"You've been 'round the world

Looking for love in the strangest places

Don't you think it's time you confess your love to me?"

Pam was so right, Eric called me and offered me the job. I gladly accepted and as expected, he asked me to report to work tonight at 8 PM. I'll be trained by a bartender named Debbie, my pay is minimum wage plus tips.

And that is all good, so I'm not sure why my stomach did somersaults listening to his voice, he said nothing to make me nervous or excited, he was formal and direct, he didn't even say 'goodbye' before he hung up the phone.

Yet here I am, still as nervous as can be.

I recalled the time I hesitantly went to the club and K had shown me around the huge building, the downstairs VIP, the dancer's dressing rooms, and the offices. Plus, I've served drinks at bars, nightclubs, and restaurants all over Louisiana, so besides the few specialty drinks exclusive to only NecRomance, it won't be much that Debbie can teach me. The only difference now is that I'm working at a vampire bar and my bosses are some of the sexiest vampires I've ever seen.

Maybe this is cause to be a little nervous...But I'm a lot of nervous.

Man, I needed a joint so bad my hands shook as I grab the papers and rolled me a fat one. But once I took that first hit and my lungs filled with the intoxicating smoke, by the time I exhaled all of my nervousness subsided. Grand puffs of smoke curled around my head, and I felt at ease as the familiar aroma swelled around me. I drop the joint in my ashtray and took a swift look in the mirror. My makeup is flawless, I grab my brush, brushing my hair smooth, pulling some to the front, draping it over my chest. After a few moments of preening, I glance at my watch, grab my small pocketbook, gave myself one last assuring glance in the mirror and I left.

When I arrived at the club at 7:45, the parking lot was nearly full, and there was a long ass line of people at the door. I was a little surprised to see the club so busy on a Wednesday night, but this is the most popular nightspot in New Orleans. I cruise around back and pulled into the employee parking lot, parking next to a bad-ass black Corvette. I imagine the car must belong to one of the owners, but I didn't spend another moment trying to figure out which one.

Inside, down the dimly lit hall, I pass a few patrons as they went to the restroom. This bar is progressive; they have male, female and unisex bathrooms.

Suddenly, I hear a whooshing noise and just like that, he's standing before me. He steps from the shadows, stealing my breath and the heat from my skin as he touches my bare shoulder with a cold rough hand and I almost jumped away from him. There wasn't anyone behind me just a second ago.

"Hello, Tara." He greeted me, his voice deep and raspy, his mesmerizing blue eyes hungrily envelop mine and pulled my feet towards him. His tousled long blonde hair was well-groomed, thick and lustrous. His face, so strong and defined, his features molded from granite. His hazel eyebrows sloped downwards in a serious expression. His perfect lips are ripe for the kissing.

"Hello Eric," I replied, gulped and took a deep breath. There was no doubt he could sense my nervousness; his playful smirk left no doubt.

"Follow me please, I have just a few forms for you to complete."

"Okay..."

In his office stood a red-haired woman, it was hard to tell if her hair was natural or dyed. But her expression left no doubt; she was pissed, she obviously did not want to be here. I said a little prayer, hoping this was not Debbie.

"Tara, this is Debbie, Debbie- Tara," Eric spoke while pulling open a file cabinet, reaching in and grabbing a folder.

"Nice to meet you, Debbie," I smile as I stepped near her, extending my hand, expecting her to do the same. Instead, she crosses her arms over her flat chest and callously rolled her bloodshot eyes letting me know she was irritated and I was the cause.

"So Terrie, Imma teach ya how to make these specialty drinks hope ya catch on fast, cause I'm only showin ya once." She practically hissed at me.

"Okay, I'll pay attention, thank you..." I replied, I keeping my smile, but now, it was totally faking it. I'm sure she is not going to make this easy for me. My throat became dry and I thought I'd never shake off the performance jitters. Still, if I want to get tipped the way Pam does, I'd better get this shit right.

"Can I go now…I'm missing out on mah money?" She asked, removing her vile glare from me. When she looked at Eric, her expression softened and her cheeks reddened. "Will ya send her out when she's done?"

Eric was glaring back at her, his playful smile had drawn into a hard line across his face.

"Tara, please have a seat." He asked me while staring daggers at her.

I sat down in the same chair that I had for my interview and he sat across from me; at the same time, he handed me the folder from the file cabinet.

Debbie walked over to one of the chairs and was moving it towards Eric.

"I did not ask you to sit." He said sharply to the waif of a woman.

She stopped dead in her tracks and slowly backed away to the spot she had been standing in.

"How many specialty drinks do we serve at NecRomance...Debbie?" He asked, saying her name like he hated it.

"We have three human specialty drinks, our very own True Blood Pinot Noir and three types of True Blood, types A, B, and O."

She didn't seem bothered at all by Eric's rigid demeanor towards her, in fact, she seemed happy that he was simply acknowledging her.

"Tell us about the specialty drinks."

"The best seller is the Midnight Rendezvous, the ingredients are 2 ounces 100% agave silver tequila,1-ounce lemon juice, 8 blackberries, 5 fresh sage leaves, 1 teaspoon maple syrup Dash of orange bitters Garnish, it's served with Dry Ice. The next best is the Vampyre Vodka Martini, the ingredients are 2 strawberries, hulled and sliced 1 oz. blood orange juice 1/2 oz. lemon juice 1 teaspoon sugar half a strawberry, for garnish. Everyone's favorite nightcap is the Chateau Du Vampire, the ingredients are 3 ounces of vanilla vodka 1 ounce Kahlua 1 ounce crème De Cacao and 1 ounce chilled espresso." Debbie let out a deep breath and smiled proudly at Eric.

"What are the prices?" He asked. He glared at her with unwavering disdain, he used with her is tone cold and condescending.

"All specialty drinks are $7.50. We serve over twenty-four types of red wine and it's $7.00 a glass, we have twelve different kinds of bottled beer and they're $4.00 a bottle and seven kinds of draft beers at $3.00 a mug," Debbie's smile was so outrageously big, it was comical. She was really loving the attention she was getting from Eric, even though it was not the type of attention any normal person would want. Still, this is very helpful, I am certain, I can make the specials, and the rest of the drink menu is a cakewalk.

"Write down everything you just told me," He demanded harshly.

"Sure," She dug into her apron and pulled out a small notepad and ink pen, and then started jotting.

"Tara," He whispered softly to me. The moment I looked at him, I felt that unexplained feeling again. His eyes are so mesmerizing, deep-ocean blue, flecks of silvery light performed ballets throughout, the way he said my name sent waves of desire through my core. Lord, I wish he'd stop doing that. I'm trying to focus here.

"Yes Eric," I replied, trying my best not to smile at him, but the moment I said his name, his stern glare melted and an unbearably sexy smirk emerged.

"Please review your offer letter and complete your tax forms."

"Okay." I pulled an ink pen from my purse and opened the folder on the desk. As I did, his eyes never left me. I move my gaze to the left and out of the corner of my eyes I could see 'Big Red' staring daggers at me. If her eyes could shoot fire, I'd be toast.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?" Debbie asked, unable to mask her disappointment, she was able to manage a wary smile as she neared him, nervously handing him the notepad.

Eric yanked the notepad from her hand and huffed in disgust. "Your handwriting is atrocious." He grumbled as he flipped through the pages, "You are dismissed, please bring in Hadley, she has a much better demeanor than you."

Oh, snap! I did not see that coming!

"Oh okay..." She mumbled and quickly left the office. I could have sworn she was about to cry.

I signed the last form, closed my manilla folder and handed it over to Eric. He took the folder with one hand, and with the other, handed me Debbie's notepad.

He was right, her writing was horrible, but I could read it, best of all, I've already remembered most of it.

"Thank you, Eric." I said this time I'm able to stifle my smile, "I think, I'm all ready to work."

"We shall see." He said with that devilish smirk of his.

Just then, a short blond woman walked in.

"Tara this is Hadley, Hadley- Tara."

"Hello Tara, that's a pretty name." She said, smiling brightly, her hand extended as she neared me.

"Thank you, Hadley, nice to meet you." I stood to meet her and shook her hand. She had on very high wedge shoes, yet she was the same height as me with my kitten-heels on.

"Hadley, who are your favorite customers that are in our company tonight?" Eric asked her, with his eyes still fixed on me.

"That would be Aaron and Andy, they're twins who always tip very well."

"Please ask them to try out our specialty drinks on the house, as a training lesson for Tara."

"Well, they only drink draft beer, but I bet the girls they flirting with tonight will certainly take us up on that offer!" She piped up, looking directly at me. "Come on Tara, let's see what you got!"

She was very excited and eager to help me. I like this gal.

"Yes let us see what you are made of Tara," Eric said with that pornographic look in his eyes and suddenly my defenses are just paper, a paper that is being soaked by the rapidly falling drops of desire.

God help me…

How is that remotely possible that my dead heart is somersaulting with her sitting dangerously close to me? Her raven hair whipping haphazardly in a way I have come to adore, dark, almond eyes locking me in a trance with such intensity; she is unaware of the repercussions and looking away is unthinkable. The dimples that indent in the corners of her mahogany embellished skin is my last coherent thought as my mind raced with the possibilities of Tara being mine...again...

That night three years ago, I was her release, her escape... not that she was easy, she knew what she wanted and there was no possible way I would not yield to such a divine creature. No other woman has been able to please me the way she did.

One-touch and the intoxication were instant.

Her eyes wandered to the crowded room. Mine stayed locked on her. When our eyes finally met, she took a few long deep breaths, enchanting me with the rise and fall of her bountiful breasts. And of course, the blush that accompanied it was a dead giveaway. She was just as enraptured by me as I am of her.

This game of desire is one I have not played since my first encounter with her a few years ago. There's something about Tara that wakes the pure side of me, the best side, all the facets of myself that only require love to be healthy and whole. Should I have eternity to be with her I would sink into serenity, just content to be close.

My brothers would question my sanity...

I'm well but truly smitten.

"May I have a True Blood, type O please?"

I slid into the bar seat at the very end of the bar.

"Sure thing, Eric."

A deep curve of her lips makes the world stop for her. A smile that brings back a million memories in a split second. She has a smile that makes you feel happy and just a bit more human.

She sauntered around across the bar giving me an eyeful of her dangerous curves in the process, she removes the bottle of synthetic blood from the refrigerator and places it in the microwave.

"How does that stuff taste?" She asked while watching me take a slight nip.

"Horrible," I answer honestly, handing her a 100 dollar bill; my hand lightly touches hers and she felt the cool electricity of my touch to her skin. Her skin is still soft as silk and I found I hungered to touch more of it. "Keep it," I say and she smiles, "The patrons are very pleased with your work and so am I."

"Why thank you," She arched her raven brow at me, "Do you always tip this well?"

"No, I have never desired to drink synthetic blood."

She wet her plum fuckable lips, then bit them inwards, peering at me with curiosity. "I'm guessing you prefer the real thing." Her rich and smoky doe eyes narrowed, showing her scrutiny.

"Yes I do, but only from willing participants."

"Oh, well, I suppose that's okay. She said, lowering her eyes in thought and then looking at me through long, fluttering eyelashes. The sweet aroma of her arousal was undeniable.

"It is more than okay, it is quite pleasurable, for the giver and receiver. In fact...I know you'd enjoy it very much."