Thanks so much, to everyone who reviewed, followed, and faved the story so far. Hope you all like this chapter as well. And sorry for the wait !
Disclaimer: Sorry, I forgot to put this in the first chapter, but I don't own True Blood or any of its characters.
Tara watched me like a hawk as I entered. She was leaning against the bar, feigning relaxation, but she was alert, apprehensive. The girl has good senses, I'll give her that much. But the poor child didn't stand a chance. Hurricane Pam was blowing into town, and she was in the way.
Hearing a change in music, I glanced around the room, focusing in on the string quartet in the corner. "Hey, you, Bernie and the Fucktets, out, now," I barked, snapping my fingers and pointing to the door. Moments later, Tara and I were alone.
I had no time to waste. Time is money, money is time, and I had a business on hold. So I walked straight up to her, switch in my hip and sex in my gaze.
"Pam, what the fu-?" she started, once I was within arm's reach. I pressed my finger to her mouth and shushed her, firm but deceivingly gentle. Silence. I raised an eyebrow at her, and let my finger fall down the length of her lips. I replaced the finger with my thumb, swiping it slowly along her lower lip.
"Uh, Pa-?" again she tried, this time a bit more subdued, obviously. I didn't feel like listening to her say anything. So I used my free hand to pull her into an upright position, and my body to back her into the bar. I replaced the thumb with my lips, dragging them across hers with malicious intent. This kiss was different from our first, more similar to every other kiss I'd participated in as a vampire. I was in control, and she was giving me what I wanted.
I let the hand no longer feeling Tara's lips slide down her jaw, over her neck, and past her chest to unbutton her blazer. I felt Tara attempt to shift our positions, but that simply wouldn't do. With vamp speed, I moved my hand back up to her neck, pushed her chin up and out of my way, and placed my lips on the base of her throat. I hovered there for a moment, needing my next move to be unanticipated.
Swiftly I ran my tongue up the length of Tara's neck, and slid my free hand over her center. Tara's fangs dropped immediately. Bingo. My teeth tugged at her ear as I unfastened her belt, and she turned her head to press her lips against mine. I bit hers, and slid my hand into her pants. Tara moaned loudly and let her head drop back, and her neck was exposed to me once again. I ignored the urge to bite there, instead choosing to attack her jaw.
My fingers started a brisk, steady pace over her center, and her knees became weak. I held her weight for a moment, and then let her down into the nearest barstool. Taking advantage of my leverage, I took a moment to draw back, just enough to see her face. What a fucking mistake. Tara was gazing at me with such bewildered longing that I had to look away immediately. I leaned back in, my movements becoming impatient. I needed to get the fuck out of dodge, but first I needed Tara to understand that this would not ever happen again. I positioned my mouth next to her ear, and drew in a deep breath.
"Tara, do you trust me?" I asked slowly, my tone clearly dripping venom. The words lingered in the air between us, but was finally replaced by a low moan. Tara was close, to a point of no return, but she heard me. A moment later, I felt her nodding yes, almost as vigorously as I was touching her. I let silence overtake the room once again, but started a dirty little countdown in my mind. Five...four...three...
"You shouldn't," I said, in a drawl sweeter than honey. Tara came. I had the southern courtesy to leave my hand where it lay, for the aftershocks. But as soon as she was done, I withdrew to an arm's length.
"That was fun," I announced, tilting my head and replacing my drawl with a light valley girl accent. The look on Tara's face made me drop the facade a little more quickly than planned, but I'd had enough fun for one night anyway.
"Time for us to get back to work. I have money to make, and you have money to make for me," I said firmly, meeting the newly formed glare in Tara's eyes with reckless disrespect. Silently daring her to try me. Silently wishing she would.
Her teeth were clenched, and her jaw twitched at my words. But she was silent, so I turned around and walked towards the door with the same stroll I'd approached her with. I heard her fasten her belt, but she hadn't made a move to follow me.
"PRONTO Tara, I haven't got all night," I drawled, not bothering to look back. I had already begun thinking about setting up a contract with a new Tru Blood manufacturer down in Florida.
"FIRST, Pam, this ain't 1895, and I am NOT your fucking slave. I thought we got that straight before I risked my life to save your bitch ass," she started, loudly, and I stopped walking. I shifted my weight to one leg, and placed my hand on my hip. But I didn't turn around. "SECOND," she continued,"I am NOT your fucking whore. Now I don't know what the fuck else you think I am, Pam, but cross those two off the list."
My own jaw had clenched during Tara's rant. Not because of the words, though, I actually found them rather amusing. My jaw had clenched at the amount of venom coming from her end of the bond. It was more than the expected anger. Ire. Like I'd never felt from another person, human or vampire. Always knew Tara was a feisty one.
I relaxed my jaw and curled my lip into a smirk. Then I turned to face Tara.
"Now don't you go getting uppity with me," I said, fully aware that I was replacing one of Tara's fonder memories of me with this one.
"You ain't seen uppity yet," she nearly growled, as she rose from her chair. That was a challenge if I ever did hear one. I vamp sped to her, locking eyes. Sure I had her full attention, I said, slow and clear, "Do you realize, with a flick of my wrist, you could be a puddle on the ground?"
"Fuck you," she spat.
"You haven't yet had the opportunity, Tara. Let's just say you owe me one," I winked, a honeyed husk coating my voice.
"Only thing I owe you is an ass-whoopin', Pam, " she said, her voice rising.
"Kinky," I said, raising my brow and wondering how much more it would take to completely drive her away.
Tara turned away, and a moment later I heard a bitter, yet authentic chuckle escape her lips. Well fuck me, the girl was already flying over the cuckoo's nest.
After a moment, Tara began to speak. "I don't know why I fucking thought," her voice low, shaky, but gaining strength, "that someone like you could actually have a heart, or a soul, or a conscience, or some other such shit that would make you worth a damn."
I swallowed involuntarily. "Now you know," I said coolly, shooting her a final glare of warning. I'd heard enough. I'd done enough. I turned to leave, but there were a few words left on my tongue. "May I make a correction?" I asked, my drawl low and nasty. "I'm worth twice my weight in gold, honey, and that's a whole lot of damn."
