Out of the Dark (Forbidden Love)

by Danielle James

  “How many victims have there been?” Angel asked.

  “Four.”

  “And have they been drained of blood?”

  “Yes. Do you think a vampire is trying to make it look like a wolf?”

  “At this point, anything is possible. I truly believe you are dealing with a vampire that is new to this area.”

  “I should’ve known when there wasn’t any blood.”

  “It is impossible for a vampire to drink enough to kill a person. It isn’t physically possible. However, if one does not seal the wound, the victim will bleed out. Was there anything else?”

  “All of the women were raped before they were killed,” Samuel answered, his tone obviously disgusted.

  Angel’s own stomach churned. He had no patience for rapists. “So you will be looking for a crime scene that is private. He would not do these things in the open. I speculate that your criminal, no, our criminal, is choosing his victims carefully. They are people he can get close to, get somewhere private with them. If it is a vampire, he will not risk himself while he takes her. We let our guard down when we feed or have sex. If he is allowing the women to bleed out, there will be evidence.”

  “I will have my officers check the women’s homes again,” Samuel said.

  “I would also like your cooperation with my team, as well.”

  “Fine, whatever it takes to catch this piece of shit. Send your men to my office, and I will see that they get whatever information they need.”

  “Detective,” Angel urged, “Go ahead and run the story about a wolf or a human trying to make it look like a wolf. Do not shed any light on the possibility that we are dealing with a sick vampire. If he thinks he has fooled us all, he will grow lax and make a mistake.”

  “Good thinking,” Samuel mused. “Let me give you my personal cell number, just in case.”

  Angel saw the detective to the door, only to be greeted by the sound of female laughter floating up the steps to the front door. Laughter like wind chimes. The sun had just barely set, and the sky was a lovely shade of violet, the exact color of Brea’s eyes.

  Approaching in a sphere of bubbling laughter was his mate. Potential mate, he corrected himself. Her hair was streaming down her back like curling red ribbon, her violet eyes were shining. Alongside Brea was a beautiful young wolf woman. Angel knew immediately that this was Keelie. The two were carrying armfuls of shopping bags and paper sacks that smelled of fast food.

  “Welcome, Brea.” He stopped himself just in time. He had almost told her Welcome home. But this was not her home. “This must be Keelie,” he said in his rich baritone. Keelie smiled and shifted her packages to extend her hand. She intended for him to shake it as he would any man, but Angel was not any man. He lifted her hand to his lips briefly and then returned it to her. He smiled as the pink coloring took form in her cheeks. “You are most welcome at my home,” Angel said.

  “Um, thank you,” she managed before giggling like a school girl. Angel took the packages from the girls and offered to place them in Brea’s room. He heard the whispers and hushed chuckles behind him as he easily carried the bags to her room.

  After setting each bag down, Angel turned to Brea and said, “I have some business to attend to with the others tonight. We must visit a local club to look for someone new to the area. Is there any chance you ladies want to accompany us?”

  “Where is it?”

  “It is downtown. It is called The Black Horse.”

  “The vampire bar?” Keelie squeaked. No one was allowed in unless accompanied by a vampire, but rumors about the place had circulated none the less. Any and everything happened there. Anything from fetishes, to willing blood donors, to drugs, to a combination of all three.

  “The same. I will understand if you do not want to go, but I assure you both, no harm will come to you in my presence.”

  “Are you kidding! Hell yes I want to go. Can we Brea?”

  “How can I refuse?” Brea resigned. She had heard what kind of things went on in vampire clubs. Things she was sure she didn’t want any part of.

  “Good. Get ready, and I will let Ricco know. I am sure he will want to attend as well. We leave in two hours.” And with that, Angel turned and left the women alone to ready themselves.

  TWELVE

  “Do you think I’ll get a hot date?” Keelie asked, straightening her skirt. There wasn’t much too it in the first place and the tank top that she borrowed from Brea was cut high above the belly button. Keelie had donned extra makeup and curled her dark hair.

  “Are you looking for good company or a midnight romp in the hay?” Brea asked sarcastically.

  “Either,” she answered with a slight cock of her head.

  “Then I don’t think you’ll have any problems.”

  A light knock on the door interrupted the girls conversation. Brea opened it and her breath caught in her throat. Angel stood outside her door, looking every bit the rock star he was famous for being. His black hair was loose around his shoulders, laying neatly over a black silk shirt that was open at the collar. He was wearing a gold chain around his neck that was only long enough to brush the hollow in his throat. His ears were adorned with small gold hoop earrings. The shirt tapered down into a pair of snug fitting leather pants that showed every line of his powerful legs. “Are you ladies ready to go?” he asked in his sultry voice.

  “Um, yeah, let’s go Keelie,” Brea stammered.

  Downstairs, the whole band waited as the women descended the stairs. Angel had one on each arm, smiling smugly. Brea looked radiant. Her short sleeved shirt hugged her curves just right, cut low enough to show a tantalizing bit of cleavage. Instead of a skirt like her friend, Brea had donned a tight pair of blue jeans that left little to the imagination.

  “Holy mother of God,” Keelie breathed in a whisper. “would you look at all that.”

  And there was plenty to look at. Leather pants and muscle awaited at the bottom of the stairs. Ricco had even dressed for the occasion. He was wearing leather pants and a black t-shirt. His hair was neat, and he looked at Keelie with a fierce hunger in his eyes. Angel couldn’t help but smile.

  They took two vehicles to the club, which was hidden in plain sight downtown. If one didn’t know what they were looking for, they would never find it. There was no sign, and no visible door. It was only because the guys knew how to get in did the gang ever enter.

  Inside, it looked much like any other club. There were plenty of tables, covered in red cloth, flashing lights and a DJ in the corner. Loud music blared over the sound system, reverberating deep in Brea’s chest. Without hardly a glance, Angel led the group to a large table off to the left of the dance floor.

  “Drinks?” a woman dressed in hardly a piece of lace shouted over the music. Angel inclined his head and ordered for everyone. Soon, the scantily clad waitress returned with beer and margaritas. The latter was for Brea and Keelie. Brea sipped her drink slowly while watching the people on the dance floor.

  Gage and Rebel had left the table almost immediately to ‘mingle.’ Angel leaned in to speak into Brea’s ear, explaining that they wanted to have some fun, and find a willing donor. Angel excused himself, with little explanation as to why, other than to see the rest of the establishment. Brea knew he was looking for something, or someone. Perhaps he was looking for a donor as well. The thought curled into a ball of anger inside Brea’s stomach. But she squashed it, she had no right to be upset with him for his nature. But it wasn’t really his nature she was upset about, it was that she was inexplicably jealous.

  “Let’s dance!” Keelie shouted, grabbing Brea and Antonio by the hand. “Come on! You guys too,” she hollered at Jacque and Ricco. The men followed the women to the polished wooden floor. The music was loud, but it had a good beat, and soon Brea found herself smiling and swaying to the music.

  A pair of hands gripped Brea’s waist and a wall of muscle pressed to her back. She spun around, half expecting Angel to be the culprit. But it was not. It w
as Ricco. “Hey,” she mouthed.

  Ricco leaned down and asked permission to dance with her. Brea smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. The pair danced for two songs, then another man cut in. Brea didn’t mind, so long as he kept his hands where they belonged. But this man, a vampire, had other ideas. When his hand reached back and cupped Brea by the buttocks, she tried to push him away. He only pulled her closer in response. He was gyrating his hips against her leg, making his attraction obvious. Brea reached back and let her arm snap forward. She had only intended to slap the insolent jerk, but somewhere on the way her fist closed and she connected with his nose. Hard. He jerked back, his hands flying to cover his now bloody nose. Rage shot from his eyes and he came at Brea once more.

  Four pairs of hands appeared out of nowhere, restraining the injured vampire. “I wouldn’t do it, man, she belongs to Angel.” Gage told him.

  “She’s not marked,” the vamp snapped back. Brea was furious.

  “Marked or not, you have no right to put your hands on me. No means no, asshole!” Brea huffed as she stalked by the man. “Belongs to Angel, humph. I don’t belong to anyone.” She said it more to herself than anyone else.

  “I know that,” Antonio said, appearing beside her. “But he didn’t know that. It was the quickest way to end the situation. Nice right hook, by the way.”

  “Thanks,” Brea muttered.

  “You could be, ya know, if you wanted.”

  “What?”

  “Angel’s. He really cares for you. Much more than you know.”

  “How the hell would you know that?” she snapped, sitting back down at the table to nurse her new drink.

  “I see a change in him since he met you,” Antonio answered. “He has a light in his eyes that I haven’t seen in more than two centuries. It is like he feels alive again.”

  “He barely knows me,” Brea said around her straw.

  “The soul knows its mate, even if the mind does not.”

  “I can’t deal with this now. I’m going to dance again. Wanna come with?”

  “Sure. But only if you promise not to hit me,” he feigned horror.

  “Keep your hands where they belong and I won’t.”

  On the floor, Brea started to relax. It could have been the dancing, or it could have been the margaritas in her system. She enjoyed dancing with Antonio. He was a perfect gentleman. But something was bothering her. She didn’t want to ask, but she had to know. “If Angel likes me so much, why did he bring me here then disappear to find himself a willing donor?”

  Antonio bellowed a laugh. “He is not finding a donor. He is searching the premises for a new vampire. One he believes may be a killer. Believe me, he won’t drink from just any woman. And since you have been at the house, he doesn’t want anyone but you.”

  Brea was going to ask more, but something she saw caught her attention. A woman was dancing with a man, her lips firmly sealed on his neck. He looked like he was in the throes of ecstasy, and his open mouth left no room for speculation on whether he was human or vampire. Definitely vampire. A trail of crimson was rolling down his neck. “Is that woman a human?” Brea asked.

  “Yes. Why?”

  “Is she drinking his blood?” she asked incredulously.

  “Vampire blood is very much like a drug to humans. It is also a very powerful aphrodisiac. Many humans who allow a vampire to drink from them only ask the same in exchange.”

  “But will it turn her into, ya know, one of y’all?” her southern accent growing thicker.

  “No,” Antonio laughed again. “It will not. Would you like to try it? It is quite nice for the vampire as well,” he offered.

  “I don’t think Angel would like that very much,” Brea said.

  “You are right. If you want to try it, I suggest you ask him. I rather like my head, and I think I shall keep it a while longer if you don’t mind.”

  A slow song came over the speakers, and Brea was getting ready to head back to her table when Angel stepped in front of her. He held out his hand to her in invitation. She took it. A wide grin spread over his face, his teeth glinting in the lights. He took both of her hands and secured them behind his neck, then he placed both of his hands on her waist. “Did Antonio answer all your questions?”

  “Huh?” Brea asked, having been too lost in the beauty of his face to really hear the question.

  “I overheard some of your conversation. Did he tell you what you wanted to know?”

  “About the blood, I mean, sharing it? Yeah, I think so.”

  “Is it something you would like to try?” he whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. Feeling her body shiver, Angel moved his hand to the small of her back and pressed her closer.

  “Um, I don’t know,” she said, honestly. “These other women, they seem to enjoy it.”

  “Keelie seems to like it,” he said, inclining his head to the side. Brea followed the motion and saw her friend necking with Gage.

  “Is that what she is doing?”

  “Uh huh,” Angel answered with a smile. “Do not worry, he will do her no harm. She is in good hands.”

  “I kind of got the feeling that Ricco liked her,” Brea said.

  “He does,” Angel answered, turning them around in a circle. Brea was surprised at how easy it was to dance with him. He moved so gracefully and managed to keep his feet from being stepped on. “I think I would very much like to kiss you again,” Angel told her, locking his emerald eyes on hers.

  Brea smiled and tip toed up to his mouth. His lips brushed over hers so lightly she couldn’t be sure they actually made contact. Then he brought his mouth down on hers harder. He tightened his grip around her waist and pressed his hard body against hers. His tongue darted into her mouth and she opened to accept him. His kiss was gentle but possessive. There was no doubt that it was meant to let everyone watching know that she belonged to Angel. He was so powerful, yet he treated Brea with such tenderness, as if she were precious. Brea felt an unfamiliar emotion welling in her chest. She wanted to do so much with him right then, but she knew her conscious mind would never let her. When he broke the kiss, Brea was gasping for breath and felt a little light headed.

  “What’s it like?” she panted against his neck.

  “It is different for everyone. I suppose the effect is most like a shot of very stout whiskey. It gives the human a slight buzz and loosens inhibitions.”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “Yes?” he mimicked, raising his brow.

  “If you want me to, then I would like to try,” she said, unable to meet his eyes. She didn’t know why she felt so self-conscious, perhaps because she had lived her life on the straight and narrow, and what she was asking for was considered taboo. But how long could one person live in a sheltered house with no doors? Sooner or later, you have to get out and experience life, she told herself. Besides, she trusted Angel, and trust was the most important factor to her.

  Without saying anything, Angel raised his hand to his neck and drew his nail over the skin of his throat. A small line of crimson beaded up where he scratched himself. Brea swallowed the lump in her throat and stared at Angel. Her stomach was in a bunch and she felt her heart take off at an impressive speed. Her palms were suddenly slick and her face heated. She didn’t know if she could go through with it.

  Sensing her hesitation, Angel cocked his head to the side and smiled. “You do not have to do it.” Damn him and his understanding! Why couldn’t he be like every other man in the world and just insist on what he wanted? Brea could plainly see it in his eyes that he wanted her to taste him, but he was being all soft and compassionate. The others in the house would eventually hear of this, and if she backed out, she would be the innocent little girl that she fought so hard not to be. Then she realized, it was because he was so unlike every other man in the world that she was so attracted to him in the first place.

  Angel saw it the moment Brea made her decision. At first, she was hesitant. Then afraid. Then her ey
es softened and a look of sheer determination came over her features. She grabbed the back of his neck, snaring the hair at the nape of his neck in her fist and jerked him down to her level.

  Angel was prepared for the sensation brought about by a woman drinking from him. He had allowed more than one the gift in his time, and it was always a sensual experience. He thought he knew exactly what to expect. He was wrong.

  The second her mouth sealed on his flesh, bright white lights exploded behind his eyes. Fire raced in his veins as his normally still heart pounded out of control in his chest. The rest of the night club melted away as he was burned from the inside out, and he couldn’t get enough of it. He held her head securely to his throat as her hot little tongue swept over his burning flesh. A deep rumbling growl escaped as he threw his head back to allow her better access. His body harden and he felt his own thirst for her raging to be released. He never wanted to taste anyone as badly as he did her at that moment. He had to get closer to her, had to be inside her. He fought his own urges as she sucked harder on his throat. When he could stand it no more, he lifted her chin and took her mouth in a soul wrenching kiss.

  He broke away and looked into her eyes. Slowly, the other patrons of the club came back, as did the music, which was no longer slow. When had the song ended? Brea was smiling up at him with a very sheepish expression. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were wide. “Wow,” she mouthed. Angel laughed and kissed her again. He couldn’t care less who was watching, and people were, nor did he care what they thought.

  A tingling in the back of his mind drew Angel’s attention from his mate. Someone was there. Someone he didn’t know. “Shit,” he spat, “Come on,” he urged her back to the table. At the table, Sebastian had a woman in his lap, and Gage was whispering something to Keelie. Whatever he said, it made her giggle like a school girl. Ricco was the only one sitting alone, looking a little bit more than amused.

  Sitting Brea down beside Keelie, Angel grabbed Gage and Sebastian by the arm. “We gotta go,” he told them, “I think he’s here.”