by C. D. Gorri
Nope. She had no idea, he realized. She wasn’t flirty or seductive. She was, sniff, embarrassed, he realized as he inhaled her scent gaining her emotions from the tiny whiff. How could one woman be so interesting and exasperating at the same time?
“Forgive me, Ms. Amante, but why are you here? And why are you, uh, naked?”
“Oh that, well, I am wearing underwear,” she pointed out.
“Barely,” he disagreed. The picture of her bare ass would be forever etched into his mind. Wouldn’t he love a nibble?
Yes.
No.
Agh. Focus. He forced himself to stop thinking of her ass and to start listening to what she was saying. Which was what again? Oh.
“Well, you see,” she looked down and bit her lip, a habit he found endearing, before continuing, “I stepped into the hallway with my robe on to grab a delivery. For some reason the man put it against the opposite wall-”
“Yeah, they do that here,” he interrupted and offered her his other half of Pop-Tart since she was now staring at it.
“Thanks. I love strawberry,” she sighed as she bit into the pastry and his dick went up again. Like a fucking flagpole.
“So?” He nodded waiting for her to continue. The quicker he heard her tale, the quicker she could leave and he could forget his dilemma.
Claim her or leave town. Fucking shit.
“Sorry. Okay, so the door shut and locked when I went to get the package, and my robe got stuck. I tried yelling, but your music was on loud. So I, uh, decided to risk it.”
She shrugged and her cheeks burned a bright pink. Damn she was cute.
“I take it you are locked out?”
“Yep.”
“Let me grab some things.”
“Okie dokie,” she said and moved to follow him.
Each step brought more of her sun-warmed grassy fresh fragrance into his nostrils. Fuck he wanted to roll around in her, like a puppy on a summer lawn.
Nope. That simply wouldn’t do.
“Uh, you wait here,” Terrence said.
“Thanks,” she shrugged and sank down onto the sofa.
For a second Terrence couldn’t move. The woman was sitting practically bare-assed on his couch. If possible, his dick grew even harder. Was it normal to be jealous of a sofa? Probably not. Fuck. He was so screwed.
Terrence turned quickly. He took shallow breaths as he went to the kitchen to grab his toolbox from under the sink. The more time he spent around her the more difficult it was to keep his baser instincts in check.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes. Please make yourself at home.”
No. Don’t. Please don’t touch anything. I’ll never get your scent out of my apartment. I’ll probably sneak over and bite you in the middle of the fucking night. Hell, as it is I am going to go home and bury my face in the couch hoping to smell you there. I can’t wait to nibble your neck. Your pussy. Every delectable inch. I want you. Mate. Mine.
“Shit. I am fucked,” he mumbled as he walked down the hall.
He turned his brain off as he scooped her package from the floor and turned to her locked door. Her bright crimson robe was there. Stuck in the locked door like she’d said. Not that he doubted her at all. It was just unfair. Why the hell would Fate send him a mate? Him of all people?
And why such a cute one at that? She was damn near irresistible. Still, he had to try. For her sake and his. He just had to get her door unlocked then he could go back home. Alone.
After a few minutes he had it open. He set the package down on her table and took a moment to look around. The place was amazing. An actual garden in the middle of a brick, steel, and mortar city. Who knew things like this existed?
He could practically feel the care she felt for her plants in the room. And she’d only been there a few days. Imagine what it would be like a month, a year, ten years from now! His keen senses were already able to discern her compassion, her focus, and the total pleasure she felt at growing things.
A woman with the capacity to love like that was a rare thing. Rare and sweet and deserving of so much more than he was. So much more than he had left to give.
What was he anyway except a fool? Terrence could not trust himself to take care of her the way she deserved.
After all, he thought he could change Eric. Thought he could save his boyhood friend from heading down the wrong path. But he’d been wrong.
He had never been able to persuade his friend to follow the rules. Eric was wild and brash. He’d believed normals were little more than cattle or prizes in a game.
Terrence had hardly recognized him when the local Coven had carted him off to be tried and later imprisoned. Revenants were granted mercy in the form of life in the bleak, lonely, and magically reinforced cells that served as their prisons for as long as they lived. Which could be pretty fucking long.
The Guardians who watched over the hated place were loyal men and women who practiced secret, sacred magic. They were the only supernaturals who knew how to keep a Vampire or Revenant securely away from society.
So many secrets. Terrence could never burden a sweet woman like Daisy with all the hidden mysteries of his kind. Vampires trusted no one. None in the entire universe.
That was why they still clung to and supported all those myths about being undead, allergic to sunlight and garlic, of having no souls. Nothing but nonsense. Vampires were very much alive.
But how could he tell her that it was a mutation that occurred somewhere thousands of years ago that split the human race into several subspecies? How could he expect her to believe there were Shifters, Werewolves, those mixed with blood of the Fae, Demons, Angels, and of course Vampires?
He had no means of support now. No one to help protect her from his enemies and yes, he had them. Still, even after he left the Coven following Eric’s capture, Terrence was bound to keep their ways secret. And still, there was one person he could tell. One person by law. His fated mate.
For that was the only way he could share with her his Vampiric mutation. Thereby granting her a life that was practically immortal. Ensuring they would be together for all eternity.
His blood pumped through his veins at the thought of having that. Of having his mate. Of being a pair instead of a lone solitary figure. So tempting. So very tempting indeed. But could he do that? Did he deserve happiness?
These were not easy questions to answer. He shook his head, picked up her robe and headed back to his apartment where she sat waiting.
Naked. His brain added the almost forgotten fact and he groaned out loud. That was it. He needed her out of the apartment so he could think.
And maybe masturbate.
“All done,” he said with false brightness as he entered the room.
Fuck me, he thought as she stood up briefly flashing him in the process.
He held out her robe and she squeaked happily as she tugged it on. She turned her back to him and dropped the blanket, bending down to retrieve it from the floor.
Gulp.
“Your place is immaculate! I had no idea guys could clean like that! Next time you are in the mood, come on over,” she laughed and handed him the still warm afghan seemingly unaware of the double meaning of her invitation. Gulp.
He just nodded and walked her to the door. Closing it behind her with a wave. He tried not to breathe too deeply but he knew he was screwed.
Her flowery scent hung in the air reminding him of her bountiful beauty. His tongue salivated. Cock pulsed. Thirst like he’d never felt before burned his throat as his fangs pierced his gums.
Terrence swallowed hard as he stood up and went to the fridge. He grabbed the emergency vial of O-positive that he’d kept deep in the freezer for near on five years. Fuck, but he needed it now. Needed to control his thirst before he did something unforgivable. After running it under warm water he swallowed the contents.
It stung as it slid down his throat. His body reveling in the nutrition the life-giving fluid provided while his mind rejected the
origin. It craved his mate and no one else.
Still, Terrence hissed and sighed as he felt his muscles strengthen and his mind sharpen. A Vampire needed blood to live. It was simple as that.
Not so simple was living next to his mate and not claiming her. He would need the added control the human blood would bring if he was going to succeed until he made his choice.
Claim his mate or let her go?
Chapter 4
Daisy. Her name is Daisy, Terrence replayed the scene in his head again and again as he headed to the theatre the next day.
What an ass he’d been! Rather than fumble for words, he’d chosen silence as his shield. She must think he was nuts!
He couldn’t get over the way she’d changed the place. The apartment he’d known for decades that had most recently been inhabited by Leandra was now barely recognizable.
When he’d stepped inside, he felt as if he’d been transported somewhere else. Somewhere as green as the emerald flames he’d seen in her eyes. Like he was stepping out of time to a place he felt safe and warm.
Plants, flowers and shrubs had taken up every inch of bare space. Where Leandra hung brightly colored vintage curtains from every window, Daisy had stripped them all away. Replacing fabric with the natural greenery of her plants. Choosing sunlight instead of darkness.
Ironic that his kind was rumored to perish in the sun. It was quite the contrary. Terrence was a little fair-skinned but that was because of his English heritage as opposed to any deathly allergy. Daisy was even more pale than he. A wonder since he would bet his life on her loving the outdoors.
Her home was a veritable garden. Long draping vines, spiky little succulents, delicate orchids, blooming cacti, miniature roses, potted trees that looked part of a tropical island and so many more. He could hardly take them all in. She’d managed to create a paradise inside the tiny barely 800 square foot space.
It was breathtaking, beautiful, but nothing compared to the curvy goddess who had stood dead center of it all on a ladder the first time he’d spied her.
More like a pillar, he thought dreamily picturing his beautiful torment. So wrapped up in the image inside his brain Terrence almost walked into Chance.
That’s what he got for daydreaming about his new neighbor. But damn, she was like a bloody miracle. His miracle. Gods how he wanted her. So very badly. More with each passing minute.
He skirted around the amused looking Chance. Not bothering to respond to his friend’s taunting laughter. He could be the butt of his joke. It mattered very little to him these days. Nothing mattered, except her.
“Watch out, Terr!” Shouted Leandra, but her warning came too late.
He’d been so wrapped up in conjuring images of the sexy little sprite next door in her work jeans and loose cotton shirt that he’d walked right off the stage missing the staircase entirely.
Thank fuck for Vampire reflexes. Terrence managed to crouch as he fell. Turning what should have been a catastrophe into a rather acrobatic tumble and finally, into a standing position with relatively little harm done to his person.
“Geez, dude, what’s gotten into you?” Leandra called, running down the stairs to catch up with him. Chance was right there too on her heels. As always.
Only now Terrence understood why the half-Demon felt compelled to be near his mate at every moment. He had hardly spoken to Daisy and she filled his every thought. What would life be like if he claimed her? How would he get anything done?
Who cared? As long as he had her everything would be fine. His thirst would be quenched and the awful hunger sated. Finally.
“Shit, Terrence, you need to supplement that butcher blood you buy with some of the real stuff already!” Chance growled at him.
Of course, his buddy would assume it was his choice of diet that was at fault for his clumsiness. Terrence blinked slowly. Once then again.
“My diet is fine, Chance. Thank you for your concern, Lea,” he said choosing to speak to his friend’s mate.
Yes, he was stalling. He wasn’t sure he wanted to share the good news just yet. Heck. He didn’t even know if it was good news.
Hadn’t he vowed never to take a mate? Of course, when he made that vow, he never thought he would actually meet the fantastic creature designed by the universe to be his and his alone.
The only person in creation who could satisfy his inner cravings and make him whole. It was certainly a bonus that she was beyond beautiful and that body of hers made him want to kneel down and beg.
She was it for him. All the half-naked dancers he saw daily couldn’t even raise his blood pressure. But daisy in muddy jeans and a t-shirt. Hot damn. That was something special.
She was something special. His sete di cuore. The Vampire name was more than a term of endearment. It was a saying from the old country of his particular Coven. Mostly Italians and the odd English and Irish Vampire in the early days of New York City.
Sete di cuore indeed. It meant that Daisy was the only one for him. The sole person in the universe that his heart thirsted for. She was his other half. His mate for eternity.
If he bit her and she accepted his claim she could be. Mine forever.
Of course, if he were to solidify the tentative bond that had already started to form between them, his heart would no longer be his own. It would be hers entirely. She would become his reason for being.
The thought scared and intrigued him all at the same time. Given his past, would Terrence ever truly be able to give of himself so completely?
His phone rang and he looked down at the thing. The number was unknown so he ignored it. Probably a spam call. It didn’t matter. Not when his future was at stake here.
Poor choice of words, he grimaced. Vampires and stakes of any kind were not good combinations. Besides, so what if he’d failed at his childhood friend. Eric had become a monster. A Revenant in both deed and design.
“Is she important to you Terrence?” Leandra interrupted his musings.
“I don’t know what you mean,” he lied.
“Terr,” Chance turned to him, black eyes glowing with his Demon, “I know about your concerns. Just remember that was his choice, not yours. You deserve happiness, old friend.”
“What are you talking about?” Leandra asked.
“Nothing, love. It is his business,” Chance said and nodded to Terrence who reminded himself at that moment that these were what real friends looked like.
Leandra with her soft caring eyes and Chance there to support him no matter what. Though the pain of his former friend’s fate still ached inside of him, maybe it was time to let it go?
Eric had been all too fond of ill-gotten human blood. Vampire Covens existed for the reason of providing aid in times of sete empia. The unholy thirst that plagued his kind. But theirs had failed to contain Eric’s bloodlust.
Lost in his memories Terrence barley heard Chance calling his name once more until the half-Demon tapped him on the forehead. Hard.
“You with us buddy?” Chance waved his hand in front of Terrence’s face. The Vampire slapped it away and sighed.
“Knock it off. Look, there is something I need to tell both of you about my new neighbor,” he began.
“Who, Daisy? Isn’t she great?” Leandra bit her lip and grinned wickedly.
“Yes. She is here-”
“And did you see all her plants? Crazy right? I mean the girl has got one heck of a green thumb. I hope you don’t mind I told her she could have a section of the roof for her kiln and greenhouse. That was okay, right?”
One after the other, Leandra’s ramblings helped paint a picture of the woman who was currently occupying every inch of Terrence’s mind. Chance smiled indulgently at his wife before interrupting.
“Angel, why don’t we let Terrence finish?”
“What? Oh. My bad,” she giggled and tucked herself into her mate’s side.
Terrence found himself wishing Daisy were there with him and that he had any right to hold her like that. To lay clai
m to the sweet normal who was probably puttering around on the rooftop with her plants. He smiled for a second, then fear spiked through his blood.
The rooftop? This was Manhattan and that building was ten stories high! He hadn’t been up there in months. Anything could have happened to make it unsafe or structurally unsound.
“Shit,” he muttered and grabbed his keys before taking off at inhuman speeds.
“Terr?” Chance called his name, but Terrence couldn’t spare the time.
“What did I say?” Leandra asked.
“Uh, I think he’s gone to check on your friend,” Chance answered his wife.
No, Terrence thought, I’ve gone to check on my mate.
Mine. The word felt good and right as images of Daisy with her shoulder length chestnut brown hair and her big green eyes. So fresh and beautiful, sweet as the scent of flowers and clean soil that clung to her.
She should be safe and warm, inside, against the bitter February winds that attacked Terrence’s scarf and hat as he rushed down the street. But no, at that particular moment, she could very well be in danger!
The thought horrified him while spurring him on faster. He usually did not use his superhuman abilities in broad daylight, but what choice did he have? None as far as he could see.
Finally, he reached the building and took the stairs four at a time. He passed her apartment door, listening for any signs of her inside, but there were none. Disappointment warred with anxiety as he feared the worst. She was on the roof. In bitter cold weather with high winds due from the impending winter storm.
As he neared the last staircase a crash sounded from overhead. Terrence’s heart stopped. Without a moment’s thought he tore up the fifteen steps that led to the rooftop and ripped the door clean off the hinges.
“Daisy!”
“Over here,” came the sweet voice he’d been longing to hear again ever since he woke up that morning.
Terrence zeroed in on the direction the sound was coming from and nearly lost his mind. Daisy was standing far too close to the roof’s edge trying to push a large barrel filled with what looked like dirt to the edge. At her feet were the remnants of what used to be an enormous ceramic pot. There were boxes and crates stacked on the flat black roof next to a newly erected miniature greenhouse.
