“No one stole your faith.”
Evie clutched his sleeve. “What?”
“You have your faith. Your humanity, if you will.” He played with a strand of her hair. “You’re not a vampiric thrall. You’re free to do whatever you wish.”
Her voice turned soft. “I’m dead.”
“That’s a matter of perspective.” Louis tapped her nose. “You’re dashing, darling. No matter what form you choose. As for your family, well … this should help you.”
He slipped a platinum ring out of his back pocket and placed it on her ring finger.
Evelyn rubbed it with her thumb.
“You’ll be able to walk in daylight now.” He kept his voice low. “You won’t burn, but I can’t guarantee that you won’t become drained during the daylight hours. Sunlight does that to true vampires.”
She hugged him. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t expect Darius to save you.” He pulled her back and cupped her chin. “We both love you, Evie.”
That we do.
Her eyes brimmed with tears.
He gave her a gentle kiss.
Evie pressed herself against him.
Well, she lacked body warmth, but he kept quiet about that small detail. Right now, he needed to be her rock. Her faith—no, her sense of self—relied on proving he loved her.
Otherwise, she’d fall apart again.
Louis pushed her down onto the bed, keeping his lips pressed against hers. He seized her wrists and held them against the mattress.
Then he knelt over her.
“Evie.”
He kissed down her neck.
“My sweet darling.”
His kisses trailed to her collarbone.
“My little Draculina.”
His voice turned husky and he ripped the collar away with his teeth. A few buttons popped from the shirt.
“My sexy temptress.”
Evie gave a soft moan and pressed her thighs together. “Louis…”
“Say it.” That husky voice lowered. “Tell me what you want, love.” His hand reached for her jeans. “We both know the truth.”
She whimpered, struggling to keep her curvy thighs together.
He unbuttoned her jeans.
Those moans—those tiny, delectable moans—increased as he slid those skin-tight jeans down her waist. Then down her legs. Over her ankles.
Her flower-patterned panties came next. He snickered at the tiny bow at the hemline.
He tossed the clothes to the floor.
She wouldn’t need them.
Evie whimpered with delight. Her fingers trailed down to her waist.
Nope. Not yet.
Louis nodded, reaching for his belt. She had to take care of his urges first.
He left her for a minute, double-checking he’d locked the door, before he continued. On the way back, he shed his pants, freeing his rock-hard cock.
They wouldn’t be interrupted this time.
“Come here.”
Evie rose to her knees, tossing her shirt to the ground. Those gorgeous breasts had to be D-cups. Maybe bigger.
Whatever. They bounced, and they were ready for him.
He pulled her into his lap.
“Good girl.” His hand clasped her thigh. “You’re so sexy, Evie. So beautiful. I’ve waited forever to find a woman like you.”
His finger rubbed against her clit.
She moaned. Her entire body shuddered. Those breasts bounced as she squirmed against his ministrations.
His cock twitched whenever her lips rubbed against his head.
He plunged himself inside her.
Louis kissed her before she cried out. Man, her pussy felt divine. So tight. So wet.
So right.
Yes. Right.
He took the lead.
His hands held Evie’s waist, keeping her steady while he made love to her. After a minute, he developed a nice rhythm. He moved her up and down, reading each little moan she made.
This was perfect.
He went faster, grunting from the effort. Sweat dribbled down his neck. His cock throbbed the more it released her sweet juices.
She squealed, then shuddered in his lap.
Louis came inside her.
He wrapped his arms around her, using the last of his strength to hold her trembling body upright. Then he rolled onto the bed, dumped her under them, and snuggled next to her.
Joe could yell at him later.
“Evie.” He traced her jawline. “I’ll love you forever, my little vulture. As long as my undead heart beats.”
She snuggled against him. “I love you, too. Stop with the corny puns.”
He laughed.
“Shit.” Evie bolted upright. “I need to move out of my apartment.”
“That’s already been taken care of.”
“What about Vixens? And starting work for Eisen?”
“Next week.” He rubbed her shoulder. “You’ll start everything next week after you’ve settled into the mansion. We have more clothes shopping to do.”
“What are we going to tell everyone?”
“You’re my girlfriend.” He pulled her against him and rested his head against the crook of her shoulder. “You moved in with me because we can’t stand being apart for too long. It’s not a lie, you know. Besides, it doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks. Just us. Right?”
Her fingers ran along his chest. “Yeah.”
He rubbed her shoulder. “Stop worrying. Everything will be fine.”
“Will you ever stop loving me?”
Louis shook his head.
“Goddamn it, vampire.” Joe’s voice resonated through the locked door. “I said go see her, not lock the goddamn door. I didn’t issue you a challenge. Now, stop what you’re doing and bring Evelyn out here. Jemina wants a word with her.”
Bwah. Darius kissed Evie’s forehead. You know he did, though.
He grinned, then untangled her from them, before standing. He bent and grabbed her clothes off the floor. He rubbed her leg, helped her into her panties, and kissed the inside of her thigh with a devilish grin.
He’d have time to ravish her later.
They’d enjoy their happily ever after.
19
Epilogue
Evelyn took a long drag from her cigarette inside the backseat of the limousine while Morgan drove her through the business district of Charm City. No matter how many times she visited downtown, she never grew bored of the massive skyscrapers or the graffiti art on the buildings and underneath the city’s bridges.
She could appreciate its simplistic beauty this afternoon. Ever since she’d turned into a vampire, her life had turned into one appointment after another.
If she wasn’t running around town with Louis to business meetings and fancy dinners, she helped run his mansion. Within a week, he trusted her to manage over a hundred people, prepare daily to-do lists for them, and work with Morgan to make sure their home ran smoothly. By week two she ditched the to-do lists. His servants were competent enough without her micromanaging them.
When Morgan agreed with her, she locked herself in her bedroom with a large bottle of wine and drank it all. If she couldn’t enjoy food as often, she’d at least enjoy Louis’s fine wine while she caught up on her favorite soaps.
She couldn’t hide for long because she had lessons with Morgan and Eisen. While her new boss taught her about the cutthroat world of business finance, Morgan’s lessons focused on a crash course on the aristocracy and proper manners. Truthfully, she wasn’t sure which instructor was worse—Eisen, with her stern attitude, or Morgan whenever he chastised her for a simple mistake. Sometimes, she wanted to hide from both of them.
Of course, they didn’t forget about Hector, either. He became Evelyn’s bodyguard while Louis handled all his business affairs.
Evelyn rubbed her finger along the parasol sitting beside her. Part of her longed to return to her one-bedroom apartment or ruined office inside Vixens back in the P
rojects. Still, being a business owner had its drawbacks. She hated kissing her customer’s asses when she had to play damage control, but she wouldn’t get fired if she screwed up or showed up late. She’d just lose a customer if they got tired of her antics.
The vampire flicked her ashes out the tinted window with a dreamy sigh when Morgan parked the vehicle underneath one of the large skyscrapers. She wanted her freedom back.
She hadn’t seen Jemina all month.
“We’re here, Mistress Rodriguez.”
Evelyn grabbed the parasol and her new Samsonite laptop case. “Thanks.”
Morgan stepped out of the car before jogging around to open her door. “When shall I return to pick you up?”
“No idea.” She exited the limousine and took in a tinge of fresh yet smoggy air. “She asked me to meet her at the office.”
Even in his slanted stance, Evelyn caught his wrist twitch from the hem of his pocket. “I see.”
“You know, it’s weird.” She shut the door. “Last month, I struggled to pay my rent. Hell, I had five dollars in my bank account and debated on what kind of food would feed me for several days. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches worked for a while until I switched to ramen noodles with eggs. This month? I’ve got a new job, a new place, and this weird lifestyle I can’t wrap my head around. Of course, I can’t eat like I used to, but—”
“It’ll get better, Mistress.”
Evelyn tapped her heel against the asphalt. “Please don’t call me Mistress. I haven’t committed adultery.”
“Force of habit.” His lips twitched in a half-smile. “I suppose I should address you as Lady since the master isn’t married any longer.”
Old habit her ass. He’d call her Mistress until Louis got remarried.
“How about just Evelyn? Or Evie.”
Morgan wrinkled his nose. “That’s the master’s name for you. Besides, a real lady should be addressed by their proper title.”
“So, what stops you every other time?”
“You weren’t born into nobility.”
“Well, I got news for you.” Her hand waved theatrically around the street. “Most of us city folk don’t have a drop of nobility in our veins.” Then she lowered her voice. “I mean, you’ve got Hector with his family and Louis—and then, there’s you with your badassery and awesome time management skills—but Jemina and I never lived in your world. The biggest worries we had were having a place to live, taking care of her kids, or catching up on daytime television whenever we had a day off. You have no idea how missing one episode can throw off your groove.”
Morgan cringed. “I’ve seen you tape those pointless Hispanic soap operas on the DVR. You shouldn’t entertain yourself with such mindless drivel.”
“Then order some romance novels from Amazon.”
“Those trashy novels?” This time, the butler crossed his arms and took a step back from her. “They’re a poor substitute for smut.”
“Not every novel has sex.”
“Once the maids read those books, they might get ideas.”
“Oh, lord.” Evelyn lowered her voice. “Look, every woman either watches soaps, reads romance novels, or rents porn whenever they’re in their mood, anyway. I don’t think a box of paranormal romance novels will corrupt any innocent maidens when most of them have fantasies about obeying their lord and master.”
She laughed when a spark of light came to the older man’s eyes. “Right.”
Someone clapped near the building. “At last. Our new employee has finally arrived. Try to be more punctual in the future before Eisen throws a colossal fit. She almost killed two employees last week when they were late with her package. Then again, she gets upset when people arrive late with her lunch, too. I hate to see her freak over two chili cheese dogs again.”
Evelyn turned toward their visitor, then raised an eyebrow at the large suited man with the bright red aura who blocked the entrance.
Why did handsome men always seem to stalk her?
Wait. Scratch that.
Handsome stretched her weary imagination.
Louis was handsome. Well, more than handsome. Her partner could’ve been a sex god. This guy paled in comparison with his five o’clock shadow and the clean crew cut.
His sharp, judgmental baby blue eyes added to his rugged charm, but didn’t belong on someone who wore a near tuxedo suit and dressed like a Mafioso. The man even had a rose tucked in his pocket—something Hector did whenever he dressed up for a formal occasion.
Maybe Hector hired him to play her bodyguard for today. The bastard loved to play hooky whenever a sexy woman caught his attention.
“Sorry.” She wheeled her bag behind her while she approached the man. “Do I know you?”
“Nope.” His city accent oozed out of his lips. “I’m one of Eisen’s seasoned bodyguards. She sent me out here to meet you ten minutes ago, but you hadn’t arrived yet. She’ll be cross you arrived late. She wanted to leave early before we got caught in rush-hour traffic.”
“What a pity.” Evelyn drummed her fingers along her pale arm. “Driving through bumper to bumper traffic is one of our city’s most beloved charms.”
Morgan cleared his throat. “Please apologize to Lady Eisen on my behalf for the delay. I ran behind schedule.”
“No worries.” The mystery man beckoned Evelyn closer. “I’m Kenneth. Please follow me.”
She waved to Morgan but kept her distance from Kenneth when she followed him. Something about his blood aura—at least, that’s what Louis called her newfound ability—didn’t seem right to her. It flickered while he walked as if he were a faulty light switch. Also, he smelled. The cigars and liquor couldn’t block out the animalistic stench wafting off his body.
Evelyn stuck her tongue out while she followed him.
Her heightened sense of smell was not a perk of her vampirism.
“Oh, by the way.” He spun around and halted. “I dunno if they told you this, but you’ll be working under me. So, don’t get any funny ideas if you get hungry. Also, humans are fair game. Except the boss, her staff, which includes security, and myself, unless your master restricted your diet. I wonder what a vampire drinks if they can’t have human blood.”
She licked her fang. “You know, I’ve only met you for a minute and a half and I already want to drain the life out of your miserable hide.”
“You’ve got a sharp tongue, but you’re pretty cute for a dead woman. If you make it past two weeks, maybe I’ll take you out for a drink, sweetie.”
Kenneth reached for his gun, then winked at her.
Her hand slid to her parasol. “I’ll pass, thanks.”
“Oh, one last thing before I forget.” He picked up his pace when he resumed walking to the office. “Whatever you do, don’t call me Ken.”
She hid her mischievous smirk while following him into Eisen’s office.
“I’m serious.” Kenneth gave her a warning look. “Too many Barbie and Ken jokes. No one gets away with it.”
“Whatever you say… Ken.”
He scowled. “Blood-sucking bitch.”
Evelyn winked, blew him a kiss, and shut Eisen’s door behind her while she contained her self-satisfied smirk. It died when she reached her boss’s desk.
Maybe being Eisen’s bodyguard wouldn’t be so boring, after all.
* * *
Louis and Evelyn’s story continues in Vulture’s Hex which will release in October 2019.
Letter To The Reader
Dear reader,
Thank you for giving Vulture’s Kiss and myself a chance. I hope you enjoyed this book.
There are more books planned for the Charm City Assassins series other than Louis and Evelyn’s trilogy. However, when they’re released will be determined by you because I release books based on my reader’s feedback and interests. I make this determination based on if the book receives favorable or critical reviews. I also take into account what my readers say in my Facebook reader’s group and through my newslett
er.
The best way to help me figure out if I should continue this series is to leave a review. If a book receives no reviews, then I assume there is no interest in the series.
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