book (4 page)

“
Yes you have, and I appreciate that,” Jess squeezed his arm. “A lot of people wonder, though, just what happens here at night.”

She took in her breath as he turned to her, erasing all distance between them and searing her with a seductive gaze.

“
A lot of very exciting things, Jess,” he whispered, “some of which I’m sure you’d enjoy very much.”

The policewoman cleared her throat, averting her gaze to the star-filled sky that oversaw her walk.

“
So give me some examples.” She attempted a casual tone. “What do you do at Nightingale Park?”

Hathen stopped in his tracks, gesturing broadly across the length of the park.

“
Everything that people usually do in their homes,” he explained. “We meet here each night, to convene, to talk, to address any issues or problems that we might face…” he paused, pinning her with a meaningful glance, “and, of course, to feed.”

Jess chuckled.

“
And for an incubi vamp, I assume that ‘feeding’ roughly equals unapologetic public sessions of freaky ass monkey love?” She arched her eyebrows.

As if on cue, a loud and rather ecstatic moan erupted from an emerald colored bush; one that bordered the park’s northern end.

Jess jumped as this moan was followed up by a deep, long sigh. Then came a mix of sensuous moans and loud, high-pitched giggles.

“
Clotilde?”

The bush, for its part, fell silent, before producing produced a beautiful blonde head that confirmed Jess’s suspicions.

“
Hi Chief Green!” She waved, ducking to cover her obvious nakedness in a cluster of gem green leaves. “Please meet Jacob, my lover.”

Exactly on cue, a handsome man in his early 20s popped up from the opposite side of the bush.

“
Pleased to make your acquaintance.” He nodded. “And thank you so much for saving my mate.” He wrapped his arm around Clotilde’s bare shoulders, pulling her close.

“
My pleasure,” Jess laughed, saluting the couple before turning to the other side of the park. She now noticed a second couple sat fully clothed on the same Victorian cast iron bench where Clotilde was almost murdered.

This couple was a perfect example of opposites attracting. While he was golden, she was very fair. His eyes were wide and dark, while hers shone a vivid green. And while his body was toned and firm, her figure was big yet beautiful. Even so, the couple couldn’t seem to keep their hands or eyes off of each other.

I love vamps
, Jess grinned, adding aloud, “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Jess Green, chief of the Clearview Police Department.”

“
Chief Green!” The woman of the pair clapped her hands together. “I’m Verona, a volunteer with your citizen patrol.” She lifted her chin, obviously proud of this title. “Just a few weeks ago, I tackled a guy who tried to attack a woman in our park.”

“
So you was the heroine my deputy was raving about the other day!” She applauded the beaming woman. “I’d love to give you a medal for your good deed.”

Verona squealed with glee, performing a spirited high five with her beaming lover.

“
Thank you so much Chief Green!” She turned in the direction of her handsome companion. “Please also give one to Anthony. He has been working to keep the park free of litter and trash, and he makes it a point to feed the stray animals who live in the park.”

“
I’ll do that.”

Gracing the couple with a grateful smile, Jess took a seat beside them on the bench. “At this point, though, what I need you all to do is take care of each other, just as much as you nurture and care for the people of this town.”

“
Oh I know!” Clotilde agreed, wide-eyed as she did so. “Hathen has promised us, though, that from this point forward he will make it a point not to think with his lower head.”

Jess bent over on the park bench, covering her mouth to suppress a wave of unexpected laughter.

“
That’s good to know,” she said finally, straightening in her seat. “Yet it’s not only his responsibility to keep your den safe.” She looked across at each and every one of her audience. “I want you to be very careful about allowing in new members, at least for a while. If someone does want in, make sure that you check their background. Also question their reasons for wanting to join your ranks.”

“
Well that question is easy enough to answer.” Hathen shrugged, his hips and feet moving in a sexy jig. “We’re just too cool.”

Pointing and laughing at her boss’ antics, Clotilde next gestured toward the far end of the park. Here a quiet young man pulled some stand out weeds from an emerald-leaved fern.

“
Right now we have only one newcomer, Chief Green, and it just so happens to be a member of my family.” She beckoned toward the young man, a slight redhead whose carved features and bright violet eyes mirrored Clotilde’s. “Please meet my brother Karl.”

“
Hi Karl!” Jess extended a sideways wave.

The young man made no answer, instead planting his arms square on his hips and scowling outright at his bubbly sister.

“
Hey Chief, why don’t you arrest my sister for indecent exposure?” He sniffed. “She’s shaming our family.”

“
Chill out Bro.” Clotilde rolled her eyes. “You just resent me for making you do some work around here.”

A laughing Hathen clapped his hands, then summoned silence from the den.

“
What’s say we all get dressed, set aside the arguments, and meet in 10 minutes at the center of the park?” He gestured toward Jess. “I’d love to treat our guest here to one of our famous picnics by moonlight.”

****

Not much later, Jess sat comfortably in softest grasses. She marveled both at her surroundings, and the company she was now a part of.
I really do have a thing for vampires
, she thought to herself.

Making good on his promise to spoil her rotten throughout the course of the evening, Hathen encouraged her to lie back in his lap. She relaxed as he fed her grapes, cookies, and sips of red wine.

Not exactly making good on my promise to keep things nice and professional
, she pondered, looking up at him with a girlish grin.
And right now I don’t give a flying
…
.

“
So are you glad you came tonight?” Hathen disrupted her blissful meditation with a soft kiss on the lips.

Jess said nothing for a moment, instead admiring the way that Hathen’s wide eyes and golden hair shone in the moonlight.

“
Did anyone ever tell you look wonderful in the moonlight?” She charmed him with a drunken smile.

Instead of giving her a verbal answer, Hathen swooped down to deliver a soft, luring kiss; one that massaged her lips and set fire to her senses.

Reaching upward to wrap her arms around Hathen’s broad shoulders, Jess pulled him downward to intensify the kiss; entangling her tongue with his as she ran her fingers through the strands of his long, silky hair.

His sumptuous mouth calmed her in to a soft, dreamlike trance. She didn’t resist as he massaged her back with his strong, study hands; or when he erased all distance between them, pressing his chest against hers to complete their heated tango.

What is he doing to me?
Jess wondered, as she broke their kiss just long enough to stare deep into his eyes.

What she saw there stole her breath; a deep and sensual mix of emotion that ranged from passion to caring, sweetness to desire…and perhaps even love.

Impossible, they had only known each other for two days. The thought just barely cleared her mind when he swept her up in his arms.

Their lips once again met, and became one.
We barely know each other. We can’t be in love.

She felt absorbed in Hathen’s arms, nothing felt impossible. Her heart pounded as he ducked his head to kiss and lick her neck; all the while grazing hr nape with his fangs.

Far from being painful or overly sharp, Hathen’s fangs only served to intensify her arousal, driving her insane with desire. Yet she took a deep sustaining breath as she happened to remember their very outdoor surroundings.

“
Hathen,” she breathed against his lips, “People are watching.”

His low, throaty chuckle drove chills up her spine.

“
Actually,” he tweaked her chin. “They’re quite busy with their own activities.”

He frowned as Jess bolted upright in the grass, her eyes flying wide as she saw the couples that formed Hathen’s den. Clotilde and her lover Jacob, Verona and her partner Anthony, all clenched together in the throes of passion. Their naked, sweaty bodies entangled in the moonlight, their eyes wide and their fangs bared.

For just a moment she lost herself in their immortal desire, basking in their timeless beauty and the intensity of their timeless hunger. Like animals in heat they writhed and pawed, at the same time never forgetting to kiss and cuddle with the warmth of genuine lovers.

“
Join our circle of passion, Jess,” Hathen whispered in her ear. “Just surrender to me. I promise to make your wildest dreams come true.”

Jess opened her mouth to respond; shutting it just as quickly when she felt a second pair of eyes upon her. This pair not as playful or loving.

Standing before them in a waiting manner, Clotilde's brother Karl stared at her with eyebrows arched.

“
How can you as a police chief just stand by and watch this all happen?” He asked her. “Chief Green, may I say that you yourself are conducting yourself in a matter that borders on disgraceful.”

“
Oh shut up Karl!” The vamps answered in unison, some punctuating their words with a raised middle finger.

Jess, for her part, broke away from Hathen’s grasp and stood erect in the grass. She avoiding their gazes as she retrieved a box of cheap wine she’d picked up at a supermarket en route that evening to Nightingale Park.

Who else brings boxed wine to a friggin’ vampire orgy? She bit her lip, straightening the fabric of her long, luxurious dress with trembling fingers.

Aloud she said, “He’s right. I really shouldn’t be allowing any show of public nudity or indecency in a city park.”

“
But Chief Green!” Clotilde wined, planting her hands on her tiny hips and pouting outright. “Public nudity and indecency are so much fun!”

“
That they are, Clotilde. Indeed, I daresay they are more fun than many other things in life.” Jess smiled in spite of herself, but only briefly. “I’m afraid, though, that they also qualify as illegal activities.”