15 Paranormal Romance Collection Boxset- Billionaire Bad Boy (45 page)

Chapter 3

“So, where are we going?”

“Over to Ricky’s. You ever been there?”

“Sure, that place is awesome. I wouldn’t think you would go for it though.”

“Why?”

Gia looked over at Scott in his three piece suit, driving a black hundred thousand dollar sports car. The idea of him eating a hotdog from Ricky’s stand was kind of laughable. She grinned for a minute and then turned it back around when he gave her a sharp look. “I mean, you are, you know and Ricky’s is kind of slumming it.”

“You like it.”

“Yeah but I make a whole lot less than you. Aren’t you supposed to have refined taste or something?”

“I suppose, although I was raised on hotdogs, so I still have some crap taste buds left.”

“Well here’s to shitty taste buds. I love Ricky’s.” Gia was a lot more relaxed than she thought was possible in his presence. Throughout lunch, she almost forgot that he was her boss, it was so easy to be around him.

They were late getting back and as she was getting out of the car, he was holding the door open. His hand came out to help her out and he pulled her to him, kissing her cheek softly before releasing her. Gia hadn’t known what to say and she felt a wave of something go through her. Her body took it as an offer and by her response, it was all for it.

“So, how’d it go?”

Gia shrugged. “Okay. Can you believe that he eats at Ricky’s?”

Angie couldn’t and was about as shocked as Gia was. “So did you hear that another girl came up missing last night? It was only a couple of blocks from here Gia. You need to be more careful.”

“And you need to stop watching so much television. The news is there to scare you and keep you watching. There are millions of people in this city, I am sure we have nothing to worry about.”

Angie didn’t seem so sure, but she nodded her head anyways. The blonde made the remark that she wouldn’t be caught dead in the parking garage, but Gia just waved it off. As much as she liked Angela, they had a great time together, she was a bit of a worrier and Gia just liked to let things play out a little more. There was no sense in trying to control everything because most was out of her control anyways.

She was just starting to get back into the reports when her cell phone started to go off. Jeff called her back, a bit upset that she had canceled at the last minute. It wasn’t the first time it had happened, and he was okay with the reschedule.

“Alright babe, I will see you after midnight. You better be there Gia. I need you so bad.”

Gia made a noncommittal sound and hung up the phone. She hated being called babe and his need for her she knew, went as far as her body. It was what it was, so she sighed and looked forward to the idea of at least getting some that night.

***

The work day dragged on and Scott ordered some takeout for dinner, as everyone was still working on year-end. It was the worst time of year for all accountants and Gia dreaded it each time it came around. The volume of reports and spreadsheets for the medium-sized business was astounding, especially when everything had to be double-checked for mistakes. One mistake could cost the firm thousands in fines or lost tax savings.

She waved to Angie as she was leaving, completely forgetting that she was supposed to stop by Scott’s office before she left. He was still in there and she just bypassed his door, more focused on the hard cock waiting for her when she got home. There was no talk of scary men lurking in the shadows from Angie and Gia was almost to her car before she heard a strange sound from behind her. She turned to look and no one was there. “You are losing it Gia.”

Her own words did not seem to qualm the fear that she felt inside of her. Gia was shaking and she was really not too sure why. All of the hairs on the back of her neck were standing up and she had a crazy idea to run back to the fresh air and lights of the street. Instead though, she convinced herself that she was acting crazy and took the last few steps to her car. She looked in the backseat quickly and then unlocked her car, her hands slightly trembling.

Getting in, she locked the door and sighed into the empty car. Gia had never been scared before and she wasn’t sure why she was all of a sudden. There was a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She tried to assure herself that it was just Angie’s cautious words getting into her head and she was just being silly. Gia didn’t feel silly though. She felt like she was in serious danger and the worst part was that she did not know where the threat was going to come from. And then she knew.

“Start the car and let’s go Gia. I have been waiting for you all night. I was wondering when you were coming out.”

Gia started to scream, the first reaction any woman would have to hear a deep male voice behind them in a car in the dark parking garage. There was something pressed against her neck and it was sharp, so she thought it was a knife. Looking behind her in the mirror, she saw nothing at all in the backseat.

“Who are you?”

“An admirer Gia. Now drive before it has to get messy right here in your car.”

She didn’t like the sound of messy and though she could care less about the interior of her car, it was what the mess would consist of that had her scared. “Okay. I will do what you ask, please just don’t hurt me.”

“I don’t plan to hurt you Gia. I will make sure it feels…heavenly.” There was a rasping laugh behind her and it sent a chill down her spine. Putting the keys in the ignition, she started the car and turned her lights on. If only there was a way she could alert people of her predicament.

Chapter 4

Gia closed her eyes and then reopened them. She held the slight hope/chance that she was just dreaming or having a really bad thought in her head. She hoped that he would be gone when she opened her eyes, whoever he was. But he was still there and she could see his hand on the seat, though she still hadn’t seen the man’s face. Her words to Angie earlier rang in her ears, “There are millions of people in the city and I am sure we will be okay.”

How could she have been so wrong?

It was clear to Gia that it was quite possibly the man that was wreaking so much havoc in the city, where all the missing girls were going. Gia had no doubt of that and as she pulled in front of the law firm, she sent a prayer out that someone she knew would stop her. She just needed to get out of the car and away from the man that was going to kill her.

“Just drive Gia. No one is coming to save you sweet.”

She looked up and was surprised to see dead eyes behind her. It was the only way she could describe them, no soul left in his eyes. Gia shivered and her heart sank when there was no one around the firm as she drove out of the parking garage. It was the first time that Gia was actually afraid and she knew that it was going to be her last day on the earth. The thought was sobering and unlike the immediate rush of fear, she was already starting to feel at peace with it.

“I’m glad you have come to your senses Gia. It will make it so much easier on you. I will make sure it doesn’t hurt you too much.”

A shiver of cold fear ran up her spine, the moment of peace was gone. “Why? I don’t even know you?”

“But I know you. I have been watching you for days. No one will really miss you when you’re gone. No family and only a few friends, you were the perfect target.”

The word ‘were’ played in her head, along with the realization that he already considered her in the past tense, like she was already dead. Gia nodded and waited at the pull out for someone to save her, but instead he told her to turn right and go to a local park. The park was closed at night and was surrounded by thick woods. Gia knew that if she went there, it would be here last. She didn’t move. The car sitting just before the street.

“Go Gia.”

“No. You can do it here, right now. I am not going to have you take me into the woods where they can never find my body. I am going to at least make you work for it.”

She heard a growling noise behind her and then immense pain in the side of her neck. He was biting her! What kind of crazy person does that?

He wasn’t just biting her, but sucking her dry. Gia could feel the life leaving her body and the peace that she had felt before, the acceptance of her end was back. A warmth swept over her instead of cold and she whimpered.

“Gia!”

The voice called out from the steps of the firm. She turned her head and saw Scott racing towards her car. The pain in her neck was gone, as was the man that had caused it. When he arrived, everything was already getting fuzzy. “Scott.”

After the words left her lips, Gia saw nothing but black and she couldn’t help but think that it was the end.

***

Gia woke up and she wasn’t dead, but it was black around her. For a moment she didn’t move, the man and the bite on her neck came back to her. She sat up, her hands touching the open sore on her throat. As she touched it, she gasped.

“Gia. Are you awake?”

She recognized the voice, but she couldn’t see him. “Scott?”

“Yes Gia. How do you feel?”

“Really, really hungry.”

She heard a chuckle. “I figured that.”

He brought her a glass of some dark liquid. She looked at him strangely. Taking a sip, she grimaced.

“What is this?”

“Food. Your new food Gia.”

It was blood, she realized as her taste buds recognized the coppery flavor. She spit it out and looked at him like he was crazy. “Why would you give me this?”

“Because that is all you can eat now Gia. Real food will not take away your hunger, only this will. Trust me.”

She did trust him, she always had. There was a feeling of peace when she was with him that made her think that everything would be okay. “Did you see the man? Did you call the police?”

“I can’t call the police on him, not on my own kind.”

Own kind. The words moved around in her head. What did that mean?

“It means that he was a vampire Gia, as am I and as are you now. That was the only way I could save you and I am sorry that you didn’t get a choice. Drink up and we will talk.”

Her mind whirled with the new information and it was impossible for her to work out in her head. The taste on her lips was sweet though and she realized that she wanted more of it, even knowing what it was. When Scott went to grab the glass, she noticed a wound on his wrist, as her eyes adjusted to the darkness around her.

“What happened to you?”

“It is how I saved you. You had to drink from me. I didn’t know if it would work, you were so close to death. I just am thankful that he didn’t take you off into the woods. Barlow has been making it harder for us to live here. We have had to cover up his tracks more than once.”

“All those missing girls?”

Scott clenched his jaw and nodded his head. “Aye.”

Chapter 5

Gia tried to sit up and asked him to turn the light on, but Scott wouldn’t let her. “You need to rest and stay out of the light for a while.”

“Will it burn me to ash like in the movies?”

Scott chuckled and touched her cheek. “No Gia. Most things you have heard about us is false. I go to work every day in the sun. Our kind likes the misinformation though, makes the humans think they would have a chance.”

Our kind. It didn’t sit well with her. Gia didn’t like to think of herself like anything than what she was. Now she was a vampire. She closed her eyes and lay back down on the soft bedding. “Well at least the coffin bit isn’t true.”

There was another laugh in the darkness and then a soft kiss on her cheek. It made her feel like the first time, but her senses were stronger and the barely there touch intensified. Instead of letting him leave, she pulled him towards her for a kiss. It was a real kiss that sent her blood boiling in her body. As soon as their lips touched, Gia knew that he was the one. It was perfection, the pressure and slow way that he worked his tongue in her mouth. There was no rush in him. It was as if the man had all the time in the world.

He pulled back, their dark eyes meeting before he moved to get up. Her hand grabbed him, trying to stop him. “Soon Gia. You need time to heal. I will be here when you wake up for any questions that you have.”

She wanted him to stay, but there was still pain in her neck and her whole body felt like she had been dropped from the top of a building. The taste of him and the blood mixed in her mouth. Gia just needed to sleep. She was still convinced that she would wake up in a hospital and the last few hours would have just been a delirious dream. Gia closed her eyes, hoping that was the case.

She awoke later, not really sure what time it was. The shades were drawn tightly over the windows and she started to get up to open them. She wasn’t near as sore as she was before, but when she pulled the curtain back, she felt like she hadn’t seen the sun in days. Blocking her eyes with an arm on her forehead, she was surprised to find that it was daytime.

Moving towards the closed door, she turned the light switch on and though she still squinted, it wasn’t near as bad. She took in the plush surrounding and the bed she had come out of. Gia knew that it was his room, his clothes in the opened closet. Looking down, she realized then that she wasn’t wearing anything. Gia rationalized that he must have had to take them off because she was covered with blood.

The bite, the vampire, the pain burned in her brain and she ran to the mirror, to see what would be reflected. She was relieved to see her reflection at all, apparently that was another lie made up by the movies. There were some noticeable differences and the very fact that there was only a small mark on her neck from the encounter, made her shoulders sag in relief. She didn’t look like a monster.

Her blue eyes were now a gray-black and they looked different. They weren’t dead eyes like the man from before, but there was a new depth to them that she hadn’t seen before. Maybe dying did that to a person. But if she died, is she alive? Pushing her hair back, she looked at her neck again, turning her body to the side to see it from afar. Gia finally gave up on looking and went to Scott’s wardrobe to find something to wear.

He was so much bigger than her that everything seemed huge. She settled on one of his work shirts and a pair of boxers. Her cheeks reddened to think that they were his and that she was not properly covered up. She walked towards the door, listening for a moment. It was clear that he didn’t want to hurt her, but she was so nervous from everything that had happened. Gia still wasn’t sure what was going to be on the other side of the door when she opened it.

Cracking it finally, she saw a short hallway and the back of Scott. She stepped out and padded towards him silently on the balls of her feet. Gia was the one surprised when he turned around at the last moment, a smile on his face. “Good morning sleepy head. You look nice.”

His eyes burned into hers and he just stood there. “Are you hungry?”

“Starving. How long was I out for?”

“A couple of days. It’s Sunday now.”

Gia gaped. “Sunday!? I got to get home Scott. Can you give me a ride or is my car here?”

Scott smiled and handed her another cup with dark red liquid. “Drink and then we will talk. There is no sense in getting all worked up Gia. What’s done is done.”

His words sounded so final and she almost turned town the glass, but it called to her. Tipping it back, she drank it down in one shot and could feel the buzz coursing through her body. She felt energized and not too easy going. Gia wanted answers and she wanted them right now!