Burn Falls

by Kimberly Knight

  “I know, and I’ll answer them as we get you ready for bed.”

  “Shower then bed.”

  “Can I join?” I smirked.

  She raised her head from my chest and looked directly into my dark eyes for a few breaths. “Draven …”

  “Calla, it’s me. Just because you now know what I truly am, shouldn’t make things different.”

  She closed her green eyes briefly. “It doesn’t. I’m just in shock.”

  “I understand. Let me make it up to you.” I grinned again.

  Calla swallowed hard, and then she took a deep breath. “Okay.”

  “Lead the way, sweets.”

  “Are you going to drink my blood?”

  I chuckled. “Only if you want to have sex.”

  Calla stopped right before the door of the bathroom. “Why do you need to feed to have sex?”

  I smirked and looked down, suggesting that I needed to get hard. “The blood needs to flow through my veins.”

  “Oh. So, your blood isn’t pumping unless you drink blood?”

  “Hence why I’m always cold.”

  “Right.” She sighed. “And while the idea of shower sex with you is appealing, I don’t think I’m ready for you to feed off of me.”

  “I don’t think you’re ready either.”

  I wasn’t even sure I was ready. What if her blood was my kryptonite? What if I couldn’t stop once I started? The night before, I’d got a brief taste, and it was the sweetest I’d ever tasted. Like the cotton candy I remembered having at a fair in 1927. It was safe to still feed from blood bags until we were both ready.

  But there were other things we could do that didn’t involve me getting hard.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  My back slid against the back of the shower wall as Draven took one of my legs and draped it over his shoulder. I flattened my hands against the wall to keep from falling, and the moment Draven’s tongue met my pussy, I sucked in a breath. It was cold, but not like the ice from the night before, maybe because the heat from the water that beat on his back was enough to warm his body past room temperature.

  “Fuck,” he groaned. “Your pussy tastes better than I imagined.”

  I moaned in response to his words and the pleasure building between my legs. How was it that a vampire was giving me oral right now? And how was Draven a vampire? Sure, he’d explained how they came about, but—

  Was this real life?

  Reaching up, Draven caressed my breast as his other hand held me open and his tongue licked up and down my slit. I whimpered when he nibbled my lips between my legs. Each time his tongue fluttered on my clit, it sent vibrations of pleasure through the bud of nerves. Before I realized it, the leg I was standing on started to shake, and then a wave washed over me as the orgasm shot through me.

  “Oh, God,” I gasped.

  My knee gave out, and I started to slip, but Draven’s arms reached up, and he cradled me as I came down. Our naked bodies pressed together as I slid into place to straddle him and his mouth met mine. I tasted myself on him as his tongue slid into my mouth and danced with mine. The water pelted us from above, but we didn’t budge as we kissed and savored the moment.

  When we finished kissing, Draven pressed his forehead to mine. “I can’t believe you didn’t kick me out.”

  I sighed and snuggled into him more, laying my head on his shoulder and turning my head to face him. “How can I fault you for being who you are? You accept me even though I’m overweight.”

  “Being overweight isn’t a curse.”

  “Isn’t it though? Every time I want to stick something in my mouth, I have to think if it will make me gain weight or not.”

  “Don’t humans need to think that way anyway?”

  “Yes, but it’s worse when a slice of bread makes you gain ten pounds.”

  Draven chuckled. “I don’t think that’s true.”

  I rose my head and looked him into his black eyes. “No, it’s not true, but the bigger you are, the more you want to eat. At least for me.”

  He cupped my cheek. “You could eat all the bread in the world and I wouldn’t care. I still like you for who you are.”

  I smiled warmly at him as my heart fluttered at his words. “Really?”

  “You’re beautiful inside and out, Calla.”

  I knew that I was falling in love with him, but I decided to keep that fact to myself. Everything was new between us, and I got the feeling it would be hard to fall in love with a mortal knowing their days were numbered.

  We got out of the shower, and after I’d changed into pajamas and Draven put on his boxers, we crawled into my bed.

  “Do you sleep in a coffin?” I asked.

  “No.” He chuckled. “I sleep in a bed.”

  “In a basement?”

  “In my room.”

  “With foil on the windows?”

  Draven turned me toward him so we were face to face. “I have blackout curtains. I’m not a freak.”

  “There are so many myths that it’s hard to know what’s real. Wait—was there garlic on your steak tonight because I had garlic.”

  “Yes. I can eat garlic.”

  “So what kills you?”

  “Trying to get rid of me so soon?”

  “No, just curious.” I ran my finger along his hard chest. It was still surreal to think that his heart wasn’t beating under my touch.

  “Well, ripping my heart from my chest or a silver stake to the heart will do it.”

  “Not a wooden one?”

  “Some humans think vampires are spawns of the devil, and since Jesus was crucified on a wooden cross, wood will kill us, but it’s a myth.”

  “If it’s a myth and a religious thing, then you shouldn’t need to be invited into a house because I’m assuming it has something to do with possible crucifixes inside the house?”

  “That part is a myth too. We can’t enter homes of humans unless invited by the homeowner or someone who lives there because humans need a safe haven. It has nothing to do with religion, but is simply just a part of the curse.”

  “Oh.” I thought for a moment. “Do you own your house in Burn Falls?”

  “No. Technically, Martin does.”

  “Really?”

  “The vampire that turned me is a bad one. Athan and I fled from the coven in ’32, and if I don’t own a home, he can’t follow me in.”

  My breath caught. “Is he after you?”

  “Not sure. I move every ten years and use different names each time so it’s harder to find me.”

  “Can’t he track you or something?”

  “No. We can only sense and smell other vampires that are in the area.”

  “Well, that’s good. But doesn’t that mean you’ll move soon?”

  “Yes, in five years.”

  “Oh.” I frowned.

  “A lot can happen in five years, sweets.”

  “True.”

  A lot could happen. It had for me already. One minute I was working at a bank, trying to do well and making a living. And now, once the paperwork was filed, I’d be the owner of my family’s distillery.

  “Is Valencia really okay?” I asked after a few moments.

  “We don’t kill humans.”

  “How do you get blood then?”

  “I get them from blood bags. Athan drinks from humans and animals, but he doesn’t kill them.” Draven looked over my shoulder at the clock on my nightstand. “It’s late, and you have work tomorrow. You should get some sleep.”

  “Are you leaving again?”

  He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I have to.”

  “Is Martin bringing you to the airport tomorrow night?”

  “He is.”

  “Would you mind if I do it?”

  Drave
n grinned. “You want to see me off?”

  “I won’t see you for at least a week before I make it to Burn Falls.”

  “That reminds me, did Martin pass the test?”

  “To be my bodyguard?”

  “Yeah.”

  “He did, but I’d rather you do it. I mean, we can drive at night or something now that I know you’re a vampire.”

  “Let me see if I can get my shifts covered. If so, I’ll fly back Friday night, and we can leave then.”

  “Really?” I perked up, lifting my head off the pillow.

  Draven leaned up and kissed me. “Really.”

  After only a few hours of sleep, I made it to work that morning and sent a text to Valencia since I hadn’t heard from her.

  Are you alive?

  I had no idea what Athan had done or said to her, but I believed Draven when he told me that Athan wouldn’t hurt her. Plus, he’d had plenty of opportunities to do just that. But then again, we didn’t know they were hiding the fact they were vampires, and since I was only the third person to know, I figured it was a big deal. A part of me wished that Draven could have trusted me enough with the secret, but we’d only known each other a month and he probably hadn’t wanted to tell me in fear that I’d think he was the one who’d attacked my father—which I had.

  Yes, but I have a hangover from Hell.

  Last night was crazy.

  Was it? I don’t remember much after darts.

  She doesn’t remember much after darts? How was that possible?

  You don’t remember the guys fighting with those assholes?

  What? They got in a fight?

  I stared at her last text. How did she not remember them getting into a fight? How did she not remember me passing out? What did Athan tell her to explain what was happening? Then I remembered how she didn’t remember all of the sex with Athan. Had Athan somehow made Valencia forget what she saw? Why didn’t Draven do that to me? Had he made me forget things in the past? I wanted to call Draven and ask him, but the sun was out, and I knew he’d be sleeping—because my boyfriend was a vampire.

  Yeah, they fought. Maybe you shouldn’t drink so much?

  I swear I didn’t. Maybe Athan roofied me?

  I knew she was making a joke, and normally I would laugh at her. Not this time.

  Why would he need to drug you? Aren’t you giving it up?

  Nightly.

  On my lunch break, I called and spoke to my mother. I’d been checking in with her since leaving Burn Falls, but after learning there was a vampire behind my father’s attack, I wanted to make sure she was okay.

  “Hi, Mom. It’s Calla.”

  “Hey, sunshine. How are you?”

  I took a deep breath. She’d used the nickname my father used to call me. She never did because she was always mad at me for some unknown reason. Then Draven …

  Holy crap! Draven had used his vampire powers to make her be nice to me.

  “I’m fine. If I didn’t have to work the rest of this week, I’d leave now. I’m all packed.”

  “I can’t wait until you return. Ted is drowning in paperwork and he could really use your help.”

  “You’ve seen him?”

  “He comes over every night and has dinner with me.”

  “That’s good.” I was relieved Ted was keeping an eye on her.

  “It is, but he’s not your father.”

  “Of course not.” I smiled tightly and nodded a little. No one would ever be like my father.

  “I miss him every day, Calla.”

  “Me too.” We were silent for a few seconds before I went on. “Can you do me a favor?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Can you not invite any strangers into the house?”

  “What? Why would I invite strangers in?”

  “I don’t know.” I sighed. “Just anyone coming door to door at night.”

  “At night?”

  “Even if it’s a trooper saying he’s working on Dad’s case. Just make sure you know them before you invite them in.”

  “Why would I not let the troopers in?”

  “There shouldn’t be any new ones on his case, right? And I’m worried about you being all alone. We still don’t know why dad was attacked.”

  “I know, it doesn’t make sense, and the troopers keep telling me they have no leads. They think it was someone on drugs who was just passing through.”

  “I wish I could remember what he looked like.” Though from what I knew now, it wouldn’t matter to the troopers. Draven and Athan would need to handle the vampire if we ever figured out who it was and the case would never be closed.

  “Don’t blame yourself, Calla. There’s nothing any of us could do. Maybe someone was trying to rob your father? We might never know, but the entire town is aware and constantly watching.”

  The entire town had been on alert since the moment my father was attacked because that had never happened in Burn Falls. Everything and everyone who was a stranger and appeared suspicious was being reported to the troopers.

  “I know. Just don’t invite strangers in at night, okay? And stay home until I get back and know you’re safe.”

  “I can’t live my life cooped up in this house.”

  “I’m not saying you should. Just go out during the day.”

  “You’re starting to scare me.”

  I took a deep breath. “Good.”

  “Good?”

  “I’m just worried about why Dad was attacked. Maybe it was just someone passing through, but let’s keep looking over our shoulder just in case. I need to get back to work,” I went on. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Bye, sunshine. Talk to you tomorrow.”

  When I got home from work, I ate dinner and waited for the sun to fully set. Once it did, Draven was at my door.

  “Miss me, sweets?”

  I grinned and stepped aside so he could enter. I closed the door. “Yes. I don’t know how I’ll make it to Friday night.”

  He pulled me in for a kiss, cupping my face with his cold hands and pressing his lips to mine. “After Friday, you’ll never have to miss me again.”

  “Except when you’re working an hour away in Anchorage.” I looked up into his dark eyes. “I’ll be working days, and you’ll be working nights.”

  “True, but I get off before the sun rises, and I can always wake you with my mouth.”

  “That might make up for it,” I teased.

  A knock sounded on the door. “It’s Athan,” Draven stated, and I moved to open it.

  “Calla,” Athan greeted.

  “Hey, Athan.”

  “You need to invite him in, sweets,” Draven said, standing beside me.

  “Athan, please come in.”

  He stepped through the threshold. “Thank you. So this is my new digs.”

  “New digs?” I asked.

  “Didn’t Draven tell you? I’m going to be sleeping here while he’s gone.”

  I blinked.

  “I didn’t tell her yet,” Draven said.

  “Tell me what exactly?”

  “I’m your bodyguard.” He went to the couch.

  “My bodyguard?”

  “Not the first time I’ve been here, but it will be the first time I’m allowed inside.”

  My gaze flicked to Draven in question.

  “As you know, we don’t know why the vampire attacked your father, but I’m almost certain he thinks you saw his face and is probably lurking to make his move.”

  My heart stopped. “To kill me?”

  Draven moved closer and pulled me to him so that my head rested on his chest. “It won’t happen. Athan and I have had eyes on you since the night it happened.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. I’m not going to
let anything happen to you.”

  “And neither will I,” Athan boomed from the couch, testing it with his ass as though he was checking the bounce.

  “Wait. How did he get into OBB if he has to be invited in?”

  “Doesn’t work on businesses,” Athan stated.

  “That’s dumb,” I muttered.

  “Not really because if that was the case, then we couldn’t go into any place—ever.”

  “Oh.”

  It was too surreal.

  There was a pang of sadness in my heart as I drove Draven to the airport. I was trying not to let it show, but I was going to miss him. Even if it was for less than four nights.

  “I talked to Valencia today. She doesn’t remember much about last night,” I said looking at Athan in the backseat through the rearview mirror. Apparently, you can see vampires in mirrors.

  “Good,” Draven muttered.

  “Good? Does she know what you two are?”

  “No,” Athan replied, meeting my gaze.

  “No?” I asked, looking at him again through the reflection of the rearview mirror.

  “You haven’t asked about compulsion, sweets. We can compel human minds.”

  “Right, but why didn’t you compel mine?”

  “You can’t be compelled.”

  “What? Why?” I questioned. So Draven had tried to compel me before? When? Why? And why couldn’t I be compelled?

  “We don’t know why.”

  “When did you try to compel me?”

  “The night at the bar.”

  “Why?”

  “We wanted to know more about the attack on your father.”

  “How would compelling me give you that information?” I looked over at Draven and then back at the road.

  “Because we can compel a human to tap into the part of the brain they can’t normally access and find out more details.”

  “Wow,” I breathed. I looked back at Athan again. “So you compelled Valencia to not remember last night?”

  “Parts of it.”

  “Why do you compel her to not remember sex?”

  His eyes widened. “What?”

  “She said that she knows you two have sex, but she can’t remember every detail.”

  Athan smirked. “I only compel her to forget I had to feed from her to—”