I had first heard the story of Alek Ambrose and his defeat of Tavarius Maeryn when I was thirteen. I blushed as I remembered my silly fantasy of him coming to my rescue, like a knight in shining armor. In a way, Alek had been my first crush. It was nice to finally have a man to match with those feelings.
As I continued my story, I paused when I got to the part where I spent the night with Dracula.
“Oh, Lilith,” he said as he touched my cheek. “You slept with the vampire didn’t you?”
“We didn’t sleep.”
“I thought you might do that,” he said calmly. “It would make sense with the state of mind you were in and the powers he’s rumored to have. I can understand where you might find comfort there.”
I must have looked surprised because he smiled at me kindly and said, “Did you expect me to be angry?”
“I’m not sure what I expected.”
“I’m your friend, Lilith, not your judge,” he said softly.
I hugged him again, and let the wet wizard in my house. The moment we set foot inside I remembered why I had been away, but it was too late. Alfred stood in the middle of the foyer staring at us with what could only be described as hatred.
“What’s he doing here?” Alfred asked.
The harshness in his voice nearly made me cry, but I kept my cool.
“He’s a friend of mine.”
Alfred cursed loudly in Italian before saying, “Do you realize who he is?”
“Yes, he’s Alek Ambrose.”
“He’s The Dream Weaver, Lilith! No wonder you’ve been acting so strange, you’ve been listening to him!”
“Me acting strange?!”
“That’s right, you acting strange. Did you know he has the power to manipulate people through their dreams? That’s right, he can access the subconscious mind and plant thoughts there, like turning against me!” Alfred yelled.
“Now before you get your knickers in a twist, let me explain,” Alek drawled in his slow British accent.
“I’m waiting,” I said, obviously surprised by this information.
“It’s true, I am known as The Dream Weaver. However, for me to have influence over someone as psychically powerful as yourself, would have taken more effort than I’m willing to admit.” He looked me in the eye as he continued, “Lilith, I’m your friend. I saw no need to mention this ability. First of all because I have not lived among my kind for many years now, and I’m not used to referring to myself that way. Second, because I haven’t nor do I ever intend to manipulate or mislead you.”
I believed him, it was just that simple. I couldn’t explain it, but I knew Alek was telling the truth and Alfred was overreacting. Dracula walked up behind Alfred as he said, “And you’re going to believe that?!”
“Yes, I believe him.” Dracula and I made eye contact and seemed to share a thought. “Maybe I should leave until you’re finished.”
“No,” Alfred said quickly, and his tone was less harsh. “Don’t leave.”
He looked at me, unable to continue whatever he was going to say, and I almost ran to him. I almost threw myself into his arms and asked him to stay. But then I remembered he had agreed to kill me when I was only seventeen years old. He had signed the death warrant of a seventeen year old girl who blindly trusted him. Remembering this helped me to stand my ground. He walked away and my vision blurred with tears.
“He is almost finished,” Dracula said as he put his arm around me.
“What about the lab?”
“He will work on that tomorrow.”
I nodded and to my embarrassment a few tears escaped before I quickly wiped them away. Alek walked into the sitting room and I heard him introducing himself to Luther as Dracula whispered for my ears only, “Do you wish me to stay another night with you?” The answer was yes. Yes, I wanted him to comfort me, but I didn’t want to further risk losing any chance I had with Marco. “Do not worry, we will let your friend sleep tonight. I am merely offering comfort, though you may always take whatever you need from me.”
I took a deep breath in order to keep from crying and leaned into his embrace. Dracula bent down so that my face rested against his throat as he wrapped me in his arms.
“It will get easier,” he said softly, “I promise.”
“And what promises are you making?” Alfred said bitterly from the other end of the hallway. “Would these be promises like you made Jacob? Keeping an eye on his daughter, huh? You filthy—”
“Careful how you finish that sentence, Alfred.” The words were out of my mouth before I took time to think what I was saying.
“You’re actually defending this monster?” he asked in amazement.
“This monster, prevented me from tearing my heart out after you left last night,” I said. “Don’t talk about things you don’t understand, Alfred.”
“I thought I understood you,” he said softly as he turned and left once more.
“Come on.” Dracula put his arm around me and led me onto the porch. Normally, there would have still been daylight at five thirty in the afternoon, but the storm prevented any light from passing through the clouds. We walked to the swing on one end of the porch where he sat down and held his arms out to me. The heavy silk robe fell open to reveal his body. The deep red lining contrasted nicely with the black pajamas against his pale skin. The wind was cold and I was beginning to get a chill.
“Take off your shoes,” he said, and I obeyed even though my feet were cold. I snuggled against his side and he hugged me close, as he covered me with the robe in one melodramatic swish of fabric. He took my feet and pressed them firmly against his inner thigh.
“You’re warm,” I said, sounding a little surprised.
“Did you expect the cold touch of death?” he whispered against my hair.
“Maybe,” I said, as I pressed my face against his throat again.
He no longer smelled of expensive cologne, but that did not mean he didn’t smell good. I breathed deeply as I pressed my face into his hair and he leaned over to accommodate. Dracula had his own scent, not unlike the werewolves. He simply smelled the way a man should smell, and having his soft dark hair covering my face I was lost in the feel of him. The cold rain beat down on the roof above us and fell loudly to the ground. The icy wind whipped past our faces, but it went unnoticed. I pressed my lips to the warm skin beneath his earlobe and ran my arm around the ridges of his stomach. I could feel his pulse beneath my lips, and as I accidentally brushed across one nipple, his heart beat faster.
“Will you comfort me tonight?” I asked softly.
I was beyond caring what anybody might think. In his arms I found some release from the awful pain inside of me. If I was ever going to get a good night’s sleep again, I needed him beside me to do so. I wasn’t sure if I would ever be able to sleep alone again. As long as I wasn’t alone, I had something else to think about. If I was by myself, I was afraid I might fall apart.
“Of course,” he said as he rubbed his face against mine.
After a few minutes Luther came outside, I didn’t even notice until he cleared his throat loudly.
“He’s gone.”
At this announcement I felt suddenly empty. Alfred was gone. What did that mean? I couldn’t seem to wrap my mind around the concept. I withdrew from Dracula’s embrace and put my shoes on before walking numbly back into the house.
The two men followed mutely in my wake until we reached the sitting room where Alek stood trying not to drip on the floor.
“Oh, Alek, I’m sorry. Do you need a towel?”
“That would be preferable,” he answered with a sarcastic smile.
While Luther helped him bring in the two bags from his motorcycle and park it in the garage, I fetched them both a towel.
As they walked back in, I pulled Alek aside.
“I’m sorry for the shit-storm you walked into here. And I’m sorry that I left you waiting in the sitting room. After the way Alfred acted, that had to be awkward.” I took his ha
nd as I said, “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you came riding to my rescue.”
“I’m just keeping a promise I made a long time ago to an old man who was concerned about his great, great granddaughter.”
My eyes widened. “You knew Mathias too? How come you never said?”
“You didn’t ask,” he replied with a wink. “Besides, I was afraid you might use your powers on me and have me wearing ladies underwear on my head and doing the cha-cha in frilly pink knickers.”
I laughed and hugged Alek again. “I can’t imagine why you would jump to that conclusion. It makes no sense at all.”
“Voicing my fears I suppose.”
“Would you like some coffee or tea?”
“Tea would be wonderful.” He smiled as I led him to the kitchen.
Alek removed his wet coat and I went to hang it in the laundry room to dry. I walked in to find Luther stripped down to his undies. He jumped when I opened the door.
“Gees don’t do that!”
“What’s wrong with you?” I laughed, tossing him another towel. “You can’t go around naked in my house,” I teased. “You know I’m grateful for the company, but how long will you be staying?”
“Marco wanted me to stay until things settle down with you.” He shrugged. “I’m pretty much here till he says he needs me back. That is, unless you want me to leave.”
“No,” I said quickly. “I like having you here.”
“You just want my body,” he teased as he pulled on a dry pair of jeans.
I walked slowly toward him, hooked one finger in the waist of his jeans and jerked him toward me as I taunted, “I think you’re gorgeous, Luther. But if I wanted your body, I’d have had it by now.”
“Are you so confident?”
“Yessssss.” As I said this I let the very essence of sex flow through my voice and watched Luther quiver. “Get dressed pretty boy, I’m starving.”
Chapter Sixteen
I met Alek coming out of the half bath underneath the stairs as I rounded the corner. He had changed into a pair of jeans and a thin white shirt. It was one of those shirts that are meant to be worn untucked, with ruffles around the collar which he had left open. There were no ruffles around the sleeves as with Dracula, but it was no less appealing. I had to say, Alek looked good for a sixty year old wizard.
“Are you hungry?” I asked.
“Ravenous,” he said, smiling.
“Come on, the water should be hot by now. You can have some tea while I decide what’s for dinner.”
He seated himself at the table beside Dracula while I started looking through the cabinets. I still loved Italian food, even without Alfred around to cook it, and I had a craving for angel hair pasta and shrimp.
“Do you like spice?” I asked Alek.
“I adore it,” he replied with a smile as I handed him a tea cup.
“Good, we’ll be having Gamberi del Diavolo, tonight.”
“Shrimp of the Devil.” Dracula smiled. “You do live life dangerously.”
“Do you mind us eating in front of you?” I asked. “It feels sort of awkward to not offer you some.”
“It is all right. I got used to things like that a long time ago. If it makes you feel better, I lost my taste for food long before you were born.”
“Don’t you miss anything?” I asked.
“Chocolate,” he said with a wink. “Actually, I was thinking that if you wish me to stay longer, I might go and get some of my things while you have dinner tonight.”
“Oh, all right. I’d forgotten you have a place only an hour away.”
“Would you like me to get the wine before I go?”
“That would be great. It’s in the dungeon.”
Dracula left to get the wine while I placed the shrimp in a bowl of cold water and added some sugar and salt. There are many ways to prepare the dish. I preferred to soak the shrimp first, but it wasn’t necessary.
“You keep wine in the dungeon?” Alek asked.
“It seemed the ideal place.” I shrugged.
Dracula had just reentered the room with a nice white Zinfandel, when I heard Luther opening the front door. By this time Alek was dipping a bag of Earl Grey tea into a cup of boiling water and reclined casually at my table with one bare foot tucked underneath him.
Kat walked in and immediately blurted out, “I leave you alone for a few hours and here I find a case of blatant tea bagging in your kitchen.”
Alek threw back his head and laughed while Dracula bit his lip and shook his head. The expression was adorable on an ancient and supposedly evil vampire.
“Alek, this is my friend Kathryn Roberts. Kat, this is Alek. I believe you’ve met Dracula.”
The vampire bowed gracefully, and Kat took a seat at the table, probably to keep from falling. She shook hands with Alek while I commented, “I’m not sure where to put you.”
“Excuse me?” Alek laughed.
“Well, Luther’s in the guest room, Dracula’s in the dungeon, and it just seems wrong to put someone in Alfred’s room.”
“I was thinking that since your dungeon is large, and it would appear your friend spends more time upstairs than he does below,” he raised an eyebrow as if challenging me to say otherwise, “perhaps we can share the dungeon. If you will have me, I’d like to stay for a while and it would be ideal for my equipment.”
“You can stay as long as you like.” I looked to Dracula and he nodded. “What will you do while you’re here? I mean, what about your theatre?”
“I’ve left things in the hands of my capable assistant. This will be his big break. Besides, I can still write plays here, which is truly my first love.”
“You are in theatre?” Dracula asked.
Alek nodded.
“I would like to discuss some things with you later if you do not mind?”
“Certainly,” Alek said as he began to sip his tea.
“Now, if you will excuse me.” The vampire leaned in close as he handed me the wine and whispered, “I will be back in time for bed.” I shivered as his voice seemed to curl around me like a lover’s arms. I turned around, still not touching him, but it was hard to ignore how good he smelled. He smelled like chocolate tastes.
“Do you need to borrow a car?” I asked breathlessly.
“Just leave your balcony door open,” he said with a wink.
Kat sighed loudly as Dracula exited the room with a swish of his long robe.
“Ah, melodrama,” sighed Alek. “What do you want to bet he’s been in theatre at some point too?”
“I’d bet my ass,” Kat mumbled.
“If I thought you were serious, I might have a go,” Alek teased.
“Oh.” Kat blushed. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
“Well,” I said, “the night is young, and the shrimp need to sit for thirty minutes. What say we open the wine? You will be staying for dinner, won’t you?” I asked Kat.
Since there wasn’t enough room for everyone at the kitchen table, we moved to the sunroom. Alek and I sat on the sofa with our backs turned to the large glass wall overlooking the woods, while Kat and Luther sat in chairs on opposite ends of the long coffee table. We had all just poured ourselves a glass of wine when Alek commented conversationally, “I’ve found it to be very difficult for lycanthropes to become intoxicated.” He flicked his wrist over my glass. “Now try it.” I took a sip while he did the same to Luther’s glass.
Luther took a large gulp and said, “It’s stronger, but it tastes the same. How’d you do that?”
“PFM,” Alek explained, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Luther looked confused. “Pure fucking magic,” he elaborated with a smile.
At least forty minutes later we were all well on our way to being drunk when I asked Alek, “How exactly did you get here? And don’t say PFM.”
He put his arm around me as he said, “My darling, I knew you were in trouble and I came running. Of course the shining armor was too difficult to run in,
so it had to be left behind.”
“I thought you said it would rust?” I teased.
Kat laughed and poured herself another glass while he said, “Well, there’s that. I thought it would be rude to teleport into your house, so I took the first flight I could find. The closest airport is at least an hour from here, however, something that I did years ago suddenly made sense.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I bought that motorcycle,” he said, pointing through the glass wall toward the garage, “and put it in storage near the airport.”
“Why?” Kat asked.
“Because I felt that I should.”
“A man who listens to his feelings, are you gay?” As soon as Kat said this, Luther launched into his fears of being gay because he had found the thought of Dracula’s bite appealing. I took this as my cue to start cooking. Alek soon followed.
I began warming some extra virgin olive oil in a large sauce pan and adding garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
“I like your friends,” Alek said, smiling as he propped his back against the counter beside me. “Are you planning to molest the vampire again when he returns?”
“No.” I snickered as I added a can of stewed tomatoes.
“But he is spending the night with you?”
“That’s right, and I’m not having sex with him. Is there any particular reason for this line of questioning?”
“I might be a little jealous,” Alek said with a casual tone while he emptied his glass.
“Or, you might be a little drunk,” I teased.
We had dinner in the sunroom around the coffee table with another bottle of wine, which Alek was kind enough to keep spiked. By the time Dracula returned we were dancing around trying to do the Hookie Jookie. All of the sudden, Alek threw a spoon at Luther and yelled, “Oh come off it, you’re not gay! Here,” he said impatiently and put Luther’s hand on Kat’s chest. “Does that appeal to you?”
“Umm,” Luther said awkwardly.
“There, you see? Not gay.”
Lilith Mercury, Werewolf Hunter Series (Boxed Set, Books 1-3) Page 64
