Bitten: A Vampire Blood Courtesans Romance (2 page)

T
he sofa was gone
. The TV—gone. My car… I glanced down to the piece of paper— gone. The open notepad on the counter had become my life for the last three days. I pinned the check on the fridge and turned to pick up the pen. Two-thousand dollars… that made a total of three-thousand, two-hundred and nine dollars.

We weren’t going to make it.

I dropped the pen to rest in the spine of the open book, then lowered my head to my hands.

We weren’t going to make it.

I lifted my head to a scratch at the door. The lock turned, and a second later, Jared strode through. The smile died on his face as his gaze met mine and for the hundredth time I felt like I didn’t belong in my own home.

Jared closed the door and force a smile. “Hey.”

I climbed to my feet. “Hey. How was your day? Did you find any work?”

The shake of his head turned my stomach to stone. “It’s hard out there. No one’s hiring.”

“Well you can always slum it with me at the supermarket. Steffie just left to have her baby.”

He dropped his bag beside the door and shook his head. “You know that’s not me, Nova. I can’t put my ambitions aside to bag groceries and ask people how their day is. I’m not like you, I can’t just give up.”

I clenched my jaw and swallowed. “I didn’t give up. I can go back to my degree any time, but one of us needed to—”

“Look, I’m sick of fighting. I’m tired of all the same arguments. I’m going to have a shower and watch porn—I need a release.”

A pathetic sound tore from my chest. I turned as he blurred and swiped my tears with the back of my hand. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed him… I shouldn’t want him to change.

In high school, we were
the
couple. We were happy, going steady. Maybe I was the one who’d changed, while Jared seemed content to skate on by with life, never worrying, never stopping for too long. Those were the things I’d loved about him at first—now, they were nothing more than a burden. My life had been planned out, college, a degree… happiness, until my mother’s cancer took it all away… I had the money Mom left me. It wasn’t much, enough for a down payment on a house—enough to pay for the rest of my degree.

I shook my head and swallowed the lump in my throat. I’d kept the money a secret for as long as I could—but now it seemed pointless to hide it any longer.

Tears slipped down my cheek. I hadn’t the strength to wipe them away. I was weak… so damn weak. I made a promise, a promise to my Mom as she lay dying. There had to be another way—a way to change this, a way to be free.

One idea spawned another, and then another until I was caught in the cold, tenacious arms of a riptide. A riptide that filled me with a little power of my own. I turned from the open book and depressing numbers and marched toward the bathroom.

Jared stood under the spray with one arm braced against the wall. His head was down, shoulders red with heat. Through the drops and steam I couldn’t see his other hand, but I didn’t need to guess what was taking him so long.

“Where did you meet him?”

He jumped and spun. “Jesus, Nova. You scared the shit out of me.”

“I want to know where you met this… Rurik.”

Jared slapped open the shower door. His body glowed. I dropped my gaze, then regretted just standing there. I was raised in a Christian family—outwardly my parents were perfect—but behind closed doors—Daddy had a cruel hand, I had my share of beatings—but Momma had it worse. Sex to him was a punishment—I still remembered her cries and whimpers. No man would treat me like that—no man.

“If you’re going to stand and stare, can you at least hand me a towel?”

I dragged the towel free from the rack. “I want to know where you met this vampire loan shark.”

“Why? So you can arrange a meeting?” He snarled and wrenched the fabric from my fingers.

I bit back the acid in my words. “So, what if I did?”

“Then I’d tell you you’re an idiot. They’re monsters. They’ll kill you in a heartbeat and they won’t blink an eye. They’re not like us, they’re inhuman.”

“And I’d tell you not to underestimate me.”

He shrugged rubbing the towel across his broad shoulders. “Fine. You’ll find him at Bitten.”

“Bitten?”

“It’s a nightclub on Bower Street. You won’t like it. In fact, I know you’ll hate the place.”

His smirk only made me want to hit him. “What makes you the expert on everything I like?”

He dropped the towel to the floor, admiring his body in the mirror. I growled, bent and snagged the edges, turning to throw it over the rail.

“Because it’s filled with the one thing you’re afraid of—sex.”

I blanched as he raised his head, catching my gaze in the mirror. The walls seemed to close in. I hated myself for feeling like this, for being so damn terrified of taking the next step. “I’m not afraid of sex. I thought we agreed to wait, to keep it… special.”

“Oh, I’m keeping it special. I love jerking off in the shower every morning.” His voice softened. “You know there are alternatives.”

“You said you didn’t care. You told me this was at my pace, remember?”

His eyes widened.

Silence told me all I needed to hear. “So, you lied? You seem to lie about a lot of things, don’t you Jared?”

B
itten
. The tacky red neon sign buzzed and flickered.

The place had bad cliché written all over it. I expected sticky carpet and overflowing toilets, where the word ‘relief’ took on another meaning altogether. The three grand and change ballooned my coat pocket. I glanced down at the bulge, then turned to my faded bag. Swollen hips, or a bag-snatch in the making. I stared at the sign. A known vampire club, who’d be crazy to steal in a place like this? I yanked the thick bundles from my side and shoved them into the belly of my purse.

One sweeping glance in the rear view mirror made sure my lipstick was intact. I barged open the car door and hit the lock. I’d used all my pepper spray during my run in with the vampire—and dragging a baseball bat into a friendly meeting would be considered a little much. The steel tongue of the key poked through the gaps of my fingers—one well aimed throat-punch to a vamp was all I’d need, until I thought of being that close to one.

Golden curls and blue eyes haunted me, unleashing a flutter in my belly.

No, not even him.

I straightened my slacks and adjusted my jacket, saying a prayer I’d make it out of here disease free, or at least alive. My boots scraped on uneven asphalt as I made for the front door. I was afraid in so many ways. But I had a chance to be strong here. This could be our turning point. I shook the shackles and straightened my spine.

I righted my gaze and headed for the peeling front door and gripped the handle. The glass rattled, the lock held. I cupped my hand and peered inside. Darkened shadows and upturned stools filled the room.

A buckled intercom waited beside the door. I lifted my hand and traced the indent in the covering, then clenched my fist and fit my knuckles within the grooves. The outline was larger, but the hollow the same. Someone with a great deal of force didn’t seem to like what was spoken. But I was here for another reason—no one would turn down business.

I pressed the worn button and waited. Seconds later a woman’s voice cut through. “We’re closed. Piss off.”

Piss off?

I came all this way for piss off?

I stabbed the button and leaned close. “I’m here for a meeting. I’m here to see Rurik.”

There was nothing. I smacked the busted box. Was this thing even working?

“Around the back, door on the left. And don’t hit my damn intercom again.”

A small dome above the door whirled. A camera inside shifted. I mouthed a
thank you
and scanned the front of the club.

I stared at the only way toward the back and stepped into the mossy passageway. I hopped and danced over discarded cardboard boxes that blocked my way and exited the cramped space. Cars filled the parking lot out back. I lingered on the shiny black Camaro. The name KOL 1789 occupied the sleek black and white number plate. I couldn’t pull myself away.

He’s a vampire enforcer.

Something fluttered inside my stomach in flurry of feathers and wings. I glanced over the number… one seven, eight nine. It almost looked like a year.

Surely no.

I’d never been around vampires, only been face to face with Kol. The thought of someone living forever sounded… unnatural. For a second I imagined how that would be, because I’d have my Mom. I’d be able to look into her beautiful green eyes and I’d see her love forever.

Suddenly, unnatural sounded…
perfect
.

The throb of music filtered out through the door. I left the car and the memories behind and headed for the entrance. I couldn’t save Mom, not now and not ever, but I had a chance to save Jared. I had to try.

The open door looked too good to be true. I peered inside along the perfect white walls and spotless tiled floor of the hallway. The stark contrast to the front was jarring.

“Hello?”

The steady beat enticed me to step inside. The hall zigzagged, leading me deeper and deeper into the belly of the beast. I wanted someone to point me in the direction of Rurik.

The closer I came to the seductive heavy beat, the more I realized that maybe Jared was right. Maybe a vampire bar was no place for me.

The money in my purse smacked against my hip. All Rurik had to do was take the deal. A lump sum up front with a pay-by-installments condition. I had four days left. Four days until the monster took Jared from me. He may not be much, but he was all I had, other than a sister I never saw.

It was now or never.

The white walls gave way to black and red as I glanced to an open doorway. Crystal and glass shone from the back of the bar. Stripper poles stood empty beside chaise lounges. Behind me a door slammed shut. Thunder tore through the building, shuddering the walls.

My stomach quivered. My heart raced. I turned away from the empty night club and started back down the hall. Short light steps turned into long, heavy strides, that gained momentum until I focused on the end of the hall and slowed.

There was no light, no parking lot. I stared at the heavy metal door. The thick stainless bar across the middle drained my hope. I wrenched the handle and shoved. Damn it… I needed to get out of here. The metal shuddered as I yanked and pushed.

I smacked the frame. “Perfect. Thanks a lot.”

The woman from the intercom was here somewhere waiting with a snarly remark and a keen eye, lest someone smacks her busted-ass equipment. I just had to find her.

I marched in the direction of the empty bar. Voices filtered out, a woman’s murmur grasped my attention, low and seductive. I slowed turning a corner, then stopped.

A dark-haired dancer moved in and out of some kind of trickling liquid from the ceiling. The fluid splattered her hair against her head. She rubbed her hands over her body, bending over to spread her legs between the cascade.

I dropped my gaze behind her to where a man sat emotionless. He could’ve been a statue for all the dancer knew, yet she wiggled her ass and bounced her breasts, opening her mouth for the torrent.

The sweet smell of wine filled my nose. Fluid ran down her legs and her sodden bikini top hit the floor. I stared at her bare breasts. Effervescent bubbles clung to her body and the pole. I lifted my gaze to the outline of her firm supple breasts. Her hands lingered at the edges of her hips as she turned.

Her gaze caught mine and widened. Bite marks peppered her neck in a line that travelled down her breasts and stomach. The room spun, revulsion rode a wave in my belly. My legs felt too heavy to move.
Run
, the voice inside my head screamed, breaking the spell.

Red and black blurred into one. I spun, synapses fired and lunged, rounding the corner and smacked into a wall.

A wall that lifted its head and gazed behind me to the action in the room.

A wall with disheveled honey-blond curls.

A wall that returned to my blazing cheeks, and then smiled.

K
ol pierced
me with a fevered gaze and whispered. “Enjoying the show?”

My cheeks burned. I couldn’t speak. I pulsed with the heavy beat in the room behind me. Yet the Kol never seemed to notice.

Instead his gaze travelled over my reddened face and lower, stopping at the high-collared white-lace shirt, then dropped to the rest of my ensemble. My heavy jacket slowed my movement, long slacks skirted the floor when I moved. There wasn’t an inch of skin showing—nothing that would encourage so much as a glance from a blood-crazed monster like him.

His lips stretched in that lopsided smirk. My hand twisted at my side, fighting to either punch him or touch him.

“What brings you here? Don’t tell me you want a repeat of the other night. Did I excite you that much?”

My knees trembled, threatening to bring me down. I held my ground and forced a fury into my words. “Not in your wildest dreams. A little full of yourself, aren’t you?”

That grin stretched wider. I stared at his mouth, not because he was that tall—just because I couldn’t… wouldn’t look anywhere else. I closed my eyes as his cold breath tickled my cheek, then remembered what he was—a monster.

His golden hair glistened under the overhead lights, sparkling as he lowered his head. I wanted to trace his chiseled jaw with my fingers, wanted to find out if he was actually real. This man radiated danger.

Sex, desire, violence swept me up like a summer squall and there was no way out. That smirk dragged desires to the surface that I’d never felt before.

Would his lips be cold on mine?

What would the rest of him feel like?

His words vibrated against my ear in a baritone growl that I found all too appealing. “I am full of myself. I am very full of myself, and I’m drawn to the idiocy of someone like you.”

My eyes flew open, fire returned to my cheeks. “Idiocy?”

He leaned backwards, still smirking. I clenched my fist until my knuckles popped. Could I do it? Knock him on his ass with one swing?

Not in a million years.

“Only an idiot would walk into a place filled with vampires unarmed, unescorted and expect to walk out alive.”

I flinched. “It’s day time. I thought all vampires….”

“A lie. Most vampires can’t travel during the day. Except for a select few. Don’t tell me you came here to discuss vampire lore? And here I thought you came to see me?”

Hardly
. I gulped and shook my head. “I’m not here for you. I came to see Rurik. I want to come to an arrangement. Settle Jared’s debt,” I squeaked. How pathetic.

The smirk died on his lips. “Then I’m afraid you’ve come all this way for nothing. Rurik isn’t here. What makes you think you can demand an audience with someone who hasn’t seen or spoken to anyone in three hundred years?”

Three hundred years?

“Then how does he run his business.”

His bark of laughter made me flinch. “Really? In today’s age you really need to ask that question? I handle the specifics. Rurik handles the transfers, all electronic of course. He’s not one to mess with, Miss…?”

“Nova. Nova Flynn.”

“Well, Nova Flynn. I’m sorry to disappoint you, or that coward you call a boyfriend.”

“He’s not a coward,” I shot back but my words lacked conviction.

One eyebrow shot high and something dangerous danced across those bottomless eyes. “Isn’t he? He’s playing you, love. He doesn’t care for you. A real man wouldn’t let you walk into a place like this. A real man wouldn’t let you stray one damn foot from the bedroom—not clothed at least.”

I flinched and felt heat rush to my face.

Playing me?
Those words plucked a familiar string. “You’re wrong. And what gives you the right to pretend to know otherwise?”

He straightened, shock glinted like the sharp edge of a blade. Gone was the boyish charm, and the cocky grin—gone was the human.

Cold unfeeling eyes met mine. His voice had a razored tone. “You’re right, of course. If you’d like to arrange a phone interview with Rurik, or you have the full fifteen thousand dollars in payment, then, by all means, let me assist you.”

“Fifteen thousand.” I swallowed hard.

“Adding this week’s interest, of course.”

I blanched. “Of course. I have some of it… the rest, I’ll need some time. I’ll have to sell my mother’s house. Half of it is mine.”

A nerve near his eye twitched. His voice turned curious. “So, what does your mother intend to do with half a house?”

I looked away as I answered. “Nothing. She’s dead.”

There was a second before he answered. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

I shifted from one foot to another. “Yeah, well… it’s going to take me a few days to sell the place. My sister might be able to come up with the money. I haven’t asked her, yet.”

“And you’d do this all for a debt you don’t owe?”

The question hung in the air. I’d clung to my inheritance in the hopes of one day fulfilling my dreams. But what was a dream when Jared’s life was at stake? I turned back to that boyish face and tousled curls and whispered, “Yes. I… care for him.”

He smirked. “But not
love?
Then why are you still with the man? Why not find someone else, someone who rather walk through the fires of Hell than see you step foot into a place like this?”

And that was the question. The same damn question I’d been asking myself for years. Friends can get married. Friendship can turn into love—it can—it really can and our two years together wasn’t long—we had time. I forced my stiff hands to move, digging through the opening of my bag for the banded stack of bills. There wasn’t nearly enough. “This is all I have, three thousand and two hundred. I’ll get Mr. Rurik the rest. Just please, don’t hurt Jared.”

I shoved the bills into his chest. His cold fingers curled over my palm, pressing it to his chest.
No… don’t….
I tried to snatch my hand away.

Steel bore down, trapping me. I could feel the heat of his gaze. “You are a problem. Ms. Flynn. A very big problem. Go home to your boyfriend. Run while you still have a boyfriend left to go home to.”

I stumbled as he let me go. The thud of my boots rebounded in the hallway, blending with the gun-fire of my heart.

You are a problem
….

I hit the door with my shoulder and ricocheted. Agony tore through the side of my body as a hiss filled the corridor behind me. “What the hell are you doing here?”

The white-washed walls blurred. Shadows melted into one, sharpening as the young woman came closer. Because she was a woman, not a shadow, even though she looked like one: black lips, black eyes and pasty white skin. Her spiked inky hair shone like a raven’s back.

I shrank away as she reached for me.

“Christ sake, I’m not going to hurt you. I’ve just never seen anyone bounce like that. You know, you really shouldn’t be here. This isn’t a place for the likes of you.”

The likes of me?
That’s twice someone had made a comment like that. I stared at the Goth looking woman and muttered, “What’s wrong with me?”

Her brow furrowed. She glanced away, then turned back. “If you’re talking about yourself in general, then I’d have to say you’re an Alice who’s stepped through the looking glass. And this place is full of Mad Hatters and screams of,
‘off with their heads’
. You don’t want to be in that world. You look nice. I bet you’re really nice—so go, be nice. Go have a nice life with a nice guy and have lots of nice kids.”

She slid a leather strap from around her neck. Footsteps behind her in the hallway ended. Kol watched me from the corner of the hallway.

Sweat beaded on the back of my neck. My high-collared blouse clung as I moved. My blood hummed through my body at break-neck speed under the weight of his gaze.

The click of the lock sounded. I fought the temptation to run as she threw open the steel door. I stumbled into the light, sucking in the cool autumn air until my thrashing heart slowed.

What the hell was I thinking? Walking into a place like that,
flirting with danger
. Never again… never again.