ARRIVAL

ARRIVAL

A Vampire’s Debt steamy short stories, story one

TERRI STERN

Copyright © 2023 Terri Stern

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

may not be reproduced or used in any manner

whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents

either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any

resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely

coincidental.

Neil ground against my back and hips in the heady heat of the crowd, hands at my waist and pulling me hard into him, a fluid heat running through us. The bodies around us were moving in sync to the thumping beat of the song, strobing lights painting us in shades of delight as we moved, free and giddy, part of the crowd but in our own bubble. We hadn’t been able to get a night out together to go dancing in ages, his work and mine overlapping in the worst possible ways, and I’d been aching to get a matching night off so we could let our hair down and just enjoy being together.

Working as a paramedic meant I had a lot of late nights and early starts, but I didn’t want that to stop up having time together as a couple. We had a pretty good thing going on - him studying and working part time, and me working through my traineeship with the team - so while sometimes things could be a bit brief, it worked well for us. Most of the time.

We were both young and fun enough that an uncomplicated relationship was exactly what we needed, and it was safer than going on an anonymous app where some dude could track where I was standing, like some horny stalker.

Neil was fabulous.

Especially when we got to go out, like now, losing ourselves in the dancing and the thrill of the crowd, enjoying the press of each other as we danced. Knowing that we’d get to do more of the same when we got back home, could enjoy each other through the night and then sleep in the next day.

No school, no shift, no alarms, and so no reason to get out of bed until we were thoroughly sated in each other, and slumber. We could roll out and have brunch as suited us, and I planned to make sure we earned that sleep just as much in the sheets as on the dancefloor.

“You look fucking gorgeous,” Neil whispered in my ear.

I ground back harder into him in response, sliding a hand up to grip the back of his neck, pull him into a panting kiss. He growled into my lips, tongue flicking out to taste me as he chased the contact. Twisting in his grip, I wrapped my arms around him, so we danced chest to chest, lips to lips. I could feel him pressed hard against me, his appreciation for my little black dress poking in at my hip, and as I broke the kiss, I smirked up at him.

“Keen to go home so soon?” I asked. As if it wasn’t well past midnight, and the club would close in a couple of hours. As if we hadn’t been leaning in and enjoying each other’s bodies for the last five songs.

Neil grinned down at me - his blond hair phasing with the colours of the lights - and shook his head. “Can’t wait that long. We should go out the back.”

I let out a delighted giggle, moaning into his mouth when he crushed our lips together again, our bodies still in sync with the beat. Sliding my hand down his chest, I lingered at the enthusiastic press of him against me even through his jeans, and when we broke apart this time I glanced over his shoulder to see if there was security near the back doors. The smoking patio had a small railing, but we could both get over that, and if there weren’t too many security guards around….

“What do you say, sugar?” Neil leaned down, mouthing over my neck at just the right spot to make my breath catch. “Let’s be a bad, yeah?”

I knew I was going to give in to him, even before I saw the way his brows raised in challenge. It beat stumbling into one of the bathroom stalls.

We slipped our fingers together as he led the way out of the dancefloor, striding ahead of me to get us outside with the smokers. One bouncer was standing chatting to a guy who absolutely was a dealer by the baggy jacket and expensive watch, but that was none of my business when I wasn’t on shift. And it meant he was distracted when Neil hopped the railing, offering me his hand for support when I followed suit, my free hand on the back of my dress so an accidental flashing didn’t foil our escape. Merry and drunk as I was, I could hope for some modesty with people other than Neil. We’d slip out, have our fun, then head back in and grab our stuff once the club closed up. All good.

The walk down the alley was precarious, my heels and Neil’s enthusiasm making us pick our way like wobbling ice skaters, laughing and grabbing onto one another in the gloom.

“You look so fucking sexy,” Neil said, dragging me closer as he barrelled into a wall and turned around, so we were chest to chest again, breath ghosting over each other as our eyes met. “Been wanting you since you started grinding on me, sugar. Your ass is so goddamn delightful in that dress.”

“Smooth talker.” I leaned in, catching his lips as he turned us, so my back was against the wall and the weight of his body was pressing against every part of me. The alley wasn’t exactly quiet, I could still feel the pulse of the base coming through the bricks at my back, and while the music was muted, it still leaked from the smoking patio, a background soundtrack I didn’t care to keep up with. It wasn’t dirty out this way – a few boxes here and there, but nothing that moved, other than another couple I could see pressed into a dark corner further up. I should have been embarrassed, but I’d let them have their fun: we were having ours.

“Just the truth,” Neil said between kisses, bringing my focus back to him as his hands roamed my body, “Who could resist you lookin’ so good?”

I swallowed my response as his hands founds my breasts, fingers fumbling for nipples that were swaddled in the bra I wore – strapless, but enough cover to prevent anything appearing unexpectedly on the dancefloor.

His lips found my throat again, sucking along the join of my neck and shoulder, making me melt back into the wall. His knee forced itself between my thighs, pressing up until it found the join of my hips, and I gasped at the jolt it sent through me.

“Neil.” I whined his name, grinding against his thigh.

“What, hon’?” He pulled back to grin at me, pressing himself harder against my clothed heat. “I can’t go straight to the full show, I want something left for when we get home too.”

My frustration bubbled like my arousal, twisting low in my stomach. “We could have done grinding inside.”

“Not like this.” His hands slid from my chest, one lingering to grip my hip as the other went lower, slipping underneath my skirt to tease the seam of my underwear.

“Oh.” My words stuttered out as he mercilessly traced along the material, his touch like fire along my skin but not going any closer to what I wanted so badly.

“That’s what I thought.” His smirk was wolfish, enough that I’d have wanted to slap it off someone else, but he was so close to just exactly where I needed him and I chased the touch, hips bucking in encouragement.

“Neil.” It was half a plea and half an order, desire tangling my words up despite his determination to leave my aching heat waiting until he was good and ready.

“Patience, sugar, you know I’ll make it worth your while.” He pecked kisses along my jaw, up to my ear, where he growled low. “I never leave you disappointed, do I?”

He punctuated the question by finally letting his fingers transgress into my underwear, brushing the lace aside to run his finger along me, dipping between my folds to find my clit with ruthless accuracy. I pulled him into a kiss to stop the moan I gave, his attention on my clit making my mind spin as he wound quick little circles, teasing me with constant pressure, but not quite enough.

I grabbed hold of the back of his shirt, desperate to dig nails into him I couldn’t, yet, wanting to mark him up with the way he wound me tight.

“That’s better, baby, just like that.” His voice was soft against my skin, barely breaking the kiss as he spoke. “You want more, or do you want to go back to the club and just dance away while you’re still simmering?”

“Don’t you dare,” I hissed. The thought of going back and being pressed into him like this, hot and needy and having no way to fix it until we got back home, could almost make me cry.

“What will you do to convince me?” I nearly growled back at him when he asked that, answer cut off by another decisive flick against my nerves.

“What do you want?” I asked. The pout in my voice was mostly real.

“That’s not how the game works. Make a suggestion.”

I moaned low in frustration, my back sagging against the bricks as I looked at him through my lashes. “I’ll do what you like when we get back home.”

“Anything?” He asked, speeding up his ministrations. My spine tingled as he kept working the little bundle of nerves.

“Yes, anything.” I grabbed his shoulders, burying my head in his neck as he swiped quicker.

“That’s my girl.” He shifted his fingers, snaking down from my clit to tease my entrance and then plunge one finger into the wet heat his taunting me had brought, quickly sliding a second finger in.

“Fuck, Neil.” I mouthed at his neck, kissing and biting as he sped his fingers up inside me.

“Later on, baby, not here.” He chuckled into my ear as he twisted his wrist, just a little, catching the spot inside me that made my vision go white, the tremor of pleasure making me sink my fingernails into his shirt.

I moaned into his neck, composure lost as I bucked my hips to meet his tempo, legs shaking as I gasped into his claiming kiss. He was overwhelming, his shape pressing over me as I melted into his touch, his driving force inside me, and the sweet sound of my pleasure lost in his growling, grinning mouth.

He would push me over the edge if he kept going like this, the winding tension low in my stomach was tightening at a pace, and I was grateful for the press of him into me keeping my back against the bricks. My head span with the pushing rush of my peak and I was just tipping into the wave of hot pleasure when Neil froze, his fingers stilling inside me.

“No, don’t stop.” I whimpered, almost in tears from the sudden pulling back from the brink, pulling up to look at him. He wasn’t looking at me, though. He’d turned to look at the shape of two guys stood nearby, close enough that they had to have known what we were doing.

My face flooded with heat and I batted Neil’s hand away, tugging my skirt down for all the good it did. It was short enough that it didn’t take much to hide my underwear, thank goodness for small mercies.

“Hate to interrupt a lady having a good time. Sorry for that.” The taller of the two stepped forward, puffing smoke from what could have been a vape by the rectangular shape in his hand. He was casual, black slacks and a slouchy hoodie with the repeating pattern of an eye-watering brand that would not be forgiving of the vapour he was spewing out between breaths. “It’s not you I need to speak to, it’s your man here.”

He nodded to Neil, who scoffed, stepping back from me to face the guy up. “Fuck off, Conner. If you needed me, you could have called.”

“Neil, what’s going on?”

“Hush, this’ll just take a minute.” He pushed me back into the wall, hard enough that my shoulders scraped the brick, and a thrill of fright went through me.

“He’s right that it won’t take long, love. I just need to speak to your debt dodging little Romeo about something he owes me. Or twenty thousand somethings, really, because that’s how much you’re in the hole for, isn’t it, Neil?”

“What’s he talking about?” I asked.

“Nothing, Lisa, stay put.” Neil pressed a hand to my chest, fingers pressing against my sternum with the force to hurt, and my words faltered. “Conner here’s just being a dramatic bitch, like he usually is if things don’t go his way.”

“Watch your mouth, mate.” The stouter man stepped up, coming past tall Conner to square up against Neil.

“Tony, you’re spoiling my night.” I didn’t recognise this Neil, the snarl in his smile, the way he was so comfortable with whatever the fuck was going on here. Twenty grand owed? He was a student, he had student loans, but that wasn’t something they came after you for in an alleyway.

Tony shrugged, thick shoulders rippling underneath the too-tight black shirt he wore. “If you’d been playing nice, we wouldn’t have to have intruded. You’ve been avoiding us. We’re heartbroken.”

“Sure.” Neil grabbed Tony behind the head, yanking them together as his knee connected between Tony’s thighs, an undignified ‘ooft’ escaping the injured man.

Then Neil was off, shoving Tony towards Conner and sprinting down the alleyway, abandoning me to leap over the railing and disappear through the smoking patio. I couldn’t see which way he’d gone other than over the iron railings, raising a chorus of indignant shouts, and I swallowed as I turned Conner and Tony.

Conner was helping Tony up, still casual, no rush to chase after my fleeing boyfriend, and my stomach clenched at the lack of pursuit. That couldn’t be a good sign. I stood, breathless, against the wall for a minute, while the two of them exchanged hushed words.

I could try to slip away, back into the rest of the alley and see if there was another exit. I didn’t think there was, hadn’t noticed more neon light spilling out when I’d been tripping after Neil, but I’d been distracted and my rapidly sobering mind wasn’t able to pull much together other than how focused I’d been on his back, and not tripping in my heels.

“I’ll go after him. You get her.” Conner nodded my way before turning, sauntering off back towards the club as Tony smiled at me. Not a friendly smile. Shit.

I put my hands up, palms out, to show no threat. “I’ve no idea what Neil’s done, but I saw he hit you first, so I don’t want any trouble. There’s nothing I could tell the police; I don’t know anything.”

Tony’s smile grew teeth. “I’m not going to give you trouble if you do what I ask. How about that?”

“Depends what you’re asking, I suppose.” I glanced at the floor, hoping it looked shy rather than me checking for broken glass, bits of anything that could cut my feet up. If I pelted him with my heels and ran, I had a decent head start into the darkness of the rest of the alley - but that might just be running into a dead end.

“Your gentleman there’s got himself into a mighty bad state. And since he’s avoiding us, as you’ve seen, we need something to persuade him to come to the table. Some leverage, if you will.”

“I won’t.” I knew what was being said, didn’t need him to produce the knife that he popped out like a party trick. “He just fucked off and left me here. Do you really think kidnapping me will help?”

Tony shook his head as he approached. “It’s not a kidnapping. That’s such an aggressive word. You’re just going to help us negotiate things a little more directly. I really don’t want to use this knife on you, Lisa, you have a proper pretty face, so why don’t you just come with me?”

“I think the lady told you to fuck off, didn’t she, mate?” Another man swaggered forth from deeper in the alley, possibly the man I’d seen making out with someone else when we’d stumbled down here earlier.

I didn’t know who he was, but he sauntered up and slid an arm around my shoulders with all the confidence of being a close friend, pecking a kiss to my temple. He was close to six feet tall, maybe just a smidge under, with shaggy dark hair that was styled loose and wavy, like he’d rolled out of bed looking fabulous. His skin was deathly pale, made worse in the lazy lighting of the alley, but his eyes sparkled as he threw me a grin.

There was something a little off about him - his shirt was ruffled, the white cotton a telltale of someone having rolled out of the office and into a night out. Here he was stepping in to help me, a hell of a story for the office tomorrow at least, and he gave my shoulder a little squeeze of encouragement.

“What’s this then?” Tony asked. He stepped closer, almost close enough to swing for this new man, and I recoiled into the wall, and said new man.

“This is my pretty little petal. She’s much too nice just to be with that oaf Neil, you think he’d be enough to handle this?” He gave a look over my dress, throwing me a wink with his right eye – which Tony wouldn’t see from the angle we pressed together.

“Are you crazy?” I whispered as I brought up a bright smile.

“Just trying to help you not get stabbed,” he replied in a light singsong voice, too quiet for Tony to hear. Right. I was being cuddled into safety, apparently, and it wasn’t a guarantee, but it was better than Neil bolting and leaving me alone. Fucker.

“You’re with her too?” Tony asked, stating the quiet part out loud.

“That’s right. Polyamory’s been around a long while mate, you can’t be that shocked?” My mysterious saviour grinned like he was in on a joke.

“He’s never mentioned her seeing other folk,” Tony said.

“Just the ones he fucks? Hardly surprising.” Rescue-Man gave a little shrug, nuzzling into me again. “Some guys just can’t handle that they’re not the only one. Neil’s a hypocrite and a coward. Can’t say I’m shocked.”

The easy use of Neil’s name made me stiffen - that meant he’d been listening in to at least some of the back and forth. Maybe he just wanted an out too; if he was the guy I’d seen doing the same as us, he couldn’t leave yet either. There might be some other scared girl – or guy, I hadn’t seen them well – hiding back there, hoping to avoid trouble.

Settling myself, I resolved to go along with this insane plan, leaning in to Rescue-Man’s hold and letting my hand rest on his chest. “I just want to go back to your place; I can’t stomach the thought of seeing him after he ran off like that.”

“Course, even if I believe this,” Tony said, stepping closer, “That doesn’t change that I need Lisa’s lovely company tonight.”

“I don’t think so, mate.” Rescue-Man shook his head, flashing a lazy grin. “You’re not the first knife I’ve seen. Don’t think you can spook me off like you did him.”

Tony seemed to consider the words for a few moments, tilting his head to one side as he nodded a little, then he lunged forward to stab Rescue-Man in the abdomen, high near the arch of his ribs.

I screamed, adrenaline flaring up in my blood as I saw the knife lodged in there, red seeping up around the wound and staining his white shirt.

“Shup up.” Tony’s fist connected with my face and my head span at the contact, ricocheting off the bricks in bounce back. A wave of nausea of pulled up against me, vision swarming black for a few heartbeats as I panted air. No, bruising was bad but bleeding was worse. I had to help.

“We need to get you to a hospital.” It was hard to get the words out as I as grabbed Rescue-Man’s shirt sleeve, mouth thick with saliva as the sickness still pushed up my throat. “I’m a paramedic, I can stabilise you, but that’s too close to important veins. We need to stop you bleeding.”

“Don’t fret, petal.” Rescue-Man smiled at me, and something in the affable grin still being so easy, how unruffled he seemed about being stabbed, made that crest of sickness press up again.

“The fuck is this?” Tony stepped closer, hand hovering as if he would take the knife again, and Rescue-Man batted his hand away.

“This is you being a fucking idiot, mate, and I’m afraid this is going to hurt all of us.” Rescue-Man yanked the knife out and that was too much for my spinning, squirming stomach – even with my training I turned on my heel and threw up, one arm up against the wall.

“You’ll bleed out,” I gasped between acid tinged heaves. “I need you to lie down, and if you have a phone, give it to me so I can call an ambulance.”

“There won’t be any need.” I turned to look at him, shaggy hair pushed aside as he stepped up to Tony, clocking his nose with a solid headbutt before he struck under his chin, sending Tony’s head back at a hard angle. He dropped onto the floor, spark out, while Rescue-Man gave a depreciating chuckle.

I stumbled forward, wiping my mouth and going down hard onto my knees so I could feel at Tony’s neck. There was still a pulse, even with the thick muscle there I could feel an erratic beat under my fingertips, so that was good. I sagged, the plastic of my heels pressing into the back of my bare thighs. I must look ridiculous: on my knees in an alley, skirt high from my ungraceful surge to check a guy who was trying to abduct me.

The clatter of metal behind me brought my focus back, and I swung around to see Rescue-Man had gone down to one knee, wincing, a hand pressed hard into his stab wound.

“Shit, okay, we need you to lie down. What’s your name?” I shuffled over to him, ignoring the bite of the tarmac on my knees as I tried to tilt him down, away from my earlier mess, so I could open his shirt and check the wound.

“I’m Charles. I thought you’d never ask.” He blinked at me, weaving on his supporting knee as he gripped my shoulders.

“Would have seemed odd to ask my boyfriend’s name, no? That was an amazing thing you did there, but you’re bleeding and I need to check your wound over. And call an ambulance. Can you give me your phone, Charles?”

Using someone’s name over and over again was an old trick to keep their focus, a basic thing they tell you when you’re first in the back of an ambulance, and there was little time to get his favourite football team out of him.

“I don’t, but I need your help. Can you help me?”

“Of course I can, I’m a paramedic. In training, but I’m nearly done. I’m not as good as a proper hospital, though, we need to get you to one of those. So I need your phone so I can call for an ambulance, okay?”

“Thank you.” He smiled at me, back to the grin it had been earlier, and yanked me close so our chests collided. “It’s indecent to do this without even knowing each other’s names. I’m glad you asked. Try not to be afraid.”

He buried his face in my neck, taking a shuddering breath that I felt through his chest stuttering into mine. I tried to press back against him, hands on his shoulders, but he pulled up briefly before he bit down, hard, on my throat.

I gasped as his teeth went through the skin, my shout stumbling into a moan as a flood of pleasure rocked into me, the earlier wave of heat from Neil’s fingers being overwhelmed by a bright surge of white hot stars.   

My hands scrabbled for purchase on him, curling into the material of his shirt as he sucked at the wound, pushing me over the edge as his tongue flicked out to tease along the bite, sparks of pleasure being drawn out by each lap and linger. My hips buckled, so he was pinning us together, keeping me against him in the alley's darkness, and I panted my moans into his shoulder as I came to the other side of my peak, shivering in the afterglow as I struggled to keep myself together.

It was a losing battle, despite my frantic efforts; I could hear the whoosh of unconsciousness approaching as I blinked at Charles, who had pulled away to lick his red lips, clean blood from the corners of his mouth.

“Take it easy, I’ve got you.” He smiled, made no more reassuring by the blood on his teeth being mine rather than his, and crooked me close, so I rested against his chest. “I’m going to have to take you somewhere to explain all this, but you’re safe. We won’t hurt you. It will just take a while to explain.”

I saw him pocket the knife Tony stabbed him with just as I went into darkness.

~

I sat bolt upright in a bed, the ghost of a scream in my throat. My heart was beating against my ribs like a trapped bird, the echo of fear still lurking over me. It took several breaths before I could get myself together to look around, and my stomach sank when I realised this was not my room. Or Neil’s.

It was beautiful: a large space with a four-poster bed I was currently in – wearing a nightdress that was not what I had been out in last night – and a vanity set on the wall across. Large windows let a fresh breeze and sunlight pour through, light cotton curtains swaying together like playmates. It looked like a hotel suite, minus any TV, and I could see my dress folded neatly on a chair beside the mirror. There were a few chairs, more than I would expect in a room like this, like there would be someone on watch. My shoes lurked on the chair beside the dress, still miraculously in one piece. I thought they’d have broken.

My head ached, as did my throat, and with a cold, tumbling clarity I remembered the source of each. The men in the alley, Neil running away. The bite at my neck. My heart lurched, and I swallowed back a gasp, shaking my head. This was no time for shock.

A knock sounded on the door and I yelped, tugging the covers up to my neck. It wasn’t as if there was much point - the nightdress was high collared - but whoever knocked took this as an invitation to open the door.

A young man stepped in, dressed all in black and with a tray between his hands. He smiled at me, warm and open, and nudged the door closed with his hip.

“I thought I heard you waken up, so I brought you something light to eat. You might not be up for much just now, but could you try to pick at a croissant or some fruit, please?” I blinked at him, watching him set the tray beside me on the bed before he pulled a seat closer. “I’m Daniel, by the way.”

“Lisa.”

“I know. I must confess to having checked your ID when you appeared at the house. Do you remember what happened?” His face was thin and neat, cheekbones that looked like they could cut glass, and he had the palest blue eyes I could ever think of seeing. His hair was sandy brown, almost turning to honey blond, but it seemed like the colour drained out as it came to the roots.

Okay, you rarely fed a kidnap victim, so this was a start, sort of. I nodded, taking a croissant and tearing it into bits on one of the little plates. “We were on a night out, my boyfriend and me, and we’d gone out the back of the club. I remember….” I trailed off, the image of Neil’s retreating back flashing across my mind. “Bad things started happening.”

“Take it slow, it’s ok,” Daniel said, gently putting a hand to my shoulder and taking it just as away quickly. “Sorry. I appreciate I’m a strange man in a room alone with you. If you’d rather wait to speak with others here, it’s ok.”

“Where is here?”

“That is a group conversation, unfortunately.” He had the decency to look sheepish.

“I remember my boyfriend left my in an alley to get hurt and someone else stepped in. He got stabbed for his trouble, and then he,” I put a hand to my neck and felt a tenderness there, like a bruise or a fading hickey. “I thought he bit me.”

“Your recollection’s rather good. I was worried the hit to your head might have caused some of the detail to fall off.”

“Not that lucky.” I tried to smile, ignoring the lump in my throat as much as I could.

“It’s natural to be upset. You had a terrible fright, and you’ve woken up in a strange place. My employer is waiting to speak to you, but I wanted a chance for you to eat something and gather yourself before that.”

“That’s very considerate.”

“I’ve had a similar experience. It spooked me for weeks, honestly. I was hardly fit to leave the house for days because of the shock.” He laid a hand on my shoulder again, giving me a bright smile. “Take all the time you need.”

“Thanks.” I took a quick bite of croissant, the flaky pastry melting on my tongue. I couldn’t help but moan; it was heavenly, delicate enough to be fresh.

“I’m so glad you like them; they’re fresh made this morning. I do a lot of baking and it’s never appreciated, so let me know if you have any requests.”

“Well, it’s not quite baking, but could I borrow an outfit? I don’t have anything except my dress and it’s hardly a great daylight look. And could have blood on it. I’m not sure.”

“It did. I’ve washed it for you.”

“How long was I out for?”

“The night, and most of this morning. It’s about eleven now, give or take. And I didn’t want you to wake up with blood stains. It only seemed polite.”

It was so thoughtful, but also such an odd thing to have thought about, that it made me stumble. “Do you consider that a lot?”

He paused, a light laugh spilling over his lips. “Not exactly, though more often than most, I suppose. Given the quickness of your questions, am I to take it you feel up to speaking with others?”

I took a deep breath, weighing up my options. “How many other? You seem fun and all but I’m trying real hard not to panic here.”

“Naturally.” He gave me a soft smile, seeming on the cusp of saying something before he shook his head a little. “There are several guests in the house, but my employer would want to speak to you alone. Or with me in the room, if you prefer.”

“I think I would.”

“That’s fine. If you’re happy to speak to him, I can look out some clothes other than your party attire and we can go shortly?”

“Sure. Just let me wash my face, I feel gross.”

“There are towels if you’d like a shower? That gives me time to locate those clothes.”

“That would be great, thank you.” I smiled and actually felt like I meant it, even with the dull beat of nerves in the pit of my stomach. This was absolutely not ok, and maybe showering in a stranger’s house was a bad idea, but I’d already been passed out around them at this point. If there were cameras in there, they’d seen more when someone changed me into a nightgown and found my ID in the little pocket I’d sewn into the dress ages back.

“Of course. I’ll leave the clothes on your bed and if you just let me know when you’re ready, you can meet Mr Black.”

“Your employer?”

“Yes. He’ll be very pleased to hear you’re up and able to talk. Do finish the pastry if you can.”

“Will do,” I said as he left, taking a couple more bites. Fresh croissants were something I could understand paying for: the idea someone didn’t appreciate them made me laugh. There was some orange juice on the tray and I quickly drank that as well. The sweetness was invigorating on my tongue, a nice sharp contrast. Should have checked it wasn’t drugged, but I was going to try my best not to be paranoid.

The bathroom was just as sumptuous as the bedroom, and the door had a lock, which I was even more pleased with. Daniel had seemed nice enough, but this was all very, very strange. It would be rude to assume the very worst, but there was only so much trust someone could run on and I was nearing the edge of mine.  

I should have been in a hospital, certainly Charles, who had stepped in, should have been, and nice as this place was, it didn’t scream private institution.

A shower dominated the larger wall, with a sink and toilet diagonally across from it with a small window above them. I looked it over, deciding my hips wouldn’t fit through the frame if I tried, so I would skip that escape attempt. The rest of the room was light and bright, with a large mirror across from the shower and shell blue tiles throughout. Cute, someone had clearly taken care with the guestrooms.

Turning the shower on, I delighted in the water pressure, beating down like a good rainstorm, and steam quickly began to fog and plume. I cracked the small window open before I stripped and stepped under the stream.

The water was blissful on my muscles, aches I hadn’t realised were there melting under the heat. My head was still sore, though better for the breakfast, and my neck was tender, but it was nothing I was surprised at after last night. It couldn’t possibly be a bite; there would be blood and scabbing if he’d broken the skin. I was misremembering after the hit to the head. I gently washed between my thighs - grateful they felt normal and not sore or bruised. While not a perfect test, it was a good starting point for nothing untoward having happened while I was passed out. The image of Tony reaching for me pushed forward, and I gave a shaky sob, shoving it away.

Charles had stopped him and got hurt. Stabbed. I owed him an apology at least, and I could check his wound over to be sure he’d had it taken care of. Maybe he had a reason for not wanting to go to hospital, a visa issue or a warrant, if he’d had it checked out by someone else, that was fine. I’d just check it to be sure. That was a good apology, hopefully.

I washed my hair quickly and finished rinsing my skin, stepping out onto a towel before wrapping myself up in another. It was a large bath sheet, long enough to act as a dress on my frame, and I bundled my hair up into a smaller one for ease.

Peeking out of the bathroom door, I saw a selection of clothes laid out on the bed, which had been made in my absence.

A small note waited for me on the pillow:

Wasn’t sure of your size so these may be a little off, apologies. Daniel.

How sweet. I picked a knee-length red brocade dress - fussier than I would usually go for, but the skirt was loose enough to let me run if needed to and the intricate pattern shone under the daylight streaming in through those large windows. It lacked sleeves other than basic capped straps, enough to stretch over to the edges of my shoulders but not cover my arms, and it made a good show of my chest without being lewd. Very much not my usual style, but it covered more than last night’s attire, whereas the other items were too small for any excuse of modesty. And it fit, which was about as good as I could aim for picking through other people’s clothes.

Quickly dressing before the mirror, I turned my hair out, towelling it dry and styling it as much as I could without something like spray or heat. It bounced down in waves, wilder than usual, but it looked okay despite the dampness. I looked presentable. It could have been cute if circumstances were different. I’d have to check the tag for this dress - it looked decent on, if a little out of place for a ‘thanks for getting stabbed on my behalf’ meeting.

Cracking the door open revealed Daniel stood on the other side, his broad back to the wood. He stood like a bouncer, arms crossed and glancing around the corridor, looking for trouble. The arch of his shoulders was tense against his shirt and I could imagine how they would feel under my hands if I reached out, firm and warm. I shook my head, a little bashful at the suddenness of the thought. Just because he had good bone structure and could bake was not a reason to go head-over-heels.

“I’m dressed,” I said, hiding my smile when he jumped.

“Sorry, I didn’t hear the door. Are the clothes alright?” He turned around, giving me a quick smile as he looked at my outfit. “I am terrible at women’s sizing, sorry.”

“I found something that worked.” I gave him a quick twirl, the skirt fanning out a little with the movement. “You guys have a bunch of options, huh?”

“Not very coherent, I appreciate.” He bowed his head lightly, looking along the corridor again. The carpet was thick, so you would have struggled to hear footsteps approach, but it seemed like he was watching for someone.

“Are we good to go?”

“I think so, yes.” He nodded a little, looking back at me. “Are you feeling better after your shower?”

“Yes, that was brilliant. Your water pressure is so good, you guys must have paid a mint for that.”

“Thank you, we’re very lucky that way. If you’ll come with me.” He held his arm out, an old-fashioned gesture that made me giggle at the chivalry. Cute. I slipped my arm in his, clicking the door closed behind me before we left.

“Do you escort everyone like this?” I nodded to our joined arms.

“We don’t have many female visitors; I feel like I should be extra well behaved.” He winked, his smile barely repressed.

“I suppose it’s good not to have too many unconscious women showing up in a household. Wouldn’t do to get a reputation.”

Daniel laughed, coughing to cover it. “That’s a reasonable concern, yes.”

He led me through an immense house, the size of a stately home by the number of doors we walked past, the carpet gentler than the alley even in my heels. I could have thought it was a hotel - it was immaculate, the wood panelling polished bright, the carpets thick and clean.

“This must be a nightmare for someone to maintain,” I said as we walked past an indoor palm, the stout tree fanning open where it barely scraped the top of a window.

“It’s an undertaking, yes, but a beautiful property.”

“Do you live here?”

“I do, not too far away from the room you were staying in.”

I hummed, not sure what to say to that. It was nice to think he was nearby and that was why he looked out for me. “And you work here too, for your employer.”

“Yes.”

“Like an assistant?”

“Sort of.” He nodded a little as we walked, almost shrugging. “I’m not sure he would call me that, but it’s a fair description. We’re almost here.”

It felt like we’d been walking for a while, one set of vast windows largely like another, but we were approaching a grand set of double doors at the end of whichever corridor we were now in. Any attempts to keep track of where we had been in relation to my temporary room had gone astray long since, somewhere between bright sunlight and tasteful art that I suspected was real given the substantial frames. There had been glimpses of blue sky at some points too - all beautiful but useless in revealing where I was. I couldn’t have said if it was city or country, though I couldn’t have been that far. Only so much road before you ran out of nighttime.

Daniel gave a sharp double knock on the doors and opened the left-hand one to let us in, his arm dropping to lace his fingers with mine. I let him draw me into the room, only pulling back slightly when I thought I saw a figure coming along the way we had just walked.

The door closed before I could double check the shape, and Daniel tugged me further into the new room. He led me to a low loveseat, letting go of my hand once I sat on the rich red cotton, which complimented the forest green cushions dotted together. The entire room seemed to ripple with similar accents, dark wood, gold detail, a high ceiling that had a complicated chandelier dripping with gems catching the sunlight. A low fire burned in an impressive fireplace, banked up so it flickered and rippled with light despite the sunshine. Seemed odd for the daytime, but old houses were strange things.

A set of full-length glass doors ran along the back wall, two sets of doubles which let the room flood with lazy sunlight that glittered off everything. A large table sat between me and an even larger sofa, easily broad enough to sit four, in the middle of which sat a man.

He was tall, I could see that just from his posture, with a pale, swan-like neck that looked over to Daniel as he moved to sit next to the new man. There was a soft warmth in the gaze that flicked over Daniel, a familiarity that went beyond working together. A warmth. I swallowed, unsure why that sent a shiver through me. Maybe the fire was necessary.

“This is my employer, Mr Black. Mr Black, our guest, Lisa.”

The man turned to look at me, and I had to resist a double take. The surname had to be a joke, because he was all light tones: soft, tawny blond hair in a longer cut, carefully styled back to accentuate his face, pale skin, and eyes that could have been red in the right light. Even his attire was lighter toned – tan slacks and a cream shirt that sat neatly on his shoulders. He didn’t seem thin, but he was less built out than Daniel, a tapered chest that ran down to slim hips.

“I’m delighted to finally meet you conscious; we were anxious about your head injury. Please, call me Frankie. Mr Black is only for business.”

He stretched a long arm out, broad palm offered, and I shook it, pulling mine back quickly. Something about this was pinging my instincts, a low thrill of electricity pulling along my nerves as I tried to place what it was. His eyes kept seeming to change colour, swirling hazel, then russet again, and that did nothing to settle my nerves.

“I dread to think what a mess I was in when you first saw me. I’m so sorry about that.” Trying to seem friendly, I smiled at him, unsure why there seemed to be a tension filling the air but happy to keep my side of things light. I could figure out what was going on without being rude of giving an excuse for rudeness back.

“Not at all. I’m grateful you were brought here. It’s much safer than being left in that alley.”

“Lisa recalls most of the events,” Daniel said, leaning into Frankie as he spoke. “Including what happened to Charles.”

Frankie tilted his head, eyes moving over me in quick increments, and his shoulders levelled again. “Well, that makes this a more direct conversation.”

“I felt it best to reserve that for your company,” Daniel said.

“A sound choice. A direct demonstration is much easier. Lisa, as it seems you may recall, when you were attacked, an associate of mine intervened. As he was injured he took blood from you, to assist with healing. I appreciate that may seem a touch bizarre, but there is a reason behind this.”

“People can be cautious about hospitals for plenty of reasons. I’m not looking to judge, though I would like to check his wound, if he’s not already had it seen to? I’ve got training.” Mostly.

“That won’t be necessary, Charles is healed. Vampires have accelerated healing, especially with a fresh feed.”

Oh, fuck, it was a crazy cult. Oh boy. I didn’t fancy my chances if I went along with this. Feeding delusions was only useful to help reduce someone’s distress, and Mr Black – Frankie – seemed quite content. “Vampires. Dracula, wooden steaks, no sunlight, vampires?”

“We’re slightly more nuanced than that, but the underlying idea is the same. We subsist largely from blood, but certain other resources help as well.” Frankie smiled, and I could see those eyes were clearly red now. A colour I’d never seen outside of Photoshop or lenses. Surgery? Could be that. Bit much for a delusion though.

I nodded to the windows. “You’re not catching alight in the sun.”

“No, I’m old enough and strong enough that sunlight is not a problem. There are different types of us, but largely we blend in with humans as we can.”

I was going to have to be more direct. “I’m not sure I believe you. Seems a bit much.”

“An understandable reaction, this was why I wanted you to have the discussion with Mr Black,” Daniel said with a sad smile, wrinkling his nose. Frankie’s arm was almost around him now, resting lazily on his shoulder.

“You’re not one too?”

“No, Daniel is a human who lives with us. He’s working on a PhD and one of my colleagues is assisting him.”

“That’s the sanest thing you’ve said so far.” The words came out before I could stop them.

“I’m glad to see you’re coping so well with the news. You must have a lot of questions.” His thin lips curled into a smile that could charm a judge.

“Just one or two. Dozen.”

Frankie gave a rich chuckle, and despite myself, I wanted to hear him do it again. They always said cult leaders were charismatic. “You’re sparky. I can see why Charles took a fancy to you.”

“I thought he was just trying to help. Then he….” I trailed off, tapping low on my chest. It was stupid to be afraid of using the word, I worked with stabbings and shooting victims in training, but the idea of saying it out loud seemed crass in this beautiful room.

“Got stabbed? Yes. Then he brought you back to my home.” He waved a hand to the opulent room, eyes lingering over me.

“Nice place. Good water pressure.” I crossed my arms, folding them over my stomach. Anxiety churned low in my gut and I felt silly, suddenly, wearing their clothes and sat pretty on their sofa.

He smirked, a flash of white showing his teeth. “I’ve become rather fond of it. I hope you’ll enjoy it for your stay.”

“Yeah, about that.”

“We’re back to your questions. Daniel, could I trouble you for some tea, or something stronger if our guest would prefer that?” He’d turned to Daniel, but his eyes glanced back at me.

“Tea would be fine, thanks,” I blurted. Daniel has said it was eleven when we’d been speaking and we couldn’t be that far out from that by now, even with my shower. I’d not have a drink yet.

“What spirit do you prefer?” Daniel asked. I raised a brow at him. “I find having a drink handy help, is all. You had a horrible shock getting attacked and then all of this. I’ll make it a mixed drink if you like?”

“I drink gin with juice, usually.”

“I’m sure I can source some of that.” He flashed me a quick grin, his face lighting up with the movement. When he stood up, Frankie grazed a hand down Daniel’s arm, watching him retreat out of the double doors. They slipped closed with a solid click.

That left me looking around the beautiful room, the open fire, anywhere but Frankie. His smirk never left, the heat of his gaze rivalling the flickering logs.

“Yes?” I asked, unable to suffer the weight of his gaze.

“You’re being very careful.” He crossed one long leg over the other, a show of not coming any closer.

“How so?”

“You haven’t tried to run.”

“Yet,” I said. There were the tall windows behind him. I could make a dash for it through them. I still wouldn’t know where I was.

“Yet indeed. I don’t think you will, though.”

I tilted my head, looking him over. “Really?”

“Yes. You’re a sensible woman. You noticed Daniel was different to myself.”

“The eyes give you away a little.”

He flashed his fangs indulgently, all for my benefit no doubt, and oh fuck, they really were fangs. They were more subtle than I expected, just pushing out between his bitten lip, but it was enough to know they were there. Were real. Surgery seemed less likely for that.

It should have terrified me, but this morning had already been so strange that I found it a little charming, that he would play nice. Be gentle, despite my being in an inferior position. “And as such a sensible woman, I expect you’ll be weighing your options.”

“What would they be, then?” A thrill of heat went through me as he drew his tongue slowly along his teeth. The flush in my face was equal parts embarrassment and an uneasy remembrance of the heat between my thighs last night, the feeling when Charles bit me.

“My offer is simple. You remain a treasured guest of the house and indulge the appetites of the residents. In turn, once we know it’s safe for you to return and the mess with your partner has died down, you can go home. The police investigation will be brief once those men looking for your boyfriend get found, and you can pick up where you left off. No one kidnapped or killed, and you can simply have been a frightened young woman who was shaken by the attempted abduction, and needed some time to calm your nerves.”

“If I believe you.”

“Do you have reason to doubt me?” He leaned closer, chest dipping across his thigh as he caught my gaze. Those crimson eyes were hypnotic, a warm invitation to an indulgence that I could feel begging me to give in.

I cleared my throat, sitting back to break his gaze. “Vampires are a little hard to believe.”

“And yet Charles but you.”

I shot him a frown. “Lots of people bite. Doesn’t mean they’re vampires.”

“Do you?” He laughed lightly, his tongue back at the corner of his smile.

“Depends on what’s in front of me.”

“You’re just delicious. Do you remember what it was like when he bit you?”

I flushed fully this time, the memory of tumbling pleasure ghosting over me. I could still bring the heat to mind, the way my entire body rippled with his tongue lapping at my skin, overwhelming the earlier abandoned feeling when Neil and I were interrupted.

Nodding, my voice was barely there as I spoke. “Yes.”

“Do bites generally do that to you?” He’d crept closer, next to me on the loveseat now. When had he moved?

“Not quite that way. But I had just been….” I trailed off, looking away from him as my neck coloured up. Maybe I should just join this cult and give up any pretence of things being normal. This was not a normal situation.

“What?”

“He must have told you,” I said, glancing back at him. He was shoulder to shoulder with me, leaning round to cup my chin with his long fingers. I let him, barely meeting his eyes before I looked down.

“Not a word. He just told me of your predicament.”

“Emphasis on the dick. Before my boyfriend ran off like a spineless slug, we’d been being intimate. Not the full show, but enough that the people after him caught us unaware.” I swallowed, the memory of Neil’s back fading into the night sharp in my mind.

“Your paramour abandoned you? No wonder Charles felt the need to intervene. I was wondering if there was more than your beautiful appearance that prompted him, he’s not usually one to risk himself.”

“Hardly think I’m pretty enough to get stabbed for. But Neil could have grabbed my hand or something.” I shrugged, the taste of tears at the back of my throat.

“I disagree, I think I’d gladly stare a knife down for you,” Frankie said, eyes ticking over my face and neck.

“I bet you say that to all the girls with that accent.”

I tried to look anywhere but his sparkling stare, ruby and inviting. It was so easy to want to give in, agree to melting into him, those hazy red eyes a warmth I was so eager to dip towards.

“Do you like it?” He took my hand in his fee one, tipping my chin again so I met his gaze.

“It’s very smooth, but it doesn’t make me believe you’re a vampire. And neither does Charles making me cum when I’d already been close before they attacked us.”

Frankie laughed, squeezing my hand lightly as he caught his composure. “You’re so stubborn, it’s a joy. I could prove it to you, if you would like.”

“You gonna turn into a bat?”

“Nothing so gauche, that’s my Slavic cousins.”

I rolled my eyes. “Good to know. I’ll keep an eye out for that if I travel, then.”

“Do you bite in bed as much as you do in conversation?”

“It depends on what’s in front of me,” I said.  

“And if I could evidence to you, to your satisfaction, that we are as I say, would you agree to my plan?” He let go of my chin, tracing idle patterns down my neck with his cool fingers. The feather light touch was intoxicating, soft as lips against my skin.

I swallowed, huffing air as I looked about the room. It was lush, a fantastic place to be for a while, and the company I had met so far was interesting. I wanted to check that wound on Charles, if it still existed, despite Frankie’s assurances. It wasn’t like I was going to assume this was real, but checking Charles out was a good reason to need to stay. “I suppose I could be convinced, yes. If nothing else, Neil should sweat for a bit.”

Frankie laughed, softer than before, a warm puff of breath tumbling over my ear as he leaned closer. “And how would you like me to show you?”

“What are my choices, since bats are off the table?”

“I could show you my fangs properly,” he said, leaning back just slightly to grin at me. “Or I could bite you, and reassure you Charles was not just lucky to find you so readily primed. I’m sure he’d be disappointed to hear you thought his skills were so low.”

“I watched him get stabbed. It’s hardly foreplay.”

“Naturally. Which would you prefer?” His breath dusted over my lips as he watched me, so close. I felt like I’d sink into him.

“I thought vampires were cold,” I said.

“Hot blooded all the way, I’m afraid.” He ran his hand down my arm, letting it rest lightly at my hip.

“I would like to see your teeth, I think.”

“You think?”

“The other option is embarrassing, if true. Not even a kiss and you have me melting in your hands?”

“Would a kiss make it better?”

He didn’t give me time to answer, his lips capturing mine as he leaned in. I gasped at the contact, his tongue slipping over the seam of my lips to flick against my teeth. Kissing me down into the seat, he pivoted my weight, so he was straddling my hips with my back flat to the cushions. He took my wrists, pinning them to the armrest, now above me, and pressing just enough weight into them to keep me in place. I let him, weak against the thrill of heat going through me as his tongue pressed deeper. I nipped at the intrusion, relishing the jolt that went through him when I made contact.

“You did ask if I bit,” I whispered as he pulled back, grinning up at him.

“What a wicked little thing you are. You’ll fit right in.”

“If you convince me.”

“Of course.” He ducked closer to kiss at my throat. “You’re sure you’re content with marks?”

“Hickeys are fine. I’m not sure I believe you, but–” My voice cut out as he laved his tongue over the soft join of my neck - just exactly where made me tremble - the heat rising along the column of my throat as my cheeks flushed.

“I’ll take that as a yes. It only hurts for a breath.” He returned to the same spot, grazing his teeth in contrast to the gentle puff of breath he left in his wake. I moaned, my hips squirming against his weight as he peppered kisses over the skin. I wanted to touch him, run my hands through that frustratingly neat hair and ruffle his edges a little.

The bite was a sudden rush, the heat of his mouth tempered by the piercing focus of his teeth sinking into me. I gulped; a whimper caught in my throat. That melted away with the flicker of his tongue, each stroke fuelling a fire in the pit of my stomach, racing through my blood. The sound of his mouth on me seemed obscenely loud in the room, panting breaths lost under the rush of my pulse, the whine I couldn’t hold back as the crash of bliss hit me - the knot in my lower abdomen thrumming tighter then snapping, pleasure cresting over me in rough waves.

Moans tumbled over my lips, my body writhing against Frankie of its own accord as I gulped shaky breaths. He kept me pressed down, his hand on my wrists, his chest against mine, his hair tickling against the side of my ear.

“You look beautiful like that, with a flush all the way along your throat.” He whispered it against my skin, the shape of a smile pressed against the wound. His tongue licked gently along it, the movement drawing another groan as I felt it undulate through me. “It’s an invitation to do so much more to you. Bring you fully undone.”

He pulled back, coasting a hand over my forehead, brushing my still damp hair back where it had mussed from our kissing. I blinked up at him, helpless against the heat swimming through me. Letting his lips fall onto mine, he kissed me slow and deep, his fingers playing over the spot on my neck. Little sparks of pleasure jolted through me as his touch lingered, those crimson eyes catching mine every time he pulled back.

I opened my mouth to speak, voice soft in my breathlessness. “You’re very convincing.”

“It’s one of my better qualities,” he said. A decadent grin spread across his lips, still red with my blood, and he glanced at the door.

“What is it?” My head was just coming back together, the delightful afterglow buzzing over my skin like static.

“I was wondering how long we would have before Daniel returns. I’d love to bring you more pleasure, but it would be a shame for him to be left waiting on the other side of the door. He’d adore listening to the sounds you make.”

The thought of Daniel stood hearing my moans made me blush harder, biting my lip. “I wouldn’t be opposed to us doing something else.”

“You’re so cute,” Frankie pressed a kiss to my forehead, sitting up. “Alas, we are about to be interrupted and poor Daniel is not the culprit.”

“What do you mean?” I sat up, straightening my hair, before the door was shoved open.

A tall man bounded in, a dark green wine bottle in hand, talking a mile a minute as he looked around the room. “Andre’s here, pissed, and I’ve told him there’s no way in hell he’s allowed to finish up like….” He trailed off, coming to a halt in front of me.

Far past six feet he looked down at me with the curiosity of a bird, almost leaning in to peer closer. His eyes were the same layered red as Frankie, so most likely he was a vampire, too. I’d never known there were a few. Many. Who knew now?

Grinning, he swept a hand through his hair, the dark strands falling in line with a practiced ease where they sat longer on top, the dark colour matching a smattering of stubble over his chin and cheeks. Even his clothes were a little rich, a well put together pair of black trousers paired with a thick cotton shirt much like Frankie’s, but darker. A hint of gold shimmered at his throat, the promise of a chain catching the daylight. I blinked at him, unsure why he had fixated on my presence.

Frankie cleared his throat, drawing the man’s attention back to him. “Leo, I wish you would remember to knock. I’m rather engaged.”

“You’ve been hiding her away in here. I thought she was still asleep in the guest room.”

“She awoke, and I felt it was my duty to explain the circumstances of the house to her. She’s agreed to stay and be our companion until we are sure she’s no longer in danger and Charles’s indiscretion with the attacker has caused no issues.”

“You mean letting the oaf see him survive being stabbed?” Leo said.

“Yes, that,” Frankie said, shaking his head. “Is Andre still here?”

“I left him in the sitting room. Sans bottle of wine and with poor Daniel being told the history of whatever it is Andre’s into this week. I wondered what the gin was for.” Leo licked his lips quickly, glancing back towards the open door. “I’d much rather you dealt with him.”

“And leave our treasured guest without further explanation?” Frankie settled an arm lightly around my shoulder.

“I’m sure I could explain anything she needs to know about the house. And many other things.” He winked at me. A small smirk played over his lips when Frankie sighed.

“I had planned to make some further introductions before you got any such ideas. However, Andre is a terrible bore. He won’t leave unless I make sure he does.”

“Exactly. You go off to save Daniel and be rid of him. I’ll keep our good lady entertained.”

“Let me guess, you do card tricks?” I asked, frustrated with the effortless charm this Leo seemed to radiate.

“You’re sparky. Good. That should keep us on our toes. We need someone with some bite, ‘scuse the expression.”

“You’re to stay in this room, Leo, agreed?”

Leo hummed, a finger to his chin in faux thought as he looked around. “I’m sure I can make do, yes.”

“Leo.” Frankie’s growl was a clear warning, the hand around my shoulder tightening for just a moment.

“You paint me so terribly, Frankie. I doubt she’s spun glass.”

“I’m sitting right here,” I said, glaring at him.

“Apologies, I’m so used to bickering with Frankie, we get in the zone,” Leo said, dipping his head in my direction. “How about a glass of wine and we chat?”

“I had just fed off her. Wine may be a poor choice.” Frankie pressed a light kiss to my throat as he stood up, the shiver down my spine an echo of his earlier ministrations.

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t drink too much,” Leo promised. He set the bottle down on one of the low tables and disappeared off towards the back of the room.

“Despite appearances, I assure you Leo is a safe person to be left with. I’ll return as soon as I can so we can finish establishing the terms of our agreement.” He caught my hand, bringing it up to his lips to dust a kiss across the back.

“Sure.” I swallowed my surprise at the old-fashioned gesture.

“Stop fussing over her. I’ll not steal her away.” Leo came back with two tall glasses, passing one to me.

“Behave,” Frankie said, his eyes flashing, before he turned on his heel and left the room. The door closed with a solid click as Leo settled down into a seat across from me, the wine bottle already back in his hand.

If you enjoyed this book, I would sincerely appreciate if you would leave a review! Reviews are a great help to the author and they make my day. Thank you!

Terri Stern is a writer and student based in London. Outside of writing she enjoys walking and cocktails, as well as belly dancing. Her favorite tea is Royal Milk Tea from South Korea and she dreams of being able to travel again so she can visit there to try it fresh.

Find her on Twitter: @TerriSternWrite

Website: terristernwrites.com

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