Hex and the Single Witch (Vehicle City Vampires) (14 page)

Mel met me in
the hallway. “Where are you heading?” she asked.

“I don’t know,
why? Where are you going?”

“Girl, I’m
starving. It’s lunch time, and I need food. Want to head down to Halo Burger
with me?”

My stomach
rumbled at the mention of Halo Burger. They had the best burgers in Flint. “Sure
I could go for a QP.”

“Sounds good.”

We walked
silently from the station across Saginaw Street to Halo Burger.

After we sat
down in a booth with our food, Mel asked playfully, “So what’s the deal with
you and your men?”

“My men? There
are no men, Mel. It’s just Galen, and so far we’ve barely made it past second
base.”

“You can fool
yourself, Wyn, but I know better. You have men issues, plural. Galen and
Malone. I think Galen is drop dead gorgeous and a wonderfully sweet guy, but if
you want my opinion he is just too damaged. He’s trouble with a capital T. A
devil with an angel’s face. Malone on the other hand is sexy beefcake supreme
and has a lot less baggage than vamp boy.”

“Malone has
plenty of issues of his own, the main one being his problem with the ‘monsters’
as he likes to call us.” I snarled and bit into my burger.

Mel laughed. “Hey
don’t take it out on your burger.”

I chewed and
talked, I know very unladylike. But, I was hungry, and Mel and I had been
friends long enough manners didn’t apply. “Malone didn’t agree with how we handled
the incubus boy.”

“I know but you
have to see his point of view as well. He’s seeing the poor dead girl and
thinking she isn’t getting justice. Malone’s all about justice. He thinks the
boy deserves a more severe punishment than a slap on the wrist.”

“Mel, he’s been
taken out of school, taken away from all his friends. He’s not going to have
contact with any humans for quite some time. Sure he’s at home, but his house
is his prison.” I put my burger down and took a drink chewing on my straw as I
listened to Mel.

“I know, Wyn,
but he killed her. It surprises me you aren’t more upset about that.” She
stared thoughtfully at me as she chewed.

“I don’t know,
Mel. I’m trying to do my job as the Preternatural Liaison. Maybe I’m trying too
hard to side with Others and I’m forgetting part of my job is also to protect
the humans. I just don’t want anyone else to get hurt. I don’t want things to
go badly.”

“I know this is
hard for you, but you must remember to see both sides of the story. Try to be
as fair as possible to each one.”

“Wow, so much
easier said than done.”

“You got that
right, girl.”

Chapter 18

Days went by
with no break in the murder case and thank the Goddess, no new murders by
vampire or incubi. I didn’t see much of Malone, which was fine by me. I got
called out to a few cases that involved Others in petty thefts and a few
magickal mishaps, but nothing serious. Malone didn’t even have to come around
and flash his Detective Shield.

Galen visited me
a few times for chaste dates. He took me out to dinner again and we even went
to see a movie. He still kept doing that me-at-arms-length thing. Electricity
continued to flow between us, leaving my nerve endings raw and aching for him
to really touch me. I wanted him so bad. My body blazed, always on fire whenever
he came near. The vibes from him told me he felt the same way, yet he stayed as
far away from me as he could. Our kisses—so heated and passionate—abruptly put
to an end before they progressed to something more. I was going mad with need.

“Galen?” I got
his attention one night as we watched old movies on television and ate popcorn,
absurdly normal, comfortable…and slightly boring. I wanted to feel his fire. I
wanted to dive into the spark filled electrical pool we created when we were
near each other. When we kissed I waded into the shallow end of that pool. Too
bad our passionate kisses were so extremely rare, not a chance to even get
really wet…yet. The frequent kisses on the cheek and the quick hugs left me
craving a diving board directly over the deep end so I could immerse myself in
ecstasy.

Crazy, middle
school kids were getting more action then me.

I know Galen was
from another era but this courting crap was killing me. The pent up need and
desire inside me pushed my patience to the breaking point.

I sat on the
sofa seething with need.

Concern filled
Galen’s beautiful green eyes as he asked, “What is wrong, Anwyn?”

I scooted closer
to him on the sofa. “Come here,” I purred in the sexiest come hither voice I
could manage.

Something dark,
dangerous and utterly sexual flashed in his eyes as he moved closer to me on
the sofa. That look promised wicked things. Wicked things I would enjoy very
much. His mouth curled into a sensual smile as he moved nearer.

When our lips
touched sparks literally bounced off of us, his eyes widened and he looked a
little startled. I could barely manage a wow as I melted against him. I wanted
him so bad.

My dreams lately
had been of wild images of me and him, me and Malone, me getting very freaky
and having lots of sex. See what happens when a girl went without for too long
then got not just one but two hot guys in her life? Perverse dreams I could
never imagine acting out in real life. Though there were more than a few things
I wanted to do with Galen right then and there. It was time for at least one of
my naughty dreams to come true.

He pushed me
onto my back and covered my body with his as his mouth seemed to devour me.

I moaned against
him.

He pulled away
from me just a little with a growl as I mewled in protest. “Anwyn, you are
tearing apart my control.” He growled again, this one deeper, scarier. It
traveled the nerve endings of my skin and blazed a trail to my heated core.

“Why control
anything, this is what a new relationship is supposed to be like-all crazy lust
and passion. And lots of sex. Lots and lots of sex. Sex which hasn’t been
happening yet. I want that Galen, I want that with you.” I wrapped my arms
around him fearing if I let him go he would bolt.

“Anwyn, I want
it too. I want you, God, I really want you. You have no idea how much I want
you, need you…” Part of that was clear from the size of the hard bulge
stretching his jeans. “I just do not know if it is safe.” The sexy look on his
face turned pained and the shimmer in his green eyes faded.

“Galen, we’re
not human. There are no diseases to pass around and I’m not sure about vampire
procreation but I am on the pill in case that could be an issue.”

He pulled away
slightly and gave me a hard look. “Anwyn, I am talking about the murders and
you and me, and blood and sex. Not simple, mundane things like diseases and
birth control.”

I pushed at him
and sat up. “Huh?” Now I was confused. I knew he worried about the murders, but
I thought we decided he definitely wasn’t the one committing them. But the
blood and sex remark left me really confused and worried.

“Some vampires
feed because they have to; it is like you eating a cheeseburger. You need to
eat but it is nothing amazing. Others experience blood drinking like you might
experience a really good piece of dark chocolate; it can be an almost orgasmic
experience. While others…others experience the blood and sex together as an
ultimate high. That is how I am, Anwyn. That is how I was made. Sex and blood
go together. When I have sex, I want blood with it. I crave it, need it. If we
have sex I do not know if I can stop myself from drinking you. And I do not
want to do it against your will. I never want to hurt you, Anwyn.”

“Oh.” I wasn’t
sure about being a midnight snack. I scooted away from him. On one hand it
sounded very sexy and erotic. The thought of Galen sliding his fangs inside my
vein as he thrust in and out of me made me tingle. But on the other hand, I had
never been bitten by a vampire so had no idea what to expect. Maybe it would
hurt, bad.

“Now, I have scared
you away. Have I not?” Awful sadness appeared to wash all over him again.

“Not scared,
just thoughtful. Maybe you’re right, we should take this slow.” I really needed
to determine if I was ready to be a vampire’s girlfriend. It had all sounded
fun and interesting. And Galen was flat out gorgeous. What girl wouldn’t want
to stare into his face? The chemistry between us spiked off the charts but I
had no idea if I wanted to become a blood dinner...uhh donor.

“I better leave
now, Anwyn.” He stood up. The look on his carved features remained painful to
see. I knew he must feel as though his worst fears had been confirmed, as if I
rejected the vampire in him and even feared him. I didn’t need my powers of
knowledge to figure that one out. I couldn’t do anything about it, I needed
time to process.

“Okay.” I
watched him grab his jacket and walk out the front door. I didn’t try to stop
him. I needed time to think about the whole fang thing.

Chapter 19

Sat there just
thinking for a while and then I heard a knock at the door. I jumped off the
couch and rushed to the door figuring Galen came back.

Not Galen.

Malone.

“What the hell
are you doing here, at my house,” I turned to glance at the clock by the TV, “at
midnight?” Malone had never stopped at my house before. I wondered briefly how
he knew where I lived then remembered, hello, he’s a cop and we work together.
Getting my details wouldn’t be hard to do.

He smiled a bit
hesitantly. “Hey, Annie, I was driving by and saw the light on, thought I’d
drop in.” He peered over my shoulder and into my living room. “You alone?”

I moved aside
and let him in. “Of course I’m alone. You see anyone else here?”

“No. That’s
good. I didn’t see any other cars in the drive, but you never know with you
Others, some of you fly and teleport and who knows what else.” He looked
nervous as he glanced around my living room.

“Right, my other
car is a broom,” I replied snarky-like.

“Really?”
Surprise crossed his chiseled features. For once I caught him off guard.

“No.” I laughed.
Then he caught on and laughed, too. Unease between us dissolved as laughter
filled the room.

“Sorry, Annie,
I’m not used to you cracking jokes.” His manner came across totally different
now that he wasn’t in the police station or in his work clothes, his usual
swagger and rough cop routine were gone. Now he simply acted like a normal guy.
A really good looking normal guy.

Why did I let
him get away with calling me Annie? No one ever called me Annie. I hated it.
Annie reminded me of a poor little orphan girl and I didn’t want any part of
how close to being true that was for me. All of my friends called me Anwyn or
just Wyn. Yet, I let him call me Annie. “So you’re telling me I’m not funny?
You’re just going to barge into my house in the middle of the night and insult
me?”

He looked
flustered again. “No, Ann, shit this is not going well. Maybe, I should leave.”
He turned to go. I grabbed his arm.

“Mike, I’m just
playing with you. You’re just not used to being on the receiving end of the
humor are you?”

He smiled
crookedly at me. “No, I guess I’m not.”

Curiosity got
the best of me. “Come in, sit down and then tell me why you felt the need to be
out here this late at night.”

“Pull-ease, this
isn’t late for either of us. We’re both used to being up until dawn. I think
I’m just restless. It’s been awfully quiet the last couple days don’t you
think?”

“Quiet, you mean
as far as the supernatural activity goes? Yeah, I suppose, but the power and
mischief can’t be flowing all the time.” I gestured towards the sofa so he
could sit down. His fidgeting in my doorway was making me nervous.

“But it is
October, Annie. Halloween is coming. All this quiet doesn’t sit well with me.
Don’t you Others hold Halloween, or Samhain or whatever you all call it, as a
sacred holiday, a major power day?”

“Well, yes but
that’s still weeks away.” I walked away from him toward the kitchen. I needed a
drink if I was going to be able to chat with Malone amid his nervous energy.

“Weeks away in a
place where crime and preternatural activity rates have been astronomical over
the past couple of years and steadily escalating for the past six months.” He
followed me. “Flint has already broken the murder record with sixty-two deaths
being ruled as homicides this year—and the year isn’t even over yet. But, now
we’ve suddenly had almost a week of practically no preternatural activity at
all, barely even any human crime!”

Wow, when he put
it that way it did sound bad. But there were other possibilities.

“You know Flint
is gearing up for all the Halloween festivities—like tomorrow’s Zombie Walk.
Plus HorrorCon, Fang Fest, The Vampire Ball, and all the other Halloween and
Harvest Fest activities are coming soon. Maybe people are just so preoccupied
with fun the crime is on the backburner.”