Waiting Read online

  "A few more seconds then, til the oath won't work."

  "Deal," Parker agreed at once, his aggressive voice startling me.

  Francis' tension visibly wore off. He smiled, wiping the blood from his blade off on the back of his pants. The cut on his hand was gone, like I'd just imagined the whole thing.

  "You know what you'll have to do then." He held Parker's gaze. "It won't be forever, just until the dangers gone." He looked worried again, as if Parker would change his mind. I didn't say a word, too afraid I'd make things worse.

  "I know." Parker looked down at me and his eyes were sad again, the purple slowly fading, replaced by the deep black. "I'll see you in a few hours." He spoke to Francis though he never looked away from me.

  Parker walked to the edge, me still cradled against his chest, and it felt like he kept walking though I knew we were flying since the wind picked up and we were moving much faster. We continued to stare into each other’s eyes until I felt the gentle tousle when we landed on the roof of my building.

  Don't freak out. Don't panic.

  I didn't want him to wipe my mind. I wanted to know and learn everything about him. Though it scared me, it also intrigued. They must be some sort of FBI experiment gone wrong, or right, depending on how you looked at it.

  He didn't set me down but walked behind an air vent, grabbed my purse, then carried me down the stairs to my floor before gently placing me down outside my door. I didn't want to take my gaze off him, afraid he'd disappear, but I had to in order to find my keys. I opened the door and silently prayed it wasn't as messy as I thought it would be while placing my purse on the entry table and kicking off my heels. He was still standing in my doorway.

  "What's wrong?" His forehead was creased as though sad about something. "Are you coming in?"

  "Are you going to invite me in?" his lips twitched, trying to hide his frown.

  "I didn't know you were such a gentleman. Please come in," I smiled while shutting the door behind him when he finally entered.

  I didn't live in the nicest building but it had a great view. My apartment was one bedroom with a spacious living room, huge floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city, and a view to die for. The front door opened into a hallway that led to the living room, with the kitchen and laundry room off to the right and my bedroom and bathroom to the left.

  Once Parker was inside he didn't hesitate and walked straight to the couch and took a seat. He was sitting in my favorite spot. You could look up at the stars and out since there were no buildings interfering. He patted the seat next to him inviting me to join him.

  Parker Smith is in my apartment. He was also some sort of Super Man or something. I'd find out soon enough since he promised to answer my questions.

  A few steps in his direction and I halted.

  There, in the center of my coffee table, was Princess. Swimming around gleefully as if she hadn't been floating dead this morning. Maybe she was related to Parker, all supernatural that she seemed to be.

  Instead of joining him right away I went to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine, poured us each a glass then made my way to take the seat next to him on the couch while trying to remain calm. He took the glass and thanked me before sitting it down on the clear coffee table and turned to face me.

  "Ask me anything and I'll answer honestly, but I'll have to leave soon. Within the hour."

  Then I didn't want to waste any time.

  "What are you? Why are you so fast and can fly and strong and...What are you?"

  His lips twitched as the words flew out of my mouth, trying to take advantage of every second we had together.

  "Before I answer that I want you to know that I will never hurt you, nor will I allow anyone to hurt you as long as I'm around. I'm very thankful that Francis was watching you this last week since I had to be away, and he protected you." What was I going to do, slit my wrists? I've accepted the fact that he can fly, he had to be something special. I wasn't stupid. Just tell me. "The one week I'm away and danger finds you. You've been fairly easy to keep safe, nothing ever trying to harm you since you mostly go to work then home, or to work then dinner with Jules. Francis must've been watching you longer than I thought since he knew your routine also."

  I took a big gulp of wine before setting the glass down on the table next to his, turning to face him with one leg crossed under the other so I couldn't flash him.

  Parker’s gaze caught and held mine, watching carefully for my reaction.

  "I'm a vampire."

  He waited for his words to sink in. My lips twitched, thinking he was joking before comprehension took over. He was dead serious.

  I studied him and conversations from earlier tonight started to sink in.

  ...Haven't seen you in fifty years...I can sense you brother, might as well come out now...Still have the bloke chained up...I've missed your taste...Didn't want you to miss this, since I know how much you love views.

  Holy shit!

  Wait, he doesn't have fangs, or does he?

  As if hearing my thoughts he let his bottom jaw drop and two crystal white fangs started to elongate from the top row, a slow descend that ended when the points grazed his tongue sitting against his bottom row of teeth. They were thick but sleek, coming to a very sharp point at the ends. If he closed his lips there was no way they'd be hidden.

  I slowly reached out my hand and hesitated just below his lip, waiting to see if this was ok for me to do. When he didn't pull back or stop me, I moved forward the last inch and touched one of his fangs. He moaned when my finger slid from the top to the point, fascinated with the smooth surface, startled when they abruptly shot back into his gums leaving no trace of them ever having been there.

  "OhmyGod!" What did one say when finding out someone they knew was a vampire? Nothing. I couldn't think of anything to really say but I had to. I had to analyze this quickly and ask everything I needed to before he left. "You're a vampire?" I asked for clarification.

  "Yes." His eyes began to swirl again, filling back up with purple.

  "Why do your eyes change color?"

  "They change with my moods when I'm too distracted to keep them controlled."

  That wasn't scary.

  “What all can you do, aside from the normal things people do?”

  “I can fly, but only because I'm old and have perfected it. My strength is substantially greater. I can see just as well in the night as in the daylight. I can control minds and wipe memories away if I need to.”

  He waited patiently, stroking my hair behind an ear while I brainstormed and tried to make sense of this all, his touch effectively distracting me.

  “How did vampires come about? Evolution?”

  “Sort of. In a way.” I waited anxiously for him to continue. “We’re all technically some sort of alien species.” My brows went up but I remained silent. “If there’s a God that put human beings on Earth, other species have been coming here, mating with humans, and creating half breeds. What these other species were, I’ve never heard certainties of facts. All I’ve been told is one of the half breeds created Vampires. You hear stories about magnificent feats done by regular, every day Joe’s, when really their bloodline is part of some extraordinary being, or half breed with some magical force. They are few and far spread to remain hidden and secret, but every now and then secrets get out or reveal themselves whether they meant to or not. I’ve been told the Vampire species is far from the strongest species created.

  “Vampires are a species more sacred with their blood, careful not to over populate to ensure our blood supply remains at an 80% ratio for all those accidental kills. When a vampire goes insane and tries to spread the vampire gene to anyone in their path, and it does happen, they’re taken out by the Council or someone in their power. Eliminated to keep our secrecy and the numbers low.”

  I nodded, letting all of that information sink in. Deep into my mind to contemplate and organize all the facts I’ve learned about them.

  The
re was a chance my bloodline mixed with something supernatural, but I felt human through and through. Nothing special about me or my life.

  "You said you weren't going to hurt me,” I started in a low voice. “What does that mean? I mean...does that mean you won't hit me, bite me... how could you hurt me?"

  His brows furrowed together, disliking the way I turned the conversation.

  "I would never hurt you, period. Whatever you didn't like or asked me not to do, I wouldn't." His left arm lay over the back of the couch and he extended his hand, stroking his finger over my cheek. "How about we talk about the ways I could pleasure you, there's about the same."

  His cool finger left a trail of heat, making me shiver as I closed my eyes.

  Wait! More questions.

  "Do you kill people? What do you eat?"

  That probably should've been my first question.

  "I've killed before, but not in years. I need blood to survive but don't need to kill to maintain a steady diet."

  I let that sink in, thinking he probably used his mind control thing or whatever, to alter the memories of his meals. How else would vampires be a secret to society, though maybe not so secret since they seem to be a fantasy to millions and more books and movies are about them than celebrities.

  "Why have you been watching me? You told me never to talk about that night we kissed, and I didn't. You said all those wonderful things to me and then made out with Ashley right after. I don't get it."

  That put a damper on the mood. His eyes went completely black, like coal, and scary as hell.

  "I...nobody could know because they would've hurt you to get at me. They threatened the life of my brother, that's how I ended up going to high school for those few months. I was sent to get close to somebody; to scare her father into... doesn't matter. I put it off as long as I could so I had to move fast before graduation. That's the only reason I got close to Ashley that night, and the last."

  I have to admit that did make me feel better but it also freaked me out. He was sent to my high school to get close to Ashley to hurt her family? Hurt how? No, I probably didn't want to know.

  "I rearranged her memory so all she remembers is me walking her to her door that night, nothing after." This seemed to make him happier. "So, I did what I was asked to do and found out that they weren't threatening my brother’s life, he'd been in on it and arranged the whole thing knowing I'd do what was right. I hadn't spoken to him in a few decades but that seemed low, even for him. I never thought he'd change but after seeing him tonight, his eyes, him making that blood oath, makes me think I've got a chance to get my brother back."

  Parker looked so sad, helpless really, which was almost comical looking at his form, helpless to no one and nothing. Without thinking I reached up and held his cheek in my palm. He didn't look into my eyes but pressed his smooth cheek closer to my touch, making my body zing with feeling.

  "How are you going to help him? Who are they?"

  The need to comfort him was the only emotion my body focused on. A child comforting a giant.

  "We'll have to fight it out, or pay them off, whichever's less deadly." He shrugged then, playing at nonchalance. "You're really just fine with me being a vampire?"

  I'm not sure if that's what I am, but I do know that he never really answered my first question.

  "Why are you watching me?"

  The weirdest look came over his face before he burst out laughing, a tone so angelic and alien, pleasant wasn't enough to describe it. I unknowingly shifted back to sit up straight.

  As abruptly as he started, he stopped, pressing his lips together while his body continued to shake with the end of his laughter.

  "I thought I was making my feelings toward you quite clear." He too had a slight accent like his brother, though it took longer to reveal probably since we hadn't done much talking before. "I like you. Your aura calls to me." His mood turned almost serious again. "I wasn't planning on having you aware of my presence, or true nature, since I'd told you before that you would never see me again, but now that I'm here and you know and I have a chance at getting my brother back...I could almost kiss him for arranging this."

  Instead of kissing his brother he leaned forward and kissed me, effectively making me believe his words again.

  "I still don't completely understand, or know everything, even a fraction of who or what you really are...but I'm glad you're here."

  Without my eyes being able to follow the movement, he was up and carrying me in his arms toward the bedroom. Instant excitement swept over me before fear replaced it. What did vampires do in the bedroom? Would I live? Would I turn into one? His voice pulled me from the nagging questions eating at me.

  "I simply adore you. You make me smile. You were the first person to make me smile in a very long time. You're warm, sexy and although you've been living a very boring life, you fascinate me."

  Ok. I must've died in the cab on the way to the reunion. There is no way in hell this man was real.

  He stared into my eyes until placing me down in the center of my bed, a queen with a brown comforter with at least eight matching pillows of all shapes and sizes. I'd painted the wall behind the bed and across with red, the side walls tan. I had a telescope by the window and a small walk in closet off to the right.

  "I'm sad I'm dead but I'm glad I made up this imaginary you."

  His lips twitched as he took a seat next to me.

  "You're not dead. But if you want to think this isn't real that's fine. It'll make what I have to do much easier." His voice grew softer at the end, as if regret was already in his mind.

  "Do we get to have sex where I'm at? Am I in heaven? Must be heaven since you're with me. I dreamt about you all my life, it would only be fair if I got you in the end."

  Parker moved in his lightning fast way because when I blinked he was on top of me, holding my arms over my head and pressing his body deliciously against every crook and nanny of my lower body.

  "Oh we'll be having sex. Once you're mine," his deep voice rumbled, his erection pressing into my pelvis, releasing a moan from my mouth. "You aren't dead but I'm going to have to alter your memory. You won't remember seeing me or anything about tonight until the next time I show up. It'll be safer for you that way."

  Wait, what? Didn't he tell me earlier that he wouldn't do that?

  "No. This is my after life, dream, whatever and I want to stay with you."

  Another strangled growl escaped him just as I moaned again from his touch.

  "If I weren't already dead I'd have heart failure right now, listening to you say those wonderful words, your moans of pleasure when I'm not even trying." He flashed me a cocky grin before returning to all seriousness. "Please, listen to me."

  His eyes swirled again, pulling me in like a trance. His beautiful voice and those eyes held me still but my body continued to zing in excitement.

  "Do not ask anyone to enter your home. Ever. No invitations of any kind." I felt my head nodding, his words seeming to echo through my mind as the thought embedded into my conscious. "I have to alter your memory to keep you safe until I'm done helping Francis." The words still echoed through my mind but I found myself arching against him, savoring every moment of this. "You won't remember anything but going to your reunion then coming home. Nothing out of the ordinary happened."

  "Nothing out of the ordinary," I automatically repeated.

  My body stopped moving as thoughts of another boring night started making me tired.

  "As a side note, I want this to be the first thing you remember when you see me again," he whispered in my ear, drawing shudders from me as I pictured what he described. "I'm going to leave now. When you wake up in the morning know that you are safe. Don't do anything stupid."

  My eyes grew heavy, my vision of him blurring and that just wouldn't do. I blinked and smiled at him again before my strength gave out and my lids shut completely. Man I was tired.

  The last thoughts before sleep consumed me were different. I
wish I would've stayed longer at the reunion. I'd been having so much fun but of course I had to ruin it by telling Brian I wasn't interested. It was the truth but I still kind of felt bad since he'd ended up storming out, leaving me on the roof alone. Oh well. Now, I'd be able to get up early and go to the gym.

  FIVE

  "Ted! You did it! I told you if you put just a little more effort into it they'd be blown away."

  I'd just gotten off the phone with the CEO of Sprint and they were on board for their new commercial line Ted put together. I called him into my office and told him the good news right away.

  "I knew it." He was pleased with himself but tried to contain his excitement, then looked up with a twinkle in his eye. "I believe you promised drinks would be had in celebration if I landed it."

  Yes I did. I had no problem following through with my promise. He deserved it and I'd been in such a good mood the last few days that a celebration felt right.

  "Let me know where you want to go. We'll bring the whole office to celebrate you officially becoming a team member."

  He smiled wide before thanking me and leaving the office in a hurry, no doubt to go spread the good news.

  I was actually looking forward to it. I'm not sure what it was but ever since Brian kissed me I've been happier than ever. I had no feelings for him, hadn't heard from him, but I felt a sort of calm spread over me, like I'd been made complete and it was only a matter of time before the feeling would last forever. Julie caught my change in mood right away and took credit since she'd made me go out the night before she noticed it.

  She came walking into my office a few minutes after Ted left.

  "Party tonight, huh?" She wiggled her eyebrows and slowly took the seat across from me while rubbing her belly.

  "Just a celebration. You're coming right? And Bruce?" I asked while fingering the pearls around my neck.

  The more the merrier.

  I'd given her this week off but she showed up anyways, though she'd taken yesterday off.

  "Wouldn't miss it. Do you mind if Bruce invites a few friends? He said he was going to be with some buddies when I talked to him earlier."