‘To the right,’ I said as he looked slightly disoriented. When I was finally lying on my bed, my fingertips were burning and the skin on my neck and breast was tingling. Our tongues connected, feeling each other thoroughly. His hands were on my thighs and breasts, his lips kissing my neck. He moved on top of me, still fully clothed, spreading heat straight down between my legs.
‘What do you want me to do to you, Julia?’ he asked, pressing his erection against my leg.
‘Fuck me, Nathaniel. I want to be fucked tonight,’ I begged. I heard something inside the room crack and then we both heard the noise of the smashed glass that fell on the floor. I finally told the man what I wanted and I wasn’t ashamed of it.
‘With pleasure,’ he snarled, and he took off his jacket. I helped him with the buttons of his shirt, but I was impatient, so I ripped his probably very expensive shirt off, digging my fingers into his chest.
God, more…just give me more of yourself, Nathaniel.
The scent of lemon and mint leaves was pounding into my brain, tightening my breasts, sending a pulsing ache between my legs. I wasn’t hurting him when my sparkling fingers ran over his flexed body. He fumbled with my bra, that he soon slipped off, and moved his other hand underneath my knickers. I moaned when his fingers found my swollen clit.
‘Firecracker, you are so wet,’ he groaned and started circling his tongue around my hardened nipples while his hand was teasing, molding my sex, driving me insane. I moaned with hunger, urging him on. My skin tingled as the magic was passing through me. I needed to get rid of it. He lifted his body and pulled my knickers off me. I sat and started to unzip his trousers.
‘Impatient, are we?’ He chuckled.
‘Shut up. Just fuck me already.’ I gasped when his trousers and boxers were finally off. When his mouth found mine again, I drew him deeper, tangled my tongued with his. A moan escaped my lips when I felt his erection between my legs. His hands moved alongside my body. My energy was making my skin more responsive and his touch sent shock waves of pleasure through my core. Electric current mixed with flames raced along my skin when he lifted my leg around his hips. He moved his lips down my neck, down to my collarbone, still rubbing my nipples. His cock was hard, pulsing against my swollen clit. He slipped his two fingers inside me, bringing me to the edge of orgasm.
I moan and gasped. ‘Nathaniel!’
‘My firecracker,’ he whispered. He pulled away his fingers and positioned himself over me. Then he pushed his hard cock inside me. So many things happened at once. I screamed and a few lightbulbs blew up. We both smelled the burning.
‘See what you have done, my firecracker.’ He laughed but didn’t stop.
I lost any ability to think. I didn’t know what was happening to me. I felt light-headed as he pounded into me. Nathaniel flexed my hips as he lifted and lowered me. He kissed me again, cupping my face in his palms, riding me harder and faster. A mild shock travelled through my spine, but I wasn’t accumulating any more magic; the energy exploded through me. He groaned and moaned, pressing me closer to him. He was pushing in and out, fast, rough and raw.
‘Are you close, my firecracker?’ he asked, looking at me.
‘Yes...’
I tightened around him and he lifted me and pushed harder. My pulse was pounding; my lips parted with gasping breaths. Sweat misted my brow as we both came. The climax was powerful, soaked with magic and my pulsing energy. The lights over my bed were flashing and then the bulbs exploded. We both cried out, and then flopped, exhausted, onto my bed.
He curled towards me and I pressed my cheek against his chest. Several minutes passed, but he just held me close, caressing my back. I was empty.
‘Are you okay?’ he asked. His voice was raw.
‘I have never been better.’
***
Bright light poured into the room. I blinked myself awake, covering my eyes with my hands. A warm long body was pressing against mine. I smiled, wondering whether he was still sleeping. I lifted my head and looked around the room.
Shit!
The large mirror that was given to me from my grandmother was smashed to pieces. Two lamps on the side drawers were blown up, and the main light on the ceiling was gone as well.
‘You are my own personal firecracker,’ said a low silky voice, and then he flipped me over to face him. He had sex hair and his hazel eyes were more amber today.
‘That never happened before,’ I said, giggling.
‘Haven’t you got any other way to release your magic?’ he asked, bringing me closer to him. We were still naked, lying in my clean sheets, enjoying each other’s closeness.
‘My father and my grandmother tried to teach me, but I got bored and I wasn’t that interested in that side of me anyway.’
‘So this will keep happening, my dear Julia, every time I fuck you?’
‘Maybe if we have sex often enough, then maybe it will stop,’ I suggested.
He raised his eyebrows and his lips curved into a smile. ‘I can fuck you all day long, but I won’t. I was driven inside with thirst by your scent. Next time I might be rough and you might get hurt.’
‘I trust you.’
‘You shouldn’t and now don’t tempt me,’ he said in a husky whisper. We got out of bed a few minutes later. I was too close to start kissing him again. My bedroom was in a right state, but my body was pleasantly numb.
No more energy steering my mood again for at least a week.
He stood up in all his glory and I gasped, seeing his tall, lean body that now belonged to me.
Chapter forty-one
Does the whole of London know that I'm dating Nathaniel? What is going on here?
‘You’re a beautiful creature, Julia,’ he said, kissing me. ‘And I do want to fuck you again, but I know that if I do, I won’t be able to resist biting you this time.’
Then, with vampire speed, he left the room. I looked around and concentrated on a cleaning spell and soon all the glass was flying to the bin in the kitchen. For the first time in years, I didn’t mess up this spell. I was impressed with myself. I still needed two new lamps and a few lightbulbs. Nathaniel was back in the room, watching me.
‘Are you going to stand naked the whole time or are you going to put some clothes on and have breakfast with me?’ I asked.
Nathaniel showed me that he was a gifted lover, sensual and tough when he wanted to be. Sex with Jasper was great but nowhere near as good as sex with Nathaniel.
‘You know that my hunger can only go so far, but let’s feed you because you are starting to be grumpy and your magic might want to come out again. Then I would have no other choice but to fuck you hard.’
I stole a kiss from him and then walked to the living room. I couldn’t even compare his apartment to mine, but there was nothing to be ashamed of. My kitchen was basic, set in grey colours. He made me breakfast, and we spent the rest of the day indulging in each other. We talked about my life and Nathaniel’s plans for the future. Mum called in the afternoon, asking me whether I was coming for Sunday roast. I had to refuse, making up some lies. I wasn’t going to tell her we were serious again.
He left me in the evening, stating that he was going straight to the police station to speak to Dad. I could only hope that Dad was going to behave and take him seriously.
Next day surprisingly I got a phone call from Dad. He mentioned that Nathaniel went to see him. The new evidence changed the road of his investigation, but he was still going through with his large undercover action. He sounded more cheerful and he didn’t try to convince me that I shouldn’t see Nathaniel anymore.
It was cold this morning, and in the Tube two witches were staring at me throughout the whole journey.
‘Morning, Julia,’ said Kate, walking in, holding her magic wand.
‘Morning. Coffee first,’ I said and vanished into our kitchen cupboard to force caffeine into my system. Alexandra was still on her way; Kate was already going through her emails. I placed a cup on her desk.
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br /> ‘Julia,’ she began, looking at me, bewildered. ‘You had sex with a vampire?’
I nearly dropped my cup; my jaw hit the floor.
Can she smell him on me?
‘Maybe I have, but he was a Dhampir,’ I said, smiling. She was staring at me as if I were a space invader just landed on planet Earth.
‘You slept with Nathaniel La Caz?’ she choked out.
‘Yes, but how did you even know that—’ I didn’t have to finish, because I realised what she was talking about. He deliberately left his scent all over my body so everyone would know I had been with a vampire.
‘How could you not notice it?’ she asked.
Because I'm an idiot who has hopelessly fallen for a man who can’t commit, but he is happy to mark me like some kind of possession. ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ I paused, turning pink. ‘Can you get rid of it? No wonder people in the Tube were staring at me as if I was a freak.’
‘It’s a complicated spell, darling, but I can try. Let’s try before clients start coming in,’ she said and dragged me to the interview room. She used a lot of fairy dust to remove Nathaniel’s scent. I was pissed off that he didn’t tell me what he was doing. I decided that I would hold off speaking to my Dhampir about what happened as I had a busy day ahead of me.
A few hours later, I was unharmed. A few elves walked into the office, asking about a call centre job. When I was about to make a phone call, I spotted Rufus, who had just entered. I glanced at my watch; it was only twenty past two and I wasn’t expecting to see him today.
‘How are we, ladies?’ he asked, placing his suitcase by my desk. Something was off in his expression. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was, but he looked tense, maybe slightly disappointed.
‘Fine, as usual, how are you?’ I asked him.
‘I’m marvelous. I need to have a private word with you, Julia,’ he said, sounding serious. I didn’t like his tone.
‘Yes, sure,’ I replied and rose and dragged my bottom to the interview room, where once I had a little chat with Nathaniel. I sat, staring at him; his eyes were unreadable.
He tightened his jaw and cleared his throat. ‘I don’t know how to say this, and please don’t take this the wrong way.’
If he planned to sack me, then I was going to lose it. ‘Just say it, for God’s sake,’ I blurted, irritated.
‘Are you dating Nathaniel La Caz?’
My smile faded away and I looked at him, feeling as if someone just punched me in the stomach.
Does the whole of London know that I'm dating Nathaniel? What is going on here?
‘Rufus, I don’t think this is any of your business,’ I said, forgetting I was talking to my regional manager.
He frowned. ‘I didn’t want to ask, but I just want to tell you to be careful. He is not the sort of man who can commit himself to anyone. I heard about him before he called me and I have to tell you that La Caz is a dangerous man. I'm only saying this because I care about you, Julia,’ he said, shrugging. ‘Besides, your father thinks that he is a suspect. Have you thought about your cousin?’
‘Everyone is telling me what to do, but no one knows what they are talking about,’ I said, getting angry about his lame arguments. ‘And he isn’t a suspect anymore. Other vampires are behind those kidnappings and Dad is on the case.’
Rufus scratched his head and leaned towards me. ‘Okay, maybe, but I’m telling you this because I care about you and you are still young. So maybe he is exciting and he has money but—’
I cut him off. ‘It’s not about money, Rufus.’
‘Okay, I’m sorry,’ he added quickly. ‘Nathaniel La Caz plays with creatures. He doesn’t do relationships. I remember when I was younger, before I married Elena, every night I saw him with a different woman, and as far as I know he hasn’t changed. I'm here as your friend, Julia, not as your boss.’
‘Thank you for your advice, Rufus, but I’m not some blonde bimbo who is going to be manipulated by a man,’ I said, trying to stay calm. ‘I told him what I want, so please spare me this lecture, because my father already gave me one.’
‘I’m not the bad person here, Julia. I said what I needed to say,’ he added, running his hand through his hair. We both got up and I wondered whether I should have said something else, but he left the room in silence, leaving me torn and thinking maybe I made a mistake after all.
I didn’t call Nathaniel after Rufus left the office. Was I being stupid, thinking my own personal Dhampir was going to change? He kept coming back to me, convincing me he was going to try with me. Kate didn’t ask what Rufus wanted and I wasn’t going to share with her that I was afraid my boyfriend was going to dump me at any moment.
Nathaniel called in the evening, asking me about my day. He revealed that his conversation with Dad went well. He told me he had to go for some important meeting in Scotland for a few days, which I recognised as perfect timing. Ella had been begging me for weeks to join her for a girl’s night out and I couldn’t keep sitting at home and worrying about Claudia.
In the end I joined them. It was a several days after Nathaniel left and I had a whole weekend to myself. Ella asked me to meet her and the girls in her house.
‘You are here! We were wondering whether you were going to turn up after all,’ said Ella, looking annoyed when I walked through her front door. Our human friends were already in her living room, looking sparkly and elegant.
‘Sorry, I was stuck on the bus,’ I said. Ella was ready. She was wearing a short red strapless dress and she had full makeup on. She must have been in a tanning bed today because her skin was much darker than the last time I had seen her. I walked into the living room and greeted Christine, Tanya, and Melanie.
‘Julia, where have you been, you crazy girl? You are a terrible friend,’ said Tanya, kissing me on both cheeks. Ella was my closest friend from this group, but I knew all of her friends from her beauty salon. They treated me as a part of their clique, although I didn’t go out with them that often.
‘She is too busy with her new, hot boyfriend, Christine.’ Ella giggled, walking behind me.
Please, not the talk about Nathaniel. I was hoping we were going to avoid that.
‘Come on, show us his picture. I can’t believe you have been hiding him all this time,’ Tanya demanded. She was wearing a sparkly golden dress. Ella had never met Nathaniel and had only seen the picture on my phone, but that didn’t stop her talking about him as if he was the man I was going to marry.
Chapter forty-two
I think I will have a chat with that vampire today, and this won’t be a pleasant conversation.
Christine was only five feet tall. She was blond and covered with freckles, but always well-groomed. Tanya was dark haired, tall and skinny. Melanie didn’t like me, but she pretended she did. Once, when I got drunk, I read her thoughts and she wished she could just get rid of me. Fortunately, we didn’t see each other often, but I tried to be nice to her whenever I was around her.
Being pressured, I didn’t have any choice and had to show them Nathaniel’s photo. For a long moment, the girls giggled, staring at him in admiration.
‘How did you meet him? Has he got any friends? Do you think you would be able to introduce us?’ Tanya kept throwing a million questions at me.
‘I only just started dating him,’ I exclaimed, but the girls wanted to know all about him. So I gave them enough information about Nathaniel to keep their imaginations going. When we finally got to the taxi, I was already exhausted and wished Ella hadn’t mentioned Nathaniel at all.
I was planning to get drunk tonight and the girls always knew how to have fun. We were going to central London, avoiding supernatural clubs. Even if I wanted to take the girls, they wouldn’t be allowed in, except for exceptional circumstances.
‘This night will be amazing,’ Ella sighed, holding my hand when we left the taxi. ‘I'm hoping to see Daniel tonight.’
‘Daniel?’ I asked, confused.
‘The solicitor I used to date.
He called me a few days ago out of the blue.”
‘Ella,’ I said, looking at her, ‘you said he vanished. I thought you ended it?’
‘Well, he told me he had to go away for work and he lost his phone so he couldn’t call me,’ she explained while we were queuing to get to the club. The girls were behind us chatting to some random guys.
‘And you believed him? That is one of the lamest excuses, Ella, and you know it.’ I warned her, feeling that if that vampire was back, my best friend wasn’t safe.
She rolled her eyes. ‘He is gorgeous, Julia, and he sounded genuine.’
‘C’mon, Ella, you are better than that. Get rid of him.’
‘I’m seeing him tonight and I want you to meet him, so please be nice.’ When Ella got an idea in her head, there was no way I could convince her otherwise.
I think I will have a chat with that vampire today, and this won’t be a pleasant conversation.
After half an hour in the queue, we were let into the funky modern club. It was close to nine, but the club was busy. We left our coats in the cloakroom and found a table in the corner. It took us more than forty minutes to order drinks; we all had a few shots just to warm us up.
‘For the wild night!’ Tanya shouted and we cheered with our cocktails. For the next two hours, we drank and talked, trying to take in the atmosphere. The girls were trying to get the attention of some guys standing farther away. Finally, Christine chatted with them and they came to our table.
The music was loud and I soon started to relax, trying to have a good time. Close to eleven o’clock, Ella dragged me to the dance floor. She was already wasted but still kept perfect balance in her killer heels. The music and club was getting busier and the dance floor became crowded.
‘This is awesome,’ Ella said, jumping up and down. I was slightly dizzy and my skin started to let me know I needed to cast a spell, but I could still push the magic away, for now. I left Ella and vanished into the ladies’ room soon after, as my bladder was bursting.