by Kiersten Fay
He shrugged. “Maybe you can. Maybe this is just a tiny hitch in your happily ever after. But…”
Arms crossed, she prompted him to continue.
“More likely you won’t be able to, but you won’t tell him that. Not for years at least. Instead, you’ll do everything in your power to convince yourself otherwise. You’ll bottle it up and pretend you’re not secretly resenting him this one night of passion that didn’t involve you. You’ll try to convince yourself that everything is fine, that what happened tonight is in the past and doesn’t matter, but like a weed, that resentment might grow, day by day. Till one day, without you having realized it, it has become this monstrous thing that has consumed you body and soul.”
He leaned back in his chair.
She opened her mouth to argue, but for the life of her, no sound came out. He’d hit on every one of her reservations, every worrisome point Brian had dismissed and downplayed and balked at. And he was one hundred percent right. What Brian wanted, what he was asking of her? It could destroy them before they even had a chance to get started.
“He told me I should find a partner.” Just call me Blurty McBableson. There was no recalling the hastily spoken words. She wasn’t even sure whether they were meant as a defense or an invitation to a door she’d intended to leave closed. Would he step through? Was she mad for even contemplating this?
“That would be one solution. It would keep you both on even ground. In fact, ten to one says he gets jealous.” His eyes turned teasing. “I could call our lion friend back over if you like.”
She cringed. “Please no. Anyone but him.”
He flipped around on the stool and leaned his elbows on the bar, taking in the rest of the room with a lively scan. “Then let’s see. Who should it be? You could have your pick, you know? Most of these fools are just sitting around waiting for a wink and a nod from a pretty dove like you.”
She followed his gaze, playing along. “Alright. How about that one?” she pointed to a spikey-haired man dressed all in faux leather who couldn’t be more than a couple years over twenty.
The vampire shook his head. “The pup? You’d break him like a dried twig.”
“You think?”
He scrutinized her up and down. His slow perusal of her body left her skin heated. “No doubt,” he said confidently.
Moving on, she jerked her chin toward a taller gentleman dressed in a suit and tie. “Him then?”
“Are we preparing taxes or having a last fling?”
She laughed. “Very well, who would you pick?”
As though taking the task very seriously, he rubbed his chin and considered the selection at hand. “That gruff fellow in the corner might be able to handle you.”
She wrinkled her nose. “He looks like he smells of tomato sauce and garlic. What makes you think I’m a lot to handle?”
Again he took her in from head to toe. “Trust me, Little Dove, you’re a pill. I can already tell.”
The moniker sounded sweeter coming from his lips than it had from the Lion King.
The vampire continued scanning the room. “That willowy chap over there looks like he might be able to pull out at least one good night.”
“Only one?”
“Mm. Any more than that and he’ll be ready to introduce you to the parents.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“Hey, I thought we were trying to save your current relationship here.” Something she was starting to question. “Come now, you’re going to have to take this a little more seriously.”
In any case, she was finally starting to have fun. “Serious. Got it.”
One by one, they ticked off every guy in the room, she or the vampire invariably finding one flaw or the other with each of them.
“Looks like there’s no one left,” she concluded. “Any suggestions? Or am I SOL.” She could see where this was going...and she was wildly intrigued.
“Huh. You’re right,” he said, feigning surprise. “We’ve gone through our entire supply. I guess there’s only one thing left for you to do.”
“And what’s that?”
Swirling the whiskey in his glass, he met her gaze. “Me.”
A spark of lust sizzled through her as she tried to keep her cool. “Oh, what a surprise.” Oh, how tempting.
“I don’t do this lightly, mind you. In our short time together I feel we’ve become like this”—he twined his middle and index fingers together—“I dare say I’d call you one of my closest friends.”
She laughed, enchanted by his natural charm and easy humor.
“So if I must, I’ll take one for the team. I’ll step in front of the bullet. I’ll sacrifice myself for the greater good.”
“Sacrifice?!” She feigned an insulted expression.
“For you, Little Dove, I’ll land on the grenade.”
“I’m a grenade now?”
“Oh yes. Any second now you’re going to go off. I think it would be best if you were in my bed when you do.”
“Do you really think I’m going to give in just like that?” Tempting as it was.
He shook his head, losing some of his humor. “No. I think you’re set on turning me down. But before you do, let me tell you how I see this going for you. You’ll probably spend the next hour or so thinking about me, what I can do to you, how I can pleasure you, no strings attached. You’ll debate the pros and cons and you might even realize one night with me really is the perfect solution to your dilemma.
“Sadly, you’re going to talk yourself out of it. You’ll go home and tell yourself you did the right thing. You were a good girl. Except now you’ll have a heavy dose of regret to keep your resentment of Brian company, and after a few years, you’ll begin to think of me, this night, what could have been, and the pleasure I could have brought you. It very well might haunt you for years to come.”
She didn’t respond. How could she when she couldn’t even swallow? Couldn’t catch her breath. Really, what could someone say to that? Instead, she finished off her wine.
He sighed and took a long pull of his drink. “Still, I understand your reservations. I see only one way to decide the right course of action.”
“And that is?” she murmured, setting down her glass.
“As I see it, it’s a matter of chemistry.”
She cocked her head.
He placed his drink on the bar. “We should see if we have any.” He stood and closed the space between them, inserting himself between her legs, his eyes bearing down on her as she stared up at him. She was all but too stunned to react.
“I’m going to kiss you now. If you feel nothing, then there will be no reason to continue. Moreover, as your self-appointed protector for the night, if you want, I will sit here with you, chatting innocently while keeping the wolves at bay.” He leaned closer till their lips were inches apart. His breath caressed her face. “But if you do feel something, I’m going to take you to my private room and make love to your body until we’re both too exhausted to move.”
She gulped, heart thundering in her chest. Her gaze slipped to his lips. They looked soft and firm at the same time. Would they feel warm?
He leaned in and slanted his mouth over hers. The touch was feather light, a tease, a forbidden temptation. It fired her blood as desire shanghaied her every nerve.
She slanted her head, deepening the kiss.
His lips slowly swept along hers, stoking a spark that was quickly building into a blaze. She slid her hands through his dark hair and swept her tongue out to taste him. He groaned, following her lead. His big hand clamped the back of her neck, keeping her in place as he plunged, taking her mouth with carnal hunger. Her breath came in erratic gasps, making her lightheaded. Caught up in the moment, she fisted his hair and dragged him closer. In response, he pressed his big body deeper into the crevice of her legs. Her skirt rode high on her hips, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. All that mattered was his delicious, devouring kiss. The way his tongue caressed hers like
she was the answer to a prayer.
This was madness.
This was a terrible idea.
Brian was still sitting but a few tables away. Any minute now he’d notice what she was doing. Any minute he’d realize his mistake and tell her he was wrong for ever bringing her here. Would he become jealous as the vampire had predicted?
The vampire palmed the small of her back and jerked her body closer still. Her ass hung on the edge of the stool, the line of his zipper teased her core. She rolled her hips. He let out a rough sound that buried her in purified want.
Her legs wrapped around him, her heels digging into his calves. At the same time, her hands grasped his hair, their tongues dancing a furious tango. He gripped her exposed thigh, running his hand over her overheated flesh. The tantalizing sensation tore a small whimper from her.
Breaking their kiss, he pulled back with a bewildered expression. They were both panting, staring at each other like they’d just experienced something miraculous.
Expression turning fierce, he snatched her hand and pulled her to stand. “Come.”
As he led her through the club like a man on a mission, embarrassment caught up with her. She worked to right her skirt, which was slightly askew, as her legs struggled to keep up with his long, purposeful stride.
It wasn’t till her outfit was finally in order that she realized he’d escorted her into an elevator. In an instant, her mind diagnosed her situation. She was about to be alone with a strange vampire who was preparing to have sex with her in an undisclosed location. She should be frightened. She should be protesting. She should stop this before this went any further.
Or she could...not.
Her body thrummed with excitement and desire, the likes of which she had never experienced before. It was like she’d just taken a hit of the most addictive drug known to mankind, and was promised more.
Before the elevator doors closed, she glanced at where Brian was seated, fawning over the peacock.
He never once looked her way.
The Vampire’s Masquerade Chapter 2
The vampire’s private room was more like a posh apartment. Well-lit and decorated in a clean, modern style, it had high ceilings, beige carpeting, and a large open floor plan. Soft music played from a stereo as she sat on a comfortable couch in the seating area.
He stood behind a built-in bar, busy making their drinks. They had removed their masks and she allowed herself to take him in fully. He was gorgeous, but not in a classically handsome kind of way. His jaw was just a bit too large and pronounced for that, and there was a bump in the bridge of his nose that made her wonder if it had once been broken, though it didn’t diminish his looks.
And, oh, those eyes.
Captivating and lively iridescent pools. She could dive into those exotic depths and swim around for days. She’d heard vampires could hypnotize humans with either their voice or their eyes. So why did she feel no fear of him? Was she already under his spell?
He met her gaze, and though her heart skipped, she refused to look away. She felt in control of herself, but how would she know?
He crossed toward her and offered a flute of white wine. She accepted it, pretty impressed by the lack of tremor in her hand when their skin touched.
She took a quick sip. It tasted wonderful. “Thank you.”
As he sat on the couch beside her, his gaze swept over her face, as if she fascinated him. For some reason, he wanted her, though there’d been plenty of other available, easier, more beautiful women for him to select. She wasn’t a fool. He’d picked her out of the crowd. Focused all that considerable charm on her. Maybe he craved the challenge she appeared to pose back up in the club. Not that she’d been all that hard to get in the end.
Finally she took her gaze back and sent it around the room. “So this is an Ever Nights’ private room?”
“Not exactly. This is my apartment.”
Her eyes snapped back around. “You live here?”
He nodded.
“As in permanently?” The place didn’t exactly appear lived in. There was some art on the walls, a couple ocean landscapes and a sparkling lake at sunset. There was a rubber tree plant in the corner next to a full-length mirror, and a large thin vase by the front door that housed an array of tall dried twigs. That was as far as the decor went.
“It’s just one of my residences. I only stay here on occasion.” Translation: when he wanted to be secluded in the company of vulnerable human women?
The full weight of her situation slammed down on her. She’d allowed herself to become totally alone with a strange vampire.
Even the friendly ones could be deadly.
So how could it be that she felt no danger from him?
It helped that Ever Nights had an exemplary reputation for keeping the peace within its walls. They had very strict rules geared toward safety. Just to attend tonight’s function she’d had to read over them. Number one rule? Consent was a must for any extracurricular activities on the property.
Over the last ten years there had been little to no violence reported, save for a single gruesome incident several weeks ago that had plastered front page news. But that had been an attempt at sabotage by a jealous, vindictive competitor. Justice had been swift and severe, dealt out by none other than the VEA (Vampire Enforcement Agency).
“Are you nervous?”
She jumped at his voice and then blushed at her reaction. She might be nervous, but there was excitement too. She attempted a smile. It felt thin. “I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“Never would have guessed that.” There was a light-hearted teasing to his tone, but then he grew serious. “Look. If you want to go back up to the party, we will. Just say the word.”
She could tell he wasn’t giving her lip service. If she wanted, she could return to her seat at the bar and try not to notice Brian working his charms on other women while she sipped wine all night.
Like Hell.
A better idea? Experiencing a single unfettered night of wild passion with a sexy stranger who she’d likely never see again.
The vampire waited patiently for her answer, giving her time to back out. There was no chance of that happening, as long as they could agree to a few rules of their own…
After taking another taste of wine, she asked, “Do you mind not…you know....” She curled her index and forefinger in front of her mouth, miming fangs.
He laughed before giving her another sexy half grin. “Only if you want me to.”
“Would it hurt?”
He shook his head. “Just the opposite.”
She’d heard as much through a couple of adventurous women in the office. She’d also heard how addictive such a thing could be. Had seen some of the dens where humans lined up to offer themselves up as a snack just for the erotic high.
“I don’t think I want that.”
He shrugged. “Then it won’t happen.” His thumb curled under her chin as he met her gaze. “Why don’t you tell me what you do want?”
She hesitated, opening her mouth to speak.
Nothing came out.
What did she want? She didn’t exactly know. She’d never had a casual one-night stand before. She didn’t even know where to start. Should they kiss again? Should she just start stripping down to her undies? She glanced around, trying to decipher where they’d do it. The couch? The floor? She supposed one of the closed doors led to a bedroom....
Seeming to understand her indecision, he took the lead. Closing the distance between them, he put his arms around her.
“Is this alright?”
She nodded.
Slowly, as if not to frighten her, he lowered his lips to hers. Connection. This kiss was different than the previous ones. There was less fire, sure, but so much more steam. His hard, demanding lips swept over hers with an intensity that was contagious. It infected her heart first, making the organ thump, thump, thump, then her nerves, making them sizzle, and finally her skin, brushing every inch
with a tingling fever.
Then he turned up the heat, applying more pressure and flicking his tongue over her lips. She gasped. He plunged, and their tongues met, clashing and twining together. After a moment, he laid her back against the couch, his palm leaving a hot trail down her side, over her hip. She became acutely aware of how high up her skirt had ridden when his strong grip found her backside, easily slipping past the fabric and kneading her there with a light pressure.
Her ribs worked to hold back the explosion of her pulse.
As if unconsciously drawn to it, his lips traveled to her neck where he lightly sucked on her flesh.
Her heart nearly broke free of her chest; desire now a wild unquenchable beast within her.
He pulled back as if to gauge her response. Whatever he saw in her expression encouraged him to take her lips once more with carnal excitement. This kiss was passion ignited; fire and heat and sizzle come together for a maelstrom of chaotic lust.
His rough palm returned to her ass where he squeezed her flesh with a delicious pressure. At the same time he groaned, sucking her bottom lip between his teeth.
Her body shook with ferocious need. She never knew she could be so mindlessly turned on.
Then his seeking fingers inched along the cleft of her rear toward her center. Continuing past the paltry fabric of her panties where he met her heat directly.
“So wet for me.” His voice broke low and rumbled along her every nerve. “You’d come in a heartbeat if I kept this up, wouldn’t you?”
Her body was already quivering with the promise of release. The forbidden nature of this liaison was heightening her arousal by delirious degrees.
He broke contact, stepping back with a sexy smirk. That roguish expression sent her heart into barrel rolls. He may have stopped touching her for the moment, but things were about to get intense. If that look had anything to say about it, this was panning out to be a night she’d never forget. Hopefully one she didn’t regret.
He held out his hand to her. “Come.”
She took his hand and stood, a bit flummoxed by his commanding tone, but also eager to see what he had planned.
