book (7 page)

“
Don’t judge me Sister” Jess playfully defended. “You're not the only thing of beauty in this park.”

Glorious florals grew free and wild around her: the reddest roses, the lavender lilies, and the lush pearl pink carnations all pleased her with their scent and looks.

With her senses intoxicated by the marvel of her surroundings, Jess’s mind naturally released the thoughts and worries that had plagued her for the last few days. Standing to her feet, her face erupted in a girlish grin as she whirled and twirled in circles. She suddenly feeling like a girl again, frolicking in her grandma’s garden without a care in the world.

If the dudes back at the station saw me, they’d videotape the whole thing and show it at the precinct Christmas party,
she thought.

She didn’t care though: For the first time that day she felt peaceful and carefree.

That feeling soon went though as she opened her eyes and saw him. All feelings of peace and calm abandoned her system, instead being replaced with a bare heat and urgent desire that stole her breath.

The sight of Hathen at the edge of the park was the most beautiful she’d ever seen. He had exposed himself in full, and now appeared before her hungry eyes.

Her lover stood naked like a nymph of the forest, his sculpted body outshining the beauty of the trees and flowers that lined his path. This same path took him into the park, where he held Jess’s gaze as he fell to his knees before her.

She froze in her place, watching in silent awe as he crawled like a lion to her feet. He kiss and licked her feet as she admired the curve of his muscular back and the roundness of his perfect ass.

“
What do you think you’re doing?” She attempted a casual tone, though trembling outright as he looked up at her with narrowed eyes and rubbed her legs in a tender massage.

“
I do believe I’m seducing you,” he whispered.

Jess closed her eyes a moment, emotion overcoming her as he rose to his feet and lead her by the hand to the cast iron bench that was another Nightingale trademark.

Though I’m pretty sure it shouldn’t be used for this particular purpose
. Her eyes gently shut as Hathen knelt before her and continued to kiss her feet as his manly fingers massaged her thighs.

“
Don’t you know about the public indecency laws in this area?” She grinned down at him, taking note of his bare, muscled chest and sculpted abs.

“
So punish me Officer.” Hathen pouted, reaching his arms upward to enclose her waist. “Name my punishment.”

He swooped down upon her to engage her in a passionate kiss; his full, moist mouth rubbing against hers as he swept her up in an all-encompassing embrace.

For just a moment she lost herself to the feeling, wiggling and reveling in his arms as his ravenous lips devoured hers.

Slowly and painfully she pulled away from him, remembering there were more pressing matters at hand.

“
Before we lose our focus…” she began, tone now deadly serious.

“
Oh baby I’m focused.” Hathen contested, his body fully standing to attention.

Jess let out an amused school girl smile. “Hathen could you please behave for five minutes? I think I myself can manage at least three and a half, just long enough for me to tell you what needs to be said.

A sobering Hathen ran a soothing hand through the strands of Jess’s hair, frowning as he considered her words.

“
Is something wrong, babe?” He frowned.

“
I’m afraid so,” Jess sighed. “Hathen, do you know where your den members are this evening?”

Her lover shrugged.

“
We all have homes, Jess, separate from each other and Nightingale Park.” He tilted his head. “Why do you ask?”

Jess lowered her hands to engage his shoulders in a tight, protective clench.

“
I don’t want to frighten you, Babe, but Scarlet keeps hinting at a rogue vampire in your ranks,” she revealed, “someone from her home pack, who she has sent to watch you, and to help her gain her freedom.” She cringed as she finished, “She wants to destroy you Hathen, you and your family. And if she can manage it, the entire race of the incubi.”

“
Just let the bitch try!” Hathen roared, bringing his fist down hard on the ground beside him. “Let her try to harm one of mine, she’ll find out that the wimpy incubi aren’t always so sweet and peaceable.”

“
OK OK, less with the macho vampire posturing.” Jess delivered a playful slap to Hathen’s beefy shoulder. “She’s in jail, where my officers and I are keeping a close watch on her and her activities. The only problem is that it’s hard to place a wiretap on the telepathic summonings of a crazed bloodsucking vampire.”

Hathen nodded, relaxing in her arms.

“
I know we’re in good hands with you.” He cradled her close to him. “Tell me how I can help.”

Jess kissed his cheek.

“
Aside from calming down and keeping your gorgeous head on straight Babe, you can answer a few basic questions.” Jess tilted her head. “Aside from Clotilde’s brother, do you have any newcomers to the den?”

Hathen nodded.

“
As a matter of fact, we do have another visitor. This one sent from Alida,” he revealed. “His name is Sebastian, and she wants him to shadow us for a while. I get the feeling that she is grooming him to become a vampire master.”

“
Well if Alida sent him he’s probably safe.” Jess shifted in his arms. “All the same, you might want to question him about his motives in wanting to lead a den.”

Hathen pressed his cheek to Jess’s, seeming to seek comfort in her warmth and knowledge.

“
I’ll do that,” he sighed, adding, “As far as Clotilde’s brother, he may be out to drive us all insane! The man won’t stop whining about our sinful ways, and about how we’re corrupting his sister.” He cringed at the thought of Karl's on going wining. “I’ll be glad when he goes home.”

“
Speaking of going home, I should make a move.” Even she didn't believe the words that just came out of her mouth. She was too far gone with lust, and Hathen could sense it.

He smirked at her for a moment, before taking charge of the situation. “Let me show you how grateful I am for all your help” he whispered against her lips, before nibbling at them with pain free sharpness.

This time Jess could not resist. She had been too strong for too long, and the limits of her humanity was starting to show.

“
I want you” she accidentally thought aloud, as the last of her barriers seemed to fail her.

This is all Hathen needed to hear. He moved in with a firm but gentle touch, setting her body alight with both pleasure and full body satisfaction.

Unable to further put up a fight, Jess could only utter a few words. “Be gentle with me”, she requested to the vampire that now had total control over her immediate future.

Kisses were exchanged and touches were placed, until their bodies were finally merged as one. Human and vampire, nakedly sharing each other in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

This is the best night of my life.

In direct contrast to the night before, Jess enjoyed a full night of dreamless sleep that evening. A relaxing night, no doubt, brought on by the satisfying 'nightcap' she’d enjoyed in the arms of her vampire lover.

Yet when she awoke the next morning, her mind was plagued by a shed load of unanswered questions. Queries that, while having no clear answer, she nonetheless felt compelled to consider.

So she and Hathen had crossed the line, morphing quickly from friends and collaborators to lovers. Her mind told her this was a bad idea. Her heart and all other relevant body parts however, thought that everything was A-OK.

“
So you went to bed with a gorgeous, strong, sensitive, and painfully easy to please man who seemed eager to fulfill your every fantasy.” A voice that sounded suspiciously like one belonging to Gail Towne, her dearest but perhaps most irritating friend, burst through the bounds of her already troubled mind. “And the problem is?”

“
The problem is that we’re supposed to be working together, not sleeping together!” Jess said aloud; then stopped to ponder just how many of her neighbors had heard that bold, and perhaps inaccurate statement.

After all, the explosive encounter she shared last night with Hathen was far too loving and intense to be classified as just sleeping together.

For perhaps the first time in her life, Jess had made love.

And it just had to be with some rogue immortal who plays an instrumental role in my current investigation
. With a frustrated groan she buried her head in her pillow.
Blast me!

****

The morning sun was no friend to Hathen Noble, who left his home to venture into the golden rays of poison. His home was a modest, self-made cottage nestled deep in the woods that bordered Nightingale Park. He cloaked himself completely in a long black cloak, which shielded and protected him from the ultraviolet light.

I tell ya, the dude or lady who invents sunblock for vampires is sure to be set for life
, he thinks, ducking into a roadside subway stall that would shelter him from the light of day.

He found it odd that his few happy childhood memories all involved the sun. He loved escaping the confines of his dark, troubled home for an occasional game of softball at the park, or perhaps just a walk in the forest. As a boy he’d enjoyed swimming and basketball, just like other kids. He relished the feel of tossing his head back and smelling the air of a fresh Florida morning, savoring even more the divine warmth of a newly born sun.

Now even a moment spent in the target of sunlight burned and seared his skin. Which is why, on the rare occasions when he did venture out into daylight, he had to wear this concealing cloak that likened him to a monk.

Such an odd contrast with who I am in real life,
he debated in his mind, before realizing that sounded like something Jess would say.

OK, that had to be the 10th time during the past half hour he’d thought about Jess Green. Surely that had to be some sort of record.

Ah, but how can I resist?
Stepping into the sanctity of a dark underground subway car, he slid into a seat at the car’s far corner.
She’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.

The contrast of Jess’s knowing dark eyes and her bright, cheery smile never failed to captivate him.

Her smile is the closest thing to sunlight I have
, he mused, sliding low in his seat to block out the light from an incoming window.

Her laughter and kindness also warmed the coldness of his soul, and her soft and womanly figure made him downright hot.