Initiation (24 page)

Christian walked out of the office with Magnus and into a small room at the back, leaving Addison sitting alone. Leaning up against the wall, Christian put his index finger to his lips, a giant scowl on his face.

Magnus shut the door. "I sensed jealousy in your words. It makes me wonder if your love for your wife will get in the way of her mission."

Christian’s nose crinkled slightly as he glared at the space in front of him, the words hissing from his lips, "I do not want that bastard to lay a hand on my wife." He crossed his arms over his chest. "The thought of him even conversing in a loving manner with her makes me so…" He paused as he searched for a more appropriate word to use rather than what was about to slip from his tongue. "Angry."

"Your feelings are understandable." Sighing, Magnus slowly leaned up against the desk near him, half sitting on its surface. "But we have discussed this. You know she will have to be unfaithful to you to seduce Monroe, and that you must encourage it. You agreed to go along with this mission, and we cannot afford to—"

"But that was before I met her."

"Do not take this the wrong way," Magnus’ voice dropped lower, "But I think it might be best if you keep your distance from her while she’s in Jenson. I would suggest you go back to Castile and leave her under Brandon’s care. As long as you are with her, she will not concentrate on her mission, and you might let your jealousy get the best of you."

"There is no need for such a precaution." Forcing a smile, Christian looked over at Magnus. "I can control it."

"I am hoping that will be the case."

* * * *

Addison was afraid of entering into the mission at first, but Christian assured her it would be all right. She was fitted with a false mouthpiece, and because her fangs were so small, the piece easily disguised them. She moved to the city of Jenson, getting her own small apartment and posing as a single woman.

Christian wasn’t being good like he was told. He was making a scene with his vampires, having traveled there as well, arrogantly making his presence known. Staying away from Addison wasn’t easy for Christian, nor would her mission be if he carried on in this manner.

Magnus had told Addison that Zak Monroe was very athletic and ran every morning through the park. Which is why Addison set up her sketchbook and drew some of the scenery there in hopes of spotting him.

Addison wasn’t an active person, she was more of the bookish kind of girl who got winded running down the stairs. But she was very beautiful and that was all she needed to turn Zak’s head. After becoming a vampire, she had grown more slender because of her change in diet and her features were perfect and flawless.

Biting on the end of her pencil, Addison was trying her best to be herself, which was easier than she thought. It was windy that day, Addison’s long hair pulled back in a messy bun, some of her long curls escaping and dancing near her intense doe eyes. A few men had stopped and tried to flirt with her, but she refused them. It was quite annoying, and she was trying not to lose her temper every time a man came by spouting a cheesy pick up line.

She’d been sitting there for two hours and hadn’t seen a trace of Zak. Thinking it was a lost cause, Addison folded up her sketchbook and put it back in her large purse. She was dressed down in jeans and a zip up hoodie, which clung nicely to her figure.

With a heavy sigh, Addison stood and walked over to the railing a few feet away from her. She wanted to get a better view of the bluffs and the lock where the boats were waiting to cross over to the other side of the dam. She spied a telescope mounted nearby and went over to use it.

When she noticed it took change to activate, she reached into her purse to grab her wallet, accidentally dropping some things. Even though Addison was a vampire, she still had a sweet tooth, some candy bars falling out along with her bag of pencils.

Addison groaned as she bent down to pick up her things. "Damn it." Reaching for some of the pencils that were rolling away from her, Addison sat on her knees in hot pursuit of a few that were quickly racing to the edge. "No, no, no…" Letting out a few whines, she watched some plummet into the water. Clicking her tongue in annoyance, she studied the ones she had managed to catch in her hand.

"You shouldn’t eat this stuff, it’s bad for you." A man was standing behind her, his hand outstretched as he held some of her forgotten candy bars. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, his toned chest wet with sweat.

"I know." Addison laughed as she rose up and grabbed the chocolate treats from his hand. "But they taste so good." There was a sweet tone to her voice, her gentle nature showing through in her actions. "Thank you so much for helping me pick up this stuff. Too bad you didn't get here earlier to help me rescue everything else."

She had a small pout on her face, her disappointed eyes looking at the pencils in her hands as she shoved them back in her bag, which was on the ground near her. "I’m a bit of a klutz sometimes." She looked down the bluff as she stood on her tiptoes, over exaggerating her natural innocence. "I just bought a great set of
Grama
pencils, and now they’re all down there."

"Accidents happen." He chuckled softly, his dimples rising with his action. "Here." He handed her some other items before his eyes landed on her sketchbook. He flipped through some of the pages and seemed to be impressed with what he saw. "You’re an artist, huh?" A cocky smile filled out his lips when he saw the nudes Addison had drawn in class. His tongue peaked from them slightly as he spoke in a teasing tone, "
Nice
."

"Thanks." Addison ripped the book away from him, irritated that he had snickered at her work. "And I presume you’re high on something?" Her anger faded a little as she pointed toward his shorts and laughed. "Don’t you know it’s only like fifty degrees out here?"

He ran a thick hand through his messy blond hair as he spoke, "Sixty-five."

She looked away from him as she repacked her large purse. "It makes me shiver just looking at you. Jeez—you’re going to get sick or something."

He chuckled, wiping at his sweaty brow with the back of his hand, "I’m fine. A good run always warms me up. Besides, I know a good doctor that’ll take care of me when I’m sick."

"Oh." Addison frowned a little, biting her lip a little as she pretended not to be looking at the excellent shape of his body was in. "I guess that makes sense then." Palming her head, she didn’t have to fake embarrassment as she giggled, "Okay—I think I embarrassed myself enough for one day."

She sighed before making a sour face as she peeked up at him, the young man eyeing her curiously. "I…umm…" She couldn’t meet his eyes. "I should…" Staring at the ground, Addison was being her mousy self as she bit her bottom lip, her words coming out faster than normal, "Probably be going. Thanks for your help."

She started walking away, cursing under her breath because she had totally bombed being a Master seducer. Her anxiety was genuine—she always had a hard time flirting with guys, and this time was no exception. She hoped she wouldn't become this tongue tied when she met Monroe.

"Hey!" The young man ran after her, sticking to her side. "So, are you foreign or something? Cause you have a really cute accent."

"Yeah." Addison giggled as she put her finger to her mouth, her cheeks slightly red. "I’m from Caron. I actually just moved here a few days ago."

"Really?" He was jogging in place, his high-energy personality showing through. "So did you come all by yourself or…" He looked down at her hand resting on her bag as he looked for a ring. "With a boyfriend or something?"

"No boyfriend." She shook her head, not able to hide the devilish spark in her eyes as she scanned his handsome figure. "I came all by myself so…" She looked away from him, her eyes settling on the telescope from before. "I don't really know anyone here yet."

"Well, now you do." His face filled with a cheeky grin, as he held his hand out to her. "I’m Zak."

"Ashley." A relieved exhale escaped her tender smile as she took shook it, his grip strong and rough.

"Maybe I can show you around a little."

"Umm…" Addison glanced down timidly, wanting to kick herself for not jumping at this open opportunity and asking him out on a date. "Okay." Addison found her smile, the cute tender one that Christian loved.

"Good." Apparently Zak liked it too, a giant grin appearing on his face as his eyes met with hers. "
Gimme
your phone. I’ll give you my number."

Addison passed it to him. "Here."

"Kay." He turned it on and sent a text to his phone. "There
ya
go." His phone hidden in his shorts beeped as he handed hers back. "You want to go out or something later?"

"Sure." Addison smiled at him. "Like for dinner or something?"

"Umm…" Pausing, Zak laughed, a twinkle in his handsome green eyes. "I work nights, but lunch I can do."

"Okay." She nodded, a small frown trying to ruin her smile. He was a vampire hunter, so she assumed his night job was destroying her family.

"I’ll meet you at the Anton at noon." He grinned, cockiness in his handsome features. He started running again and left her standing alone.

A few hours later, she met Zak at the restaurant, waiting for him at the table because he was late. She wasn’t sure if he was going to stand her up, but decided to wait it out in case he didn’t. To pass the time she called her friend Kim, starting a conversation about commissions.

"What a jerk." Addison was so wound up in her conversation with Kim that she didn’t notice her handsome date walking up to her. "What man would want to commission a painting of his man parts? I mean seriously? Why would—"

Her face turned bright red when she heard Zak chuckle because he had caught her last few words to Kim. "Umm…" She put on a fake smile, her embarrassment wearing thick on her face. "Hi Zak." Addison quickly hung up her phone, turning her attention to Zak’s cocky grin. "You totally heard that story out of context."

“‘Man parts’ is an interesting way of saying a dude’s cock." Zak chuckled as he picked up the menu and started looking through it. He peered over the top of the menu at Addison, who was looking at him with a slightly agape expression.

"Well, I like my way better." Addison pretended to drink from her glass, not wanting to overeat. "I feel uncomfortable saying that other word."

Zak laughed, taking a big gulp from the cup of water in front of him. "You’re so cute it's hilarious."

Addison made a sour face and picked up the menu, scanning it for something that wouldn’t make her sick.

"So what’s the story with that guy?"

"Well," Her eyes were glued on the menu, avoiding his. "Some guy came to a friend of mine and commissioned her to do a painting of his…" Addison's brow lowered devilishly, kissing her butterfly lashes as she peered over the menu and continued, "
Cock
as you like to call it."

Zak chuckled as he flagged down the waiter and gave him their order. "Two chicken salads and an iced tea."

She quickly interrupted him, "I’ll have a chocolate shake and a side of fries instead."

Her choices made Zak snicker, his flirty gaze settling on hers as the waiter left "Such a healthy eater you are. How do you manage that slender figure of yours, eating junk like that?"

"I can work it off." Addison mumbled under her breath, watching a group of women briefly, who were being seated next to her.

"How?" Zak lifted his glass of iced tea that the server had sat on the table, curiously watching Addison inspect her chocolate shake. "What’s your exercise routine?"

"I don’t have one of those." She giggled, her intense eyes lighting up. "I’m not sporty like you."

"Whatever works for you, I guess." He shrugged.

"So, what do you do?" Addison dipped one of her fingers into her shake, scooping up a small dab of whipping cream and licking it off her fingertip. "For, like, a job, I mean."

"I’m a doctor." He pulled a badge out of his pocket and handed to her. "See? That’s why I was late. A little guy needed a cast."

"Dr. Monroe." She was quite impressed by his profession, her eyebrows rising slightly. Addison waved the badge in front of her playfully, "This must be why you hate candy bars."

"Maybe." He laughed too, taking it back from her. "So what about you, Addison? What’s your profession?"

"I’m an artist."

"Do you make any money with your art?" Zak seemed genuinely interested, which made the conversation easier.

"Not a lot, no. But I make enough to get by, and that’s all that matters. I did just get offered a commission from someone important. It’s a lot of money, but…" Addison paused, her eyes narrowing on her straw for a few seconds, "I don’t know if I want to take it or not."

"Why not?" Zak drank the rest of his tea, shaking the ice around in the glass.

"It’s from Brandon Welsh. He’s a wealthy businessman from Caron." Addison tried to ignore Zak’s reaction, as a slight scowl tainted his friendly expression. "I met him a few times when I lived in Caron, and I…umm…I…" She forced a smile then looked up at him, "You must think I’m an idiot for wanting to turn it down, don’t you?"

"How do you know Brandon?" Staring down at his cup, Zak trailed his finger along its side, catching some droplets of water that clung there.