Bite Me (13 page)

CHAPTER FORTY ONE

     I returned to church. Due to the recent deaths, the steps were void of teens. I don't know what drew me here. But here I was. I sat in the back pew, staring up at the crucifix. He died for our sins but I don't think becoming a vampire was one of them that could be forgiven.

    "Praying isn't going to give you the peace you're looking for."

    I lifted my gaze on Draco. He sat beside me.

    "Do you believe in God?" I asked him.

    "It doesn't matter if I do or not; He can't help me now. Or you. Why can't you accept the gift I gave you?"

     I glowered at him. "Gift?"

     "Of eternal life."

     I set my eyes on the crucifix. "He died so we can have eternal life in heaven. You gave me the gift of eternal darkness. Don't expect me to be appreciative."

    "Come now, my luv, don't tell me you don't enjoy all of the newfound powers you have: the speed, the acute eyesight, the sensitive hearing, and the strength. If I didn't think you would, I would never have chosen you for my queen."

     He was right. I was growing quite accustomed to the powers bestowed on me by becoming a vampire. I admired them in my study of vampires.

     "I watched you for a long time, my luv. I knew, you were the one."

     "You mean, I wasn't random?"

     "Isn't that what chosen means?"

     "There are plenty of women at your club that you could have chosen. They all love vampires or they wouldn't be there."

      "Your blood. It has an intoxicating scent. The right scent for me. Like mine is to you now."

      "Why did you wait so long? Why now? Why didn't you turn me years ago if you were watching me?"

      "There's a time for everything. The time wasn't right before."

      I deeply sighed. "No, you couldn't have picked a worse time for me."

     "Because of your so-called boyfriend?"

     "He and I are just intimate friends."

     "And you care deeply about him or you wouldn't be upset about losing him."

     "Go away. I want to be alone."

     "For now. But the time is going to come that you will seek me out and we will rule the underworld together." He got up and swiftly departed.

      "Likely chance." I muttered.

      I remained for a little while longer and then I left. Left to prowl for my nourishment.

CHAPTER FORTY TWO

     I stooped beside the man slumped over against the wall, drinking his blood. I'd barely gotten a mouthful when a light shined on me. Crouched, I covered my face with my forearms.

     "Hey, what's going on down there?" a man hollered.

     It was Aiden and he was headed my way. I sprang to my feet and fled through the alley. I didn't stop running until I stepped on the tube.

     The doors swished closed and I plopped down, slouching on the seat, resting my head on the back and closing my eyes. I felt the train move through the tunnel. All I could hear was Aiden's accusing voice. Did he recognize me? How far did he chase me? How much longer until he does catch me? And what would he do when he did?

     The bouncer bobbed his head at me as I walked through the door. I crossed the hall to the steps under the colonnade; paused a moment to observe the crowd and then followed through to the second floor.

      I sat at the bar as the bartender fixed my drink. He set it down before me and I gulped a few mouthfuls.

     "Something wrong with your usual table?"

     I glimpsed Draco leaning beside me. "Jack and Bobby are sitting there. I'm not in the mood for company."

     "You can't drown your sorrows in alcohol. It just doesn't happen to us vampires."

     "Thanks." I jeered and drank another mouthful of the Scotch.

     Draco peered at me. "Something happened tonight. You were nearly caught."

     "It wasn't getting caught that frightened me. I know no jail could hold me."

     "It was
who
nearly caught you."

     I nodded.

     "Do you think he recognized you?"

     "I don't know; this blasted red hair could have given me away."

     "You didn't finish your feed, did you?"

      "No."

      "And, you're still hungry."

      My stomach had cramps! I finished off the Scotch and the bartender automatically set another one on the bar.

      "Come with me." Draco ordered.

      "I am not going to the dungeon to fulfill my hunger."

      "I'm not taking you to the dungeon."

      "Then where?" I balked.

      He took my hand. "Just follow me."

      In the blink of an eye, we were through the crowd and in a room. It looked like an office. I turned to Draco bolting the door.

      "Work? You expect me to work to appease my hunger?" I retorted.

      He clasped me by the sides of my head and jerked me forward. He pressed his cold brow to mine. "You're hungry, in more ways than one and I'm going to satisfy you." His lips caressed my lips.

      It didn't take much coaxing, on his part, to make me respond. He was right. I needed my lust and hunger satisfied. We tore off one another's clothes. He slammed back into the wall, hiking my leg over his hip. His tapered fingers explored my moist treasure. My black nails ripped his flesh. I licked the blood. I craved more. As he maneuvered his fingers inside me, I growled and sunk my fangs into his neck. Blood spurt into my mouth and I contentedly moaned. I felt him insert his hardened phallus into me as I continued to draw blood from his neck. The orgasm was beyond explosive. And the blood tasted better in the throes of passion.

     We remained against the wall, panting, my head on his shoulder, his chin on my tilt crown.

     "Feeling better?" he asked.

     I dropped my foot to the floor and lifted my head. I nodded.

    "You know what you have to do." He stated.

     "End it with Aiden."

     He hooked his index finger under my chin, "He isn't for you."

     "And, you are?" I jeered and moved to gather my clothes. Of course, he was for me. Draco was my perfect mate. Yet, I refused to give him the satisfaction of letting him know that.

     He gripped my arm, jerking me back. "Don't play games with me, Lucy. You know we are meant for each other. You cannot have a relationship with that human."

     "It's been going okay so far." I quipped but knew it could unravel any day.

     "Do you think he'd want a vampire for his girlfriend? I'm sure he's noticed your icy cold body."

     "He thinks I have a circulation problem."

     Draco scoffed as he started to dress.

    I pulled on my jeans and my blouse. "The man loves me. Maybe it can work out." I hoped; unsure myself.

    "Then, go to your boyfriend. Tell him what you are. I'll be here, waiting when he rejects you."

     I zipped up my boots and snatched my coat. "You'll have a long wait." I jeered and walked out the door.

     For all of my bravado, I feared Draco was right. Despite my feelings for Aiden, and the great sex, I had to let him go. If not for anything, Draco would always be in the shadows. And, even though I claimed Aiden and I were nothing but sex buddies, I still felt like I was cheating on him with Draco. And Draco was so possessive, if I didn't end it with Aiden, would Draco harm him?

I had to do something about the situation and soon.

CHAPTER FORTY THREE

     "Now, this is what I call a cool place to hang." Aiden stated as we sat in the pub he picked out on the west side of London. "A little soft music, a little dancing…" he took my hand. "Shall we?"

     When Aiden called me tonight and asked to see me, I thought he was going to mention about the other night when he saw me in the alley. I was relieved when it was just to have a night out together. Yet, I knew I had to break it off. Maybe it was better we were in a public place because I knew what would happen had we been at my flat.

      "I don't dance." I declined.

      "Come on. One slow dance where I can hold my baby in my arms and sway to the music." He insisted.

       I sighed and conceded. Holding my hand, he led me onto the dance floor. It wasn't overly crowded so we had plenty of room to sway.

      "Did you ever see the doctor about your cold extremities?"

      "I told you, it's just a circulation problem." I dismissed. "Could we not talk as we dance?"

      He softly laughed as we moved to the slow ballad being played on the jukebox.

      When the song was over we returned to the table to our pints.

      "Would you date a vampire?" I blurted.

      His eyebrows arched. "Say what?"

      "It's the theme of my new blog."

      "And, what's the consensus?"

      "Most people would."

      "Well, I don't know much about them, other than they drink blood, so, no," he shook his shiny, bald head. "I wouldn't." He took a gulp of beer and narrowed his eyes at me. "You would though, wouldn't you?"

       "What would you say if I told you I was a vampire?" I was really testing the waters here.

       "I'd say you had one too many pints." He laughed and drank more beer.

       "What would you say if I told you, I'm seeing one?"

       He lowered the bottle from his lips and stared at me. "Baby, what are you trying to say?"

       I drew in a deep breath. "I've been seeing someone else."

       He put the bottle on the table with a thud. "That fellow I met at the club?"

       I nodded and quickly added, "Well, it isn't like we were an item. We were just having a good time, right? And, I wanted to explore my options." It sounded awful to my ears, imagine Aiden's.

     "You played me?" his voice took on one of impending anger.

      "No. It wasn't as if we were in love with each other."

      "Speak for yourself."

      "I told you, I wasn't planning on getting serious."

      "You could have been honest with me about seeing other people."

       "I am now." I quipped, trying to sound indifferent, all the while my heart was breaking.

       His nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath. "I better take you home." He grumbled and stood.

       I climbed to my feet, slipping on my coat. I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked out ahead of Aiden.

      We rode home in silence. His knuckles were tense on the steering wheel. He was in pain and it was my fault. I couldn't think about it. I had to make the clean break.

       We pulled up in front of my building. I turned to say good night but thought better of it. I started to open the door, but he grabbed my arm.

       "Lucy."

       I turned my face to him. He caressed my cheeks and leaned in to kiss me. A gentle, farewell kiss. His eyes glistened with tears as he said, "I'll never forget you, Lucy Blake." His voice choked a sob.

       "You should." I replied and hurried from the car. I could feel him watching me run up to and through the building door. I turned, just to see him pull away and out of my life.

     When I came through my flat door and dropped my keys on the little table, I paused in taking off my coat. Draco was seated on the arm of the sofa.

      "You did it." He stated and stood. "I'm proud of you."

      I flung off my coat and marched into the kitchen, pulling open the fridge. "Well, I'm not." I snatched a bottle of beer, twisted off the cap and tossed it in the bin. I gulped down a few mouthfuls before I spoke. "I just hurt the greatest guy I'll ever know."

     "It's your own fault. I told you to end it a long time ago."

     "Don't turn this on me. You're the one who turned me into this cringing, blood sucking, monster."

      "You're just upset now. You'll get over it and soon accept your new life."

      "Ha!" I snorted and guzzled more beer.

      Draco came in the kitchen, taking the bottle from my hand. He set it down on the kitchen table and took me in his arms.

      "I hate you." I grumbled into his chest.

      "No, you don't."

      I punched him, "I do. You ruined my life."

      He caressed my back. "I made it better and when you stop loathing yourself long enough, you'll realize it too."

       I pushed away from his hold and picked up my bottle. He took it from me again and held it away from me. "I have something better to make you forget your sorrow over the human."

      He picked me up and carried me to the sofa, laying me down. He climbed atop of me, his mouth covering mine. I didn't fight him off; I welcomed his love making.