Chapter 72

Three weeks earlier…

Two asses hit the soft padding of the pub chairs. Dark ,weary eyes floated across the room, thankful for the darkly lit place and the private corner the wide eyed waitress had shown them as soon as they walked through the door. A jumble of cigarette aromas and heavy perfumes  assaulted his nose and Richie scrunched his eyes as the grey whirls stung his eyes.

“Are you getting old on me asshole?”

His head turned towards the alert blue eyes across the table. Sometimes he wished he could have the energy of a vampire…just a tiny bit…AND NOT HAVE HIM READ HIS DAMN THOUGHTS ALL THE TIME!!!!

“You don’t want any of it, believe me my brother.” Sadness flitted across the handsome face, burying itself in the flashing blue depths.

Richie could swear he felt Jon slip from his thoughts...

Richie snorted. “ Easy for you to say wide-eye- I’m- ready –to- go- 24/7! Humans need their rest man, tonight’s gig kicked my ass to the ground bro’. I need to crash big time!”

“Arrgghh stop whining like a girl and drink up!” He pushed the full glass towards him.

“Just one…maybe two and I’m gone…deal?”

“Yeah, yeah, granpa.” Jon’s smile disappeared behind his glass. Jon’s eyes flashed suddenly, his eyes losing focus on Richie’s face as he zoomed onto something behind Richie’s back.

“Well fuck me.”, left his mouth in a breathy rush.

Richie craned his neck. Whatever it was had Jon’s full attention. It had to be a woman…She was a woman alright, a willowy, mahogany curled woman with a smile good enough to turn your stomach to knots and your mind to x- rated visions of entwined bodies in sweatsoaked sheets.. Damn she was hot, not his type though but hot enough to notice.

“She is mine.”

Richie didn’t even have to turn to know that Jon was fully fanged and flashing eyes. The testosterone was bouncing of him in spicy scents, a scent Richie had become accustomed to these past years.

Jon sat silently his face stony as he concentrated, the glass forgotten between his fingers.

“So is this my cue to leave?” Richie snickered. This might be his chance to get outta here.

No answer.

Richie swigged at his glass, his eyes trained on his friend. Some would have run like hell, seeing someone like this but that’s how he knew him, Jon the predator, zeroing in, stalking his next joyride.

Jon felt his heart bounce in his chest. Never before had any woman exuded so much sex appeal like this one. It slapped him in the face, yet it wasn’t visible to the humans, gauging by the cool demeanour she treated any interested party.

The way she cocked her head as she listened to her friend talking or the soft, secretive smile on those luscious lips had his pulse racing like an untamed stallion. He tilted his nose heavenwards ... and her smell….god the scent wafting towards him was unknown territory to his brain receptors! Her eyes shifted and for a fleeting moment his heart stopped. Evergreen emeralds shimmered his way but soon deserted his stare, resting softly on her girlfriend’s face.

“Oooookkk…I’m NOT needed here. I’m gonna hit the hay bro’. You drool or feast or fuck in peace whatever you feel like. See ya tomorrow?”

“Yeah…tomorrow…” His eyes never left her face.

God! Was he salivating?! He sucked in his breath, she was captivating…mysterious...

An hour or so later and five glasses of wine brewing in his stomach, Jon stood up. She was on her way out and alone it seemed. His fingers were itching to touch those shiny curls rustling at her back, yearning to feel the warmth of her skin…

Following her outside he kept his distance as she made her way towards the dark parking lot, her heels clicking in the stillness of the night, matching his galloping heart.

A breeze caught hold of her hair and lifted it gently, breezy fingers played with her strands, sending a strong whiff of woman towards him.  A low growl escaped his throat before he realised and her head whipped around.

“Hello? Anybody there?” Nervousness pitched her voice and he shivered…fear…oh sweet divine fear...

Rumbling through her handbag, her fingers met the familiar feel of her car keys, gripping them tightly, she yanked it out of her bag and kept marching. Someone was watching her, she could feel their eyes on her back. Panic barbwired through her insides and her heels clicked even faster.

Touching the roof of her car, she sighed, struggling to get the keyhole, she felt her keys slip from her hands. A hopeless cry bubbled from her lips as she bent down frantically.

He was right there, his face hovering above the soft curls, feeling the coils brush against his face.

“Lost your keys?” A low, raspy voice brushed over her nerves.

Jumping slightly, she reared back in alarm.

“Y..yeah..I did.”

She tried to focus on the stranger’s face to no avail. It was a dark night and the broken streetlights didn’t help either...his voice tweaked something inside her.

“Let me?” Fear speared into his chest , her fear, he swallowed.

A tingle of cold steel clanking together brought a wave of relief and she giggled nervously.

“Oh thank God!” She held out her hand, a thankful smile lighting up her beautiful face up until the flash of blue shards turned her heart to cold fear.

“Here you go.” His smile was blinding, his scent so alluring, she felt drawn to the stranger.

The weight of the keys snapped her out of her daydreaming and she smiled again.

“Thanks so much!”

He nodded, waving his hand towards the car he said: “Better get going. Its never a good idea for a beautiful lady to be out alone at night.”

His exterior was that of a gentleman, interior he was in a tumultuous battle with himself, everything inside him wanted to feed, to take the soft curves of the woman before him, easing his ever present lust. His mind kept him at bay, denying the beast what he craved most.

The roar of the car shook him to the core. She was leaving! Why couldn’t he just take her?

“Goodnight…and …uuum thank you.” Her voice drifted through the open window.

Dipping his blond head slightly, he watched as she drove off.