Authors: Elaine Markowicz
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
I stood across the street, looking up at the church. Its steeples reached into the night sky. I hadn't been inside a church since I was a child. On the steps was a group of teens, blasting their boom box.
I crossed over to the other side and was about to go up the steps when two of them stopped me. "Hey, Baby, coming to pray for a fun night?"
I ignored them, trying to side step them. The other five circled me. I huffed, rolling my eyes.
"Isn't it past your bedtime?" I jeered.
They hooted and laughed, closing in on me.
"Get out of my way."
"See, this is our church. We say who can go in or not." The leader stated, drawing closer to me.
With a feral growl, I lunged at the boy, sinking my fangs into his neck. The others howled with laughter, thinking I was kissing him. And then I turned, blood pooled around my lips. They slowly backed away but I didn't give them the chance to run. In record time, I tore at all of their throats.
I stood on the steps, panting, looking around at what I'd done. With a shrug, I went around them and up the steps to the door. It was locked but it didn't stop me from going in. I touched the door and it opened. I went through the dark vestibule and into the church proper. Candles flickered in their votive glasses, giving off a red hue and casting deformed dancing shadows on the walls. The life-like statues of saints that lined the church, stared out with lifeless eyes.
My gaze fell on the giant crucifix behind the altar. I should have felt something; peace, but nothing. I understood why. My dark world clashed with this one. Yet, there was an attraction.
Sirens wailed outside the church. I turned around. I heard the commotion on the front steps, recognizing one of the voices—Aiden! I glanced up at the stained glass windows over the balcony seats. I ran to the back of the church and up the steps, coming out behind the red seats. I hurried down the aisle to the first window. Without any effort, I jumped up and through the window. Glass flew everywhere around me as I sailed downward; the wind howling in my ears. The sensation was exhilarating. I landed on my feet in a crouched position. I then disappeared down the darkened streets.
I woke, sensing someone in the room. Draco was seated on the side of the bed, staring down at me. I pushed myself up against the propped pillows and brushed the wild curls from my face. "What are you doing here?"
"That was quite a mess you made at the church."
"They got in my way."
"I'm impressed."
I shrugged, indifferent. Then my eyes flashed. "If that's all you came to tell me, you can leave now. It's going to be light soon."
"Oh, but I'm not leaving." He stroked my hair. "I'm spending the night with you."
He leaned over and kissed me. I punched at his shoulders but my heightened libido kicked in and we were soon naked on the bed, tearing and scratching one another in a frenzy. He got up on his knees and gashed his chest. Blood oozed immediately. Taking me by the back of the head, he pressed my face against the wound.
"Drink of me."
I did so, gladly.
We twisted and turned in various precarious positions, howling and moaning from the multiple orgasms we experienced until the final one and then we collapsed in one another's arms. The sun was starting to come up. The room grew a little lighter. Draco fell asleep almost immediately.
I laid there awake, thinking of what I'd become. Little less than a slut. Using two men to satisfy my lusts. Draco rolled over, putting his arm around my waist, holding me close to his cold body. All I could think about was Aiden and how this would hurt him.
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
There was a false belief that vampires had to sleep during the day. It simply wasn't true. If the room was dark, we could function but since we did most of our hunting at night, it seemed only natural we'd spend the daytime sleeping. The sun also didn't make us burst into flames or make our bodies sparkle. Really? Come on! Our aversion was because our skin would badly blister and our eyes would hurt.
At one point, during the afternoon, Draco woke and rolled me over to copulate once again. It didn't take much convincing on my part either. But after that passionate encounter where we climaxed multiple times, Draco easily fell back to sleep.
I, on the other hand, couldn't. I tossed the covers aside and swung my bare feet to the cold, hardwood floor. The room was casting shadows, so I knew it was getting near dusk. While Draco slept, I took my laptop into the kitchen and worked at the kitchen table writing the story of how I was bitten and transformed into a vampire.
A short time later, Draco woke. He sat up and turned to me, seated in the kitchen, preoccupied with my typing. He'd no sooner stepped into his black jeans and zipped the fly when there came a knock on the door. I froze! I looked at Draco in a panic.
A wicked grin touched his lips. "Am I finally going to meet your boyfriend?"
"Go! Get out of here!" I ordered, springing to my feet.
He scoffed and strode to the door. My knees buckled. This was not how I wanted Aiden to find out the truth about me; that I was no less than a slut! I breathed, relieved, when I heard Jack's voice. Not that I wanted him to find Draco here, but the alternative would have been worse.
"Is Lucy here?" Jack timidly asked Draco.
"She is." Draco answered, blocking the doorway.
"Let him in." I ordered from the kitchen.
Draco glanced at me and then gestured for Jack to enter. Jack nervously passed Draco and jumped when he purposely slammed shut the door. I wanted to smack him.
Jack entered the kitchen. With a nervous glance at Draco, he sat down.
"Tea?" I offered, already filling the pot.
He nodded.
"What do you want?" Draco asked, now pulling on his shirt.
Jack peeled his eyes from Draco's muscle-ripped chest to me. "Did you hear about the teens they found on the church steps? All of them with their throats torn. It must have been a gruesome scene."
"Yes, it must have." Draco sneered, peering at me.
"You don't think Donnie is back? That someone dug him up?" Jack worried.
"No." I flatly replied, casting Draco a warning glare.
"Then, there's another vampire doing this?"
"Apparently." Draco answered, his gray eyes scrutinizing me.
"Those poor kids." Jack lamented.
"They were punks." I retorted.
Jack curiously stared at me while Draco subtly grinned.
"What else could they have been, hanging on church steps that late at night? Probably blasting their music and harassing people walking by." I defended. I turned to the kettle now whistling.
"Still, they didn't deserve that kind of brutality." Jack stated.
Draco chortled and Jack curiously stared at him.
"You're thinking like a human." He told Jack. "Those kids might have said or done something that enraged the vampire."
"Maybe it was more than one vampire. I mean, the news said there were six kids."
"One enraged vampire could do a lot of damage in a blink of an eye." He peered at Jack who nervously cleared his throat.
"Can't you do something to stop this outrage?" Jack appealed to Draco.
"What should I do?"
"There's nothing he can do." I stated. "Besides, it may have been a one-time thing for this vampire. Like I said, they were punk kids looking for trouble."
I set the tea in front of Jack and sat down with my own.
"I suppose you couldn't give me a cup of tea?" Draco feigned indignation.
"You're leaving." I returned with venomous green eyes.
He laughed. "I guess I am. I'm getting hungry." He looked at Jack whose face paled.
I cast Draco a sharp glare. He continued laughing at my anger and Jack's discomfort. Pulling on his black jacket, he kissed me on the lips, cupped my cheek and departed.
Jack stared at me. "Draco?"
If a vampire could blush, I would. "Yes, Draco. I broke off with Aiden, remember."
Jack quietly sipped his tea but I could sense him judging me.
CHAPTER FORTY
"I can't thank you enough for bringing me to that vampire club." Jack decreed when he brought over my pint. He glanced back at the bar, "Bobby is just a sweetheart." He dreamily sighed.
I looked up from the computer screen. "If you say so."
He frowned. "What do you mean? Is there something wrong with him?"
"No. I'm just saying, he's your new prospect and if he appeals to you, so be it."
"You don't find him attractive?"
I huffed and glanced over at the bar. Bobby was tall and lanky, like Jack, with black and blonde streaked hair. "He's fine." I dryly replied and went back to typing.
I heard Jack harrumph and from the corner of my eye, saw him walk away. I rolled my eyes. The guy was oversensitive.
I wasn't working long I heard his familiar voice.
"There you are."
I looked up, "Aiden!"
He smiled and sat across from me. "Really, you write in this environment?"
I shrugged. "It helps me relax. What are you doing here?"
"I just got off work and thought I'd see if you were here, since you talk about it all of the time." He looked around. "Not a bad place if you like this far out Goth stuff." He gestured to a barmaid. She took his order for two more pints. He then folded his arms on the table as he spoke. "Been a rough few days; with that mass murder of those teens on the church steps."
I cleared my throat. "Yes, I heard about that." I mumbled and glanced down at the keyboard; my fingers picking the letters.
"Writing another article or blog?" he asked.
"A book, actually."
"Let me guess; about a vampire." He laughed.
I shrugged, "What else?"
He smiled and shook his head. Our beers arrived via Bobby. He winked at me and strode away.
Aiden furrowed his brow. "Who's that?"
"Jack's newest love." I wryly answered and took a sip of the warm beer.
Aiden looked back over his shoulder and then at me. "So, Jack's moved on?"
"It seems that way."
Aiden put his hand on the top of the computer. "Baby, can you stop writing? I came to spend time with you."
"Sorry." I muttered and closed the top. And then, I sensed him! Draco! I visually scanned the room but he was well hidden among the crowd. I panicked, hoping he wouldn't come over to the table. Too late! I now saw him headed my way. The jerk was doing this to taunt me. He paused at my table and smiled.
"Lucy, what a surprise seeing you here." He declared; a wicked twinkle in his gray eyes. He smiled at Aiden and extended his hand. "Draco." He introduced himself.
Aiden half stood, returning the polite gesture. "Aiden." He sat down, his dark eyes never leaving Draco's pale face. "Are you a good friend of Lucy's?"
Draco subtly smiled at me. "Very good."
Aiden frowned at me. "You never mentioned a friend Draco."
"Didn't I?" I jeered at Draco. "We must not be that good of friends."
"So, Aiden," Draco drawled. "How well do you know Lucy?"
Aiden's brows arched with a salacious grin. "Very well."
"I see." Draco sneered. He pulled up a chair and sat between us at the round table. "And, what is your occupation?"
"I'm an inspector with Scotland Yard."
"Were you involved with the rash of murders that have taken place recently?"
"Very."
"Still no suspects, hmm?"
I glowered at Draco. "Aiden doesn't feel like talking shop. Especially about death."
Aiden shrugged, "She's right. I came here to relax."
"Actually, I think we should go now." I suggested, stuffing my computer in its black bag.
"Okay." Aiden congenially agreed. He stood and helped me on with my coat. He then turned to Draco and shook his hand. "Nice meeting you." He bid.
"I'm sure, we'll meet again."
I peered at Draco. "Not if I can help it." I slung the bag over my shoulder. "Come on, Aiden."
Aiden pressed a smile and a short wave at Draco as we walked away.
"I gather, you don't like him very much?" Aiden asked as we walked out of the club.
"Not very."
"How long have you known him?"
I lifted my weary gaze on Aiden. "For a while. We met here in the club and he's been annoying me since."
"So, we going back to your place? Or am I going home?"
I raised my eyes on his handsome face, licked my lips at his pulsing vein. The sight of him aroused me. "Back to my place, if you want."
He smiled, putting his arm around me. "Oh, Baby, Daddy wants."
I laughed as he then opened the car door for me.
I was snuggled in his arms, against his warm body, my head on his chest, listening to the rhythmic beating of his heart. This was so wrong! It wasn't fair to him. I was using him to satisfy my own selfish desires. I knew I couldn't love him. Well, I did, but I shouldn't. I had to let him go, but I couldn't; just like I couldn't let go of Draco. I was addicted to both men. Both satisfied me in ways nothing or no one else could.
"Are you all right?" Aiden asked.
"I'm fine."
"Baby, you are so cold. You sure you shouldn't see a doctor about it? You could have a serious circulation or heart problem."
Or, I could be dead!
"It's probably just a circulation problem. Nothing a glass of Scotch can't fix." I mocked.
"I'm worried about you."
"Don't be. I'm fine." I persisted.
I glanced at the small clock on the lamp table. It was going near three o'clock. I started to sit up. "I'm afraid, you'll have to leave now."
"Talk about cold." He teased. "All right, all right, I'm going." He sat up, swung his legs over the bed, grabbed his pants and pulled them on.
I watched him button his blue shirt and then tuck it in his black pants. After being completely dressed, he leaned to me and kissed me. He cupped my cold cheek. "Seriously, get yourself checked out."
"Good night, Aiden." I bid, dismissing his concern.
He smiled, grabbed a hold of his coat, slung it over his shoulder and walked out the door.
I flopped back on the pillow, staring at the ceiling.
"You really need to get rid of him."
I sharply sat up. Draco stood at the foot of the bed. I angrily furrowed my brows. "Get out!"
"You know, it can't work between you and a human."
I didn't answer.
"You're in love with him." He commented.
I cast him a sharp glare, holding the covers against me.
He sat on the bed. "Why are you acting so modest?" he scoffed.
"Just get out of my flat."
He sighed and stood, "I'm warning you; no good can come to you and your human boyfriend." And, with that, he was gone.
I pushed the hair from my face and shook my head back. Unfortunately, he was right. Wasn't I just thinking how wrong it was between me and Aiden? But how did I let him go without hurting him? I tossed the covers aside and swung my feet to the cold, hardwood floor. Getting up, I gathered my pajamas and dressed.
Taking my laptop, I went in the kitchen, set the computer on the table and poured myself a glass of Scotch. I took a sip and then sat down. Opening my computer, I turned it on and continued work on my novel. I didn't know if it would sell but I didn't care; it was a story that needed to be told.