Working for the Man, Chapter 9
Title: Working for the Man
Fandom : Moonlight
Characters : Mick, Josef
Rating : R, for some sexual content and strong language.
Summary: Flashback to 1969. Mick takes a job at Kostan Industries before he
becomes a PI. Can Mick and Josef's friendship survive a boss-employee
relationship? A light and fluffy stand-alone fic.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters; no copyright infringement intended.
A/N: It’s been a busy week with family stuff, so I didn’t get my usual two chapters out. The following chapter must reflect my mood. School starts next week, and I’m not too anxious to get back to work (I love my summers!), so it doesn’t exactly meet the “light and fluffy” standard for this fic. Hope you enjoy it anyway!
Chapter 9
MICK
I brushed past the clinching couple and went out the examination room door, leaving them to…whatever. I seriously thought about leaving them stranded at the hospital, but my stupid conscience got me every time. I found a nearby waiting room and sat in a chair, my head in my hands.
Damn. The asshole had won.
The way they were kissing, Josef had apparently won some time ago. I wondered why he hadn’t gloated before now. That wasn’t like him. I began to suspect that maybe he had real feelings for her. But hell, I had feelings for her too. Maybe the universe was working against me, telling me that I wasn’t meant to be with anyone who made me happy. I didn’t want to wallow in self-pity, but jeeze, ever since Coraline turned me, my life had been one disappointment after another.
I looked up to see Josef and Penny emerging from the exam room, Josef now wearing a hospital gown draped over him, leaning on Penny for support. His feet were bare. While I knew the silver bullets had weakened him, with his recent blood intake, he was well on the way to recovering completely. Certainly enough to walk on his own. I frowned. He saw me and grinned.
“You know, Mick, they need to make Armani versions of these horrid hospital gowns. This look is entirely unflattering. I would have put my own shirt back on, but Penny insisted I stay out of my wet clothes. She’s worried I’ll catch a chill.” He chuckled indulgently. Funny how no one pointed out that my pants were wet from the thigh down and my shirt was damp from having carried Josef out of the water.
“You still have your pants on,” I noted flatly.
“Well, I didn’t want to offend anyone’s puritan sensibilities.” He kissed Penny casually on the cheek.
“Can you give us a lift, Mick?” Penny asked, her cheeks rosy. “I think we should get Josef home. The doctor said he should be resting.”
I rose from the waiting room chair and walked over to them. “Sure. No problem.” Josef raised an eyebrow at my morose attitude. I couldn’t meet his eyes for fear that he would see how much his conquest of Penny was killing me. I took the lead then, walking back down the hospital corridor to the back door we’d snuck in through, the lovebirds trailing somewhat slowly behind.
The drive to Josef’s house in the hills was a quiet one. We were all thinking of the fallout from our recent adventure, and I was thinking how unfair life was that someone like Josef, who already had everything a vampire could ask for, was also ending up with the girl. My self-pity was overwhelming me, and I couldn’t wait to get them both the hell out of my car.
The guard at the gate of Josef’s estate waved us through, and I stopped on the circle driveway in front of the door. Almost immediately, Josef’s butler, Niles, opened the door, looking appalled at Josef’s hospital attire, and generally fussing over him as he rushed to help his employer out of the car. I watched, crestfallen, as Penny was obviously planning on joining them in the house. I had hoped that I might still have a chance with her, if I could get her alone in the car as I drove her home, but it wasn’t to be. She walked over to the driver’s side window.
“Thanks for the lift Mick, and for rescuing Josef. I think I’ll stay here awhile and make sure he’s taking care of himself. Are you going to be alright?”
“I’m fine,” I replied tonelessly.
“Well, you should go home and try to recover from your own wound. I’ll see you tomorrow at work?” Her hand rested on my arm.
I looked straight ahead a minute, mustering the courage to look into her eyes, to see her golden hair spilling over her shoulders like a mermaid. When I finally did look at her, her face and hair framed within the window, I felt like I’d been kicked in the gut. I knew in that instant that it wasn’t better to have loved and lost. Of course, it had been way too soon to call it love. Intense infatuation maybe, so I suppose I’d have to look on that as a blessing. At that moment, however, her warm hand on my skin, I didn’t feel very blessed.
“Yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She smiled and squeezed my arm, then turned and went back to where Josef still stood at the door. He must have noticed my envious expression, for he didn’t smirk or even smile. He nodded his thanks, and I nodded in return, understanding passing between us. He’d won her, but he was sorry I had been hurt. I gave him a slight smile to let him know I would be okay, then I gunned the Mustang and pulled out of the driveway. I needed to go home and drink some blood, with a whiskey chaser. Or two.
JOSEF
I didn’t normally show my freshies where I slept, for security reasons. But just this once, I allowed Penny to escort me up the stairs and down the long hall to my freezer room. I opened the door and she looked around with interest.
“There’s no bed in here.” She disengaged herself from beneath my arm and walked over to the large deep freeze in the middle of the room. “Is this where you sleep?”
“Yeah. It’s not common knowledge, but vampires need the cold to rejuvenate. Before there was electricity, we tended to stay in the colder parts of the world. Now, thanks to this wonderful invention, vamps like me can live in LA.”
I smiled, removing the infernal hospital gown. I only flinched slightly now as my injured back muscles pulled. Penny noticed and rushed to help. She stood before me, looking into my eyes as her hands slid gently over my shoulders. The gown dropped to the floor. Her hands roamed down to my stomach, then stopped at the waistband of my slacks. My stomach muscles trembled, and I gasped a little as she loosened the button. Her eyes flew up to mine. I stilled her hand.
“Sorry, baby, I really do need to sleep. Give me a few hours, and I’m sure I’ll be up to your usual standards.”
She blushed, her eyes dropping from mine. I lifted her chin up with my finger and kissed her gently on the lips.
“I’ll leave you to it then,” she said. “Would you like me to go back to work? I’m actually wondering if I’ll be getting a visit from the police soon. I imagine it won’t take long to track me down from the license plate of my MG, or if they can dry out the registration forms in my glove box.”
I smiled. “Don’t worry. I will provide a hundred witnesses stating your car was stolen and that you were not involved in Linda’s death in any way.”
She still looked concerned. “What about you and Mick’s involvement? Mick’s superhuman strength was pretty memorable, and some may be questioning how you could have survived being trapped beneath a car under water.”
I brushed her hair away from her cheeks, kissing those lips again that I could not seem to resist. “Don’t worry. Everything will be taken care of, I promise. Just tell the police your car was stolen, and that’s all you know. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Penny didn’t seem like the kind of girl used to others making decisions for her, or to men in particular taking care of her.
“But-“
I stifled her doubts with a kiss. Things began to heat up, namely me, who was already not exactly in top form. Added heat was not helping my healing processes. I pulled away reluctantly, holding her at arm’s length.
“You’re welcome to stay here until after my nap. Niles will supply you with anything you need. And take the rest of the night off,” I grinned. “I think you deserve it.”
She looked at me gratefully. “I’d appreciate a place to hide out. I’m not really up to lying to the cops yet.”
“Working for me, you’ll get used to it. And besides, I’d love for you to be here when I wake up.” I was sure to make my tone as suggestive as possible, so she would have no doubt about what I intended to do to her when I woke up.
“Okay,” she said softly, her lips fluttering against my cheek. I actually thought my knees might give out beneath me. It must have been the residual silver in my blood.
“Good night, Mr. Kostan.” Her whiskey voice about did me in.
“Good night, Miss Smith.”
------------------------------------
I found her asleep in my other, more human-friendly bed, her golden hair splayed over the pillows, her soft breathing filling my bedroom. I could hear the blood pumping invitingly through her veins, and the sound turned me on even more than the shapely form beneath the blankets. It was around midnight, and the sleep had restored me, but upon awakening, my need for this woman made me feel weak all over again.
I took off the silk robe I wore, and slipped beneath the covers. I was delighted to discover she was only wearing her undergarments, and I snuggled into her warm back, my hands immediately cupping her bra-encased breasts, my face buried in her luxurious hair. I couldn’t wait to feel it wrapping around my body. She gave a soft gasp of surprise, which quickly turned into a moan as I played with her hardening nipples.
“Josef,” she breathed.
“You were expecting someone else?” I smiled against her sweet-smelling neck.
She turned in my arms to face me, startled when she found I was naked. “I certainly wasn’t expecting a naked vampire delivering my wake-up call.”
“We provide nothing but personalized intimate service here at Casa del Kostan.” I delighted in the quickening of her pulse at my words. Or maybe it was due to the hand that had reached between us to rest on her sensible cotton panties. I wanted to cry with joy when I felt that she was again wearing an old-fashioned garter belt to hold up sensuous silk stockings.
“My, my, my, Miss Smith. You are constantly amazing me.”
Before she could come back with some witty reply, I found her mouth with my own, plunging my tongue inside to tangle passionately with hers, while my fingers slid beneath her waistband.
With my other hand, I reached behind her and unclasped her bra, maneuvering it off her shoulders and throwing the garment impatiently away. My lips left hers to trail down to her voluptuous breasts, and I groaned at the bounty before me. I found one rosy tip with my mouth, and managed to drive us both crazy as I suckled each one in turn. Her hands held my head more tightly to her, and I allowed myself to drown in her generous warmth and her kittenish mews of pleasure.
While I could never tire of her upper assets, I knew her lower region was begging for equal attention. I spent a few frustrating moments divesting her of her complicated lingerie, enjoying her giggles at my less than smooth attempts to free her. When she was at last completely nude before me, I stopped a moment to admire my good fortune. She was beautiful, all woman, unlike the Twiggy-inspired figures en vogue in recent years. Whoever had come up with that style had obviously never had a woman like Penny Smith in their bed.
I gently spread her thighs apart, kissing them as I did, smiling as they quivered with need. She gave a minor protest but I ignored it. I understood some women were self-conscious about this, but I knew I could make her forget all about any misgivings she might have. Four hundred years of practice was on my side.
I delved into her sweetness with my tongue, exploring her with licks and nibbles that had her panting and crying out within seconds. I didn’t allow her to recover, but got right back to work, starting slowly until I could feel her passion rising to a fever pitch. I increased my pace, inserting two fingers inside until her hips rose up from the bed and her head thrashed from side to side in ecstasy. As she came down, her body was still shaking, a light sheen of perspiration covering her from head to toe.
By this time, I was nearly mad with wanting her, and I crawled up to cover her body completely with my own. Her arms tightened around me, and we lay there together, legs entwined, her breathing slowing as I nuzzled her neck.
“I have to have you now or I think I might just die…again.” I felt her smile against my cheek, then she tensed a little against me.
“Josef…I should tell you something.”
“Really? You want to talk now?” I took one delicate earlobe between my teeth. She shivered, as I intended.
She pulled away, putting her hands on my cheeks to draw my attention to her face. I looked into her slightly glazed eyes, enjoying her beauty without those damnable glasses to mar it.
“I should have told you before, but I really didn’t think things would move so fast between us.” She blushed like a virgin, and I smiled into her eyes.
“What is it, love?”
“I’ve-I’ve never done this before.” She glanced down, suddenly very embarrassed.
“I figured I was your first vampire. Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle with you. And from what others have told me, the biting just enhances the experience.”
Her eyes flew back to mine, widening slightly, but she plunged bravely on.
“You don’t understand…” She took a deep breath, which was a little difficult with my weight upon her chest. “Josef… I’m a virgin.”
Vampires have superhuman hearing, but I couldn’t believe I’d heard her correctly.
“You’re a what?”
“You heard me. But look, you don’t have to worry. I’m ready. And I want my first time to be with you.”
“You’re kidding me.” I’m sure this wasn’t quite the understanding reaction she had expected. My brain had gone blank with her little bombshell, and an overwhelming sense of loss engulfed me. I rolled off her, laying on my back, looking numbly at the ceiling.
“No. It’s true.” I heard the hurt and uncertainty in her voice, but at that moment, I was too upset myself to comfort her. This changed everything. I made myself rise from the bed, then reach for my robe on the floor.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but this isn’t going to work between us.” I couldn’t look at her, fearing I would be weakened by her beautiful body, her pleading eyes.
“Why?” That one word was full of such anguish that I winced in shared pain. I owed her some explanation, I realized. I made myself turn back to her, but was instantly sorry I had. Tears had gathered in the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill down her delicate cheeks.
“There are certain rules about these things. Vampire rules. Believe me, I want nothing more than to take you in that bed in every way imaginable, but neither one of us is quite ready for what we would have to give up for a few moments of pleasure. Trust me. I’m doing what’s best for both of us.”
I saw her dress lying neatly over a chair, and I tossed it on the bed.
“I’ll have my driver take you home. It’s best you leave now. While I still have the strength to let you.”
“Josef. I don’t understand. What have I done wrong?” Her tears were flowing freely now, and I felt like a complete bastard.
“Nothing. It’s not you. You’re…perfect. I care about you, Penny. I want you more than I’ve wanted a woman in years. I know you must be confused, and believe me, you couldn’t be more frustrated and disappointed about this than me. Just trust me and go.”
I nearly groaned as she got out of bed. Seeing her phenomenal body naked before me hurt worse than when Mick had removed the bullets from my back.
“You expect me to trust you, when you don’t trust me enough to tell me what’s wrong?” She found her bra and I continued to torture myself by watching her put it on. She pulled on her underwear, then grabbed her dress and slipped it over her head. She automatically reached for her glasses that rested on the bedside table, and I wanted to cry myself when she perched them on her perfect nose.
“I’m sorry,” I managed to say.
She stared at me, and I watched before my very eyes how those glasses brought the return of all-business Miss Smith. I felt as if all the energy had suddenly been sucked from the room, making it seem cold and barren…like her eyes. She resolutely wiped at her tears, and stepped into the professional pumps she’d worn to work earlier.
“No, I’m sorry, Mr. Kostan. Your personal disappointment in my physical state won’t interfere with my work, however, I promise you. It was a mistake to allow our relationship to stray from being purely business, and it was just as much my fault as it was yours. If you don’t mind, I’ll wait by the front door for the car.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, fearing I might call her back and ruin both our lives. She left me there alone, and I sagged heavily onto the bed. It was then that I noticed her garter and stockings, tangled and forlorn at the foot of the bed. I had no doubt she’d left them there intentionally, to taunt me with what I might have had.
“Dammit,” I said to myself. For the first time in my second life, I actually found myself hating being a vampire. I’d have to ask Mick for some tips on dealing with that.
A/N: Don’t worry-all will be revealed in the next chapter! In the meantime, please post your reactions; I’d love to hear from you.
Fandom : Moonlight
Characters : Mick, Josef
Rating : R, for some sexual content and strong language.
Summary: Flashback to 1969. Mick takes a job at Kostan Industries before he
becomes a PI. Can Mick and Josef's friendship survive a boss-employee
relationship? A light and fluffy stand-alone fic.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters; no copyright infringement intended.
A/N: It’s been a busy week with family stuff, so I didn’t get my usual two chapters out. The following chapter must reflect my mood. School starts next week, and I’m not too anxious to get back to work (I love my summers!), so it doesn’t exactly meet the “light and fluffy” standard for this fic. Hope you enjoy it anyway!
Chapter 9
MICK
I brushed past the clinching couple and went out the examination room door, leaving them to…whatever. I seriously thought about leaving them stranded at the hospital, but my stupid conscience got me every time. I found a nearby waiting room and sat in a chair, my head in my hands.
Damn. The asshole had won.
The way they were kissing, Josef had apparently won some time ago. I wondered why he hadn’t gloated before now. That wasn’t like him. I began to suspect that maybe he had real feelings for her. But hell, I had feelings for her too. Maybe the universe was working against me, telling me that I wasn’t meant to be with anyone who made me happy. I didn’t want to wallow in self-pity, but jeeze, ever since Coraline turned me, my life had been one disappointment after another.
I looked up to see Josef and Penny emerging from the exam room, Josef now wearing a hospital gown draped over him, leaning on Penny for support. His feet were bare. While I knew the silver bullets had weakened him, with his recent blood intake, he was well on the way to recovering completely. Certainly enough to walk on his own. I frowned. He saw me and grinned.
“You know, Mick, they need to make Armani versions of these horrid hospital gowns. This look is entirely unflattering. I would have put my own shirt back on, but Penny insisted I stay out of my wet clothes. She’s worried I’ll catch a chill.” He chuckled indulgently. Funny how no one pointed out that my pants were wet from the thigh down and my shirt was damp from having carried Josef out of the water.
“You still have your pants on,” I noted flatly.
“Well, I didn’t want to offend anyone’s puritan sensibilities.” He kissed Penny casually on the cheek.
“Can you give us a lift, Mick?” Penny asked, her cheeks rosy. “I think we should get Josef home. The doctor said he should be resting.”
I rose from the waiting room chair and walked over to them. “Sure. No problem.” Josef raised an eyebrow at my morose attitude. I couldn’t meet his eyes for fear that he would see how much his conquest of Penny was killing me. I took the lead then, walking back down the hospital corridor to the back door we’d snuck in through, the lovebirds trailing somewhat slowly behind.
The drive to Josef’s house in the hills was a quiet one. We were all thinking of the fallout from our recent adventure, and I was thinking how unfair life was that someone like Josef, who already had everything a vampire could ask for, was also ending up with the girl. My self-pity was overwhelming me, and I couldn’t wait to get them both the hell out of my car.
The guard at the gate of Josef’s estate waved us through, and I stopped on the circle driveway in front of the door. Almost immediately, Josef’s butler, Niles, opened the door, looking appalled at Josef’s hospital attire, and generally fussing over him as he rushed to help his employer out of the car. I watched, crestfallen, as Penny was obviously planning on joining them in the house. I had hoped that I might still have a chance with her, if I could get her alone in the car as I drove her home, but it wasn’t to be. She walked over to the driver’s side window.
“Thanks for the lift Mick, and for rescuing Josef. I think I’ll stay here awhile and make sure he’s taking care of himself. Are you going to be alright?”
“I’m fine,” I replied tonelessly.
“Well, you should go home and try to recover from your own wound. I’ll see you tomorrow at work?” Her hand rested on my arm.
I looked straight ahead a minute, mustering the courage to look into her eyes, to see her golden hair spilling over her shoulders like a mermaid. When I finally did look at her, her face and hair framed within the window, I felt like I’d been kicked in the gut. I knew in that instant that it wasn’t better to have loved and lost. Of course, it had been way too soon to call it love. Intense infatuation maybe, so I suppose I’d have to look on that as a blessing. At that moment, however, her warm hand on my skin, I didn’t feel very blessed.
“Yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She smiled and squeezed my arm, then turned and went back to where Josef still stood at the door. He must have noticed my envious expression, for he didn’t smirk or even smile. He nodded his thanks, and I nodded in return, understanding passing between us. He’d won her, but he was sorry I had been hurt. I gave him a slight smile to let him know I would be okay, then I gunned the Mustang and pulled out of the driveway. I needed to go home and drink some blood, with a whiskey chaser. Or two.
JOSEF
I didn’t normally show my freshies where I slept, for security reasons. But just this once, I allowed Penny to escort me up the stairs and down the long hall to my freezer room. I opened the door and she looked around with interest.
“There’s no bed in here.” She disengaged herself from beneath my arm and walked over to the large deep freeze in the middle of the room. “Is this where you sleep?”
“Yeah. It’s not common knowledge, but vampires need the cold to rejuvenate. Before there was electricity, we tended to stay in the colder parts of the world. Now, thanks to this wonderful invention, vamps like me can live in LA.”
I smiled, removing the infernal hospital gown. I only flinched slightly now as my injured back muscles pulled. Penny noticed and rushed to help. She stood before me, looking into my eyes as her hands slid gently over my shoulders. The gown dropped to the floor. Her hands roamed down to my stomach, then stopped at the waistband of my slacks. My stomach muscles trembled, and I gasped a little as she loosened the button. Her eyes flew up to mine. I stilled her hand.
“Sorry, baby, I really do need to sleep. Give me a few hours, and I’m sure I’ll be up to your usual standards.”
She blushed, her eyes dropping from mine. I lifted her chin up with my finger and kissed her gently on the lips.
“I’ll leave you to it then,” she said. “Would you like me to go back to work? I’m actually wondering if I’ll be getting a visit from the police soon. I imagine it won’t take long to track me down from the license plate of my MG, or if they can dry out the registration forms in my glove box.”
I smiled. “Don’t worry. I will provide a hundred witnesses stating your car was stolen and that you were not involved in Linda’s death in any way.”
She still looked concerned. “What about you and Mick’s involvement? Mick’s superhuman strength was pretty memorable, and some may be questioning how you could have survived being trapped beneath a car under water.”
I brushed her hair away from her cheeks, kissing those lips again that I could not seem to resist. “Don’t worry. Everything will be taken care of, I promise. Just tell the police your car was stolen, and that’s all you know. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Penny didn’t seem like the kind of girl used to others making decisions for her, or to men in particular taking care of her.
“But-“
I stifled her doubts with a kiss. Things began to heat up, namely me, who was already not exactly in top form. Added heat was not helping my healing processes. I pulled away reluctantly, holding her at arm’s length.
“You’re welcome to stay here until after my nap. Niles will supply you with anything you need. And take the rest of the night off,” I grinned. “I think you deserve it.”
She looked at me gratefully. “I’d appreciate a place to hide out. I’m not really up to lying to the cops yet.”
“Working for me, you’ll get used to it. And besides, I’d love for you to be here when I wake up.” I was sure to make my tone as suggestive as possible, so she would have no doubt about what I intended to do to her when I woke up.
“Okay,” she said softly, her lips fluttering against my cheek. I actually thought my knees might give out beneath me. It must have been the residual silver in my blood.
“Good night, Mr. Kostan.” Her whiskey voice about did me in.
“Good night, Miss Smith.”
------------------------------------
I found her asleep in my other, more human-friendly bed, her golden hair splayed over the pillows, her soft breathing filling my bedroom. I could hear the blood pumping invitingly through her veins, and the sound turned me on even more than the shapely form beneath the blankets. It was around midnight, and the sleep had restored me, but upon awakening, my need for this woman made me feel weak all over again.
I took off the silk robe I wore, and slipped beneath the covers. I was delighted to discover she was only wearing her undergarments, and I snuggled into her warm back, my hands immediately cupping her bra-encased breasts, my face buried in her luxurious hair. I couldn’t wait to feel it wrapping around my body. She gave a soft gasp of surprise, which quickly turned into a moan as I played with her hardening nipples.
“Josef,” she breathed.
“You were expecting someone else?” I smiled against her sweet-smelling neck.
She turned in my arms to face me, startled when she found I was naked. “I certainly wasn’t expecting a naked vampire delivering my wake-up call.”
“We provide nothing but personalized intimate service here at Casa del Kostan.” I delighted in the quickening of her pulse at my words. Or maybe it was due to the hand that had reached between us to rest on her sensible cotton panties. I wanted to cry with joy when I felt that she was again wearing an old-fashioned garter belt to hold up sensuous silk stockings.
“My, my, my, Miss Smith. You are constantly amazing me.”
Before she could come back with some witty reply, I found her mouth with my own, plunging my tongue inside to tangle passionately with hers, while my fingers slid beneath her waistband.
With my other hand, I reached behind her and unclasped her bra, maneuvering it off her shoulders and throwing the garment impatiently away. My lips left hers to trail down to her voluptuous breasts, and I groaned at the bounty before me. I found one rosy tip with my mouth, and managed to drive us both crazy as I suckled each one in turn. Her hands held my head more tightly to her, and I allowed myself to drown in her generous warmth and her kittenish mews of pleasure.
While I could never tire of her upper assets, I knew her lower region was begging for equal attention. I spent a few frustrating moments divesting her of her complicated lingerie, enjoying her giggles at my less than smooth attempts to free her. When she was at last completely nude before me, I stopped a moment to admire my good fortune. She was beautiful, all woman, unlike the Twiggy-inspired figures en vogue in recent years. Whoever had come up with that style had obviously never had a woman like Penny Smith in their bed.
I gently spread her thighs apart, kissing them as I did, smiling as they quivered with need. She gave a minor protest but I ignored it. I understood some women were self-conscious about this, but I knew I could make her forget all about any misgivings she might have. Four hundred years of practice was on my side.
I delved into her sweetness with my tongue, exploring her with licks and nibbles that had her panting and crying out within seconds. I didn’t allow her to recover, but got right back to work, starting slowly until I could feel her passion rising to a fever pitch. I increased my pace, inserting two fingers inside until her hips rose up from the bed and her head thrashed from side to side in ecstasy. As she came down, her body was still shaking, a light sheen of perspiration covering her from head to toe.
By this time, I was nearly mad with wanting her, and I crawled up to cover her body completely with my own. Her arms tightened around me, and we lay there together, legs entwined, her breathing slowing as I nuzzled her neck.
“I have to have you now or I think I might just die…again.” I felt her smile against my cheek, then she tensed a little against me.
“Josef…I should tell you something.”
“Really? You want to talk now?” I took one delicate earlobe between my teeth. She shivered, as I intended.
She pulled away, putting her hands on my cheeks to draw my attention to her face. I looked into her slightly glazed eyes, enjoying her beauty without those damnable glasses to mar it.
“I should have told you before, but I really didn’t think things would move so fast between us.” She blushed like a virgin, and I smiled into her eyes.
“What is it, love?”
“I’ve-I’ve never done this before.” She glanced down, suddenly very embarrassed.
“I figured I was your first vampire. Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle with you. And from what others have told me, the biting just enhances the experience.”
Her eyes flew back to mine, widening slightly, but she plunged bravely on.
“You don’t understand…” She took a deep breath, which was a little difficult with my weight upon her chest. “Josef… I’m a virgin.”
Vampires have superhuman hearing, but I couldn’t believe I’d heard her correctly.
“You’re a what?”
“You heard me. But look, you don’t have to worry. I’m ready. And I want my first time to be with you.”
“You’re kidding me.” I’m sure this wasn’t quite the understanding reaction she had expected. My brain had gone blank with her little bombshell, and an overwhelming sense of loss engulfed me. I rolled off her, laying on my back, looking numbly at the ceiling.
“No. It’s true.” I heard the hurt and uncertainty in her voice, but at that moment, I was too upset myself to comfort her. This changed everything. I made myself rise from the bed, then reach for my robe on the floor.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but this isn’t going to work between us.” I couldn’t look at her, fearing I would be weakened by her beautiful body, her pleading eyes.
“Why?” That one word was full of such anguish that I winced in shared pain. I owed her some explanation, I realized. I made myself turn back to her, but was instantly sorry I had. Tears had gathered in the corners of her eyes, threatening to spill down her delicate cheeks.
“There are certain rules about these things. Vampire rules. Believe me, I want nothing more than to take you in that bed in every way imaginable, but neither one of us is quite ready for what we would have to give up for a few moments of pleasure. Trust me. I’m doing what’s best for both of us.”
I saw her dress lying neatly over a chair, and I tossed it on the bed.
“I’ll have my driver take you home. It’s best you leave now. While I still have the strength to let you.”
“Josef. I don’t understand. What have I done wrong?” Her tears were flowing freely now, and I felt like a complete bastard.
“Nothing. It’s not you. You’re…perfect. I care about you, Penny. I want you more than I’ve wanted a woman in years. I know you must be confused, and believe me, you couldn’t be more frustrated and disappointed about this than me. Just trust me and go.”
I nearly groaned as she got out of bed. Seeing her phenomenal body naked before me hurt worse than when Mick had removed the bullets from my back.
“You expect me to trust you, when you don’t trust me enough to tell me what’s wrong?” She found her bra and I continued to torture myself by watching her put it on. She pulled on her underwear, then grabbed her dress and slipped it over her head. She automatically reached for her glasses that rested on the bedside table, and I wanted to cry myself when she perched them on her perfect nose.
“I’m sorry,” I managed to say.
She stared at me, and I watched before my very eyes how those glasses brought the return of all-business Miss Smith. I felt as if all the energy had suddenly been sucked from the room, making it seem cold and barren…like her eyes. She resolutely wiped at her tears, and stepped into the professional pumps she’d worn to work earlier.
“No, I’m sorry, Mr. Kostan. Your personal disappointment in my physical state won’t interfere with my work, however, I promise you. It was a mistake to allow our relationship to stray from being purely business, and it was just as much my fault as it was yours. If you don’t mind, I’ll wait by the front door for the car.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, fearing I might call her back and ruin both our lives. She left me there alone, and I sagged heavily onto the bed. It was then that I noticed her garter and stockings, tangled and forlorn at the foot of the bed. I had no doubt she’d left them there intentionally, to taunt me with what I might have had.
“Dammit,” I said to myself. For the first time in my second life, I actually found myself hating being a vampire. I’d have to ask Mick for some tips on dealing with that.
A/N: Don’t worry-all will be revealed in the next chapter! In the meantime, please post your reactions; I’d love to hear from you.