by Tina Folsom
Samson shook his head, smiling. “Nothing at all.” Then he winked at her. “Although I’m not blind, and can understand why the guys keep trying.” Then he turned to Thomas. “We’re almost ready. Haven and Yvette should be arriving any minute.”
Together they walked away from the bar.
“Did Eddie come with you?” Samson asked.
“No, I had to stop by at Al’s for a part, so I left earlier.” He let his gaze sweep around the room, but couldn’t see Eddie.
“I’m sure he’ll get here in time. How is Al?”
Thomas rubbed the back of his neck, unease creeping down his back again. “Actually I don’t know.”
“But I thought you said—”
He interrupted his boss. “He’s not there anymore. Somebody bought the place from him.”
Samson’s eyebrows pulled together. “I hadn’t heard anything about that. When did that happen?”
“Apparently last week.”
“That’s what I heard too. But that’s not all.” Thomas turned to the voice coming from behind them and looked at Zane.
“What else did you hear?” Thomas asked.
Zane shoved one hand into his pants pocket. “That he sold awfully quick. Somebody saw a couple of guys in suits march into his office, and a half-hour later Al started packing. Doesn’t look right, if you ask me.”
Thomas could only agree. “The new guy who says he bought it doesn’t look like the sharpest tool in the shed either. I get the feeling he’s just a puppet. He has no idea about the business, and I can’t help but think that he’s a front for somebody. Maybe we should look into this.” He looked at Samson.
Zane interrupted. “I’m way ahead of you. I made a few inquires and found out that he sold the place for next to nothing.”
Samson grunted. “I don’t like it. Do you think he was coerced?”
“Looks like it,” Zane confirmed. “And he’s definitely left town. I checked out his flat. Looks like he left in a hurry, only taking some personal items. His furniture is still there.”
Thomas scratched his head, not liking at all what he heard. “Al isn’t the kind of guy to make hasty decisions. Besides, he hates change. He wouldn’t just move from one day to the next.
That’s not like him.”
Zane rocked back on his heels. “Looks to me like he was shit-scared of something.”
“But what?” Thomas asked.
“Zane, why don’t you get a couple of guys on it to see what’s going on?” Samson suggested.
“Let us know what you find.”
“Sure, will do.” Then he pointed toward the door. “Looks like our guest of honor just arrived.”
Thomas looked to the door of the lounge and saw Haven entering, Yvette by his side. The witch-turned-vampire was a big man, broad-shouldered, and strong. Even as a human he’d been able to hold his own, but now, as a vampire, he was among the strongest of them. Yvette was both his mate and his sire, a combination that made their bond even stronger if that was possible.
While she’d always worn her hair short, after meeting Haven she’d stopped cutting it and it had grown back during her restorative sleep to the length it had had at her turning. She looked a lot more feminine now, and the hard edge she’d always had to her personality seemed to have softened too. Haven was good for her.
Haven had had his reservations about joining Scanguards after being a vampire hunter for most of his life. Luckily his love for Yvette had helped him see that his view of vampires, which had been influenced by a tragedy in his past, was too narrow-minded. Now that he had gotten to know their particular group of vampires, he’d finally accepted that even vampires could be good.
Thomas walked toward Haven and Yvette to greet them, Samson and Zane following him.
Before he reached them, the door opened again and Eddie entered. Instantly, his heart started beating faster, and his fangs itched, wanting to descend.
Eddie looked as fresh and innocent as always. He wore a hooded sweatshirt over his jeans and immediately pulled it over his head to rid himself of it since the lounge was overly warm. As he did so, the T-shirt he wore underneath pulled up with it, exposing toned abs and a hairless chest.
Of course, he’d seen Eddie shirtless before, but no matter how often he got a look at his perfect body, it always caused the same visceral reaction in him: his mouth went dry, his palms became damp, his heart started beating into his throat, and he had to fight against his vampire side to stop it from bursting to the surface, wrestling Eddie to the ground, stripping him naked and driving his aching cock into him while sinking his fangs into his neck and drinking from him.
Eddie tossed the sweatshirt onto a nearby chair and pulled his T-shirt back over his jeans, depriving Thomas of the sight.
Maybe it was better that way. Maybe he should simply remove himself from temptation.
Still, it wouldn’t eradicate his daydreams, nor the fantasies he had about Eddie and himself: how they would shower together, stroking each other; how they would share a bed, making love; how they would feast on each other, sharing their blood.
So many fantasies, yet not a single one would ever turn into reality.
6
Eddie saw how Haven and Yvette were already beleaguered by their colleagues, who shook Haven’s hand and congratulated him on his new position: bodyguard at Scanguards. Eddie remembered how proud he’d been when he had joined Scanguards over a year-and-a-half earlier.
Back then he’d been human and had had no idea about the vampires that ran Scanguards. Much had happened since. Good and bad stuff.
He walked past the crowd, noticing that Thomas too was shaking Haven’s hand. He’d known that he would find Thomas here. Nevertheless, his heart started beating faster, and nervousness crept up his spine, spreading over his entire body. He didn’t know anymore how to behave around his mentor. Ever since he’d overheard Oliver and Blake, he felt awkward when talking to Thomas. And always on edge, as if he needed to weigh each word he uttered, careful not to say anything that might give Thomas the impression that Eddie was into him—because he wasn’t.
Willing himself to calm down, he stalked to the bar and ordered a drink. “Hi Roxanne, O
negative, please.”
“Here for the party?” She started pouring his drink.
“Yeah, I never miss out on a party. Free blood, right?” He pointed to the taps.
“You bet. Just don’t go overboard. The boss has instructed me to keep an eye on you guys. If anybody overindulges, I’m authorized to cut you off.” She smirked.
He grinned back. “Spoil sport!”
She put the glass of blood in front of him and ruffled his hair. “Now go play with the others.”
Eddie tossed her a mock-outraged look. “You make us sound like we’re kids.”
Roxanne chuckled and leaned over the bar, her ample bosom almost too close for comfort.
He glanced at it briefly, but nothing stirred in his groin. “That’s because you are.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m twenty-five!”
“Baby!” she cooed as if talking to an infant.
He grabbed the glass and downed its contents. The rich blood coated his throat, stilling his hunger. He instantly felt better, calmer. Maybe he’d just been overly hungry, and that was why he felt so apprehensive about being in Thomas’s company. Hunger could do a lot of funny things to a vampire. He’d found that out the hard way when he’d first been turned. He’d never been so ravenous in his entire life. Nor as violent.
A hand tapped on his shoulder. Eddie spun around and released a shaky breath when he realized that it hadn’t been Thomas’s hand that had touched him.
Get a grip, he chastised himself.
“Hey, Cain.”
“Wow, you’re jumpy. What’s up?” The dark-haired vampire with the permanent stubble on his chin and the penetrating dark eyes looked him up and down.
“Nothing. Why would something be up? Just getting my first drink.”
Cain nodded toward the bartender. “I’m having what he’s having.”
Roxanne smiled. “Coming right up.”
As she turned to the taps, Eddie caught the long lusting look that Cain raked over her body, lingering on her breasts, then dropping to her shapely ass. He could clearly see what his colleague was thinking. Oddly enough, when Eddie let his gaze sweep over Roxanne’s curves, he felt nothing. The woman was exceedingly beautiful, but Eddie didn’t feel any desire rising in him, nor any blood surging to his cock. Touching and kissing her held no appeal for him, when he should have the same lusty feelings as half the vampires in the lounge had for this extraordinary female specimen with the upper crust English accent.
Maybe something was wrong with him. Maybe a hormonal imbalance. Perhaps he should go see Maya and have her check him out to see if his testosterone levels were low. Maya, Gabriel’s mate, was the only vampire physician—apart from the psychiatrist Dr. Drake—in San Francisco.
Her specialty when she’d been a human doctor had been urology. If anybody knew a male body, then it was she. Maybe after the party, he’d pull her aside and make an appointment with her.
“Did you hear anything about that?” Cain’s voice drifted to him.
Eddie fumbled for an answer. He hadn’t heard what Cain had been talking about. “Sorry, can you repeat that?”
Cain narrowed his eyes and gave him an assessing look. “You wanna tell me what’s wrong with you? First you’re jumpy, and now you’re distracted.” His colleague leaned closer.
Eddie’s breath hitched. Did Cain suspect the reason for his inattentiveness?
“You’d better pull yourself together, kid! I have the feeling there’s some shit going down here soon. I just overheard Gabriel telling Samson he’s calling a staff meeting later tonight.
You’ll need all your marbles. So whatever hot broad is distracting you, put her out of your mind.”
Eddie sighed inwardly. If only it were a hot woman who was occupying his thoughts, then he would have nothing to worry about. He’d never been distracted by a woman. Sure, he’d fucked some of them, but now that he thought of it, he’d never been so into it that he’d forgotten about the rest of his life. Even as a teenager, he’d preferred hanging out with his buddies to sneaking off into some dark alley with a girl to get some action. His friends had actually teased him that he was too much of a good guy. And good guys didn’t get laid. No wonder he’d been almost twenty when he’d lost his virginity.
It hadn’t rocked his world. Maybe he was just not a very sexual guy. He shook his head. No, that couldn’t be true either. After all, he masturbated daily. Didn’t that prove that his sex drive was alive and well? Perhaps he’d simply not met the right woman. That had to be it. Roxanne was just not his type, that’s why he didn’t feel any spark in his groin when he looked at her.
“Why are you guys whispering?”
Heat shot into Eddie’s cheeks as he heard Thomas’s voice behind him. He took a steadying breath and turned slowly, trying to keep his face an unreadable mask.
“Cain was just saying there’s supposed to be a staff meeting tonight,” Eddie repeated Cain’s words.
Thomas shrugged. “Hadn’t heard anything. Must be a last minute thing.”
Cain pointed toward the crowd around Haven and Yvette. “I should go say hello.” But Cain didn’t get a chance, because at the same moment, Samson asked for quiet in the room.
“Thank you! And thanks all for coming tonight,” Samson started. “I’m very pleased to welcome our newest member into Scanguards.”
Next to him, Haven stood smiling, his arm around Yvette who looked up at him with pride shining in her eyes. He bent to her ear, and whispered something to her which made her eyes go wide. Eddie could only guess that it had been something very private, and something very erotic.
Thomas tapped his arm, sending a shiver through his body, then leaned closer to whisper to him. “Never thought I’d see Yvette like that.”
Eddie forced himself to remain calm. “Like what?”
“All feminine and soft. You haven’t known her as long as I, but she was one tough cookie.”
“She seems happy. Haven’s a great guy.”
Samson continued, “Haven has been helping us in many difficult situations. And I’m therefore very happy to announce that he’s finally accepted my offer to join Scanguards. Haven, would you like to say a few words?”
Haven nodded quickly. “Yeah, well, I’m not a man of many words. Just to say: I’m looking forward to this new challenge. Now let’s party!” He waved to one corner of the lounge, where a band had set up.
Music filled the room. Eddie watched how Haven pulled Yvette to the area in front of the band, where some of the furniture had been removed to make space for a small dance floor. As Haven and Yvette started dancing and were soon joined by Zane and his hybrid wife Portia, Eddie turned away from the sight. His sister Nina wasn’t here, nor was Delilah. Humans weren’t allowed at the lounge. It was a strict rule that not even Samson broke.
However, the room wasn’t completely devoid of women. Apart from Yvette and Portia, Maya and Rose, both vampires, were also present. They were mingling with the male vampires, but their mates were never far—both Gabriel and Quinn kept their eyes on the other Scanguards employees, ready to interfere if another male dared touch their wives inappropriately.
Next to Eddie, Cain and Thomas both chuckled. Eddie turned his head to see what they were finding so funny.
“Don’t they look like dogs with a bone?” Thomas asked, motioning to Gabriel and Quinn.
Eddie rolled his eyes and cracked a smile. “Pathetic!”
“Let’s drink to that!” Thomas agreed and turned back toward the bar. “Three of the . . . ” He turned with a questioning look. “What are you guys having?”
“O neg,” Eddie said.
“Same,” was Cain’s reply.
“And yourself?” Roxanne asked.
“Make that three O negs.”
“You guys are easy.”
Cain made a grimace. “Did she just insult us?”
One side of Thomas’s mouth tilted upwards. “Sounded like it.”
“What are we gonna do about it?” Eddie asked, grinning, glad that both Cain and Thomas were concentrating their attention on the bartender. It took the heat off him, and he could finally begin to relax.
“I think punishment is in order,” Cain suggested.
Roxanne tossed them a get real look and continued filling the glasses with blood.
“I don’t think she believes you,” Eddie teased.
Thomas laughed. “That’s probably because she knows we’d never punish her.” He winked at her. “After all, she sits at the source.” He motioned to the taps. “And you never bite the hand that feeds you. Literally and figuratively.”
Roxanne finished pouring the three glasses. Then she took one and held it over the sink, tilting it a bit. “So, you want your drinks, or not?”
Eddie, Thomas, and Cain exchanged quick glances.
“That would be lovely, Roxanne,” Thomas said, his voice softer than before.
Roxanne’s look softened and Eddie could clearly see how Thomas’s voice appeased her and made her melt. The reason he knew that was because he too could feel it: how Thomas’s deep voice penetrated his body and sank deep into him. It made him want to lay back on one of the large sofas, stretch out, and settle in for a soothing massage. Strong male hands on naked skin.
Smooth long strokes. Fire on his body. Electricity charging through his veins.
Eddie’s fangs lengthened.
“Better give one to Eddie first,” Thomas remarked. “Looks like he’s hungry.”
Eddie willed his fangs to retract.
Shit!
He should have more control over himself. After all, he wasn’t a newborn vampire anymore.
He was over a year old already, and he was past the worst cravings, past the most difficult time.
But when
ever he was near Thomas, his reactions were unpredictable.
7
A year earlier
Flanked by Ricky, Eddie walked into Samson’s study. He couldn’t help but fidget. After the mausoleum had gone up in flames, and Luther had been arrested and brought before the vampire council for sentencing, Eddie, as well another former Scanguards bodyguard, Kent, had been held under house arrest at Ricky’s place—Scanguards’ operations director.
Luther, the man who’d promised Eddie eternal life as a vampire, had lied to him and duped him into joining his evil plan to take revenge on Samson by killing his wife—a plan that thankfully had failed. He’d told Eddie that Samson and Amaury had killed Luther’s wife, when in fact, she had refused Samson’s and Amaury’s offer to turn her into a vampire, and thus save her life, when she lay dying in childbirth.
Eddie had unwittingly chosen the wrong side and nearly paid for it with his life.
Finally tonight, Eddie had received word that his future had been decided. He looked at Samson, who sat behind his massive desk that housed two large computer monitors. He glanced up and motioned to the chair in front of the desk.
“Take a seat.” He lifted his head to look at Ricky. “I’ll take it from here.”
Ricky nodded and silently left the room.
Eddie shifted nervously in his chair. His foot tapped on the rug beneath him, and he laid his hands on his knees to stop them from shaking. He already knew that they wouldn’t kill him; his new brother-in-law, Amaury, had promised him as much. After all, Amaury had blood-bonded with his sister Nina and wouldn’t do anything to make her unhappy. And that meant he would not hurt her brother.
But they would punish him nevertheless. After all, he’d committed a crime under Luther’s influence and had helped plot the attempted murder of Samson’s mate.
“Relax,” Samson said. “I didn’t ask you here to rip your head off.”
Eddie tried a smile and failed miserably. “Sorry. I mean . . . I didn’t know what I was doing.”
Samson held up his hand. “Stop right there.”
