Blood Kiss (COMPLETE) ~ A Vampire Paranormal Romance (Adult)

Dancing Alone

As they approached the club, Nic tugged on the edge of his designer t-shirt.  Did it look weird, or did he just feel weird in it?  He pretended it didn't bother him to wear something so different as they went through the big red door and up to the hostess stand.

"Welcome to Red Ivy," the red-headed hostess said, looking them over.  She leaned against a gothic-looking podium with two lit candles in amber jars.  Her job was to observe everyone who came in, and mark some of them as trouble.

Nic knew he passed the dress code, but he always got that shot of fear that he'd be turned away.  His hand flew up to touch his hair.

But the hostess didn't seem to think they were worth noting.  "Tables are that way, dance floor is that way."  She pointed to two rooms in opposite directions with a red-tipped finger.  "Tonight's special drinks are on the menu at the bar."

Nic remembered her from the other times he'd been there, but he doubted she remembered them.  "Uh, thanks," he said, taking a step toward the loud-ish music coming from the dance floor.

Zane's huge hand clamped around the back of his arm and propelled him forward.  "Let's get going, bro."  He winked at the hostess and pushed Nic on his way. 

The dance floor was half full, but Nic only had eyes for the bar, and the people who usually clustered there.  He wasn't disappointed.  Seven or eight severe-looking, beautiful people, mostly in black like off-duty models, leaned against the polished wood with drinks in their hands.  Nic had never been able to tell if they were *really* drinking, or what the drinks were. 

He had to be cool.  A local, not a kinky vampire-virgin.  He listened to the deep steady beat and tried to let his mood flow with it.

It was no use.  The vampires all turned toward each other; none of them faced out.  None of them were *advertising.*  He didn't have a chance. 

"Aw, don't look like that, bro," Zane said, right next to his ear.

Nic shook his head.  "They aren't available.  Look at them.  Not even you could approach them."

"That's what they *want* you to think," his roommate said.  "That's their power, especially the lady vampires, just like ladies in general." 

Nick couldn't help but throw up his hands.  "Then why do they come?  Don't they need to bite humans?  Don't they want it to be easy?" 

"Beats me," Zane said.  "I'm not a blood-bank, though, so I wouldn't get it anyway."  He put a beefy, Axe-scented arm around Nic's shoulders.  "But I've got your back tonight.  I'm your wingman, right?"

Nic nodded.  "Right."  He appreciated the support, but he wondered what his vamp-averse roommate would really do for him.

"So I'm gonna hook you up," Zane said, giving him a shake.  "See that one right there?"  He indicated a pale woman with slicked-back short hair and a form-fitting black suit.

How did Zane know Nic was interested in her?  "Good eye," he said.  Maybe Zane would have a chance.  His wingman just needed to convince her that *Nic* was a choice piece of meat.

"I'm gonna sign your praises and make her want to get with you, you know what I'm saying?  You're gonna live your dream because of me." 

Zane squeezed his arm in a bruising grip and strode away, heading straight for the vampire-end of the bar.

Nic couldn't just stand there like a lost child.  A drink.  That's what he needed.  He followed Zane to the bar, trying out his roommate's swagger.  His shirt fluttered around him in a romantic English-lord sort of way that probably made him look ridiculous.

One bartender had firmly glued himself to the vampire's club and had no intention of moving.  The other came over to Nic, a fiftyish silver-haired man.  "What'll it be, son?" 

"A gin and tonic."  When the bartender turned away to make his drink, he let his eyes slide over to Zane.  In his perpetual Mexican tan, pink shirt, and tight 'dress shorts,' as he called them, Nic's roommate stuck out in the middle of the reserved, black-wearing vampires. 

But Zane didn't seem to notice.  He worked this crowd like any others, *touching* them on their arm, putting his arm around their shoulders, telling coarse jokes that were so bad they were actually funny. 

And it seemed to be working.  From what he could see, the vampires weren't smiling, but their severe, bored expressions had softened. 

And then, a tall, short-haired vampire took a step toward Zane and put her long fingers on his chest.  She was very thin, flat-chested as a boy in the way that fashion models were. 

Nic tensed and ran through emergency scenarios he could invent.  If a blood-sucker was interested, he'd better give Zane an excuse to get out of there. 

Zane's loud, slightly hoarse laughter carried over the music.  "Later, baby.  Definitely later.  But I gotta hook my bro up, I'm here for him.  Then," Zane leaned in and said something Nic couldn't hear.

Nic's vampire-averse *roommate* had gotten picked up by a vampire.  He sighed.  Though he could work himself up into hurt feelings and thoughts of betrayal, it wouldn't be justified.  Zane was Zane, Nic had accepted that long ago.  He *always* scored.

The bartender put Nic's drink on the bar.  "Thanks," he muttered, picked up the sweating glass, and took a sip.  Refreshing, that perfect combination of bitter, sweet, and sour, and surprisingly light on the alcohol.  "This is really good."

The silver-haired man leaned forward.  "It's nice to have someone who'll appreciate it.  Everyone else just wants those red or pink drinks, or has no tastebuds."  He jerked his head toward the vampire crowd.  "Don't get me wrong, they're all right, but they all think they're too cool for school."

Nic smiled.  He didn't know if this bartender was just very good, or if the man actually felt that way about his vampire customers, but he appreciated it.

Zane ambushed him from behind, grabbing him around the shoulders.  "Let's go out there and dance," he said, right into Nic's ear.  "Show 'em your moves.  I think even lady vampires like a man with rhythm, right?  You gotta admit that you're an awesome dancer."

"Thanks, man, but…" Nic took a sip of his drink.  "After this, I think I'm done for the night."

"Aw, don't be like that."  Zane's arms slid off his shoulders.  "I didn't poach your girl.  Javien just came on to me, all on her own, but I won't get with her-"

"No, no," Nic said.  "I'm not mad.  You should go with her if she wants you."  Sensing that Zane's loyalty wouldn't let him leave with the vampire, Nic added, "and it gives you more of a chance ot find out what they like and recommend me, you know?"

"Ahhhh, very smart," Zane said.  "But I'm not leaving until you're set up."  He faced away from the bar and clutched Nic's arm.  "Dude.  *Dude*, you gotta check this out."

Nic swiveled around on his stool, but he couldn't see what his roommate meant.  "What?"

Zane pointed.

In the middle of the colored lights, the girl of Nic's dreams moved to the music.  A small blonde in a tight dress, she was obviously a blood-sucker but also had an air of freshness about her.  And she danced alone.