Pixie Dust (Karli Lane #1) (18 page)

She gave me a confused look. “Huh?”

 I shook my head. “Um, nothing.” I lied. “Look Kendra, I wish I could help you but I can’t. Like I said, I really don’t know Leo very well. I think this is a conversation you should be having with him.”

“Oh, okay I understand.” She said, with disappointment in her voice. “Well thanks anyway for listening. The bar’s been pretty slow so I hope it picks up for you. You have a good night Karli.”

“You too. Thanks.” Okay, I know this is selfish, but that conversation actually made my whole week! I’ve been so bummed about everything lately. I really needed something good to happen and
that was it.
Now I need to do a little self reflection and figure out why I am so damn happy about it.

Leo came in shortly after my arrival and sat in his booth. He kept to himself like normal which was really driving me crazy tonight! I wished I knew what was on his mind. I tried doing some inventory for an upcoming supplies order but I kept finding myself staring in his direction instead. He caught me every once in a while and smiled. I found myself doing it even more, wanting to get caught. Anything to see that sexy grin again.

A couple hours into my shift, Chad came in. He walked over to the bar and sat down right in front of me.

“Chad, would you like a drink?” I asked, totally irritated that he was blocking my view of Leo.

“Um, sure I’ll have a beer please. Thanks, Kar.” Okay, why is he being so polite? This is sooo not Chad.

“Any particular kind?” I asked. “We have quite a few.”

“No, it doesn’t matter. Whatever you think is best. I really didn’t come here for a drink Karli. I came here to see you.” Oh Lord, I don’t think I want to see where this is going. I grabbed a pint of Hefeweizen from the tap and set it in front of him.

“Chad, I’m working. This really isn’t an appropriate place to start an argument, okay?”

“No Karli, you don’t understand. I didn’t come here to be an ass. I came here to apologize for my behavior.”

“Huh?” It was the only word I could form. I don’t think Chad has ever apologized for
anything
.

“Look Karli, I know I’ve been a dick. Not just recently, but throughout our whole relationship. I can’t stop thinking about it. I can’t stop thinking about
you
. I want you back Karli.”

“Excuse me?” I asked. This has to be a joke. Alright, where are the hidden cameras?

“I’m serious.” He said. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to become the kind of man you need me to be.”

“Chad, you shouldn’t have to change for anyone. You are who you are.” Is this the night for weird conversations, or what?

“But I
want
to change for you Kar. I don’t want to be without you anymore. I’m miserable without you. I’ve slept with hundreds of women since we broke up trying to forget you but I can’t.”

Okay, that’s disgusting. “Look Chad. I appreciate the sentiment. Really, I do. But I’m just not looking for a relationship with anyone right now. I have a lot going on in my life that would get in the way of that.”

 “Well, can we at least start fucking again? I mean, you still need to get off right?”
Okay, there’s the Chad I know.

“That’s sweet of you to offer, but I’ll pass.” I replied.

He grabbed a cocktail napkin and a pen from the bar. He wrote something on it before handing it to me. “Here’s my number. Call me anytime if you change your mind. I mean it Kar. Anytime. I’ll drop whoever I’m doing and come over.” Ah, yes he’s back in full effect now ladies!

I took the napkin from him as he threw a twenty on the bar and left. I looked up and saw Leo staring at me. He looked perturbed at first but then he smiled, making my heart flutter a little bit. I tossed Chad’s number in the garbage.

Roxy came up to me afterwards and said, “What the hell did that asshole want? You okay girl?”

“Ugh, can you believe he actually asked me to get back together with him?”

“Are you kidding me? Wow, he has a shit load of nerve. What a slimeball!”

“No kidding” I agreed.

“Men!” She huffed. “Can’t live with em, can’t ride a cock without em, huh?”

*******************

After closing, everyone left but Leo which was the norm these days. “Hey Leo,” I called out from the bar. “Would you mind hanging out an extra hour or so? I need to place a supplies order and didn’t get a chance to finish my inventory.”

“Not at all.” He replied. “Just let me know when you’re ready.” I brought a scotch over to his table as a gesture of thanks. He placed his hand over mine as I was setting the glass down. His touch sent sparks of electricity through my skin as a wave of heat rushed to my core. “Karli, please sit.”

“Um, okay.” I sank into the booth trying to figure out where he was going with this.

“How’ve you been?” He asked.

“Fine, I guess.”

“You don’t seem fine.” He said.  “I’m sensing sadness from you. I’ve been feeling it for weeks now. What’s going on with you?”

“That’s another vampire thing, right? The sensing stuff?”

Smiling he said, “Yes my love, it is a ‘vampire thing’.” Yay me! The pet names are back!

“What other psychic abilities do you have?” I asked. “Can you read minds?”

“I cannot read someone’s thoughts.” He said. “I can only sense their moods, and whether or not their emotions are directed towards me.”

“Like that morning in your penthouse. You said you could feel me projecting my anger towards you?”

“Exactly.” He replied.

“So what else can you do? I mean, as a vampire?”

“Didn’t you say something about inventory?” He smirked.

“This is more important.” I said, scooting closer. “So what other abilities do you have?”

Chuckling he replied, “You know if anyone else were this intrusive, I might take offense. Instead, I find myself actually looking forward to this little interrogation of yours. Either I’m a masochist, or I really miss spending time with you.”

“Quit trying to dodge the question.” I said as I began picturing myself kissing him. Shameless, I know.

He was obviously picking up on my train of thought because he gave me a lascivious grin before replying. “Give me a moment to think about what I’ve left out since we last spoke about this….. So far we’ve covered my maker, diet, sunlight, and now my ability to read emotions. That would leave my extraordinary strength, speed, and senses and my ability to charm others.”

“What do you mean, ‘charm others’?” I asked.

“I believe you referred to it as a Jedi mind trick.”

“How exactly does that work? How did you make me feel calm like that?”

“It’s in the eye contact.” He replied. “I must establish eye contact with the person that I am trying to influence.”

“So can you make someone do something against their will?”

“Like my evil bidding?” He teased.

 “No, that’s not what I was implying. I just meant, can a vampire,
in general
, make someone compromise their values, or commit a crime?”

“A vampire can plant suggestions into someone’s mind, but they will not work if the person is morally against said action. For example, let’s say I suggested you rob a bank. Would you do it?”

“Of course not!”

“Well, then my influence would not work on you. If I made that same suggestion to a convicted bank robber, my influence would compel them to rob another one as soon as possible. Does that make sense?”

“I think so. What about the emotion part? How does that work? How did you make me feel so calm?”

“Are you opposed to feeling calm in my presence?” He asked.

“Well no. That’s a stupid question.”

“There’s your answer then. If you would not feel an emotion towards me naturally, then you would not feel it with my influence. Here, let me try something. Look at me.”

Against my better judgment, I did as he said. I stared into those amazing bluish gray pools and saw a tiny flash of sparkles in them. In the next moment, I felt a burning need to kiss him. Before I knew it, I was sitting right next to him, framing his face with my hands and pulling him into me. When our lips met, my desire grew to an impossible degree. Our tongues danced as my heart felt like it was drumming out of my chest. I pulled back for a moment to appreciate his beauty and saw that his fangs were slightly longer than before. Curious, I reached out and gingerly touched one with the tip of my finger. He responded by taking it into his mouth, momentarily turning my body into Jello.

I wanted more of him so I moved in closer, straddling his hips while resuming our kiss. I could feel his growing erection beneath me. I spread my thighs further apart so I could feel his tip nudging against me through my soaking wet panties. I pressed the lower half of my body into his, soliciting a growl from the back of his throat. His hands avariciously roamed my thighs until they settled on my ass, holding me firmly in place.

“Oh my God, you feel so good!” I exclaimed.

All these damn clothes were getting annoying so I untied my halter and started unbuttoning his shirt, desperately wanting to feel his skin against mine. When I got half way down, he ripped the rest of the buttons away. He lifted my body and gently laid me on the table. It was soaked from the scotch we just knocked over but I couldn’t care less. I pulled his beautiful, bare chest into mine as I scratched my nails down his back. He left my lips to kiss a path down to the curve of my neck. I gasped when his fangs lightly scraped my skin.

“Leo, just do it!” I shouted. “Please just bite me before I change my mind!”

He pulled back and looked at me curiously. His gaze centered on my face, then to my neck, and back to my face again. His fangs retracted as he lifted me up and placed me back on the seat beside him, pulling my skirt back into place and retying my top.

“What the-----” I started to say.

“Wow, that was ah….a little more than I was expecting.” He said with a big grin.

“Uh, yeah that’s some influence you’ve got there Mister.” I replied, desperately trying to catch my breath.

With a low chuckle he said, “My dear, I’d hate to break this to you, but I released my hold on you the moment our lips touched. The rest was all you.”
Say what?