Dark Desire: A Paranormal Romance Novella (The After Dark Series, Book #1) (6 page)

Juliet loved the way his body moved
over hers, making them one. She had never felt so connected and completely in
love with anyone before in her life. Truly, they belonged together and she
couldn’t imagine her life without him. 

Damon held her in his arms as she
rested her head upon his chest.  Knowing his bride needed fresh blood to
sustain life, he roused her gently. 

“You need to feed, Juliet.  We must
go before you become weak.”

Uncomfortably, she shifted at the
thought of how she had to exist.  But, Juliet couldn’t ignore the growing
thirst that was impatiently increasing.  Her throat felt dry with an aching
need that demanded relief. 

“Isn’t there any other way?”

Damon shook his head. “No there isn’t
and you mustn’t ignore your need for blood.  It will grow to the point that you
are unable to control yourself.  Vampires enter a frenzied state if they don’t
feed when their body demands it. There is no denying, or ignoring what you
are.”

****

The night air was cold and the ground
damp from the rainy weather.  The moon broke through sections of dark clouds
which hovered in the sky in thick, billowy formations.  Juliet and Damon passed
some buildings as they strolled down the sidewalk together.  They rounded a
corner near a library parking lot.  A young mother and child walked out into
the night, heading for their car.  Hunger twisted in Juliet’s body as she
watched them run to escape the chill.  Disturbed by her appetite for the young
family, she shook her head in frustration.

“I can’t do it!  Not them.”

Sympathizing with Juliet’s concern,
Damon offered to find more suitable humans.  Now mere shadows of the night,
they traveled undetected as they wove their way through the darkened streets. 
Not far up the road was Bailey’s Cove.  Juliet stopped and reflected on her
previous job.  A couple walked in past big Jim who loomed near the entrance. 
An idea struck her that brought a smile to her face.

“There’s someone I need to see.”

Damon looked at her in surprise. 
“Who?”

“Someone that has something coming to
him.”

“Intriguing. I hope I get to play too.”
Damon grinned slyly.

They walked to the entrance and Jim
waved them through.  The club looked the same as it had before, but somehow
Juliet felt different as she entered.  No longer was she a weak woman that men
pawed over and treated as a sex object.  She was a predator now, eyeing the
mortals and ready to thin out the flock.  Ginger and Stacey worked on the
poles, sliding up and down seductively.  Veronica danced at the back of the
stage, bending down to collect her money.  They all looked so desperate and
unhappy.  The sight of them saddened her as she thought of herself and what she
had been relegated to do.

Damon reached for her hand and kissed
it.  His display of affection snapped her out of her momentary fog.  She looked
back up at the stage and Veronica waved at her.  Juliet smiled at her in
response and continued to walk toward the back of the club. As if on a mission,
she proceeded around the corner and down the long hallway. She heard noises
coming from Gerald’s office at the end. She opened the door and there he sat at
his desk, as always, adding up receipts and counting out cash.  He looked up at
her dismissively.

“Look what the cat dragged in.  I
thought you quit.  What do you want? Your job back?” He laughed sarcastically
as he put the money into a safety box. 

Damon instantly lunged across the
desk, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him a few feet off the floor. 
Gerald hung helplessly as he looked at Damon in terror.  Blood trickled down
Gerald’s neck from the lethal grip upon his throat.  Fearing the worst, Gerald
started begging for his life. Damon sneered at his request and was fully ready
to end the man’s life.

Juliet glared at Gerald, knowing he
deserved what Damon was about to do.  The sight of the blood sent rushes of
hunger throughout Juliet’s body, making it almost impossible to ignore.  Juliet
touched Damon’s shoulder, and realizing what she wanted, he slowly placed the
terrified man back on the floor. Gerald backed up against the wall in an
attempt to get as far from them as possible.  Juliet took a step toward him and
reached out to his mind subconsciously.

Be still and listen. You are a
despicable man that uses women.

Gerald’s breathing began to slow and
the expression of terror left his face.  He stood still and seemed completely
compliant.

You will no longer force the women
here to do things they prefer not to.  You will speak to them in a respectful
way at all times. You will also pay them fairly and treat them kindly.

Gerald stared straight ahead in a
trance, but was listening carefully to Juliet’s demands.

“Yes,” he responded.

Pleased with herself, Juliet smiled
over her shoulder at Damon.  She turned back to Gerald and eyed the blood
beginning to dry on his neck.  His pulse moved in a smooth rhythm under his
skin.  Hunger called out to her again, demanding satisfaction.  She reached for
him and took his wrist to her mouth and bit.  Gerald remained still, staring
emptily ahead as Damon followed suit, taking his other wrist. 

Juliet heard Gerald’s heartbeat in
her ears and stopped when she heard it change.  Damon looked at Gerald, as if
considering whether or not he really deserved a second chance, but respecting
the wishes of Juliet, he let the man live. 

Juliet noticed the marks on Gerald’s
wrist and wanted to see if she could heal him.  With a light touch, she ran her
fingertips across the puncture wounds and they began to heal.  Happy with the
result, she felt more confident and continued her orders. 

You will do as I say, or die.  Now,
take a nap at your desk, you disgusting, filthy man.

Gerald slumped down at his desk with
his forehead landing upon it with a great thud.  They left the office, headed
for the exit, and passed through the main area.  Juliet considered the dancers
as they worked the crowd, again feeling sorry for them, but realized it was
their choice to work there and no one else’s.  Damon leaned in toward her
closely, whispering in her ear, “Come on my love, this place makes you
unhappy.  Let’s go.”

His voice was seductive and charming
and sent a shudder of excitement throughout her body.  She couldn’t resist his
words; they played like music in her ears.  Juliet loved the feel of his arm
around her waist and the proximity of his body.  Once outside, he pulled her
closer to him and kissed her sweetly.  

“Juliet, I have traveled the world
several times over. There are many wonderful places I wish to take you: from
secret chambers in the Egyptian pyramids, to sections of the lost catacombs in
Paris, to the hidden treasures of our race. Are you ready to leave this city
behind now and begin our adventure together?”

Thrilled with the proposition, Juliet
agreed with an open heart. She knew she was ready to see what awaited her.  So
far, she had found the love of her life and become immortal.  Although many
challenges lay ahead, she felt certain that she was ready now, especially with
Damon by her side.  With love flooding her senses, Juliet reached for Damon and
kissed him deeply and with all her being.  Their shadows melted into one as
they faded into the darkness to begin their new journey together.

###

About the Author:

Rebecca Foote grew up the second to
the youngest child amongst five siblings. Needless to say, there was almost
always something going on in her home with such a large family. During her
youth she enjoyed writing, art, and music which she practiced with her sisters.

After Rebecca married and started a
family, she attended college and worked in the fields of finance and law, but
her love of literature kept pulling her back to creative pursuits and she began
to write otherworldly adventures involving romance and dark fantasy.

Discover other titles by Rebecca Foote:

In
Shadows

Connect with Rebecca online:

Website:
www.rebeccasfoote.com

Blog:
www.paranormalmuse.com