The Vampire Pendant (4 page)

Feeling a sense of power, she said, “Earlier I was fantasizing about giving you head while you drank blood from a vein in my thigh. Is it possible for us to do something like that?”

“Are you trying to drive me mad?” His cock jerked in her hand. “Yes, it’s possible, but if I got too excited, I could drink too much.”

“I figured that kind of risk was involved.” But the thought still aroused her.

“I would need to be absolutely certain that I could handle it.”

Her pulse lurched. “Does that mean you’ll consider it?”

He didn’t reply. Instead, he nudged her hand away and climbed on top of her, taking control once again.

He kissed her, and the exchange was deep and passionate, the weight of his body pressing down on hers. He made her wet, using his fingers, getting her ready for the invasion of his cock.

This was it. Her loss of innocence. The end of her virginity. Tessa’s heart thudded in anticipation.

He entered her, slowly, and she braced herself for more. As he pushed further, she gasped. It was painful, but she wasn’t about to ask him to stop. She clawed her nails down his back.

“I’m hurting you,” he said.

She clawed him again. “Yes, but I like it.”

“The pain?”

“No. The feeling of being this close to you.”

“It’s amazing for me, too. You’re so warm, so human. It makes me want to bite you.”

But he didn’t. He was obviously doing his level best to keep his promise and treat her gently.

As he moved, she experimented with the rhythm and lifted her hips. It was starting to hurt less. “You can go deeper if you want.”

He sank all the way inside. “The next two weeks are going to be incredible. I couldn’t ask for a better lover.”

Her pulse fluttered. He made her feel cherished, desired, an object of lust and affection. “If only my wish could last forever.”

“I can’t give you forever, Tessa.”

“I know. I was just thinking out loud.”

“Let’s make the best of the time we do have.”

“We already are.” Together, they kissed, making a wondrous connection.

He caressed her while they made love, while they fucked, while her virginity became a thing of the past.

Pressure built in her loins, and he worked her into a flurry of heat and emotion. She wrapped her legs around him, and he made darn sure that she climaxed.

Tessa came with her breath lodged in her throat and her heart beating triple time.

After he came, spilling into her, he dropped into her arms, where she held him, never wanting to let go.

Anthony waited a while before he eased away from Tessa. Then he said, “I’ve heard that women sometimes get attached to their first lovers.”

She made a face. “I shouldn’t have been holding you so tightly.”

“It’s all right.” He reached for her hand, binding them again. She was an intriguing girl. “It felt nice.”

She smiled. “For me, too.”

“What should we do now that you’ve been officially deflowered? Do you want to bathe together?”

“That sounds wonderful. The tub is certainly big enough for two.”

“Then let’s use it, shall we?” He stood up.

As she climbed out of the covers, he admired her. With her bedroom-blonde hair, she looked delicately tousled. “You’re fetching.”

“Thank you.”

He was glad that she accepted the compliment without making reference to her genuine appearance. It made the lie he was keeping less troublesome.

He filled the tub, and they stepped in. She nestled between his legs and leaned back against him. He put his arms around her. It seemed like the natural thing to do.

“Why weren’t you the marrying kind when you were mortal?” she asked.

“It’s the only way I knew how to conduct my life.”

“Yes, but why?”

He didn’t need to analyze her question. He knew the answer. “Because of how I was raised. My parents didn’t have a good relationship. In public, they behaved as if they were a happy couple, but privately, they both slept around. Nicholas and I used to catch them sneaking off with their lovers. It wasn’t the type of example they should have been setting.”

She reached for the soap and began to lather. “Do you think their marriage suffered from the Hollywood influence?”

“I suspect that was part of it. Their lifestyle confused us, particularly during an era where family values were highly regarded. Nicholas was especially bothered by their infidelities.”

“What’s your brother like?”

“He’s younger than I am. Of course he’s closing in on a hundred now, too. Neither of us is young anymore.”

“That sounds so strange.”

“It is. I think Nicholas would want to become mortal again if it were possible.”

“But not you?”

He repeated what he’d told her earlier. “I like what I am. I enjoy granting wishes.” He kissed her shoulder, eager for tomorrow to roll around so he could drink from her again.

She sighed, obviously from his kiss. But apparently she had the next feeding on her mind, too. She asked, “What does blood taste like to a vampire?”

“Like wine.”

“It tastes metallic to me. Not that I’ve ever drank it, but I’ve sucked on my fingers when they’ve been cut. I’ve accidentally bit my tongue, too.”

“Your blood is an exceptional vintage.”

She sounded pleased. “It is?”

“Absolutely. And I think it’s going to taste even better to me now that we’re sleeping together.”

“I loved having you inside me.”

“I can’t wait to be inside you again.”

A small shiver ran through her. He could feel it shimmying down her spine.

She said, “I want that, too.” She put her hand on his knee. “Right now.”

Anxious to oblige, he got instantly hard, her invitation a lust-induced treat. “Get on your knees and lean forward.”

She did what he asked, and he planted his hands on her hips and thrust into her. Within seconds, he was full-hilt, her cunt closing softly around him.

She gripped the sides of the tub. “I feel like a wanton woman.”

He looped an arm around her, steadying her, making her easier to fuck. “You’re still sweet to me.”

“You think I’m sweet because you got to pop my cherry.”

He smiled, then felt his fangs threatening to emerge. He forced them back into place. Having sex with a human was challenging. But, oh, so damn thrilling.

He intensified the motion, pushing hard and deep. Water sloshed around them, like ocean waves. He put his fingers against her clit, stroking the sensitive nub, wanting to give her as much pleasure as possible.

“You’ll probably be sore tomorrow,” he said.

“I’m a little sore now.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. This time, it’s good pain.”

“Good pain? That’s a term used in BDSM.”

“What’s BDSM?”

“It stands for bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism.”

Her hands nearly slipped away from the sides of the tub. He’d obviously unnerved her.

Trying to ease her concern, he said, “I was making a remark, not suggesting we engage in it.”

“Do you engage in it with Simone?”

“It’s part of the rough sex she enjoys.”

“I don’t like Simone.”

“You don’t even know her.”

“I still don’t like her.”

“She would like you.”

“She would? Why?”

“Because you’re a yummy little morsel that she would have made into a vampire if you’d lived during our era. She was planning on bringing another woman into the fold and my attraction to you would have aroused her. She would’ve chosen you based on that, then she would’ve watched you and me make love.”

“Maybe she isn’t so bad, after all. Not that I would’ve wanted to be watched. But it’s exciting to think of us being lovers back then.”

His fangs threatened to surface again. Tessa was rocking against his thrusts. She squirmed naughtily against his clit-rubbing fingers, too.

While keeping his bite at bay, he made her come. She made him come, too, and his entire body shuddered from the impact.

After it ended, they went back to bed, and she snuggled in his arms. She closed her eyes, and he stroked a hand down her hair. He touched the side of her face that had been burned, too.

When she fell asleep, he watched her. Darrin had been right in choosing Tessa for a wish. She deserved to live out her dream, even if it was only for a little while.

Tessa awakened with the sun in her eyes. She squinted and gazed over at Anthony. He was sitting beside her. He was also fully clothed with his hair neatly combed. But why wouldn’t he be? Gen-vamps didn’t sleep.

“Morning,” she said.

“It’s afternoon.”

She shifted her gaze to the clock. It was almost two. “I majorly slept in.”

“You gave blood last night, then lost your virginity. It’s to be expected.”

“Good point.” Her body was bone tired, with a sexy soreness between her legs. “When you put it that way, I should still be crashed out.”

“You can return to sleep.”

With him dressed and ready to greet the day? “I’d rather get up.” She sat forward. “Were you bored last night?”

“While you slept? Not in the least. I spent my time watching you.”

She tried to keep from being self-conscious, especially when she considered the wish she’d been granted. Heck, she might’ve even looked pretty in her sleep.

“I’m famished,” she said. “I’m going to order breakfast. Or lunch, as it were.”

He handed her the menu. “I would suggest red meat since it’s fortified with iron. Orange juice would refresh you, too.”

She followed his suggestion and chose a roast beef sandwich and juice. Then she took a shower and put on a silky blouse, pleated shorts, and jeweled sandals. The food arrived, and she ate while he read the newspaper.

“The world keeps changing,” he said. “But I’ve been able to keep up with it.”

“How often are you loaned out?”

“Every few months or so.”

“And that’s enough blood for you?”

“Yes. But if too much time passes, Darrin allows us to feed on him. He has to be careful who he loans the jewelry to.”

She traced the shape of the cross. Already she was getting used to wearing it. “I’ll miss this when it’s gone. I’ll miss you, Anthony.”

“I’ll miss you, too.” He furrowed his brows. “I’ve never said that to the recipient of a wish.”

“If I was the owner of the pendant, you’d belong to me.”

“Darrin will own us until he dies. That was the arrangement when he took us.”

“Can he keep loaning you to me?”

“I suppose he could, but you couldn’t keep asking for the same wish.”

“Then I wouldn’t want the loan to continue.”

“Why not?”

“Because I couldn’t stand for you to see my true appearance. I would never be able to let you touch me like that.”

A deep frown creased his brow. “That’s foolish, Tessa.”

“Not to me.” Fighting her emotions, she changed the subject. “Are you going to call the front desk about renting a bungalow?”

“I already did. I can check in any time after three.” He reached into his pocket and produced a credit card. “I conjured this for myself.”

“And it’ll work like the real thing?”

“Of course it will. Magic forgery is different from other forgeries.”

She nodded. Her un-scarred face was a forgery, too.

“I can conjure cash, as well,” he said. “I prefer using cash, but a credit card is necessary for renting a room so that’s why I created one.”

“What did you create for an ID?”

“This.” He showed her a California driver license with his picture, name, and a birth date that made him thirty-eight.

His mortal age, she thought. “It’s a nice photograph.”

He shrugged. “It’s how I look.” He sat back to study her. “I like your outfit.”

“This old thing?” she laughed a little. Like everything else in her vacation wardrobe, it was brand-spanking new.

He gestured to a suitcase that hadn’t been there last night. “Those are my things.”

“More magic?”

“Yes. I didn’t feel like shopping.”

Curious about his other existence, she asked, “What’s the interior of the pendant like? Does it have furniture and colorful rugs? Like those fancy genie bottles in movies and on TV?”

“No. There’s nothing inside. It’s just a pendant.”

That sounded awful. “How can you stand to you live there?”

“When I’m confined to it, I’m not in flesh form.”

“I know. You’re misty, but what difference does that make?”

“For me, it’s relaxing, like being in a meditative state. Nicholas and Simone don’t feel that way, but I do.”

Clearly they didn’t appreciate their jewelry the way he did. Anthony was born to be a gen-vamp, she thought. It was his calling. “I’m glad you’re in flesh form now.”

He reached for her, and they kissed. The first kiss of the day, and it felt heavenly.

Afterward, he said, “You need to pack your bag so you can check out of this room and come to the bungalow with me.”

“I was supposed to check out before noon.”

“It’s not a problem. When I reserved the bungalow, I also arranged for you to have a late check out.”

“You thought of everything.”

“I want us to be together in my accommodations. I have the rest of the day and evening planned.”

“Does it include romance?”

“Most certainly.”

And blood, she thought, knowing that he required another feeding. He kissed her again, and she clung to him, eager for his plan to begin.

Surrounded by colorful foliage and winding pathways, the bungalow offered the ultimate in luxury: a gated entrance, elegant living and dining spaces, a kitchen with a fully stocked fridge, four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a fireplace, a grand piano, a private patio that led to the garden, and a private plunge pool.

Tessa walked around, looking at everything, admiring it with glamour-struck awe, imagining the stars who might have stayed here.

Anthony gestured to the piano. “Do you play?”

She shook her head. “Do you?”

He nodded. “Not as well as my brother, though. He’s an accomplished musician.”

“You come from a talented family.”

“Our parents encouraged the arts.”

“Does Darrin allow you to visit with your brother?”