Chapter 4 PG 17 (sexual situations, language)

One week later:

Marie looked at her reflection in the dressing table mirror, hardly recognizing the girl peering back at her. She was settling well into Conor's home and routines. He had not drunk from her again since that first evening, but she had blooded his nightly whisky for him. Evenings were spent with her in his lap, their heads together like school children, telling each other tales of their pasts . Although he never pressed her, she was ready to talk about David sooner than she expected.

"Tell me did you stay?" Conor asked.

"I tried, I really tried." She looked away

He lifted her chin.

"There's nothing you can tell me that will shock me or make me think any less of you."

"I was afraid."

"He hurt you."

Marie nodded. "And not just me. In the beginning he's so charming you don't mind telling him everything about yourself, about your family, your friends, and by the time you figure out that the violence isn't just because he's had one too many, or because he's had a bad week, it's too late. He knows exactly how to pressure you, who to hurt in ways that will hurt you the most."

" And the police?

"David is old money. His father is Senator Mark Warner. And his mother is Patrice Markham She owns half the hotels in LA. A lot of people owe them a lot of favors"

Conor rubbed a hand across his jaw. A dull anger was spreading through his chest. He was beginning to understand her dilemma.

Marie felt safe here with Conor, especially knowing that he and his friends, Josef, and Mick were working together to keep her that way. But they'd come up against a brick wall. David had dropped off the radar. This didn't surprise her, he seemed to have a sixth sense about trouble and when he needed to disappear for a while, he did. Even Ryder England, the vampire whose computer tracking skills were legendary, couldn't seem to find a trace of him. For now, he was in the wind, and Marie had her fearless protectors. She would worry about David when the time came.

She brushed out her hair and pulled back the covers on the king size bed.,sinking into the cool comfort of the satin sheets, wishing Conor was there with her.

MLMLML

Conor and Josef were sitting in Conor's study. Conor offered Josef a glass of whiskey.

"So, how was she? Please tell me you have at least licked a paper cut or something?" said Josef, raising an eyebrow. " Come on man, dish."

"You tell me." Conor pulled out a tiny bottle and squeezed an eye dropper full of blood into Josef's glass.

Josef took a sip, closing his eyes the way a man does when he appreciates a fine vintage.

"Well?"

"Tell me you're tapping this on a regular basis and she's in bed because you wore her out from drinking and seducing her brains out. Because if not my man, I'll gladly add her to my exclusive stock."

"I drank from her once. Unlike you, Lothario boy, I'm willing to wait. I want her fully healthy first. And just so we're clear..."Conor leaned over Josef's chair. "She's. Mine."

Josef grinned. "Relax brother, she's all yours. I've seen the way she looks at you. If I wanted her for myself, I wouldn't have called you. Any news?"

Conor let out an aggravated breath and ran his hands through his hair.

"For a human, this guy is good at pulling a disappearing act. He..."

Suddenly an ear piercing scream filled the air. The two vampires flew out of the study and down the hall to Marie's room. She was sitting straight up in bed, her eyes open but unseeing and she hadn't stopped screaming.

Conor wrapped himself around her, his hands on the side of her face, whispering to her gently.

"Marie love, wake up, look at me...look at me."

Her eyes began to focus, the cool hands on her face bringing her out of her nightmare.

"What...what?" Tears started to pool in her eyes and flow down her cheeks. Conor wiped them away with his thumbs.

"It's okay love. Shh… I'm here, nothing can hurt you now." He pulled Marie to his chest and wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head and rubbing her back.

Josef stood back, watching the interchange. His friend loved her. He could see it, and it choked him. Sarah. He remembered soothing Sarah this way. But this was now, this was Conor. Conor was much older than Josef, and in Josef's long acquaintanceship with him, he'd learned that his friend had avoided relationships like the plague. He only ever had casual dalliances with women, and they were usually vampires. He could see that it was time. His friend had chosen well.

"Ok, awkward. And as much as I love awkward, I have a freshie or two that I've been neglecting." Josef made as if to leave, then hesitated, looking back at Conor.

" Drink from her Conor, she needs it... You need it. Stop denying each other. Bye kids."

Marie grabbed on to Conor's shirt. "Please Conor, I'm healed. I need you. Don't you want me?"

She was right. She'd been fully healed for days. What was he waiting for? Conor let out a seductive growl and laid her down on the bed. He unbuttoned her top, baring her breasts, and sucked in a breath of appreciation. He placed a hand on one of the soft swells and rubbed his thumb over a nipple. Marie gasped in desire.

Conor placed his lips over her hardened nipple and licked in soft circles, then kissed his way up her collarbone and onto her throat. His tongue traced lazy circles over her jugular vein, and as his eyes turned silvery-blue, his fangs descended. His breath was cool against her neck and she arched her back, eager to feel the scrape of his fangs against her throat. Conor pulled her up to him and cupped a hand around the nape of her neck, then quickly sank his fangs into her jugular and drank.

Marie closed her eyes and cried out. She felt a sudden rush of emotion, not her own, but his. Was this the bond the other freshies talked about?

Conor felt Marie relax. This had been worth the wait, and now they would never part. He licked the stray drops of blood from his lips and lay Marie back down. She started to pull Conor down with her.

"Make love to me, Conor. Please?," she begged.

Conor smiled and brushed a lock of hair from her eyes. "Not yet love, but soon. Rest from this. I promise there will be more to come. Lot's more. I have had over 750 years to learn how love a woman, and there are a lot of things I want to do with you, to you, if you're game for it."

"Oh, yes," she blushed. "But stay with me a while. Hold me. Please?"

He pulled her to him, spooning her as if they were honeymooners on their first night of wedded bliss. Her eyes drooped. She was fading fast.

"I'm here, love. Sleep, and I'll slay your dragons, keep you safe." Then, he whispered, "I love you, little one."

Marie snuggled into Conor, hearing the words he thought he'd said too quiet for her to hear.

"Mine" she said, drifting off to sleep.

Conor smiled, silently thanking Josef.

MLMLML

Somewhere in the Carribean.

He looked over at the girl hanging from the wall in chains. She was naked and bloody, just the way he liked them. She wasn't Marie, but she'd do in a pinch. It would take a bit more time to get his plan into action to get Marie back, but this time, he wanted her dead.

The phone rang.

"Hello. Spill it!"

"The girl is in L.A., under the protection of a Conor Graham. He's a big time CEO and hedge fund trader, A Josef Kosten and a Mick S. John are involved in this as well.

"Yeah, I've heard. Kosten Industries and Graham Corp. Who is this St John?"

"He's a PI, but they have nothing on you sir, nothing at all. But there is something else you need to know... they're vampires."

"Really? So she's become a vampire's whore. That changes things. It might take a little longer to bring my plans to fruition, but no one walks away from me and lives. I'll have her, and she'll regret the day she left me. The bitch is dead!"

The man slammed the phone down and sauntered over to the girl.

"Now where were we? Oh yes, time to scream, darlin'."

He laughed maniacally and pulled out a large serrated knife.