Dark Secrets

by P. L. Midnight

  I hadn’t remembered walking that far from the house. It seemed like forever that I’d been running. I dodged an oversized pine tree and ran right into a solid wall of flush, which damn near knocked me out. Strong arms wrapped around me like bands of steel as Victor spoke. “You’re going the wrong direction, you know, printesa.”

  I started to tell him that of course I wasn’t going that way, when I finally backed up a little to see his face. He had blood on his cheek and he looked to be bruising. Holy hell, I’d hit Victor with that upwards swing. He didn’t look too happy about it either.

  “Damn, Victor, I hit you, didn’t I?”

  “I should think that as obvious, madam, since I don’t normally go about with blood chorusing down my cheek and a bruise to match.”

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know it was you.”

  “I would hope not, but next time before you swing you might want to look at your prey first. I wouldn’t want you smashing up all your shields before we’ve even had a chance to bed you.”

  With that snide comment, I smacked him. It was not like me to be that touchy, but that comment was crude. The look on Victor’s face was incredulous and dark. I immediately touched his cool cheek softly stroking it, “I’m so sorry, Victor. I don’t know why I did that. Does it hurt?”

  “Only when I laugh, of course, it hurts, but I did deserve the smack. I am sorry, Emma. What are you doing this far away from the house anyway?”

  “Isn’t it apparent, I was running from you. I really am sorry I hit you.”

  “So am I. I’m not used to being knocked about by a woman, especially a woman I am supposed to be protecting.”

  “Well, it was your own fault you know.”

  “We have established that the smack was justified. As for the other hit, was I supposed to yell and alert everyone to your presence?”

  “Hardly, but it would have been nice to know it was you. Then maybe I wouldn’t have whacked you.”

  “Just maybe, I’d hope that you wouldn’t have clobbered me. You know what happens to women who hit a vampire?”

  “Are you going to bite me now?”

  “What is with you humans and the ‘bite’ thing? Do you think that all vampires do is bite? I prefer this much more than biting.”

  Victor lowered his face to cover my lips with his lusciously full ones as his hands gently caressed the back of my neck with soothing tenderness. It was a kiss I’d never forget. It was neither possessive nor aggressive this time. It was merely his lips gentle against mine as we explored and tasted the fire of our merging.

  I pulled away at first, afraid of the intensity of my feelings for the unpredictable vampire. He looked down at me as I stepped away from him. He took one of my hands in his and brought it to his mouth for a kiss, but upon seeing blood his tongue gently lapped at it, sealing the wound almost immediately until it faded completely.

  It should’ve seemed gross that he’d tasted my blood, but he’d been so compassionate as he’d touched me that my hand no longer hurt. When he finally released my hand, I brought it upwards and could see in the moonlight that the deep wounds were completely gone.

  “I’d like to heal your face, too. You seem to have hit more branches than you dodged in your urgency to escape me. May I?”

  “Yes, ok, that’ll be fine.” Had I just given him permission to lick my face? Well, it wasn’t exactly licking. It was more of a kiss-lick, which was somewhat sweet and felt way too sensual.

  I do it only to help you, printesa. I see you’ve lowered your mind barriers. If you’d left them open we could be having a nice walk together. Although, I don’t mind this at all.

  His mind went blank. I guess he put up his barriers so I couldn’t read his thoughts, which was probably a good thing, since he was softly stroking my face with his tongue and lips. I could see the light in his eyes when he stopped. I knew he was almost euphoric from the taste of my blood, but I knew he’d never hurt me.

  The effect of his rough tongue stroking my skin had worked its magic on me causing pleasure to pulse through me. I was breathless when he resumed. Something that should have been painful had become most sensual to me.

  As he resumed he spoke into my mind, my little innocent, you have no idea how much I want you. Your heart races at my touch and my body responds to your ardor. I shall dream of nothing, but how you taste and feel in my arms at this moment.

  As soon as he finished his ministrations to my face the pain was gone replaced by a blush caused by my thoughts that, thankfully, I’d completely blocked from him. When I brought my hand to my face, I found that all the scratches were completely gone as if they’d never happened.

  He pulled me closer until I felt his desire as it throbbed between us. I knew so little about men and felt out of my league with this centuries-old, suave vampire. He was right I was an innocent, but in that moment, I knew desire for him. He held me for a few minutes as I wrapped my arms around him stroking his back as he had my cheek.

  Victor seemed to be trying to resist doing what his passionate eyes clearly displayed. He wanted me as much as I wanted him. The pull between us was otherworldly in its intensity. I pulled back again. This time I realized how close I was coming to begging him to take what he clearly desired.

  I was supposed to be annoyed with the man for ignoring me for the last couple of days, but he was so gentle. How could I be anything but entranced by him?

  He looked at me as he spoke, “You are right to pull away from me. If you knew all the things I wanted to do to you, you’d run, but please don’t. I’ll never do anything you don’t want me to do. I can see you want me, too, but I won’t take you like this. You deserve the flowers, the candy and the courtship, my printesa. Let us go inside before you catch your death and I have to share my coffin.”

  The look on my face must have been priceless for Victor smirked at me before he spoke, “Oh, my little human, I don’t sleep in a coffin, never have and never will. Beds are so much more comfortable. Maybe sometime I’ll show you just how comfortable my bed is.”

  “I’ve already slept in your bed.”

  “Hardly, that was the guest room, which isn’t the same. Besides, Miles was there. Mine is much bigger should you and I want to tumble around, sometime.”

  I blushed again. It was time to change the subject, before I did something with him that I might regret. He’d ignored my ass for two whole days. He’d been doing that icy-then-spicy-hot-thing again. I wasn’t going to drop my standards. Not that I really had any standards, but if I did he wouldn’t make the grade with his ever-changing attitude. He had some explaining to do.

  “Victor, I’d like to know where you’ve been the last two days, if you weren’t holed up in a coffin somewhere.”

  “I was avoiding you, of course.”

  “I don’t understand you. You run hot and cold like a blasted faucet. I’m not sure the blood thing even affected you. Perhaps the letter was talking about another vampire.”

  Oh, believe me, printesa, I’m one of your most devoted shields. If you can hear me in your mind, then we are certainly destined to be mates.

  You sound positive of that.

  I am and deep inside, you know it’s true. It’s not because your father intervened in our lives either. We both know it’s more than that. I have waited for you all my life. If it makes you feel any better, avoiding you is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it is my way of protecting us both, printesa. It’s not the only thing hard around you either, but I try to remain a gentleman until we are married.

  He immediately picked me up in his arms and started carrying me towards the house. Being cuddled like a baby by Victor was a wonderful feeling. If his eyes were any indicator of his feelings, he was as enamored with me as I was with him, whether he ignored me or not. At least, I now understood why, my strong, fearless vampire was having a hard time controlling himself around me.

  The arm under my knees and the other around my back held me close to his hard body. He seeme
d in no more a hurry than I was to get into the house.

  When we finally did walk into the house, he carried me upstairs past my room. He took me down the dark corridor to a room that could only be described as strongly masculine. It was his room, of that I was certain as his essence still hung in the air. He immediately walked to his bed and dropped me onto the middle of the huge monstrosity.

  He fell down next to me on the soft mattress. Immediately our bodies became a tangled mess of limbs as we became embroiled in our desire for one another. Victor immediately began kissing me as his hands molded me to him. Pulling me atop him I felt his desire, which intimidated me and fueled the fire still coursing through my veins.

  Our kissing became more intense as Victor removed my coat and hat. His was already gone. I wondered if vampires even got cold.

  Not with you around, printesa.

  After that, I had no more thoughts other than of the man who was underneath me again. As his desire pushed against me, the heat intensified. His hands, now underneath my shirt, rubbed the bare skin of my lower back as mine kneaded his strong arms. All thoughts of aggravation with him for his former grumpiness were gone, as our touching grew more intense. I didn’t know if I was doing it right, but Victor seemed most content with our kissing and touching. Somehow, I knew he’d teach me everything I needed to know about being with him.

  Victor’s hand slid between us and traced the skin underneath the bottom of my bra. He gently rubbed the lower portion of my breast causing a moan to escape between my lips as his fingers worked their magic on my sensitive flesh. I’d never gone this far with any man before as his fingers gently caressed my breast causing my nipple to pebble beneath the fabric of my bra. I had no idea what I was even doing, but being with him felt right.

  I didn’t resist as he sat up and pulled me upon his lap to remove my top. He was going slow, allowing me to become accustomed to the things he knew I was feeling. I was enraptured as his lips lowered to kiss and suckle the sensitive skin of my neck while his fingers delicately stroked my breast through my bra.

  I now straddled his lap as he continued his exploration of my neck with his lips. I held my breath as my body responded to his gentle caressing and his soft kisses. I ran my fingers through his midnight locks gently removing them from the ponytail clip he wore. His hair was like midnight velvet as I allowed myself the luxury of running my fingers through it.

  I trembled from his sensual touches. I felt the tension building in me as he continued to stroke and caress me. Something was happening to me as Victor’s lips came back to mine in a deeper, more demanding kiss.

  I held on to Victor’s upper arms and dug my fingers into his shoulders as the tension within me built. I wasn’t a child anymore, I wanted Victor, but it wasn’t to be, for just as I was about to tentatively touch him more intimately, someone loudly knocked at the door.

  Ignore it, printesa. They’ll go away.

  I was willing to do just that, however, the knocking persisted until there was no denying it. The house almost shook from the intensity of the knocking as it obstinately continued getting louder with each forceful knock.

  Victor said something under his breath in another language that I was glad I couldn’t understand. I could tell he was furious at the interruption. He helped me to push my top back into place and straighten my hair. Then he kissed me one last time, reluctant to leave me.

  Don’t move, printesa. I’ll be right back.

  I heard his holler as he made his way down the stairs, “This had better be an emergency or someone is going to die.”

  The next thing I heard was raised voices. I recognized the louder voice. It was Vincent. I had to go downstairs, immediately, but I was still feeling the effects of Victor’s touch. I’d wanted him, but what had I been thinking? I’d kissed Miles, too, and I was supposed to be in love with Raven. I was so screwed by my own stupid blood. Admittedly, Victor had touched me as I’d allowed no other man to do. Wasn’t I supposed to be that way with all of them? It still felt a little weird when I allowed myself to overthink it.

  I stopped thinking about it and hurried down the stairs, not wanting the commotion to erupt into fisticuffs or worse. I didn’t really want Vincent to know what I’d been doing with Victor either. I fluffed my unruly curls a bit and went to face the music of dealing with another temperamental male, which wasn’t quite fair. Victor had been far from moody with me, well, today anyway.

  I also loved Vincent. He was one of my BFFs, but I’d so wanted to see that pale skin that I’d been glimpsing in the open neck of Victor’s shirt. I’d just started to get up the courage to touch him when the damn door knocking started. Vincent’s timing sucked. I was none too happy either. I was certain that Victor’s barely controlled fury was in check only, because of my presence.

  I greeted Vincent in what I hoped was a friendly voice. Anyway, I owed him an explanation and an apology for the predicament we all now faced.

  “Hello, Vincent.”

  Before I could utter another syllable, Vincent grabbed me around the waist in a giant bear hug and twirled me around.

  He planted a big kiss on my lips, which were swollen from my make-out session with Victor only minutes before. Apparently, Vincent hadn’t noticed.

  “I’ve missed you, girl. I had to see for myself that you were ok. We finally worked out a schedule for visiting you. Alex will be coming tomorrow night. I tried to explain that to Fangs, but he wasn’t exactly receptive. He didn’t kick me out though, so, I guess I’m staying with you tonight.”

  I hadn’t seen Vincent that excited since one of his fossil finds was verified a rare amphibian skull by a team of distinguished scientists and put on display at the Smithsonian.

  “Didn’t you miss me, too, moppet?”

  “Yes, but you haven’t given me a chance to say anything.” I said as I pulled out of his tight hold. I looked around then and found that Victor had left the room. That was probably for the best since the last words I’d heard coming from the two of them hadn’t been exactly cordial. If Vincent noticed Victor’s disappearance, he was probably glad for it and said nothing.

  “I guess Victor left.”

  “Good riddance.”

  “Really, it’s his house. If I’m going to have to hide out here awhile, you should try to get along with him. He did save my life you know.”

  “Yes, about that, what the hell were you thinking, Emma?”

  “I needed to find my mother. Besides, you guys lied to me.”

  “We were informed your mother was ok.”

  “I’m not talking about that. Vincent…”

  “Why are you calling me Vincent?”

  “I think it suits you better than Vince.”

  “You’ve called me Vince for as long as I can remember, moppet.”

  “Unfortunately, you’ve called me that for a long time, too. That doesn’t matter right now. You lied to me about your feelings for me.”

  He tried to pull me into another hug. I dodged it. We needed to talk this through.

  “I don’t want to fight. I’ve been so worried about you. We thought you were dead or worse.”

  I wondered what could be worse than death, but didn’t want to know.

  He continued, “I’ve never tried to hide my feelings for you. You know I’m crazy about you.”

  “I’m not talking about just your feelings. You were planning to share me with five other guys.”

  I didn’t think Vincent’s complexion could become paler, but it had. He looked to the floor and shuffled his feet. I almost felt bad for my old friend, but not quite. “I’m sorry, Emma. I should’ve told you. It wasn’t my decision alone. If I’d have had my way there would be no sharing. I found you first.”

  “I was a child when we met and so were you.”

  He began pacing as he talked, “Hell, I’m your best friend. You’re right I should have told you. I wanted to, but I couldn’t. I don’t know how or why. I can’t explain it. Ultimately, it’s your choice, Emm
a. I just want to be with you and so do the others. How did you find out anyway?”

  I opened my barriers and projected a thought to him.

  I can hear all your thoughts now that I’ve turned eighteen. I heard enough of your thoughts before I left to find out. I heard them when you silently communicated with each other. Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t mean to hear you. It just happened. I also know that you aren’t human. I felt better now that those things were out in the open. I didn’t want any dark secrets between us.

  Why didn’t you say something about it? I wanted to tell you what I am, but I didn’t know how. I didn’t think you’d believe me anyway. I thought you’d have stopped hanging around with me if you knew that I had an evil spirit inside me with a heart of ice that I have to overcome daily.

  I guess I should have known that it bothered you not to tell me. We always shared everything, well, most things. As far as the evil spirit goes, you’ve never been evil, just a bit crabby lately, well a lot crabby to be truthful.

  “Do you mind if we talk out loud. It just seems weird talking without speaking to you. The guys and I always mind communicate, which comes in handy sometimes, but it seems strange not talking with you. Besides, I love your voice.”

  “Sure, we can talk out loud. Sometimes that mind communication stuff is a bit odd for me, too. Vincent, I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have run away, but I was scared of being with all of you and now there’s Victor.”

  “What, you mean fangs and you are…”

  Better than your sorry ice ass.

  Victor stay out of this. After a few seconds I had to ask, what, no arguing?

  Tell Vince not to refer to me as fangs. It’s degrading and ice ass is a fine one to poke fun at me. If he stops, I’ll leave you two alone.

  Consider it done.

  “Vincent, what Victor and I do is not your concern. You’re no longer to call Victor by the name fangs. No more ice ass from you either, Victor.” I knew the sneaky vampire could probably hear every word we said unless we were in the next county. Hopefully, that would be the end of it. I really needed to talk to Vincent and show him that letter as soon as possible. Then like a normal teen for a change, I wanted to hear all the school gossip.