"Oy. Check this out."
I jumped from my place on the couch. I'd been enjoying my time alone since Isaac had left me earlier tonight. He'd complained that he was starving, but didn't feel like dragging me along this time. Something I was more than thankful for. He'd left me with a friendly threat and the knowledge that it was 15 miles to the nearest main road, and another 7 to the nearest town. In other words, I'd better stay inside like a good little girl, which (for whatever reason) I did.
"What are you talking about?" I asked with a heavy sigh.
Isaac grinned excitedly and hoped over the coach to sit beside me. At first it was startling to see tight leather pants and a dark mesh shirt. Part of me wanted to mock him and the other…we won't talk about the other.
"I met this BDSM bint two nights ago, didn't kill her like I'd planned though. Kinda got sidetracked about the time she slipped under the table and started-"
"Move. On." I stared at him. Isaac shook himself from the reverie with a slight smirk. We were having this problem a lot, his whole sharing everything about his ideals and conquests. Perhaps knowing I was trapped with him on pain of animalistic death made keeping secrets a moot point, though I think he did it now just to mess with me.
"Anyway, I took her to this place downtown with promises of total immersion."
"Please get to your point." My head rolled back against the couch cushion. The vampire breathed a quick, irritated sigh and rolled his eyes.
"You are no fun at all. The point, my impatient plaything, is that I got this for the occasion."
Instantly I pulled away and raised both hands. "If you whip out some crazy sex toy, I swear I'll-"
But he shot across the couch and wrapped a steel arm around my back and kissed me. His tongue slipped between my teeth, parted mid-yell. For a moment the shock at his closeness made me freeze. He could crush me simply by tightening his arm, but he seemed content with rolling his tongue across mine. My struggle was pathetic, I loathed to admit. For just a moment, I thought of my loneliness the past year, and I let it happen. Then, narrowing my eyes, I closed my teeth over the silver barbell he'd gotten in his tongue.(The thing he'd wanted to show me) It was the only thing I could grab as he tried to retreat, before I bit off his fucking waggler. Instead the post popped out of his tongue and remained between my teeth. He made a soft sound beside my ear when his head dropped as if in pain. It was too late by the time I realized he was growling.
Isaac raised his head, eyes lidded as he looked at the silver barbell sticking out of my lips. My eyes shot wide, fearing that he was angry, and then remained that way because I realized I'd just turned him on. He ran his tongue along the line of his teeth and grinned in that dark wicked way that made me nervous and grossly attentive at the same time.
Eagar to distract him and get back up (maybe into my room) I pinched the ball between my thumb and forefinger and held it out to him. Without speaking, he bent his head, sucked it passed his lips and shoved it back into place. I heard the little pop of resplitting flesh and grimaced.
"How do you keep it in? Doesn't your body heal too quickly?" I will admit, I was fishing for a distraction.
Isaac looked as if he planned to ignore me and push this further, but he pulled back and loosened his grip, keeping me flush against his side, locked tight by his arm.
"Quickly doesn't do it justice, but yes. As long as I keep a piercing in, it will just close around it, until I take it out. I have to repierce them each time, but that is obviously simple enough."
I nodded and turned my eyes on the television screen. The news was showing a dirty alley crawling with police and yellow Crime Scene tape. I frowned as I watched them wheel a long body bag into the back of a coroner's van. The reporter returned with a plastic, grim face, and shook his head.
"Ah." Isaac mused, getting comfortable on the couch. "That was quick."
I shot him a look, then turned back to listen to the report.
"…girl was found mauled by what appears to be an animal. However, there were no reports of large dogs in the area. It is possible she had just finished up a night at the warehouse hotspot she was found stashed behind. This 'club' is a known…"
"Isaac?" My jaw was clenched, fists balled against my jeans. He glanced over the cigarette he was lighting eyes irritatingly cool. "Is that…" But I couldn't say it. A bit of me was scared he wouldn't appreciate the query.
"Tarrin? Yes." He took a drag and turned to gaze at me, awaiting my reaction. It took a minute, but I swallowed my uncertainty and glanced at the TV. A pretty smiling brunette was posted across the screen in summer shorts and a blue tank top. She looked happy and normal, nothing like I'd expect from someone who spent their time in bondage clubs. Really tells you something about people, doesn't it?
"I thought you said you didn't kill her."
He chuckled. "I said I didn't kill her two nights ago."
My response was a nod of the head. I got to my feet. "I'm tired." I said and strode toward the front hall as fast as I could without sprinting. Isaac moved across the room to stand in my way with a sly smile. I opened my mouth to demand he move, but the vampire spun us around to pin me against the wall.
"Slow down there, James Bond, that was a little too slick for me."
I frowned at his teasing and tried to get away, but as usual the prick was too strong. Unfortunately, even the thought of touching him was making my skin crawl. He'd killed her. Ripped her apart. I wasn't stupid, I knew he killed on a regular basis, but I was very rarely privy to the details. The only way I knew how to deal with this situation was to ignore the unsavory bits, but I couldn't when his victims showed up on the evening news.
"Get off of me." I growled, glaring at the hardwood floor. He chuckled, slipping his fingers into my hair and pulling it tight, forcing me to look at him.
"Or what?" He spoke it like an honest question, searching my eyes. His expression was almost excited, which kind of disturbed me. "Tell me, what will you do?"
I grit my teeth, "One day you'll get hurt Isaac, or something will happen and you'll be left weak." It was hard to keep my voice level. "And when that happens-"
"You'll be there, right?" he pushed away from the wall, releasing me and rolled his eyes. "How original."
"That or I'll set you on fire while you sleep." I smirked, crossing my arms. "You guys are bad with fire aren't you?"
The vampire arched a brow, but smiled. The glint of silver as he spoke was a distraction, as were the leather pants. Because damnit, he could pull them off. REALLY FUCKING WELL. I needed to get away from him before my libido forgot who and what he was.
"Gettin' cheeky, love." he leaned back against the wall and took a drag from his cigarette. (How he'd kept it lit and unbroken I have no idea) "Though I'll admit, it's not a terrible development."
"Bite me." I snapped, then cursed myself for letting something so stupid slip. Isaac smirked, running his eyes over me slow enough to make me blush.
"If you insist." He took a step toward me, closing his fist around the lit cigarette without so much as a flinch. I stiffened, pressing back into the wall, but suddenly, he'd gone very still, his smile vanishing. I watched the color in his eyes melt away and turn black, and he moved like a blur to the lounge room door. when it flew open I flinched, then promptly went cold.
The front hall was not empty as it should have been. Lit only by the fire blazing behind us, I gazed out at the small group that had gathered at the center of the huge front room. The first one I recognized was Sanura, dressed in a low-cut silky top and dark jeans that might as well have been painted on. Then again, that might have been my low self-esteem talking.
Beside her, to my surprise, was Ryan. Looking wealthy and attractive in jeans and a dark leather jacket, he stood beside an older woman, maybe in her late 30's. She had dark curling hair and cold grey eyes. Her arm was linked with Ryan's at the moment, so I assumed this was his vampire mistress Audrie. Behind them were a few other vampires and shadows that I didn't recognize.
Before I could wonder what the hell any of them were doing there, however, the small crowd parted and in strode a small, willowy young girl. Her blond hair was piled on top of her head in complicated braids, and she was wearing another expensive cashmere suit skirt and jacket, in a pale blue.
"Colette," Isaac said, only barely holding back the irritation in his tone. No doubt she caught it anyway. "I was not aware that I was hosting a gathering tonight. You didn't give me time to prepare and-"
"We need to speak." she said simply, cutting him off. Isaac arched a brow.
"I told you we would be returning to your manor. I am known for keeping my word."
The elder frowned, cornflower-blue eyes narrowing sharply. "Do not take an attitude with me, boy. I would not have come if the matter wasn't urgent."
He was tense, I could see from the lounge, but he pulled on his best charming smile and swept his arm toward my hiding place. "Then, by all means, come sit down and we can discuss it."
Colette nodded curtly and moved into the lounge without another word. I felt her eyes on me as she passed, but other than that I was ignored by all the guests as they filed in. Isaac entered last, his fingers closing tightly around my wrist and hauling me toward the door.
"Let her stay," Colette waved her hand as she settled in the carved wooden chair by the fire. Somehow, she made the old thing seem like a throne. "She will need to know what you will be doing if she's going to accompany you."
Isaac's grip tightened until I gasped in pain, but he didn't notice. "Oh?" he sounded far from calm.
"Unless you feel comfortable leaving her with someone while you're away." Sanura smiled wickedly from behind the couch. She chosen to stand, but that might just have been to get a better view of Isaac with the way she looked at him. The vampire ignored her though and arched a brow.
"Away where?" he asked deliberately.
Colette smiled and once again, my blood ran cold.