Crimson Rush A Vampire Romance (Crimson Book 1) (11 page)

“Oh please,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Can we just get back to business? You are really not my type … and I belong to Luke,” I reminded him.

“So you do,” he said, looking away. “I can smell it on you. Tell me … was it all you thought it would be?”

“That is not your business.”

There was a look of satisfaction in his eyes that was absolutely infuriating.

“So it wasn’t. That’s perfect,” he said, leaning closer to me, his blue eyes reached into mine with such intimacy, I was sure I would melt at any second. “When you do learn what it’s like to be with a vampire … I’d like it to be me that teaches you.”

My tongue was tied in knots. Usually I was great with comebacks, but that didn’t seem to be the case with Marcus. He had a way of clouding my thoughts so that it was impossible to know how to respond to him half the time.

“Not likely.” It was the only thing I could think to say.

The knowing in his eyes made me feel naked. There was no fooling this guy. He knew perfectly well how being near him made me feel.

“How do I help Max?” I asked, changing the subject.

Backing away, he turned his attention to his drink. “Find out what he is, and then I might be able to help you with that.”

That was going to be easier said than done. I had no idea where to start. There was no way I could just ask Max. That thought brought something else to mind.

If any of this was true, why hadn’t Max ever mentioned it? I was his closest friend; it seemed odd that he wouldn’t have said something to me.

“Well thanks for your time,” I said as I stood up. “I guess I’ll see what I can find out. Do you have anything you need me to do?”

I felt heat rush through me as his eyes scanned me from head to toe. What he wanted couldn’t have been any clearer. “I’ll send for you if there is anything I need.”

Giving him a terse nod, I turned and left the room.

The club was already teaming with people, and the music was so loud, it was difficult to hear any real conversation. Everyone’s words seemed to run together.

With no reason to linger, I waved at Aaron and started for the exit. Outside, the night was humid and warm to the point it was almost uncomfortable.

It was dark, and my car wasn’t near enough to the building for comfort. Taking a deep breath, I began weaving my way through the cars until I reached mine. I didn’t have one of those fancy remote key locks, so it took a minute to find the key and insert it in the lock.

Before I had a chance to turn the key, a large gloved hand was clapped over my mouth. Instinctively, I slammed my elbows behind me. I felt them impact with flesh, and there was a loud grunt.

It was a good try, but it didn’t stop the assault. The next thing I knew, I was being pushed to the ground. My head thumped as it hit the gravel, jarring me enough that my assailant’s hand slipped from my mouth briefly.

My screams ripped through the night, but were cut off quickly as the hand covered my mouth again.

My attackers were wearing dark - hooded robes, and their faces were hidden behind some very realistic looking skull masks.

The Reapers!

In my panicked state, the only thing I could grasp onto was Max’s words. He’d said it was the Reapers.

There were three of them. One covered my mouth to keep me from screaming, while another spread my arms to my sides and held them down.

I saw some tubes and felt the sting of something sharp cutting into the artery of my arm. The warmth of the blood on my skin was even more shocking than the cut.

All my squirming and kicking was doing nothing but pushing out more blood. My sight dimmed, but I was still conscious enough to see the flurry of movement, and hear the men screaming in pain.

Then there was nothing but the black star-studded sky and Marcus’s face. His furious eyes reached into mine - ripping into the core of my being. The part of my brain that was still conscious, knew true fear in that moment.

There was not just the fear of losing my life, but of losing myself to the hunger and torment I saw in his vampire eyes.

His fangs slid out from his teeth. At first I thought he was getting ready to feed on me, but instead he bit his own wrist. A second later, he was holding his arm to my mouth.

Even as weak as I was, I still tried to turn my head away, but he held me in place and forced the blood into my mouth. In the beginning, I found the tangy taste of his blood on my tongue repulsive, but as it slid down my throat, my body seemed to come alive. Every nerve tingling as his blood healed my failing body.

He withdrew his wrist and lifted my head so that he was cradling me in his arms. Gradually my sight grew stronger until I was better able to focus on his face.

“Thank you,” I managed.

“You okay now?” he asked. There was a gentleness in his tone that I’d never heard before.

I nodded. “What happened? Were they vampires? They looked like Reapers.”

“No … they were humans trying to disguise their identities, but they were trying to take your blood. It’s a good think I heard you scream.”

“Yes … thank you,” I told him again.

I knew the reason they were after my blood, and now Marcus did too. Any suspicion I’d had about Marcus being involved in the vampire drug ring, was now gone. Whoever was pushing the Rush, it wasn’t Marcus.

But why was he in Cookson Springs?

In a short time, I was feeling better. Marcus took my hands in his and pulled me to my feet.

“Perhaps you should stay here until dawn.” It was obvious his suggestion was out of concern, though there was a certain wicked light in his eyes.

I shrugged. “If they were not vampires … I doubt it’s going to matter a whole lot what time of day it is.”

He leaned down and picked up the car keys from where they’d fallen to the ground during my struggle. After placing them in my hand, he said. “I’ll look into this myself. This is probably something you need to stay out of.”

“Thanks for helping me … and I’ll think about leaving this to you,” I added.

“Tell Luke he needs to be looking after you better. If I have to take care of you, then you won’t be his for long,” he said with a playful wink.

I felt a stirring in my stomach that wasn’t as easy to dismiss as it had been before.

Was it his blood?

“I’ll do that,” I replied. “And thanks.”

He nodded. Instead of going back inside, he watched as I got in my car and drove away.

I wasn’t surprised when I saw the lights on in my house, along with Charlie’s red van in the driveway. It didn’t really bother me that Charlie and Luke were making a habit of invading my home, but I sure did wish I’d get some kind of warning prior to their visits.

As soon as I was through the door, Charlie was all over me.

“What have you found out?”

Shrugging, I told him, “Not a lot … except that Marcus Savoy isn’t involved with the Rush … or the murders.”

“How do you know that?”

“I just do.”

Luke rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’ve let yourself become one of his groupies, and now have it in your head that Savoy can do no wrong?”

I was annoyed, mainly because there was a seed of truth to his words. Of course there was no way I was going to admit it, especially to him. “Really Luke … I have no intention of becoming another of Mr. Savoy’s victims.”

“Hmm … if you say so,” he muttered.

It seemed like a good time to change the subject, so I did. “I was attacked in Crimson’s parking lot by two men wearing skull masks. They tried to drain my blood, but Marcus intervened.”

“I’ll just bet he did,” Luke put in.

Charlie threw him a dirty look. “Are you jealous?” he asked.

Before Luke could answer, my uncle turned back to me. “How much did they get?”

“I don’t know, but I started blacking out, and would have probably died, if Marcus hadn’t given me his blood.”

Luke looked up sharply. “You let him give you his blood?”

“Well yeah! I might have died if he didn’t. I was just lucky he heard me scream, or it would be my body they’d have found next.”

“That’s bad luck for you. Now he has a connection with you that will always be there,” Luke told me, shaking his head. “Not good at all. He’ll always be able to feel your emotions, and now he’ll know where you are … no matter how far away.”

The idea of having that type of connection with Marcus was a little scary, but it could be okay at other times, like if those blood drainers decided to pay me another visit.

“I guess worse things can happen,” I threw the words over my shoulder as I made my way to the kitchen. The counter was cluttered with empty beer bottles, the physical evidence of one of Charlie’s vices.

“Hey Charlie! Do you think you might be able to toss your bottles in the trash when you’re done with them?”

Before I could get the last word out, Uncle Charlie was already picking up the bottles. “Sorry. Too used to being a bachelor I guess.”

I opened my mouth to voice my opinion about his perpetual bachelorhood, but was interrupted by a loud knock at the door. I heard Uncle Basile grumbling long before I made it back into the living room.

“Charlie! You no good rascal! Get your dumb ass in here and explain yourself.” Basile hollered.

Charlie sauntered into the living room, demonstrating about as much concern as he would have if he were preparing to take a Sunday stroll. “Since when do I have to explain myself to you, old man?”

“Since it be my duty to look after Star. You know your brother didn’t want her involved in all this nonsense.”

“I don’t either, but we all know that Star has been involved in this nonsense, as you call it, since the day she was born.” Charlie finished with a sigh.

Basile’s frown deepened. “Makes no difference! If you weren’t bringing the trouble here … she could have lived out her days without ever knowing any better. But you have more rocks than brains in your head. Always have.”

After flopping down on my couch, Charlie waved away Basile’s words. “Trouble came here without my help. I’m just here taking care of it … and to keep Star safe.”

Basile grunted, showing his disbelief. “And how are ya doing that exactly? By leaving a vampire in charge of her … by letting her keep company with vampires?”

I decided it was time to throw in my two cents. “Uncle Basile … I know what I’m doing, and I want to help. Too many people have been hurt … including Max. I want it to stop.”

Basile’s eyes cut right through Charlie. “You need to tell her why her pa sent you away … and you be getting it done soon.”

Uncle Basile turned to me and said, “You be watching yourself Star.”

Without another word, he turned to leave.

“Okay Uncle Basile … but why you leaving so soon?”

“Can’t tolerate your visitors,” he shot back, before disappearing out the door.

Turning to Charlie, I asked. “What’s he talking about? What happened between you and Dad?”

Charlie shook his head. “Another time maybe. Right now Luke and I have a plane to catch. We need to report to the SCC. They’ll want to know what we have discovered so far.”

Now Luke spoke up. “Mate … do you really think it’s a good idea to leave Star alone? Now they know she is a witch … they won’t stop until they get her.”

Charlie shrugged. “She can take care of herself, if she’ll take the time to learn how to use her powers. Besides, I’m sure her new protector will look after her just fine.”

There was no missing the scowl on Luke’s face.

Charlie laughed. “If I didn’t know better … I’d think you’ve taken a fancy to my niece.”

I felt my face grow hot. “It’s okay. I need some rest anyway. It will be easier with the house empty.”

My uncle gave me a quick hug and was out the door, but Luke hesitated.

“Just speak up darling, and I’ll stay here with you,” he offered.

“I’ll be fine,” I said, shaking my head. “Go do what you have to do.”

It seems that even when you are sure nothing else can surprise you, something manages to do just that. That’s what happened next.

Pulling me into his arms, Luke brushed his lips against mine. “Maybe when I return … we can talk some more about our shared experience the other night.”

A fire erupted in the pit of my stomach. What I’d experienced with Luke came about as close to an orgasm as I’d ever gotten, without actually having sex. There was no denying the eroticism of the experience, or how addictive it might become.

Was I ready to become his feeder?

The look on my face must have been a dead giveaway. He leaned down and kissed my forehead.

“Just a suggestion,” he remarked with a smile.

It wasn’t long after Charlie and Luke were gone that I began to wish I’d taken Luke up on his offer to stay with me. The house was too quiet, and suddenly I realized that I felt alone. It had been so long since I’d felt like this, I wasn’t sure how to react.

My feelings of loneliness had to be due to my close call at Crimson. There was no way it could be because I was missing Luke, and I certainly wasn’t missing Marcus.

Since I was no longer comfortable with the silence I’d been craving, I turned on my stereo and cranked the volume up just a little.

At the moment, the couch seemed much more inviting than my bed. Lying down, I grabbed the teddy bear throw pillow from the end of the couch, and clutched it to my chest.

Almost as soon as I closed my eyes, I felt his presence. His essence was everywhere, in every nook and cranny of the room, but it didn’t stop there. I could feel him seeping into the very pores of my body, until it seemed we had become one soul.

My eyes flew open to find him standing next to the couch, gazing down at me. Locks of blond hair fell across his wide shoulders to cascade down his chest and back. I was overcome with the urge to reach out and touch those silky strands of spun gold, and this time I didn’t fight it. It seemed so natural to run my fingers through that thick - long hair, and still it felt natural when my fingers fell from his hair to his chest. There was no way I could keep myself from caressing the hard contours of his muscles.

The corners of his mouth lifted - his sensuous lips spreading into an approving smile.

“Now admit it sweetheart. You’ve wanted to do this from the moment you saw me.” His deep voice was soft, but had a teasing quality to it that set my heart racing.

I wanted to shake my head in denial, but I couldn’t think of anything but feeling his lips on mine - his tongue in my mouth. I even wanted to feel his fangs sinking into my neck.

Just the thought of my lover feeding on me, while he brought me to a mind-numbing orgasm, was too powerful to resist.

Then I felt his lips on mine - his tongue demanding access to my mouth. As he tasted me, a whirlwind of ecstasy surged through me with so much force that I couldn’t breathe.

The dream was shattered by the sound of rapid pounding. After opening my eyes, it took a few minutes for me to realize that I was no longer dreaming, but the residue of the dream still had me paralyzed.

There was more pounding before it began to dawn on me that if the person at my front door knocked any harder, the wood would splinter.

Jumping up from the couch, I stumbled to the front door and peered out the peephole. The early morning sun was just barely spilling onto the front porch, but it was light enough that I could see Daya standing at the door. She was still wearing her pajamas and slippers.

Before I had a chance to unlatch the screen door for her, Daya practically yanked it off the hinges trying to get it open.

“There’s something wrong with Max. Brian was driving by the Parker’s house a while ago and saw the ambulance taking someone away. I just know its Max!” Daya’s eyes were bright with fear.

“I tried calling you but you wouldn’t pick up,” she added, still fighting for breath.

“I was asleep,” I told her. Really I wasn’t too sure that I wasn’t still sleeping.

It wasn’t until I heard Brian rev the engine of his truck that I realized he was parked out front.

“If you’re going to the hospital, I’ll meet you there,” I told her. “I just have to get my purse and lockup.”

“Okay,” Daya said, as she was running back to Brian’s truck.

I briefly thought about calling Mrs. Parker, but decided against it. If something was wrong with Max, answering calls was probably the last thing Max’s mom would feel like doing.

* * *

  The sliding glass doors opened automatically when I approached the Emergency Room entrance at Cookson Regional Hospital. 

Daya was already there and pacing the floor. “I never got the chance to go see him. I meant to, but …” Her words faded away.

I knew Daya well enough to know that right now she was beating herself up, and realizing how hollow her excuses might sound.

“Is he …?” I couldn’t even bring myself to finish the sentence.

Daya shook her head. “He has gone into a coma again. His mom is with him now.”

A coma wasn’t good, but at least he was still alive. Something would have to be done, and soon. The way it was looking, I might be Max’s only hope.

If I couldn’t find a way to reverse the damage caused by the Rush, Max might be lost to me forever. That was a possibility I didn’t even want to consider. Losing my parents was bad enough. No way did I want to lose my best friend too.

I stuck around the hospital for another hour, waiting for Mrs. Parker to give us an update on Max’s condition.

When Dora Parker finally made an appearance, I was shocked at how worn she appeared. Although her face had always been a little thin and pale, it was twice as bad now. The dark circles beneath her eyes made her look more like the walking dead, than Max’s mom.

“You girls might as well go home. They’ve stabilized him … but he’s in bad shape,” Dora finished with a loud sob. Bringing her thin - shaking hands up to cover her face, she began weeping.

I put an arm around her shoulders. “If there’s anything I can do to help, just call. Day or night … it doesn’t matter.”

“Thank you,” she said, pulling her hands away from her tear-swollen eyes. “And thank you for being such a good friend to Max all these years.”

I shook my head. “It is I that should thank Max. No one could ever ask for a better friend.”

Before leaving, I gave Mrs. Parker and Daya a hug. Never again would I take my friends for granted.  You just never knew when or if you’d ever see them again.