Nights Kiss

by Amanda Ashley

"Were you never caught?"

  "No. It was ridiculously easy to slip into their homes and help myself to whatever caught my fancy. I'm not proud of what I did, but at the time it was necessary. After awhile, it became a game. As time passed, I saved enough to buy a small house, and then a larger one, and then a larger one, still. I made a profit each time I sold one of the houses. I saved the money, and later, when I had gained a little more knowledge of the world and how it worked, I began to invest in one thing and another until…" He shrugged. "Today I have enough money to allow me to live quite comfortably."

  She nodded. Leaning back, she gazed into the fire, then blushed when her stomach growled. "I guess I should go fix something to eat."

  "I could take you out, if you don't feel like cooking, and then, if you'd like, we could go dancing."

  "I do not know how to dance."

  "That's all right. I do. What do you say?"

  "Should I change my clothes?"

  "It's up to you."

  She glanced down at her jeans, then looked at Roshan, who was wearing black slacks and a black sweater. "I think I should change."

  "Take your time. I need to go out."

  "Oh." The tone of her voice said it all.

  "I am what I am," he reminded her quietly.

  "Does it hurt your… what do you call them, the people you… um… you know?"

  "I think prey is the word you're looking for. And no, it doesn't hurt them, any more than it hurt you."

  "But you take more from them, do you not? You said you took only a little from me."

  "Yes, I take more. But not all."

  "And it is all right for you to do this? They never complain?"

  "They never remember."

  "Why not?"

  "I wipe the memory from their minds when I'm done."

  Brenna shook her head. "So, you are a vampire, a sorcerer, and a hypnotist, as well?"

  "Just a vampire."

  She looked at him for a moment and then, to his surprise, she began to giggle.

  "What's so funny?"

  "Just a vampire? Just a vampire?" Her giggles turned to full-blown laughter. "You say it as if it is so… so… ordinary." Her laughter trailed off as she lifted a hand to her neck.

  Roshan went suddenly still, his gaze following the movement of her hand, watching as her fingers probed the skin behind her ear. The scent of her blood, flowing like a crimson river through her veins, filled his nostrils; the sound of her heartbeat echoed in his ears. The hunger stirred within him.

  "Have you taken blood from me before and wiped the memory from my mind?"

  "No." But now that she had planted the idea in his mind, he wondered if he would be able to resist doing just that. "You were going to go and change your clothes," he reminded her, his voice ragged. "Do it now."

  She stared at him a moment. Whatever she saw in his face drove her to her feet and out of the room.

  Upstairs, Brenna locked the door, even though she knew it would not keep him out. For a moment, she stood in the middle of the room, her heart pounding. How could she have been so foolish? She should have known better than to bring up the subject of how he fed, should have known it would arouse his hunger. But he had discussed it so calmly, and she couldn't deny being fascinated by it, and by him. Worse, she had almost asked him to drink from her again. What was the matter with her, that she was curious about such a repulsive act?

  Her stomach growled again, reminding her that she was supposed to be changing her clothes to go out to dinner with Roshan. That was what he was doing now, she thought with morbid humor, going out to dinner. Who did he prey upon? How did he decide?

  Putting the thought from her mind, she went to the closet and opened the door. She stood there a minute, trying to decide what to wear, and finally settled on a gauzy white blouse with a scoop neck and full sleeves, and a white skirt that was longer in the back than in the front. She wished there were a full-length mirror in the room so she could see how she looked. Perhaps the next time she went out, she would buy one. Perhaps Roshan would not mind. She wondered what it was like for him to look into a mirror and not see his image reflected back. She tried to imagine how she would feel in his place. Would it make her feel as if she didn't exist? Was that how it affected Roshan? Was that why there were no mirrors in the house?

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, she pulled on a pair of silky nylons and a pair of high-heeled white boots. She had never worn shoes or boots with such high heels and she wobbled a little as she walked into the bathroom to brush her hair.

  Forty minutes later, she heard Roshan's knock on the door. He whistled softly when he saw her, chasing away any doubts she might have had about how she looked.

  He took her to dinner at a quiet restaurant located in an upscale neighborhood.

  Brenna glanced at her surroundings, marveling at the plush carpets, the beautiful paintings on the walls, the abundance of greenery, the distinct lack of mirrors.

  Moments later, they were seated at a cozy table in a secluded corner near the back. The table was covered with a dark blue cloth. A small vase held three red roses.

  Sitting across from Roshan, she opened the menu, and then she glanced at him. "I thought you did not eat… food?"

  He glanced briefly at her neck. "I don't."

  Wordlessly, she turned back to the menu. "I cannot decide what to have."

  "I'm afraid you're on your own." It had been centuries since he'd dined on anything but a warm liquid diet.

  When the waitress returned, Brenna ordered prime rib. Roshan ordered a bottle of red wine.

  "If you can't eat food, how can you drink wine?" Brenna asked.

  He shrugged. "A few sips is all I can tolerate."

  "What happens when you eat?"

  "You don't want to know." He had tried to eat a slice of brown bread smeared with butter and honey shortly after he had been made vampire. It had made him violently ill. He had not eaten solid food since, though there had been times when he had been tempted to try again. But that had been long ago. The thought of food no longer held any appeal. "So, what did you do today, besides go to the bookstore?"

  "I began making a new wand, to replace the one I left behind. I cut a branch from one of the trees in the yard. I hope you do not mind."

  "Of course not. Take anything you need."

  "Thank you."

  He sipped from his glass now and then while she ate, Brenna felt guilty for eating in front of him, and even more guilty for enjoying the meal. She couldn't believe he never tired of drinking blood. Even if he found it palatable, as he had claimed earlier, to dine on the same thing every night must surely grow tiresome after the first hundred years! As much as she loved chocolate malts, she wouldn't want to have to subsist on chocolate malts and nothing else for the rest of her life.

  It was still raining when they left the restaurant Brenna lifted her face to the rain and licked the drops from her lips. Had she been back home, she would have shed her clothes and danced naked in the downpour.

  Roshan helped her into the car, then slid behind the wheel. Moments later they were driving through the rain, the only sound the swish-swish of the windshield wipers and an occasional clap of thunder.

  A short time later, he pulled into the driveway of his favorite Goth hangout, a small dance club called the Nocturne. A valet clad in a black suit and hooded cloak handed Brenna out of the car, then Roshan was there, taking her hand in his. They walked under a black canopy, then down a flight of stairs that led to a door that was carved with runes and magical creatures.

  He opened the door for her and followed her inside.

  The place was crowded even though it was after ten o'clock in the middle of the week. Brenna glanced around, her eyes wide as she took it all in. The first thing she noticed was that she was the only one not wearing black. Masks of all kinds decorated the walls, from voodoo masks to ancient Indian burial masks. Black candles flickered in wrought iron sconces, casting eerie shadows over the faces of the cro
wd. It was rather frightening, being in the midst of so many men and women clad in black. Most of them had black hair; a good number wore cloaks or capes with hoods. A woman at the bar laughed out loud, displaying shiny white fangs. Brenna couldn't help staring at the couples dancing on the floor, their bodies pressed close together as they swayed back and forth, their movements slow and sensual.

  "Are all these people vampires?" she whispered.

  "No, they're just pretending," he replied. "All but that small dark-haired guy in the corner."

  "What about that girl over there? She has fangs."

  "They're fake."

  "How do you know?"

  "I just know."

  Roshan found a table in the corner and he ordered drinks, a strawberry daiquiri for Brenna, wine for himself.

  "Do you come here often?" she asked.

  He nodded. "I can be myself here. No one suspects my true nature. Here, I'm just another wanna-be vampire playing a role. Come," he said, "let's dance."

  She shook her head but he paid her no mind. Taking her by the hand, he led her onto the dance floor.

  "I cannot," she said, glancing at the other couples. She tried to pull her hand from his, but to no avail.

  "Trust me," he said, and drew her into his arms.

  Never before had she danced with a man. Never before had she realized how pleasurable it could be. Though she didn't know any of the steps, Roshan held her so closely she had no trouble following his lead. The music seeped into her, a low, steady beat that echoed the beat of her heart, a slow, sensual rhythm that made her think of the heated kisses she had shared with Roshan earlier. His arm was strong and sure around her waist; his body brushed against hers as they moved in a slow circle around the dance floor. The other couples faded into the distance until she was aware of nothing but the music and the tall, dark man holding her in his arms. His lips moved in her hair, his breath fanned her cheek. She risked a glance at his face and saw her own need mirrored in the depths of his eyes.

  In her time, there had been those who considered dancing a sin, a prelude to all manner of lasciviousness. Being in Roshan's arms, swaying back and forth, she was all too aware of his body against hers, of the sensual heat that flowed between them.

  He met her gaze, his deep blue eyes almost hypnotic in their intensity. She could see nothing but him, wanted no one but him. She leaned into him, feeling as though she was being drawn into his very soul.

  She reminded herself that he was a vampire, that there was no way they could have a life together, and that even though she was attracted to him like no other, it would never work, but somehow, with his arms around her, none of that seemed to matter.

  It took her a moment to realize the music had ended. Roshan smiled down at her, the affection in his eyes warming her clear to her toes.

  The music changed, becoming hard and fast. Taking her by the hand, Roshan led her off the dance floor.

  They were on their way back to their table when someone called her name.

  "Brenna Flanagan, is that you?"

  Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Anthony Loken striding toward her.

  Roshan's hand tightened on hers as his steps slowed, stopped.

  "Good evening, Mr. Loken," she said politely.

  "Anthony," he reminded her with a smile. "It's wonderful to see you again."

  "Thank you." She looked up at Roshan. "This is the man I told you about, remember?"

  "Ah, yes, I remember," Roshan said, his voice cool.

  Loken stuck his hand out. "You must be the competition," he said, grinning good-naturedly. "It's nice to meet you."

  Roshan took Loken's hand, felt the unspoken challenge in the other man's grip. "Loken." Roshan had never met a warlock before but he could sense the other man's power. It crawled over his skin like dead leaves over a freshly turned grave.

  Releasing Loken's hand, Roshan took a step back. "Come, Brenna."

  She smiled fleetingly at Loken. "It was nice to see you again."

  "And you."

  Roshan guided Brenna back to their table, acutely aware of the other man's gaze on his back. Was it mere coincidence that Anthony Loken was here tonight, Roshan wondered. And yet, what else could it be? Bringing Brenna here had been his own decision, reached only a few hours ago. There was no way Loken could have known Brenna would be here, and yet…

  He didn't know who or what Anthony Loken was, but he was more than a mere witch. Much more.

  Their drinks were waiting when they returned to their table. When they were seated again, Brenna looked at Roshan, her expression troubled. "You are angry with me."

  "No. But I want you to stay away from him."

  "Why?"

  "There's something not right about him."

  "Not right?" A strange accusation, she thought, coming as it was from a vampire! "What do you mean?"

  "I'm not sure. Just stay away from him."

  Her chin went up defiantly. "You are not my father, Roshan DeLongpre. You cannot tell me what to do or who to see, or expect me to spend my days waiting for you to rise. Mr. Loken offered to be my friend, nothing more."

  It didn't matter that she had already told Anthony that she couldn't see him again. She would not let Roshan tell her who she could and couldn't see. In the last few weeks, she had read a number of women's magazines, watched Oprah and The View. While the well-dressed women on television discussed much that Brenna didn't fully understand, one thing she had learned was that the women in this century demanded equality in every facet of their lives. Brenna smiled inwardly. Granny O'Connell would have been proud of her for speaking her mind, for demanding that she be treated as an equal.

  A muscle twitched in Roshan's jaw. It hadn't taken Brenna long to assert her independence, he thought irritably. A few weeks of living in the twenty-first century and she was ready to take on the world. Life had been easier when women did as they were told.

  Drawing on his preternatural powers, he leaned forward, his gaze capturing hers. "You will not see him again." He kept his voice low and hypnotic as he endeavored to bend her will to his.

  Brenna stared back at him, her eyes narrowing as she drew on her own power to resist the enthralling sound of his voice, the mesmerizing look in his dark eyes. Focusing her energy, she threw it out toward him, parrying his hypnotic thrust as a swordsman might ward off the blow of a rival. "I will see whoever I wish, whenever I wish."

  Roshan swore under his breath. Even as a young vampire, he had been able to compel others to do his will when it suited him. Why was it that this slip of a girl had the power to thwart him when no one else did? Were her own powers that strong, or was it just that she was the most hard-headed, stubborn woman he had ever met?

  "The man is evil," Roshan said. "Can't you feel it? See it?"

  She glanced in Anthony Loken's direction and then back at Roshan. The warlock looked like an angel of light with his close-cropped blond hair and sky blue eyes, while Roshan looked like the Dark Prince of legend with his long black hair and midnight blue eyes.

  "I see only a handsome man who treated me with kindness and respect," she said coolly.

  Thoroughly frustrated, Roshan sat back in his chair. For a time, he considered locking the gates against her again, but the thought of facing her wrath was less than appealing and would gain him nothing. He wanted her trust and her respect, not her anger. Still, short of locking Brenna in her room, and that option was sounding better all the time, there was no way to keep her from seeing the warlock if she chose to do so.

  Nor, apparently, was there any way to keep her from dancing with him. Roshan couldn't believe the gall of the man, but there he was, standing by their table, asking Brenna to dance. Roshan was not at all surprised when Brenna said yes, even though he knew she had agreed just to prove he couldn't tell her who she could and could not see.

  It was his first hard lesson in the contrary ways of modern women.

  * * *

  CHAPTER 13

  The atmosphere in
the car on the ride home was so cold Roshan wouldn't have been surprised to see frost forming on the inside of the windshield. He and Brenna had left the club shortly after Brenna's dance with Anthony Loken. She had not spoken a word to him since then.

  Now she sat beside him, her back rigid as she stared out the side window, apparently watching the rain.

  Women! Was there ever a man on the planet, mortal or otherwise, who understood them? He had warned her against the warlock for her own good. Dark power and negative energy radiated from the man. He was surprised that Brenna hadn't sensed it. Either Loken practiced black magick or he possessed some other dark power. Was it possible that the warlock was a vampire as well as a witch? It seemed unlikely, since Brenna had seen the man in the bookstore in the middle of the day. If Anthony Loken was indeed a vampire, then he was one of the Ancients. Only the oldest of the undead were able to hide their true nature from others of their kind, or walk in the sun's light without fear.

  Anger and a growing sense of frustration roared through Roshan. His foot grew heavy on the gas pedal. The car increased speed. Forty miles an hour. Fifty. Sixty.

  He glanced at Brenna out of the corner of his eye. She was sitting very straight, her eyes wide, her feet braced against the floorboard. One slender hand clutched the edge of her seat, the other was fisted around the door handle.

  He nudged the Ferrari to sixty-five and then goosed it up to seventy.

  Flashing lights appeared in the rearview mirror, accompanied by the wail of a siren.

  Muttering an oath, Roshan slowed the car, pulled off the road, and rolled down the window.

  Moments later, a police officer shrouded in a yellow slicker stood beside the window, flashlight in hand.

  "May I see your driver's license, sir?" the officer asked, shining the light in Roshan's face, and then Brenna's.

  With a nod, Roshan reached for his wallet Withdrawing his license, he handed it to the officer, then captured the man's gaze with his. "I wasn't speeding, was I?"

  The officer, a clean-shaven man in his late twenties, shook his head. "No, sir, of course not."