Till the Break of Dawn

by Tracey H. Kitts

  “That’s right.” He looked relieved. “Thanks, Dawn.”

  “You’re a werewolf?!” Jamie said.

  We all turned toward where she stood in the doorway.

  “Is everyone in here? Who the hell is tending the bar?” I asked.

  “I left it with Terry.”

  Great. I let Terry bartend once before. He poured everybody straight whiskey shots and told them that was it. Take it or leave it. “I don’t do nothing fancy.”

  Jamie approached Earl slowly, looking paler with every step. “I can’t believe I’ve been working up my nerve to ask out a werewolf.” As soon as the words were out she slapped a hand over her mouth. But it was too late. The cat was out of the bag.

  “Really? You want to date me?” Earl smiled and looked down at his hand. It had already begun to heal. He lifted up his palm and wiggled his fingers at Jamie. “Does this mean you don’t want to go out with me now?”

  She only hesitated a moment. “Well, hell no. I’m just surprised, that’s all.” She walked over and put her arm around his shoulders. “Honey, I love a hairy chest.”

  Marcus and I both cracked up laughing and left them alone to talk. I pulled him into the office and told him what Jesse had to say.

  “It takes a lot to admit when you’re wrong,” Marcus said. When I raised a brow he added, “That doesn’t mean I want to hold hands and be best friends or anything.”

  “Earl is the one you were talking about, isn’t he?”

  “Huh?”

  “Before, when we were talking about Terry wanting to regenerate his leg. You mentioned that he knew a werewolf, but didn’t know he knew a werewolf. You were talking about Earl.”

  “Oh, yeah. I was. Speaking of Terry, you should probably go send him back to the kitchen. I get the impression he might not be the best bartender.”

  I laughed. “How did you know?”

  “The ‘holy shit’ look on your face kind of gave it away.”

  When I walked up and put my hand on Terry’s back he jumped. “Holy mother of fuck! You scared the shit out of me.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t think I was sneaking up on you with all this noise.”

  “No, it’s me. I’m half asleep. You know how my house is right beside those little apartments.”

  Terry was referring to a split-level next door to him. “Yeah,” I said, noticing how many people sitting at the bar had whiskey shots.

  “Well, some asshole that’s renting it now was making a hell of a racket all night.” He shook his head as if the noise still bothered him. “Sounded like he was grinding something.”

  “Maybe he’s a carpenter. Anyway, you can go back to the kitchen or take your break now. I’ve got things covered out here.”

  The bar was still busy, but gradually starting to slow down. Terry leaned down and lowered his voice. “Is it true about Earl? I heard through there.” He pointed to the space where orders from the kitchen were placed for pickup by the servers. I had completely forgotten he could hear us.

  “Shit. Did anyone else hear?”

  He looked around. “I don’t think so. Well, except David, but that’s just because he has super hearing.”

  David tipped his beer in my direction before finishing it in one gulp. He was doing a good job acting like he was all right. But when he thought no one was paying attention, there was such raw pain in his eyes it took my breath away. God help whoever ended up taking the blame for Mandy’s murder.

  “Hey, can you turn that up?” George, one of our regular patrons was pointing to the screen showing the news. There wasn’t anything else on at the moment so Terry handed him the remote. “Holy shit, ya’ll listen to this.”

  “The body of another young woman was discovered late this afternoon just over the state line. A name has not yet been released, but she appears to have been killed in the same manner as another woman who was murdered barely a week ago. Investigators haven’t been very forthcoming with details, but citizens are already afraid we might have a serial killer on the loose.”

  George turned the volume back down and gave the remote back to Terry.

  “It just ain’t right, scaring the hell out of people like this. I hate the news.”

  For once George and I were in complete agreement.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Our Place was almost empty by the time Darrell came in. When I saw Marcus walking in his direction I stopped what I was doing and followed. In the time it took me to walk across the room, Marcus already had him hypnotized.

  “What do you know about the woman who was killed today?” the vampire asked.

  I glanced around, but the only one paying attention besides me was David. I felt the werewolf put his hand on my shoulder as Darrell answered, “She’s another local. Terry’s neighbor.”

  I gasped. “Holy shit. His new neighbor?”

  “Not new,” Darrell said. “Been there for a couple of years. She was only twenty. Pretty too. It’s such a shame.”

  “What happened?” Marcus asked.

  “She was killed just over the state line in Alabama. But since the yard she was in is considered a Florida address it became our investigation.”

  I knew exactly where he was talking about. “You don’t think the old couple that lives there had anything to do with it?” I asked.

  “No ma’am. They’re out of town. The poor girl was just dumped there with her throat torn out, just like the other victim.”

  “Is there anything about this one that’s different? Do you have anything to go on at all?” David asked.

  “She liked to hang out in vampire bars. We found a couple of bites on her inner thigh, but they weren’t the cause of death.” Darrell continued to stare into space for a minute before saying, “You know, I should probably question Terry, since she was his neighbor.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Marcus said. “Terry has been here all afternoon and last night he was at home. He has nothing to do with this.”

  “You’re right,” Darrell agreed. “Probably just a waste of time.”

  “You’ve got to stop doing that,” I said as we walked back to the bar. “You’ll end up frying his brain.”

  The leather barstool creaked as Marcus rested his weight back against it. “Someone should tell Terry about his neighbor.”

  “I’ll do it,” David said.

  Everyone cleared out fairly early and since I was still tired, I decided to close at midnight instead of one o’clock. Terry went back to the hotel with David. After hearing that his neighbor had been murdered he didn’t want to be alone and at the moment neither did David. I figured it would do them both good to have a little company.

  Marcus drove and I rested my head against his thigh. I loved the fact that my place of business was so close to home. But with my head against his thigh and my hand so close to his crotch, I had never wanted a drive to last longer in my life.

  As soon as we were inside I started to strip. Normally I put my dirty clothes in the hamper upstairs, but tonight I didn’t care. I just wanted to be comfortable. By the time I made it to the fridge I was down to my bra and panties. I poured myself a glass of orange juice and sat in one of the tall chairs at the end of the counter. I didn’t usually sit there since I was so short my legs dangled, but it put me closer to eye level with Marcus. I turned the chair around so that I straddled the back and took off my bra.

  “Marc, would you please scratch my back?”

  He laughed softly as he moved to accommodate my request.

  “I’ve never wanted to get naked so much in my life. Maybe it’s just because I’m so tired. I was starting to feel claustrophobic.”

  Marcus scratched my back for another minute or two and I stretched and arched like a cat. “God, that feels good.”

  He kissed my shoulder as he pressed against me, reaching around to cup my bare breasts. The instant he touched me like that I felt my pussy start to ache.

  “How tired are you?” he whispered against my ear.

/>   “Not that tired.”

  I was completely exhausted and yet I could hardly wait to sample a taste of him again. What was this power he held over me? I had heard that sex with vampires was addictive, but I never believed it. Maybe I had been able to walk away because Marcus didn’t use his powers on me the first time. Or maybe he let me go because he wanted me to come to him on my own terms. Whatever the reasoning, I was certainly addicted now.

  “Stay right there,” he whispered. He took my earlobe into his mouth and I moaned. “You don’t have to do a thing.”

  He put his hands on my hips, scooting me back so that my ass hung off the chair and my legs were spread even wider. He ran his tongue up my spine and I shivered.

  “But, I’m still wearing panties.”

  He slid one finger between the thin fabric and my flesh, rubbing back and forth across my swollen pussy. “Not a problem,” he said.

  I threw back my head and gasped as he pressed his fingers against my clit. Marcus pulled my panties to one side and slid two fingers inside me. He continued to massage my clit with one hand while he fingered me with the other. He moved faster and faster, beyond human speed. Who would have thought I could get this kind of pleasure without batteries?

  I screamed, lifting slightly from the seat. It was all I could do to stay halfway still.

  “You’re so wet,” he whispered, taking my ear into his mouth once more.

  “Ah! You have that effect on me.” I clawed at the back of the chair as I clung to it. “Let me take my panties off so you can fuck me.”

  “No,” he said.

  Marcus pulled my panties even further to the side and I cried out as he entered me. I knew there was a big difference in our height; still, it was pretty impressive that he could do me on the chair like this. He moved up and down slowly, bringing his shaft in and out with maddening precision. I wanted to feel him slamming into me, to hear the wet smack of skin against skin.

  Every time he came close to entering me fully I lifted up. I couldn’t help it. He was just so big. I could feel myself stretching and it turned me on even more. To have my legs spread wide and my ass arching back toward him was thrilling.

  “More,” I begged.

  Marcus lifted me, turning me in his arms as if I weighed nothing. He laid me back against the counter and snatched off my panties. He leaned over me, taking one nipple into his mouth as he thrust back inside me.

  This time he gave me exactly what I asked for. If it weren’t for his grip on me, I think I would have started to slide up the counter. Marcus slammed into me and the sound our bodies made as they slapped together got me off faster than anything I could have imagined.

  “Yes,” he said. “Come on me. Let me feel you come.”

  I wrapped my legs around his waist as he held me tight. Marcus lifted me in his arms, keeping me upright against his chest. I was still coming as he lifted me up and down, moving me on his wet shaft because I no longer had the strength.

  I’d never been with anyone strong enough to do me like this before. His arms were hooked underneath my thighs and he continued to move me up and down with his impressive vampire strength. With each pass over his chest I flicked my tongue over his nipple.

  “Ah, you’re going to make me come.”

  Marcus had barely gotten the words out before he cried out with release. A normal man would most likely have dropped me under the circumstances. Fortunately for me, Marcus was far from normal. Instead of dropping me, he carried me upstairs and started running water in the tub.

  “I’m nervous about your match this Friday,” I said, watching him while he added bubble bath to the water.

  He smiled. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. I’ve never been seriously injured in a silver chains match.”

  “It’s probably just me.”

  Marcus winked. “If you didn’t worry, I’d think you didn’t care.”

  “So, what are these plans for me you keep referring to? Do I get to hear them or is it a surprise?”

  While we bathed, Marcus explained what he wanted to do.

  “So, if I take your blood, but you don’t take mine at the same time, that binds me to you?”

  “Right.” He scooted down in the water to dunk his hair while he spoke.

  “But I thought that taking your blood would make me a vampire?”

  “No. In order for that to happen, I would have to drain you to your last drop, then give you my blood. If I did that, then you would become a vampire.”

  He was trying hard, but I was still confused. “I’ve heard of people who took vampire blood before and they weren’t bound to anyone. They used it as an aphrodisiac.”

  “A few drops, I’m sure. I’m talking about drinking directly from the source. Besides, there are magic words that must be spoken over the person while they drink. Otherwise, it won’t work.”

  “We would be bound together by a spell then?”

  “Yes.” Marcus motioned for me to turn around. He began to massage shampoo through my long hair and I relaxed even more. “What do you think, is that all right with you?”

  To be honest, I wasn’t sure. It didn’t sound bad. “Will I live forever just like a vampire?”

  “Yes. You’ll have a lot of my strength and even a few of my mind powers. The downside is that if someone hurts one of us, they hurt us both.”

  “Oh, my God. You mean I’ll feel every one of your fights? I don’t think I can do that.”

  “No,” he said, turning me to face him. “I can block out minor things. I mean if someone mortally wounds one of us or kills us. We might not both die, but whoever survived would be severely weakened.”

  I was still doubtful. “Some of your matches look like they mortally wound you to me.”

  His smile was kind and I found myself drawn to him once again. Not for sex. I simply needed to touch him. To be next to him. Marcus put his hand against the back of my head. “Lean back, I’ve got you.”

  I almost fell asleep while he tilted me back and rinsed my hair. “The matches are supposed to look that way. Some of the fighters will take a hit just to make it look more believable. Don’t worry. I’d have to be staked or thrown into direct sunlight for you to feel it. Even then, you wouldn’t experience the exact same thing I did. According to those I’ve talked to and my research, you’d feel pain in general or weakness.”

  Marcus helped me to sit back up and I moved to rest against his chest. “If you plan to make me live forever, why not just make me a vampire? Assuming you could find a way around it in your contract.”

  “Because this way you won’t have to give up watching a beautiful sunrise or coffee and jelly doughnuts.”

  I laughed. “Then why doesn’t everyone do this instead of turn?”

  I leaned back so that I could see his face and with the tip of my finger traced the outline of his goatee.

  “Not all vampires are powerful enough to bind a human to them. And not all who could are willing to take the risk. Many see humans as weak and would never take the chance of having their life tied to one.”

  “And what about you?”

  Marcus kissed my forehead before pulling me back against him. “I already consider you a part of me.”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Friday came too quickly. I was having trouble deciding what to wear and was even further from being ready to spend the evening alone with Nybras. Well, mostly alone. After his match David planned to join us. Our flight had been surprisingly good. That was probably because they flew in a private jet. No kids screaming or stupid people jarring your seat around. For the first time I got to fly in style and I almost enjoyed the flight. No matter how pleasant, it was still flying and I hated planes.

  Marcus was already dressed and was downstairs making arrangements for our departure the next day at noon. Once again he planned to slip away before anyone figured out he was there. David was helping me decide on an outfit.

  I was dressed in black leather pants and a tight-fitting purple shirt
. The back of the shirt was open and showed my black bra.

  “Does this look sleazy or is it sexy?” I asked.

  “Sexy. The only skin showing is your back. And this shirt hides the necklace.”

  He was right. The only way anyone could see my silver cross necklace was if they looked very closely when I turned my head. Most likely my hair would hide even that from the less observant. The cross and most of the chain were tucked between my breasts. Hopefully it wouldn’t fall through the bottom of my bra. It still wouldn’t be visible then, but it might make a noise if the chain clinked together.

  While I finished my makeup I asked, “How come you didn’t take time off to grieve?”

  In the mirror I saw David’s shoulders slump at my words.

  “I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t have asked.”

  “No. It’s fine. I thought about it. Nybras offered, believe it or not. But I didn’t know what I’d do besides sit around and think of ways to hurt whoever killed her.”

  “Aren’t you doing that anyway?”

  His smile was grim. “Yes. But this way I get to take out at least some of my anger on whoever is dumb enough to step in the ring with me.”

  Well, that sounded ominous. “Don’t kill anybody.”

  He snorted. “I’m emotionally wounded, not insane.”

  “I know,” I said softly. I put down my lipstick and crossed to where he sat on the bed. David and I had become fast friends and I often felt the need to hug him. It was almost as if I could physically sense his pain. I think it had something to do with how close he was to Marcus. I believe I was feeling David’s pain through my connection to the vampire.

  I gave him a comforting squeeze just as Marcus walked back in.

  “You guys ready?”

  I could tell he was worried about David. The way he looked at the other man, his concern was plain to see.

  “Ready as we’ll ever be,” David said.

  *****

  Although it had been years since I’d been to a P.F.C. show, nothing seemed to have changed except for the fact that they needed a bigger arena. The smell of sulfur was still in the air where they’d been testing the pyrotechnics. Marcus hated that smell and so did I. It was like candles being blown out mixed with fireworks. It always made me want to sneeze.