Chapter One

She didn't know what she missed the most, the feeling of snow falling onto her skin on a cold winters night or the feeling of the sun warming her skin during the summer. She didn't feel any of those now, it was as if none of it existed though she remembered it fondly. She knew the longer it went,the more she would forget. Maybe she would forget everything and everyone who ever meant anything to her. That is what scared her the most about this new life, the not knowing.

She breathed in deep as she held onto the balcony railing overlooking the busy city night. The moon seemed even brighter for some reason. She didn't know when she would ever get use to these super senses, sometimes they were overwhelming and she could get lost in them for days.

She closed her eyes and leaned her head back as she inhaled deep. The smells of the city below all filling her nostrils at once but then one became stronger than the rest, one that overwhelmed her almost daily, it was him. His scent was like an oversexed god who could make any woman fall to her knees just to be touched by him. It was as if his hands knew where to go and when to go there. Just the mere thought of his hardened skin against hers made her body come to attention. Oh he was hot, a sex on fire kind of hot. Not only did he have the body of a god with muscles against broad shoulders, a smooth abdomen rippled with a six pack that lead to the very sex that made her legs tighten. His hair was long and dark. The feeling of it so soft that she could literally run her fingers through it all day but then there was his defined cheek bones and thick muscular throat. His blue eyes could see right through her and they hypnotized her until she was begging for release. My god he was her very own scrumptious sex god that just happened to be a 300 year old vampire and he was hers, all hers!

If someone would of told her six months ago that this is where she was gonna be, she would have never believed it, not for a minute. Time changes quickly when one becomes the un-dead. To her there was no more day and night, it was just time and she had an endless supply of it.

She turned her head just in time to see him come into frame by the bedroom door, with her incredible sight she was able to see him crystal clear even without a light on in the room. He had a pair of black slacks on and a deep blue button down shirt that she couldn't wait to rip off of his body!

"Don't stop those delicious thoughts on my account, I was quite enjoying them" his voice rolled over her as if his hands were already on her body, teasing her. She tried to keep composure, it was so damn hard with him around. It was like nothing existed but him and him alone.

"You know its not really fair that I cant hear your thoughts" she smiled softly at him as she slightly bit her bottom lip.

"Oh sweetheart you don't need to hear my thoughts to know what I'm thinking" he grinned and then within seconds he was in front of her and his strong hand was caressing the side of her face as his other hand moved deliciously to her lower back, pulling her hard against him."Can't you feel what you do to me?" he whispered seductively as he pulled her head back and ran his tongue up and down her neck as she groaned in delight." You make me so insatiable" he growled against her neck as he grasped her long red locks of hair and he pulled her mouth to his. He took over her mouth in a passionate deep kiss that had her wanting so much more. The sound of a knock on the door made them pull back as she panted heavily.."Not now" his voice boomed loudly and than his mouth landed on hers again but the knocking continued as he pulled back now and moved incredibly fast to the door, swinging it open hard.."I said Not now!" he barked.

"I know OK John but, I think you really need to see this and Steele said" the young kid standing before him with short blond hair and a stocky build shook as he spoke. His name was Rex and he was one of the vampires that was part of the watch guard. He was a much younger vamp than the others, he was only twenty and had only become the un-dead ten years prior.

John let out a groan as he ran his hand through his long hair and she tried to keep herself from falling down. Her body still in aftershocks of his touch."I will be right back OK, let me just go see what all this is about" John said softly to her and then he looked at Rex hard. "This better be good" he snapped as he walked past him.

"But it wasn't me John, I swear, he told me to get you" Rex called out but it was too late, he was already out of sight. "Great so now I'm the asshole again" Rex sighed heavily from the hall.

"Your not an ass hole Rex" she said as he peeked in the room quick.."Come on in, might as well have a drink or two" she sighed..

"Yeah I don't think that is a good idea Miss Natalie" Rex shook his head..

"First off I told you stop calling me that, it's Natalie OK or Nat, whichever" she began as she walked across the room and grabbed a glass jug and began pouring two glasses of the finest synthetic blood into wine glasses. Even the smell of the blood enticed her body as she handed him a glass.."You can sit you know" she said as she waved at a chair.

"No I'm good" he said nervously as he kept looking at the door and then her.

"I don't know why your so scared of him Rex, he does nothing but talk nice about you" she smiled softly as she took a sip and his eyes got wide.

"He.. he talks about me and its nice?" he said as he gulped his drink and then looked at the door again.

"You know how he is, he has to act tough" she said with a playful roll of her eyes.

"No I'm pretty sure he is as tough as he seems" Rex said nervously as he finished off his drink."Thanks for the um, the drink" he swallowed hard. "But I'm gonna get going" he turned for the door.

"Rex wait" she called out and he stopped but he didn't turn around."Don't go OK, I just. I just want someone to talk to" she said softly as he turned and faced her..

"I don't really think I should be the one, I could get Gigi or Jenna" he began as he shook his head.

"Yeah I'm sure they are tired of hearing the same old questions" she sighed as she put her cup down.."Your new to this um, lifestyle I guess you would call it" she began as Rex's laughed some and then quickly recovered himself.

"And that is exactly why you shouldn't talk to me, I don't know anything. I'm surprised he keeps me around honestly, I cause more problems than good" he shook his head.

"No you don't, I mean I'm sure you have good intentions" she said with a shrug of her shoulders.

"If by you mean messing up constantly then ya, good intentions" he said sarcastically."You know like the other day I tried to infiltrate one of the goth clubs downtown so I could get entail and then I find out that two of our guys are already in there, undercover" he huffed loudly. "I mean why couldn't anyone of asked me, they never ask me for anything"he shook his head.

"No one asks me either if that makes you feel any better" Natalie said honestly as he looked at her and rolled his eyes at her. "No I'm serious, John wont let me do anything alone, I know its because he is worried about me but how am I ever supposed to learn this new life" she huffed.

"See with John at your side you never will have to worry about that, you should be happy about that" Rex shook his head.

"Listen I'm not here just to be his play thing OK" she began to get defensive.

"Wait hold on, I didn't say that" he began quickly.

"You didn't have to, you were thinking it" she got up and moved across the room. "I was pretty kick ass before all of this happened you know" she said quietly as her mind began to drift to her life before because she had a life before this. She moved back over to the balcony and looked out. Six months ago her life was different, six months ago she was on the other side fighting but then he had saved her, literally saved her from dying. She owed him everything, including her heart which she gave freely. A smile formed on her lips, she definitely gave up one hell of a fight though.

Six months prior

The sound of sneakers screeching against the hard floor filled the room as heavy breathing was heard and sweat dripped continuously The loud voice of Sergeant Richards billowed through the large room. "Keep those knees up, I see you slacking back there Lovette!" he yelled as he walked back and forth. He was a large man of nearly six and a half feet. He towered over most of the unit and his strength was undoubtedly record breaking though he was already completely gray even with the military cut he had going. He was a stern man, he took life seriously, very seriously not that he didn't have good reason to do so.. "Buchanan good job" he yelled in her direction as she glanced up through sweat but he was already across the room yelling at someone else.

"Did he just?" Natalie said with shock in her voice as she looked at her friend Vega.

"Yep your not hearing things" he grinned as they both kept running until they got to the end of the lap as a whistle was blown..

"Get cleaned up and head over to the conference room asap" Sergeant Richards called out as he walked away..

"I swear some days I think he is trying to kill us in here" Vega huffed with heavy breaths..

"Yeah well maybe next time you will take my advice and not scarf down the last piece of cheese cake" Natalie snapped her towel at him as she laughed..

"Hey that shit is like gold here" he laughed as he went to throw his towel at her but he missed and she rolled her eyes as she took off running to the locker room doors.."Next time Buchanan, mark my words" Vega laughed as he reached down and grabbed his towel and wiped his face.

"Pretty pathetic Vega" Lovette said as he walked past him.."She chews guys up like you for breakfast" he laughed as Vega rolled his eyes..

"Yeah totally friend-zoned" another guy by the name of Roberts laughed as he patted Vega on the shoulder.

The military team they all belonged to wasn't your normal armed forces like the army or air force. This team was for one very specific reason and one that until the last two years didn't even exist. The world had quickly become a dangerous place even more than the usual terrorist themselves, no this new enemy was unlike anything anyone of them had even fathomed. Some called them night walkers, others called them fangers but in all reality they were indeed vampires. The un-dead were among them and they were out for one thing, blood. The night watchers as Natalie's unit was called was the best of the best. They all came from various backgrounds and they all had one task, kill the damn fangers and basically save the world!

It was nearly two years ago when they first made their presence known and at first no one believed it. I mean Vampires were the thing of horror movies, they couldn't possibly be real but they were and the very existence of humans were at risk. The majority of the human population had no idea what lurked in the dark, most people still saw it as myth and as the homicide level increased it was blamed on the economy. The fangers still stayed out of sight but were becoming increasingly more open especially since the youth of the world was still going through their own downfall with goth music and the supernatural realm. It made it easy for a fanger to join in and feast on the blood of the young.

Word in the underground was that this particular nest of vampires had a leader and one the United States Army wanted bad. Natalie believed it was to do experiments or research, either way she didn't care. Those vampires were cold blooded killers and if they didn't stop them now then she was sure that they would be the last ones standing.

Natalie geared up and pulled her hair into a tight bun before heading into the conference room. She hoped that today they had some real entail to go on, she was getting antsy! The room was pretty packed as she got in and one of her friends Jess waved at her and she made her way over to the empty seat. The room was filled with loud voices talking.

"Do you think they have anything good for us?" Jess asked as she played with her long blond hair and smiled over at one of the new rookies.

"Jess your so bad" Natalie said with a roll of her eyes as she took a seat.

"What can I say I like the young ones" Jess smiled and then winked at one of the guys before she looked back at Natalie.

"I think they call that jail bait" Natalie said sarcastically..

"Um I don't think so, I mean he is legal, right?" Jess said with wide eyes and then the door at the front of the room opened and everyone immediately got quiet as the director of the FBI came in, Agent Collins. It was a rare sight to see actual government officials present on their base.

"I want to thank everyone for being here, I know it has been a long hard week and I will make this short, I promise" Agent Collins said loud as he looked around the room. "Today we got excellent entail on a perspective hiding place, it is located at an old mining sight at the outskirts of the city" he said as everyone listened intently. "I'm going to hand pick four of you brave men and women to seek out this nest with the use of very high tech weapons" he smiled as he looked around the room and Natalie sat anxiously, she wanted this so bad. This was what she was made for, she wanted to be able to show everyone that just because she had a shitty past didn't mean that she couldn't make it in life.

Sergeant Richards walked up to him and whispered something in his ear before handing him off a piece of paper. The silence in the room was incredible as everyone waited with bated breath.

Agent Collins cleared his throat as he looked out into the room."Harold Livingston" he called out as everyone turned to looked in surprise at skinny Ole Harold who looked as shocked as everyone that was looking at him. "Rick Johnson" he said as everyone turned around yet again as a wide eyed Rick stood up and began walking to the front.

"This is bullshit, I can run circles around the two of them" Natalie huffed quietly as she sat there.

"Yeah well I can almost guarantee no women will make the team, you know how chauvinistic the sergeant is" Jess said with a shake of her head..

"Chris Vega" Agent Collins said loudly as Vega stood up proudly and Natalie looked at him as he winked at her.

Natalie frowned even more as she sat there, this was so unfair!

"And the last person for my team is" Agent Collins said loudly "Joseph Brown" he finished as Natalie huffed loudly as she shook her head. "Thank you all again for your service, now go enjoy the rest of your night" he finished as he walked with the four men out of the room as Natalie stood.

"Some of us are heading over to Rodi's bar for a drink" Jess said as she stood up now and looked at Natalie.

"Yeah I need a drink or thirty" Natalie said sarcastically as she headed out of the room.

The bar had become their stomping ground for hard days and long nights. Rodi's was owned by an older man by the name of Mac who had ran the place since she could remember. She had spent many days and nights there as a teen. It was hard growing up in the foster system and thats how she spent sixteen years of her life until she finally got a job and her own place. Mac had a big part of helping her through it all, she owed him so much. He had been the one to push her into the criminal justice system even when she wanted nothing to do with the law but it had truly been a calling for her.

By the time Natalie had gotten to Rodi's it was pretty packed with her crew and the locals. Everyone having fun without a care in the world, at least for now. Natalie made her way over to Mac who was wiping down the counter. "Your a popular guy tonight" she smiled as he looked up at her and smiled big.

"Well now tonight is worth it to see your beautiful smile darling, how are you?" he said as they exchanged a quick kiss on the cheek over the bar.

"Ah you know, same Ole same Ole" she shrugged her shoulders and then looked around the bar.

"I was hoping for some juicy details" Mac smirked as he handed her a beer..

"I wish I had some of those too but apparently I'm not privy to that" she said with a roll of her eyes.."I'm gonna need something a bit stronger tonight Mac" she said as she put the beer down and his eyes got wide.

"That bad, huh?" he said as he got a shot ready for her.

"You have no idea" she sighed as he handed her the shot and she happily drank it, maybe it would make her so numb that she would forget everything in this messed up world.."Another please" she smiled as she held the shot glass out. Natalie had one more shot and then took her beer and headed over to the pool table. She could always lose herself in a good game not to mention she could make a few bucks too if she was lucky.

When she got over to the table it was the tale end of a game between Lovette and Brown. "Can I player winner" she asked as they looked at her and Lovette rolled his eyes.

"Whats the stakes?" Lovette smirked as he made his shot.

"Twenty bucks?" she shrugged her shoulders, she knew it would be an easy twenty playing against him. He was always so easily distracted by her and she used it to her advantage. She couldn't help it if god gave her a good rack.

"How about a date, like a real date" he smiled as she rolled her eyes.

"And twenty bucks if you lose?" she said with a raised eyebrow.

"You seem really confident" Lovette grinned.."Ive been on fire tonight"

"Well then its a match, now finish up before I get bored" she faked a yawn and then grinned as she sipped back her beer.

Natalie had grew up in Rodi's playing pool, Mac had taught her well and she only got better over time. She would sometimes be like a pool shark to the people passing through town, it was easy money.

She let Lovette break as she stood at the other side of the table and chalked up her pool stick. He was a good player, she had to give that to him but she knew she was better. He ended up getting two balls in before missing.

"OK show me what you got" he smirked as a crowd began to form around them as she lined up a shot and with a smile she sunk the ball and then lined up another shot.

Lovette stood in shock with wide eyes as she sunk in ball after ball until only the eight ball remanded and that was just one turn..

"Thats gotta be some kind of record" he said in shock as she lined up her next shot but something or rather yet someone caught her eye as she glanced to see a tall, long haired man come walking in. He looked broad and muscular even though he wore a leather jacket and jeans, he looked at her and she jumped as she made her shot, missing badly as she quickly looked back at the table..

"Damn it" she said with a huff..

"Don't worry Buchanan, I will make it worth your while" Lovette grinned big as Natalie rolled her eyes and then she looked across the bar and there he was, standing at the bar. Who was he? She had never seen him before and her heart was racing, it never raced like that. She quickly shook it off and looked back at the table. Lovette was clearing them left and right now to her surprise. "What the?" she said out loud as he looked at her..

"What can I say you lined them up for me good" he hit the ball and then the only one left was the eight ball. Natalie knew she couldn't afford to lose, I mean it wasn't that she didn't like Lovette but to go on an actual date with him would just be awkward as hell. She hadn't had a date in years, seriously no one in Lanview was what she was looking for. She quickly pulled her hair out of her bun as Lovette looked up at her and she shook the rest of her hair down. Sure it was unfair and a bit of cheating but all in good fun. He made his shot without looking and everyone watched as it headed straight for the pocket. The room got incredibly quiet and then shockingly it went into the pocket as Natalie sighed and the guys went crazy with cheers as Lovette high fived them all and she rolled her eyes. "Good game Buchanan" he said as he came over and she shook her head.."So.."

"Fine, you won, OK" she huffed.."But I never said the date was tonight"

"What?" Lovette said with surprise.."But?"

"You'll have to do better than this place Lovette, have a good night" she said as she walked past him and towards the bar. The tall long hair man was gone, she quickly looked around but he was gone. She walked up to Mac and he gave her another beer as she sipped it. "The guy who was just up here" she began nonchalantly as she sipped her beer..

"Which one darling, its been a busy night not that I'm complaining but I'm an old man" Mac began to ramble.

"Never mind" Natalie smiled and sipped her beer. She quickly shook the images of that strange man out of her head. Right now the last thing she needed was a complication and she was sure that was all he was anyways. She finished her beer and drank two more before heading over to the dart board on the wall.

She was definitely feeling the effects of the beer as she threw one dart after another, horribly missing each one but she didn't care. It was just darts anyway. With the last dart in hand she squinted her eyes to see better as she stood there.

"Your know its your stance" she heard a deep voice say and she rolled her eyes and turned around only to see him standing there. Mr Tall dark and incredibly handsome. Damn, had he looked this good all along..

"You, I saw you before, over there" she said with a bit of a slur to her words."But then you were gone, poof, gone" she laughed a little as her body rocked some and his hand came to her arm to sturdy her..

"So you were looking for me, huh?" he raised an eyebrow and she couldn't help but fall into his deep blue eyes, they were so hypnotic but not as much as his hand on her. She quickly looked down at her arm..

"Your strong" she smiled and went to touch his hand but he moved it from her arm as she huffed..

"Do you always drink so much?" he raised an eyebrow at her..

"Drink? Whose drinking" she laughed some and stumbled back some but he was there, his hands on her upper arms as he steadied her and she looked up at him. He was even taller than she had originally thought, he had to be at least six feet two inches.

"You know its dangerous for someone like you to be drinking this much" he said in an almost stern voice..

"Oh yeah and why is that" she straightened herself up and smirked..

"Something about being vulnerable and people taking advantage of the situation seems to ring a bell" he smirked some but there was a seriousness to his voice as he leaned in.."You never know who you can trust".

"Wow, do you use that on all the girls" she laughed some even though her heart was racing due to his closeness.

"Well you definitely don't look like a girl, more like all woman to me" he rasped in a low voice as he looked slowly over her body and then back to her eyes. She felt weak standing there. It was as if he was consuming her. She was at a loss for words as she swallowed hard.."But back to what I was saying, being unsafe is never an option" he said seriously once more.

"Listen I'm always safe" she stumbled her words and her feet as he grabbed her arm to steady her. Her face flushed from the contact immediately but she quickly shook her head.."I'm sorry but last time I checked you weren't in charge of me" she pulled her arm back from him but he stood completely still.."You know just because your tall and muscular" she began as she touched his chest with her hand.."Very muscular" she said with a shake of her head.."But I can take care of myself, thank you very much" she stumbled until her back hit the wall.."I meant to do that by the way" she rolled her eyes, he just stood there.."You could at least give me a name or something" she said sarcastically..

"Names don't really matter Natalie" he said with a tight smile..

"Oh so you know my name huh" she took a step but her balance wasn't what she thought it was and she fell forward right into him.."oops" she said as she looked up at him again.

"I think its time for you to go home" he said sternly..

"And I think you need to mind your own business" she pushed past him and started heading to the door so she could leave. Her apartment thankfully was just a few blocks up the road, she barely drove to Rodi's as it was. It wasn't worth the gas for a few blocks. She waved to her friends who were involved in another pool game and she stepped out as the cool crisp air hit her face as she inhaled deep. Her mind immediately went to Mr Tall dark and handsome, I mean who did he think he was, even if he was gorgeous. She quickly shook her head as she began to somewhat walk and stumble in the parking lot.

"So your just full of bad choices huh" she heard his familiar deep voice as she stopped and huffed as she turned and saw him walking over to her. His legs looked muscular under those jeans. They looked strong too, she couldn't stop staring but she forced herself too.

"Bad choices? You don't even know me" she laughed with her hands on her hips.

"I know enough and by the looks of you walking yourself home" he raised an eyebrow.

"And I'm suppose to believe that your just a good citizen trying to help" she laughed as she shook her head and stepped back but a rock was in her way and she tripped.

John was there to catch her before her body hit the ground and then suddenly she was looking up at him as he had both arms around her back and he was so close. He smelt so good, she inhaled deep..

"Well now you have no choice, I'm bringing you home" he said and at the moment she couldn't disagree because her body wanted him and wanted him bad.

She walked in a haze beside him, she had no idea who this man was but she couldn't deny the urges her body felt. It was unbelievable that a person could make her feel this way. She didn't even remember getting to her apartment, all she knew next was that she was laying in bed. Her eyes half open as the image of that tall man stood by her window and the next second he was gone as if he vanished into thin air. Just as quickly her eyes closed into a deep sleep.

By the time the morning came she jumped up quickly as she looked around the bedroom. She was indeed in bed, she was still dressed and she was alone. She quickly looked at the clock on the night stand, it was only seven am. Her mind went back to him, was any of it real? Had she been that drunk that she imagined it all? The sound of her phone ringing snapped her out of her thoughts as she quickly got out of bed and scrambled to find it. Her head reminding her of how much she drank as it pounded heavily into her ears.

"Hello" she said quickly as she answered her phone.

"Thank god you are alive, you left without telling anyone last night" Jess said with relief in her voice.

"Yeah sorry about that, was I um, you know like alone when I left?" Natalie asked nervously.

"Um yeah I think so, why did you bring some guy home, who?" Jess perked up..

"I didn't bring anyone home, I was just really drunk thats all" Natalie said honestly..

"Join the crowd, I haven't even slept yet" Jess said with a yawn..

"Alright well get some rest, enjoy your day off" Natalie said quickly as they hung up and she sighed as she stood there. He had to be real, he just had to be but then who the hell was he?