B0089ZO7UC EBOK (2 page)

“Well, I hadn’t had any trouble in a while.”
 
I smirked, feeling vulnerable to Antonio and guilty of my thoughts even though Marcus and I weren’t officially exclusive. Marcus!
 
It suddenly crossed my mind that Antonio could have gotten to him when he left.
 
“You didn’t hurt the man that was here earlier, did you?”
 
It took all my effort to make the question come out without my voice quavering.

Antonio gave a small shrug.
 
“I didn’t harm your human.
 
It would have caused too much unwanted attention.”
 
The tone of his voice had a hint of irritation at the change of topic.
 
Suddenly, without warning he headed for the window and without looking back said, “I have to figure out what to do.
 
I’m not happy about crossing Dante.”
 

“You can use the…”
 
Before I could finish my sentence he had disappeared, “door.” I said into thin air as I walked over to the window and peered into darkness.
 
Yeah, he had to be overdramatic in his exit.
 
I rolled my eyes.
 
After closing the window I secured the lock and tested it just to make sure.
 
The music was still playing and I shut it off in frustration as I passed by on my way to the bedroom.

There was a painting of Venice on the wall.
 
Why did I insist on surrounding myself with memories that struck such deep emotions?
 
Many vampires are sadistic, but not me, I’m just an emotional masochist.
 
I lifted the painting off the wall and set it aside, revealing a safe.
 
I put in the code 1576 and pulled open the door.
 
There were old photos and my journal inside, but the item I was after glinted faintly.
 
I grabbed the .38, testing the sight as I aimed it at myself in my dresser mirror.
 
Yes, I said mirror.
 
Vampires have a reflection.
 
I made sure the safety was on before putting the gun in the nightstand drawer beside my bed.
 
The gun had been used before and I wouldn’t hesitate to use it again if I had to.

My cat curled up against me when I climbed into bed. She gave my arm a few licks, before falling asleep again.
 
“This cannot end well.” I mumbled out loud before closing my eyes. My heart ached as I drifted off to distorted dreams.

T
he next day was so busy that I barely had time to dwell on or process what had happened the night before.
 
I spent the morning running a blood drive.
 
It was something I did every month.
 
There were ulterior motives to my charity.
 
A vampire has got to eat.
 
Perhaps not as much as myths would lead people to believe, but to go without blood for too long means weakness and eventually death.
 
Being respected and trusted in the community made it easy for me to steal a few bags of blood.
 
I mean, people donate blood to save lives, right?

After the blood drive, I headed by my house to drop off the loot.
 
The door was still locked and the window closed when I entered my home.
 
I shook my head at my paranoia and headed to the refrigerator.
 
Before going to my clinic to finish the day, I had to get this blood stored.
 
It’s easier to do than would be expected without raising suspicion.
 
There are several bottles than I keep in my fridge that I fill up with the blood.
 
They aren’t transparent, so I just write on the label “Diet.”
 
If I keep beer and sodas stocked in front of the blood, people tend to steer clear.
 

“Aren’t you going to offer me a drink?”
 
I nearly dropped the bottles as I was putting them in the fridge.
 
The voice was Antonio’s.
 
He’d become very stealthy.
 
This was no doubt in thanks to his Master’s training.
 
Instead of combat, Dante had always encouraged me to study languages and read, but mostly to become the best at being his mistress.
 
Pfft
.
 
I’d mastered that when I was alive if you asked any of my men.

I turned casually, as if I knew he was there the entire time.
 
He was holding my cat and she purred as he stroked his hand across her back.
 
“She usually doesn’t take so quickly to strangers.” I said as I slid him a recently filled bottle of blood.

“What can I say?
 
Animals have great instincts.”
 
He sat Lucia down and she wandered off carelessly.
 
His gaze drifted to the bottle and he slid it back toward me.
 
“I was teasing. I already ate.” When he flashed a grin, he purposely extended his fangs slightly.

God he was good looking.
 
Being a vampire seemed to make him even more attractive.
 
It just seemed to fit his strong, aggressive demeanor and build.
 
“You can’t just keep entering my apartment without calling first.”
 
It would have been useful if you really did have to invite a vampire in first.
 

“Don’t worry so much.
 
I knew your boyfriend wasn’t with you.” He kind of spit the word boyfriend at me.
 
“I’m leaving tomorrow and I suggest you pack and get out of here.
 
Things could go bad when I tell Dante I killed you.
 
He may not believe me or know I didn’t do it.
 
If you are gone before I tell him…well, at least you’ll probably be safe for a while.”

My heart was torn.
 
“So this is goodbye?
 
Again?”
 
It wouldn’t have been the first time I moved without warning, but I had so much going for me at the moment.
 
I was enjoying this life and I still had years before anyone became suspicious.
 
“I’m not running.” I was putting my foot down on the matter.

“Just give me some time.”
 
Antonio pleaded.
 
“I’ll find you again, when it’s safer.”
 
He walked up to me and wrapped his arms around me in a protective hug.
 
 
“I know you and that human…are together, but he won’t always be in my way.”

It was hard to tell if this was a threat or he was just stating it as a fact.
 
Before I could respond, he kissed my lips gently and walked to the door.
 
“Ciao, amore.”
 
 

I stood there.
 
I wanted to chase after him.
 
I didn’t want this to be the last time we met.
 
My feelings for Marcus held me in place.
 
The risk of Dante weighed heavily.
 
Finally it was too late.
 
In that moment of indecision and fear, Antonio d’
Artusio
was gone from my life once again.

Despite the fact that I wanted to stay home and brood, work had to be done.
 
I buried myself in it.
 
It was busy at the clinic and I was thankful for the distraction.
 
Around five o’clock, Marcus showed up bearing a bouquet of sunflowers.
 
He’d never brought me flowers before.
 
He was more of a “let’s ride my motorcycle and have pizza and watch a raunchy comedy” kind of guy.

“Thank you.
 
They’re beautiful.”
 
I gave him a long kiss as a thank you.
 
“What’s the occasion?”

He grinned infectiously.
 
“Well…it’s been two months since you saved Lewis, which means, two months since we met.”
 
His strong arms lifted me up and my legs wrapped around him.
 
“I thought maybe you deserved a real date before I have my way with you.”
 
In this position, I doubted we’d make it to the real date part.
 
“You’ll have to forgive me.” His muffled words said as he nibbled at my neck and carried me to my office.
 
With a quick rake of his hand, my desk was cleared of debris and I was sat on it.
 
“If you weren’t so hot….”

Marcus showing up was probably the best thing for me.
 
All the jumbled thoughts in my mind were pushed away by his skilled touch.
 
I didn’t even try to protest as he had his way with me in my office.
 
My need for him to get rid of all the worry was real and with each thrust he pushed them further away.
 
“This is the best real date I’ve ever been on….”
 
I groaned out breathlessly.

He gave me that wicked, naughty little smirk of his before entwining his hand in my hair and pulling every so often to guide me body.
 
I trembled with pleasure and he looked intently into my eyes for a long moment before closing his own tightly, mouth slightly ajar as he released.
 
Slowly, I leaned up enjoying a long kiss.  “Amazing….”
 
He gave a little wince as he backed away, helping me off the desk.
 
“Again?”
 
His smirk returned when he asked and I spun around, bending invitingly over my desk.

The sun had begun to set by the time we exited the vet clinic hand in hand.
 
Both our cheeks were still flushed.
 
 
The last rays of sunlight glistened on the ocean.
 
It was a sight that always stopped me in my tracks.
 
There had only been a few times in my life that I hadn’t lived near water.
 
I always felt more at home surrounded by it.
 
In the distance, I could see the lights of the recently built boardwalk.
 

 
“How about we go down to the boardwalk and grab a bite before I take you home?”
 
Marc asked as we walked toward my car.
 
I still hadn’t decided for sure, despite my determination in front of Antonio, if I was running away, but I figured I didn’t have to decide tonight.

“Sure, but only if I get a funnel cake.”
 
My grin widened when Marcus rolled his eyes.
 

Blood is great and all, but junk food holds such a special place in my heart.
 

“Whatever you want, it’s near the lift anyway and we’ll take a ride.”
 
 
The ride was one of those chair lifts that carry you over the boardwalk.
 
“It’s no wonder you keep those diet drinks in the fridge.
 
You get one of those funnel cakes every time we go to the boardwalk.”
 
He laughed at me as we headed toward the amusement park.

“You better watch it.
 
You’re treading on dark territory when we get into it about my weight.”
 
 
 
I was only sort of kidding.
 
The time period I was born in, women were accepted and liked for being….
 
What’s the best way to describe it?
 
Buxom, pleasantly plump, or maybe best of all
rubenesque
?
Becoming a vampire hadn’t changed that.
 
I was still heartily blessed with breasts and a noticeable ass.

“Babe, I’m just kidding. You’re perfect.”
 
He sounded apologetic.
 
Sometimes he could be too blunt.
 
I liked his recovery, though.
 
I don’t care how many years I’ve been around.
 
Being told I’m perfect never gets old or stops making me feel good.