Decatur the Vampire (7 page)

“Marduk, is it?”

The low, husky sound of her name on his lips made her jump. It sounded so familiar and yet other than staring at his butt, they were strangers. “How do you know my name?”

“Your friend told me that among other things.”

Marduk could only imagine what they could have been.
She hasn’t had a man in a year so she needs a good fucking.
Little did Chrissie know.

“I’m Decatur. Decatur Smith.”

“Smith? Uh-huh.” Two in a row? Coincidence?
I think not.
Marduk didn’t believe in that. Add to that Vulcan’s interest in Decatur. “Seems a common name at the moment.” Marduk knew as she turned her head Vulcan would be watching them. “Do you know him?”

“No.”

“I see.” She didn’t. His words came out too quickly for Marduk to believe. Her thoughts went back to management spies looking to cull staff.

Decatur knew he had spoken too fast.
Damn it.
But he found it hard to concentrate with Marduk so close to him. Normally, in the office, she just flitted by trailing the sweet scent of jasmine. Standing so close to her now was mesmerizing. He wanted to touch and taste and take as he had last night. But this time Decatur wanted her to see who loved her body so passionately.

“Show me where the problem is.” It was better to concentrate on a piece of junk than wondering how soon he could taste Marduk. Besides, that was not his only problem. Vulcan. What was he doing there? It took everything Decatur had not to go over and grab him by the throat. He was Archimedes’ henchman and his being there boded no good for Marduk. “How long’s he been here?” Decatur’s hands moved down to the drawer that he had sabotaged to stick on the machine.

“The other Mr. Smith?”

Decatur smiled despite himself. “It’s a small world.” Thankfully he had retracted his fangs before he entered the office. Marduk would find out soon enough who he was but he needed to talk to her before that happened.

“Is it?”

The woman wasn’t stupid. That she had worked out he and Vulcan knew each other indicated that. “You doubt me?” Decatur would if he was her.

“Do I have reason to?”

Oh yes.
“No, I’m here to do a job.”

“And watch a man you say you don’t know.” Marduk assessed him thoughtfully. “Are you gay?”

As if.
And he wanted to show her how not gay he really was. If this was any other woman at any other time he would have acted on instinct. But Marduk wasn’t. She was as much a victim as he was. The frustrating thing was he didn’t know how or why. Only Archimedes did. “No, I’m not gay.”

“Thank god.”

Decatur grinned. He suspected Marduk had not meant to say that out loud. “Are you interested in me, Marduk?” The idea excited him. It was not the slightest bit unusual for him to draw female attention. He was a vampire. They naturally attracted women. But this one, Decatur felt was different. Maybe it was because of Archimedes screwing with them. Maybe not. He just knew Marduk was not like other women.
Or maybe I am so screwed up I have no idea anymore.

“No, not at all.”

“Really?” The “not at all” was unnecessary to add and that indicated Marduk was trying to convince herself more than him.

“You’re attractive. You know that. Naturally I wondered. You know the whole bit about the best men being either married or gay.”

“I’m neither.”
Hmm, “best men”.
“Are you looking for a ‘best man’?” What made this woman tick? Decatur needed to know. Whoever she was as a person made Archimedes want her.
And what is my part in Marduk’s destiny?

“Nope,” Marduk’s tone was noncommittal.

“Liar,” Decatur murmured under his breath. The attraction between them was not one-sided. He pulled out the bottom paper drawer he had previously triggered to fail and withdrew the twisted paper. “I need more paper to test it.”
And I need to get you alone.

“I’ll get it.”

“I’ll help you.” Decatur had already checked out the stationery storeroom. It was big enough for two and he needed to talk to Marduk in private. In some ways Archimedes was right. He needed to make a move on this for their own sakes. Decatur suspected Marduk was a straight shooter so he was going to attempt to use the truth and see how she reacted. Decatur could see the curiosity in her eyes. “I’m a gentleman. I’ll help you.” He followed her, his eyes on her hips and ass, mesmerized by the seductive sway.

Marduk pushed open the door of the storeroom. “Are you looking at
my
ass now?”

Decatur motioned her inside with just the forward movement of his body. He shut the door behind him. “Let’s stop playing games.”

“Excuse me?” Marduk arched her eyebrows and put her hands on her hips.

He had to give her credit. Marduk did not appear to scare easily. That was a good thing. She was going to need this ability to deal with whatever Archimedes had planned for them. “You and me—the feeling is entirely mutual.” That was no lie. If the circumstances had been different, Decatur would have been on this woman in seconds. He had held back because of Archimedes and not knowing the true reason he wanted Marduk in whatever plans he had. There was nothing supernatural or immortal about her. Those beings, such as himself, were instantly recognizable to another of their kind. But this woman, she was different and a strange need to protect Marduk had gripped Decatur. That was so unlike him. He had never thought about more than giving pleasure to a woman and moving on. There was inevitability between them. They were linked and it was not something Decatur could ignore. He saw the recognition in Marduk’s eyes.
How will she feel when she knows who I am?

Marduk was riveted to the spot. No man had ever approached her like this. She liked it. She wanted to be shocked and horrified and offended but those emotions were just not within her. Marduk wanted to see what Decatur would do next. “So what?”

“You want me and I want you.”

This was unlike any encounter she’d ever had. Normally a man’s moves were boring and predictable and the urge not to yawn usually gripped her. But not now. There was something more to this. Sure, he had a great ass and he was attractive but there was a feeling she got from him that she couldn’t work out. She took her hands from her hips and reached for a ream of paper. In theory that’s what they were there for. In reality it was something else. “Here’s the paper.”

“You feel what I feel, Marduk.”

Oh yes.
That hot, tingling sensation that started in her stomach and spiraled up her spine. “But I am not the sort of woman who’s a quick shag in a storeroom.”

And then he smiled and Marduk wished she was that sort of woman.

“No danger in your soul?” He took the paper from her hands and tossed it aside. Decatur moved in closer to her.

Marduk gulped. “I have a feeling you’re way out of my league.” The heat from the oncoming rush of his body made her inner thighs sweat in anticipation. She licked her lips and wondered what he would taste like. She just knew he would be addictive. Some men didn’t need to have a warning label because no one would read it anyway.

“I need to kiss you.” Decatur’s hands were at her waist. Pulling her closer.

Marduk knew she could push away.
But I want danger.
“Why me?”

“Because the look and feel of you drives me mad with need. The scent of your perfume makes me hot. To do anything else but kiss you would be crazy.” His body met hers. “Do you feel that? Do you know how good we would be together?”

Oh yes.
Decatur’s lips hovered teasingly over hers. His breath was so warm and intoxicating that she felt her head spin. Good? Fantastic was more the word.

“Yes, but—”

And then Decatur kissed her and whatever the “but” was dissolved on her lips as she gave in to a wave of intense desire that molded her body against his as she sought to be closer to him. The same feeling that had rocked her body last night now tore into her heart and soul.
It’s him but how can that be? Is it because I want so desperately to believe?
Marduk knew she should be pulling away and maybe slapping his face and yelling at him for making her need him. But she couldn’t.
I want him.
She eagerly parted her lips under his as her hands pulled at the binding holding his hair in place. She did not stop Decatur’s hands as they roamed her body, touching and teasing and making her gasp in delight between kisses. This was real, raw passion and Marduk wanted whatever he could give her.

She was powerless to stop the hands that plucked open the buttons of her blouse. When his head dropped and he licked her exposed cleavage, Marduk pushed against Decatur for more. “Suck me.”

“Oh yes.” His hands made short work of her bra. That and the blouse fell to the floor as his lips fastened on her nipple.

Marduk clutched at the man’s head, holding him close for fear of him moving away. Her whole body was on fire with need as his mouth left one nipple red and wet and moved to the other, sucking hard and without stopping. It was one of the most sensual experiences she had ever felt. But like all the best moments in life, someone screwed it up.

“Oh sorry.” It was Vulcan. “I thought this was the door to the lunchroom.”

“Get out,” Decatur barked at him.

Marduk pulled from his arms and started searching for her clothes.
Well, crap. How does one recover after a moment like that?
That it was Vulcan who interrupted them made the whole situation more uncomfortable. She could see by the look in his eyes, that this was not a simple mistake. He had come looking for them. But why? “The lunchroom is two doors down on the left.”

“My apologies for interrupting.” He nodded at Decatur and left.

After the door shut behind Vulcan, Marduk assessed the blond man before her. It was all very well to get caught up in the passion of the moment but reality beat illusion every time. “Okay, what’s going on? Why are you here and why the sudden interest in me?” Her own words came back to Marduk.
It would be like mating outside your species.
“And don’t tell me some bullshit story about falling in love at first sight because I’m not going to believe it.”

Decatur blew out a sigh. “Fair enough. I do have a reason to be with you.”

Damn.
For one moment Marduk hoped he was going to say, “The moment I saw you I knew there could be no other woman for me and I will do anything, anything at all, just to be with you.” Of course that only happened in soap operas. “And that reason is?”

“You’re not going to believe me.”

“Try me.”

“I am a vampire being manipulated by an evil bastard of a demon who wants me to get you to fall in love with me. Why? I have no idea. All I know is he wants us to be together.” Decatur stood and waited for her response.

“Huh. A vampire.”
Typical.
A handsome man was interested in her and he was crazy.

“Yes.”

“And you want me to fall in love with you?”

“That’s Archimedes’ plan.”

“And he’s the demon?”

“Yes.”

“Pity.”

“What?”

“Well, you look so normal and after that kiss I could almost fall for you but you’re insane.”

“Marduk, I’m telling you the truth.” Decatur’s hands reached out for hers.

She evaded them. Touching him now, after the kiss and that revelation, was a really bad idea. “I’m sure you think you are truthful.”

“I am serious.”

“Yes, of course you are.” Marduk ran a hand over her hair. A few stray hairs out of place but that was not unusual for her. She could feel her lips were swollen but if anyone asked she would just act vague. “Now, if you will excuse me, I want to get back to work.” This was not a sentence she would have normally uttered as wasting time at work was something Marduk enjoyed.

“I don’t think you know what’s at stake here.”

“I bet you’re probably thwarting evil or something. That’s the usual deal, isn’t it?” Marduk saw the sad resignation in his eyes and for one moment she wanted to believe him but she was not the gullible type. She had worked out the whole Santa Claus deal when she was four years old.

“Not thwarting it but trying to deal with it.” Decatur’s hand went to her arm.

Marduk tried to shake him off but he held fast. “Please let me go.”

“I can make you stay.”

She had no doubt about that. He was a tall hunk of a man. She was short and chunky. He had strength and agility. She only possessed feminine survival skills. “And I can give you much pain. It’s your choice.”

Decatur laughed. “How could you hurt me?”

There was something so patronizing in his response. She smiled sweetly. “Like this.” Marduk stamped her heel down on his foot. They were only short heels but she had weight behind them.

He yelped and instantly let go. “We need to do this together,” he told her between gritted teeth as he jumped on one foot to relieve pressure.

“I need nothing from you, sunshine.” Marduk wanted to make her escape before he had time to grab her again. She wasn’t silly. There was no way he would let her get away again. Decatur caught her hand in his. His eyes locked with Marduk. Suddenly the force of the moment hit her.
One day very soon you will see me. We will meet and you probably won’t like me. I’ll probably annoy you and yet you won’t be able to stop looking at me and wondering, “Where do I know him from?” I’ll lift your hand to my lips, look into your eyes and kiss your palm and you’ll know who I am to you and why I waited. I want you to come to me because there is no other place you would rather be. I want to be the only man for you.

“No fucking way.” The soft, simple kiss on her palm made her body shake. “It can’t be you.”

“I love how you moan and clutch at me when you come, darling.”

Darling.
No one said that one word quite like her lover did. “I—this is—um—” Marduk was lost for words. How did a dream suddenly become her reality? She pulled her hand from his. “T-this cannot be.”

“But it is.”

“Unbelievable,” Marduk mumbled as she pushed past him out the door.

“Interesting,” Vulcan murmured as he watched the woman leave the storeroom flushed with anger. “That had to sting.” Vampires had enormous egos. To his knowledge, not many women turned down Decatur. Vulcan had thought after seeing their lips locked in passion that he would have to come up with a plan to break them apart. He didn’t want them getting together too soon. That would not suit his plan. Eventually Vulcan knew they would. That was inevitable but by that time Vulcan planned to have Archimedes where he wanted him. Mess up his plans, mess with the man.