Fated (7 page)

Sneaky bastard.

“I will tell you everything I know and answer any question you have, Josephine.  But first you need to tell me why you are here in Bali.  And then, you need to tell me what
you
are,” Stefan murmured, tightening his grip against my arms.  He already knew me well enough to know that my first instinct would be to run.

My eyes widened, my panicked mind a jumble of questions and emotions.  How much did he know?  And more importantly, how had he figured it out?

Chapter 3

“Why do you need to know why I'm in Bali?  Why are
you
in Bali?”  I asked nervously, hoping that diversion would work with Stefan.  His eyes narrowed and he raised a single eyebrow in amused disapproval at my attempt to deflect his questions.  I should have known I'd be wasting my time.  Obviously he had planned on how this conversation was going to work and I just needed to get with the program.

“That is an easy question for me to answer.  To get away from vampire bullshit.  Along with other reasons,” Stefan answered, his jaw tensing with annoyance. “I find it unfair that I am answering your questions, yet I asked you first.  Let me ask you again, Josephine.  Why are you here?”

Shifting anxiously, I tried for nonchalance as I blurted out my standard bullshit line. “I'm a writer and I needed to get away.  Why does it matter to you why I'm here?”

Stefan released his grip on my arms and moved his large frame to sit against the headboard of my bed, crossing his arms and silently appraising me.  I shifted under the weight of his stare and hoped that if I didn't answer, his questions would stop.  I wasn't accustomed to answering to anyone, let alone a 975 year old vampire.

I had a sinking feeling those days were over.

“That sounds like the rehearsed version of why you're here.  Let us try another avenue.  Tell me what you are and I will tell you why it is important that I know,” Stefan paused, his face unreadable. “I had no problem telling you what I am and answering your questions.  Can you not do the same for me?”

Pulling my legs up on the bed so my chin was resting on my knees, I let my hair fall around my face, shielding me from the scrutiny of his eyes.  Logically, I knew he was right but fear gripped my chest like a vice.  A tear escaped from my eye and ran down my cheek. 

Stefan leaned forward, gently wiping the tear away with the pad of his thumb.  “Tell me, Josephine.  You can trust me.”

I pulled in a shaky breath.  He'd answered every question I'd thrown at him without any hesitation.  My closely guarded secret about my abilities paled in comparison to his own confession about being a mythical creature.

I could already tell I was going to hate it when he was right.

“I
am
a writer.  And I did need to get away.  From people,” I said quietly.  My eyes drifted to the bamboo floor before looking at him again.  “I'm a psychic empath, Stefan.  Being around a lot of people drain me.  You're the only other person that knows about this in Bali besides Anna and I'd like to keep it that way.”

“Can you read me?” He asked, motioning with his hand for me to continue.  His face was still a stony mask.

“No, you're a blank,” I replied, pulling my legs closer to my body.  “Georgia doesn't even know.  Usually when people find out, I'm either treated like a Magic 8-Ball or looked at like a freak.  I know how someone feels and I know things about people I don't want to know.  I have visions that play out in my mind like a movie.  You were different though.  You came to me in my dreams.”

Stefan's eyebrow raised again and he leaned forward in interest.  “You had dreams about me?  Explain.”

Sighing heavily, I lifted my head up from my knees to meet his curious stare.  I could thank my verbal diarrhea for this slip since I hadn't wanted to mention my dreams to him.  “I had a few dreams about a man that looked like you.  They seemed real and in them you spoke to me.  Don't be mad...I can't help what pops into my head.”

His face relaxed into a dazzling smile. “Josephine, I am anything but angry.  Let me tell you my story, the best I can remember it,” Stefan paused, running his tongue over his bottom lip and patting the bed beside of him with his large hand.  I scooted to sit next to him, putting my head on his shoulder and laying my legs across his lap so I could look at him while he spoke.

He wrapped his arm around me and his eyes took on a far away quality as he searched through his memories, his fingers absently trailing over my tops of my thighs.  “I was much like you during my human life.  I had visions of events that had not yet happened and like you, I told few of my ability.  After my human death my gift remained intact.  Instead of seeing the futures of humans I can see the futures of other vampires.  The ability has gotten stronger as I age.  I have also gained the ability to control my gift and can turn it off when needed.  At times a vision will leak through.  It is not an exact science.”

I snorted sarcastically at his last statement and Stefan laughed dryly in response.  The corners of his mouth lifted in a slight smile as he continued with his story.

“It was approximately 200 years ago that I had a vision of a beautiful human woman on a beach.  She would be a kindred spirit and her voice would call to me.  I did not understand what that meant at the time, nor had I ever had a vision of a human after becoming a vampire.  You can probably imagine the confusion I felt, knowing my destiny was to find her but having no idea where to begin looking for her or how to do it.  After two centuries of searching, I found her.  You,” Stefan paused and his face broke into a glorious smile.  “I had to wait over 200 years to find you, Josephine.  Now I have to convince you to remain by my side.”

He was worried about convincing
me
to stay?  As scared as I was of having any kind of romantic relationship, there was something about him that drew me to him.  The attraction between us was so profound it was almost magnetic.  My mind drifted over our conversation and I had more questions for him.

“You mentioned ‘vampire bullshit.’  What exactly does that mean?” I questioned.  Was there a network of vampires?  And if so, I wondered if they were as annoying as humans that networked?   I tried to envision vampires logging on to ‘VampBook,’ posting status updates and sending out friend requests.  I inwardly laughed at the thought of vampires starting groups and 'liking' pages.

“Yes to both.  They are as annoying as humans that network and we do network.  There is no ‘VampBook,’ yet I am sure the board would find the idea interesting.”  Stefan hesitated, taking an unnecessary breath. “There are five members that sit on a Council.  The Council answers to an Administrative Board of three.  I assure you, it is boring and tedious.” Stefan rolled his eyes, his lips frowning slightly.  “I work mainly with the Board, because of both my age and ability.  The Board sends their requests for me through the Council.  Their requests are non-negotiable.”

My eyes widened in alarm as he talked.  I hadn't asked him about networking vampires out loud, I'd thought about it!  He's also a mind-reader?!
 
I buried my head in my hands for a moment, trying to hide the blush that was quickly spreading.  He'd been reading every thought that had I'd had about him and he hadn't bothered to share
that
information with me?  I was so furious I could hardly put a coherent thought together.

“Back up the train, Romeo.  You can read minds?”  I screeched loudly, feeling the burn of anger flush across my face. 

Stefan cringed and placed his long index finger over my lips. “We are in the same room, there is no reason to scream like a banshee.  I can assure you my hearing is perfect.  In fact, I can hear Georgia at her villa next door,” Stefan smirked, his eyes twinkling and his nose wrinkled in distaste.  “Apparently she likes reggae.”

“Quit avoiding my question.  Can you read minds?” I asked through clenched teeth.  Stefan's smirk deepened and I could feel my blood pressure rising.  He needed to start talking and stop the sexy smirking before I exploded.  I felt myself begin to tremble in anger and my heart was hammering in my chest as I waited for him to answer me.

The amusement quickly faded from his eyes and he regarded me with a cautious smile.  He took my hand in his, rubbing the top of my hand with his thumb.  I watched him warily as he absently stroked my hand.

“I cannot read all minds.  Just yours and I cannot do that consistently.  If your thought is strong enough or there is enough emotion behind the thought, then yes, I can read your mind. Some of your thoughts are quite amusing.”  Stefan grinned widely. “Your thoughts about 'spontaneous combustion' was actually quite funny, Josephine.  I promise I will try to avoid reading your mind if it makes you that uncomfortable.  It could be quite valuable if we could learn to communicate this way.”

My jaw dropped and I looked at him like he'd suddenly sprouted two heads.  My mind was whirling as I replayed our conversation in my mind.  He was a vampire, we shared a similar ability
and
he could read my mind?  He's making comments like we're going to be some kind of super power couple, mind-reading and conquering the world together?  Would we wear matching capes or costumes?

“Josephine, I cannot read your mind right now but I can tell that it is going a million miles a minute.” Stefan got up from the bed and extended his large hand to me.  I looked up at him, my mouth still agape.  “It is still early enough to go out. Shower, dress and I will be waiting for you in the living room.”

Brushing Stefan's extended hand aside, I jumped up from the bed and stomped to the bathroom.  I didn't look back at him.  I knew if I did and saw that smirk on his face, I'd explode.  I slammed the door closed and turned on the shower, stepping under the hot spray.  Showering quickly, I dried myself off and pulled a comb rapidly through my hair.  Wiping off the mirror with the towel, I rubbed moisturizer on my face and dabbed on lip gloss.

I found that the more I went through my routine, the less angry was at him.  I wasn't sure how I felt about this instant relationship I could feel myself sinking into with him.  Was he assuming I'd give up everything to follow him around the world on his ‘vampire missions?!’
 
The more I considered it, the more I realized I probably would do just that.  There was some sort of invisible bond I felt to the vampire that was waiting for me in the other room.

Angrily stomping my foot in a very Georgia-like fashion at my thoughts, I opened the door to head back to my bedroom.  I pulled out a pair of dark blue jeans and an aqua sequined tank top, picking out a matching bra and panties and quickly dressed.  Slipping my feet into a pair of low-heeled sandals, I walked over to the full length mirror on my closet door and stopped briefly to put gold hoops through my ear lobes.  Even though I was irritated, I had to admit that I'd never looked better.  My skin was glowing, my cheeks flushed a soft pink.  If this was the side effect of hot sex with a vampire Adonis, I'd gladly sign on for more.

Looking at my reflection for a final time in the mirror, I took several deep breaths and slowly walked down the hallway to see him sitting cross-legged on my couch.  He was flipping through my first published book, 'Harnessing your Inner Psychic'.  I stopped to take in the sight before me, feeling a giggle rise in my chest and deflating my remaining anger.  It was funny enough trying to figure out how he'd managed to get his six-foot-four body in a cross-legged position on my couch.  Seeing him reading a metaphysical self-help book was icing on the proverbial cake.

I felt my face relax into a large smile and I cleared my throat loudly.  “Feeling the need for some metaphysical self-help?” I questioned innocently, still fighting my internal giggles.

Stefan looked up at me, his eyes twinkling.  “I am happy that I amuse you.”  His gaze moved appreciatively over me, not missing one inch of my body.  “You look beautiful, Josephine.  Mouth-watering.”

Stefan had changed into another pair of jeans and had paired them with a dark gray t-shirt that was as thin as tissue, the muscles of his chest outlined through the transparent material.  A shiver moved down my spine as my eyes traced his torso longingly.  I wanted to explore his chest with my hands and rip the shirt from him since I knew what was underneath.  Shaking my head, I tried to clear my muddled thoughts and stomp down my growing, needy libido.

“Are you ready, Romeo?” I questioned as casually as I could manage, focusing on grabbing my purse and keys from the table.  Stefan effortlessly unfolded himself from the couch and walked over join me by the door.  He pulled me against the hardness of his body, his lips in my still-damp hair.

I felt him inhale slightly against me. Was he smelling me?!  My body temperature rose when I realized that not only was he smelling me that I
liked
it.  I knew it was time to change direction before dinner and our clothes became a distant memory.

“So, where are we going?” I asked curiously, pulling slightly away from him and tugging at his hand to follow me.  We left the house and I stopped long enough for me to lock the door behind us.

“A restaurant called ‘Deus.’  I hear it has acceptable food.” Stefan wrinkled his nose again.  I had to admit that was one of his more adorable facial expressions.  A six-foot plus vampire wrinkling his nose was not anything I ever expected to see.

“And what are you going to do while I eat?  Can you eat?” I asked as he opened the car door for me, patiently waiting to close it until I'd pulled my legs inside of the small, expensive car.  I was amazed that someone his size could squeeze in a car this small.  I heard the driver's side door close and I realized just how fast he could move.  It took him less than two seconds to make it around the car
and
get inside.  My face must have reflected my shock because he grinned smugly at me.