2 comments/ 22590 views/ 12 favorites Temptation's Kiss Ch. 01 By: MissKitty1974 The full moon gave the newly fallen snow a soft blue cast; the chill air causing Branwen’s breath to cloud so thickly it was difficult to see through. She closed her mouth, breathing through her nose in dragonlike puffs, fighting to keep eye contact with the dark figure just inside the tree line. He was tall, over six feet, wearing a long black duster, a wide-brimmed black hat, and high black leather boots. He might have seemed out of place, but his posture suggested that he was the only one at home with where he was, and everybody else was the anachronism. Half-lidded, slitted red eyes held hers through tinted sunglasses, and his hair was shaggy, long, and black as a raven’s wing over his shoulders. A cruel smile twisted his thin lips, suggesting just the hint of wickedly overlong canines. His voice was soft, seductive, slightly accented and altogether alluring. “You’ve followed me a long way to just stand there, now, Branwen. You think I hold the answers… Well, maybe I do, but you will never find them out standing out in the snow like a fool. Come with me.” Branwen shivered, not just with the cold. She noticed that the man’s breath did not cloud, and the chill seemed not to affect him. Where she hunched over and stumbled, he seemed relaxed and at ease. The cruel smile altered little, but now his alien eyes seemed to warm just a touch behind the tinted glasses. “You’ll never learn anything if you freeze to death, girl. I’m not going to kill you, if that’s what you’re afraid of.” He held out his gloved hand in invitation to her. “Come with me.” With one last, delicate shudder, she reached out and took his hand. She expected cold, hard, unyielding flesh, and was met with warmth as the long fingers curled around her hand and gently pulled her closer. She felt her resolve melting away in that warm contact, her eyes recaptured by his, and any will she may have had left was no longer stopping her in her inexorable approach. The stranger wrapped his long duster around her shoulders, holding her close to him, and his warmth was soothing like slipping into a hot bath. She sighed wordlessly, and nearly swooned for the relief. His body against her felt hard muscled and smooth beneath the silk shirt he wore, his hands large and strong where he held her shoulder, trapping her. Her breath hitched in her throat, and he smiled again, this time gentle, soothing, seductive. He hushed her quietly and gathered her up in his arms as though she were a child, and carried her through the snowy night. She was lulled by his soft tones and comforting warmth, and slept with her head against his chest… in her entranced state she did not notice that her paramour had no heartbeat… She awoke languidly, a soft voice calling her up from her deep lethargy. Calling her name. She opened her eyes to see the stone-walled chamber, lit by a fire in a large fireplace and long black taper candles in brass sconces along the tapestry-covered walls. A tall cheval mirror stood off to one side, dusty from lack of use, though beautiful, antiquely ornate. The door looked heavy, oaken and the hinges were of thick cast-iron in a very old style she had not seen except in history books. A narrow window overlooked a moonlit courtyard far below; an English teagarden delicately traced in rosebushes. The bed beneath her was large and soft, covered in deep velvet down comforters and fluffy pillows. Above her rose the canopy, draped in dark burgundy velvet curtains. It was immaculately beautiful. As she pulled herself up to sitting, she noticed that she was no longer wearing her street clothes, instead clad in a silken black gown that exposed much of her neck and cleavage. She gazed around her in amazement and was met again by the stranger’s red eyes, this time uncovered. With a start she attempted to cover herself. He was draped over a nearby high-backed chair, looking cool with a slight, nasty grin. He was stripped down to just the white silk shirt, opened to the waist, tight black leather pants and high boots, his hair falling freely over his slim shoulders in night black splendor. He raised a high arched eyebrow, bemused. “Sleep well, my dear?” he drawled. Now, fear closed her mouth. She could not speak for the constriction of her throat around her pounding pulse. She backed away across the bed, winding up with her back against the elaborate mahogany headboard, shaking her head and trembling. He cocked his head, looking intrigued, and sat up straighter, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his chin on his long, steepled fingers. Her lower lip quivered, even as the thought of running her fingers through his silken black hair crossed her terrified mind. She wondered idly what kissing those pale cruel lips would be like, and shook her head to clear her mind. This was insane! Her life was forfeit! What had she done? He didn’t move, but captured her eyes again, easy as a cat captures a mouse in a corner, and she felt a lump rise in her throat. His eyes warmed, his brows knitting in sweet concern, his lips pursing slightly. When he spoke his voice was tender, soothing. “What frightens you so much, girl? I already said I would not kill you, unless you asked me to…” “Y-y-you’re a…a… vampire!” she gasped finally, tears streaming down her cheeks, her hands flying up to cover her exposed throat. She began to sob, terrified. He nodded, his eyebrows raised, looking down with a slight smile, “Indeed, I am just that. But, I am also a man of my word. I promised that I would not kill you, and I hold to that. You wanted answers, and I will give them to you. But nothing is free; there will be a price. Not your life, mind. Just now, for saving your life, the price is: a kiss.” Branwen’s eyes widened, her tears startled clean away. “A kiss? That’s it?” A hungry look crossed his handsome face, and he cocked his eyebrow at her again. “For now,” he replied softly, “the more you ask, the more I take. Understand?” She nodded slowly and stayed very still as though in the presence of a predator as he slinked across the bed to kneel before her. She closed her eyes as his arms came up around her and his warm lips pressed against hers. She willed her heart to stop it’s pounding, as she was sure he could hear it, feel it through her skin, and that it would get his attention like waving a red flag. He pulled away slightly and looked into her eyes, whispering, “It’s not much of a kiss if only one party is doing the kissing, mio tessoro. Am I so horrible? I think I deserve a kiss for what I have done for you.” She worried her lower lip with her teeth, stopped herself quickly for fear she should cause her lip to bleed, and tilted her head back slightly to accept his kiss again. He did not lean forward, only watching her expectantly. A chill coursed through her as she realized that he wanted her to kiss him now. She swallowed, feeling very like a sparrow within the claws of a great tiger, being asked to preen his whiskers, so near those teeth! She put the thought aside, focusing instead on his sharp, handsome features; his sensuous lips, high cheekbones, warm, dark eyes, as in shadow she could not see the preternatural red colour, and long, beautiful black hair. A handsome man, indeed. She indulged herself and ran her fingers through his hair, leaning in for the kiss he desired, and was surprised as his lips parted and he ran his tongue sensuously along hers. She could feel the long fangs on either side, but he did not bring them into play at all. She sighed, melting into his arms, her head tilting back, her fingers gripping his shoulders, holding him close. She felt his long fingers in her own red curls, stroking her neck, her face, her shoulder. As he parted from the kiss, his hand lingered on her cheek and he smiled warmly for her. “There, now. Was that so bad?” She blushed, abashed, and smiled back, “No, it wasn’t…” Now, she realized she did not even know his name. Would he require a price for this request? She wondered if he would even tell her, as names have a power of their own. Thought, perhaps, it might not be so bad a price… “What is your name?” His grin suggested that he had thought of this himself, cocking his head. “The price for that answer might be a bit more dear, my pet. How far are you willing to go for the answers you seek?” “What will that one cost me?” she asked boldly. He grinned, pleased. “Oh, well, perhaps more than a kiss, I think. My name is an important thing to our relationship, is it not?” He nuzzled her ear gently, breathing warmly into it as he said, “I should love to see you without that gown on, and touch your silken skin. For my name, that is my price.” She considered this for a moment, her heart now pounding with something that was not entirely fear, but just as primal. Her sense of decency was going to have to go to hell tonight, she mused. She wondered if he was the one to change her clothes? Or does he have servants? Sitting back, he let her go, and watched her as she slowly pulled the silky gown off over her head. Suddenly, mid-motion, he grabbed her arms, trapping her effectively blindfolded and bound with the black silk, and planted another hot kiss on her gasping lips. His free hand was soft as it caressed her naked body, down her shoulder, cupping her breast briefly, across her belly and along her thigh until it rested on the small of her back, the sharp fingernails grazing her flesh tantalizingly. She shuddered at his touch, writhing to free herself, but his voice in her ear stilled her. “You only make yourself more inviting with your struggles, my dear, and if you free yourself then you will not get what you want. The price will be forfeit.” She stopped, panting, and forced herself to hold still. She could feel his eyes on her, every bit as compelling as his touch had been. At last his strong hands released her, and she was able to pull the gown the rest of the way off and look him in the eye. She almost challenged him; he had cheated! But she had won this one, and awaited her prize. His voice was soft as he spoke, “My name is Adrian … I was an Italian Duke before I was turned.” He paused, and it got the exact reaction he wanted, she knew it even as she said it… “How long ago was that?” His grin was hungry, now, and her bravado faded some in the face of it. “For that, my dear, I will require a taste…” At her horrified gasp he shook his head with a chuckle. “My darling!” he cried in mock-indignation, “You wound me! There is more to the taste of a woman than her blood, my dear! I am, after all, first and foremost, a man, with a man’s desires. I am not purely monster! Besides, I would think you had noticed…” He took her hand in his and pressed it to his bare chest beneath his shirt. “My skin is quite warm. This means I have fed recently. You are in no danger of dying at my hands, unless you ask it of me. My appetite tonight has little to do with hunger, and more to do with the pleasures of the flesh. You are in good hands tonight, if very capable ones. I can do things for you and to you that no mortal lover could dream. You just have to trust me.” His offer sounded fascinating, but before she could condemn herself further with the burning question, she bit her lip. Just what was he capable of? Would he grow tentacles like some freakish Anime-style demon lover? Could he invade her senses, hypnotize her like some B-movie Dracula? Or was it something more? Just how much control did he have over those fangs? What would it cost her to find these things out? She had yet to pay the price for her last question! Quite the game, indeed! He was an alluring, sexy creature, no matter what he was, but could she really find pleasures with something that was not human? Less than human? Perhaps more than human? Was this bestiality at it’s worst? What, honestly, did she have to lose? Except maybe her own humanity… “Like what?” she finally squeaked, feeling as though she were damning herself with her own curiosity. But was that not what made her essentially human, after all? The expected, triumphant, I-told-you-so look never made it to his eyes. Instead, he kissed her cheek, tenderly. “One thing at a time, precious,” he whispered, and nuzzled gently into her neck, breathing in her scent. She tensed, waiting for the wickedly overlong fangs to sink into her throat, confirming her damnation, but was instead met with the soft, warm slickness of his unnaturally long tongue along her collarbone in a long, sensuous lick. Her tension changed flavor, from fear to pleasure, and she relaxed a little. His arms were around her again, and he cradled her as she sank into his embrace, accepting his kisses and gentle licks trustingly. He drew a deep, shuddering breath and pulled away, closing his eyes in pleasure. Then, he grinned down at her, and whispered in her ear, “I am over 500 years old. As for your other question, the answer for it would be it’s own price. How curious are you, pet? How far are you willing to go for answers? For temptation?” She turned her head slightly, catching a glimpse of his pale luminous skin in the firelight. The way his eyes caught the candlelight like soft, deep red jewels was hypnotic; she could gaze into his eyes for hours. How far was she willing to go? At that moment, she would have given her immortal soul for the feel of his lips against hers once more! She dared not say as much, instead craning her neck to kiss him, aching for the touch, but he moved away slightly, his wicked grin widening. “Oh ho, little one! Are we so willing now? Be careful, now, my dear. Kisses in the dark are all very well and good if you are a blushing teenager who is not yet aware of their own desires. I, on the other hand, am a man. And you are most definitely a woman. I would not have brought a giggling child down here for silly games. You wanted answers, and pursued me to get them. I have my own reasons for wanting you. Is it a seduction you want? Or are the questions of immortality what drive you to me? You know I am real, but what of the legends, now? What do the stories have correct? The movies? Can you even begin to guess what I can do? What I can offer you? And what are you willing to give up for it? I gave you my name and your life for such a paltry price; the rest will not be so easy. What do you want?” The concept of giving up her body to this beautiful being for the answers she sought had been a playful idea, she realized, the truth of the matter would be so much deeper. Would she be forever bound to him? She began to wonder how much she cared. She had little to lose in the human world anymore. Her pursuit of him had become little more than a suicide attempt gone awry, and those that wanted the answers from her about him might never get what they wanted. They had chosen her because she had nothing to lose, they never imagined that the cost might not just be in the messenger, but what she faced might be more than they could handle. Her heart was pounding; with fear, with lust, with the thrill of the moment. What did he have to offer? Now that the price would be the answers, how far was she willing to go? She just wanted him to touch her again, to kiss her, caress her, and make her feel desired. As though hearing her desires, he leaned in to her neck, holding her body against him and planted hot kisses along the collarbone, up the side of her neck, across the sensitive hollow beneath her ear. She shivered with lust, clutching his hard muscled body even as his fangs grazed her throat. “Gods…” she whispered, swept by the emotion and sensations of his attentions. “Dark gods, indeed,” he breathed into her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her; his flesh was warm? He had already confessed to having fed that night… that meant that a human being had died for this exquisite pleasure! That meant that the blood that fed the growing erection she could feel through his leather pants was stolen from a once-breathing person! Possibly with a family that would be left behind to mourn… She bucked in his embrace, but suddenly his warm arms were strong, stronger than any human’s grip, and she was reminded that this was not a human she was so entranced with. This was, despite his assurances otherwise, a monster! He wrestled her down easily to the bed, holding her fast on her back and lying on top of her, his breath hot on her neck. Terrified, she writhed beneath his hold and sobbed; begging him to let her go, let her live. He did not relinquish his hold on her; instead, he trapped her wrists above her head with one large hand, stroking her hair with the other, and murmuring into her ear soft soothing words as though she were a skittish colt. “Ahh, now, my sweet. You knew well when you came to me what I was. Don’t act so surprised, now. You entered into this willingly. All that is called for now is; just what would you have enter your body now? Will it be this?” and he ground his lean hips into hers, letting her feel his desire growing there. “Or these...?” and he grazed her skin with his fangs, sending delicious shivers skittering across her flesh. “What will it be? Immortality? Eternal desire?” Her senses were filled with him. Her every nerve was acutely tuned to the feel of his warm flesh against her, the grip of his hands, the smooth fingertips devoid of calluses, his breath in her ear, the silken veil of his hair on her bare skin. His voice was soft, smoky and deep in her ears. He raised his head, and all she could see was his deep red eyes staring into her very soul, and she felt trapped in their fathomless depths, spiraling toward an abyss she could not begin to define. Even his scent was woodsmoke and leather, roses and old blood, coppery beneath his alluring musk as she breathed him in. There was a long pause. He was her entire world in that moment, and she was utterly his, no matter how much she might wish it otherwise. All she had to do was give in, and he would give her pleasures beyond her wildest dreams, his eyes promised her. All she could think was ‘Gods, he is beautiful…’ “Love me…” she breathed. She could not remember speaking the words, though she heard them ringing in her ears. A pause, and he released her wrists, slowly caressing her arms as he brought his hand down to stroke her cheek, an odd expression on his face. “Love you?” he whispered, musing. He began to kiss her face, almost reverently, tasting the salty tracks of her tears with delicate flicks of his tongue. “With no living heart to beat for you?” His words trailed off as he kissed her lips, as though seeking to avoid the subject. She closed her eyes, feeling him move over her, his hands competent and tender in drawing the pleasure from her like a musician with a harp. She wondered what she had said that made him so oddly pensive. Gone were the persuasive words, replaced now by touch and taste and feel, a soft growl rising deep in his throat. She almost opened her eyes when the growl began to sound too real, but he covered her eyes almost the instant she thought of it. “Not yet,” he hissed, and it sounded as though he was forcing the words through more than the fangs. She could feel him diffusing around her, the weight lessening on her chest, and his touch impossibly all over her body. At first, it was disconcerting, then she felt him like soft fingers everywhere, and she held still to feel it fully. It was almost as though she could breathe him in, like water vapor. His presence was all around her, and she reached out to return his caress, but her hand passed through his insubstantial body. Instead of horror, she laughed lightly, delighted. A tendril of mist found the opening between her legs, and teased its way inside of her, sliding over the sensitive flesh there and making her gasp. She moaned and a chuckle, quieter than the crackling of the fire, could be heard as he entered her, filling her, and stroking her swollen clit at the same time. Soft, misty fingers caressed her breasts, covered her eyes, teased every inch of her body to tingling rapture until she thought she would scream for the ecstasy of it. He felt like warm water surrounding her, and she could hear through her cries of agonized pleasure his own soft groan. Her orgasm rippled through his form as it tore through hers, she felt it as an answering wave over her flesh even as it was within her. Temptation's Kiss Ch. 01 Opening her eyes, she could only perceive a midnight black mist surrounding her like a shroud, burning red eyes glowing softly above her. She gazed around her in awe as again, he congealed from his vaporous form into the handsome creature that had seduced her there. Crouching before her like a cat, and now quite naked, his grin was feral, his eyes wild. “How’s that for power, eh, mio tesoro?” “That was incredible!” she breathed. He slid his body sensuously over hers, and she ran her hands over his smooth hairless chest, meeting his lips with a kiss. Suddenly, she was pinned beneath him again, and he was pushing his hot length into her without hesitation. She had not thought that she could take him again so soon, but found herself clutching him to her, crying out, raising her hips to meet his thrust. Solid, now, she could feel the play of his muscles beneath his flesh, the drive of his lean hips, and it was far more primal, less ethereal. His growls in her ear brought her down to earth, to the here, and now, and she ran her own nails across his back seductively. He hissed in reaction, arching his back, and looked down at her through his slitted eyes with a devilish gleam. With preternatural speed he grabbed her wrists and bound them over her head, holding her down as he leaned on them, his arms straight, lending her a delicious view of the way the muscles flexed across his chest and shoulders as he thrust into her. The sensations became almost too much, and she struggled, but he forced another orgasm from her, and she howled her release. Unfinished with her, without a word, he grabbed her up as easily as one would a rag doll, flipped her over onto her stomach, pulled her up to her knees, and entered her again amid cries of “Oh no! Stop!! No, please, stop!” He growled, deeper in his throat, one hand gripping her hip, the other tangled in her hair, holding her head up and back as he pounded into her from behind. Her hands clawed at the air as he pulled her head so far back she was meeting his glowing red gaze over her own back. She gasped and froze as she saw his thick mane of black hair extend down his chest and shoulders, his sharp features contorting into a wolf’s muzzle, his ears becoming long, and pointed, his nails lengthening into vicious claws. Her heart beat so hard and fast she thought it would surely burst in her heaving chest. “Oh gods, no,” she breathed, panting. The shaggy black head lowered down to her ear and he growled low and deep, his tongue snaking out to lick the sensitive hollow behind her ear. She shuddered. He spoke, and his smoky voice lisped past rows of wickedly sharp teeth. “I am the shadow’s best kept secret. Not man, nor beast, yet all of the power and mystery of both. Did you think you would love such a being in all your wildest dreams?” “No,” she panted, “please!” Her body trembled as a frisson of horror followed by another shattering orgasm ripped through her, and she screamed her throat raw. Betrayal and pain battled on her features as she fought to maintain control of herself, though her thighs shook violently with the effort of staying up for fear he should claw her to ribbons should she fail to please him. The vampire’s claws dug bloody furrows in her back and sides as he howled his release into her, his back arching, his head thrown back in ecstasy, and she collapsed beneath him. The fur and claws receded, and the vampire curled behind her, skin to skin in softly intimate contact the length of her body, as though his rough claiming of her had never happened. He cradled her as she sobbed into the blankets, stroking her hair and nuzzling the back of her neck comfortingly. When she tried to shy away from his contact, he held her against him until the shakes passed. “You knew I was not human when you came to me, mio bellezza,” he crooned, stroking her cheek, “Don’t look so surprised. You wanted to know what I was capable of, and I showed it to you, the good and the bad. I was nothing but honest with you. And there is more, so much more I can do.” She nodded wearily in agreement, but something didn’t feel quite right. Branwen shivered, realizing suddenly that his body was cold where it pressed against her. “You’re growing cold,” she whispered. He moved over her, pinning her down again, his expression not so gentle, his skin so pale it was nearly translucent. His eyes had retained their feral edge, and cold fear coiled in Branwen’s belly again. “There is a reason for that,” he growled, his lips twisting back to expose his fangs. She fought to steady her breathing, keeping eye contact with him, praying that some shred of humanity remained in him that would stay his bite from killing her. The bite was inevitable. She had given him her body, utterly, now he would take her life! He bent down over her neck, his silken hair veiling them, his breath coming in anticipatory hitches, his long tongue flicking over her exposed, pulsing vein. She held as still as she could despite the trembling, and whispered softly. “Adrian? Please…” He paused, his breath catching, then he repositioned himself over her, brushing her hair away from his target and lowered his head. “Adrian?” She lifted her hand and stroked his cheek. He paused again. “You promised you would not kill me… said you were a man of your word…” He lifted his head again, meeting her steady gaze with burning eyes, his lips curled in a sadistic snarl exposing his fangs. “I will not kill you, innamorato,” he lisped, his voice husky, “I need you. The price for such knowledge is great, the price for the power itself is greater. It is my price to pay, as well. I will not lie to you: I need blood to sustain me.” With a delicate shudder, she turned her head to offer her neck to him, closing her eyes trustingly. She expected the bite to be a violent act; another claiming, but it was gentle, sensuous. He held her in an embrace, softly licking the spot where he would bite, and his fangs slipped into her skin like needles. The pain was brief, then she felt a delicious warmth wash over her body as he began to suckle the blood from the wound, gently, at first. He repositioned himself so he was kneeling, clutching her body close as he drank deeply from her, one hand buried in her hair, the other cradling her back. She sighed, returning the embrace, her fingers digging into his warming flesh as the wave of sensation washed over them both. His breath came in little sobs against her neck. He almost didn’t stop himself from taking her life; her heartbeat was so alluring, so strong, so full of life that he craved the very essence of it. With a huge amount of will and a great gasp he pulled his teeth away from her neck and fell back onto the bed beside her, panting with effort. He opened his eyes and looked over her still form. She had fallen unconscious from the effort and shock, and lay, exhausted and barely breathing beside him, her neck and shoulder covered in blood. He knew she was close to death, knew she had but one chance for survival. He nipped her ear to wake her and curled up close to her again, whispering. “Branwen, listen to me now.” A slight fluttering of her pale eyelids and an almost inaudible sigh were the only indications he had that she had heard him. “You are going to die, Branwen, if you don’t listen to me. I have drained you to the point of death. You have two options left. You can either succumb to the darkness of the grave… or… drink from me, and have the power over life and death, itself. I have given you a taste of my world; I have kept my promise. I have whole other worlds to show you. What will it be?” Branwen was lost in a comfortable white haze. There was no pain anymore, no fear, no darkness, no other life but her own, and that was fading fast. She felt, if she could just relax into this soft white cloud she was lost in, then everything would be okay. Comfortable though she was, she felt alone; completely alone, and it made her inexplicably sad. She felt the nip to her ear as a jerk to her perceptions, a laser red dot in the misty white, and the vampire’s voice was like smoke in the haze. She could barely hear him through the rushing in her ears, but his voice carried as though over water. What will it be? He now offered his gift, and it was hers to take and experience the world like no other human could know, or succumb to the sleep that called to her. Return to his world? Where even the sweetness had the taste of blood? Back to his kisses and his cruelty? What decided it was his eyes; his beautiful deep blood red jewels, the mirrors to a soul untouchable. An endless playground of the spirit. Her pale lips parted, her breath so shallow a human could never have heard what she said. “Please?” With a grin she never saw, the vampire used his razor sharp claw to cut a slit in his wrist, and held it over Branwen’s parted lips. Let the first drop be the one she reaches for. It hit her tongue like liquid fire and ran down her throat, spreading heat like a shot of well-aged whisky through her belly. Her eyes flew open, and she extended her tongue for another drop, curling it animal-like to take it down. Her hands reached up and took his arm; bringing it to her lips to clamp onto the life-giving liquid heat, let it revive her. Her heart pounded so loud in her ears she could not hear his throaty chuckle… until the rabbit fast beat slowed and stalled out altogether. Her chest clenched around the dead organs within it, and she panicked, sucking harder at the vampire’s wrist until he snatched it away with a snarl. Her breath came in harsh gasps, and she crawled up to crouch, predator like before him, her cool green eyes heating to ember red as she fought for control over the screaming hunger that overtook her. She focused on his face only to see a satisfied, toothy grin on his handsome face. “You want more, don’t you, little one?” he chuckled. “Yesss-s-s-s,” she hissed through her growing canines, narrowing in on his long, graceful neck. She hadn’t noticed how sexy his throat was before… His backhanded slap took her by surprise, and she tumbled to the stone floor with a yelp of dismay. “You mind who your Master is, little fledgling,” he cooed from the bed, and slipped off to the floor beside her gracefully. “That is the hunger you feel, and I will teach you how to sate it. But tonight is ours. Come to me, and I can help you…” Entranced by the sensations around her, even the pain of his strike, she crawled obediently to him on her hands and knees and begged him with her eyes for relief. He reached out and guided her face gently to his own throat, showing her where the best vein could be found with subtle manipulations of his long fingers on her jaw. When she had settled her needlelike fangs into his neck with a sigh, he bent his head around and sank his own teeth into hers, forming a bond of preternatural depth. The Blood Bond. They remained in this deep embrace for hours, each taking from the other, soaking one another’s pale skin with blood that stained their lips like wine. They shared climax after climax, shuddering in each other’s arms, their fingers alternately intertwining with each other, and stroking the other’s body in tender caresses. Finally, they parted, and stared into each other’s eyes; red on red. The learning was only just beginning… Temptation's Kiss Ch. 02 Branwen slept deeply, nestled into the thick blankets and Adrian’s arms, and only roused briefly when he slipped out of the warm bed to attend to business elsewhere, leaving her with a lingering stroke to her tousled hair and a cool kiss to her cheek. As she slipped again into her restful sleep a thought occurred to her; have I seen my last sunrise? What a sad thought, she mused; he could have at least let me view one last dawn before he took me... like Lestat in ‘Interview With the Vampire’. Suddenly, she sat bolt upright with a little shriek that made Adrian pause as he was pulling his boots on. “The window! Adrian! I’ll die when the sun comes up!!” she cried. He blinked at her, and looked at her incredulously. “You silly thing,” he replied, unruffled, “I sleep in this room myself. Sunlight won’t kill you. You’ve watched too many movies. You just won’t be quite as capable of shapeshifting in daylight as you can by night. Relax. Sleep. You have had a long night, and I have business to attend to. You are perfectly safe. I would not have brought you over only to have you die the first dawn! Trust me, will you?” “I’m sorry, sir,” she whispered. He grinned, “You can call me Master.” “Master? That’s pretty old-fashioned, isn’t it?” “I’m an old-fashioned kind of guy. Listen, you can wander freely through the castle, it is your new home. Do not go into the basement, however.” “Why, what’s down there?” She instantly regretted having asked this as the stare he pinned her with was witheringly stern, rather like the look a parent will give when a child has asked the wrong question at the wrong time, only without the added relief that said parent won’t tear your throat out for being impertinent. She wilted beneath the covers, mumbling apologies. “Mind your manners,” he replied coldly, closing the curtains of the canopied bed, “Remember who your Master is, or I will have to remind you. I will return later.” She listened to the sound of his boot heels clocking down the stone floored hallway and long out of sight. It was a lonely sound, making the place sound vast and empty, devoid of life. She suddenly wanted him to come back, but resisted calling him for fear (for terror) of him returning angry with her, and that his wrath would be far worse than his reprimand. The loneliness consumed her, and she wondered how far she could hear his step as she sank down into the comforting warmth of the blankets. His step paused somewhere far away, and she could just make out his quiet conversation with a servant downstairs. “See to it that the girl in my bedroom is well cared for. She is valuable, but dangerous, nonetheless. There are those that will be wanting answers from her. I believe she was sent after me to infiltrate my domain and find my weaknesses. I don’t think she will be a threat, now, at least not consciously. We must watch her, though. Let her go where she pleases, and take care of anything she desires. She is no prisoner, but make damn certain she goes nowhere near the basement. I’ll not be losing her the same way I lost…” The pause was thick with emotion; Branwen could almost feel it like a fog falling over the presence of her Master. She did not think the old monster capable of such feelings, but then, she was not at all sure of what he was capable of to begin with. The statement left hanging caused a chill to crawl up her back like an icy lizard, and she shuddered, closing her eyes. The servant’s reply was soft, male, and sounded like an older man. At least older than Adrian had been when he was turned. “Yes, Lord Medici. What of the feeding of her?” “Leave that to me, Bernard. Thank you.” “Yes, Lord Medici. Perhaps now this place won’t seem quite so…” “Dead?” Adrian supplied ruefully. There was another pregnant pause, then Adrian’s boot steps as he strode off down the halls. Overcome by the loneliness that gripped her, Branwen wept into the pillow, falling asleep before she could notice that the tears were blood red. She awoke to a presence in the room. Something noticeably human in that fragile, vital sense that caught her attention in the way the vampire’s subtle presence would not have. She cautiously moved aside the heavy velvet curtain to peer out at whom could only be Bernard, carefully arranging a set of clean clothes on the old vanity across from the bed. He was older, looked to be about in his late 50’s, but fit, wiry and lean, with long thick hair that had once been black, but was now steel gray shot with white, tied back neatly at his neck. He was dressed in an old-fashioned suit; tweed trousers and dark blue weskit over a white, high-collared, dress shirt and ascot tie. When he turned, she could see his face, his sharp, chiseled features showing more laugh lines than frown, and incongruously soft brown eyes behind small, round glasses. His thin lips twitched in a small grin as he spotted her green eye peering out at him, and he cleared his throat to cover a chuckle. His voice was still deep and rich as the velvet of the curtains; she could see why Adrian kept him on. “Is my Lady comfortable hiding in the bed? Or would she like to get dressed and have a look around? I assure you, my temper is not what the Master’s is.” Branwen sighed deeply, then looked down, realizing she was still quite naked, and thinking that this fellow probably had very proper tastes, and would not appreciate seeing her unclad. “Umm… sir? I have nothing to cover me…” His chuckle was as warm as the fire, and he handed her a dressing gown, deep green velvet and dripping with antique lace. “Will this suffice?” She had never seen anything quite so lovely in her life, and breathed a sigh of awe as she took the proffered gown, sliding the velvet through her fingers. “It’s beautiful! Thank you!” She quickly donned it behind the curtain and stepped out into the room onto the rug. The last fading rays of the sun filtered through the window, and she watched them with no small amount of relief that they would not be her last. She turned to catch herself in the cheval mirror, and was a little surprised that she could see herself, then decided that she needed to throw all her preconceived notions of what she could and could not do out the window. She wondered if this fellow knew anything. She could see him watching her through the mirror with an appreciative smile. “It suits you, my Lady. Perhaps you are a bit old-fashioned, yourself?” “Aren’t all women when you really get down to it?” she mused. “I get the impression I am not the first woman the old monster has had up here.” “No, indeed, you are not. But, you are, certainly, the most beautiful.” Shocked by his familiar manner she turned to face him, but his expression was not lascivious, merely admiring, even doting. “Don’t mind me,” he said, “It has been a long time since the Master has had a Lady here, and he has impeccable taste in his consorts. I was merely making an observation. I would not dare do anything inappropriate to anyone the Master has claimed for himself, and you, most assuredly, are his.” At this, Branwen felt a tug at her innards as though catching herself from falling from a cliff. His, he had said. She belonged to this strange creature that had claimed her after seeing her but once on the street as she followed him. What did she know of him? And now she belonged to him. Hopelessly. Irretrievably. Her delicate shudder did not go unnoticed. “Surely, you don’t refute this fact?” Bernard asked quietly. “No, I don’t,” she replied, “Doesn’t make it any easier to accept, though. I didn’t even know his last name until I heard you talking to him down the hall earlier…” Bernard laughed, a rather open, easy, highly amused chuckle. “Down the hall? My dear, sweet, lady, I was speaking to him in the dining hall, on the other end of the castle from here! You are not yet at all certain of what you are capable of, are you? Worry not, my dear. You won’t have time to be unhappy as you are learning your new skills. I warn you, though; Adrian Medici is not a patient man, though he has had hundreds of years to learn it. He will expect results, and the words ‘I can’t’ or ‘it’s impossible’ should not even cross your mind.” Branwen snorted, miffed. “Where is he now, I wonder?” “You need not worry about that either, my dear. He will be back soon. Why don’t you have a look around the castle? Just remember not to go into the basement. If you need anything, just call me. Don’t worry, I will hear you no matter where you are.” “Are you a vampire, too?” she asked, confused. He certainly didn’t feel like Adrian, and she could clearly hear his heartbeat. “No, dear lady, I am something else, entirely.” “What the hell is down in that basement that scares him so badly?” Bernard looked truly regretful, and shook his head sadly. “That, I cannot tell you now. Suffice to say; this castle’s secrets keep themselves. Please, don’t go there.” “Okay, Bernard. Thanks for everything.” He smiled, “I never even introduced myself. How rude of me. I wonder what else you will learn here just by listening?” She caught his subtle hint, acknowledged it with a nod, and looked over the clothes he had laid out for her, as he left the room without a sound. She was loath to take off the velvet gown, but the clothes he had left looked far more appealing to be exploring the old castle in; an ankle length black lace skirt backed in black satin, a low cut, white silk blouse with billowing sleeves, a loosely woven shawl of the wonderful antique lace the color of old bone, and comfortable, black leather boots. She wondered if there would be more antique lace and velvet in her future, and smiled at the thought. She dressed, and stepped out into the halls. It was cold. The whole place was old, and cold and dusty. And dark. She looked around, and noticed the oil lamps at regular intervals down the long hallways, and wondered just how many modern refinements the old vampire shunned. The lamps weren’t even lit, though she found she could see quite easily in the gloom. She wandered for hours through the halls, looking out windows into the English garden that Bernard, or somebody, was keeping immaculately trimmed. She promised herself that she would go for a stroll through the garden the next chance she got. Tapestries kept her attention for long periods of time, as she gazed into them, defining the stories depicted on them, of great battles, victories and losses, of great families, of love found and lost. She was staring at one particularly beautiful painting of a stunning raven-tressed lady when she heard the distant strains of music. A lone violinist was pouring his anguish into his strings somewhere on the vast castle grounds. Having nothing better to do, she followed the sound, tracking it through the dusty halls. She wondered idly, if it was Adrian, and he was the devil’s violinist like in an old story she had read once, (Thank you, Charlie Daniels) but this sounded more plaintive than what she imagined a demonic musician to sound. Finally, she rounded a corner and found the violinist, and he took her breath away. He was standing in the middle of a large, dark room, before the last embers of a fire in a massive fireplace in what appeared to be an old ballroom. Dusty, cobwebbed chandeliers hung from the ceiling like malevolent stalactites, and every shadow seemed to have eyes. The violinist stood poised, his instrument tucked beneath his chin, his handsome brow furrowed into a grimace of artistic agony. He was dressed in a very old style; a white, open collared poet’s shirt, dark, knee length breeches, white socks and bright buckled shoes. Perched on his nose were gold wire-rimmed glasses. His thick, curly hair was past his shoulders, cinnamon red and brown, and matched the neat goatee that emphasized his sharp chin. His eyes, when he opened them to look at her, were warm, and pale brown, almost amber. He lifted a high arched eyebrow and watched her as curiously as she regarded him. He just didn’t feel right. He had taken her completely by surprise, and not even the rats in the old castle could have done that. He had no heartbeat, no breath, no warmth… he seemed to shimmer in the still air. A ghost? She could hardly claim not to believe in them now, could she? “Did I interrupt you?” she asked politely, “Please don’t stop on my account! I can leave if you want me to…” “Please don’t!” he cried, as she turned to leave. She turned again. His voice had the distinct accent of an Englishman of classic descent, and was melodic and fine as an old Stradivarius. “Don’t leave,” he said again, approaching her like one would a skittish colt. “I could play for you…” She smiled at him, and it seemed to brighten his handsome face. She hoped, somehow, she could keep him smiling like that, as when he was sad it ripped her heart to shreds, and she could not explain why. “That would be lovely. I love violin music.” He played a tune that lifted her flagging spirits and warmed her chilling heart; it sounded like falling leaves in early autumn. When he finished the piece, he bowed gallantly, and she giggled. His smile when he rose was radiant. “My name is Michael. And who might you be?” “My name is Branwen,” she replied, blushing. “It’s a pleasure.” She held out her hand to shake his, or whatever he might wish to do to it. She rather expected him to kiss her wrist! But he shied away, his expression darkening a little. “I… I’m afraid I cannot do that, my lady.” He looked so bereaved, she reached out to touch his arm, and he backed away again. “Why not?” she asked softly. He sighed, and reached out his long-fingered hand, so clear she could even see the calluses on his fingertips from playing strings, and passed it right through her outstretched fingers. She gasped, feeling the sensation as a brush of what felt like a cool candleflame across and through her hand. “Oh my!” she breathed. “You felt that?” he asked hopefully. “Yes, I did!!” “He changed you, didn’t he? Would explain why I did not hear you coming. He has found himself another consort, I see. I cannot say I am disappointed, or saddened by this, really. I know I should be, and I am ashamed of myself for it, but your presence is most welcome here.” “How long have you been here?” He ran his fingers delicately over his violin, looking wistful, “As long as he has. We were …friends, 200 years ago in Philadelphia. He had already been a vampire for 300 years before we met, but I hardly noticed. He was quite the ladies’ man back then, if you will pardon the reference. We often played together, and when he came here he brought me. I died of Consumption here in the castle. I remained, as this that you see here before you. We still play occasionally. There is a harpsichord just over there, and we light many candles…” “And you have been here ever since?” He nodded slowly. “I don’t think I can leave anymore, even if I wanted to. Sometimes he forgets I am here, for months, even years at a time, and when that happens all I have is my violin, and memories. I can’t even go into the garden. Isn’t it beautiful? I helped design that, and now I can’t even walk through it. Have you been through it yet?” “No, not yet. But I promise I will, and I will tell you all about it.” His smile was small, but genuine, “I would appreciate that, more than you could possibly know. You are a young creature, aren’t you, to be facing immortality? Not that your age is any of my business, but you certainly look young. Perhaps it is just this old castle getting to me. Don’t mind me.” She chuckled. “I’m old enough to know better, and young enough to have gone and done it anyway.” He laughed, and the music of it filled the ballroom in echoes. The shadows seemed to flee in the light of it, even the malevolence of the cobwebbed chandeliers seemed to fade to nothing more than vague, sad shapes hanging from the cracked ceiling. Branwen noticed the change, but said nothing. Finally, Michael turned to her again, smiling and said softly, “You could really feel my hand when I touched you?” “I would not lie about something like this. I’m not kidding, it was… amazing.” He laid aside the violin on a dusty table nearby, and reached out to her again. This time his fingers passed through her cheek, and the caress was as tangible as when Adrian had turned to mist and lay over her, though not near so invasive. This was somehow gentler, more reverent. Michael stepped closer, and she looked up at him, he was a good 6” taller than she. “What does that feel like to you?” she whispered, “I am no longer human, I cannot imagine me being warm…” “Warmer than me, love,” he replied, “And closer to life than I have been in a very long time. You have not made your first kill, yet, have you? You are between worlds then, and you will never see or feel me clearer than this moment, when you are so close. When you make your first kill, you will not be able to feel me, though you will hear me, and see me, though not as clearly as you do now.” She was saddened by this; his touch was so much sweeter than the vampire’s, so much more… needed. She reached out again to stroke his cheek, hoping to feel the stubble of his beard, but felt the cool mist as she had before. His eyes closed in pleasure, and he leaned into the touch. She could just see crystal tears clinging to his long, copper eyelashes. Her heart ached for him, and she reached out to cup his jaw gently in her hands. Unsure of what would happen, she closed her eyes and leaned forward to kiss him, and felt his lips as solid as any warm human man. She opened her eyes, and he faded some, becoming misty once again. His smile warmed her to the core. “I have not felt a kiss like that in 200 years, my lady.” Her lips quirked in a grin, and she leaned closer to him, closing her eyes, and she could even smell him, now, musky and sweet like old lavender and cedar. She pressed against his chest, feeling the thick, curling hair there beneath his shirt, and kissed his neck. His breath came in a shudder, and she knew he could feel her as well as she could him… as long as she kept her eyes shut. It was the least she could do after he played so beautifully for her. She felt his arms come around her, and when she touched his face, she could feel the tears on his cheek, the furrow of emotion in his brow. “I would that I could look you in your beautiful eyes, Branwen, but alas, it is not to be. Linger with me here, just for a time, and for God’s sake, don’t open your eyes.” He held her like that for a long time, stroking her hair as though it was the most fascinating thing he had ever felt, and kissing her forehead and cheeks reverently. It was the warmest, sweetest loving she had felt since being at home with her own mother, and she was loath to leave this ghostly lover’s side. His lips on hers were hardly a surprise, and she relaxed into a passionate kiss with the affectionate spirit, returning it with ardor, running her hands through his thick, curling hair. Suddenly, he stiffened in her embrace, and began to back away. She opened her eyes, and his expression was one of alarm, looking over her shoulder behind her. The icy grip of fear clenched her gut as she watched the ghost’s already pale face turn ashen as he backed away. She could only think of one thing that would scare a spirit as badly as this, and anything that could scare a ghost just had to be capable of hurting her as well. She gulped and tried to meet his warm eyes one more time before she turned to give her strength, but he was transfixed, and would not look at her. With a shuddering sigh, she hunched down and peeked behind her to see Adrian, standing in the doorway; his arms crossed, his boots firmly planted, one delicate black eyebrow raised, his thin lips pursed slightly, his burning red eyes fixed on Michael. Temptation's Kiss Ch. 02 Cassidy stared after Rand as he rushed from the room. Her heart beat accelerated as the door slammed shut behind him. Oh God what am I doing? She thought to herself and walked over to where her shirt lay in a pile on the floor. She picked it up and quickly drew the soft grey material over her head. Her body felt overheated and her stomach was still in knots as she put her jewelry back on. She walked over to the desk and sat down, noticing her breathing was shaky. She pulled her hair out of its ponytail, letting the strait black tresses fall to the middle of her back, and ran a hand threw them. Her mind went into overdrive as she sat in the spacious office with the muffled sound of some hip hop song drifting to her ears. She never did this. She wasn't the type of person to have sex with a stranger. She stood up and began pacing. She came to stand in front of a small mirror and stared at her face. Her lips were swollen. She knew her friends would point that out if she were to leave and go to them. Her face looked flushed and her eyes were a darker stormier grey than the usually were. She looked like she'd been... She looked like she'd been doing exactly what she'd been doing. The door opened suddenly behind her causing her to jump. "Hey babe, sorry..." Rand started and trailed off seeing that she was dressed. Cassidy bit her lip and turned to face him. "Umm, I don't do that. I mean not normally. That's not what I normally do." she said running a shaky hand threw her hair. It was a nervous gesture. "I didn't figure you did Cass." He said quietly walking towards her. "I um, think I should go back out with my friends." She mumbled as he grabbed her around the hips and pulled her close. "If that's what you want." He said nuzzling the curve of her neck and placing gentle kisses there. "I think it is." She said helplessly. "Yes, it is." "Okay babe. Can I have your number? I would like to call you sometime. Maybe we could go out to dinner or something." He said planting a tender kiss on her lips. "I, I'd like that." She said a little breathy. Her body was still on fire for him. Five minutes later, she walked out of the office, alone, and found her friends. None of them seemed to have noticed she'd been missing. Mari was wrapped around the cute red head on the dance floor doing some kind of mating ritual dance. Cora was at the table perched on the blonde's lap whispering something into his ear that made him blush strait to the tips of his ears. Anna was sitting alone beside them looking a little uncomfortable. Cass walked over and sat beside her. "Where's Marcus?" "He spotted someone that was more his cup of tea." She said and nodded to where he sat making out with a tall dark haired woman with huge breasts that Cass thought looked as id they'd make the girl fall forward at any moment. "Where's that guy you where with?" "Long story." Cass said with a sigh. "I think I'm going to go home. Tell Mari happy birthday for me will yah?" she asked and gave Anna a quick hug. It wasn't long before Cassidy was walking into her apartment. The events of the night were replaying over and over in her head. She kicked off her heels as soon as she was in her bedroom and collapsed on the huge king sized bed that she'd bought only a year before when she'd moved into the small apartment. It was a nice space. It suited her. It wasn't cluttered and everything had a place. Cass closed her eyes for a moment, just a moment, before regretfully standing up and heading for the bathroom. She needed a shower. She turned the hot water on and stripped out of her clothes as steam filled the small bathroom. When she stood under the hot spray, she sighed as the heat loosened tight muscles and relaxed her. Looking back on the night, she was stunned at her actions. She never did anything like that. That was something Cora would do. Not her. She was Cassidy Jennings. She owned a bookstore, drank tea, and ate health food. She was not the kind of girl who had sex, or almost had sex, with complete strangers she knew nothing about. Well, that wasn't true. She did know a thing or two about Randon Alexander Mitchell the third. The whole of America knew a thing or two about the notorious play mate, though Cass never paid very close attention to the tabloids. If she did, she'd have recognized him. Her reading preferences ran toward gripping mysteries, thrilling adventures, and delightful romances. Pouring some jasmine scented shampoo into her hand, Cassidy smiled as the scent enveloped her. She loved the scent of jasmine. It had been her favorite ever since she'd been a little girl. Her mother had always smelled of jasmine. It had been a comfort that that fact had never changed, when she'd had a constantly changing childhood. Her parents had separated multiple times, moved her to multiple schools yet always coming back to the same small town she lived in now. She got out of the shower and wrapped herself in a large towel. When she was dressed in a pair of grey sweat pants and a red and black stripped t-shirt she climbed back into bed and picked up the new best selling mystery book that was lying on her nightstand. It was somewhere around two in the morning when she got up to turn the lights off and fell into a deep sleep. Cassidy woke around six o'clock in the morning to the sound of her alarm clock buzzing on the bedside table. It was Saturday so she wouldn't open the bookstore until noon. With this in mind she groggily reset her alarm to nine o'clock and fell back into the peaceful sleep she'd been enjoying. When the alarm clock woke her for the second time she rolled out of bed and stretched. Her stomach growled and she frowned down at it in dismay. She hadn't eaten since lunch the previous day, and now she realized she was starving. She walked into the kitchen and went through the cabinets until she found her stash of blueberry Pop tarts. After popping two into the toaster, she grabbed a diet Dr. Pepper out of the refrigerator and popped the top. She leaned against the counter and sipped the cold soda as she waited for her Pop tarts. When they popped up she quickly pulled the hot pastries out and laid them on a paper towel. She sighed in pleasure as she bit into one and closed her eyes to savor the taste. Blueberry Pop tarts were amazing. When she was done she walked back into her room and dressed for the day. She pulled on a pair of comfortable loose fitting navy cotton pants and a loose grey cotton blouse. She walked into the bathroom when she was done dressing and pulled her hair back while she brushed her teeth and put on a little makeup. Her daily makeup routine consisted of powder, black mascara, and some clear lip gloss. It wasn't much she figured she didn't like to wear on a daily basis. When she pulled the clip out of her hair the black strands tumbled in natural waves to the middle of her back. She'd made the mistake once of cutting her hair short back in her teens. She had not made that mistake again. When she was finished getting ready for the day, she left for work. It was a five minute drive from her apartment to the cozy little book store she'd bought a year ago. She pulled into her parking spot and got out. She didn't bother locking the car. She didn't feel that it was necessary. She dug through her purse to find her keys and when she did, she unlocked the book store and walked inside to get things ready for the day. She hung the open sign in the door and began to unload a new shipment of books that she'd gotten in. She counted at least six books she was dying to read. She put the books in their correct spots before going to the back room and putting on some soft music. She put on a pot of tea and sat at the counter waiting for her first customer of the day. She didn't wait long for the bell on the front door to ring alerting her to someone's presence. She had her back turned to the door trying to pull something up on the computer. "Welcome to Jennings. Ill be with you in just a moment!" she called "Take your time." She knew that voice. How could she forget? She turned around to see Rand leaning against the checkout counter. He looked amazing in a pair of blue jeans and a bright green polo that made his green eyes even brighter than she remembered them being the night before. "Hello Cass." He said with a grin that made her heart skip a few beats. "Hi." She returned. "Can I help you with something?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant. "Well I was told by a little birdie that this was the place to come for the best prices on the best books. Is that true?" "Well I most certainly try to keep it that way." she said and walked out from behind the counter. "Are you looking for anything in particular?" she asked. "You wouldn't happen to have that new thriller from the Drake Kempt series would you?" he asked. "I just got them in yesterday so I have a few copies." She told him and walked over to grab it from the shelf. When she turned around he was standing a bit too close for her comfort, so she side stepped him. "It's a wonderful book. I read it in one night. It's hard to put down once you start it. It might be the best one yet." She said nervously. "I'll take it." he said with a grin. "So did you know I owned this place when you came in?" "I did. I asked one of your friends and she told me. It was the redhead I believe." "Ah, Cora. Is she the birdie?" Cassidy asked with a laugh. "No, that would be my sister. Do you know Loretta Mitchell?" he asked. Cassidy knew the woman well, and liked her. "Yeah, she's a wonderful woman. Will this be all?" "I believe so." He told her. Cassidy walked behind the counter and rang up the price of the book. "That will be fifteen even." She told him. He handed her a twenty and she opened the cash register, avoiding the heat of his gaze. She could feel his eyes on her and it was wreaking havoc on her nerves. "Cass, you don't have to feel nervous around me. I promise I'm not going to jump you." He said quietly. Cass looked at him and gave him a weak smile. "Sorry. I've never quite been in this exact situation before." she told him, handing him a five in change. "Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?" he asked taking the change from her and grabbing her hand in the process. His eyes were burning holes into hers. "I um, I don't know." She mumbled. "Please? I promise to be the perfect gentleman." He told her and smiled a smile that could have melted even the coldest heart. "I guess." She said and pulled back her hand to put his purchase into a bag. "Great give me your address and ill pick you up at seven!" he told her happily. When he left Cassidy sighed and turned to her computer. It would be a long night. Rand pulled up to his brother's house and got out of his car. He felt accomplished at getting a date with Cassidy Jennings. He knew she hadn't been the typical club going party girl the night before, but he would have never guessed that the gorgeous brunette owned a bookstore and listened to Mozart. It had been playing softly in the background at the bookstore. Her store was a nice establishment. It was friendly, open, and cozy. It smelled of jasmine. He assumed that she had an affection for the scent seeing as she'd been wearing it the night before. He knocked on the door and smiled when his brother's wife, Loretta, answered. She was tall and willowy with her hair falling around her shoulders in bright red waves. She was also seven months pregnant and glowing with excitement over her first baby. "Randon, you made it! Oh good, I was beginning to think you wouldn't show up." she said "I wouldn't miss out on some of you amazing turkey sandwiches Lori. You know how much I love them." he told her and kissed her on the cheek before walking inside. "Where's Chase?" he asked referring to his older brother. "Oh, he's fiddling around in the nursery trying to put together the baby bed. Oh Rand it's the most beautiful baby bed! It's dark wood and it matches the rest of the furniture perfectly! Not to mention that it is safe and durable." She said leading him into the nursery. The walls were painted a pale blue. The baby was a girl; however Loretta's favorite color was blue so the baby's room was painted in soft hues of blue and green. It looked just like a nursery with all the trappings. Chase was sitting on the floor staring at the instructions with a look of utter confusion on his face. "Hey bro. How's it coming?" Rand asked him. "I think the instructions were misprinted. There is no way to comprehend them. Why do people insist on making things as tough as possible?" he complained. "Because it makes life a bit more interesting. Now quit whining and get to work." Loretta scolded her husband. "Rand get down there and help him figure it out. I'm going to make sandwiches and tea." She said. As she made her way out of the room, Rand got down on the floor with his brother. They looked remarkable similar, he knew. Some people mistook them for twins, although chase was a bit taller and had a more lanky build. He also had dark blue eyes other than green like Rand's. "So what do we need to do?" Rand asked his brother who was studying the instructions with a fierce intensity. "We have to put that part over there on top of this part here." he said. "Oh. That makes sense." Rand said, hiding a smile. "Shut up. How's the club doing?" "Great. I hired a few more waitresses and another bartender. I'm turning a decent sized profit from the whole thing, not that I need it." "Hah, true. The business is good. Dad keeps grumbling about how he's not allowed to do a lot of the labor anymore." "Well that's dad for you." Rand said thinking about his dad. His dad was his hero and had been since he'd been four and Randon Alexander Mitchell the second, otherwise know as Alexander or Alex, had taken him to his first Yankees game. "So what are your plans for tonight? It's your night off huh?" "Yup and I have a date with a woman." Rand said with a cheeky smile. "A woman? Is she a looker?" Chase asked. "She's got long black hair, smoky bedroom eyes, and legs up to her chin." Rand told his brother. "Yeah she's a looker." "Way to go little bro." It took an hour and a half to get the baby bed assembled. The experience was not without a few cuss words and injuries seeing as Chase had completely smashed his finger with a hammer. Rand stayed at his brother's house until well after four o'clock. They drank a beer and messed around with Chase's 1960 ford mustang fastback. It was their project. They'd picked it up from a junkyard and were working on restoring it to its former glory. When he got back home from his brother's house it was four thirty and he immediately headed toward the shower. He smelled like sweat and motor oil and for a date with a pretty lady, that just wouldn't do. His shower lasted a whole ten minutes. He was all about the jump in, scrub off, and jump out. When he was dressed in a pair of black pants and a dark grey button down that his mother had bought him for his twenty-sixth birthday the previous year, he walked back downstairs and sat on the couch to catch up on one of the baseball games on TV. At six twenty he left his house and stopped by a flower shop and wondered if Cassidy would like roses or something less formal. He left with a dozen violets drove to her apartment wit ha content smile on his face. Cassidy stood outside her closet trying to decide what to wear. She had no idea where they were going or if what she should wear. She ran a hand threw her wet hair and pulled out a red dress that she'd never worn. It was pretty. Not too dressy or too casual. It was simple but classy. She laid the dress on her bed along with a pair of red pumps that would match it perfectly and went into the bathroom to dry her hair. It was quickly approaching the six thirty mark, but she'd had to stay at the store after it had closed to check on a shipment that was late. She blow dried her hair and left it down. She loved the fact that her hair never needed to be straitened or curled. It cut some of the time off of getting dressed. She put on makeup, going for the smoky eyes and pale pink lip gloss. When she was satisfied with the result she went to the room and dressed. The dress fit perfectly. It had a scooped neckline and was nipped in at her waist before falling just above her knees. The sky scraper red pumps made the hemline rise a few extra inches, but overall the dress was modest and sexy at the same time. She jumped when she heard a knock on her door, and a nervous feeling swept over her. She answered the door and wasn't disappointed when Rand stood there holding a lovely bouquet of violets. He gave her a long steamy look before breaking out into a sexy grin. "Hello beautiful." Temptation's Kiss Ch. 02 Branwen felt faint, her heart pounding fit to burst, or at least it felt like it, as she knew her heart beat no more. Was this such a betrayal? It was only a kiss… “Michael,” Adrian said quietly, though his smoky voice was heard easily around the old ballroom. “You never could stand the way I could get a date, could you?” “That’s not what this is about, Adrian,” Michael replied boldly, “This is about 200 years of being trapped in this godforsaken castle with you for company, and not having felt the touch of another being since the doctors pronounced me dead!” “Ah!” the vampire replied lightly, looking dangerously amused, “So you think you can have your way with my lady because you are so bored with your undeath?” “He was not having his way with me,” Branwen growled in his defense, “I started it. Don’t blame him. It was only a kiss!” “Indeed?” Adrian’s burning gaze turned to her now, “And what else will it only be next, hmmm? I was too easy on you this morning, Branwen, a mistake I will not make twice. You need to be reminded who your Master is. And you,” he pointed at the brooding spirit with a clawed finger, “just remember who is in charge here. I’ll not have you courting every lady I bring out here, or I will have you driven out! Don’t think I can’t do it, you remember what happened to the last ghost that tried that shit with me.” Branwen’s heart broke as Michael nodded tearfully, picked up his violin and disappeared, but not without sparing her a last loving glance. Adrian strolled over to stand before her, looking down at her, his arms folded across his back now, his head disarmingly cocked. She could almost hate him, now, as he glared down his long nose at her, but something in his beauty stopped her from really despising him. Although angered with her, obviously, there was the slightest hint of despair in her betrayal that tugged at her heart, a subtle tightening around his jewel-like eyes that was something more than anger, less than sadism by far. She was genuinely sorry she had hurt him, and she could barely understand why. “I was only trying to cheer him up, Master,” she said softly, “he seemed so…sad.” “The dead are always unhappy, tesoro mio,” he replied, taking her hand in his and leading her out of the ballroom, followed by almost inaudible violin music and the quiet sobs of the weeping dead. “We cannot allow it to bring us down with them. We are fierce, wild and free of the confines of the grieving dead. Michael will be fine, he always has been a bit melodramatic. Good musician, though.” “Can I visit him sometimes? He isn’t what you were protecting in the basement, is he?” “Him?” Adrian laughed, “Hardly. Yes, I suppose you can visit the silly thing once in a while. It’ll keep him from moaning around the place like some wounded animal. You have certainly put a smile on old Bernard’s face, for that matter. But I will not accept a betrayal from either one of you! He would have taken you then and there had I not come in! You are mine, do you understand that?” Branwen bowed her head, hiding a scowl, “Yes, Master.” “You needn’t be so angry with me, little one. Would you really want a shade for a lover, anyway? When you have had your first kill, you won’t be able to feel his touch anymore, and what is the fun in that? When I can teach you the ways of the wolf, the bat, the mist… I will teach you to fly, my darling, why would you feel the need for a poor shade that had not the strength to live?” “What do you mean by that? He said he died of Consumption…” Adrian paused in his step, and for the first time Branwen saw real emotion on his sharp-featured face. He didn’t look at her, instead looking down at the flagstone floor, his red eyes distant in remembrance that physically pained him. “I’m sure that’s what he told you. And that’s what we told the doctors that came for him. I tried to change him, to make him one of us that he might roam the night with me forever… His heart could not handle the change; he died in my arms. I could not save him, no matter what I did. I do not regret what I did, and I offer no apologies. The distance between us has been a painful thing at best…” When he trailed off, Branwen put a hand on his arm, frowning, “You were… lovers?” He looked down at her sideways, his grin rueful. “Silly, isn’t it? You’d think it was because we were young and stupid that we would allow such a thing to happen. I was already older than any vampire I had ever met, save one… Michael was perhaps 23. Now…we’re inextricably bonded. He cannot leave the castle. I dare not leave it, not for any real length of time at any rate. Nor would I, even if I could. Perhaps that is my damnation.” He sighed, squeezing her hand, and looked off down the hallway at the unseen past, his expression wistful, “Let it never be said that I lied to you, Branwen. I won’t. I didn’t lie to him, either.” She cast her gaze down, unsure of how to feel about this development, when he gripped her hand again with a grin that suggested he had just thought of something truly diabolic and led her down the hall toward his bedchamber. She almost dug her heels in, but thought again, remembering just how angry he had been with such little transgressions as questions and kisses in the dark, and instead grit her teeth and followed him. He dragged her in the door, slammed it behind them, and threw her down on the bed. She landed with a woof! as the breath was knocked from her lungs, and crawled to the back near the pillows, gasping more out of habit than out of necessity. He turned to face her, standing by the bed, and shouldered sensuously out of his shirt, his burning eyes never leaving hers. She clutched the lace shawl closer around her shoulders, feeling rather like a victim from some old “B” grade Hammer film, and cringed when he began to chuckle, low and nasty in his throat. “Ohhh, my darling?” he crooned, crawling gracefully onto the bed before her with a predatory grin, showing his fangs. “You think a little bit of lace will be able to come between you and your punishment? You certainly didn’t look this timid when you still had a heartbeat to still, brazen thing that you are. Now that nothing short of annihilation can kill you, you cower before me?” “I thought you had no heart to break,” she replied quietly. He sat back, confusion clouding his features only briefly, then he leapt on her, pinning her to the bed, ripping the beautiful clothes from her until she lay naked beneath him, trembling. He sank his fangs deep into her throat, grabbing her arms in a bruising grip that made her gasp and cry out in pain. “Feel me,” he hissed against her neck, running his tongue, warm again, along the side where her blood spilled. She shivered with pleasure despite her fear and pain as the warmth of his tongue and breath left trails of fire in their wake. She tried desperately to remember the beauty of his ruby eyes, how comforting that warmth had been just the night before, the pale perfection of his skin, and all she could see behind her closed eyes was the dark, cool ballroom, and crystalline human tears caught in copper eyelashes. The vampire kissed her lips, crushingly hard, and she returned it with somewhat timid passion, trying to return his ardor and not get torn to shreds in the process. It was not easy going. His lovemaking was a claiming, a dominance play, and her submission was more out of fear than passion. He entered her roughly, without the finesse he had shown even at his roughest the night before, and even through the pain, the pleasure was exquisite. She gave in to the bestial side of her that loved the treatment even beneath the veneer of terror, and clutched him to her, crying out even as his claws dug deep into her shoulders, his teeth in her neck. Finally, he knelt up, gripping her arms and shook her viciously. She opened her eyes, shocked and caught in his glowering red gaze, wept. “You all but loved me last night,” he growled, seeing her tears. “You want the shade so badly? You can bloody well have him, but I tell you right now: You will come to me ‘ere long, and you will make your first kill, and when you do I will be right there. You cannot hold out forever. Have your romance. Know that I am eternal.” With that, he threw her roughly to the bed, again, his expression reckless and cruel, beautiful as a lion in his wrath, and stalked off into the night. She wanted to call out to him, to call him back, to beg his forgiveness for being so human still, to let him know that she still wanted him… needed him… loved him? Could she truly say such a thing? He would be back. She knew that one thing he had, and she did too, was time. She still did not know her limitations, or abilities, though she was sure they were limited by the same thing that limited her inhibitions about feeling the dead. Her first kill. She wrapped her arms around herself to still the trembling, to ease the loneliness, to stop the tears that threatened to come forth again, but she was losing the battle even then. She looked on the tattered remains of her beautiful clothes, and crawled over to the vanity, hoping the velvet dressing gown would still be there. It was! She slipped into the softness and grace of the deep green velvet and stood by the window to watch the moonrise, still clutching her arms around her. After some time, she heard the soft scratch of a match being lit, and a black candle on the vanity blazed to life. She turned to face the intruder, and was met with soft, amber eyes over gold wire-rimmed glasses. “Michael,” she whispered. “I heard everything,” he said softly, “Are you all right?” She bowed her head a little, embarrassed, “Yeah, I’m okay. Just a little scratched up. Nothing that won’t heal pretty quick. At least I have noticed that, if nothing else, about my abilities.” “You don’t look okay,” he said, approaching her slowly, “I know he’s not an easy man to love. Believe me. I’m sorry I wasn’t completely honest with you about my history; it’s painful to remember. Sometimes it’s nice to think you can rewrite it by praying it wasn’t the way you remember it. I know that’s just not true, especially when there is somebody still around who remembers it the way it was, flawlessly. His memory is picture perfect, of every tiny, seemingly insignificant detail. Remember that about him, if nothing else. Is there anything I can do to help you? I will understand if you want me to leave.” “No, please don’t leave,” she found herself saying. “Stay with me, if you can.” He brushed his hand lightly over her eyelids, the moth-wing softness of his fingertips making her close her eyes, and he finished the caress against her cheek, warm and almost alive. He brushed her tears away, and kissed her face tenderly, reverent as he had been back in the ballroom, putting his arms around her and holding her close. Gracefully, he scooped her legs up from beneath her, and placed her gently on the bed, brushing his fingertips in a reminder across her eyelids. She smiled as she felt him lay over her, kneeling on either side of her hips. He planted sweet, soft kisses along her cheeks, down her neck, across her lacerated shoulders and breasts. She flinched a little, but returned his affections, stroking his face like a blind woman ‘seeing’ her lover, running her fingers through his curls. He kissed her lips deeply, tenderly, his tongue soft and warm against hers. He held her close, stroking the pain and fear away with gentle, callused fingers, murmuring soothing words in his sweetly accented, almost musical tones. When she ran her fingers tentatively down his softly furred chest, his breath caught in his throat, and he moaned softly. She had all but forgotten she was the first creature he had touched in 200 years, and she found his self-control to be stunning. With a smile, she pushed him over, and pinned him playfully, her eyes still closed, and began to kiss and nibble his neck and chest as he bucked and writhed beneath her. His scent was still old lavender and cedar, now distilled with the musk of lust, not hidden from her eyes. “Branwen,” he breathed, his hands clutching her hips spasmodically, “Please, Branwen. Have mercy on me.” “What do you want, Michael?” “Please, God, Branwen, make love to me. I beg you. To hell with Adrian, he cannot love you like this. Please.” She covered his lips with her fingertips to stop his words. She hated to think of what Adrian would do if he had heard him say that. She nodded silently, and reached down to Michael’s trousers to feel his erection straining at the fabric. His hands on her shoulders guided her to lie down beside him, and she felt him working off his clothes. Then, his hands, gentle as they traveled up her thighs, pushing the velvet gown up and over her belly, and somehow the slow, deliberate movement of his fingers exposing her was more tantalizing than any words he could have spoken. He lay over her again without a word, his face buried in her hair at her neck, and he entered her slowly, smoothly, carefully so as not to aggravate the damage already wrought on her body by the angry vampire. She gasped long as he moved deep within her, her head back, her back arched, her hands clutching his warm, smooth back. He moved slowly, every stroke long, smooth, calculated to feel every last inch of the pleasure he brought upon her, and she cooed in rapture. She could feel him trembling with passion over her, and stroked his bare back, soothingly. With her eyes closed, she could only imagine what he must look like over her, his muscular shoulders, his soft furred chest, his amber eyes, but was so relieved to have such tender treatment after so harsh a lesson she cared little. She would look into his eyes when they finished, and thank him, thoroughly. He picked up the pace, faster, a little harder, still in smooth, long strokes that drew out great gasps of pleasure from the woman beneath him. Her orgasm brought him clear over the edge, and he groaned, mingling with the suspended howl that tore from her throat in her ecstasy. He collapsed over her, panting, and she stroked his hair for a long moment, nuzzling his ear. She felt his kiss on her cheek, then his hands pulling her on top of him, guiding her hips to his ready erection as he pleasured her again. His large hands held her hips down, pulling another cleansing climax from her as she writhed over him, sitting back and up. Finally, he lay her down beside him and just held her as she slept, his breath warm on the back of her neck. At some point in the night he tucked her beneath the covers, and lay beside her, breathing words to her she would never hear, stroking her hair as the moonlight fell across them. Temptation's Kiss Ch. 03 Adrian’s beauty in moonlight was rare porcelain perfection. He stood in the shaft of moonlight in the window, framed perfectly between the open curtains, looking down at the lovers on his bed with an inscrutable look in his jewel-like eyes. Michael, who was never asleep to begin with, his spirit state precluding any need for such rest, watched him cautiously, one large hand over the sleeping woman protectively. “That was brazen even for you, Mick,” Adrian said quietly. “You have to know, I have never attempted to seduce any of your consorts. I have been nothing but polite to them.” Adrian’s finely arched eyebrow lifted, “This was not a seduction?” Michael grinned a little, charming, “You had already said she could have me. I came to her when she was in need of comfort. I would say it was pretty mutual.” The vampire narrowed his eyes, baring his teeth in a slight snarl. Michael, abashed, averted his amber eyes and bit his lip. “You can’t keep her, you know,” Adrian hissed, leaning forward. “She’s already gone one day without feeding, how many more can she tolerate? She will weaken, the hunger will take her eventually, and your pretty little maiden will become the beast. Then, she will be mine, and this little…” he waved his long fingered hand at the scene on the bed, “… whatever it is will be over.” “You can’t make her love you, Adrian,” Michael said quietly, “And you, of all people, should know that physical boundaries cannot come between those that truly love…” Adrian snarled, and whirled to leave, when Michael did something he hadn’t thought to do in over two centuries. Perhaps it was the emotion, perhaps it was the proximity, but he reached out impetuously and grabbed Adrian’s wrist, and held it. The vampire turned slowly, his red eyes mad and wide, and looked down at the violinist’s fingers wrapped around his slender wrist in complete amazement. His sensitive skin could feel every callus on the shade’s fingertips, the impossible warmth, the slight tremble. He saw that Michael was still in contact with Branwen, and made the connections. For just a moment, it looked as though he might smile and come to his lover, after so much time… instead, the raven-haired vampire curled his lip, ripped his hand out of the shade’s grip, and flew from the room, hissing like a bee stung cat. Michael hung his head, running his fingers disconsolately over the palm of the hand that had held Adrian’s, even just briefly. He stroked Branwen’s cheek one more time, then got up, dressed, and disappeared. The screaming woke Branwen from a dead sleep, a high, piercing wail of terror and pain that caused every hair on her body to rise and her eyes to open wide. A woman somewhere on the castle grounds was in terrible peril. It didn’t sound near, but then, she wasn’t sure where it might have been, her hearing was so good. Something about the sound drew her, calling her in a way that not mere curiosity would have, pulling her by instinct. She leapt out of bed, and fairly swooned from the dizziness that hit her. She had not eaten, and it was taking its toll on her. The realization was a chill in her stomach, a pain in her heart; she would miss Michael’s gentle loving, his reverent kisses… Another scream rent the quiet, and she staggered toward the vanity and found that Bernard had already been there, leaving out another beautiful set of clothes for her. She dressed without looking, though she was certain the lace and silk she shrugged into was as stunning as the last, and dashed out toward the source of the screaming, her head spinning. It was still dark out, the dawn still some hours away, and the grounds were chilly. The cries seemed to be coming from outside, in the garden, and Branwen followed her ears to a courtyard near the terrace of the old ballroom, and as a wave of white dizziness washed over her, she braced herself against the side of the stone wall. Down in the garden, Adrian stood, holding a young woman roughly by the shoulders, snarling up at the balcony where Michael stood, his hands braced against the railing, a lit oil lamp beside him, his knuckles as white as his face. The woman looked no older than Branwen, herself, and was thin in the way that homeless heroin addicts are, desperately so. Her hair was an indiscriminate mousy brown, her eyes muddy gray, and her clothes were tattered. Adrian closed her screaming mouth with his hand, placing his claws against her cheek to remind her to keep quiet, and growled up at the shade on the balcony, his voice rough with anger and the beast within. He lisped through his fangs. “Think you can save them all, Michael? Would you deny me life and sustenance for your fine sensibilities? Would you deny her?” he jerked his head toward Branwen where she stood against the building. “See how she comes? As someone once put it, ‘the fox comes a-runnin’ when the rabbit screams… but not to help.’” (Mason Verger-Hannibal) Branwen found she could not take her eyes off the woman in Adrian’s arms, though not out of jealousy, as she would have expected. The way her thin neck flashed in the dim lamplight she could almost see the vein standing out, and it entranced her. Adrian turned his burning gaze to her, and instead of the rage-fueled madness she had expected, his expression was forgiving, cajoling, almost sweet. His smoky voice was now soothing, loving as he called to her across the courtyard. “Come now, tesoro mio. I can see that this pains you. You know you want this: the very substance of life at your command. I know the hunger that drives you here. You have tasted mine, now set yourself free.” Branwen looked up at Michael who regarded her with frightened, pleading, deeply saddened amber eyes. It seemed he could not speak, and she knew he could not come down to where they were. She was torn, her gaze switching from one to the other rapidly; her ebon Prince of the Night, and her sad-eyed shade. A tightness started in her chest, somewhere between a sob and a scream, and she dropped to her knees. Michael ran to the balcony edge closest to her, though he could not reach her, calling for her. Adrian knocked his victim unconscious with a swift blow to her head, dropping her like a forgotten doll there in the garden, and stalked toward Branwen where she knelt in the gravel. He cast a withering glare at Michael, who retreated back out of sight. The vampire knelt beside Branwen and caught her gaze, holding his fingers stained dark with the blood of the girl in the garden within sight of her bleary eyes. She could smell it, like copper and fire on the night breeze, the promise of life, and the end of her suffering at his fingertips. Perhaps, but at what cost? “I just can’t…” she whispered. Adrian ran his bloody fingertips along her lips, and she shied away, licking her lips furiously. With a superior grin, he stood, striding back to the girl he had left in the garden, picked her up, sank his teeth into her throat, and drank her dry before Branwen could avert her gaze. She could just hear Michael’s gasp from the balcony, though she could not see him. Then, Adrian strolled back to Branwen, picked her up, steadied her on her feet, and kissed her deeply and passionately. The blood on his tongue and lips was enough to drive her mad with lust, but not near enough to sate her, and she returned his kiss with nearly the brutality he had come to her the night before with. She could just hear his soft, low chuckle as she fought to lap up every last drop of blood, ending with his clawed fingers in her mouth. “You want more, don’t you?” he purred. She pulled away from him, galled, and fled into the castle, unsure of where she would go, but followed by the laughter of the vampire all the way. Hours later, in his study, Adrian sat in his favorite chair, his feet up on the desk, idly poring through a very old volume of Edgar Allen Poe, feeling angsty, when Michael strode through the heavy oaken door. Literally, without opening it. “What brings you here, Mick?” Adrian drawled complacently. “You know very well what brings me here, Adrian,” the shade replied quietly. The vampire lifted an eyebrow, and closed his book, intrigued, “Indeed?” “Why must you torture her so?” Adrian turned in his chair to face his old friend, and rested his chin on his steepled fingers, his elbows on the arms of the chair. “It is in my nature to do so. I would think of anybody you would know that.” “Is it necessary?” “If she does not feed soon, she may die. She refuses to do so because of you. I don’t want her to die any more than you do. But, if she does not learn to hunt, she will weaken… then you-know-who will get to her. I cannot allow that.” Michael snorted in distaste, “I still do not understand why on earth you keep that thing caged up in the basement, Adrian.” The vampire leapt from his chair, “Shut up! If he should hear you speak so…” “Oh come off it! He hasn’t been capable of lifting so much as a finger in centuries! Why haven’t you killed him? Put him out of his misery? How hard could it be?” Adrian buried his face in his hands, his hair falling forward to veil his face. “I don’t know if he can be killed anymore, Mick. I have no idea what would happen if it were possible. What would happen to…” he trailed off, running a clawed hand through his hair anxiously and staring off. Michael stood by the window, looking down at his hands for a long minute, then spoke again quietly. “Adrian, what happened back there?” “What?” “You know what I am talking about; back in the bedroom. How was that possible?” Adrian regarded him sideways, looking tired, too tired to fight. “Hell if I know, but it won’t last long. I wouldn’t keep my hopes up. Where is she anyway?” “I thought you knew.” “I don’t keep tabs on her. You’re the one that seems to be able to find her no matter where she has gone off to.” “I can’t find her either, I thought you would know.” Adrian paled, “You don’t suppose…” “I wouldn’t put it past her.” “Porca miseria!!” Adrian spat and ran from the study, Michael hot on his heels. Branwen sat huddled in a deep downstairs corner near the basement, in the dark, as far from any signs of life from that cursed castle she could find. It was very near too dark to see, pitch black in the unlit staircase, though there was not much to see except stairs, cobwebs, and the heavy oaken door at the foot of the staircase. She pressed her back against it, but there was something about it that was prickly, beyond splintery and on to really malevolent that made her sit back up again. Very faintly she could hear a sound that was like distant whispering, sobbing, rhythmic as poetry behind the door. “Is this the door to the basement Adrian warned me about, I wonder?” she mused. A soft whine reached her ears from the top of the stair. Not human, it sounded like … a dog? What dog in it’s right mind would allow itself within a mile of this place? She stood and slowly climbed the stairs to see what was up there, and came face to face with a massive black wolf sitting at the top step. It has been a long time since humans have felt a need to fear the wolf, and Branwen’s generation had never need fear them at all, nonetheless, she was cautious in her approach of the huge animal as though it might pounce at any second. It just sat there, it’s ears up, it’s shaggy head cocked and whined again. “What is it, boy?” she called softly, holding her hand out for it to sniff, “What on earth are you doing here?” The wolf stood, and turned as if to go, but looked over its shoulder at her, whining a third time. She took the hint. “Well, boy, if you’re telling me that this place just don’t smell right, I’m inclined to agree with you. Come on, let’s get out of here. If a 500-year-old vampire doesn’t like this place, I should think it’s no vacation spot.” She followed the wolf as it padded silently through the castle halls, one hand on its warm flank, feeling rather like a child in a really weird fairy tale. It led her to the garden as the sun began to peek over the horizon, sitting on a stone bench as though to watch the dawn. Branwen sat beside it, putting her arms around its great shaggy neck and burying her face in its fur with a sigh. “What am I gonna do?” she sighed, “I’m surrounded by weirdness. So much so that the arrival of a wolf the size of a fucking Buick isn’t tipping me off to run screaming. Oh dammit. You make about as much sense as anything else in this madhouse. Of course, you might just be Adrian trying to trick me. He did say something about being able to shapeshift, and harnessing the power of the wolf, whatever the hell that means. He’s pretty melodramatic in his own way, isn’t he? Tres Bela Lugosi. This is all too much. You aren’t Adrian, are you, boy?” The wolf licked her cheek and grinned at her with his round yellow eyes. “Yeah, I didn’t think so.” She sat for a long while, watching the sunrise, stroking the warm, thick fur of the wolf when she realized she was feeling even more drained than before. By the time the sun was fully up she could barely sit upright, and the light was so bright to her eyes that she curled up into a miserable ball on the stone bench, shaded by the bulk of her companion. “Oh no,” she breathed, unable to speak above a whisper, “I thought he said that sunlight could not kill me?” “I did,” Adrian’s voice said from behind her, “I also said that you would not be nearly as capable of doing anything in the sun as you are at night, if you were listening. Are you ready to come inside now, and talk rationally?” She lifted her head to see the vampire standing there, looking oddly muted in the soft dawn light. He wore his tinted glasses, hat and duster, and his skin had not the luster it did in moonlight, looking simply pale now. He held out a hand to her, and the wolf nudged her hand with its muzzle to encourage her to take it. “Oh hell, yer all against me, now…” she sighed. “Abbi fede, gattina mio, have faith in me. I am not against you. I certainly don’t think dear Michael is against you. Even a wise man knows when to come in out of the rain.” Resigned, she took his hand, and allowed herself to be led into the castle up to the bedroom. Adrian closed the curtains over the window, the lack of sunlight a cool blessing on her burning eyes, and she curled into a miserable ball on the bed. “Are you going to listen to reason, now?” the vampire queried, standing over her, his arms crossed. “What?” “You’re being unreasonable, Branwen. You are not human any longer. Though you are not quite vampire, either. You know nothing of what you are capable of, or what you will be when you stop being a stupid girl and do as I say. I am your Master for a reason. I brought you that girl last night so you would not have to hunt the city for your sustenance, and you could not bear to do what comes naturally to you. You are going to die, and it won’t be pleasant. A human will die after only a few days without food or water, but you… you may take weeks, months, of starvation and pain until you finally succumb to it. I will not stand by and watch this happen. You think this is bad after only a couple days? Watch, girl. If you wait much longer you won’t be able to leave the room, then the bed. I would sooner kill you myself than watch you go through this. It’s undignified.” “What is in the basement, Adrian?” she asked quietly. “What the hell are you so afraid of?” He narrowed his eyes at her, cruelly. “You think I am afraid of what is down there?” She met his gaze levelly, “Everybody is afraid of something. Everything in the world has its limitations…” “I fear nothing!” he screamed, his control slipping. “Of course you fear something,” she replied quietly, “I think I know exactly what it is, too. You’re afraid to be alone. Michael was sick when you tried to change him, wasn’t he? You were afraid he would leave you, one way or another, and now he is here with you for eternity, and you can’t deal with it. You fear having no more physical contact, so you brought me here, a healthy young thing, so you could change me and have a companion. Perhaps even so you might leave this place, though I do not think you will. What were the other girls like, I wonder? Simpering, sweet things that followed you like desperate puppies? That you could protect and shelter in your greatness? There is something out there that can kill you; you are immortal, but not indestructible.” The vampire lifted his hand as though to backhand strike her, his eyes dangerous, his delicate lips snarling, then paused. She had hunched her shoulders and was glowering right back, baring her fangs and pulling herself up slowly, looking very much like a wounded panther whose fight was not all the way beaten from her. She hissed, digging newfound claws into the bedspread, and looked just about to pounce. “You think you can beat obedience into me like some kind of animal, Adrian?” she growled, “Is this how you draw your lovers to you? Is this how you kept Michael with you when he was alive? Intimidation? Did you beat him, too? I was right; you are afraid! I got news for you, baby; I am not afraid!!! If my first kill has to be you, so be it!!” Adrian dropped his hand and stared at her. Anger turned to shock, then melted into an evil, complacent grin that was reminiscent of the expression on a mother cat’s face when she sees her kitten take her first swipe at a bird. “Ohhh, gattina moi, you cannot kill me,” he purred, his expression softening to loving pride, “You must turn your anger to more productive pursuits. Let us speak no more of fear. Let us speak of survival and immortality. Of eternal life, and eternal love…” “Love? The word sticks in your throat, you selfish beast!” His smile dropped, and he regarded her for a long moment. “You think I cannot love? You think I have not? You think that I embraced Michael out of fear? That I have no heart?” “I know you have no heart. You said so yourself. You said ‘With no living heart to beat for you?’ when I asked you to love me the first night I was here. I had only meant for you to love me in the physical sense. Even you had to think about that one. No, I don’t think you are capable of love, of any selfless act.” “You don’t think that perhaps it might be love that draws us together?” Branwen was tiring, but she would not back down. His arguments were tearing at her heart; she wanted, desperately, for Adrian to love her, more than anything. If she was to be bound to this creature for an eternity, she did not want it to be an act of desperation, or fear, or selfishness that kept her there. She would rather die than be bound in a loveless eternity, as his pet. “No,” she said quietly, drooping to the bed, “It is your fear of eternal loneliness that draws us together. You don’t want me. You don’t love me. You need me.” He stepped back a pace, looking down at her, his expression inscrutable. “Perhaps,” he said softly, “but together we are, and together we stay, till death do us part.” His thin, graceful form diffused to black mist, curled against her cheek in the softest of caresses, and disappeared into the shadows. She missed him, instantly, and she wondered blearily if it was the blood bond between them that made his parting so hard to bear, or if, indeed, it was something else? She sat on the bed for long hours, just staring off at the tapestries on Adrian’s bedroom walls, not really seeing them. The grounds were virtually silent. She could hear the faint call of birds in the garden, but could not bear to look outside at what she knew was a beautiful day. She could hear the scuttling of the rats in the halls. She listened for the padding of the wolf’s paws, the click of its claws somewhere in the castle, but it seemed to have gone. Pity. She strained to hear Adrian’s boot heels, and for the sound of the violin, but all was quiet. She dragged herself to her feet and looked at herself in the mirror with a flinch. She looked ghastly; her skin was sheet white. Large dark, smudged circles hung beneath her red, bloodshot eyes, and her hair was a tangled mess. She cast about for a brush, and thankfully found one to tame her unruly red curls. She sat in the chair, and brushed her hair, trying to soothe herself with some vestige of normal life, but it did little good. Before she knew it, she had begun to weep bloody tears into her lap. Even this development was too much for her, causing her to sob all the harder. There was no going back. This limbo she was in now could not be sustained, even for the sake of one lonely prisoner who needed her so desperately. She searched the drawers of the vanity for a handkerchief, thinking ‘this old-fashioned kind of guy would have such a thing, don’t you think?’ and found several, lace-edged, delicately embroidered, covering a necklace of fine silver filigree around a large blood red stone. She dabbed at her eyes with a kerchief and lifted the necklace on its delicate chain to look at it. On the back, etched in impossibly perfect script were the words “Forever is a long time, Siate felici.” She wondered whom it had belonged to, and what had happened to her. Perhaps it was some of the source of his anger? Temptation's Kiss Ch. 03 Hey guys! So I want to apologize for the mustang mishap in the previous chapter. I swear I looked it up first, but I guess my brain just wasn't working properly... Forgive me? * Rand took his time admiring the way Cassidy looked in the red dress that she wore. She looked good enough to eat. She was almost eye level to him in the heels she had on. He loved her hair. He loved the way it fell down her back and over her shoulders in a waterfall of silky midnight curls. His hands itched to bury themselves in its mass. "Hello beautiful." He greeted her with a smile. The smile she returned sent electric shocks down to the pit of his stomach. God, but she was beautiful. He'd been out with his share of beautiful women but Cassidy was just breathtakingly stunning. "Hey there." She replied. Rand held the flowers out to her and watched as her face lit up. "Oh Rand they are beautiful! I love Violets." She said and buried her nose in the light purple flowers. "They smell heavenly. Why don't you come in while I put these in some water." she said and turned to walk back into the apartment. It was a small apartment, but it suited her. It was utterly feminine. It was all ivory lace and sage green. It was simple and elegant. He followed her into the kitchen where she was filling a crystal vase with water. She set the flowers in the vase and carried it over to and oak coffee table that was bare, save for a few books that had seen better days. "So how was your day?" he asked when they left her apartment. "Slow." she answered with a sigh. "I only had eight customers all day." "Well eight is better than none." She laughed and the sound made his stomach muscles tighten. Her laugh was incredible. He hadn't found a single thing about her that wasn't incredible. "So where are we going?" she asked him as she climbed into his car. "I was thinking that new Italian restaurant, Paola's I believe it is." Rand answered. "Oh I love Italian. I've never heard of Paola's though." she said. "You'll love it. I ate there last week. The food is amazing. It's not a real fancy place but the food is top notch. Their breadsticks will rock your world!" he told her. "I can hardly wait." Cassidy laughed and ran a hand through her hair. Less than ten minutes later they pulled up at a small building that had certainly seen better days. It was old and it seemed as if the roof would cave in at any minute. The owners thought it was charming. Rand thought it was dangerous, but the food, as far as he was concerned was well worth the danger. "Umm, that has got to be a safety hazard." Cassidy said as she got out of the car. "Oh, it's perfectly safe." Rand told her and grabbed her elbow. "I think." Cassidy stared at the building that Rand was leading her into. It seemed as if it were falling apart. It definitely wasn't the fancy restaurant that she was expecting from Mr. Randon Alexander Mitchell the third, but she was almost relieved by that fact. It meant her face would more than likely not be in the tabloids the following day. That would be bad. They were seated at a table in a corner by a pudgy little man wearing a suit that fit just a little too tight. He had a mustache that looked as if he were channeling Zorro. Cassidy thought he was charming. "What can I get you to drink?" he asked and winked at her causing her to laugh. "I'll have sweet tea please." She answered. "I want a beer. Just whatever you have on hand is fine with me." Rand answered and gave her a quizzical look as the man walked away. "I pegged you for a red wine girl." He told her. "Oh I reserve on glass of red wine a night for my bath and that's all. I don't handle a drink very well." Cass admitted and wrinkled her nose as a rather unwanted memory of her dancing almost naked on a table at a collage party popped into her head. She'd been in a rebellion period. Rand laughed. "Am I sensing a story behind that?" he asked and she quickly shook her head. "Not one I will tell you!" she told him. Cassidy looked over the menu and felt Rand's eyes on her. She looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Have I told you how absolutely gorgeous you look?" he asked. Cassidy felt her cheeks heat and shook her head. "Why don't you tell me?" she asked. "You look like an angel or maybe a gypsy. I can't decide. It may be a bit of both with all that wild and gorgeous hair and creamy pale skin." He told her and ran his finger over her hand. "You could quite possibly be the most gorgeous woman I've ever met." Cassidy snorted. "Yeah right. Didn't you go out with Amy Mendoza? She's a supermodel for goodness sakes. And like number one on the list of hottest women in America." She told him. "Nope. She's got nothing on you." Randon said and shook his head. Their drinks arrived and they put in an order for their food. "So why books?" Cassidy looked at him and smiled. "I love books. They are an escape from reality. I love the face that I can provide people with an escape. Everyone needs one every once in a while. What better way that to loose yourself in a good book?" "I like a good book every now and again. My escape happens to be video games though. I love video games. I have just about every gaming system and every game known to man at my house. That's a secret though. I'm trusting you to keep it on the down low." He said in a whispered tone causing Cassidy to laugh. "Oh I am horrible at video games, specially those military games! I always die within the first ten seconds. I'm not very good at all." She said. "Well, I could teach you. I don't like to toot my on horn but I'm pretty awesome." He told her. "I'm probably unteachable." Cassidy warned him. "Nobody is unteachable!" Rand said. "With the right teacher, that would be me, you will exceed in the art of gaming!" "Maybe I'll let you teach me then." She laughed. "As you should." Cassidy looked into his eyes. God, those eyes were amazing. They were so incredibly green. "You have the most incredible eyes." She said. "Why, thank you." He told her, taken aback by the sudden compliment. "You're welcome." She told him. When their food arrived the conversation quickly changed to food. "Pepperoni pizza is the best." Cassidy told him and took a bite of the delicious spaghetti on her plate. "Nope, meat lovers deserve that honor. I mean what's better than a pizza piled high with a lot of meat? It's God's food!" "You are wrong!" Cassidy laughed. "I am never wrong!" Rand told her and smiled his signature heart stopping smile. "Everyone is wrong sometimes." Cassidy told him. "Not me!" Cassidy rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say." "Yes! Whatever I say!" When they left the restaurant their conversation topic had switched to baseball. "I can't believe you're a Yankees fan! You have to marry me! I'd simply die without you!" Rand said and raised a hand to his heart. "Oh, hush." Cassidy laughed. "There are lots of Yankee fans in the world." "But you're here. They are not!" Cassidy shrugged and felt a tinge of disappointment when he pulled up to her apartment. "Well, thanks for the meal. I had a good time." She said and turned to look at him. "Hold on, I'll walk you up." he told her. "Oh, you don't..." "If I don't walk you up, I don't get a chance to kiss you like I want to." He told her and got out of the car. Cassidy's heart beat accelerated as she followed him to into the apartment building and up to her door. She turned to him and bit her bottom lip. She would have sworn she heard his breath catch. His hand went around her waist and pulled her close to him. "I had a wonderful time." he told her and kissed both corners of her mouth. "Me too." she told him and rested her hand on his shoulders. When his mouth connected with hers she felt her knees begin to buckle. She knew that if he hadn't been holding her she would have collapsed into a puddle on the floor. His tongue separated her lips and searched for hers. She moaned and he pulled her closer. She could feel the hard lines of his body against her. She moved to tangle her fingers in his hair, pulling his head closer. "You have no idea how much I would love to go into that apartment with you." He told her when he broke away and rested his forehead against hers. "You could, you know." "I know, but I'm not going to. I don't want to rush this. I like you. I don't want it to be all about sex. And when I make love to you, it'll be in my bed and it'll be slow and by the time I'm done I'll know every secret of your body, inside and out." He told her then kissed her once more before walking away. Cassidy walked into her apartment, a little wobbly on weak knees, and collapsed on the couch. Her mind was a bit foggy and she knew it was because of Rand's kiss. He knew how to kiss, that was for sure. The phone rang and she got up to answer it. "Hello?" "Hey friend." "Hey Mari." Cassidy greeted her best friend. "I called you about seven times. You didn't answer. I was about to call the police to go check on you!" she accused. "Sorry I was on a date." "With who? Oh, please tell me it was the hunk from the club! God, wasn't he Randon Alexander Mitchell? He looks even better in person." Maria sighed. "Yes with Randon." Cassidy laughed. "Oh yay! Where did he take you?" she asked. "Some small Italian restaurant." "Did he kiss you?" "Oh yeah." Cassidy sighed. "Bitch." Maria growled causing Cass to laugh. "Look, I've talked to Cora and Anna. We've decided that next Saturday is spa weekend. We are all going to get pampered!" "Mari, I've got to work next weekend." "You've got Marissa." Marie said. "Marissa only works two days a week and that on Mondays and Thursdays." "So? Ask if she can take an extra weekend. She could probably use the extra cash, what with two twins and all." "I'll talk to her. Now I've got to go Mari. It's past my bedtime." "It's barely ten o'clock!" "Bye Mari." Cassidy said and hung up the phone with a smile. She went to sleep with a smile still on her face and thoughts of Randon floating around in her head. Temptation's Kiss Ch. 03 She sighed deeply. She had been too hard on him. Not that he had been all that easy to live with either, but she had to be fair; she was afraid to be alone, too. After 500 years, she imagined she might be a little manic about it, too. She wondered what had happened to the one that had made him? Had he, too, gone mad with loneliness and grief and done the same thing Adrian had, out of desperation? She shuddered, and put the necklace on, anything to draw attention away from how haggard she looked. The red stone settled over her heart in the cave between her breasts and glowed softly. How like his eyes it was! Suddenly, she missed him terribly, and hauled herself out of the chair to wander the castle, to find somebody… anybody. The liquid strains of the harpsichord were amplified beautifully in the old ballroom. Adrian’s preternaturally swift fingers played over the ancient mahogany keys, drawing out the piece like running water, flawless, perfect, crisp and fluid. His burning red eyes were closed in concentration, his handsome face tipped back with the rapture of the music written across the sharp features. He had discarded the duster and hat, his long, slender neck rising gracefully from the plunging open collar of his white poet shirt, gleaming softly in the sepulchral darkness of the deserted ballroom. A candle flared to life nearby with a soft hiss. Michael’s gold-rimmed glasses flashed briefly in the glow. His somber face followed in the light, his soft amber eyes focused on the vampire at the harpsichord. Another candle was lit, then another. Soon, the great room was lit with the softly glowing flames of hundreds of tapers in brass sconces and candelabras positioned everywhere. The high ceiling was still in shadow, though now the cobwebs hanging from the chandeliers looked more like streamers in the candlelight. Bernard, with a satisfied grin, puffed out the lighting taper in his hand and melted into the shadows. Michael stepped out behind Adrian into the room, lifted his violin to his chin, and entered the tune seamlessly, blending his falling leaves with Adrian’s running water. The music formed a more perfect picture, passion and beauty in a pastoral fall milieu. The notes wove intricately, expertly, flawlessly in and around each other, painting the piece in the vibrancy of life neither musician possessed, but which both remembered with poignancy. Suddenly, Adrian smashed his hands into the keyboard with a toneless cacophony, screaming in rage. Michael pulled the bow from his strings and watched, helplessly, as the vampire rose from the bench, knocking it over and sending it flying behind him, and, screaming still, continued to bash at the antique harpsichord until his knuckles bled red on the wood keys. He stopped just short of doing damage to the instrument, turned and continued to howl into the silent room, his rage echoing eerily through the halls. Finally, Adrian fell to his knees, a drop that would have shattered the kneecaps of a human on the marble floor just off the rug, buried his face in his hands and shrieked beneath the veil of his silken black hair. A hopeless sound. Frantic, Michael tried to comfort the distraught vampire, but nothing he said or did could get through to him. He could not touch him to distract him from his misery, so, with a flash of inspiration, he rushed from the room. He found Branwen on a slow, staggering approach to the ballroom, looking like the walking dead, her eyes full of pain, and ran to her. She flinched weakly and held her arms up as if to ward off a collision, closing her eyes, which resulted in Michael catching her in his arms before she collapsed entirely on the floor. “What is it, Michael?” she asked, her words slurring some, “What’s going on?” “You have to come with me, Branwen,” he panted, pulling her to her feet, “It’s Adrian, he’s lost his mind!” “Well, that’s a big surprise…” Michael’s hand was warm on her face, his thumb rested on her cheek beneath her eye to remind her to keep her eyes closed, but she could hear the concern in his dulcet tone. “You… you’re cold. Freezing. And you look like…” “Hell?” she finished for him, almost too tired to open her eyes. “Jesus Christ, this is killing you,” he breathed, “You’re dying.” “I’m a vampire,” she whispered, “I can’t die, I’m already dead.” “No! Dammit, Branwen!” the shade picked up her weakening body and carried her to the ballroom where Adrian still knelt on the floor, bent so low his forehead was touching the cold stone, keening. Still cradling Branwen in his arms, Michael knelt beside the vampire and grabbed his shoulder, firmly. His reverie broken, Adrian slowly lifted his head to gaze, thunderstruck, first at his hand, then at his face. “Mick?” he said softly, raising his hand to brush the stubble on the shade’s cheek, nearly flinching when he connected with warm flesh. “Adrian, Branwen is dying,” Michael mumbled, distracted by the vampire’s gentle contact. “God, Adrian…” The vampire sat up farther, and took Michael’s face in his hands reverently, running his thumbs across his cheekbones, his eyebrows, his lips with an expression of disbelief on his vulpine features. It was as though he was seeing him for the first time ever, and he was drinking every last minute detail that he could in that single shining moment. He moved closer, encountering Branwen’s body between them, and heard her soft sigh as he reached over her to pull the shade’s body closer. As though something might happen to end the moment, Adrian impetuously pressed his lips to Michael’s, crushing him against his chest, cutting both their lips with his fangs. The shade laid the woman’s body on the floor between them, carefully maintaining contact with her, and held the vampire close to him, looking into his eyes, losing himself. “Do you think I could… just in this moment…?” Adrian mused aloud, brushing Michael’s errant curls from his high forehead. “There is no blood in my body for you to drink, Adrian. That body was buried 200 years ago. I cannot come back. We have but this moment left us… and she whom has made this possible lies dying between us. If we don’t help her soon, she will die, and this will all be for nothing. Please, Adrian, help her. Then, at least, you will not be alone.” Adrian grit his teeth, his face grimacing in the agony of the moment, but he pulled Michael in for one, last, breathtaking kiss, their tongues intertwining warmly. When they parted, the vampire lifted his hand to catch a crystalline tear that traced down the shade’s pale cheek with his thumb, his own eyes full of pain. “I have always loved you, Mick, no matter what awful things I may have said to you.” “I know.” Adrian picked up the girl and carried her to one of the couches that lined the sides of the great ballroom, laying her down gently, as though she were fragile as glass. He stood, and turned to Michael, his expression odd, or at least it seemed odd, as Mick had not seen this look on his face since he, himself, coughed the last of his own life away in a fever haze of blood, sweat and pain. “Watch over her,” the vampire said, then turned and fled from the room in a clicking of his boot heels and flying silken black hair. Michael sat beside the unconscious woman on the couch, holding her hand, and waited. It was all he could do, and he was good at it, having learned the patience the vampire never had in all his years of bloodlust. Adrian came back some hours later with a bundle in his arms, a rather small one at that. Michael stood quickly to regard him with no small ferocity. “Of all the horrid things, Adrian! A child?!?” “Shut up, Mick, I know what I am doing,” Adrian hissed, unwrapping the bundle and kneeling beside Branwen on the floor. “I don’t like it any more than you do. I would never have chosen this for her, myself, but we have little choice in the matter now. She has not the strength to overpower an adult by herself, and this child has little time to live, besides. Let his last moments be a haze of cradling arms, her eyes, a tiny pain, then oblivion sweeter than mother’s milk.” “Oh God…” the shade wept. “Kiss her one last time, Mick,” Adrian said, his voice husky with anticipation, “It will be your last.” Michael knelt beside her once more, and brushed the locks of her bangs away from her tortured eyes. She awoke, her eyelids fluttering a little. “Michael?” she whispered. “This is it, love, you must drink now, or you will die.” “If I die now, would I become a ghost like you?” “No, love,” he replied, his voice thick with tears, “You wouldn’t. I don’t know what would happen to you, but you could not be here with me. I hate to think of what you would become. Less than human. Please. Make this kill. Stay with Adrian, for he is so desperately lonely.” “He cannot love me,” she sighed dismissively, “Let me die.” “No, love. There you are wrong. He is capable of loving, deeply. You have no idea. You will understand when you do this thing. Do it for you. Do it for him. Do it for me. Then, at least, I will see you around.” “I will miss your touch.” “And I, yours, love.” He bent down and kissed her lips as her eyes closed, so tender, so gentle, so reverent. Before he broke contact with her, Adrian put a hand on his old friend’s shoulder, and smiled for him encouragingly. The shade then stepped back and out of the way as the vampire sat beside Branwen on the couch, removing his duster and hat. Adrian pulled her up to sit, propped on the arm, and put the bundle in her arms. A moue of distaste crossed her features, but the Master held the child’s neck closer to her lips. The child made little sound, so far gone was he, when with tears in her eyes, she bared her starving fangs and buried them in his neck. Strength flowed up through her limbs like red light as she cradled the tiny victim in her arms and drained the essence from his body, rocking it slowly. The circles beneath her eyes faded and smoothed, her hair grew lustrous and thick, and though her skin was still pale, it took on a ruddier hue instead of the ghastly chalky colour it had achieved over the course of days of starvation. As she came out of the blood thrall, she chanced to look down at the bundle in her arms. The boy was young, barely 4 if that, and nothing but spindly limbs and blonde hair, but his face was peaceful, as though he were asleep. Branwen began to weep as Adrian took the child from her, wrapped the body, and handed it off to Bernard who seemed to be ever at his elbow appearing out of the shadows. “How could you?” Branwen sobbed, beating Adrian’s chest half-heartedly with her fists, “That was a child! Have you no ethics at all?” “Listen to me!” Adrian snapped, grabbing her shoulders, “You were going to die. I could not live with that. There was no way you were going to overpower an adult in the condition you were in. I had to do something. Yes, I have ethics, and normally I would not have taken a child, but the situation called for delicacy. You can be angry with me, if you want, there is little I can do about it, but I did what I had to, and I am not sorry I did.” Branwen sniffed, halting her pummeling to bow her head and rest it on Adrian’s bare chest where his shirt lay open. The vampire sighed, and put his arms around her, stroking her hair and holding her. “I’m sorry,” Branwen whispered. “You were saving my life. I know. I am sorry. I should have listened to you. I’m so confused, and afraid, and lost, I hardly know what to do with myself.” “Are you going to break down like this every time you make a kill, girlchild?” “Oh, tell me it wasn’t a hard thing for you to face when it was your turn to have to do such things!” “We can be angels of mercy to those to whom death has been denied for whatever reason. The suffering, the lost, the dying. That woman yesterday: she was dying of heroin withdrawals. Her next hit would have killed her. The child just now: a homeless vagrant orphan, living under a bridge, dying of starvation and disease. When we take them it is a mercy, and the pain is so brief, the rest is soft as cream. Nobody will notice they are missing. Nobody will miss them. They have a brief moment in your arms, looking into your beautiful red eyes, and they succumb to you thankfully. It may be the only kindness they have been shown in their entire lives. We are gods, my love. No one will tell you otherwise. We rule the night. Do not despair.” She looked up, catching a glimpse of Michael over Adrian’s shoulder, faded and brooding, then looked back at her Master, “But we aren’t perfect…” The vampire cast a glance over his shoulder at the shade, then turned back to his fledgling. “No, and I will tell you why. Part of us, maybe the best part, is still human. To err is human. To love is human. When we lose sight of that, then we will truly be monsters. Believe me, tesoro mio, there are monsters out there. You will meet them in time. Until then, will you trust me? Do as I say? The rewards are endless.” She blinked slowly with a sigh, and leaned forward to press her lips to his, slipping her fingers through his silken hair. He returned the kiss, deepening it, pushing his warm tongue past her fangs and teaching her, even then, how to kiss with the long canines in the way. The new sensations were astounding to the new vampire. Her skin was so sensitive, every nerve alive as it had never been, and the kiss was an endless delight. She could feel every tiny nuance of his smooth skin, his silken hair like tendrils of shadow in her fingers, his hot tongue and lips on hers burned like fire, his ivory fangs hard, long, and sharp. He lay her down on the couch beneath him, covering her with his body, and continued kissing her, passionately. His fingers stroked through her hair, reveling in the new luster her curls had taken on with the change. He growled deep and low in his throat, the sound seeming to emanate from his chest as he undressed her beneath him. She writhed, accommodating his skillful fingers as he bared her body to the cool air and the heat of his own body. His skin felt like warm alabaster, and she stroked his back and shoulders over and over again, never tiring of the smooth hardness beneath her fingertips. He was surprisingly gentle with her. Even though she could already tell she was tougher and stronger than any human being alive, his touch with her now was more tender than it had ever been, more thorough. She no longer had a pulse to drive him mad with bloodlust, and this was the way he loved. When he entered her, the sensation drove her half insane with rapture, feeling every inch as a new level of ecstasy. He thrust slowly into her, building the pleasure incrementally, still growling softly. She was beyond rational response with the agony of lust she found herself in, moving with the thrust of his lean hips to take him in deeper, faster, harder. She dug furrows into his muscular back with her claws, now fully formed, and screamed her release, the howl echoing through the ballroom. Her lover was carried right over by her tremors, and the cry torn from his graceful throat joined hers in the halls, chasing one another like a pack of wild wolves. They lay together for a long moment, it may have been minutes, it may have been hours, neither could ever tell in the timelessness that is undeath. Time meant little anymore to those that would live forever. A violin crooned its sorrow to the quiet that fell… and did not go unheard. Temptation's Kiss Ch. 04 Cassidy rolled over in bed and hit the snooze button on her alarm clock. It was Sunday. The shop didn't open on Sundays. There was absolutely no reason to get out of bed, Cassidy thought as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stretched. With a yawn and a wistful glance at her bed, she stood and headed for her bathroom. Sunday was housework and grocery shopping day. It had been ever since she had opened the bookstore. After a long steamy shower, Cass put on a pair of old jeans that were close to coming apart at the seams and a grey t-shirt that was fading and had definitely seen better days. She pulled her wet hair into a knot at the top of her head and walked into the kitchen. Bypassing the Pop tarts, she grabbed a diet Dr. Pepper before pouring herself a bowl of frosted flakes and chopping up bananas in the sweet cereal. She ate slowly, her mind drifting to thoughts of a certain dark haired man with dazzling green eyes. Rand was nothing like she would have expected one of the richest people around to be like. He was generous, funny, and very intelligent. Cassidy had read the tabloids and magazines about Randon Alexander Mitchell the third and had expected that he'd be a spoiled, arrogant, womanizer with no intelligence. He was seen with a different girl just about every week. She only hoped she'd be different. Rand had a whole string of heartbreaks trailing behind him and Cassidy didn't want to be added to the mix. She shook her head to clear it of all thoughts of Rand. She'd known him for two days. It was no big deal. When she was done with breakfast, she cleaned the apartment. The task didn't take long seeing as she usually picked up behind herself on a daily basis. She vacuumed, dusted, washed clothes, and polished the furniture. She cleaned the windows and the bathrooms and then deciding that everything was pretty much as clean as it was going to get, she left for the grocery store. By the time noon came around, she was back home and sitting on her couch with a glass of tea and a book. She'd just began reading when the phone rang and she stood up to go answer it. "Hello?" "Cassidy, please tell me that you're not to busy to come shopping with one of your best friends in the entire world! I have a date tonight and absolutely nothing to wear!" "Cora, you have a bigger closet filled with more clothes than half the population of the world." "That's beside the point! I need to find the perfect outfit for my date!" Cassidy sighed. "Okay, where and what time do I need to meet you?" "The mall, in twenty minutes?" "Gotcha." Cassidy said. Twenty minutes later they she was pulling up to the mall. She'd changed into a pair of black jeans and a grey t-shirt. Cora was waiting impatiently in the mall. Cassidy decided that it should be illegal for someone to look so good in sweat pants. She'd be tempted to hate Cora, if it wasn't for the fact that she was one of her best friends. "There you are! I was beginning to worry something had happened to you. Come on we don't have all day. He's taking me to that fancy French restaurant. I need a knock 'em dead dress." "Who is this guy anyway Cora?" "Ryan." "Oh Cora, please tell me you're not falling for him again. Do you remember what happened the last few times?" Cassidy groaned. Ryan was Cora off again on again boyfriend. He was jerk of the year and quite possibly the biggest asshole around. "He promised me this time would be different. It's okay. I believe he was sincere." Yeah he'd been sincere the last three times as well, Cassidy thought but chose to stay quiet. It was best not to argue with Cora, especially over men. "I was thinking about a simple black dress, but I really want to wow him. Black is classic, but boring. Red is too slutty. I was thinking maybe something in green?" Cora rambled. Cassidy sighed and agreed. It wasn't as if Cora needed her opinion when it came to clothes or shopping. "So I hear someone had a date with Mr. Rich and infamous." Cora said as they walked into one store. "Yes. It was a very nice date. I had a very nice time." "Mhm. Is he nice in bed?" "I wouldn't know." Cass laughed at Cora's expression. It was a cross somewhere between disbelief and horror. "You went on a date with Mr. Fuck me I'm gorgeous, and you didn't sleep with him." "No, I did not sleep with him Cora. It's not the end of the world. He's a nice guy and I like him. Not all dates end in sex." "The good ones do." Cass sighed and chose not to respond to the comment. "Oh Cass this dress would look killer on you!" Cora said and held up a dark purple knee length cocktail dress with a high neckline and a plunging back. "I came to help you shop." Cass reminded her. "Just try it on!" Cora begged. "Alright." By then end of the shopping trip Cora had found herself a killer green dress, shoes, jewelry, and lingerie for her date. Not to mention three other bags full of clothes she just had to have. Cass had bought the purple dress, as well as four pairs of new shoes, some new jeans, and two other bags full of items she'd fallen victim to. It wasn't her fault that the grey cashmere sweater had looked so good on her and was comfortable to boot. It was getting colder and she was going to need some sweaters pretty soon, she'd reasoned after looking at the forty dollar price tag. It made her feel a little better about that purchase. She came up with reasons she needed every new article of clothing. Except for the shoes. She could only come up with the fact that the shoes were amazing and she wanted them badly. When she got home it was almost seven o'clock. She felt sleepy, and wanted a hot bath and a good night's sleep. She unloaded her new purchases into the already overflowing closet before running her bath water. Just as she was about to step into the steamy water, scented with lilac bath oil, the phone rang and she sighed in disappointment. She wrapped herself in a towel and went to answer it. "Hello?" "Hey beautiful." Cassidy's heart leapt at the sound of Rand's voice. She couldn't help her reaction to the man, God help her. "Why hello there." She said with a slight laugh. "What are you doing?" "Well I was just about to get into the bathtub." She admitted. "Tease." he joked and she sighed. "What about you?" "Well I was going to see if I could come over and share this large pepperoni and pineapple pizza with you, seeing as there is no way on earth I can eat it alone." He said, and Cass could hear the hopefulness in his voice. "Where are you?" she asked. "In the parking lot." He said nonchalantly. "Someone's very confident in their ability to pursued me." she said and rolled her eyes, though he couldn't very well see her. "I am indeed. So what do you say? Your bath will still be there when we finish the pizza." "Oh fine come on up." she told him and hung up the phone. She rushed into her room and through on a bra and some underwear under a pair of black yoga pants and a blue Colts t-shirt. Her door bell rand and after letting the water out of the bathtub, she went to answer it. Rand stood on the other side looking very sexy in a pair of worn jeans and a hoodies. His hair curled in a mad disarray on his head and his eyes shined with mischief. In his hand he had a large pizza box and Cass could smell the pizza inside. "You're lucky you brought pizza." She said and let him pass. "What? No thank you kiss?" he asked with mock innocence. Cass took the pizza box from him and set it down on coffee table in the living room before turning to him. She stepped closer and put her arms around his neck, rising up a bit to place a soft kiss to his incredibly delicious mouth. Before she could pull away, Rand arms wrapped around her waist bringing her closer, and he took control of the kiss. He deepened it, letting his tongue find its way into her mouth to dance with hers. Cass felt her head begin to swim as she kissed him back, arching slightly against him to feel his body next to hers. All too soon he pulled away. Cass felt a bit of disappointment in ending the kiss but followed him down on the couch. "Anything good on TV?" he asked and opened the pizza box. "I have no idea." "Why don't we find something to watch?" he asked around a mouth full of pepperoni and pineapple pizza. Cassidy shrugged and grabbed a piece of pizza for herself. They settled on watching some very old Law and Order re-runs, which Cassidy didn't have a problem with. She liked the show. "So, how was your day?" he asked her. "Good, I cleaned, went to the grocery store, and went shopping with Cora." She said and laughed at his expression when she said shopping. "I hate shopping. I like clothes, but I despise shopping with the fiery heat of a thousand suns." He said and shook his head. "I don't understand women's fascination with it." "It's a mystery." She nodded and took a bite of pizza. "How was your day?" "I spent time with my brother and his wife. Then I went and played a game of golf with my father, or actually attempted to play. I'm not very good at the game. Me and dad just go and enjoy hitting the balls and laughing at the ridiculous outfits some people wear." He told her. "You're lucky to be so close to your parents." "You aren't?" "Not in the same way you are." She told him. "I love them, and they love me. We just never had that bond that you seem to have with your family." "Not many families do." he said. They devoured the entire pizza over the course of four Law and Order episodes. By the fifth one, they were sitting extremely close and Cassidy felt his hand rubbing up and down her arm. It was nice. Companionable. Then he leaned over and touched his lips to her forehead as if were the most natural thing in the world. Cassidy looked at him and smiled. He leaned down to kiss her again and she sighed as his mouth met hers in a soft yet deep kiss that rocked her down to her toes. Before she knew what was happening, Rand had pulled her into his lap so that she was straddling him with his hands on her hips. The kiss had turned rough and just a bit untamed. It was a flurry of teeth, tongue, and lips that had her visibly shaking. His hands began to roam under her t-shirt and she groaned when they found her breasts through the thin material of her bra. His lips moved to her neck, nipping at the soft skin just below her earlobe. She jumped a little at the intense pleasure that the draw of teeth on her skin brought to her. He pulled back for a brief moment, only to pull her t-shirt over her head and toss it somewhere on the floor. He pulled her back down for a mind numbing kiss as he expertly unhooked the claps of the dark grey bra. When it was gone, Cassidy moaned as his palms connected to the pale skin of her bare breasts. Her nipples hardened and she arched into his hands. "You are too incredibly perfect, Cassidy." Rand said and stared at her for a minute. His hands made their way up to her hair and he tugged on the clip that was holding all the marvelous mass in place. "No, I'm not." She said with a sigh as his hand threaded themselves through her hair. She'd always loved for people to touch her hair. "Yes, you are." He told her firmly and pulled her back down for another kiss. This one was soft, sweet, and full of pure passion and want. It shocked her. She kissed him back putting everything she could into the kiss, everything she was feeling, though she wasn't quite sure what that was at the moment. His arms wrapped around her, bringing her as close to him as possible and he started kiss, licking, and nipping his way down her neck. He took his time on her shoulder. He places soft wet kisses on the slope of her breast and then took one hard tip into his mouth to suckle gently. Cassidy felt as if she were flying. Her eyes closed and her head fell back as his mouth made her weak. He moved to the other breast when she began to feel impatient. She felt each draw of his wonderful tongue down to the very core of her body. Heat began to spread through her like wildfire. His hands worked their way down to the waistband of her pants, and hid fingers skimmed the soft flesh just beneath, causing Cassidy to shiver. She wanted him. She wouldn't deny him if he wanted her. It was too much too fast, but she couldn't seem to help her reaction to him. There was something more than attraction. It was like she was being drawn to him. She knew it wasn't love. It'd only been a few days since she'd met the man, for God's sake, but something about him tugged at her heart. "Cass. I have to go." He told her with a sigh. She looked at him and felt a little confused. He didn't want her? "Why?" "I want you. I'm not use to denying myself what I want. It's hard on me, but I do not want to rush this. What I feel for you is more than simple lust. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it might mean something and I don't want to rush into anything that might jeopardize that." He told her with an apologetic smile. Cassidy nodded and crawled off of his lap. She bent down to pick up her t-shirt and pulled it over her head. "I better get going." Rand said. Five minutes later, after a brief goodbye kiss he was gone, and Cassidy was outright exhausted. She turned out all the lights in the house and collapsed into her bed, falling asleep almost before her head hit the pillow Temptation's Kiss Ch. 05 Chapter 5: Monday morning started as it usually did for Randon. He'd woken up at eight o'clock, after two restless hours of sleep, ate a huge breakfast, then gone to the club to check and order inventory. His thoughts were on Cassidy the whole time. There was something about her that made her so much different than the girls he was used to dating. She was more down to earth, but it was something more than that. Sure she was beautiful, but he'd dated beautiful women. There was just something about her that made her so much more interesting to him than the fake women he was used to. He'd never in his life wanted a woman so much, that was for sure. He'd sure as hell never denied himself a woman he wanted. It was wrecking hell on his system. No woman had ever made him feel like Cassidy did. She knew he had money, millions in fact, but she acted no different around him than anybody else she was around. She didn't seem to expect anything from him like so many women he'd been with in the past. "Earth to Randon!" Randon looked up at his best friend, Logan Thompson. The tall red head man was standing with his arms crossed over his shoulders, and a no nonsense expression on his boyishly handsome face. "Where'd you go man?" he asked. "Sorry. When did you get here?" Rand asked him. "About thirty seconds ago. The guys are coming over for poker night. Are you in, or are you going to your new girlfriends house?" Logan asked with a ear splitting smile. "I'm in. I could use a guy's night." Randon said. "Great. See you at eight. You bring the beer." Logan said as he walked away. "I brought the beer last time!" Randon yelled after him, but he knew he'd be buying the beer. He always got conned into it. A poker night at Logan's included Logan, Marcus, Joshua, and himself. It was an opportunity to take each other's money, drink beer, and talk about women. How could a sane man turn it down? He went back to work, ordering the inventory he was getting low on, and when he was finished he handed the rest of the night over to his manager Carl. He stopped by a convenient store on his way to Logan's and picked up two twelve packs of beer. When he was at Logan's he pulled out his phone. He knew it would be way past midnight when he'd get done, and he wanted to talk to Cassidy. It was almost eight, so he knew she'd be home from the bookstore. He dialed her number and waited on her to pick up. "Hello?" "Hello gorgeous." He answered smiling at the sound of her voice. Her laugh made his stomach tighten into knots. "Hey Randon." She said. "What are you doing?" "Getting ready for poker night with the guys. I probably wont get another chance to call you and I wanted to hear your voice at least once today." He told her. Such lines came easily to him. It shocked him that he actually meant it. "Well that sounds fun. I was getting ready to go to the movies with Maria, Cora, and Anna." She told him. Randon put the faces to the names and smiled. He remembered Maria as the talkative one, Cora as the seductive one, and Anna as the quiet and shy one. He'd met them all the night he'd met Cassidy. "That sounds dandy." "Dandy?" Cassidy repeated with a laugh. "Yes, dandy. What are you doing tomorrow?" Rand asked. "Um, well it's Tuesday so I guess I'm working then coming home and doing nothing." Cassidy told him. "Well, my mom has a small art show tomorrow night. It's black tie affair. I know its short notice but would you like to go with me? I promise it won't be too painful." Rand asked. "I don't have anything to wear, but I guess I can pick something up tomorrow. What time?" "I'll pick you up around six!" Rand said with a grin. He didn't realize how much he'd wanted her to meet his family. And to think he'd only known her for a few days. Ten minutes later he was walking into Logan's house, ready to take his friends money in a game of poker. Cassidy looked in the mirror and smiled approvingly at her reflection. Sure the invitation to the art show the night before had been short notice, but she'd managed to clean up good. Cora had picked out a gown earlier that day for the occasion while Cass had been at work. It was black, simple, sexy, and slinky. The material clung to her body and milky pale breasts rose above a strapless neckline. A simple diamond necklace and matching earrings, a Christmas present from her parents, gave the dress a bit of sparkle. She wore her hair down in a riot of spiraling curls. Her makeup was smoky and dramatic. "I look fantastic." She said to herself and spun around with a gleeful giggle. She was female. She enjoyed getting all dressed up to impress people. Her heart immediately stopped when the doorbell rang and nerves set in. She was going to met Rand's family. She was going to be at a part with the wealthiest people around in less than an hour. She walked to the door and them minute she opened it and saw Rand, her nerves flew out the window. He looked stunning. There was no other word for it. He wore a black suit and white button down with the first few buttons carelessly left undone. His hair was a bit tousled and added to the air of carelessness. His eyes looked like two dazzling emeralds staring back at her. "Wow. You look unbelievably beautiful." Cassidy blushed and looked down. "Thank you very much." She said. "You look pretty good yourself." "Why thank you my dear." He said with an exaggerated bow. Less than thirty minutes later they were pulling up at a huge art gallery. Limos were arriving, carrying gorgeous women in gorgeous gowns and dashing men dressed to impress. "A little art show?" she whispered to Rand. He laughed and grabbed her hand to lead her up the steps to the doors. "Yes, well it is rather small. Don't worry; you are the most beautiful thing in the entire place. No one will be able to keep their eyes off of you. I'm just glad you're mine." At the word mine, Cassidy felt her heart leap and her face broke out into an uncontrollable smile. She wanted to throw her arms around him and hold him close, but she comforted herself with tightening her hold on his hand. Once inside Cass was dragged over to a couple that appeared to be in their early fifties. The woman wasn't exactly beautiful, but she had the most alluring face that was only enhanced by the laugh lines etched into her gold skin. Her hair was black with a few strands of silver. The signs of aging only seemed to add to her allure. She was tall and curvy, her build accentuated by a long ivory gown. The man at her side was gorgeous, and it was easy to tell he was Randon's father. He was the spitting image of his son; or rather his son was the spitting image of him. They shared the same dark complexion, dark curling hair, and deep emerald green eyes. "Mom, Dad, this is Cassidy Jennings. Cass, this is my mother, Elle, and my father, Randon Alexander Mitchell the second, or Alex." Randon introduced the couple. "Oh Randon she is lovely! It's a pleasure to meet you my dear." Elle said with a smile that transformed her face from alluring to stunning. "She's a looker Rand." Alex told his son with a wink for Cass. "It's an honor to meet you Mr. Mitchell, Mrs. Mitchell." Cass said and was shocked when Elle pulled her into a warm hug. "Please it's Elle and Alex. Now how would you like some champagne?" "I would love some." Cassidy smiled as Elle waved down one of the waiters holding a tray that carried six flasks of bubbling champagne. "Randon Mitchell! Is that you?" Cassidy turned at the sound of a high pitched squeal and narrowed her eyes at the tiny blonde woman that grabbed him and kissed him passionately on the mouth. The woman was not taller than 5'3" with obviously fake platinum blonde hair and silicone breasts that were about five sizes to large for her petite frame and were showed off a bit extravagantly in a barely there black cocktail gown. Cassidy decided to hate her. "Miranda, how are you." Rand said, and to Cassidy's relief he looked a bit uncomfortable in the presence of the plastic Barbie doll. "I am simply fabulous my dear. Mine and Andrew's divorce is now final." She told him. No one would have missed the invitation in the statement, or the way she leaned into him giving him a nice view of her high dollar cleavage. "What was he, number 8?" "Oh no dear, he was number 6!" the girl, Miranda, said with a look of astonishment. "I can hardly keep up with your, erm, affairs Miranda. Now, I don't believe you've met Cassidy Jennings, my date." Rand said and he grabbed Cassidy's hand pulling her to his side. "Oh darling, she's lovely!" Miranda said and with that walked off towards another guy who was more interested in her baser qualities. "Randon!" Cassidy fought the urge to groan at another woman's excited voice, though far less annoying than the blonde bimbos. "Loretta!" Randon laughed and Cassidy turned to see one of her favorite customer's, Loretta Mitchell looking radiant in her pale blue gown that showed off her swollen belly. She was beautiful with her red hair pulled back and her icy blue eyes glowing with pleasure. "You look wonderful." Randon told her, kissing the top of her head. "She does doesn't she?" Cassidy looked at the tall dark haired man who came to stand by Loretta. He was obviously related to Randon, and Cass decided it was his older brother. Startling blue eyes turned on her, and a green lit his face. "Ah, you must be the incredible Cassidy Jennings I've heard so much about. You were right Randon. She is beautiful. How'd you land her?" he asked, giving Rand a good natured elbow to the ribs. "Where are my manners? I'm Chase Mitchell. Randon's older more sophisticated brother. It's a pleasure to meet you." Chase said. "You look wonderful Cassidy. That dress is just stunning on you!" Cassidy smiled at Loretta. "You look incredibly yourself. You're positively glowing!" The rest of the night drug on slowly, but Cassidy didn't care. She was too busy laughing and having a wonderful time with Rand and his family. Her heart leapt out of her chest when he'd smile at her, whisper something in her ear, or tangle his fingers around hers. He seemed to always be touching her, whether it was run a hand down her arm or twirl a tendril of her hair around his finger. "Have I mentioned that your beauty takes my breath away?" He whispered in her ear, startling her as she was looking at one of his mother's exquisite paintings. "A few times." She said with a smile and leaned back to rest against his chest. "It's true. It's not just you're beauty either. Everything about you takes my breath away. I can't get you out of my head. It's only been a few days and you're all I seem to think about." Rand told her and brushed his lips across her neck, causing a shiver to run down her spine. Cassidy closed her eyes and tangled her fingers with his. "I think the champagne is going to your head." She informed him on a sigh, grateful that no one else was around. "No. You've gone to my head. God, Cass I want you so bad I can't breathe. I want to take you home and bury myself so deep inside of you that I forget where I end and you begin. I want to make love to you slowly and I want to make you scream my name. There are so many things I want to do to you, long to do to you." Rand whispered in her ear as he wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair. "Randon." Cassidy whimpered. "I want you to make love to me." "Tonight. Come home with me tonight." "Yes." Temptation's Kiss Ch. 06 Cassidy shivered as Randon grabbed her hand and practically dragged her out of the museum, saying a quick goodbye to his family. Her heart rate was probably dangerously high. She wanted him, like she'd never wanted a man before. She couldn't explain it. She felt as if she would die if she didn't have him and soon. The feeling was somehow more than physical. It was far more powerful than the lust she'd felt before for other men. She didn't think it was love, surely not after only a few days, but it was something strong and potent. And terrifyingly exciting. Within twenty minutes they were pulling up at a huge apartment complex. They had yet to say one word to each other, but the silence was not awkward. It was rather nice. Without a word, Cassidy followed him up to his apartment; of course he had the top floor penthouse. She barely had time to look around when the door closed and she found herself pushed back against the door. Hands went to her hips and lips came down upon hers so fast she couldn't stifle the gasp that escaped. Then she was kissing him back, wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her hands into his hair to pull him closer. Tongue tangled with tongue and sent tiny pinpricks of excitement down Cassidy's spine. Randon pulled back and looked into her eyes. He could drown in their stormy depths. "Please tell me now if you really want this. I don't know if ill be able to stop myself if we take it any further. I'm aching desperately to be inside you. I need to be inside you more than I need my next breath." He told her and his lips went to placing feather light kisses on her neck. She was helpless to say anything. His arms were wrapped tightly around her, and it made her feel safe and wanted. "Where's your room?" she asked him, and watched his eyes light up. He pulled her down a hallway and into a huge bedroom. It was dark, but she could clearly see the huge king sized bed that was the focal point. It was a work of art, not a bed. Dark oak and wrought iron headboard. It looked as if it should belong to sleeping beauty herself. "Oh my God!" Cassidy gasped as images of what could be done in that bed filled her mind. Two arms wrapped around her and pulled her back against a very lean and hard body. "Do you like it?" Randon asked, nibbling on her ear. "Oh yes." She said and turned to him. "It's very nice. On another note, I feel as if you are wearing too many clothes." Cassidy slid the black jacket off his shoulders and let it fall to the ground. Her fingers went to the top button on his shirt, and she quickly had it off and in a pile on the floor with the discarded jacket. When her hand went to the button of his slacks he grabbed them causing her to sigh in disappointment. "Easy killer." He chuckled and leaned in for a long drugging kiss. His hand found the zipper of her gown and pulled it down so that the dress floated to the floor leaving her standing before him in nothing but a pair of black lacy thongs, a matching strapless bra, and a pair of black heels. He took a step back and studied her. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders and down her back, making her look like a gypsy. Her eyes were clouded with desire and her lips were swollen from his. She looked so gorgeous that it almost hurt to look at her at all. His gaze traveled lower to the tops of two milky white breasts that practically spilled over the top of her bra, and even lower to her long and incredibly sexy legs. "You are so beautiful." He told her, and was shocked to hear his voice shake with the statement. Cassidy looked down, and felt the blush heat her face. "Thank you. Will you come here now?" she asked, her own voice a little shaky, and held her arms out to him. Randon complied, going to her and running his hands down her sides, cupping her ass in his hands and bringing her against him, heat to heat. His lips traced a trail down her neck and shoulders to the top of her breasts. His hands made quick work of the clasps on her bra. When it was off, his lips trailed lower, and he sucked one already hard nipple into his mouth. Cassidy moaned and let her head fall back. The feel of Randon's mouth and tongue and teeth, nipping, sucking, on her breasts was causing her knees to go weak. Her hand tangled themselves in his hair, pulling him closer as she arched against him. When she felt as if she were about to collapse, he stopped picked her up, and laid her in the middle of the bed. He sat at her feet, brought her legs up one at a time, taking off her heels and kissing her ankles and dropping the shoes to the floor. He placed feather light kisses up her the inside of her right leg, the inside of her thigh and when he got closed to her lace clad heat, he started to kiss his way up her left leg. Cass lay drugged and growing sleepy as Randon kissed his way up her legs. It was a nice feeling. But she wanted, needed, more. "Randon." She moaned. "Cass?" he chuckled. Before she could say anymore, his mouth went strait to her lace cover mound and pressed against her throbbing clit. She cried out at the sudden shock. His fingers went to the waist band of the thongs and he lifted his head while he pulled them down before descending once again to press his mouth against her heat. "Oh my God." Cassidy groaned as her body went slack and her hands griped the soft fabric of his bedspread. "No, my name is Randon baby." Randon said and then ran his tongue across her clit. She cried out and he did it again and again until she was writhing, desperate for the release that seemed so near. His tongue dipped into as his hands gripped her hips hard to keep her from moving. Cass came with a sudden intensity that was so startling that she could barely do anything but scream and clutch at the bedspread. Her eyes drifted closed as he used his mouth to bring her down slowly from the mind numbing climax. When her breathing returned to normal, Randon crawled off the bed and quickly disposed of his shoes, pants, and boxers before grabbing a condom from a drawer beside his bed and crawling back to straddle Cassidy. Her eyes were half closed and looked to be drugged with pleasure. Her arms were slung weakly to her sides. She looked as if she would fall asleep at any given moment. "Don't you dare pass out on me." he leaned down to growl in her ear before taking her mouth in a slightly bruising kiss. He tore the wrapper off the condom and rolled it down his impossibly hard shaft before placing himself at her entrance. "Cassidy, look at me baby. I want to see you when I slide into you." He whispered in her ear. Cassidy looked up and into his eyes. She saw gentleness, passion, and heat all wrapped into one. Randon pushed inside her and groaned when he bottomed out. Cassidy gasped at the feel of him stretching her so deliciously. His forehead came down to rest against hers as he slowly began to move in and out of her amazingly tight and hot body. He didn't know just how long he could last inside of her. His hands gripped hers above her head, and Cassidy arched her hips to meet his slow and deep thrusts. "Harder." She moaned and tightened her hold on his hands. Randon complied and began to move harder and faster, building up a rhythm that had Cassidy short of breath and crying out in pure pleasure. Fire burned in Randon's veins and his lips sought out hers. Tongues joined and bodies moved together in a timeless dance. Randon felt his climax quickly approaching and he brought one of Cassidy's hands down to wear their bodies were joined. Her fingertips brushed him as he thrust hard and deep. Her own fingers danced across that united point and then she rubbed against her clit. Without warning she came again. This time lights exploded and she screamed for all she was worth. It wasn't long before Randon's climax followed and buried his face in her neck as he shouted his own release. They lay there for moments afterward. Neither said a word. Randon rolled off of Cass and she curled into his side. The quiet was companionable, as if words weren't needed to convey what had happened. "Well." Cassidy sighed as her fingertips danced across his chest. "Well." Randon agreed with a quiet chuckle. "I like your bed." Cassidy told him. "Really? After that I'm thinking about having it bronzed." "Not a bad idea. It might be a bit uncomfortable to sleep on after that though." Cassidy said with a smile. "Point." Cass yawned and lifted her head to pull her hair out from under her. The dark strands curled across Randon's shoulders and his pillow. Randon couldn't help but think about how right she looked and felt in his arms, in his bed. He couldn't help but think of how he already wanted her again. How he needed her again, and it'd been merely minutes since he was inside her. When she yawned again, Randon kissed the top of her head. "Go to sleep baby." he told her and held her close. Moments later she was passed out and he was happily drifting off himself. Cassidy woke up to the sound of an alarm clock blasting in her ear. Groggily she reached for it to slap the snooze but all her hand came in contact with was a warm body. Her eyes shot open and she froze for a moment until she realized where she was. Then her face broke out into a grin. "Damn alarm." Randon growled and hit the snooze himself. The big red numbers on the digital clock beside the bed stated that it was nearly eight o'clock in the morning. "Oh my God I have to get home! I have to get to the shop!" Cassidy said and jumped out of bed. "Baby, the joy of being your own boss is you make your own hours." Randon told her and lazily stretched before propping up on one elbow to watch her. Some time during the night, she'd found one of his old ratty t-shirts and had shrugged it on. The hem of the grey top reached the tops of her thighs revealing very nice and very tempting bare legs. Her hair curled in a wild disarray around her body and her makeup with slightly smudged. She'd never looked more beautiful. "Well, I still need to get home, shower, and get dressed. It'll be after ten before I get to the shop at this rate." Cassidy moaned and ran a hand through her hair. "I have a shower that works perfectly fine. We can shower together if you'd like." Rand told her with a wicked smile. Cassidy narrowed her eyes at him, and crossed her arms across her chest. "Rain check. Can you take me home though?" Randon sighed and agreed. By ten fifteen Cassidy had gotten home, showered, dressed in a bright canary yellow sundress, and gotten the shop opened. She congratulated herself on a job well done. Randon had tempted her to near madness with his kisses before leaving her at home that morning. She was still buzzing with pleasure from the night before. She felt sensational. The shop phone rang and she jumped to answer it. "Hello this is Jennings, Cassidy speaking." "Cass, oh thank God you are all right! I've been calling your house all night! I stopped by last night and no one was there and I haven't been able to reach you and it's been horrible." "Calm down Mari. I was with Randon. Was it urgent?" Cass asked. "Oh my goodness Cass, did you sleep with him?" Mari asked her voice full of shock and excitement. "Yes Maria. I slept with him." Cassidy told her friend with a small smile, and was grateful no one had come into the shop yet. She poured over the details of her night with Mari for half an hour before her first customer came in. From then on out her day was busy and customer after customer came in and left. Her head was spinning by closing time. She wanted to get home and take a nice long bubbly bath and drink a class of red wine. By the time she got home, the bubble bath and wine fantasy had evolved into a quick shower before crawling into bed before passing out. She took a shower, which relieved the tense muscles in her neck and shoulders, then changed into a pair of grey shorts and a bright red t-shirt. Her hair was still wet, when she climbed into bed and drifted off into dream world. Temptation's Kiss Ch. 07 Cassidy woke up, her alarm screaming in her ear, and sighed. She felt well rested and her mind was pleasurably foggy and heavy due to the amazing dream she'd been having involving her and Rand. Her only regret was that when she'd waken up, the dream had ended. With a sigh, she turned the alarm off and climbed out of bed. She walked into the bathroom and avoided looking at her reflection as she turned on the shower. She'd went to bed with her hair wet, so she knew her appearance was eerily close to that of a wilder beast. Stripping out of her pajamas, Cass jumped into the shower and let the warm water run over her. Five minutes later she shut the water off and climbed out, wrapped herself in a towel, and walked back into her bedroom to wait for the mirror to clear up humming a song that had been constantly playing on the radio. It was a song that she didn't particularly like, but the tune was for some reason stuck in her head. After pulling on her under garments, she walked back into the bathroom and dried her hair. Pleased that it seemed to want to cooperate and curled loosely and frizz free, Cassidy put on a minimum amount of makeup and then went to her closet to pick out something to wear. She pulled on a pair of dark skinny jeans and a loose fitting green top then grabbed a pair of brown boots to zip up over the jeans. Seeing that it was just after eight o'clock, Cassidy hurried downstairs and grabbed a package of Pop tarts and a diet Dr. Pepper. She really wished she could pop the pastries in the toaster, but seeing as she had to open the shop early, she would have to do with room temperature. Pop tarts were amazing at any temperature as far as she was concerned. She arrived at the shop no later than eight forty-five and opened the door. A big time author named Shirley Hanson was doing a book signing. Cassidy herself was looking forward to meeting the "Lady of Mystery" as she was so often referred to. Not only because she wrote unbelievable mystery novels, but because no one knew much about her. She was a very private person. Shirley was scheduled to arrive at nine o'clock, but the signing didn't start until ten. Cassidy went into the back room and put on some soft music and lit some lavender scented candles around the shop. She was delighted when the front door opened and in walked Shirley Hanson. She looked exactly as she did in the glossy picture on the back cover of all her novels. She was in her early twenties with pale blonde hair cut into a short pixie style and huge green eyes. She was tall and thin and wore a pale blue cotton dress. "Miss Jennings?" she asked with a hundred watt smile that lit up a sharply featured face. "That would be me. It's such a pleasure to meet you Miss Hanson." "Oh darling, the pleasure is mine. I love your shop. It's so very cozy." Cassidy beamed with pride at the praise and helped Shirley get everything ready for the onslaught of customers that came rushing in through the doors the minute the clock struck ten. "It's a jungle out there!" Shirley laughed as she peaked out at the line of excited readers from where she stood in the back room. "Yes, but I can tell you love it." "Every author loves it when people love your books. I shouldn't keep them waiting." She said and walked out to brave the crowd. Cassidy stood behind the checkout counter, and waited. Many of the customers who had come for Hanson's signing hadn't been able to leave without purchasing her newest thriller along with a few other books. Cassidy couldn't blame them. She herself couldn't step a foot into a book store without stepping back out a little lighter in the pocket. It was three o'clock in the afternoon when the signing was officially over. Cassidy jumped for joy over the successful day. "It was nice to meet you Shirley." She told the woman as she readied to leave. "Oh darling the pleasure is all mine. Call me next week and we'll do lunch." She said and kissed both of Cassidy's cheeks. Three hours later, Cassidy closed the shop early and went home. She took a shower and changed into a pair of old blue jeans and an over sized t-shirt. It was nearing eight o'clock when Cassidy picked up her phone and dialed Randon's number on an impulse. "Hello?" he answered, though his toned sounded distracted. "Hey there." Cassidy said and smiled. "What's up beautiful?" "Oh I was just wondering if you maybe wanted to come over. I'm contemplating cooking, and I hate to cook for one." "Oh? What time?" "Whenever you can get around to it." Cassidy said, walking into her kitchen and rifling through her cabinets to see what she had to cook. "Well right now I'm finishing up some things at the club. I could be late getting finished. How about I just pick up some take out and bring it when I get done, around say nine thirtyish?" Cass closed the cabinet and sighed. "That's fine." "I miss you beautiful." "The feeling is mutual handsome." When she hung up the phone, Cassidy went into her bedroom and pulled off the t-shirt, replacing it with a pale lavender cotton top. She sat in her living room curled up on the couch reading a book while she waited for Randon to get there. She begin to worry when it was nine forty-five and Randon was not there, nor had he called to say he'd be late. At ten, she set down the book and turned on the TV. She watched the re-run of Law and Order, but didn't really get the plot line. She listened with half an ear and contemplated why Randon was late. She didn't think he was off with some other girl. And even if he was she didn't have any say in the matter. The hell she didn't. Sure they hadn't talked about fidelity in their relationship, but she didn't think it was necessary. She was falling in love with him; surely he wouldn't be with another woman. Well, just because she was falling in love with him didn't mean he was falling for her. It was ten thirty when she began to drift off while Law and Order played in the back ground. Just as her eyes drifted closed there was a knock at the door. Cassidy jumped up to open it. When she opened the door she came face to face with Randon holding a bouquet of pale pink roses in one hand and a bag of Chinese take out in the other. He had an apologetic smile on his face and he eyed her warily as if gauging if she were mad or not. "I'm sorry I'm so late." He said and handed her the flowers. Cassidy decided to forgive him, but instead of letting him know that she hid her face in the roses and breathed in their delightful aroma. "I got held up at the club. Two assholes got into a fight and roughed each other up. We had to hold them off of each other, and call the cops when one threatened the other. Then the cops had to take a statement. It was a horrible mess." Randon said and rand a free hand through his hair causing the dark curls to fall haphazardly across his forehead. He looked incredible, if a little rumpled in a pair of old jeans and a pale blue v-neck t-shirt. "It's alright. I was just dozing off." Cassidy said and stepped aside to admit him access. He stepped inside and wrapper his free arm around her waist pulling her close for a brief but drugging kiss that left her just a little weak kneed. Cassidy followed Randon into her kitchen where he sat the bag of Chinese on the counter. "Where are the plates?" he asked turning to her and giving her a look that clearly said 'I'm hungry but not for Chinese.' "They're in the cabinet right above your head." Cass told him and began to take out the cardboard cartons that contained eggrolls and shrimp fried rice. "You call this Chinese food?" she laughed. "Yes, what do you call it?" Randon said and walked over so that he stood behind her. He set the plates down and grabbed her around the waist planting a warm wet kiss on her neck. "You smell better than the food." He said against her neck. "I bet you taste better too." he said and kissed his way up her neck and jaw, pausing to nibble on her ear. Cassidy laughed and shrugged him off. "Cut it out. I'm hungry!" she said. "Me too." he pouted and fixed himself a plate piled high with orange chicken, rice, and three egg rolls. Cassidy laughed and fixed her own plate. They went and sat together on the couch, eating in a companionable silence. "So how was your day?" Randon asked her and propped his feet up on the coffee table. "It was incredible. Shirley Hanson came to the shop and did a book signing. I bet I made over a hundred and fifty sales today. Oh it was just great. Shirley and I are going to have lunch sometime next week. She's such a sweet person. Funny too!" "And she writes extremely well. She's very popular for someone her age." "She's twenty-five. She'll be twenty six on..." "September third? Yeah Shirley and I used to be an item a while back." Cassidy looked at him. "Really? Well she is young and very pretty. I imagine she's just your type." "She used to be. Now-a-days my type tends to run to tall brunettes with incredible grey eyes that you can just drown in. A lot like you." Rand said and leaned over to give her a loud kiss on the cheek causing her to laugh. "Well I'm glad." Cassidy told him. Cassidy rose when she was finished eating, and brought her plate into the kitchen. Randon rose to follow her, and after rinsing his plate off in the sink, gathered her in his arms and hugged her close to his chest, breathing in the lavender scent of her hair. He stayed there for a moment, just hugging her to him. "Randon?" she said quietly "Yes, love?" "Stay here tonight?" she asked turning to bury her face in his neck and wrap her arms around his waist. "As if you had to ask." He told her and pulled back just a little. He tangled his fingers in that glorious mane of hair and pulled her mouth up to meet his. The kiss started slow and sweet, gentle touching and tangling of tongue and lips. Randon felt Cass sigh and melt into him. 'She's mine' Randon thought and his mouth became rougher, more demanding. His hands tightened in her hair and his mouth became hard and bruising. "I want you. I need you now Cassidy." Randon growled. Cassidy was helpless to do anything but moan and arch against him, letting his mouth assault hers in a way that had her head spinning and her heart pounding. His lips moved to her neck and her breath quickened. When his hands began to roam under her shirt to find her breasts, she gasped and pulled him closer. Randon pulled her shirt off and lowered his mouth to run his lips over the swell of her breasts. His hands traveled around to unhook her bra and he drew it away, leaving her bare to his gaze. "These are perfect." He said as he took a deliciously hard nipple into his mouth. He used teeth and tongue to excite. There was no time to sooth. He stripped off her jeans and her underwear in one quick, almost fluid move. He stepped back for a minute. He wanted her in bed, not in the kitchen like some crazed maniac. Randon took a step back towards her, lifted her into his arms. "Which door is it?" he demanded as he made his way down the small hallway. Cassidy pointed at the only door on the left. "That one." He opened the door and as walked over, let her fall onto the bed. He made quick work stripping out of his clothes, and when he was just as bare as she was, climbed onto the bed, rolled on top of her, and took her lips in a deep soul searching kiss. His hands roamed low and found her wet and ready. They both moaned as he slipped into her. The pace he set was fast and hard. Cassidy gripped his shoulders as he pumped into her. She arched up to meet his thrusts. It was causing her to go crazy with need. She buried her face in his neck as she felt the pressure build, high, higher. She came apart beneath him and he didn't slow his pace. He kept going. Cassidy was going crazy. Her whole body was on fire. Her head was spinning and her body hummed with pleasure. "Randon." She moaned his name. Randon gripped her hips and angled her up, allowing him deeper access. He thrust hard and deep and within moments felt his own climax approaching. He reached down between them, found where they were connected, then found her clit and rubbed, sending her over the edge once more. This time he came apart with her with a shout. When he was down he rolled off dragging her against his side. "Thanks." Cass said and kissed his chest before curling into him and closing her eyes. Randon laughed and held her close. "No problem." Just as they were drifting off to sleep, the phone rang. "Leave it." Randon almost growled. "What if it's important?" Cass asked sleepily and reached over him to retrieve her phone. "Hello?" "Cass? Oh please God get up to the hospital. Now." Cass recognized Maria's voice and heard the panic. Maria never panicked. "Mari? What's wrong?" "It's Anna." "What? What about Anna? Is she okay?" "Cass, she was raped." Cassidy gripped the comforter in order to keep from throwing her phone. Not Anna. "I'll be there in twenty minutes." "Hurry. She needs us." Maria said. Cass hung up the phone and threw it somewhere across the room. Randon sat up and wrapped and arm around her waist. "Baby, what's wrong?" "Anna was raped." Temptation's Kiss Ch. 08 Cass jumped into action, throwing on a pair of sweatpants and a mix matched sweatshirt. She threw her hair into a ponytail and grabbed her keys. Randon was already waiting at the door fully dressed and ready to leave. "Do you want me to come with you?" "I don't know if that's a good idea. Anna probably won't want any men around. I'll call you tomorrow." Cass said and kissed him quickly before rushing out to her car, not bothering to wait for Randon to leave or to even lock her door. It was a ten minute drive to the hospital. Cassidy made it in significantly under that. She was in a panic mode as she blindly rushed to the front desk and asked for Anna's room number. The old lady behind the desk gave her a small smile and the room number and Cass rushed towards the elevators. She wouldn't cry. She wouldn't shed tears for Anna. She told herself she'd be strong for her best friend, even if she had to hold in the tears until she got home. When she reached Anna's room and opened the door the first thing she saw was Anna laying in a hospital bed. The bruised and bloodied body didn't even look as if it belonged to Anna. Her long blonde hair was matted with blood and her eyes were both swollen shut. "Anna." She gasped. "Oh Cass! You're here." Maria ran over and flung herself into Cass's arms. She looked worse for wear herself. Even Cora, who almost never seemed to have a hair out of place, looked exhausted and sick with worry as she sat in a chair holding one of Anna's small hands. "How is she?" "She's asleep. They caught the asshole and he's going to prison. God I wish they'd let me in a room with the son of a bitch." Maria said, or more like growled. Cass walked over and took a seat beside Cora. "How long ago did this happen?" "She's been up at the hospital for about two hours. About an hour ago they called me. I came up here and then called you and Cora." "What did the doctor say?" "She was beat up pretty bad. Her right leg was broken, and three ribs were cracked. She has a concussion and some internal bleeding. She'll be in the hospital for at least a week. The doctor doesn't think they'll have to do surgery but they are watching her closely. She came in and she was in shock." "Has she woken up since you've been here?" "No." Maria ran a hand through her hair and sighed as a few tears ran down her face. "I hate this! Why did this happen to her? Of all people why did this happen to Anna?" "We all hate this Mari. Let's be strong for Anna though when she wakes up okay? No tears." Cassidy soothed. "She's right Mari. We need to be strong." Cora said and stood up to pace the room. "I just hate knowing there is nothing we can do about it right now." "We can be here for her. That's enough." Cass said and blinked back her own tears. Anna was like a sister to her, to all of them. She was sweet and shy. She was the best person Cassidy knew and it just wasn't fair that this had to happen to her. The room was silent for the next hour as they all sat and waited incase Anna woke up. Cassidy felt her phone vibrate and looked to see a text from Randon asking if Anna was going to be okay and if she was alright. She sent a quick text back saying that she was fine but Anna was asleep. After another two hours of no change, Maria left to get them some coffee and Cora had gone to Anna's home to get her some clothes and other necessities. Cassidy laid her head back and closed her eyes. She was exhausted, pretty soon she fell asleep. She slept right through the nurses who came in to check vitals, but when someone touched her hand she jumped up. "Cass?" "Anna. Hey baby, how are you feeling?" Cassidy said and brushed a strand of hair out of Anna's face. "Not very well. What happened?" "You don't remember." "Sadly yes, I was just hoping it was all a dream." Anna said. Even her voice sounded fragile and weak. "They got the guy Anna. Don't worry about a thing except getting better alright?" "Are you the only one up here?" "No. Mari was the first one up here. She left to get some coffee and Cora went to your house to get you some things she thinks you might need. "My head is pounding something awful." Anna whispered. "Want me to call the doctor?" "He was already in while you were asleep. He gave me some medicine and told me to get some more rest. I hear I'm pretty banged up." "Just a bit." Maria walked in a few moments later and when she saw that Anna was awake she rushed over to the hospital bed. "Oh Anna!" "Hey Mari. Don't fuss." It was close to seven in the morning when Cassidy let herself into her house. It was unlocked just as she had left it, but instead of being empty, Randon was asleep on her couch wearing a pair of sweatpants. His hair curled across his forehead and his mouth hung slightly open. He looked so adorable that Cass had to fight the urge to jump on him. Instead she walked over, dropped to her knees and kissed his forehead. Randon's eyes fluttered open and he smiled. "You waited for me." "Well I went home to get some night clothes." "You waited for me." Cass repeated and kissed him. It was a sweet soft kiss that gave her a pleasurable buzz. "You're tired. You should get some sleep baby." Randon told her and pulled her on top of him. Cassidy snuggled into his chest and let her eyes flutter closed. She felt Randon's lips brush against the top of her head before she drifted off to sleep. When she woke up hours later, she was in her bed and a note lay on the pillow beside her head. 'Sorry I had to head to the club. I called the hospital before I left and they said Anna is doing fine. I called my sister-in-la, Loretta, and she offered to watch the shop for a few days. She said to call her if you needed her. I'll call you later and check on you. --Rand' Cass smiled and got out of bed. After a shower she changed into an old pair of jeans and an old dark green t-shirt. She left her hair down, but didn't bother with makeup. She dialed Loretta's number and asked if she would watch the shop tomorrow. Loretta agreed and offered her condolences as to what happened to Anna. Pleased with that, Cassidy went up to the hospital. Anna was awake and Mari was watching a movie with her. From the way Mari looked, she hadn't left since the night before. "Maria, go home you need to get some sleep and a shower." "She's right Mari. I'm alright." Anna said with a small smile. "Okay. I'll be back up here later." Maria said before leaving. Cassidy sat down beside the hospital bed and looked at the television. "Pretty Woman? Your favorite." "Cora brought it this morning. She just left a little while ago. Maria didn't want me alone. I think she's scared I'm going to have a mental breakdown." Anna said and rolled her eyes. "Are you?" "I don't think so. I believe I'm handling this very well." "You are." Anna smiled. "Well at least I'm not the only virgin in the group any longer." She shrugged. "Oh sweetie. I'm sorry." "It's alright. They got the guy, and I'll get better. Don't worry about it." "Oh I'll worry about it. Anna the guy could have killed you." "But I'm alive. Yes I'm hurt, and every time a guy walks through that door I feel panicked but I'm alive so I'll heal and I'll get over it." "Well me, Cora, and Maria will be here every step of the way." Cass said. "I know, and I'm more thankful than you'll ever know." Temptation's Kiss Ch. 09 Chapter 9: "Will you let go of me!" Cassidy laughed and tried to pull out of Randon's arms, which were locked around her waist. "Never!" he shouted and picked her up, swinging her around. "You have to! Maria and Cora will be here any minute with Anna. I have to make sure that everything is set up right! You wouldn't want to come home from a three week hospital stay to a dirty house, now would you?" "I guess not. The guys will be here any minute as well. Marcus brought a cake. His sister owns a bakery." Randon sighed and let go of Cass. "Oh, how nice! I fixed some gumbo. Its Anna's favorite. I'm glad she agreed to having a small get together. She's been cooped up in a hospital room for a while. She's handled this whole experience incredibly. I know I wouldn't have been as strong as her throughout this entire ordeal." Randon nodded and Cassidy looked around Anna's living room. The house Anna lived in was much too big for one person, but she had three golden retrievers that shared it with her. There was Molly, the playful puppy, Gordo, the lazy old grandpa, and Pete, the protective one. They were Anna's babies, and Cass had been given the job of looking after them while Anna had been in the hospital. The living room was close to spotless, save for the few stray chew toys that Molly had drug out and around the room. She lay on the floor playing with a squeaky toy that was driving Cass just a little crazy. Gordo lay on one of the huge leather couches with his head resting on his paws. He was getting old, and it showed. Pete sat by the front door, alert and ready for anything to happen. When the front door opened, he jumped up and growled until he caught scent of Anna. Cora and Mari walked in first, and Anna followed. She was being carried by a downright sinfully gorgeous man. Marcus. Cass had only met him a few times, and while he was a player and had a temper, he could be very sweet. Anna looked a little bit uncomfortable. Her leg was still in a cast, and although the bruises and cuts had disappeared over the past few weeks, she still looked pale and fragile. The smile that she wore on her face didn't quite meet her eyes. Behind Marcus and Anna were two of Randon's other friends, Logan and Joshua. Joshua had his gaze locked on Cora. He'd been half in love with her since they'd met at the club, the same night she'd met Rand. Cora didn't seem to know it, and although she flirted with him when they were all out, she didn't really realize that he worshipped the ground she walked on. Cass remembered the way his eyes had lit up when he'd found out she'd broken up with Ryan. Again. Logan was taken with Maria as well. Cass thought they'd make a great couple. And she knew for a fact that Maria thought he was a nice guy. It was only a matter of time, Cass decided, before they started dating. Marcus and Anna, they were about as opposite as two people could be. They seemed to get along at the hospital. Marcus, Logan, and Joshua would come up to the hospital with Rand on Wednesdays to hang out with Cass, Mari, Cora, and Anna. Then they'd all, with the exception of Anna, head to Randon's club. It was like a ritual of some sort for the past three weeks. Tonight was a Wednesday, but instead of going clubbing, they were having a welcome home Anna party. "You can put me down over there." Anna said and pointed to her couch. Marcus obliged and set her down. Immediately she was surrounded by three huge golden retrievers. "My babies!" she squealed excitedly. Pete was licking every inch of his owner, as if assuring himself that she was okay. Molly was licking her face and begging to be petted. Gordo had simply lain down beside her with his head on Anna's lap. "Looks like you were missed Anna." Mari laughed. "Those are some very nice dog's tidbit." Marcus said and scratched Molly behind the ears. "Thank you. This here is Pete. The one you're petting is Molly, and the old guy here is Gordo. He's almost fourteen years old." She said proudly. "Brooklyn would love these dogs. I just bought her a golden retriever puppy last week. She named him Buddy. Her face lit up like the fourth of July." Cass smiled. Marcus seemed like a hardass most of the time, but when it came to his little girl, he was a big old teddy bear. It had shocked everyone to find out that he even had a kid, but the one time Cass had met the cute little girl, she'd found her to be a delight. "I made gumbo." Cass said. "It's finished if anyone wants some." "As if you had to ask?" Anna said and looked around. "Would someone go get my crutches out of Mari's car?" "I will. I have a cake I need to get out of mine anyways." Marcus said. "I'll get your gumbo." Cora offered and left for the kitchen. "I'll come help you." Joshua said and followed after her like a puppy. Cass smiled and turned to face Randon. He was dressed in a pair of black pants and an army green button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair was in a wild disarray and he had about two days' worth of stubble covering his jaw. He looked incredibly sexy. "You want some gumbo baby?" she asked him. She couldn't believe they'd been dating for a month. She couldn't remember being quite as happy as she was now. She knew she was falling in love with him, and she'd already fallen for his family. It was crazy, she knew, but she couldn't help it. When she was with him it was like nothing had ever been as important to her as being with him. "I'll go fix us some. You've been on your feet all day. Go sit down." He ordered and gave her a soft pat on the butt as she turned to walk towards the couch. Randon had already admitted to himself he loved Cassidy Jennings. There wasn't a doubt in his mind he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. But they'd only been dating for a month, so he was biding his time to tell her. He'd never met anyone like her. His family adored her, which was something to be said seeing as they usually hated his choice in women. He was happy with her. He walked into the kitchen to see Cora on her butt on the floor laughed and Joshua with gumbo down the front of his white button down. His face was bloodshot and his expression was dumbfounded. "What happened?" Randon laughed. "I was trying to help." Joshua said. "His help kind of backfired." Cora said through a fit of giggles. Maria and Logan walked into the room and Mari gasped. "Cora! Are you alright?" Randon laughed harder and Logan joined him. "What in the world..." Cassidy walked into the kitchen and without a word turned on the ball of her foot to exit again. "Clean it up!" she shouted, but there was a smile in her voice. "Dude, I have an extra shirt in the car. Come on." Randon told Joshua and slapped him on the back before leading him outside. The rest of the night was filled with a bunch of laughing, and a very bad game of charades. Marcus had been the first to leave, and shortly after him Cora went home; Joshua and Logan left together soon after that. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay with her?" Cass asked Maria when she was getting ready to leave. "I'll be fine with her. You've had a long day trying to get this whole party thing up and ready. Go home, have wild monkey sex with your boyfriend, get some sleep." Maria laughed and Cass shook her head. After saying bye to everyone she pulled Randon out to the car. "Baby, did I tell you how much I love that dress on you?" Randon asked as soon as they were seated in the car. Since they'd brought her car, she'd hopped in the driver's seat. "Only a half million times." She laughed and tugged at the short hemline before backing out of Anna's driveway. "And don't get me started on what you are wearing underneath it." Randon said and leaned over to kiss Cassidy's neck. His hand went to trail up one silky smooth thigh, before it brushed ever so softly over thin lace. "Randon. Don't start with me right now. I'm driving." Cass groaned. "Payback is a bitch." He whispered in her ear before biting down on her earlobe and pressing his fingers against her clit. Cass gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. "Randon. That's not fair! We were in the middle of nowhere. This is dangerous." She cried out when his finger danced underneath the lace and two inserted themselves into her hot sheath. "Live a little baby." He said soothingly, gently moving his fingers inside of her. "God, you are so wet for me." He groaned. "Rand." She moaned. "Stop. I...I can't concentrate on the road." She cried. "So pull over." He nipped at her ear again. "We are not...." Randon moved his fingers against her g-spot and Cassidy whimpered. "We are not what baby?" Cassidy pulled over on the side of the road. There were only a few cars passing, but she didn't car. When the car came to a complete stop she attacked him. Within seconds she had his pants unzipped and his throbbing member in her hand. His fingers moved faster inside of her, and his thumb pressed roughly against her clit. "God baby." He groaned as she ran her tongue down his neck. "I want your mouth on me." "No room." She panted and crawled over the console in order to straddle him. "But you can have my..." she trailed off as he shoved her panties out of the way and pulled her down on his dick. Hard. Cass fought the urge to scream and contented herself with biting down on his neck. Half an hour later they got to her apartment and took a shower. Cass pulled on some underwear and one of Randon's t-shirts before falling into bed. Randon, who'd gotten used to staying at her house most nights, followed suit, and they drifted off to sleep.