Dream Vampire (3 page)

“After I drank some of Stephen’s blood, I gave him a mental command that he would feel no pain, and that he could drift off into a peaceful sleep. Which he did. After his soul left his body, I turned my attention to the cretins who’d killed him. Their scent was easy to follow. They stank of fear and alcohol. I found them under a bridge by the docks, celebrating their good fortune, congratulating each other for a job well done. Of course, my arrival was a complete surprise. An unpleasant one. I was tempted to make a spectacle of them, but thought it better if they just disappeared. I used my powers to bend them to my will, drank enough blood from each of them to ensure they’d die, then wrapped them together with some rusty chain I found nearby. I almost forgot that human bodies tend to float, so I secured the chain to a heavy steel girder from the bridge reconstruction project, and dumped the lot of them into the water.

“I had intended to comfort you, and to tell you what I’d done, but when I returned, the entire area was saturated with police cars and medical personnel. Since I was covered with blood, I thought it wise not to involve myself at that point. Shortly thereafter, I had an... unexpected visitor... and was forced to leave. I only recently resolved that situation and returned.”

He grasped her upper arms again, and stepped back, holding her at arm’s length so she could look into his amazing eyes. “The men who killed Stephen are dead. You needn’t fear they’ll harm you. I won’t ever let anyone harm you.”

His story had been so outrageous that she stood silent, unable to craft a response. If he ever got out of the insane asylum, he’d make a fine fiction writer, himself.

Anger flowed across his features and he shook her, hard enough to startle her before releasing his grip. He eased back a few inches. “I’ll not be going to an insane asylum, thank you very much. You were a stubborn child, and now you’re a stubborn woman. Well, have it your way, then.” As she watched, his canines extended down beyond his other teeth, their points glistening dangerously in the light. He ran his tongue over the tips. “I suppose you think these are part of my costume? That I just happened to have fake teeth embedded in my gums for the sole purpose of theatrics?”

She stared at his mouth for a few seconds, then reached up and placed a fingertip on one of the strange teeth. She jiggled it as if testing for a loose tooth, then dropped her hand to her side. “Make it go back up again while I watch.”

He seemed surprised by her request—or she supposed by her sudden calm—but he did as she asked. The teeth slid effortlessly back into his gums, lining up naturally with the others.

He stepped closer, intense eyes locked on hers. “What now? Shall I levitate? Transform into fog? Take control of your mind, have my way with you, then drink your blood?”

She stared up at him, expression serious. She’d just experienced a sense of déjà vu so powerful it was as if she’d transported herself back in time. Memories of Michael came flooding back. “None of those demonstrations will be necessary. You used to tell me I was a stubborn child when I was small, didn’t you? When you said those words, I remembered refusing to go to sleep until you told me one more story.” She paused, her eyes searching his. “You’re telling the truth, aren’t you?” She walked over to a nearby chair and flopped into it, silent, watching the flames dancing in the fireplace.

He knelt in front of her, his eyes glittering in the firelight. “I always indulged your desire for one more story. I found you impossible to resist. I still do. I watched you grow into a beautiful woman, but it never occurred to me that I’d have the opportunity to share another portion of your life. As sad as the circumstances are, I’m grateful you’ve come to me.”

She leaned forward and took his face in her hands. “You were very kind to me. You’re right about my being in love with you. I certainly was. You were my mysterious dark prince who would one day kiss me and take me away to your castle. You are the one who told me about vampires. I remember. I was crushed when you stopped coming.”

“It was time. You needed to be with those of your own... species... and your own age. I was never far away. I saw that horrible little boy with the pox on his face try to kiss you in front of my house. I almost intervened, but I’d promised myself I’d let you have your own experiences.”

“Pox?” Alana laughed. “Oh, you mean the pimples! Yes, he was quite afflicted. I never knew you lived here. You never said.”

“I gave you a suggestion the last time we were together that you’d forget me. Well, actually it was half-hearted. I allowed you to remember everything I’d told you about vampires, but I let you think it was a dream. It would appear the dreams have served you well.”

Alana dropped her hands from his face and sat back in the chair. “I’m astounded by everything that’s happened tonight. My childhood imaginary vampire—who now appears to be real—resurfaces, tells me he drank my husband’s blood as he was dying and has his memories of me...” She lowered her eyes and felt heat rise on her cheeks, thinking about all the private memories Michael might have access to. She and Stephen used to enjoy unbridled sexual exploration. Lifting her gaze to his face again, she found him smiling.

“Yes, Stephen was a lucky man. Those are my favorites.”

Clearing her throat, she continued talking, “And he killed the men who murdered Stephen. Then he rescues me from some kind of episode out in front of his house... wait a minute.” She sat up again, lifting his chin with her finger, gazing into his blue depths. “You did that. Whatever it was out there in front of your house—that public orgasm I had—it was your doing, wasn’t it?”

He laughed, taking her hand in his. “I apologize. I couldn’t help myself. I thought it was the perfect way to catch your attention, and then to introduce myself.”

“But how did you do it? I felt hands on me. Fingers... er... I felt fingers. But nobody was there. You weren’t there.”

“Mind sex is a poor substitute for the real thing, but it’s amazingly effective, wouldn’t you agree?”

“You mean that intense experience was all in my mind?”

“Not totally. I used my ability to move faster than your eyes could see to do a bit of caressing, here and there. I hope my efforts proved satisfactory?” He laughed again.

She frowned, then shook her head. “I should be upset. I should be stomping out the front door, never to set eyes on you again, but all I feel is exhausted. You’ve given me the first sense of peace I’ve had in four years, and I don’t know how to sort out all the feelings I’m having.” She looked at him, really seeing him for the first time. Looking past his perfect exterior to find the man within. “Thank you.”

He stood, reached down a hand to take hers, then pulled her up from the chair. Sliding his fingers through her long hair, he bent toward her, his eyes locked on hers. “Do you remember what I said earlier about what I’d do once I completed the story?”

Holding his gaze, she whispered, “Yes. I remember.”

He touched his lips to hers. She moaned and took his face in her hands, deepening the kiss. He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her against his firm chest, his erection a bulging presence along her stomach. He ran his tongue over her lower lip, then slid it into the warmth of her mouth, gently forcing her lips open. She offered her tongue in return, sharing a sensuous dance with his in the moist heat.

“Come.” He lifted her into his arms and strode through the room, down a hallway, to a set of double doors at the end. As they approached the doors, the passage sprang open, beckoning the couple inside. Flames burst forth from every candle in the room, creating long shadows and soft light. She raised a brow.

He smiled. “Just a bit of vampire magic. You have to let me show off a little. You always loved it when you were a child.”

“I’m not a child now. I’m a woman. A woman who requires a completely different kind of showing off.”

His voice rumbled low in his throat. “Your wish is my command.”

He released her feet, letting her find her balance, as he removed the cloak she’d worn all evening and threw it over a chair in the far corner. She shivered. Noticing, he turned his gaze to the cold fireplace and the wood burst into flames.

“I’ll soon provide all the heat you desire.” He took a couple of steps back and scanned her body. Appropriately enough, she’d worn her “vampire dress” for the shop’s party. It was a copy of one of Elvira, Mistress of the Night’s, low-cut, body-hugging costumes, and she usually added her black velvet cape to cover the abundant flesh that pillowed out the top of the bodice. She looked down self-consciously, hoping her breasts hadn’t escaped completely. Judging by the look on his face, either they had, or he wished they would.

He stepped close, running his hands over her breasts, pinching her nipples through the soft material. She sighed, her knees loose. Meeting her eyes, he pulled the straps of the dress down over her shoulders and made a growling sound as the material pooled around her feet, leaving her in her red panties.

“Allow me.” He lowered the remaining garment down her legs, then stepped away, easing his gaze slowly along her frame. “Your body is magnificent.”

She shivered again, but not from the cold. Maybe he was using his mind, or maybe it was her imagination, but she could still feel his hands on her. She watched his face, searching for signs that he was creating the sensations—that he was using his vampire abilities on her again. But she really didn’t care. The look on his face took her breath away. He stared at her with such raw desire and longing, it was almost too intimate. Too vulnerable. Surely a gorgeous, worldly creature like Michael could have any woman he wanted.

As was his new habit, he answered her thought. “After so many centuries, having any woman I wanted became meaningless. I’ve been searching for a deeper connection—for a woman who would share my life, as well as my body. A woman who’d love the man I was before I died, in addition to the dark soul I’ve become.”

She frowned. “Do you really believe you’re a dark soul? I remember asking you, when I was small, if being a vampire made you bad and you said ‘no’. You said you were still the ‘delightful fellow’ you’d always been. Have you changed your mind?”

The corners of his mouth raised in a melancholy smile and sadness filmed his eyes. “The longer one is a creature of the night, the easier it is to forget ever having been human. I’ve done some things that would repulse you if you knew about them.” He inched closer. “But I don’t wish to speak of such things tonight. Tonight I want to fill you in every way. I want to taste every aspect of your body, your mind—your soul.”

She froze, suddenly afraid. “You aren’t going to drink my blood, are you?”

He stepped closer and locked his magnetic gaze on hers. “Drinking blood is the most intimate thing I can offer you. It makes the sexual experience ecstatic. When the moment is right, and my cock is buried deep inside you, and you’re screaming your pleasure, I’ll offer you more. The choice will be yours.”

Her breath caught and she shuddered, not sure if it was from fear or excitement. The mental image of him piercing her neck with his fangs as he drove himself into her made her groan with desire. Just an hour ago she’d been sure vampires were fantasy creatures, living only between the covers of books and on movie screens—figments of her over-active imagination. Now she was lusting after the very real one standing in front of her.

She closed the remaining distance between them, ran her hands down his chest, exploring the muscles beneath the silk and the long hair flowing over his shoulders. Noticing that his shirt didn’t have buttons, but was instead tied with several thin straps of soft material, she began loosening them from the neck down. Still gazing into his eyes, she gave a wicked smile. When all the ties were undone, she placed one finger on each shoulder, pushing the fabric down his muscular arms, letting it fall at their feet. The subtle, intoxicating aroma of aroused male flooded her senses and she breathed in the scent of him, rubbing her cheek against his smooth chest. She slowly drew her lips along his skin, capturing a nipple and sucking while he moaned. He clenched his hands in her hair as she flicked her tongue over the sensitive bud. Kissing her way to his other nipple, she pulled as much of him into her mouth as possible, eliciting another groan.

She lifted her head, already missing the connection with his cool skin, and brought her hands to the single button fastening his pants. Shifting her gaze, she watched his face as she released the button, slid the waistband of his pants down his thighs, and grasped the thick cock jutting out from a nest of soft hair. His erection was long and perfect, and she stroked its length, rubbing her thumb over the drop of pre-come glistening at the tiny opening. His eyes were intense upon hers. She was just about to kneel and take his cock into her mouth when she felt a whoosh of air, a sense of motion and found herself lying on her back on a large bed.

Michael stood nude at the end of the bed, his pants and boots somehow discarded, and his erection thick and ready. He appeared otherworldly in the soft light. With his long hair and muscular body, he looked like every vampire hero she’d ever written. Or, rather every hero had looked like him. She understood now. No wonder being with him felt so right—as if the memory of him had been recorded in every cell of her body.

He crawled onto the bed, spread her legs with his hands and knelt between them. “I intend to spend the remaining hours until dawn giving you such pleasure as you’ve never experienced before. I want to know every inch of you. Every hidden delight. There will be many other times for you to devote yourself to my pleasure. Tonight is yours.”

Lowering his head between her legs, he hooked an arm underneath each knee and lifted her legs, spreading them even wider. She felt his warm breath just before his tongue slid along the side of her wet clit. Even that small contact made her cry out, her hips bucking instinctively. He grasped her legs more firmly, and sucked her tender button into his mouth, creating a gentle pressure, as he used his tongue to circle, stimulating pleasure centers she didn’t know she had. Moving in synch with the rhythm of his tongue, she felt herself beginning to build toward orgasm. She grabbed his hair and held him, encouraging him to stroke a particular spot. Just as she was about to come, he nipped her clit with the point of one of his sharp teeth and she gasped, releasing her grip on his hair. The pain had been oddly arousing. Her pussy was so wet from her juices and his mouth, she could feel the moisture dripping down, pooling between the cheeks of her ass.