Simon chuckled. "I do expect some resistance on their part, but nothing to be concerned about."
I crossed my arms and frowned. "The only way I won't be concerned is if you can somehow convince this Bo guy to drive out of there without you or me going in after him."
Simon's teeth glistened in the darkness as he smiled. "Do I sense concern for my safety?"
I squirmed in my seat. "N-no, it's just that I still need you to get me through this vampire puberty."
His eyes brightened and swept over my body. I felt a familiar blanket of heat sink into my skin. "What a very apt comparison."
One moment he sat opposite me, and the next I was in his seat and straddled his lap. His hands grasped my hips. I pressed my palms against his chest and pushed us apart to arm's length.
I glared at him. "Don't you know how to ask first?"
He chuckled. "Does one need to ask to play with one's own possession?"
"I am not-" He pulled me closer to him and pressed a soft kiss against the marks of his fangs on my neck.
My body tingled with sensual pleasure. I bit my lip to stifle my groan, but couldn't stop the shudder.
His soft breath wafted over the trembling skin of my neck. "You were saying?"
I wanted to fall into the delicious desire he stirred with in me, but I had to know something. I closed my eyes and swallowed the lump in my throat. "Is this. . .do I feel this way because you bit me?"
He pressed a few kisses against my neck before he replied. "Yes, and no. Our connection only heightens our lust for one another, it does not create illusionary emotions."
I bit my lower lip as I felt my breasts swell and push against my shirt. "Good."
He chuckled against my skin. "My sentiments exactly."
One of his hands roamed freely up my shirt and unclasped my bra. His other unbuttoned my pants and parted the flaps to reveal my underwear. I was already wet as he planted more soft, luscious kisses down my quivering neck. The heat inside of me became unbearable, the clothes on our bodies an impediment to the lust that threatened to consume me.
This time, however, I wanted it to consume me. I wanted to revel in the feel of him against me and inside of me. My body ached for our lustful union and the sweet orgasm it would bring.
He paused in his kissing and set his chin on my shoulder. His voice was thick with need. "Your thoughts. . .betray you."
One of his fingers slipped into my underwear and brushed against my quivering nerves. I groaned and leaned my head back. My voice was hoarse. "Let them."
I had no sense of time as my lust took possession of me. There was only our bodies straining against each other to fulfill the carnal desire for which we both ached. Our clothes were discarded onto the floor. Our sweat-soaked skin slid against one another as we kissed and touched each other. Every glide of his long, cool fingers against me felt like hot daggers against my skin. They pierced me with a deep, sensual longing that he fed with each touch of his lips against my quivering flesh.
Our hips rubbed against one another in a mock trial of what we truly desired. His thick, swollen manhood slipped between my wet folds and rubbed my sensitive nub. I panted and moaned. Everything felt so good, so right. I lusted for him. I belonged to him.
He slid deep into me. I shuddered and bit my lip. He pulled me close against his chest and nibbled at the marks on my neck. "Let me hear you," he whispered.
He grasped my hips and penetrated me long and deep. I moaned. He looked at me with eyes as red as coals. His long fangs peeked over his top lip.
"Louder," he growled.
He thrust again. My body was seized by a wave of lust and need. He pulled me into a haze of carnal desire. I thrust my hips in time with his as we started the dance to a slow beat.
I grasped his shoulders as my chants filled the air. "Yes. Take me. Take me."
He grunted, and thrust harder and faster into me. I relished the feel of him taking me with such force, with such abandonment. He was the dominant, and I the submissive. Every thrust, every deep, wonderful penetration proved that he owned me, that he possessed me.
My swollen breasts rubbed against his hardened chest. Our hips thrust together in sweet rhythm. Our sweat-soaked bodies glistened in the pale light. I took in all this delicious lust and hungered for more. I needed more of him, more of us.
I leaned my head back and groaned. "Please more. Oh god, take me hard and fast. Make me yours. Oh god, make me yours."
He growled. "Mine."
His thrusts became harder and faster. Our love-making turned into a wild, feral rut. Our bodies strained against one another as orgasm teased the corners of my hazy mind. I clutched at that wonderful feeling, that sweet, consuming pleasure that only he could bring me. Only he could take me to those far reaches of hot, wet, penetrating desire. In all the world I only wanted him.
Our need was so thick I could smell it. My chants filled the hot, cramped air. "Take me. Oh god, take me. Make me yours forever." My body strained to reach the heights of orgasm. The agonizing tension tore at my body. I could feel my orgasm penetrating my body. I was so close! Just a little more! "Yes! Oh god, yes! Almost! Oh god, so close!"
I sank into a frenzy of orgasm as my body was overtaken by its explosive release. My body convulsed with wave after wave of delicious pleasure. My chants turned to screams of delight. "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
My lover thrust harder and faster into me. The orgasm rippled through my trembling body again and again. I knew nothing but the feel of him inside me and the sweet pleasure that he created.
Finally he reached his peek, and after a tense moment he collapsed back against the seat. I sank onto his chest and gasped for air. His chest remained still, but his slick skin told me all I needed to know about his exhaustion.
He wrapped his arms around me and sighed. "Not for all the world would I forsake this pleasure."
I lay my cheek on his chest and closed my eyes. A smile teased the corners of my lips. "So what you're saying is you like me?"
He chuckled. The motion reverberated through me. "You are a pleasing companion."
I sat up and glared at him. "Is that it?"
His own sly smile looked back at me. "We should dress. The distance to our destination may not be as far as we presume."
I pushed against his chest and pulled myself off him. "You're trying to change the-" My feet tripped over our bundles of clothes and I fell forward.
Simon caught me. I tilted my head up and found myself staring into those beautiful red eyes. I wondered if I would have such a magnificent color when I became a full vampire.
"It is likely," he told me.
My eyebrows crashed down. "I told you not to do that."
He leaned down and pecked a teasing kiss on my lips. "I would if your thoughts were not so amusing."
I tried to push myself away again, but he held me tight this time. "Uh-huh. And I'm guessing Macon's thoughts are just as interesting? Why don't you just bite her and make out."
He chuckled. "Do I detect a hint of jealousy?"
I blushed. "Th-that's not it at all! I was just-" He leaned in for a long, passionate kiss. It took my breath away, even after we parted.
Simon studied me with those bright eyes, and his voice was soft and low. "I have chosen you, not Macon nor anyone else. Remember that."
He gently pulled me off him and gave me a soft push away from where he sat. I stumbled over our clothes, but this time I fell onto my own seat. I blinked at him as he gathered his clothes. His eyes flickered up at me and that sly smile reappeared.
"As much as I desire your body, I do not desire it to be seen by other people," he commented.
I blushed and snatched up my clothes, but my inner thoughts were a bundle of foolish, girlish thoughts of hesitant love.
CHAPTER 5
We dressed ourselves and were barely done when Certus's voice spoke over the intercom. "I have located the source of the last call, sir."
Simon pressed the button on the dash. "Where is i
t?"
"The source lies in one of the abandoned manufacturing warehouses in the western part of the city."
Simon chuckled. "It seems our foes are fond of warehouses. How soon will we arrive?"
"Two minutes."
"Park us two blocks from the location. We will walk."
"Yes, sir."
Simon leaned back and crossed his legs. "Our foes seem to have little imagination for their lairs."
I pursed my lips. "How exactly are you going to deal with their lair?"
"I will simply walk inside and ask them for the use of their driver and vehicle," he told me.
My mouth dropped open. "Are you serious?" He bowed his head. "You're sure you're serious?"
He tilted his head to one side and studied me with those handsome eyes. "You disapprove of my plan?"
"I disapprove of dying," I quipped. "The guy who answered that phone didn't sound friendly. They'll probably greet us with a couple of wood boxes and a hail of bullets."
Simon chuckled. "I did away with my coffin centuries ago and have no intention of acquiring a new one."
I crossed my arms and frowned at him. "So you're going to what? Mind-control all of them? There could be dozens of bad guys in there."
He shook his head. "Nothing so unkind. I will simply stroll into the warehouse and request to see their leader."
"And if they decide to give you some lead for dinner?" I questioned him.
A crooked grin slipped onto his lips. A long fang peeked out from beneath his upper lip. "Then I will have my supper."
I cringed. "Do you really have to kill them? Is that really what vampires need do?"
The car slowed to a stop and Certus opened the door. Simon stepped halfway out and glanced over his shoulder in my direction. "No, but there is nothing my enemies fear more than their own death. Remain with Certus." He slipped out of sight.
I scrambled to the open door and thrust my head outside. The gloomy manufacturing district was full of tall brick buildings shuttered with ply-board and barbed wire fences. Trash piled up around the base of the chain-link and in the corners of the buildings. A few random streetlights, relics of a bygone prosperous era, still flickered with life.
Simon's tall, dark form strode down the sidewalk in the direction of one of the larger warehouse compounds. Several small buildings and a large warehouse were protected by a repaired chain-link fence. The lights inside the compound lit up most of the area and the gate was manned by a gentleman with a friendly warning strapped to his back in the form of a gun.
"Simon!" He didn't break his stride nor look behind him.
I stepped out of the car and tried to follow him, but Certus caught my shoulder. I spun around and glare at him. "Let me go."
He shook his head. "I cannot. You were ordered to remain here."
A thought struck me and a sly grin slipped onto my lips. I grabbed his hand and tugged him in the direction Simon had gone. "No, Simon said you and I had to stick together, and that's exactly what we're going to do."
"But-"
"No buts! We're going to follow him and stop him from having a late night snack!" I insisted.
Certus pulled himself free from my grasp and brushed his sleeve. I spun around and glared at him. "What are you waiting for? An invitation? Come on!"
He caught my gaze with his bright red eyes. "You are a fool to interfere."
I rolled my eyes. "All right, I'm a fool, now can we please hurry?"
He frowned at me. "Why do you care about these humans? They are not even known to you."
I shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I just don't like the idea of me turning into something like that, okay? Now let's play follow the leader."
I raced forward and slipped into the high-speed of a vampire. There was no contest before Certus and me. He caught me in a few yards and wrapped his arms around my waist. My feet tripped over the broken sidewalk and we both tumbled onto the hard concrete. I was pinned between a rock and a hard place.
I squirmed, but he wouldn't fall away. "Get off!"
"I cannot allow that," he replied.
"I said-" I froze. A scent wafted to my nostrils. It was the smell of freshly spilled blood, and it was close.
Something took hold of me. It was a dark, feral creature that swept my human mind aside. It craved blood, and nothing short of that goal would satisfy its hunger.
I slammed my palms onto the ground and lifted myself off the ground. Certus's weight was now little more than a feather. He tried to pin me, but I shook my body like a wet dog. He was thrown off my back and tumbled into the road.
I scrambled to my feet and took off down the sidewalk, but not for the main entrance. My path took me not down Simon's trail but towards one of the smaller buildings that ran along the left side of the main warehouse. I arrived at the street on which sat the compound just as the alarms sounded. Simon had made his presence known.
None of that mattered to me, however. I thirsted for the blood which scent lingered in my nostrils. The smell led me to the last long, low garage-like building along a row of six. The fence security had all abandoned their posts to heed the call of the sirens. I climbed to the top of the fence and tore open a hole in the barbed wire. My hands were cut and my blood dripped onto the ground below. I didn't care. The fresh blood would fix my injuries.
I was just swinging a leg over when something grabbed me. I looked down and snarled at Certus. He already looked worse than when he fought the pathetic vampires. His face was blackened by the road and his clothes were disheveled. He looked at me with bright red eyes filled with anger, and the tips of his fangs peeked under the bottom of his upper lip.
"Get down," he hissed.
I growled and kicked his hand. He held fast, but my awkward position didn't. I straddled the slippery metal pole of the chain-link fence and my rear slipped. I tumbled over the side and Certus was diplomatic enough to let me go and allow me to drop in a heap onto the ground.
Certus leapt onto the top of the fence, a height of some height feet, and perched himself on the pole. I rolled myself onto my back and glared at him. He tensed to drop down. I turned and sprinted towards the scent of blood. Nothing would stop me from my dinner.
I reached the front of the building. There was a large garage door on the right and a smaller exterior door on the left. I chose the smaller door and rammed my shoulder into the locked entrance. The door flew open and slammed into the wall to my right.
The scene was open before me. A group of three men stood around a chair on which sat a slim gentleman of thirty-five. His hands were tied behind the back of his chair. His face was bruised and bloodied, as was their fists. Off to their right sat the black car from earlier in the evening.
All four men looked in my direction, and one of the burly bruisers sneered at me. "Who the hell are you? What are you doing here?"
My attention lay solely on the blood that bled from the captured man's wounds. The blood on their hands was old, dirty. His was fresh and clean. I strode towards them.
The burly man reached for me. "I asked you-" His hand landed on my shoulder.
I grabbed his arm in both hands and flung him behind me. His back slammed into the garage door and left an outline of his body. He dropped face-first onto the floor and groaned. I spun around and snarled at the other two. They each pulled out a gun and pointed the barrels at me. Their fingers pushed the triggers.
Certus swept past me and grabbed their gun hands. There was a definite crack and the men screamed in agony. Certus had broken their hand bones. He grabbed their collars and tossed them into the garage door where they soon joined their companion.
But none of that mattered to me. When I was assured the danger was passed I hurried over to the captive man. He shrank from me. I knelt down and clasped his chin in my hand. I turned his head away from me and revealed his neck. Blood dribbled down his face into the valleys of his throat. I licked my lips. My tongue brushed over my sharp fangs.
I leaned forward and sank my teeth
deep into his neck. His stiffened for a moment before he sank in his seat. The sweet nectar of life flowed into my mouth. It was hot, delicious and—
Wrong.
There was a strong, loud scream in my head. I started back and found myself panting. Two thin threads of blood trailed from the bite marks on his neck. I reached up with my shaking hands and touched my long, thick fangs. The taste of blood permeated my mouth.
I fell onto my rear and scrambled back. My stomach churned. I turned and threw up. Blood and food splattered the ground.
A shadow fell over me. I lifted my head. It was Simon.
CHAPTER 6
Simon's clothes were disheveled and full of small round holes. He looked past me at my victim. The captive's chin lay on his chest, but he still breathed. Simon strode over to the chair and tipped his head away so he could look at the wounds.
My pulse quickened. I sat up and set my eyes on the pale man. A lump formed in my throat that I was forced to swallow before I could speak. "Is he. . .did I-?"
Simon dropped the man's head and turned to me. "He will not become a vampire."
My shoulders slumped. I clutched my hands against my chest. "Thank god."
Simon scoffed. "He did nothing to intervene. It was your own foolish desire to reject your nature that saved this man."
I whipped my head up and glared at Simon. "My nature isn't to hurt people."
Simon strode over and knelt before me. His eyes caught mine and held them in his powerful gaze. "Your nature is to survive. In order to do so you must harm others."
The man groaned. His eyes flickered open and he lifted his head. His hazy eyes fell on me and widened. He started back, but that only caused him to tip over his chair. He crashed onto his side and winced.
"Damn it. Can this night get any worse?" he muttered.
Simon stood and walked over to the man. He righted the chair with his foot and grinned down at the captive. "It can be infinitely more worse if you do not agree to my proposition."
The man swept his eyes over Simon and frowned. "Who the hell are you?" He jerked his head to me. "And what the hell is she?"
Simon chuckled. "She is a vampire, as am I."
The man blinked at him. "Seriously?"
"You need only touch your neck to assess the validity of my words," Simon dared him.
The man squirmed and twisted his roped wrists. "That's a little hard for me right now."