Shutting the cabinet, I stared at myself in the mirror. My hair was a mess and my eyeliner was smeared all over my face. Was this what I looked like last night? I resembled a close relative of a raccoon. I managed a little laugh and walked to the tub. The whole room was engulfed in steam. I always did like a hot shower.
Washing my hair, I rinsed it, stretched down to the shelf near the tub, and grabbed my conditioner. My hair was long ash blonde, curly and without conditioner unruly. I reached for the bottle when I felt something behind me. I stood still while the water hit my face, holding my breath.
Maybe if I didn’t move maybe it would go away. I jumped as a strong hand slid around my waist. The hand caressed my breast teasing my nipples between his fingers. My nipples reacted to every stroke, growing and hardening. I felt myself being turned around and up against a naked erect body.
I tried to open my eyes but the conditioner stung, forcing me to close them tightly. I groaned softly as the hand left my waist and clutched my chin. I struggled to break free but he held me tightly. Warm lips brushed against my cheek moving down my jaw finally resting on my lips. One minute I was trying to get free and then next melting into a kiss that would wake my dead grandmother. His lips parted mine with the slightest of pressure. When his tongue met mine I deepened the kiss sliding my hands up muscled arms. He stepped into me, pressing the slick hardness of him against my stomach. The minute his throbbing manhood touched my stomach I was jolted back to reality. Rubbing his hands up my arms and over my shoulders, he rested them on my hips lifting me closer to his shaft. I shivered, moving back slowly. Turning so my backside was facing the intruder, I leaned out of the tub and reached for my gun. A cold gust of wind hit my back as I shifted around and to my surprise nobody was there.
My pulse was vibrating with fear and excitement. I could still feel his touch even though he wasn’t there. What was happening to me? "Siön Baptiste, are you in here?" I asked. I quickly finished showering and toweled off. The sooner I removed him from my life the better off I would be. I’d had my share of mind games before, but nothing like this. Was I dreaming? The door was locked, no one could enter. "I must be spooked, that is all. Get a grip, Sam," I spoke quietly to myself.
I was wrapping my hair in a towel when I heard a knock at the door. I just about jumped out of my skin. "What do you want?" I hollered. I could feel the anger building over the fright. I was going to blow and nothing was going to stop me.
Siön Baptiste’s voice floated into the bathroom. "We have a guest, Samantha, and we need to talk."
"I’ll be done in a minute, JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE." I always internally growl at people when they piss me off but now I almost heard a faint growl as I screamed.
I could still taste the kiss on my mouth from the shower. Siön Baptiste had a sweet sensual minty tasting kiss filled with promises of untold pleasure. The memory of last night brought a warm sensation below. It couldn’t have been real, it must have been a dream. Could I have slept while I took a shower? I checked the door and to my surprise, it was still locked. I had never heard of a vampire walking through walls, but then again I’d never met a vampire who could live in the light either.
Finished drying off, I slipped a pair of underwear on, from my plastic container, along with gray jogging pants and a white tank top. I stuck the gun in the front of my pants and shoved everything else into the closet. I ran some gel through my hair, put some eyeliner and blush on and wrapped my hair back up in the towel.
When I entered the bedroom, I could smell coffee. Was our local vampire domestic also? I headed out to the living room, looking for our visitor. I found a big burly guy sitting on the couch. He sat completely still with Siön Baptiste attached to his neck. The man looked at me with cold brown eyes. I couldn’t read whether he was enjoying feeding my guest or if he was in pain. His hair was dirty blonde, his shoulders were huge and you could see the muscles under his tight tee-shirt bulge in rhythm to his heartbeat. Why a guy like that would let someone suck off him was beyond me, but nothing shocked me anymore. I had to remember he was a potential client and I had to keep myself under control. Act like it’s no big deal Sam.
I headed for the kitchen, intent on getting a hot cup of coffee. "So I guess this is your breakfast?" No answer.
I stopped standing over both of them. "We need to talk and I refuse to talk to you while you’re sucking on his neck."
Siön Baptiste drew away from the donor and a single drop of blood dripped from his lip. He quickly licked it and looked away from me as if embarrassed. "I apologize, my sweet, but if I had known you would be ready so soon I would have waited." He paused as if to think of what next to say then politely introduced his breakfast. "This is my donor and good friend, Ralph."
I held my hand out to Ralph. "Nice to meet you, Ralph." I know they heard the suspicion in my voice because as soon as I said it, Siön Baptiste lifted an eyebrow and smiled that evil grin of his.
Ralph took my hand shaking it firmly. I turned to Siön Baptiste who chuckled quietly. "Listen, Siön Baptiste, I am not sure what you think is so funny but if you don’t wipe that smirk off your face, I will do it for you." My words smacked the room like venom as my hand lowered to my gun. I was serious and from the look on his face, he knew just how serious.
"Once again I am sorry if I have offended you, my beau l’orage." And with that, he got up and strolled into the bedroom. "I will take a short shower and once I am refreshed, we can talk." He was carrying a small black bag. Must have been a present from the big guy.
Just as he entered the bathroom, the phone rang. I walked over to the kitchen and picked it up while keeping one curious eye on my new friend.
"Hello?"
"Hi Sam." I could hear a sense of relief over Trevor’s voice. He was going to be just fine.
"Trevor, when can I pick you up?" I asked and wished it would be immediately.
He laughed nervously on the other end and then he coughed. "Are you going to lose a lung, Trevor?" I joked.
"No, I am not going to lose a lung but I will be in the hospital for two more nights. Can you believe this crap?" He barked over the phone.
I contemplated not telling Trevor about last night and then looked over at the bedroom and decided to tell him everything. "Trevor, someone is here in your apartment with me. Last night in all the confusion Siön Baptiste brought me home." Somehow, I felt guilty about what I had just said. I paused, "He’s still here." I knew he could hear the hesitation in my voice.
There was cold dark silence. Finally, he asked, "Did he hurt you?"
When I didn’t answer, he spoke again, "Samantha, did he hurt you?"
"No," I answered calmly. If you count setting me on fire with desire hurting someone, then I am in a world of trouble.
He asked again, his voice sounding panic-stricken. "Did he spend the night?" He paused. "Sam? Sam, answer me." He grew silent as I contemplated how to word the answer.
My heart beat loudly over the silence. "No, he didn’t hurt me, everything is fine. He wouldn’t stop talking about his master killing him if he let me out of his sight." I started to ramble when I got nervous.
"That damn vamp is still there and you let him sleep in my bed?" For the first time ever I heard true anger in Trevor’s voice. "Have you ever heard of a COUCH?" he screamed.
Pulling the phone away from my ear, he continued to shout. I guess I had it coming. That was closer to the truth than was comfortable. "Trevor, everything is fine. I’m okay, you’re okay, we are both okay." Trevor hated vampires and anything that wasn’t considered natural. I couldn’t figure out if he was angrier I had a vampire in his apartment or that the vampire slept with me.
He laughed but it wasn’t sane laughter. I could tell he was beyond pissed. "Listen, I’ve got to go. The doctor will disconnect my phone if I’m on any longer. I’ll give you a call tomorrow."
My voice croaked as I fought the tears back. "Trevor?" I paused. "You are going to be okay?"
He took a deep breath.
"Get that damn vamp out of my apartment. You better not take the job." He coughed. "I warned you Sam, he was trouble. If he lays a hand on you I can’t promise what I’ll do."
Too late, he’s had his hands all over me!
"Trevor, I will get rid of him as soon as I can," I whispered.
"Now, Sam! He needs to be gone NOW!" He was shouting again. I pulled the phone away from my ear, listening to him curse. He was still mumbling profanities when he started gagging.
"Trevor, calm down. You’re going to make yourself sick. He’ll be gone by the time you come home."
We ended the conversation with "I love you and see you soon." I think he felt better but I would know more, when I picked him up Friday.
I leaned over the kitchen counter and cried. I felt confused and unsure of myself. I hated that I couldn’t be stronger for Trevor. After I gathered my control together, I decided to call my partner in crime.
I dialed my boss, John Wilkins. I dreaded the thought of talking to John but I had no choice. I was afraid of what he would say about our client staying the night. He was always careful and protective and I wasn’t looking forward to speaking with him.
A cheery voice came over the line. "Eldon Agency, may I help you?"
"Is John around, Betty?" I asked trying to mask my irritation at her for letting Siön Baptiste into my life.
"How are you, Sammy?" She was always so damn cheerful.
"Patch me through to John, please, Betty," I growled.
I heard someone yelling in the background. "If that is Samantha put her through, NOW!"
A beep then silence. "Samantha, nice to hear back from you after dealing with our biggest client all year." He was yelling. "Where the hell have you been all night? I tried your cell, your home, and the police." He was still screaming.
I could almost feel him gripping the phone as if ready to rip it out of the wall. John always did overreact. Watching the bedroom door, I pleaded with John, "Calm down, nothing happened. We have to meet with the client tonight because there was an interruption." I was almost tempted to tell him what had happened but I knew he would freak. "And by the way, why didn’t you tell me our client was a vampire? Hello, JOHN, are you slipping in your old age?"
"What does that mean interrupted?" He raised his voice. I could hear his erratic breathing over the phone as if he was about to hyperventilate. "Did you say vampire? Betty said nothing about the client being a vampire." He paused. "You should have called."
John always worried about me. He loved me as a father does a little child and sometimes it really annoyed me. After my father’s death he taught me the business. I love him too in my own disturbed way. His wife of 22 years divorced him last year and he hasn’t been the same since. I felt sorry for him and if he knew, he would hate me for it. I appreciated his fatherly advice and friendship but he needed my help as much as I needed him.
I looked around at Trevor’s kitchen wondering what kind of mess I was getting into. I let John ramble on for a few minutes and then interrupted him. "I’m meeting with Nicholi tonight and will call you as soon as we are done. I’ve got to go."
I heard his voice trailing off in the background. "Who is Nicholi? Sam, damn it, what is going on?" Before he could say any more, I cut him off and hung up. This was going nowhere fast. He would never understand. He might stay mad for a while but he’d get over it eventually.
I was so busy dwelling on the conversations with John and Trevor, I hadn’t notice the big guy was no longer sitting in the living room. Great, where did he run off too?
I heard someone in the bedroom. The door was still closed. I put my cup of coffee on the counter and tiptoed quietly to the door, straining to listen. All I could hear was humming. I didn’t recognize the song but the humming was unnerving. I have never heard a vampire hum before. Of course, I’d never spent the night with a vampire either. It was eerie. I knocked on the door.
"Come in Samantha, I was just getting dressed," he said cheerfully.
I slowly opened the door and peeked in. Siön Baptiste was sitting on the bed buttoning up a black colored shirt. He looked up at me smiling. "I assure you I am dressed."
A happy vampire, who’d imagine.
Peering around the room past him to the bathroom, I asked, "Where is your friend, the hulk?" My eyes were drawn back to Siön Baptiste still sitting on the bed. His black hair fell in soft curls around his shoulders, covering his ears. He was dressed in a black silk shirt that left little to the imagination. His skin looked lighter against the contrast of the black during the day. His pants were simple black Dockers, making the long lines of his body look even longer than they’d appeared earlier that morning. I couldn’t help but watch him as he buttoned the last button on his shirt. He left the two top buttons undone showing just enough of his smooth chest. I remembered the feel of his skin in the shower. It had felt so real. I watched his chest moving with each breath he took and I shuddered.
He turned to me as if he sensed my reaction to his body. "I sent him home, my sweet, so that we may talk alone." Those last words were hardly innocent.
I entered the walk in closet, took out a black skirt and blouse. I grabbed my heels and stockings from my second plastic container at the bottom of the closet and returned to the room.
Siön Baptiste stood and walked over to the window, gently pulling back the blinds. He was taller than I remembered. He leaned his forehead against the window with his arm over his head as if in deep thought. His shoulders were broad but it was his face that caused my body to tremble. He was a poster boy for male sexuality. He emanated masculine good looks. He was truly spectacular. I had never seen a vampire, much less a man, quite like him. I felt a warm breeze run through me. He was powerful and his energy filled the room washing over my skin. A low noise came from my throat. I felt drawn to him. A desire to run my fingers through his hair and taste his mouth swept over me forcing my gaze away. I put my clothes on the bed and plopped down in the chair next to the window. I couldn’t help staring at his astonishing body. He stood motionless in a sexy "come hither" stance. I drank the sight of him in and my body tightened at the wonder of it all.
He turned to me and those eyes said everything. "I am worried about why my master wants to meet you tonight," he whispered as if afraid someone would hear.
"Why? I need to find out why the werewolves are out to destroy your family." My mind swirled with the information he’d just given me.
Siön Baptiste shook his head, resting his gaze on my eyes as he spoke. "My father, Nicholi, married my mother. She died during my birth." His voice was very careful.
I stopped breathing for a moment trying to understand his words. "I am going to meet your Dad?" I asked.
I had never heard of anyone ever giving birth to a vampire, but I wasn’t exactly a vampire expert. I’d heard many rumors regarding vampires with the ability to produce offspring but nothing I’d ever read talked about vampires living in the light or giving birth.
He made a small-exasperated sound. "My master and father are one in the same. He wishes to meet with you tonight to discuss the attack on the Silver Fang and the murder. But the murder is no longer of any concern. We know who was responsible, don’t we?" He stood motionless watching my face.
I just stared blankly into his beautiful eyes. "The werewolves." I acknowledged under my breath.
"Yes, and they will pay for their treachery."
"But how do you have a father?" I asked, still stuck on the fact he’d been born a vampire.
He nodded, turning away waving his hands as if exasperated with my lack of knowledge on the vampire community reproductive procedures. "My mother was human and my father a vampire. I am what is known as a Daywalker. I can live in the light where normal vampires would die."
"Duh!" I mumbled under my breath.
He paused raising an eyebrow at my sarcasm and continued, "I have powers that vampires do not normally posses." His voice trailed off as he looked dreamily out the window as if trying to think
of what next to say.
"Duh, again that was stating the obvious, but how?" I didn’t believe my ears. "What is a Daywalker?" I squeaked with excitement. I’d known he was special from the first time I met him. Did he have a soul? What powers did he have? My mind was spinning with question after question.
It wasn’t until he’d taken a step closer that I noticed his gaze sweeping over my body. "My sweet, I can hear you breathing. I know you are fearful of me. Tell me what I can do to ease your fear?" His voice buzzed against my skin.
I took a deep breath. "I don’t fear you, Siön Baptiste, I fear what you can do to me. I have never felt anything like what you did to me last night." I realized what I’d said and my face burned. I tried to change the subject. "You’re telling me that your father is a master vampire and he needs my protection when you are the strongest vampire I have ever met and he must even be stronger? Why me?" I could hear my words but I knew it was me rambling my thoughts into what I hoped seemed to make sense. I was thinking faster than my mouth could keep up.
He walked over to the chair, kneeling before me. His eyes were a swirling sea of green, saturated with lust and pain. He could swallow my soul with his eyes. He moved himself between my legs and leaned into me as if he was going kiss me.
I backed up but Siön Baptiste drew me closer, one hand rested against my neck and the other on my leg. His fingers touched my skin, sending an electric warmness that played over my entire body. "My sweet, my father has a plan that he has not shared with anyone and this worries me. I have never met a woman like you, Samantha." I could feel the warmth of his legs against mine. His hand caressed my neck as he spoke. His power and words moved me. "I cannot promise that my father’s intentions are honorable. He is a deceitful man who causes much pain and delights from it." He bent into me, moving his lips against mine. I gasped as his hand pinned me to the chair. His power sparked every nerve in my body, sending lightning sparks dancing between us. His kiss was like velvet fire seeping over my skin. I closed my eyes in pleasure as his tongue moved in a slow languorous caress. My stomach tightened as his mouth, hot and moist, claimed mine fully.
The Silver Fang Page 7
