the flesh toned pouch cupping his genitalia. Good God! She yanked her eyes away, and Becca laughed softly at her side.
"Do you recognize him?” she whispered in Sera's ear.
Sera refused to take another look, so she shook her head.
"It's Stefano."
A quick peek out the corner of her eye confirmed Becca's observation. He had his longish blond hair pulled back in a low ponytail and it changed the angles of his face just enough to make him slightly unrecognizable. He felt her gaze and looked at her with his bright blue eyes. Sera ducked her head and the sound of low masculine laughter poured over her.
"Enjoy your night, ladies,” Stefano said.
"Oh, we will,” Jennifer piped back.
Sera wasn't so sure that all three of them would. She hadn't even made it past the door and already she felt horribly uncomfortable. Maybe she'd slip away once Jen and Becca were distracted by the performers. She looked around the club, but didn't see any. Hmm. Her senses were definitely picking up the unmistakable musk of man, so she knew they were here somewhere. Maybe they filed out together in a parade of sorts? Maybe the show just hadn't started yet?
"I'm going to get a drink,” Jen announced, then headed away without waiting to see if Becca or Sera might follow. They didn't.
"So what do we do now?"
Becca scanned the club and gave a little shrug. “I don't know."
Just then, the buzz of conversation shifted. The strong flavor of anticipation hung in the air, and Becca and Sera looked around to see what had caused the commotion. A guy, dressed in a black tuxedo, strolled into the center of the milling women and lifted a microphone to his lips. He was gorgeous enough to be the first performer, and Sera realized she was holding her breath.
Would the tuxedo come off a piece at a time? Would he take the clip out of his long black hair and let it drift down over his bare shoulders? Would he find her hungry gaze among the crowd and dance his way in her direction? She blushed as the last thought formed.
"Welcome to Captive Fantasy, ladies,” the man announced. A smattering of clapping followed, and he waited for silence. “I do hope you've all had ample time to glance through your brochures."
Sera met Becca's gaze and mouthed, “What brochure?"
Becca shrugged then slid her glance behind Sera. She motioned with her head, and Sera turned to find Stefano at her back. He held out two shiny brochures. “You forgot these.” He winked and slipped away.
Sera looked at the brochure and
saw all the same headshots that had been on the website. Good lord, it was like a catalogue.
"Do we just choose and point, do you figure?"
She didn't know, so she let Becca's question go unanswered. The man with the microphone pulled their attention back to the center of the club.
"If it is your first visit tonight, I suggest you take the time to allow the gentlemen to get to know you, before making your selections. For those of you who have been here before, you know where to go and what to do.” He lowered the microphone and gave a little bow.
Sera looked away from the women splitting up into tiny groups. “This place is creepy."
Becca shrugged. “Let's stick around long enough to see the guys, okay?"
"Where did Jennifer go?” Sera didn't see anything that resembled a bar, but obviously the drinks had come from somewhere.
"She comes here all the time, so she must know where to go and what to do."
"I'm right here,” Jennifer said behind them. She smiled at their startled expressions and held up her little glass. “I told you I was getting a drink."
"Where?” Sera demanded. “There isn't any bar."
"Are you going to question everything that happens tonight, Sera?” Jen's tone made it clear how annoying the prospect was.
Sera bit her tongue and looked away.
"Let's go over here, Becca, and leave the spoil sport to her own devices."
To Sera's horror, Becca allowed Jen to lead her away. Fine, if they didn't want to be with her, she'd leave. She turned back toward the door, only to have her way blocked by a solid male body. She stumbled to a halt, stared at the open collar of his dark brown shirt, then lifted her gaze slowly to his face. Her heart, which most definitely never raced, sped up and flipped over as she recognized Valentino from his pictures on the website. He had been handsome online, in a poster boy sort of way, but in the flesh he was staggering.
"You aren't leaving are you?"
Sera searched for her voice and forced it out past the lump in her throat. “Um..."
