Bitten (A Club Blood Erotic Short #1) Page 3
He lifted his head and slowly rubbed the sleep from his tired eyes. He stretched his arms above his head, which almost made me drool at the sight of his hard muscles flexing under his fitted t-shirt. When he spoke his voice was raspy, a sound I could definitely get used to. "What time is it?"
"It's almost four in the morning. The club is closed. You should go home now."
"Shit, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep right here on the table. I guess I was more tired than I thought."
I smiled at him. I seemed to be doing a lot of that around him. It just wasn't something I had control over. "It's okay. It happens a lot more than you would think in here."
Noah leaned back in the chair and pulled at the hem of his black shirt causing it to cling to him. My eyes roamed over his perfect body and I wondered what it would feel to glide my hands over the tight roped muscles that now had my complete attention. He turned towards me and placed his leg on the booth between us. "Well I guess we can't have dinner now can we?"
Before he could say another word I interrupted him. "Yeah, I guess not." I rose from the seat. "Maybe another time. Have a good night."
He quickly reached for my hand and pulled me, bringing back into the booth to sit with him, only closer this time. We were almost nose to nose as he whispered in my ear. "How about breakfast instead. I know a restaurant not too far from here that's open all night."
"I can't!" He snapped his head back, shocked at my outburst. But I couldn't leave the club, not with the Hunters looking for us, and certainly not when the light of day was so near. No way. He looked so disappointed. It broke my heart into tiny little pieces and when the next statement left my mouth I was as surprised as he was. "What I meant was I can't leave the club. But, I have a small apartment downstairs, I can make us breakfast if you like."
His eyes widened and he flashed that sexy smile that was quickly threatening my resolve. Every time he looked at me that way I turned into putty, waiting for him to mold me into his body.
He stood reaching for my hand. "I'd like that. Lead away."
Chapter Five
We walked through the kitchen door to the elevator near the back of the building. I placed my key in the panel and turned it. The door opened and we stepped inside. He hadn't said a word. Neither of us had. The only noise in the small empty space was the beating of his heart. A sound that only I was able to hear with my heightened senses. The thought of him being in my apartment made my own heart beat faster. Anticipation began to build up inside me and a tingling sensation in my gums let me know my fangs were about to descend. As soon as the elevator door opened I bolted to my door, unlocked it, and ran straight to the bathroom. I slammed the door shut behind me.
I locked the door and leaned my forehead against the hard cold wood. What the Hell was I doing? I obviously hadn't thought this idea through. There was no way I could make it through a meal with him in my apartment flashing that smile of his at me while he looked at me with his deep chocolate brown eyes. I took a few deep breaths and allowed my pulse to slow and my fangs to ascend back into place.
When I went into the living room he was already sitting comfortably on the couch, looking at me with a boyish half smile. His legs were spread open, practically inviting me to straddle him. No! If I kept thinking like that he would surely find out what I was. Instead of sitting beside him I walked directly into the kitchen. "What would you like eat? I don't have much. Maybe some eggs and bacon." Truth was I really didn't buy food that often. The only nourishment we vampires needed was blood. The only reason I even bought human food, well had it delivered anyway, was because I wanted to remember what it felt like to be human. Eating the food wouldn't make me sick nor would it give me the essentials that I needed to survive, but that didn't matter to me.
I wanted to pretend that I led a normal life. One with me lying on dew filled grass with the sun beaming down on my face as I looked at my husband while he played with our children in the distance. Their laughter filling my ears with joy and my heart with love. Those were things I could only imagine having in my life. That kind of life no longer existed for me. I don't know why I insisted on torturing myself day after day with a longing that was not within reach.
As I bent down into the refrigerator to get the food out I could feel the heat of his body against mine. I had been so distracted with my daydreaming to
notice that he'd come into the kitchen. When I stood straight up he leaned over me.
His warm breath softly caressed my hair. "This will do fine. I'm starving."
He took the egg carton out of my hand and placed it on the counter as I stood in the front of the refrigerator with the cold hitting my chest. My nipples were hardened peaks now. Was that from the cool temperature or was it Noah that had done that?
He watched me as I made us breakfast and listened to me babble on about the club as we ate. I had never met a man who seemed so interested in what I was saying before. It was kind of nice to have someone pay attention to me for a change.
When we finished our food he took our plates to the sink and washed them. As he cleaned off each dish I thought what a great husband he would make. For some other lucky woman that was. Unfortunately, for me, he could never be mine. My heart sank at the thought of another woman making him happy, relishing the view of his infectious smile, and giving him a life full of happiness I couldn't.
"Caressa?"
I hadn't heard him calling me the first few times because I was so deep in my own thoughts. I looked at up at him. "Uh...I'm sorry. What did you say?"
"Do you want me to dry the dishes and put them away for you? Are you okay?"
I sighed. "I'm fine. You don't have to do that. I'll put that stuff away later. I'm sure you have to go now. I won't keep you any longer."
He grabbed my hand as I stood. "You're not keeping me from anything. Why are you always trying to get rid of me? Do I smell?" He lifted his arms over his head and sniffed his arm pits.
I wanted to tell him did smell, but not badly. In fact, he possessed the most delicious, irresistible scent I had ever been in the presence of. "No, you don't smell."
"Then what's the problem?"
What's the problem? Let's see, first of all I'm a vampire. Second I find you completely irresistible, and last but not least, I would want nothing more than to sink my teeth into your neck and suck you until my appetite was satisfied. Well, there was no way I could tell him that so I opted for the usual aversion. "I don't have a problem. I just thought you'd have something more important to do than sit here with me."
He stood and took both my hands in his. "I'm enjoying your company very much and I don't have to go to work today. Would you like to spend the day with me? Maybe go out for lunch?"
"I can't."
"You can't or you won't?"
I gave him an annoyed look. "I can't. I have to get some rest. The club is open tonight."
"Well, I guess I'll be back later tonight then."
Before I had time to respond he closed the distance between us and pulled me flush against him. He bent his head and firmly pressed his lips against mine, capturing my mouth with his own. I parted my lips and allowed his tongue to make long languid strokes over mine. He tasted just as good as he smelled and my desire for him went into overdrive.
I laced my fingers in his short brown hair and stroked the silky locks in the same rhythm he was devouring my mouth. A small moan escaped my throat and he took that as his cue to delve his tongue deeper, gliding it along my teeth with his hands firmly placed on my ass. He squeezed it hard and walked me backward until I was against the counter-top, then he effortlessly lifted me up on top of it. The shock of the cool marble against my heated skin sent tingles through my body.
He glided his hands under my shirt caressing my back before he stopped at my bra and unhooked it. I raised my hands over my head and allowed him to remove my shirt, then my bra. He pulled me closer to him and brought my now aching pussy against his well-defined torso. The heat of his skin burne
d against mine even through the clothes we still had on.
Noah lowered his head and took my nipple into his mouth. He teased, licked, and gently bit it until it became a hardened peak. I threw my head back against the overhead cabinet with such force a cracking sound filled the room breaking our connection.
Noah pulled away from me and grabbed my head to examine it. He sifted through my hair as he looked for any cuts or bruises. "Caressa, are you okay?"
I hadn't even noticed I hit my head until I saw the worried expression on his face. "Yes, I'm fine." I looked up at the wooden cabinet over the kitchen counter and there it was. A crack straight up the middle of the door. I hesitated a moment before speaking. I bit my bottom lip, nervously trying to come up with something to say to him so he would stop staring at me. "It's old wood. They needed to be replaced anyway."
"I don't care about that. Let me see your head."
"No, don't! I'm fine, really."
"Caressa, let me see your head. You hit it hard and there is probably a bump forming already. It needs to be iced." Before I had a chance to say anything else he hurried over to the freezer, grabbed some ice, and placed the cubes in the dish towel on the sink. "Here, turn around."
He ran his fingers along the back of my head and massaged my scalp; looking for a bruise that wasn't there. I knew there wouldn't be. "I told you I was fine."
I turned back around to face him. "I told you the wood was old. I didn't hit my head that hard. It sounded a lot worse than it really was." Okay, so I lied to him. I couldn't actually tell him that they were brand new oak cabinets and a man would need a sledgehammer to break them.
He peered over my head then back at me. "But..."
Suddenly I realized I was standing there with my breasts still bare and heat began to flood my cheeks. I glanced around the floor as I tried to locate my shirt, I finally found it under the table. I yanked the fabric over my head. I grabbed Noah by his bicep and hurried him towards the front door. "I'm sorry Noah, this was a mistake. A really big mistake."
"Wait, Caressa. Just stop a minute." He placed his hands on my shoulders and pulled me close to him. "I know you don't really feel like that." He sighed. "Look, I'm sorry I got carried away. Let's just start over okay. I have some errands to do this afternoon, but I'll be back tonight and we can go out for dinner. And I won't take no for an answer this time."
Before I had a chance to protest he cradled my head in his hands and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, then he turned and walked out the door. I was left standing in the middle of my living room. I couldn't move. Frozen in place by his tenderness.
I had never known such kindness, not as a human, and certainly not as vampire. Let's face it, the vampire males weren't very compassionate or gentle with us. They were rough and unforgiving because they could be. They knew they couldn't hurt us so they took what they wanted when they wanted it. The females had no say in the matter. We were there only to please them.
Well, that was going to change now that I was in charge. The girls and I were just as powerful as the males and we were not going to be treated as sex slaves anymore. We were going to make our own army of soldiers, with our own rules, and anyone who stood in our way would be dealt with accordingly.
Chapter Six
In the hours that led up to the club's opening all I could think about was how good Noah's body had felt against mine. The firm press of his calloused hand as it kneaded the soft skin of my breasts sent a bolt of desire straight to my clit. I had wanted to go so much further than what we had in the kitchen of my apartment. I guess hitting my head was an important reminder of why we shouldn't be together.
No matter how much I wanted him, I could never change him into the monster I was. His tenderness was proof that he should have a woman in his life who would be able to show him the same kind of love in return. Someone to hold his precious heart dear and never hurt him.
A creature like me would only turn his beautiful heart to stone. He’d become a shell of his former self. The guilt of stripping him of everything that made him special would eat at me for the rest of my immortal life.
Against my better judgement I decided to wear something sexy because I knew Noah would be stopping by the club to take me to dinner. I just wanted to feel like a woman who was desired. Of course I would have to make up another excuse not to leave the club. Why I was playing this game of hard to get was beyond me. All I knew was that I would end it tonight. I had to tell Noah there was no way we could ever be together and to carry on as we were would be a bad idea. A very bad idea.
A few hours after the club opened Noah was nowhere to be seen. I waited at the bar and kicked back shots of tequila one right after another. I turned on my stool and watched some of the customers dance. The women ground their hips against the men they were with. Some even danced sandwiched between two men. I wondered what it must feel like to just let loose and not have a care in the world. I would give anything to be able to live such a carefree life.
As I glanced around the room, something, no someone, held my complete attention at the front door. A man dressed in all black. He was wearing a long leather coat and black sunglasses that hid his eyes. I knew who he was. I could smell his kind a mile away. The Hunter and I locked gazes. I could feel his eyes boring a hole right through me. I didn't need to see the hate in his eyes that were hidden behind his dark shades. The only thing that went through my mind was, not here, not now. I knew he wouldn't leave without at least taking one of us out. With everything that happened with Noah, the club, and our coven not having enough people to fight against the Hunters, I was definitely not in the mood for this piece of shit that just walked through the door.
This situation was not going to end well. Even though there probably would be more Hunters lurking about, there was no way in Hell this fucking asshole would be killing any one of my sisters. I slowly got off the stool and walked behind the bar to notify Keira and Gia of the Hunters presence, but I didn't get a chance to open my mouth. By the time I set foot behind the bar they were already on alert. Gia made her way to the kitchen to let the others know a battle may soon arise.
We could definitely take on this Hunter if he was alone, but I knew from experience they didn't travel alone. There were more. Many more. I was sure of that. The problem was, we couldn't kill this guy without making a spectacle of ourselves.
He advanced toward the bar and slammed a twenty dollar bill on the counter. "Give me a glass of your famous Bloody Mary."
Keira lunged at him and snarled. I caught her and pulled her back next to me. "We don't serve your kind here. Now leave and don't ever come back." I picked up the money, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it in his face.
The Hunter stood and slammed the money back onto the counter yelling. "I said give me a glass of your famous Blood Mary, or I will be forced to take matters into my own hands."
By now the customers seated at the bar turned towards us. Their curious expressions wondering what was about to ensue.
I leaned in close to the Hunter and spoke slowly through gritted teeth. "I said we don't serve your kind here. Now leave."
He reached over the bar, attempting to grab me, but someone caught his hand. Noah twisted the Hunters wrist backward. "The lady asked you to leave. Now, either get your ass off this fucking seat and make your way out the front door or I'm going to remove you from the bar myself. I think walking on your own would be a better idea, it would definitely be less painful."
The Hunter yanked his arm away and stood face to face with Noah. " I don't think you know who you're talking to. This is none of your damn business."
Noah advanced towards him. "I don't give a fuck who the Hell you are. The lady asked you to leave, that makes it my fucking business. This is your last warning."
I watched as the two of them stared each other down and wondered who would be the first to give in. Neither man budged an inch. It felt as though time had stood still; everything around us was suddenly moving in slow motion.
The customers who were seated at the bar scattered and spilled their drinks as they backed away from the commotion. The Hunter screamed in agony and blood spilled out of his mouth. He quickly recovered and pushed Noah off of him. He swung at Noah again, but Noah ducked and tackled him into the bar rail. The Hunter dropped to his knees. Noah grabbed him by the collar of his coat, dragged him towards the front door, and threw his sorry ass out of the club.
Everyone in the bar had stopped dancing the moment the scuffle started, watching the fight closely. The music still blared, but I was completely deaf as I watched Noah walk my way. "Are you okay?"
Okay? No. I was so completely turned on. My panties were soaked from my desire. I could only stare blankly ahead. I was in awe of him. He was so strong, so brave, and oh so utterly sexy. I wanted him. I wanted him so bad it hurt.
"Caressa, are you okay?"
"Y..yes..I'm fine."
"You know you really should have a bouncer here to take care of guys like that."
"Yeah, I'll look into that." What else could I tell him? We don't need a bouncer. We don't need anyone's help. We're vampires and could snap you like a twig if we really wanted to.
"Well, since that's taken care how about we go get something to eat?"