The Turning (6 page)

“I’m from Cork, Ireland. I was born in 1548, and I was turned a vampire when I was thirty years old. Who is your favorite family member?” he asked, taking his turn.

“I don’t have a favorite, and I think it would make me a horrible person if I did.” I took another card and laughed. “Gin—shot or clothes? And I decline the kiss.”

Brian jerked his head back but then quickly checked my cards. Then he smirked again. Was he pleased that I had no problem not only beating him? Or did I just make the game more interesting by holding out on kissing him again?

He quickly refilled his glass before slamming it back. “That was interesting. I have not taken shots in a very long time, and I am already starting to feel it,” he chuckled as he shook his head.

We played several more rounds, both taking shots and refusing to want to kiss. At the end of forty-five minutes, I had four shots to his seven.

“Gin. Eight to four my lead, shot?” I asked, not bothering to hide my gloating at winning.

“No, this time I will take off clothing.” And with that he whipped off his shirt to reveal that gorgeous chest and stomach. I also noticed for the first time that he had wonderful shoulders and strong muscular arms.

“And now I want my kiss. Your arms and shoulders are fantastic,” I whispered, slightly dazed. What was it with any emotion flooding me so completely that I had trouble processing since I became a vampire? I mean, he was god-like hot but it’s not like I’d
never seen
a good-looking guy before!

“Well then, if I had known that was what it would take to get you to kiss me, I would have opted for that sooner,” he purred. “Come to me, Kelly.”

“Come to me? Who says that?” I laughed. Still I found myself crawling on my knees over to him and sitting on my feet right in front of him. I grabbed him behind the head, my other hand went on his shoulder and over to his back. The kiss I gave him was one of my personal bests, if I did say so myself.

“I felt that all throughout my body. Wow,” he rasped against my lips. That reaction caused me to move around him and start to touch his back. Slowly I rubbed his wonderful, firm muscles. “I have never had a woman caress my back as you are. Where did you learn to do this?”

“I had a friend in high school who was training to teach people how to be a masseuse. He needed people to practice with and I offered. I learned a lot that way.”

“Well my regards to your teacher.” He let out a small moan and that was my cue to go back to the card game. I took my seat on the other side of the table and dealt the cards. “Why did you stop?”

“I stopped because it would have meant the end of the card game. And I was having fun kicking your over four-hundred-year-old ass,” I replied with a wink.

“Really? Well maybe I should pick up my game a bit. Gin.” He gave me another smirk that made me want to stomp my foot like a little kid. “And I’d like my kiss.”

“I choose the shot, and if you want a kiss, get your ass over here,” I grumbled playfully like a sore loser. And with that his lips were on mine much faster than I could move. If I could still breathe, it would have taken my breath away. I couldn’t help myself, when he pulled away I pulled him right back and took a deeper kiss. “That one was for free.”

“I appreciate it. My deal.” Then he took the cards and tucked my hair behind my ear before he went back to his side of the table. “Are you drunk yet?”

“Almost, you?” I asked, grinning like a fool. The man did know how to kiss, I’d give him that.

“Yes, hence my switching to removing my clothes in front of you. I really am sure I have never played strip gin before.” He snorted, laughing at his own joke. “I like it and you. Are you upset I turned you?”

“I don’t know yet, to be determined. Let’s leave it alone for tonight,” I deflected as I grabbed another card. Looking at my hand, I wiggled my eyebrows at him. “Gin, and no kiss this time” After several minutes, and a few more rounds, I was so drunk I started to opt for removing clothing and Brain was down to his boxers. “I’m enjoying the view from over here very, very much.”

“The same goes for me. Gin, and I want my kiss,” he chuckled as he showed me his cards. I took off a sock and leaned over the table for a quick kiss. “That does not count as a kiss. That was a peck.” This time I gave him a real kiss that gave me chills all over my body. “Now that was a kiss, Kelly, one I would like to repeat as often as possible.”

I lost the next three rounds. Took one shot, then removed my other sock, and jeans very slowly while watching Brian watching me. I thought I saw drool before I instructed, “Brian, come here and claim your kiss. Unless you don’t want one now that I’m down to bra and thong?”

Again, in an instant he was by me, but this time he also picked me up in his arms. I wrapped mine around his neck when he didn’t kiss me immediately. Brian first kissed the base of my throat and worked his way up my neck, little by little. Then he started nibbling on my ear, running his tongue all around it. The moan I let out seemed to be the green light Brian needed to make his move. He had me in my bedroom and on my bed so fast the room blurred.

“I want to feel your body beneath me, Kelly. More than I ever wanted to feel a woman’s body.
Mo mhile stór
,” he hissed while unclasping my bra. Once gone, he had one hand in my hair and the other caressing my chest.

“What does that mean?” I groaned. He lowered his head to mine, looked right in my eyes, and then touched our lips ever so softly.

“It means
my thousand treasures
. My darling, I want to kiss every inch of your body.” And he did. Each touch and each kiss made me shiver. “Why are you trembling?”

“Your hands and kisses are driving me insane,” I panted, even if I didn’t need the air anymore. It seemed old habits really did die hard. “They are cold and everything feels so sensitive. It’s never been like this before.”

It seemed he had my panties and his boxers off at the same time. His hands spread my thighs. Then his fingers were everywhere, inside of me while also playing with my sensitive nub. Brian’s mouth and tongue sucked and licked my nipples while my hands grasped his hair as I held on for the ride.

After I finished my earth shattering orgasm, I quickly flipped us over so this time I was on top. “Thank you,” I whispered then nibbled on his ear, kissed my way down his neck and chest. I licked all around his perfect abs just to tease him before I took him in my hand.

“
Rath Dé ort
! You thought waiting a year was long, I have waited over a hundred,” he exclaimed. I knew he was telling the truth since there was no cold wave. “Please do not stop, I love the way you touch me. I love the way you kiss me.
Go raibh maith agat, go raibh maith agat
!” After he finished, I rolled off him and lay against him as he gently played with my hair and kissed me softly.

“What does that all mean?” I inquired quietly while rubbing his chest. It was completely smooth, firm, toned, and hairless.

“I said god bless you, and thanked you over and over again for giving me such great pleasure. I do have an insatiable appetite, I should warn you. I want more.”

He slowly smiled at me and his eyes gleamed. I could spend weeks looking into Brian’s eyes and still never see everything there was to him. I was still thinking about that when he rolled on top of me, wrapped my thigh around his hip, and entered me slowly.

Maybe this was what it was really like to make love? I thought to myself as I grabbed on to his triceps and gasped at the breach. He kept his eyes open, looking into mine the entire time, and I knew without a doubt he was there with me and wanted no one else.

I couldn’t keep my moans, groans, and other sounds I’d never heard come out of me inside. This was the best sex of my life!

“I’ve never wanted anyone more than you, right now,” he yelled as he finished inside me. After a few moments, we untangled from each other. Brian flopped onto his back and pulled me against him. At first I waited for that awkward feeling I normally had when the man I just had sex with wanted to snuggle. It never came. Instead, it felt very right, as if we’d been doing it for years. And for the first time in my life I curled up against a man, in his arms, and fell asleep.

“
Dia dui tar maidin mo mhúirnín bán
,” Brian said as he kissed my stomach and looked up at me. I kind of liked waking up this way. I was so enamored with his accent, wooed with his Gaelic, I didn’t even care I had no idea what he was saying to me.

I thought he was gentle last night, but today he was treating me like I was crystal, something so rare and fragile he was afraid I’d break. His kisses kept moving down my body until he stopped at one spot, and I honestly thought this must be what heaven is like.

I tried to control my squirming and wriggling, but I couldn’t hold back my moaning. “Brian, holy shit. How did you learn to do that? Never mind, I don’t want to know, just don’t stop! Holy shit,
holy
shit
,” I screamed as I climaxed. He slowly kissed his way back up my body. Everything was so much more sensitive to me. He stopped to kiss and play with my nipples until I thought I’d climax again.

Then I flipped us both over, slid on top of him, and let him inside me. We went slowly again, this time me sitting on his lap. Brian sat up, clasped my hands, and I leaned back while rocking as he kissed my neck. He let out a deep moan as he finished and I collapsed on him. I just lay there awhile with him still inside me.

After a few minutes I started to realize how naked I really was. I had actually snuggled and slept with a man in my bed. I got off the bed and just about ran into the shower as fast as my gelatin legs could carry me. I had a lot to think about. I know I had changed a great deal but this was shocking. I’d never let my libido control me into hopping in bed with a guy I barely knew and this was the
vampire
who made
me.

What was I thinking?
I snuggled with him all night and was actually able to sleep. Falling asleep with a man in my bed was something I had been incapable of in the past. My thoughts were interrupted as the shower curtain was pulled back.

“May I wash your back?” Brian asked as he picked up the soap.

“Um, Brian, I wanted some alone time to think. A lot has happened and well, um, I’m not comfortable showering with someone. I mean the lights are on.” I tried to cover up with the shower curtain, which of course was see through so all I accomplished was getting water all over the floor.

“Kelly, you are gorgeous. You never have to hide your luscious body from me. I kissed every inch of it last night. I know exactly what you look like and I love your body. If you need to think, I understand. I just never want you to think you have to hide from me,” he said as he stepped back out of the shower.

Slowly replacing the soap, his shoulders hunched down and he opened his mouth again, but instead of saying anything, he shook his head, turned away, and left the bathroom.

I would have to handle that after I got out of the shower. I took an extra-long one and at the end of it I had resolved to just let things flow one step at a time because this was a lot for anyone to take in. I decided that I had to work on being more comfortable with my body—it was the body I would have for the rest of my immortal life, after all.

Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped my big bath towel around me, sprayed my hair with leave-in conditioner, and walked into the bedroom. Brian was gone.
Well maybe he didn’t leave the apartment, just the bedroom
.

I walked into the living room and gasped. It was like a catalog photo shoot! There were dresses and gowns on rolling hanging racks and even a lingerie rack by the kitchen. And lastly, there was one with suits by the TV.

I looked around wondering if great sex came with hallucinations normally. “Brian? Are you here?” One more glance around the living room I saw the two dozen long stem roses on the coffee table already in a vase. I slowly walked to them and picked up the note that was with them.

My darling Kelly,

I had a selection brought over from one of my stores all in your size. All are for you unless there is something you do not like, but hopefully I’ve learned enough about what you like and do not. Also I would love the pleasure of your company to a charity ball this evening, hence the formal gowns. I understood you needed time to think, that is why I left while you were in the shower, but I figured a day at the spa would help you get ready and relax. I made reservations for you and your dearest friend Nicole at 11am, which should give you plenty of time to unwind and get ready for tonight’s festivities. I will pick you up at 6pm, and if you do not open the door I will know you decided to never see me again. I hope with all my heart that is not the case.

Mo mhile grá,

Brian

I picked up my phone and dialed. “Hey, Nicole, are you busy today?”

“No why?” she ventured. It always cracked me up how cautious she was. It wasn’t like I’d ever asked her to rob a bank after she said she was free.

“Just come over. Words can’t describe this, and hurry.”

“Is everything okay, Kelly?” Nicole pushed, sounding even more freaked out.

“More than okay. Just get over here, and can you please pick us up some lattes on the way?” I knew I wouldn’t drink mine, but I had to try and act like nothing had changed. Whenever we saw each other, especially on weekends, one would splurge and bring over coffee.

“Of course, I’m grabbing my keys and walking out the door now. Be there in a few,” she agreed and then hung up. I couldn’t think of another person in the world I would want to share this, or anything, with.

Nicole and I met freshman year of undergrad at University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign. We both had horrible roommates and a mutual friend at the boy’s dorm that was on the other side of ISR—That was short for Illinois Street Residence, it was also known as the dork or engineering dorm. I chose it because my sister had lived there before me and loved it. It was much quieter than some of the other dorms.

The roommate I was assigned had been more straight-laced than anyone I had ever known… Ever. I wasn’t a big partier, but I was open to going out and definitely experiencing new things. Well, if it was legal, of course. My roommate came to college with her boyfriend that stayed at the boy’s dorm and just about lived in our room. He ate my food but was at least pleasant so I put up with it.