The smell of Robert’s blood had hit Lucian like a tidal wave. All of his senses came alive and demanded to be fed. Knowing what was coming, Lucian fled from the parking garage. He’d barely made it to his house before the beast completely took over. He grabbed a handful of bagged blood and swiftly drank them.
The blood lust tampered down as the bagged blood flowed through his veins. It wasn’t human blood like the beast wanted, but it would have to do. Lucian was already feeling remorseful for what had happened, he didn’t need to add drinking human blood on top of it all.
Feeling depleted in both mind and body, Lucian decided to get some rest. He was exhausted. His beast hadn’t come out in a long time and he had forgotten how taxing it was. As he closed his eyes, Ariella filled his mind.
He quickly pushed all thoughts of her away, not wanting to mar her image with his own shortcomings.
Waking up the next morning was rough, to say the least. Every part of Lucian’s body was sore and he felt his age for once. He knew that one sip of warm human blood would easily soothe him but it wasn’t worth it, animal blood would have to do.
As he was getting dressed, there was only one thing on his mind. Ariella. Where was she? He hadn’t heard from her and it was unlike them not to talk throughout the day. Granted he had been preoccupied yesterday, but there should at least be a missed call or text. He quickly dialed her number and waited for her to pick up.
After a handful of rings the call went to voicemail. Lucian left a message urging her to call him back. He hung up the phone and was filled with a sense of unease. Something was wrong, very wrong.
Deciding that he needed to see her face to face, Lucian left his house to go in search of Ariella. He needed to make sure that she was okay, and more importantly that they were okay.
Ariella jumped when she heard the knock on her door. She was curled up on the couch, watching soap operas on TV. She had hoped that watching other people’s drama would help her forget her own but it wasn’t working out like she’d hoped.
Mumbling to herself, she got up and slowly walked to the door. She didn’t bother looking through the peep hole; she already knew who it was. She opened the door and Lucian’s face greeted her. He seemed to look genuinely concerned.
“Ariella, there you are. I was worried about you when I didn’t get a call or text.” Lucian moved to embrace her but she blocked his advancement. His beautiful face scrunched in confusion as he looked at her. “What’s wrong?” He asked.
Ariella took a deep breath, her mind replaying yesterday’s events. She could clearly recall the brutality of it, and she shivered. “I saw you yesterday,” she said softly.
At her words Lucian instantly stilled. He could feel his heart stop at the thought of her knowing what had happened yesterday. “I’m not sure what you mean,” he tried to deflect.
She shook her head violently. How dare he try to avoid his actions. “Don’t,” she said sternly. “Do not think that you can lie to me about what you did. I saw you on the security monitor. I watched everything. From you approaching him in the bar all the way until you stole his life away.” Ariella was shaking as she spoke. “I know that Robert wasn’t a kind man but you took his life. Don’t you think that was a little much?”
“Ariella, please let me explain,” Lucian pleaded. “Yesterday when I saw him, the vampire inside of me took notice and before I knew what was happening he was already dead.”
“What kind of explanation is that supposed to be? You killed him, you take the responsibility. I was struggling with accepting you as a vampire and now I’m not sure I can.” She crossed her arms, needing the comfort they offered.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Lucian asked. His concerned expression from before was gone, replaced with one that was closed off.
“It means that I don’t think I want to be a part of your world. Your life.” Ariella tried to avoid his hard stare but he made it impossible.
“And you’re sure about this? I don’t even get a chance to try to change your mind?” She nodded her head yes. Lucian took in a deep breath and exhaled. “Alright then, if that’s how you feel about me. I’m sorry that you couldn’t see past this to what could have been. Remember that when you lie awake at night, wondering what went wrong.” With that he turned and walked away.
Ariella closed the door and slid down to the floor, her back against the door. She pulled her knees up and buried her head as the tears fell. She silently cried as her heart was breaking. She had done this to herself and the pain was almost unbearable.
Chapter Nine
Ariella opened her apartment door and stood there stunned by the sight in front of her. Flowers were everywhere, filling her tiny apartment to the brim. Every color was present and each flower was something different than the last. She wasn’t sure how he had done it, but it left her breathless.
It had been close to three weeks since they had last spoken. She had found herself dialing his number, only to hang up before she called. Ariella had always thought she lived an okay life; she was content with how things had been. So why was it that when she tried to return to that she wasn’t happy anymore?
Lucian. He was the reason. And he was right in what he’d said. Looking back, Ariella couldn’t understand what her problem was. Because it was her problem, not Lucian’s. She was the one who was unsure and looking for an excuse, when all he had asked her to do was have an open mind.
She was still standing frozen in her apartment doorway when she heard footsteps behind her. Ariella turned around and came face to face with Lucian. Her hungry eyes greedily took him in. Dark jeans and a long sleeved shirt made him look relaxed, a definite change from his business attire. His cheeks were scruffy and even rough looking, he was still beautiful. She wanted nothing more than to run to him and jump into his arms, but this was his move. She would wait.
“I hope you like the flowers,” he said. “I wasn’t sure which ones were your favorite, so I got them all.”
Ariella smiled, loving the fact that he would go to so much trouble. “I love them, all of them. You really didn’t have to though.”
“I know, but I wanted to.” His blue eyes found hers. “I miss you,” he said simply.
“I miss you too. I have so much to apologize for, I don’t even know where to begin,” she admitted. “I shouldn’t have treated you the way I did, it wasn’t fair to you or to us.”
Lucian reached out and took her hands in his. He gently ran his thumb back and forth. “I’m a vampire, and there is nothing I can do to change that. And because of that, my life is vastly different than that of a human one. Although we live side by side, our values and beliefs aren’t always the same. Things that seem acceptable to a human aren’t necessarily acceptable to a vampire and vise versa.”
He continued on, “What you saw with Robert, that was me. It was my beast that was acting, but it and I are one, so it was me that killed him. I take complete responsibly for my actions. There will be some times when my beast will come out again. I can control it to a certain degree, but I can’t always hone it in. But once again, that is me. I’m a vampire and that is who I am.” He paused before continuing. “If we are going to be together, and I hope we are, you will have to accept me as I am, all of me, the good and the bad. Let’s just hope there will be more good than bad.”
“When you put it like that, how can I say no?” She joked. “I promise to be open and more understanding. I won’t be quick to judge things that I don’t completely understand. I’ve come to realize that my life without you is not the life I want to live. I love you, you’re what I want and I will do anything for you,” she said as her hand gently rubbed his cheek. “Now, let’s work on that good stuff you were talking about.”
“I love you too.” Lucian smiled as he bent down to kiss her. The kiss was filled with all the longing of the past weeks and the joy of being together again.
The End
Part V
Vampire Cop
Paranormal Rom
ance
About the Book
Stacy Collins has just been given a death sentence. Lose weight or die. Ignoring her doctor, Stacy sets out to collect pizzas that very same night and is attacked by three young boys wanting to torment her and take what she has. John Andrews is a cop but he’s far more than that. He’s a vampire with a load of money and motorcycle. He comes to Stacy’s rescue and changes her life for the better.
Can Stacy bring change to her own life and heal the lonely vampire who has come to her rescue? Will her love be enough to save them both? Their journey starts with pain and misery but soon they are in love and life can get no better. Then John’s blood donors disappear and Stacy is faced with far too many choices. Donate blood to him, face her own death, or let him starve? Her decision will lead to greater questions, questions that do not have easy answers and could mean life or death for both Stacy and John. Can she heal her vampire? Can he heal her? Only time will tell.
Chapter One
Stacy Collins looked into the mirror over her bathroom sink and studied the features that stared back at her. A chinless face, hidden beneath a layer of fat; even her nose was almost hidden within the depths of the prison she had created for herself. Overweight, out of shape, her doctor had told her only a few hours ago that if she didn’t do something soon, she would be dead within a year.
Beneath the fat, she knew a pretty face was hiding. However, her warm brown eyes were drowning within folds of flesh, the fat so thick that her eyes were almost swollen shut. Hers was a face that had seen abuse and pain, a face that wanted to hide from the world and not be noticed anymore. At 28, her only relationships with men had been much regretted one night stands. They were usually regretted by the men; once they woke up and saw what they had drunkenly fallen into bed with. Usually they couldn’t get out of the door fast enough. Stacy hid in her home. In her body, people did not notice her and she liked that just fine. Huffing as she moved from the sink to retrieve her mobile in the kitchen, she passed empty takeaway boxes that fell over, unnoticed; blending in with the litter on the floor. Stacy would have a cleaner come in at the end of the week and the boxes and other debris would all disappear.
Stacy lived in her own world now, one where her father’s fists no longer existed. But the words, the memories still tormented her. The man had been dead for three years, yet she still remembered the ugly sting of the things he’d scream at her, unleashing his anger at her runaway mother on the daughter left behind. He’d been right, after all. She had amounted to nothing and she was no good; just like her mother.
Picking up the mobile, she called to order more food. The one thing that took the pain away; the pleasure of happy taste buds made her forget it all; only to be told the delivery driver hadn’t come in to work so she’d have to pick the food up herself. Stacy stood in her kitchen, considering whether it was worth half a mile of walking to pick up her favourite pizzas. It would be tough, but her doctor did tell her to start watching what she ate and to exercise.
Stacy justified the consumption of two extra-large pizzas by telling herself that she was going to burn it all off with the walk. Yes, the walk would do her some good; burn off a few calories before she replaced them. She ignored the logic that said she was just putting it straight back into her body and wasting her time. She struggled to the living room to get her coat and handbag.
Heading down to the shop she ignored the calls of three boys making pig noises at her. Stacy had stopped hearing the insults others threw at her long ago and continued to trundle through in her own little world. Her breath pumped out in tight little bursts; she was already worn out, but needed to feed the hunger within her, the urge to lose herself in her addiction. She went into the shop, paid for her pizzas and walked back out again; oblivious to the stares of the man in the shop, or that the young boys in hooded sweatshirts had followed her into the store and back out again.
She ignored their hurtful words but stopped when she felt something hit her in the back. She let out a yelp of pain and turned around to see what had happened.
“Look at the piggy squeal! Oink, oink, squeal piggy, squeal!” One of the boys shouted at her, releasing another rock, this one hitting her in her forehead.
“Hey, lardarse! Give us those pizzas; they’ll feed all three of us instead of just your salad-dodging arse, look at you! This could be your last meal you’re so fat! Hand it over! In fact, give us your handbag too, you cow!”
The boys lunged at her, tearing the pizza boxes from her hands and attempting to grab her handbag as well but she wouldn’t let go of it. Just as the strap broke and she fell backwards, a policeman on a motorcycle sped up, causing the boys to run off, throwing the boxes of pizza at her as they ran away. At least she could still have her food, she thought, as the policeman ran to help her up.
She got up awkwardly, the fat on her body making it too difficult just to stand up; she had to roll over to her knees and push herself off of the ground. Surely that could be considered a press up, she thought, as she finally staggered to her feet. Turning to the cop, brushing her curly dark brown hair out of her eyes, she started to thank the man for coming to her aid
She could see why the boys ran now. The boys’ fear wasn’t simply a manifestation of seeing a policeman: it was the man’s face. A feral, demon snarl twisted a pair of lips that had gone black, red eyes surrounded yellow pupils full of hate and between the black lips, two long fangs protruded, lethal and sharp prongs that curved out of his mouth. Then the face quickly changed, making her wonder if she’d actually seen or simply imagined the beast she’d first glimpsed. Pale blue eyes replaced the yellow and red instantly, the teeth were white and model straight and the skin went back to a tan shade that spoke of tropical beaches, or a good bottle of tanning spray.
Stacy was so shocked she stumbled again, falling back on her bum once more. At least she had some cushion she thought as she looked up at the man, his blonde hair gleaming in the street light. What had she just seen, she wondered to herself. Perhaps she was losing the plot?
“May I help you up, miss?” the man asked. His voice was deep and husky, a lilt that could not be defined edging into the words he spoke. He wasn’t British but she wasn’t sure where he was from.
“Erm, no, thank you. I can manage.” She went through the process again. Press up number two, she thought as her arms trembled, the weight almost too much. She struggled and she expected cruel laughter to meet her efforts, or a pitying sigh. People did not like to help the overweight; they saw it as a form of enabling. The policeman did neither, letting Stacy pull herself up, under her own steam, then he handed her the pizza boxes she’d dropped again when she fell back down.
“May I see you home, miss? I believe I know those boys and I’ll be visiting their parents in the morning. Never fear, they won’t be bothering you again.” He followed her as she waddled back up to her house.
Stacy didn’t even realize she’d started to walk. She was just eager to get back home so she could drown her latest humiliation in the cheesy pizzas, in the taste and gentle burn of jalapeno peppers. The man’s words penetrated but she continued to ignore him as she stomped back to her home, turning at the door to thank and dismiss him. She only wanted to eat; she didn’t care about punishments or justice, only getting food in her mouth and into her stomach. That was all that mattered. She’d learned long ago that men did not look at her with any kind of real interest, so it never even entered her mind to consider how handsome the man was, or that he was more kind than many police officers she’d come across before. She just wanted to block the world out again. She went to shut the door but his hand on the door stopped her movement.
“Miss? Are you alright?” He knew she wasn’t, he could hear her thoughts, the sporadic words that played through her mind, at least. The sounds coming from her mind, the deep screams of pain that he knew she was hiding even from herself tormented him. He wanted to ease the pain, to take it away. He looked at her and did not see the weight, he saw the beauty of
the child hidden deep within and the pain that had locked that child in a prison. He knew she was unaware, her conscious mind was simply blank, but deep below that churned colours, emotions and a caged soul that wanted to be free, but was desperately longing for oblivion. She wanted to die, he knew. He wasn’t going to allow it.
Taking her hand he looked deep into her eyes, letting love flow from his fingertips to hers. In all of his years he’d never met anyone like her. He wanted to know more about her, he wanted to help her. Gasping she pulled her fingers away, looking at him with a mixture of fear and curiosity.
Finally, she spoke her first words to him, her breathing quick and laboured. “Who are you? What are you?”
“I will tell you tomorrow, if you’ll allow me to take you to dinner? I’ll explain it all to you.”
“Dinner, tomorrow? With me? Are you crazy?” She was confused, unsure what he was playing at. People did not like watching fat people eat after all, why would he want to take her out?
“I’d like to get to know you, check on you and make sure you’re alright, if nothing else. That was quite a fall you took. May I come back then? Will you go out with me?” He let a note of pleading come through, wanting her to agree.
“I, well, erm, I suppose you can come round, if you’d like, but I don’t really go out much. You could come back and we could order in, perhaps. I’m not sure. We’ll have to see. Come back tomorrow. Alright, what time?”
“Around 6 I should think. I don’t work tomorrow, is that too late?” He knew it likely wouldn’t be. It was after midnight now, so she wasn’t an early riser.
Cade (Alexander Shifter Brothers Book 2) Page 83
