SUNDOWN
&
SERENA
Promise Me Origin Tales
by Tara Fox Hall
Published by
Melange Books, LLC
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
www.melange-books.com
Sundown & Serena, Copyright 2015 Tara Fox Hall
ISBN: 978-1-68046-151-0
Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published in the United States of America.
Cover Design by Caroline Andrus
TABLE OF CONTENTS
“Sundown & Serena”
~
SUNDOWN
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
~
SERENA
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
About the Author
Previews
SUNDOWN & SERENA
by Tara Fox Hall
Neither human stripper Sundown nor virgin were-halfbreed Serena knew how their futures would change when catalyst vampire Devlin Dalcon walked into their lives. Sundown was just looking to party and forget her tragic past; Serena was hoping for excitement and love, to be swept away from the dull routine of her short-order cook job and solitary life. Will these very different women finally face their fears in time to seize their own dreams of happiness?
To my father
******
In memory of Jess, who will live on in the pages of this series
SUNDOWN
Chapter One
It felt like the day from hell. Everything had gone wrong for me. I’d gotten hit on by an overzealous, middle-aged buffoon who’d fondled me intimately on his second lap dance. That had put me off so much, I’d been a beat behind when I took my turn onstage. The men in the audience hadn’t cared, but I had. I liked to think I was the most sought after girl in Hotcakes, and how could I, feeling like some amateur her first night on the pole.
“Shit.” I drank my seven-and-seven down in a gulp, and decided to pay my tab. It was time to go home.
Leaving some money on the bar, I motioned to Bill, the head bouncer at Hotcakes. He came over grinning snidely, his tanned face sharp, yet still friendly. “Another, Sun?”
“No,” I said tiredly, getting to my feet. “I should go home.”
He leaned in close. “Even though you’ve got a fan still here?”
I gave him a look that said he’d better not annoy me in the mood I was in. “What are you talking about?”
“That guy in the corner,” he said, with a discreet hand gesture. “He came in when you were on stage. He watched your set like he’d never seen a woman before.”
“Good for him,” I said dispassionately, though inside I was pleased to hear of the special attention. “It’s nice I can still give a man a lift, even as bad as I was.”
“You weren’t bad,” Bill replied seriously. “Just off by a few seconds.”
“Not good enough,” I replied stiffly. “I strive for perfection. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As I went for my coat, a soft yet deep voice called out, “Please wait.”
I turned back to see my admirer coming toward me. As men went—especially compared to the type who came in here usually—he was a solid nine. He was handsome, tall, and his body was nicely muscular without being too bulky. He looked sort of young for some reason, yet I reasoned that he had to be at least twenty-one for Bill to have let him in the door. His straight dark hair was pulled sharply back in a short ponytail, which made me think he was older than the early twenties I pegged him for. That hairstyle wasn’t popular with the twenty-something crowd, and the clothes he was wearing also spoke to him being at least thirty-something.
“Can I take you for coffee?” he asked softly, his dark eyes staring at my breasts before looking up to my face.
At least he’s close to my age. It was nice to have a man come on to me who wasn’t old enough to be my father...wait. The stranger’s eyes had seemed red for a moment. Now they were dark again. It must have been a trick of the light. The bartender had just shut off the flashing neon signs in the front windows and announced last call. Maybe it had been the glare of the strobe lights that were still going strong? Maybe I’m drunker than I thought...Nah.
“Or something to eat,” the stranger added, when I didn’t reply. “You look like you could use a good meal.”
“Listen, buddy,” I replied sarcastically. “This isn’t Pretty Woman, got it? I’m not looking for a savior.”
“What woman is these days?” he stated bitterly. “I was just offering company, if you wanted some.”
I was surprised that someone so young could sound so bitter. Maybe he only looked young. Or maybe he’d had a childhood like mine. I reached out and ran my hands over his chest. His muscles bunched reflexively under my hands, making a shiver of desire snake its way through my body.
Maybe this is a good way to end the night. “What are you offering?” I said suggestively, giving him my best bedroom eyes.
His eyes closed, and his breathing quickened. His skin seemed to be radiating heat. I was glad of it; I’d been feeling cold in my skimpy jacket. That’s what I got for caring so much about looking hot.
He didn’t reply. I continued to run my hands over him while he acted as though he couldn’t get enough of feeling my hands on his clothed chest. That was weird. Men usually came here because they wanted to touch me or think about touching me, even though they knew no touching was allowed. And if they wanted me to touch them, I gambled that their fantasy was never my hands on their chests, with all their clothes on.
“What do you want?” he said suddenly, his tone shaky.
Definitely weird. Too weird to take a chance on tonight. “Nothing, sweetheart,” I said, dropping my hands. “Nothing but sleep.” He looked so crestfallen at my brush-off that I took pity on him. “Come back tomorrow if you want,” I added with a lopsided smile. “I work from eight to two. You can buy me a drink.”
“I’ll be here,” he promised, then kissed my hand gently with his hot lips.
While the romance bit didn’t impress me, it came off as sincere rather than staged for effect. Whoever he was, the man wasn’t just out for sex. But that didn’t mean he was my Mr. Right, either.
Taking my hand back, I staggered out to the street, and down to my little apartment. I walked up the back stairs, and let myself in. I passed out from sheer exhaustion and alcohol before I hit the bed.
* * * *
I woke up on the floor at noon.
I sat up, got to my feet, and staggered to the bathroom. I took an extended shower, washing my long blonde hair. Well, dirty blonde, actually. I knew I’d get better tips if I dyed it a lighter shade of blonde, like platinum. But I took pride in my natural color; I was the only stripper at Hotcakes who didn’t dye her hair. Everyone there was ash blonde, platinum blonde, a jet-black, or a bright burgundy redhead. That fake color looked cheap to me, the way it was so obvious and overly bright, just like the deep red lipstick most of them wore. I didn’t wear much makeup, except eyeliner and mascara, which was pretty much mandatory. The sequin, spandex, and spangled costumes required were also fine by me; I’d always loved to play dress up as a child. But when it came to my hair, I could dye it when it started turning gray. That would be soon enough.
My eyes were pretty, at least. They were a soft blue, not washed out, yet not bright sky blue, either. The blue of the sea, a blue that sometimes looked green in the right light when I was wearing the right colors. My eyes were my best feature, and I was proud of them.
Not that I was bad-looking or anything. While a girl didn’t have to be beautiful to be a stripper, both a good body was needed and the attitude to flaunt it. My body was good, taut and firm in all the right places, even though I wasn’t very tall. It was genes, not exercise. My daily workout was dancing and gyrating, and the half block walk to and from work. Still, I’d never been refused by a man I’d approached, and that counted for something in my book.
I had a late lunch, and spent the rest of the day sleeping. I didn’t have any pets, children, or a boyfriend to take care of. Owning my small apartment, I didn’t have any snow to shovel in winter, or grass to mow in summer. And that was the way I liked it, free and footloose.
* * * *
Later that night, my admirer came back to Hotcakes. He was sitting at his same table when I arrived, and he stayed there the entire time I worked. Curious, I motioned one of the bouncers to come backstage during my break.
He came over to me with a leer on his wide mouth. “Feeling like a roll later?”
What a surprise. But Hunter was almost always on the make, like most men. “Fuck off,” I said with a polite smile. “I want to know about that guy in the corner.”
“Mr. Polite?” he said, losing his happy face. “Why?”
“Because he’s been here all night. I want to know if he’s been drinking or—”
“No,” Hunter said with a snort. “He’s eaten a pizza, and had several sodas. He’s not bothering anyone, so we’re letting him stay. But if he doesn’t spend some serious cash soon, his ass is out the door.”
I felt bad suddenly for the stranger, though I didn’t know why. “Go ask him if he wants a lap dance with me.”
Hunter gaped at me, incredulous. “You sweet on him?”
My hackles went up. “I could use the money,” I snapped harshly. “My rent’s due tomorrow. Just do it, jackass.”
Hunter sidled up to me, and patted my ass through my skimpy costume. “I’ll give you some cash if you want,” he said huskily. “Just come home with me, Sun.”
“I’m not a whore,” I hissed. “I fuck for pleasure, not money. Get your hands off me.”
“So come home with me and I won’t pay you,” he amended with a grin.
I wanted to slug him, but knew there was no point. Besides being the nephew of the boss, this bullshit—‘I’m God’s gift to women’ routine— was just Hunter’s way. He treated all the girls here like that, no matter what they looked like, which had earned him his nickname. He was good-looking, and there wasn’t much upstairs besides his sex drive. But while no one who’d spent a night with him had any real complaints, word around Hotcakes was that Hunter was rough, that he liked oral sex a lot, and that he expected a girl to swallow whatever he told her to swallow. While I might go for the first two, I absolutely, positively, did not ever do the last.
“No, thanks,” I said with a fake smile. “Now bring me some easy money.”
Hunter laughed under his breath. “Sure thing. Wait here.”
I went to the bar and downed a quick shot. To my surprise, Hunter was back in a few minutes, alone, a strange expression on his face.
“He didn’t want to dance. He wanted to know when you got off, because he was taking you for breakfast,” Hunter said slowly. “He’s odd, Sun. Maybe you shouldn’t go with him. He could be one of those crazy guys.”
“I’m thinking about it,” I said loftily. “I probably won’t.”
Chapter Two
Yet when my set was finished—in spite my reservations—I put on my clothes and strolled out to see my handsome stranger.
He got up the instant he saw me. “Ready?”
“Sure. Lead on.”
He took me outside, and opened the door to his pickup truck so I could get in.
His gleaming, full-size Chevy had to be brand new. “Very nice.”
“You like it?” he said quietly. “I bought it today.”
Maybe my luck was changing. Not only had I met a well-off man, I had met one who had a sense of chivalry. I nodded and got in. My handsome stranger took me to the only place that was open this late, a local diner. They were serving early breakfast to the blue-collar class. We got a booth, and looked at menus.
“My treat,” he said, and then smiled at me.
“Okay,” I said happily.
We both ordered a large breakfast. After the waitress took our menus and left, the hard part came. I hated small talk. But my handsome stranger made it easy.
“Tell me your name?”
“Sundown,” I answered with a smile. “But you can call me Sun. Most people do.”
“Where did you get a name like that?” he said with surprise.
“It’s not my stage name,” I bristled hotly. “I—”
“I’m sorry,” he placated. “I didn’t mean to make you think I was insulting you. I just think it’s both pretty and unusual.”
“Thanks,” I said stiffly. “What’s yours?”
“Terian,” he supplied hesitantly.
“You win,” I replied, cracking a smile. “Yours is more unusual. Your mother gave you that name?”
“Yes,” he said with a sad look. “She died a long time ago.”
“I’m sorry,” I said more respectfully, then added, “Mine abandoned me.”
Terian blinked at me. “You’re an orphan?”
I looked away, and didn’t reply.
“Sorry,” he said again. “I’m one. I—”
“It’s okay,” I said, letting out a sigh. “No, I’m not. My father is alive and well. But we don’t speak. I haven’t seen him in years.”
Terian seemed not to know what to say, his expression uncomfortable.
“So why offer me breakfast?” I said quickly, trying to fill the silence. I hate silence. “Why take me to eat?”
“Because I wanted to spend time with you,” Terian said earnestly.
“Why?” I asked suspiciously.
“Because I find you attractive, and I wanted to know if you’re a good person, and this was the easiest way to find that out, by getting a chance to talk to you alone.”
He was frank; I’d give him that. The way he said things was so honest, it made me want to trust him... No. I don’t trust men, not any men. Men are assholes. “I’m not a good person,” I murmured. “I’m just a person trying to live.”
Our food came right then, to my relief. As we ate, we made some small talk about the weather and current events. While Terian was up on all the current badness—like the climate change that was in the news all the time these days, and the way things in the world were bleak with all the natural disasters and political unrest—his attitude was still buoyant.
“You must be an optim
ist,” I kidded him.
“I have hope,” he admitted. “I didn’t for a long time. But I do now. I think that the world’s going to be okay. There are good people—”
His cheerfulness suddenly soured my mood, turning it nasty. “There aren’t,” I said disparagingly. “Most people are useless wastes of resources—”
I abruptly stopped and cringed, hearing my father’s words in my bitter declaration.
Terian just looked at me sadly. “Not all people are,” he comforted. “Sometimes it only takes one to make a big difference.”
It was easy to see he believed what he was saying. It was equally easy to see he was talking about a woman that he cared for as more than a benefactor. Sure, he could be referring to a man, but then that extra affection I was hearing would make him gay. If he were gay, he wouldn’t be here with me having breakfast, or getting so excited when I’d touched him. Whoever she was, she wasn’t my concern. When we finished here, I was going to ask him to spend the night if he wanted to. “Maybe.”
When the bill came a few minutes later, Terian paid it. We walked back to his truck, and he drove me to my place. As he had all night, he opened the door for me, then helped me out. “Thank you for coming with me,” he said almost formally. “I’d like to take you out again, if you had fun.”
“I did,” I said slowly, realizing with surprise that I wasn’t just being polite, I was telling the truth.
“Tomorrow?” he said quickly. “I can be there by ten—”
“No,” I said flatly. “You can’t hang out at my job.”
That upset him. “Are you embarrassed I waited for you?”
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