A Night at Club Vampire 2 (3 page)

His smile widened. "I have no objections to you touching whatever you like." His eyes roamed over her body, taking an extra few moments to savour the sight of her ample breasts, peeking out from under the fabric of her blouse.

Lacey felt a jolt of desire run through her body as his hunger-filled eyes seemed to roam over every inch of her. She chewed on her lower lip, not quite certain what to say.

She was here for a reason wasn't she? She couldn't seem to remember much of anything at that particular moment. The intensity of his gaze as he looked her over and the effect it was having on her body seemed to make her mind slightly hazy.
I'm a reporter! I need to
get the story. This is business Lacey Turnbell. Business!

"I just have one request to ask," Nigel stated, then paused as if waiting for a reply.

Lacey blinked looked up into his eyes and waited.
Was I supposed to say something?

"I'm sorry, didn't I ask what? Ummm, what?"

A chuckle erupted from deep down in his throat. "Tell me your name."

"Ohhh," Lacey gave an embarrassed laugh. Hadn't she done that already? Damn it!

What was
wrong
with her tonight? "Lacey," her voice cracked making her name sound like
acy
so she tried again, "My name is Lacey."

What was that smell? It seemed to be coming from him. She leaned in closer to get a better whiff. Like cologne, but not as harsh. So masculine... She yearned to fall into his arms and trail light kisses down his neck and across his powerful chest. It was intoxicating.

The music switched up to a slow, seductive melody. Leaning around Nigel, Lacey looked onto the dance floor, trying to spot her friends. They all seemed to have paired up already and were being drawn into the arms of their partners.

She began to have an odd feeling. A heat began to simmer between her legs. Her head felt light and all her cares, worries and insecurities seemed to be fading away. She cautiously looked down at her drink.
Did someone put something in it when I wasn't
looking?
She had dabbled lightly in various narcotics when in college and was familiar with many of the effects. The feeling reminded her of ecstasy, but not quite.

She looked up into Nigel's eyes. God, she wanted that man! Her body demanded to be pressed against his. Her hands itched to tear the clothing away from his body so she could explore it more intimately. She closed her eyes and tried to ward off the feelings that were overwhelming her. She was here to work. Get the story. She needed to stay focused.

"Lacey." Nigel repeated, closing the distance between them. He reached out and tilted her chin up with his finger so her eyes met his.

"Nigel." She gave in to her urges and closed the remaining inches between them, slipping her hands around his neck, her breasts pressed tight against him. Her lips close to his ear, she announced in a whisper: "I think I've been drugged."

Not exactly
, Nigel thought as he slipped an arm around Lacey and began to lead her to the door marked
Private
. "Come with me," he urged when she hesitated. He didn't want her to want him simply because she was under the spell that the band so expertly wove.

Lacey nodded, clinging to him. His breath caught in his throat when her hand found its way under his shirt and began to trail up his flat stomach to his chest. "So cool," she purred in his ear.

The feel of her warm breath against his neck and her body clinging to his fuelled the desire that was beginning to kindle within him. A part of him begged to stay where they were and bask in the feel of her touch.
Travis took advantage of the music seduction and
it worked out fine for him and Trinity
. The thought almost convinced him to stay on the dance floor with her.
Why do I have to play the gentleman?

Nigel closed his eyes briefly and a low growl escaped his lips.
Keep moving, get her out
of here
. With the last ounce of resolve he had, Nigel swept Lacey off her feet and into his arms, opening the door marked
Private
and making his way to his office.

Several minutes later he had escorted her to his office and lowered the blinds over the window, which in turn made the room sound-proof, blocking out the intoxicating music.

Nigel settled Lacey on the maroon suede sofa, which sat facing a small stone fireplace.

Crossing the room, he opened the mini fridge located behind his desk where he kept his blood stash, and pushed the bottles of blood aside to grab hold of a bottle of water. He took it back to her, passing it to her as he took a seat beside her.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked, already knowing the answer, but asking anyhow.

Lacey nodded and looked at him, a bewildered look on her face. "It was the strangest thing. I can't even describe the feeling. It's like all my worries lifted and all I wanted to do was..." her voice trailed off as her bright emerald green eyes looked up into his.

"Wanted to do what?" Nigel prompted, amused despite himself. He knew exactly what she wanted to do and God help him that's precisely what he wanted her to do. He reached over and ran his fingers through her silky red hair. So soft. Such beautiful, cascading red curls. He didn't need to lean into her to smell the scent of her shampoo, wild berries. It suited her.

Colour rose in her cheeks to match that of her hair as she shook her head in response.

"Nothing. It s not important."

He d certainly chosen right when he picked her from the line. She was absolutely stunning; curvy in all the right places and her modesty was refreshing. He d spent too much time with female vampires, who were by no means modest. For that matter, the vast majority of the human women who frequented his club were far removed from modest or reserved - even without the assistance of the music. Most of the women who showed up at Club Vampire had one main objective in mind: to hook up.

So why was Lacey here? Was it just to accompany her friends? Perhaps she s the designated driver of the group, he mused. Standing, Nigel shrugged off his blazer and tossed it to the large, matching armchair next to the sofa. When sitting back down he intentionally positioned himself a little closer to her.

"So this is your club? You are the
infamous
Nigel." Lacey asked, seeming finally to be out from under the influence of the spell as her eyes surveyed the large room.

Nigel's head fell back as he laughed whole heartedly at being referred to as infamous.

After his laughter subsided he nodded in confirmation. He supposed to a good many people and vampires he could be considered infamous. "My club and home actually."

Lacey's eyes jumped back to Nigel's. "You live right here at the club?"

"I do, most of the time. Lately anyhow," Nigel motioned toward a door twenty feet to the left of them. "I have an apartment through there."

Leaning back against the sofa she watched him, seeming to consider her next words carefully. Nigel was beginning to get the feeling she was hiding something. He wasn't quite sure why, perhaps it was the way she stood out from the rest of the club s patrons.

Or perhaps it was the way she was beginning to watch him, and choose her words more carefully now that she was no longer under the influence. He simply couldn't put his finger on it, yet. But, he would figure it out.

****

Whatever it was that had taken a hold of her downstairs seemed to have passed now.

Lacey was finally thinking clearly and couldn't believe her good fortune. Not only had she run into Nigel, but he had taken her up to his office! If she played her cards right she just might be able to get that interview out of him.

Lacey decided to test the waters with him first before springing the news that she was a reporter on him. He was known for his dislike of reporters so perhaps if she became a friend first, or at least someone familiar he'd be more accommodating.
Or he could boot
you out on your ear and never speak to you again
! Her drive to be a serious reporter -

getting the inside scoop on the club - urged her on, quieting her conscience.

"Well aren't you somewhat concerned about your safety?" Upon seeing him raise a questioning eyebrow at her she waved her hand in the air nonchalantly. "You know...

with everything that has been going on in the area lately?"

Nigel shrugged. "I'm a big boy. I can handle myself."

I bet you can
. Despite her now clear head she was still having a hard time keeping her eyes on his face, she could see the outline of his finely defined muscles under the thin black fabric. She couldn't stop herself from running a hand down the length of his arm, from shoulder to wrist. His muscles instinctively flexed under her light touch. When she reached his hand, her fingertips grazed his palm. The gesture seemed to have an effect on him, she heard him inhale sharply as their fingertips touched, and intertwined.

His hand was so cold. As his fingers closed over hers, a chill ran through her. Her heartbeat accelerated. Lacey noticed one of the middle buttons on his shirt was undone.

Her
doing from when she was downstairs. Unable to resist the urge, she reached out with her free hand to button it back up. "I'm sorry about that."

A grin lit up his features once more, but his eyes burned with his desire. A desire so intense that it both aroused and surprised her.
Have to get the answers. Focus Lacey
focus
. She flattened her palm against the cool, soft material, feeling the toned muscle it covered. A surprising and intense desire to tear the shirt open hit her. "With all the disappearances and murders going on around here. It would make me a little hesitant to live in the area."

His burning eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Now if you really feel that way, then why did you come here tonight?" His eyes travelled her body, lingering on her breasts, which were begging to be touched by him. "Forgive me for saying, but you don't seem the type of woman to frequent my club."

Lacey snatched her hand from his shirt, but when she tried to free her hand he refused to release it so easily: It was a half-hearted effort anyhow. She was enjoying the way his skin felt against hers. It was refreshing. But at the same time she couldn't help but feel somewhat indignant. What did he mean by she wasn't the type? Was she not sexy enough for his club? Not wild enough? Had he brought her up to his office simply because he noticed she was feeling ill and was worried about more negative publicity for the club?

She needed to know.

"What type am I then, if not one that generally frequents your club?" Lacey couldn't keep the sharp edge from her tone.

He seemed to notice her agitation and visibly winced, but swiftly regained his composure and the handsome, somewhat cocky smirk touched his lips once more."What I meant to say was that you seem to be classier than most. More refined."

Lacey considered his response. Refined? Like some middle-aged spinster refined? She was certain it was meant to be a compliment, but at the same time it seemed to spark her defiant nature, prompting her to do something she wouldn't ordinarily have even contemplated doing. She didn't
always
have to be the play-it-by-the-book, reserved Lacey. She could throw caution to the wind and enjoy a night with a stranger if she wanted to!

She'd show the sexy, smug bugger refined! She had something to prove. To him
and
to herself.

Without giving her actions a second thought she stood and repositioned herself on the sofa, straddling his lap. She took satisfaction in hearing his breath catch in his throat as she settled on his, shockingly large - at least from what she could feel through her leather pants and his slacks - erect cock.

Lowering her mouth to his, her lips grazed his. Barely touching, teasing; enough to cause a low moan to escape from him. His hand found the nape of her neck, losing itself in her thick fiery mane. Lacey closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his fingers running through her hair. Taking his lower lip between her teeth she nipped at it lightly.

Wanting more, Nigel's lips parted inviting her tongue to further exploration. She gladly accepted the invitation kissing him more deeply, their tongues duelling. With her body pressed up tight against his, heat built between her legs, as her body took over her mind and she began to grind her pelvis against his.

Sweet god she wanted this man! She had come here looking for an interview, but all she seemed to want at that moment was to find out how good his naked body would feel against hers. His hand slipped under the back of her blouse, working its way up her back to the clasp on the back of her bra. With ease, it came undone for him.

Nigel's lips left hers, to trail light kisses across her jaw to the top of her neck. As his mouth worked its way down her neck, he began to undo the buttons on her blouse. Once unbuttoned he slid it off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor behind her. His lips reached her collarbone and he pulled back. His eyes focused on her large, but firm breasts as he peeled the lace from them, and discarded the garment on the floor with the blouse.

Part of Lacey - the self-conscious part - wanted to cover herself up, feeling shy and slightly insecure under his admiring eyes. Surely this man had seen dozens, perhaps hundreds of beautiful naked women in his lifetime. But the look in his eyes as they lingered in her breasts was open admiration. It seemed to put her insecurities to rest.

Her hands left his shoulders and began to work the buttons on his shirt. She wanted to feel his cool bare skin against hers. For a fleeting moment it crossed her mind that his skin was very cool, abnormally cool. However, her desire for him overrode her curious observations.

Nigel's hands closed over her breasts, cupping them, his fingers rolling and pinching her nipples into large hardened pink peaks. His lips kissed her collarbone, at the exact spot where he had originally left off earlier. His mouth worked its way down her chest, licking and kissing until it reached her first hardened peak.