A Beast For The Eyes: A Steamy Shifter Romance (A Ravenswood Romance Book 2) (12 page)

“It's Eirik, although these days I go by Erik. Times change.” he shrugged, his voice low enough for only her to hear.

“You’re Scandinavian. You are a long way from home.” She said it as an accusation.

He ignored her jab. “And may I ask, lovely lady, what is your name?”

She thought for a moment and debated whether or not to give him her real name. She decided it wouldn't really hurt. “I was born Kathleen. These days I go by Kat.”

“Nice to meet you, Kat. Are you Irish? Seems like you are a long way from home too.” He leaned casually back in his chair.

Kat narrowed her eyes at him. “Touché. But I’m not here for pleasantries. I want to know why you are here in New Orleans.”

He looked at her incredulously. “The music, the food, the culture and what other city has a whole celebration to the god Bacchus. Not to mention the incredible feeding ground here. What more could a vampire want?” His blue eyes twinkled at her. His blond hair kept falling into his eyes as he spoke. Kat found it alluring.

Kat stared into his eyes and tried to wipe out the image of him kissing her. She had to admit it was one hell of a kiss. It had been so long since she had been kissed like that. She felt heat rise in her body. She shook the thought out of her head.

“How long are you going to stay? Are there others with you?” She demanded.

“I don't know how long I will stay here. I’ve just arrived, dear Kat. I am, unfortunately, alone.” He winked at her again. She raised her eyebrow at him.

He had the nerve to say, “Even if there were any others out there they would either bow down and worship me, flee the city after seeing my magnificent good looks, or I'd destroy them one by one.”

Kat rolled her eyes at him. She thought to herself what an arrogant jerk he was. She couldn't believe it. She debated whether she should just leave now, rather than spend any more time with him. Kat felt his hand on her shoulder.

“Stay and dance with me,” he said to her. She looked at him like he was insane. He continued, “I know you fed last night so you're not hunting. What harm will it do if you have one dance with me?”

Kat just looked at him with disgust in her eyes and said, “Hell will freeze over before I dance with someone like you,” then she stormed out of the club and into the night. She was angry at herself for the attraction she felt for him. He was so arrogant! How could her body betray her like that?

A couple of nights later, she spotted Erik in Eternal Darkness. He was at the bar surrounded by women. They were all throwing themselves at him like he was some kind of rock star. He had the nerve to look at Kat and give her a sly smile. She turned her back to him and walked to the dance floor. The DJ was playing one of her favorite songs. She started to move around on the dance floor. Kat stopped as Erik came up behind her and put his arms around her. A thought came into her mind. She decided to play him. Kat started grinding against him. Several girls at the bar gave her a mean look. She danced with him a few songs then suddenly turned to him and leaned in close and said, “Gotta go. Later stud.” She walked out fast before he knew what hit him.

CHAPTER 4

It had been months since she last saw Erik and she was glad. She hoped that he left the city for good. She didn't feel like running into him, especially not tonight while she hunted. Kat wandered if she spent too much time at Eternal Darkness and decided to try the Dungeon instead. She didn't want to draw too much attention to herself.

She made her way upstairs to where they had a small dance floor. Her hips swayed as she walked and she knew the behind her was watching her every move. He was too easy. She needed the hunt. When she arrived at the second floor several guys made eyes at her, but she ignored them. She had her eyes on the lone guy in the corner. He was going to be a challenge and that excited her.

Kat started to walk towards him. She smiled at him but he didn’t smile back at her. He looked lost in his own world. He seemed indifferent. She wasn't used to getting this kind of look from a guy.

She asked him the usual questions. He gave her one word answers. After they talked quite a while and Kat had still not made much progress, she decided that this might be more of a challenge than she was ready for. She turned to leave and he placed a hand on her arm. Kat smiled but didn't turn around to face him. She knew now that she had him right where she wanted him.

He asked her if she would like to dance. She nodded yes and followed him. Kat started off with some slow, sensual moves. They danced for a few songs, Kat hoped to enthral him with her most seductive dance moves. She could tell that it was working on him. The guy started to loosen up.

She danced and rubbed up against him, then asked him if they could go somewhere a bit more private. He didn't hesitate and took her up on her offer. When they emerged from the darkness of the club, Kat took a good look at the guy. He wasn't incredibly handsome but he wasn't bad looking either. There was something about him that intrigued her. He was tall and quite thin with long, dark hair. He dressed all in black like the typical Goth guy.

Kat led him to an abandoned apartment that she knew drug addicts hadn't taken over yet. She pulled him close and shut the door behind them. She kissed him hard and long. His lips were so soft. Her fangs grazed over his lips causing a drop of blood to appear. He tasted so sweet. Her desire was growing. She pressed her body into his, feeling muscles that she didn't know where there. She was surprised that someone so skinny could be so fit. Kat slipped her hand under his shirt and ran her fingers over his rippling chest.

Kat heard the guy groan as their kisses turned passionate. She got lost in the moment and her fangs started to extend. The guy's breathing got heavier as he became more and more excited. Kat started to kiss his neck. She grabbed his shirt and pulled it up over his head. He looked surprised at her forwardness. Her nimble fingers opened the button on his black jeans and pulled down the zipper, parting the teeth slowly. She slid down his pants and lowered herself to her knees.

The guy grinned and Kat knew what he was thinking. She slipped his boxers down to his ankles then looked up into his eyes. She smiled and showed him her fangs. Instead of looking scared, he looked intrigued.

Kat gently kissed up and down his inner thigh. Her fangs grazed it as she moved her mouth. She repeated this action and went up and down his other thigh. The guy gasped then groaned as Kat found his femoral artery and pierced his skin. Slowly she pushed her fangs into his flesh and the blood started to flow into her mouth in a steady stream. Kat heard him moan again as she drank from him.

She took the same amount of blood a human would give as a blood donation. He would be lightheaded, but he would live.. When she was done, she stood up and kissed him on the lips. Looking into his eyes she gave him instructions to get dressed and go back to the club. He would remember nothing of their encounter. He nodded and started redressing. Kat gave him one last kiss as he left.

Suddenly, Erik stepped out of the shadows. Kat was so lost in the moment she wasn’t even aware that he was there. That scared her because she should have sensed his presence when he arrived. She was also embarrassed that he had seen her feeding. No one since her Sire watched her actually feed. Her creator only watched in the beginning to make sure he could teach her how to do it correctly without drawing attention.

Erik walked up to her. She stared at him with cold eyes.

“What are you doing here? Are you following me?” She demanded. He grabbed her and kissed her hard on the mouth. In a low, raspy voice he said to her, “That was so hot. I want you right here and now.”

Kat felt her whole body tingle as he whispered in her ear. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been intimate with someone that she wasn’t feeding on. Intimacy while feeding was very different. She felt her breath deepen with excitement, but her mind buzzed with anger.
How could he be so arrogant that he thought kissing her would make her fall under his spell!?
She raised her hand to strike him, but found herself pinned by him against the wall. He pushed his lips against hers with a desire that made her body ache.

Kat was by no means a weak vampire. She had just fed and could have over taken him without a problem. However, she found herself kissing him back. Her excitement was undeniable as Erik hands moved over every curve of her body. The heat between them was unreal.

He started to unhook her black, leather bustier exposing her smooth, unblemished skin. Erik grabbed her wrists and pulled them above her head. He pinned them to the wall above her. Kat was tortured as used one hand and slowly unhooked one clasp at a time until they were all undone. Gently, he pulled apart both sides of the bustier exposing more of her milky white skin to him. He gazed at her bare breasts for a moment before slipping off the bustier and letting it fall to the ground. Leaning down, his lips touched her exposed flesh. Erik started placing tiny kisses all over her. His tongue snaked out of his mouth and started to lick her. All she could do is moan in pleasure.

As he continued to kiss her, his body pressed hard into hers. Her excitement started to build and she squirmed against him. He let go of her wrists. Her hands moved into his hair holding his head as he licked and kissed her breasts. His hands started moving her skirt up her body. He discovered she was wearing a lacy garter with stockings and sheer panties. Erik fingers moved over her panties as he continued to suck her nipples. He toyed with her nipples, driving her insane with lust.

Kat moaned louder as she felt his touch. He moved back to kissing her lips as his hands grabbed her panties and pulled them down. He broke their kiss long enough for her to step out of them. His fingers went back to exploring her and she felt one slip inside. She wanted him. Kat moved her hips and felt his cock press against her pelvis. Reaching down she unzipped his pants, freeing his hardness.

Kat moved her legs and wrapped them around Erik’ waist. She moved herself into a position so he could slide inside her. He let out a groan as his length plunged all the way in her. His hips moved in a slow purposeful rhythm.

Kat closed her eyes and savored the feeling of him inside her. As she got more aroused, her hips started to move with his. She looked at him and his fangs were already showing. He moved faster and faster. Kat knew she was getting close to being pushed over the edge and he was not far behind her. He moved hard and fast now. Just as he was about to explode deep in her, he leaned down and sunk his fangs into her neck. Kat felt a rush of excitement as her whole body tensed up and then began to shake. She let out a cry of ecstasy and felt Erik release inside her.

Erik removed his fangs first before slipping his cock out of her. He zipped up his pants and then pulled her in and held her close. “That was amazing,” he whispered in her ear. Kat grinned as he asked. “So Beautiful, have you changed your opinion of me?”

“Maybe, “she said. “I still think you are arrogant, however, maybe it’s not so bad.”

Kat certainly wasn’t going to tell him that she was starting to have real feelings for him. He was probably going to leave now that he got what he wanted. Why should he stick around?

“It’s getting near dawn. We should go.” Kat said softly not wanting to leave his embrace.

He released her so she could get dressed. She walked slowly to the door and he grabbed hold of her and pulled her to him again. He gave her one last kiss before they both headed out into the night.

Kat went out the next few nights but there was no sign of Erik. She wasn’t surprised by this and she knew that she shouldn’t feel hurt, but she did. It had been decades since someone had been interested in her in a romantic way. Kat wanted to be more than just a one night stand to Erik.

CHAPTER 5

It had been two weeks and Kat was walking through the streets on the outside of the French Quarter when she saw a man walking towards her. This was strange since all the shops were closed and there weren’t many apartments in this section of town. However, it could be he was a tourist that had gotten lost. Strayed off from the beaten path. She didn’t think anything more about it.

Instead she thought of Erik and how she wished she could see him again. If she closed her eyes she could feel his lips touching hers. She longed for the feel of his hand on the small of her back. She should be able to find him, there were ways of tracking another vampire down. She worried that maybe he didn’t want to be found.

Kat was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t see that the stranger had a stake in his hand. Suddenly the man was on her. She grabbed his arm just before he plunged it into her heart. They wrestled on the deserted street. The man was strong for a human. Kat tried to escape his grip. She almost succeeded, then she felt the stake push into her stomach. It was painful but she knew it wouldn’t be deadly. But, it had weakened her considerably.

The man pulled another stake from his long coat. Kat pulled the one out of her stomach and dropped it to the ground. She fell to her knees on the sidewalk. The stranger stood over her. The stake was raised up and poised to go straight through her heart. Kat had never had experienced fear like this in her life.

Suddenly, someone came up behind the man. In an instant, the figure snapped the man’s neck. The stranger slumped to the ground. Erik picked up Kat and brought her to his car. He laid her down in the back seat then got in the front and started to drive.

Kat wasn’t sure how long they had been driving or where they were headed too. The car door opened and Erik picked her up and carried her inside the house. He went into a bedroom and laid Kat on the bed. Carefully, he looked at her wound. “You will need some time to heal. This is pretty bad.”

Kat thought he was exaggerating. Her wound couldn’t be bad. She got stabbed in the stomach, nowhere near the heart. She couldn’t understand why he was so worried and why she was in so much pain.

“I’m so sorry, Kat.” He said softly.