PS01 - Tall, Dark & Lonely (13 page)

“Fine.” He didn’t care. He wasn’t shy or modest. He flung back the shower curtain and stepped out onto the small bath rug.

Madison’s eyes widened in surprise. “What are you doing?” Her eyes dropped to his hips and widened even further.

“Getting a towel since you denied me one.” He grabbed a towel from the rack and unhurriedly dried off.

“But..but..” she sputtered.

He sighed. “Let me guess, you thought you would keep me trapped in the shower by not handing me a towel or any clothing

until I answered your questions, right?”

She looked guilty, but admitted nothing. “You owe me some answers.”

He wiped his face off. “Really and how did you come to this conclusion?”

“Because you stole answers from me! Now you owe me.”

He shrugged. “You’re welcome to sniff me.”

She gasped. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Well, that’s what I did so if we’re being fair that’s what you should do.” His eyes dropped to his still naked form and then to

her very clothed form. “Of course if we were being completely fair you would let me see you naked.” He wagged his

eyebrows.

“I will not! You know what? I bet you didn’t get any answers from me. You just did that because you’re either a pervert or

you’re trying to trick me into telling you things.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, that’s what I did. I tried to trick you into talking. Of course my leaving then kind of put a stop to that plan

just like now.” With that he dropped the towel and stalked back to his room. She followed.

“You don’t know anything! You only guessed that I’m a virgin….” she gasped, “wait, you were in the bathroom tonight while

Jill and I were talking. You didn’t guess. You heard!”

“I don’t have to go into the bathroom to hear what you say. I have perfect hearing as well.” He looked guilty though. She knew

that look. It was the same look Jill and Joshua had when they got caught doing something bad.

She leaned against the wall, satisfied that she had him for once. “That might be true, but you wanted a closer spot. You were

eavesdropping on me. Admit it, that's how you found out. You didn’t find anything out about me just by sniffing me.”

He threw her an exasperated look. “Fine, you want to play this game?”

“Yes,” she said firmly, straightening up from the wall.

Ephraim pulled a pair of underwear on. He really should walk around naked to make her feel uncomfortable enough to leave,

but she was starting to make him feel uncomfortable enough to hide his response to her.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes!” she stressed.

He sat down on the bed and leaned back on his elbows. She did her best to concentrate on his face and not his well shaped

chest or abs. It would really help if he put a shirt on. “Aren’t you cold?”

“No, I’m fi-” He stopped talking and grinned hugely. “Is this bothering you?” He gestured to his stomach.

“What? No, don’t be ridiculous.” She sounded annoyed, but she was really embarrassed. How did he know?

“Then I see no reason to cover up since it doesn’t bother you,” he teased.

“You were going to tell me what you found out from smelling me.” She hoped it distracted him from her discomfort.

He sighed. “Okay, but remember you asked me to tell you. Very well then. From just smelling you I know that you showered an

hour before you came down for dinner.”

She scoffed “You knew that already.”

“May I continue or are you planning on interrupting me continuously?”

She waved a hand in the air. “Continue.”

“You’re too kind,” he said dryly. “I know that you are wearing Calvin Klein perfume, but there’s still a hint of cucumber and

melon body spray on your skin from this morning. You use Tide to wash your clothes and you were near someone today who

smoked cannabis a week ago.” Her mouth dropped open.

“Also, in I would say in fifteen days your period is going to come. From the smell of your skin I suspect it will come in the

early morning.” She felt her face flush. “I also know you are not on any type of birth control which means that you weren’t

really considering sleeping with David any time soon which is a very good thing.”

“How do you know I wasn’t-“

“You’re responsible. I know how you feel about Candy’s sexual escapades and how upset you were about Jill’s mistake.

You’re the type of woman who would start birth control the minute you even thought you might take a man to your bed.”

She bit her lip and very much wanted to leave the room, but she stayed. She wanted answers and this way he might feel that he

owed it to her. “May I continue?”

“Yes,” she said quietly.

“Okay, I also know that David never laid a hand on you. I know he touched your breast from the outside of your shirt I would

say two days ago, but that touch didn’t last long just like his kisses don’t last long.”

Her embarrassment forgotten momentarily she asked. “Wait, how do you know that? You smelled me from behind?”

Ephraim lazily scratched his stomach. “Messages travel over your skin. Think of it as a network. Anything that happens in front

will be transmitted to the back. I only need to run the length of you to get my answers.”

“Oh…”

“As I was saying. You don’t like his kisses. From what I can tell you break off the kiss whenever he tries to invade your mouth.

He grabbed your breast when he thought you were distracted. Very amateur.”

“Oh, and I bet you’re an expert?” she snapped.

He gave her a lopsided smile. “I’ll admit it’s been a while, but a man never forgets.”

“How long?”

He shook a finger at her. “No, we’re talking about you now, Madison. Let’s see, your skin…..ah, I also know that no man has

ever touched you intimately.” He tilted his head to the side and studied her. “You’re a very strict date I take it.”

She nodded so he continued. “Good for you, especially now since it probably saved your life.”

Madison shifted uncomfortably. “What do you mean? What was wrong with him?”

He sighed. “Madison, he has HIV. You’re lucky that he didn’t win that bet.”

“Oh my god.” She felt breathless.

“You’re fine, Madison. I didn’t need to taste your blood to get my answer.”

“Are you sure? Cause if you need to,” she held out her hand, “you can take some just to make sure.”

He flinched back as if she struck him. “I’m not going to bite you!”

“Why not?”

“For fuck sake, Madison, you’re a virgin! You’ve only kissed men. You’re safe.”

She waved that aside as if it weren’t important. “I get that, but you seem rather adamant that you aren’t going to drink my

blood.”

“I’m not! Stop trying to push it.”

“No, there’s obviously something wrong with my blood and you won’t tell me. If you’re worried I’ll be grossed out don’t be.”

She walked towards the bed, holding her hand out. “Just take a taste. It’s okay.”

Ephraim climbed over the bed to get away from her. “I’m not going to drink from you so stop it!”

She stopped. “Why?” Suspicion rose up. “You’re not a vampire at all are you? That was some kind of trick. Either you’re

insane or you and David were in this together.”

He threw his hands up in the air in irritation. “No, I’m not a vampire and I would never do anything with a dick head like

David. What you saw was real. Be that as it may, I have no intention of drinking from you.”

Understanding dawned on her. “Ah, I see. Okay, I’m sorry I understand.”

He didn’t like that tone. “Understand what exactly?” he asked slowly, suspiciously.

She wasn’t looking at him. She was looking past him as if in deep thought. “That makes sense….” she was talking to herself.

“What does?”

She ignored him and paced back and forth in front of the bathroom door while she talked to herself in a low voice. “You’ve

been here three years and all that time you’ve never brought any friends home, you’ve never been seen out at night with anyone

except other cops at a bar, you go fishing, sometimes bring a friend from work, you’re secretive, you only came downstairs

tonight because you heard I was having someone over.”

“What are you babbling about?” he asked harshly to cover his nerves.

She didn’t seem to hear him. “No one’s ever seen…” she didn’t finish that thought. “You tasted his blood, let him stick his

finger in your mouth. The idea of tasted my blood repulses you….focused on him……hmmm.”

He stood nervously, waiting for her answer. She didn’t say anything for several minutes. Then she turned and faced him. “I

know why you won’t drink my blood.”

“Oh, do please enlighten me,” he said mockingly.

She smiled cheerfully. “You’re gay.”

********

gay.” It was okay, but she was oddly disappointed.

He looked so serious. “H-how did you know?” he whispered.

“It’s kind of obvious.” She felt so bad. But he didn’t need to hide who he was, the bloodsucking part, yes, but not this.

“What do you mean it’s obvious?” he asked in a guarded tone. All he could think about was his brothers and their feminine

features and gestures. There was nothing feminine about him and they weren’t gay.

“Well, you’re secretive.”

“That’s because I’m a Pyte,” he said before he could stop himself.

“What’s a Pyte?”

“Don’t change the subject. You’re telling me how you knew,” he said hastily.

“Well, you only spend company with other men. You don’t bring anyone here. You don’t want to share space with a woman.

You readily tasted David’s blood, but the thought of mine disgusts you. It just seems rather obvious,” she said with a shrug.

He covered his face with his hands. “Oh my god…I can’t believe you found out.” His voice was thick with emotion.

She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. She was safe. He didn't like women and wouldn’t feed off her. It

was the only reason she felt comfortable enough to touch him now.

It was too bad that he was gay. He felt so good right now. She forced herself to focus. “It’s okay. You don’t have to go through

this alone. It won’t be so bad. There are plenty of gay cops these days. As long as you don’t bite anyone you should be fine.”

He chuckled softly.

“I suppose you’re right.” His hands dropped from his face and wrapped gently around her waist. “You really don’t mind?” he

asked as he nuzzled her neck.

His breath felt warm and teasing. There was no fear. She was safe. He was a gay whatever the hell he was and she was off the

menu in many ways.

“No, I don’t mind. It’s okay, Ephraim.” She ran a hand down his back trying to soothe him. She stretched up on her toes and

pressed a kiss to his cheek. “It’s okay.”

He pressed a soft kiss to her neck. It sent shivers down her spine. It was really a shame, she thought. She froze as he continued

to press soft kisses to her neck.

“Tell me something,” he said between kisses.

“What?” her voice cracked. She tried to pull away, but his grip tightened, holding her against him.

“You discovered I’m gay.” Relief shot through her. For a minute there she thought she was wrong. “This was mostly based on

the fact that I refused to feed from you, correct?”

“Yes,” she said slowly.

He nodded against her neck and pressed another tender kiss. “What if I told you the reason I refused to feed from you isn’t

because I’m gay, but because your blood and your blood alone is my biggest weakness? What if I told you that in the last

hundred and ninety years I have never come across someone whose blood drives me to distraction, that just the mere scent of

your blood in the air is enough to send me into bloodlust. That I have to stay away from you because I want your blood more

than anything else on this earth and that it takes everything I have not to go into your room at night and take me fill? What would

you say then?”

“You’re not gay?” There were several other questions floating in her head at the moment, but she focused on that because if he

wasn’t gay then…then he was telling her something.

He chuckled as he peeled one of her arms away from around him and brought her hand between them. He pressed her hand

against the front of his boxers and moved it over his very large and very hard erection. His deep moan sent heat through her

body. She gulped as she yanked her hand away and he allowed it as he wrapped his arm back around her and pulled her back

against him. His tongue ran from her neck to her earlobe. He took her earlobe into his mouth and gently sucked on it. “No, baby,

I’m not gay.”

Madison somehow managed to pull her head back. Ephraim raised his head and looked at her hungrily. For which hunger she

wasn’t sure, but both scared her. His eyes were red again.

“Let me go, Ephraim,” her voice shook.

He shook his head. “No.”

“Ephraim, I’m only going to tell you once to let go of me,” she warned.

He ignored her and leaned down to kiss her neck again. These weren’t innocent little pecks anymore. He was pressing hot open

mouthed kisses to her neck. She could feel the tips of his fangs brushing against her skin with each kiss. His hands were

rubbing her backside slowly. A small moan escaped Madison, causing Ephraim’s hips to jerk forward.

Just a bite. A little taste. That’s all he wanted. She felt so warm and soft in his arms. The taste of her skin was for lack of a

better word, magical. It was just a tease, just a sampling. His mouth found her pulse. He suckled the area before the tips of his