Authors: Jez Strider
He pointed at the TV with his beer bottle.
“It’s one o’clock, that’s why
Days of our
…” his voice trailed off.
“That crap is on.”
It cracked me up.
I couldn’t help but laugh despite how painful it was to my broken bones.
“
Mmhmm
.”
At that moment, I was thinking Antonio who?
Of course, that’s when there was a knock at the door.
“Probably those guards changing shifts.”
Marc sat down his beer and wrapped his towel around his waist, tied low enough that’s I could still see the definition of his pelvis.
I stopped laughing and nodded.
“Be careful.”
The closest weapon was a Louisville Slugger, so he stood to the side of the door in a batter’s stance and called out.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Ash.
If you don’t get these brutish people away from me, I’m seriously calling the police.”
My best friend yelled back.
Marc gave a frustrated shake of his head before reaching out and turning the nob.
Ash pushed on the door, practically knocking him down. I could see his grin as he maintained his balance.
He gave the bat a playful swing in her direction before closing and locking the door.
“I called so you would know she was okay, not for you to barge into my apartment.”
Marcus said as he put the bat away.
Ash just gave him a stern glare.
It was frightening.
I’d seen her use it on her children many times.
It was hard to keep from laughing, but I did.
My turn to feel her wrath was coming.
Marcus just kept a smirk on his face as he walked by me.
“Right, I’ll just leave you two alone.”
His hand rested on my shoulder for a moment and he gave me a good luck pat before heading back toward the bathroom.
“Just holler if you need me.”
Ash’s gaze softened as she headed over to the sofa and dropped a small luggage bag beside it.
She gave me a sincere hug before sitting on the table in front of me.
“So, I guess you’re not going to tell me what happened or what’s going on.”
Her tone was disapproving.
I’ll admit
,
it was hard to meet her eyes.
I really did want to tell her everything, but now probably wasn’t the best time.
The less she knew, the safer I figured she’d be.
“You shouldn’t even be here, but…thanks.”
“You’re welcome.
Had to see with my own eyes you were okay.”
She gestured to the luggage. “I brought some of my clothing.
The pants will be too long, but I wasn’t about to go by your place again.”
The look she gave me was pointed, but I kept my mouth shut.
“There’s also some other female necessities:
makeup, hygiene products, and a few books.
The books are on loan.
I expect them back when you’re finished.”
“I appreciate it.
The books will help pass the time.
Just last night I was thinking about getting some.”
Normally I didn’t like borrowing things, but I appreciated the gesture and I did need the items.
It was silent for a few moments.
The flat screen was still droning on in the background.
Ash lowered her voice leaning close to me. “If your boyfriend got you in this trouble, I will try to help.
I’ve seen the kind of trouble bikers get into with gangs.
Drugs, guns, and women.”
“Come on.”
I rolled my eyes, secretly wishing the trouble I was in was human related.
“He’s a mechanic and a loner.
You know he’s not in any sort of gang.”
She shrugged, “I had to make sure.
You haven’t known him that long, you know?
Nothing strange ever happened before you met him.”
Not that you know about.
That’s how I wanted to respond anyway.
“Bad timing, that’s all.”
Ash was my only girlfriend and I had to tell someone about my mistake.
I just decide to leave out the supernatural part.
“I, sort of, cheated on Marcus.
We were still just casually dating and all, but it was getting serious and in the…um, heat of the moment, I made love with an old flame.”
Ash drew in a deep breath of shock.
For what seemed like forever she just sat there, toying with one of her tight curls as she thought about the situation.
I knew she wanted to scold me.
It wasn’t like I hadn’t been doing that in my own mind since even before I found out Marc was still alive.
“You love this boy.
I know it, whether you want to admit it or not.”
Her voice was kept low as she pointed a finger at me.
“He’s young.
This could destroy him and make him into a bitter man.”
Tears welled up in my eyes and I nodded faintly.
This talk wasn’t really helping so far.
“I’m afraid to even talk about it.
He’s been nothing but sweet since he…found out.”
“Oh Lord, you didn’t tell me he already knows!”
She spoke a little too loudly and I quickly shushed her.
“What should I do?” I pleaded for an answer.
Ash had been married to the same man for twenty years before he’d died of cancer.
She hadn’t even been on a date in the two years since.
I figured I was asking the wrong person for advice on affairs, but at least she’d managed to stay faithful to her man.
She shook her head.
“You should be talking to Marcus instead of me.
I doubt you would have done this if you didn’t have strong feelings for your old flame.”
I reluctantly gave an agreeing half nod and she continued.
“All I can say is follow your heart and not that crazy head of yours.”
“Gee, thanks.
Remind me to find a new best friend.”
My response was more annoyed than I’d intended.
Probably because I knew no one could tell me the right thing to do other than myself.
My friend just smiled.
“It’ll be okay, Evelyn.
He wouldn’t be taking care of you if it was over.
Broken hearts are delicate to mend, though.”
She gave me another hug and I thanked her once again before she left.
A couple of weeks passed and I still wasn’t feeling any better or like myself.
Luckily, there had been no sign of trouble.
Marcus and I spent most of our time together.
At night, I slept curled up against him in bed.
I was always so cold.
Every day he tried to get me to feed from him, but I refused.
It was too dangerous, but I was too weak to obtain blood a different way.
Antonio called every day to check on me.
Each phone call put Marc in a bad mood for a little while.
He unsuccessfully tried to hide it.
We still hadn’t talked about what happened.
Finally, one night as I lay in bed shivering against his warm body, he reached his breaking point and there was no more putting it off.
“You’re going to drink my blood.
I….”
He paused, putting his hand against my chin and lifting my head so I would face him.
“I love you too much to watch you die.”
Once again, I was being selfish.
Perhaps, I told myself, I was trying to protect him from my world, but it was too late for that.
I nuzzled against his warm neck, feeling the steady pulse of his blood beneath the skin against my lips.
I was so hungry.
I’d used every reserve of strength I had.
If I didn’t feed, I would die like this.
“Okay.”
It was the only word I could manage.
I hadn’t even been out of bed in two days other than to shower or go to the restroom.
His body was tense as he waited for the bite.
I didn’t sense fear, just anticipation.
My teeth slid into his flesh delicately and I began to drink.
The only sound he made was when he inhaled sharply.
It was hard to stop feeding.
I had never had that problem before.
He just tasted so good.
It was like being outside in the humid southern states and finally getting a glass of ice cold sweet tea.
When I pulled away, I licked my lips and stared directly at him.
“You’re feeling better already.”
It was a statement not a question as he looked at me.
I just smiled and he suddenly pinned me to the mattress.
His kisses were hungry, as hungry as I had been for blood.
As his body slid on top of mine, I felt that he was stiff beneath his boxers.
I wasn’t surprised.
It often happened to men when they had their blood drank.
My head kept calling out “no” but the words never escaped my lips.
I tried, but his tongue was against mine before I could muster the resistance.
I’m sure if I’d really wanted him to stop, he would have.
That was a big “if.”
He’d spun me around, tugging down my panties.
His breath was heavy and his mouth was against my ear as he entered me from behind, against me as we so often slept spooning.
Marcus was rougher than usual, more intense with each thrust as if he were trying to reclaim his domain.
He was dominant sexually and I liked it.
I knew he was taking back what he saw as his.
I have to admit, I enjoyed that as well.
By this point, I didn’t know if I was following my head, heart, or lust.
Honestly I didn’t care.
Afterward, he held me close, burying his face in my long hair.
I assume he fell asleep quickly.
I know I did.
It was also the first night since the encounter with Dante that I wasn’t plagued with horrible dreams.
The first thing I did the next day was get up early and take a shower.
There was no lying around without any makeup and having frizzy hair today.
I still didn’t feel like myself, but healthier and clearheaded.
When I finished, Marcus was awake and waiting for me.
He was seated on the side of the bed with a concerned look on his face.
I was confused.
Usually I was the one with all the worries.
“About last night…” he started as I walked closer.
I was wearing one of the tie-dye summer dresses that Ash had brought me.
It wasn’t exactly my style.
I’d had my fill of the hippie look in the sixties.
I did want to look decent for Marc and the dress was the best of my limited wardrobe.
Unsurprisingly, he didn’t seem to notice the extra effort.
Men are so oblivious sometimes.