Scent of a Vampire (3 page)

It was becoming unsettling to have him stare at me that way. So what the heck? I decided to return him stare for stare. I could swear I saw the corner of his mouth move upward in an almost smile before he returned his attention back to Janel.

When we arrived at The Scandinavian we were swept inside like VIP's. We took a private elevator up to the rooftop restaurant. Stepping into the restaurant, I was in awe of the décor. It was modern Scandinavian design with the walls displaying specially designed light exhibits, which constantly changed the atmosphere of the restaurant. It struck me immediately how different it was from Roberto's hotel that displayed old world charm where this was sleek and modern. Just like the two men themselves. They appeared to be polar opposites.

Alex walked over and for a moment I could feel the tension in the air as he frowned at Roberto.

"I'm so glad you could make it"

He was quick with a warm welcoming smile. Since Janel was hanging on Roberto, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Alex, I decided to focus my attention on him.

"This restaurant is wonderful. The décor is stunning." I said sincerely.

"Thank you. I tried to bring a bit of Sweden here so I would feel less homesick."

"You're from Sweden? I would never know it; you have no accent at all."

Roberto gave Alex a pointed look.

Alex replied smoothly "I work very hard on blending in here in America. It is better for my business dealings to do so."

"Oh please say something in Swedish for us." Janel asked coyly.

Alex's eyes turned to me with a smoldering look and said,

"Du vill bli min."

I wasn't sure what he said. He could have been saying we are having lovely weather this evening. But it was said in such a sexy husky voice it made me want to swoon. Swoon? I don't think I ever used that word before but it did certainly fit in with Alex's raw sexuality.

Scent of a Vampire – Jude Stephens

Page 12 of 172

I heard Roberto's quick indrawn breath but couldn't seem to take a breath myself. Alex continued to stare at me. I licked my lips nervously, and his green eyes were immediately drawn to my mouth. I heard a groan come from him before Roberto quickly said, "Okay, if we are done with the language lessons, let us sit down and enjoy what is to be no doubt a wonderful meal with two charming ladies." Walking to our table I remembered to ask Alex what it was he said in Swedish. He opened his mouth to answer; and Roberto said, "He said that he is glad to have you here, as am I."

One look at the smirk on Alex's face and I decided tomorrow I would look up the translation for glad to have you here in Swedish. I don't think I liked people talking in other languages and having no clue to what's being said. No sooner did we sit down than a large man dressed in black appeared at our table, bent and whispered into Roberto's ear. Roberto stood and said

"Excuse us ladies; we need to speak to this gentleman regarding a problem that has arisen."

Alex stood up and gave me a smile and said, "We'll be right back." Alex took a few steps and turned around and pulled me to my feet and slowly brushed his lips against mine lightly and moved his mouth to a sensitive spot behind my right ear. I felt shivers run up my arms. He seemed to be nibbling on me as I felt his teeth scrape along my neck. I leaned into him wanting more. He didn't disappoint me. He bent me over his arm and used his tongue to part my lips.

His tongue swept in and the kiss deepened in a way that made my legs weak.

After kissing me to distraction, he gave a little laugh and with a wink walked away. I looked at Roberto who had a thunderous look on his face.

"That was strange." At Janel's puzzled look I forced my mind away from some highly erotic images of Alex going through my mind to actually pay attention to Janel.

"Yes, that was strange; I hardly know the man and we just came close to a make out session."

"No, not that." Janel laughed. "Though I have to admit I've never seen you act that way before.

Not even with your ex. What I want to know is why did that Steven Segal wannabe speak to Roberto? I mean we are at Alex's hotel after all. And why did they both seem so concerned?"

"I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary."

"Of course you didn't you were too busy being seduced by tall, blond, and gorgeous." She laughed.

"Seduced? I hardly think that...." 28

Scent of a Vampire

by Jude Stephens

The appearance of Alex and Roberto back at the table made me lose all thoughts. Alex grabbed my arm and said,

Scent of a Vampire – Jude Stephens

Page 13 of 172

"We have to go now."

Roberto had grabbed a hold of Janel and was pulling her to her feet also.

"Oww! What the hell are you doing?" Janel yelped. I took a look at their faces and said to Janel.

"I don't know what's going on but please let's just listen to them." I had an uneasy feeling in my stomach as they pulled us along at an almost run through the restaurant. Maybe it was more like a premonition. But on a subconscious level I knew we had to listen to these two men.

Instead of heading to the elevator, Alex pulled me to the left where there was a sign marked exit. He burst through the door leading to the stairs.

Janel said, "No freaking way you think I'm going down forty flights of stairs do you?"

Roberto hissed, "I suggest you move your asses if you want to live."

That got my ass moving.

We went down three floors when there was a massive explosion above us.

As smoke poured into the stairwell, Alex grabbed me around the waist and swung me into his arms. I started to protest that it would be faster if we ran on our own when he leapt over the side of the railing. I tightened the grip I had around his neck and found I couldn't scream because the air left my lungs. I was sure I was going to die. I closed my eyes waiting for the impact, wondering if I would linger or if death would come quickly to me.

"What the heck?" I said when Alex landed with an unusual grace.

He glanced at me and said, "Hold on tight baby and don't let go."

Like I would let go? Was the man crazy?

I was going to hold on like my life depended on it and I was sure it did. But I wanted to see what was going on, so I looked around and saw the stairwell was forty flights down on a zigzag pattern. Alex had probably jumped about thirty feet onto the next landing. Okay, thirty feet was amazing but probably not undoable with a great big rush of adrenaline after nearly being blown to smithereens I thought. I saw Roberto, with an unconscious Janel in his arms, land next to us with all of the grace of a jungle cat. His eyes went to mine, dark with a warning not to question anything right now. Then we were on the move again, this time with Roberto leaping first over the railing and Alex and I following. We continued like that until we came to a door, which Alex pushed open and we were outside in the warm night with the sound of sirens in the distance. I judged it had probably been about five minutes since the explosion; ten at the most.

Scent of a Vampire – Jude Stephens

Page 14 of 172

"Put me down." Alex complied though he looked reluctant to do so. I went over to Roberto.

"Is Janel okay?"

"Yes, she is fine. She just fainted." A glance went between Alex and Roberto and again I wondered at their strange relationship.

"Alexander, you stay here and deal with the authorities and I will take the women back to my hotel." Roberto said as a black SUV rounded the corner and came barreling down on us. I must have looked nervous because Roberto said, "Do not worry little one, they are with me." At the use of "little one", Alex narrowed his eyes on Roberto and took a step forward.

"We do not have time for your foolishness Alexander. You know what must be done. We must protect this one. That is what has become important here tonight. Take care of the authorities and then return to the Platza. I will need your help with these two. Come straight up to the penthouse. They just got a room upgrade."

Alex didn't say a word, but with a defiant look at Roberto, walked over to me and pulled me into his arms and pressed his mouth to mine. Instantly, a white-hot heat blossomed low in my body. I was not a virgin by any means but in all of my life I have never had a reaction to a man's touch like I was having right now. My mouth, without conscious thought, parted to let him deepen the kiss. I pressed my body into his and felt the hardness of his thighs brushing against my bare legs. I felt a rush of wetness between my thighs and I heard Alex growl low in his throat. I found myself trying to rub against him to relieve the aching need growing inside me.

Alex's growl became a low moan as I ran my hands down his back and felt his tight ass under my hands. I could feel the muscles there flexing and.... "Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, never let me go," I sang in my head. All of a sudden we were drenched with what felt like ice water.

"What did you do that for?" I asked as I brushed wet hair from my eyes.

"Someone has to act with a little decorum here. We are after all in the middle of a crime scene and are more than likely still in danger."

I looked at Roberto standing beside a tall man dressed in black. He was holding an empty Evian bottle of water. They both had smirks on their faces that I didn't like at all. I stepped back from Alex and saw a bulge in his pants and felt like someone had punched me in the stomach.

"Oh my God, what was I doing?" I was so embarrassed I couldn't look at anyone. I hung my head with the knowledge I had just acted like a bitch in heat in front of an audience of strangers.

Alex gave Roberto a dirty look "Don't be embarrassed baby. Go with Roberto and I will see you later and explain everything to you."

"Alexander, you need to go. Now!" Roberto all but shouted at Alex.

Scent of a Vampire – Jude Stephens

Page 15 of 172

As he walked away he gave Roberto a look that would have made Rambo shake in his boots but all Roberto did was smile.

Until he looked in my direction, then his face became cold and unreadable.

We got into the SUV and only then did Roberto turn to me and say, "I apologize piccolina, there is much you do not understand this night. I ask you to trust me. I mean you and your friend no harm."

Not quite trusting my voice I just nodded to him because for some strange reason I did trust him. We rode the rest of the way in silence. I tried to make sense of everything that happened and couldn't. Janel and I are just two average women, pushing thirty, living life the best we could. My mind raced with all of the details from tonight and one thought kept coming into my head. And it scared the hell out of me. I wasn't one prone to dramatics but without a doubt, my life had somehow become altered tonight and would never be the same.

By the time we arrived back at the Platza, Janel had come awake with a groggy, "What happened?"

"I'm not really sure," I replied. "But we're apparently going to get an explanation soon." I turned my head towards Roberto to give him a look that said we damn well better be getting an explanation. He just stared back at me with those dark disturbing eyes.

"How are you feeling?" I asked her, concerned because I've never seen Janel rattled like this. 33

Scent of a Vampire

by Jude Stephens

"Sort of like I've been sleeping a long time and can't clear my head of the cobwebs."

"Well, when we get back to the hotel you can shower first and lie down for a bit." I replied.

"There is no reason you both can't shower" Roberto said slightly amused. "The penthouse suite has four full bathrooms in it."

"Penthouse??" Janel started to look like she was feeling better.

"I think it's for the best that you ladies stay with me for a while, considering what happened tonight."

"Stay with you? What do you mean stay with you? Are you staying in the penthouse suite too?"

Roberto fixed me with a look that said this girl is one banana short of the whole bunch.

"Of course I am in the penthouse suite. I live there." I wasn't sure I was comfortable with that. I mean I know it's a penthouse and has to be big enough not to intrude on each other but it
Scent of a Vampire – Jude Stephens

Page 16 of 172

made me uncomfortable to stay with a strange man.

You can't trust some gorgeous man you met a few hours ago. At least I couldn't, it looked like Janel was all right with everything as she started asking Roberto all kinds of questions about his penthouse and what it's like living in a casino. I tried to hide a smile as I caught Roberto's eye as he answered every question with what appeared to be great patience. But I could see a slight tic start in his jaw.

"Holy Michelangelo," I muttered as we crossed a huge marble foyer walking into the penthouse suite at the Platza del la Viva.

The foyer alone looked like it belonged in a museum. Large paintings and sculptures dotted the vast area. They looked to be very good replicas of Raphael and Donattello. The rest of the suite was laid out with the central room being a huge living room with a fireplace on either end. A grouping of sofas was placed in the middle area.

"Please come this way," Roberto said. He led us down an arched hallway that had the most beautiful frescos on either side of the different provinces of Italy. Tuscany, had vineyards and sunflowers. Sardinia showed its towering mountains and the shores of the sunny Mediterranean.

"These are very beautiful." I said as we moved forward.

"Thank you, as you can see I love my homeland. I miss the smell of the sea and the soil and the way you can still feel the warmth of the sun on the tiles in the evening." Looking over at him, I began to look at him differently. Listening to him talk about his homeland made me think there might be some softness in there somewhere.

"Why are you living here then?" I had to ask. The hardness came back into his eyes as he said,

"We will talk after the two of you refresh yourselves. I had your luggage moved up here so you should be quite comfortable. I will have Antonio here order you some dinner."