by Kizzie Hayes
“You’re really a vampire?” she asked.
“You can do the test.” Justin grabbed her hand and brought it up to the side of his neck. Phoebe remembered what her father said, but she still hesitated for a moment. Then she placed her two fingers right there, against his pulse point. She felt nothing.
“How did it happen?” she whispered. His body was near hers and the steam rose around them. She felt relaxed and comfortable with him, even knowing now, for sure, that he was a vampire.
“Oh a long time ago,” Justin said. “I don’t even really remember the story. I was young, stupid and suddenly, I was undead.” He fixed her with a serious gaze, hazy because of the steam. “Phoebe, I’ve walked his earth for hundreds of years. It’s not a bad life. But I can honestly say that I’ve never met anyone like you. When I looked at you, I knew that’s the reason. That’s why I’m here. I’m here to be with you.”
Chills ran down Phoebe’s spine, despite the warm temperature of the shower. She couldn’t remember how long she had been waiting for someone to say something like that, for someone to be that sweet. But how could she trust a vampire?
“My mom said that vampires sweet talk women to get close to them,” Phoebe said. “Just so they can bite them.”
“Oh you mean like this?” Justin swept her up into his arms. He was slippery and wet but she wasn’t going anywhere. She remembered what they were like, just hours before. Phoebe tightened her arms around him. She looked up at him. She closed her eyes. She tilted her head to the side as she waited for a kiss. Then he bit her.
It would be inaccurate if she said she wasn’t expecting it. The possibility of a bite was always on her mind. But still, it shocked her. Her eyes flew open as his mouth latched onto her and his fangs slid into her delicate skin.
She felt the puncture but it didn’t hurt. Instead, it did the opposite. It filled her with intense pleasure. Her toes were curling underneath her. Her body was shaking. Her core screamed for more, whatever this pleasure was. Her body was on fire.
And she was cradled so close to him, right next to his sculpted chest. If she had to choose, this would be the way she chose to die—filled with pleasure, in the arms of a beautiful man. She felt the blood leaving her body as he gave a slurp. It sent a shudder down her spine. It was hard to explain. Like the thickest, vanilla milkshake on a warm, spring day after you’d been craving ice cream for weeks. It felt so good she wanted him to slurp her right on up.
As soon as he started, he stopped. His mouth pulled away. He straightened up. Phoebe reached up and touched the side of her neck in a daze. It was clean. There was nothing there. No puncture wounds. No blood. Had it even happened at all?
“See?” Justin breathed. “If I wanted you to be dead, you would be dead. But I can control it. And Penny, I promise. I don’t want to hurt you.”
He moved in closer. Phoebe didn’t move away. She smiled as his eyes swept over her body hungrily. Then he grabbed her face in his hands and looked straight in her eyes, gaze boring down deep into her soul.
“I only want to bring you pleasure.”
He kissed her so hard it took her breath away. This would be the real cause of her death. This long, slow, searing, deep kiss.
They didn’t part for a long time. Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest. Her lungs begged for oxygen. But she wasn’t letting go. If this was her last kiss, she was going to make it count. She couldn’t imagine anything else worth living for after she had experienced this.
Finally, he pulled away from the kiss with a small growl. It was the hottest sound she had ever heard. He pressed his forehead against hers. His hair dripped against his face while he murmured.
“Stay with me… I want to be with you. Please be mine. You’re what I have been waiting for.”
Phoebe wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him harder.
*****
Phoebe smiled as Justin pushed her back against the tile. His mouth was attached to hers, body pressing her up against the slippery surface. She could feel him getting excited against her stomach. She reached between them to wrap her hand around his member. It felt so good in her hand. She stroked him while they kissed frantically under the water. His hips jutted against her. She sighed out in pure pleasure.
Justin grabbed her hand, pulling it away. He bit down on her lower lip. It felt delicious. She moaned, her nipples hard against him. She could feel him everywhere, as his hands traveled all over her. When they made a stop between her legs, she gave a shuddery gasp.
Then he turned her around. Her bare breasts brushed against the tile as he stroked them from behind, then down her belly. She cried out, feeling his fingers again. They knew just what to do, how to move, what to touch and press. The whole time, his manhood rubbed against her from behind. He whispered in her ear, “You have such a beautifully sweet ass.” She could feel him there. Phoebe only moaned. She wanted more.
Now that she knew what he could do, she was only craving him. Justin seemed happy to oblige. He spread her legs apart and then entered her from behind. Phoebe gasped once he was buried inside her once again. She bent over slightly to get a better angle. Justin didn’t hesitate. He followed her lead, taking her hard and fast from behind. Phoebe slapped the wall, giving a wet smack that echoed through the shower stall. She moaned and moved with him the best she could. It was different than the first time, rougher, but just what she needed. Now she was allowing his vampire instincts to show and it was even better than she imagined. It was fun to be with someone who could be dangerous but gentle at the same time. He gave her ass a little smack. She yelped in a way she had never experienced before.
“More…” she gasped out. She didn’t have to ask. He kept going as he groped her breasts and licked and nibbled over that spot on her neck he bit. It felt so good, she thought she was going to melt into a puddle and slide right through the shower drain.
But he wasn’t done with her yet. He pressed his face down against her shoulder as he continued to bury himself in and out of her. She could feel his hips start to shake. She was close but she needed a little more.
Phoebe propped her foot up on the edge of the tub, opening herself up more for him. From there, he was able to move inside of her even deeper and harder. She wanted to feel him everywhere. It was like he was drilling down deep inside of her, directly to her soul. She nodded and groaned. This was it. She could feel it building up again. That explosion. They weren’t being very quiet. She didn’t care.
Justin pulled out and turned her around. Her heart was beating wildly. She was glad because she wanted to feel him. Her lips met his once again as he pushed back inside of her. Now she was ready. They were going to experience this together. And then it came.
The orgasm was even better this time as they bodies shuddered together. She felt him flooding her inside, the shower washing it away just as quickly. Her whole body was on fire but at the same time it felt like she was on a cloud. There was no one else on this Earth except for the two of them.
It didn’t matter who he was. Or what he really was. She could feel it. The intense way he cared about her. And she only wanted more.
She didn’t want it to end. But all good things always did. Phoebe clung to him, suddenly not trusting her legs. After two such intense sessions of lovemaking in one day she was scared her legs might give out on her. Her body was still being racked in waves of pleasure.
Justin seemed to understand how she was feeling because he picked her up without a word. He carried her out of the shower and sat her on the bathroom counter while he got a towel. She smiled into his eyes as he gently toweled her off.
“It’s intense,” he said, kissing the side of her face. “But you get used to it.”
“I hope I don’t,” Phoebe said. “I want every time to feel like the first time.”
Phoebe flinched when the door burst open. Her dad and brother were staring at them, weapons drawn.
“This is the third time today you’ve seen me naked!” Phoeb
e yelled.
“Stay away from her,” Brad said.
Justin shook his head. “Kill me if you must. But my intention is not to hurt Penny. It’s only to love her.”
“I can’t let you go with my daughter.” Phoebe’s dad said.
Phoebe slipped down from the counter. She stood in front of him, stark naked, but still her own person.
“You are not in charge of me,” she said. “Justin can handle you on his own.”
She walked right past them. Then, behind her, the sounds of a scuffle.
***
Phoebe stood up, her heart racing just as fast as Justin was skating. The whole place was going crazy, people screaming and yelling. Then there was the countdown.
THREE… TWO… ONE!
The buzzer sounded. The game was over. Confetti rained from the ceiling. Phoebe jumped up and down, yelling Justin’s name. He looked over from the rink and blew her a kiss.
Now Phoebe was proud to call herself a hockey fan.
The Troy Ice Kings won the city league championship. The ending game had been a blow-out. But that didn’t stop Phoebe from running over to Justin as soon as he was finished and giving him a big kiss.
“You’re amazing!” she said, wrapping her legs around him as he held her up effortlessly.
“You’re amazing,” he said back, rubbing his nose against hers. His locks were sweaty but she ran a hand through his hair anyway and laughed.
The Troy Ice Kings did have a few advantages. A few of the players were vampires and vampires were naturally faster and more agile than humans were. But Phoebe wasn’t going to tell.
“We have to celebrate tonight,” she told him.
“You got it, baby,” Justin said, with a big grin. “I know just what we’ll do.”
Phoebe grinned back at him. She was already craving him, despite what they did every night. It had been two months since she had met him. Two months since they both stormed out of the house after Justin fought off her vampire-hunting brother and father. Two months since she found out the truth and became her own person. Two months of bliss. She was never looking back. Except, she could feel him in the stands. His eyes watching her. Phoebe looked up, tall in Justin’s arm.
Her brother was sitting in the top of the stands, staring down at her. Of course, his team lost a long time ago. She knew why he was here. He still wanted his chance to kill Justin.
Phoebe knew it wouldn’t happen. She wouldn’t let him. Maybe one day they would be a family. But for now, she had made her chose. She chose never-ending happiness. After all, vampires had an eternal afterlife.
Phoebe touched the side of her neck as Justin kissed her happily. She couldn’t feel it anymore.
She knew the real reason her brother was watching her. Because now she and Justin would live happily together.
Forever.
THE END
Another bonus story is on the next page.
Bonus Story 15 of 44
The Rising Star
Daphne started off onto the football field, hoisting the cooler over her shoulders. It was her sophomore year at Northeast State University, and she was assigned the football team. The team she specifically asked not to be on. Last year she was the athletic trainer for lacrosse, a sport she actually understood because she played it in high school.
Football to her was just giant men crashing into each other over and over again until a referee had the courtesy to blow the whistle. It was like setting up stadium seats around an eleven-car pile-up on a highway. It was barbaric, and to her, seemed to lack finesse.
The field was empty for now. She liked to be early to get her station set up. On the field, the athletic trainer’s job was to keep the team hydrated and be ready with quick first aid, and hopefully not have to patch them up back in the locker rooms.
At least with Northeast State Badgers football, she would get a lot of practice. The team was dreadful. They were stomped on every season by every team in the conference. Her roommate, Emma, had football last year and she told Daphne horror stories about sprains, broken ankles, lacerations and concussions. They should have been called the Doormats rather than the Badgers. They did not plow into anyone, they got plowed into. None of the teams from Northeast State even had a playoff hope since the 1980s.
“You lost?” came a deep voice from behind Daphne.
Daphne turned around to see a tall blonde haired man in sweatpants and a white muscle t-shirt walking toward her. She inadvertently looked him up and down. He was handsome, with a five o’clock shadow lining his square jaw. She did not recognize him from the team roster. She already had it memorized so she could get the team files organized.
“Are you lost?” Daphne asked, putting the water bottles on a tray.
“I asked you first,” he said, smirking at her.
“I’m the athletic trainer,” Daphne said, stiffening her shoulders, and putting the cooler down.
“I see.”
He looked her up and down and Daphne remembered she was wearing her uniform, a red polo and khaki shorts.
“Your turn. Only players and staff should be on the field right now,” Daphne said.
He smiled at her, walking closer.
“Then it’s a good thing I check one of those boxes,” he said, flashing her a lopsided grin.
Daphne looked into his face again, still not recognizing him.
“I’m Luke.”
“Hi, I’m Daphne. Are you a player or a coach?”
“A player. I transferred over the weekend.”
“You’re a little late. School starts in two weeks. You missed a bunch of practices. You’re going to be way behind.”
Daphne shook her head at him. This is why she did not want football. None of the players seemed to take it seriously. Daphne could not fathom how you could have a school invest thousands of dollars in you, basically give you a free college education, and you show up late to what should be your job.
“I think I’ll manage,” he said.
Luke grabbed a football from a bin that Daphne had wheeled onto the field earlier.
“Hey, I’m still organizing this stuff. Please put that down. Are you even starting?” Daphne asked.
“Am I starting?” Luke said, shocked at her question.
“Um, yes, are you deaf?”
“Do you know—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Coach Daniels jogged onto the field with a broad, toothy smile on his freckled, pale face.
“Luke! Luke, how are you, son?” Coach Daniels asked, shaking Luke’s hand vigorously. Luke was about a foot taller than the head coach.
“Good, sir. Thanks for having me,” Luke said, tossing the football back in the bin.
Daphne watched the coach look at Luke like he was a winning lottery ticket, but Daphne could not place his face. Not that she would know him. She never watched football, college or otherwise.
“Daphne, did you offer Luke something to drink?” Coach Daniels said, smoothing his red hair.
“Why? He hasn’t done anything yet.” Daphne said, raising an eyebrow at the coach.
She had only spent a few weeks with Coach Daniels, but they had already been bumping heads because to Daphne, he seemed to have favorites. Coach Thomas on the lacrosse team was fair and organized. She missed that environment already.
“Daphne, do you know who this is?” Coach Daniels said, the tendons in his neck straining.
“It’s cool, Coach. I’m Beauchamp Baker III, but everyone calls me Luke cause I’m the third.”
Daphne still did not get the fuss.
“Daphne, he played for Bradley State for three seasons. He took his team to the championship bowl every single time. He’s our new starting QB,” Coach Daniels said, puffing out his broad chest.
Daphne looked at Luke again, and he had a smile playing on his lips. She was still not impressed. If he was so good, then there was no need for him to be with the Badgers. He should have just stayed with his old team. There was something that Co
ach Daniels was being intentionally obtuse about.
*****
“Why so grumpy?” asked Emma, walking over to the table Daphne was sitting in the cafeteria.
Emma was still in her athletic trainer uniform and her curly red hair was piled in a messy bun on top of her head.
“Why so happy?” Daphne asked with a mischievous grin.
Emma had soccer, the best team at the school as far as their record, and it had the best-looking men on campus on the team. It was like the school recruited athletic male models from fashion shows from around the world. Emma’s face flushed pink as she plopped down beside Daphne at the lunch table.
“I swear, I would sprain any one of their ankles just to have them on my table,” Emma said, biting her lip.
“That’s sort of against what we do,” Daphne said, picking at her salad.
She felt a pang of jealously that Emma got a good sports program, but to be fair Emma was in Daphne’s position last year. And the assignment only lasted one season so she would just have to suck it up.
“Hey, is it true that Luke Baker is here?” asked Emma, stealing some of Daphne’s yogurt.
“Am I the only one who doesn’t know who he is?” Daphne said.
Emma’s eyes widened with shock or horror or perhaps a mixture of both.
“Have you literally been living under a rock? My dad loves him. He’s going to the NFL for sure, probably first or second round draft pick. His record is ridiculous. He never gets sacked, like ever and his arm is crazy accurate.”
Daphne thought for a moment. She still did not understand why Luke was here with the Badgers if he was such a high prospect for the pros. It just did not add up.
“I heard he’s hot,” Emma said, scraping the bottom of the yogurt cup.
