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

Like A Dream

Nic wanted a better look at her, but he stayed in the shadows, out of reach of the motorized lights.

"Yo, don't just stand there, go show her the good stuff, bro! Shake dat ass." Zane's big hand gave Nic a push right between his shoulder blades, and Nic ran forward a few steps.

The music became louder as he got closer to the dance floor. Before he knew it, his toe had crossed over the line of light.

Even his sister, the one who had given him the red shirt, said Nic had moves. He couldn't help it; he'd always found music to be a better drug than anything else. In places like this, one song blended into the next, and he could put his brain on hold for a while, and join the stream of texture and rhythm.

The song ended, and the next began. Nic couldn't keep from smiling as he recognized the beginning chords. This was why everyone said the DJs were good.

In the white room

with black curtains

near the station...

It was, as Zane would say, his jam. Nic let the sounds wash over him, and he was in the center of the song, notes and drums and lights coming at him. He'd forgotten how much he loved this; even if he didn't end up meeting a vampire tonight, the good sound system and chance to dance was worth the trip.

And then, two delicate hands grasped him by the shoulders and turned him around.

It's her.

She swayed in her black dress, which was so tight that Nic could see every breath she took. Her blonde hair and big eyes made her look like a doll, but the black fingerless gloves and red lips sent a different message. Her mouth formed the word hi and some other words, but he couldn't hear her over the music.

The scent of her perfume enveloped Nic in a cloud. It was sexual yet innocent, reminding him of hot summer evenings, crushed grass, and the hum of insects as nature fell in love.

Her eyes glittered as the lights passed over them. She was small, yet strong, and rose up on her feet to speak to him, bringing her mouth closer to his neck.

Despite the humid air of the dance floor, Nic broke into goosebumps as her breath touched his skin. "Do you want to get a drink?" she asked.

Around them, people had joined them on the dance floor, but all Nic could focus on was the presence of the beautiful girl who wanted him. "Y-yeah," he said. Realizing she couldn't hear him, he nodded and extended an arm toward the bar.

Not quite trusting his good luck, Nic turned away, leaving her behind. If it's real, if she's really coming onto me, she'll follow me to the bar. If she changed her mind, she could slip back onto the dance floor without having to say anything. If that happened, Nic would go home.

But when he walked up to the silver-haired bartender, the older man looked at Nic, then over his shoulder. She's there. A flurry of nerves hit him then. Nic balled up his hands into fists, held his breath, and relaxed his hands and exhaled.

That's it, bro, he imagined his roommate saying. She totally wants you, she's into it.

He cleared his throat. "I'll have another gin and tonic, and..." Nic turned to the girl behind him. "What do you want to drink?"

She smiled, flashing needle-sharp fangs among white teeth. "The same, please."

Though he expected her to order one of the 'vampire specials,' he was glad she didn't.
He'd seen her fangs, so he knew she was a vampire, but she might not be one of those vampires. I hope she isn't. "Make that two," he said.

"Thank you," the girl replied, moving next to him. The top of her head barely came up to his shoulder.

So far, this was going well. After months of offering himself as a blood-bank, Nic had finally caught a break. Was it too easy?

Nah, don't think like that, bro, Zane said in his head. And his roommate would be right. This is probably one of those once-in-a-lifetime things, where I'm in the right place at the right time.

They sipped their drinks at the same time and the girl broke into a little laugh. "I'm Vera," she said, holding out a small hand.

"Nic." He resisted the urge to shake too long. He was pretty sure that was one of those alpha moves that didn't work. Instead, he sat down on a bar stool, hoping she would do the same.

She hopped up on a stool as well, flashing her fangs in a smile. So different from the rest of them. So friendly. Nic couldn't help but ask, "So, are you here with them?" He inclined his head toward the black-clad figures at the other end of the bar. Compared to Vera, they seemed like a group of crows.

To Nic's surprise, Vera smirked, the expression shocking on her fresh pretty face. "They're my cousins. Well, some of them."

Ah, they're all related. It made sense; they looked alike, but Nic had just assumed it was because they were all vampires. It reminded him of a childhood story, The City Mouse and The Country Mouse. "It's hard to believe you're related."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'm staying with them for the weekend."

Zane's coarse, good-natured laugh carried over to them, and Nic winced. "That's my roommate."

Vera peered over and giggled. "Your friend won't get far. They're just making him think he has a chance. Plus, they hate pink. I almost wore it to annoy them."

"Why didn't you?" Nic asked. "You could have made a scene."

Vera looked down at her fishnet-covered legs and smoothed the skirt over her slim thighs. "Not really my style."

Right. Advertising. Zane's voice rose in the punchline of a terrible joke. "... and he had loved in vein. Get it?"

"Does he know that's really bad?" Vera asked. She flung her shining blond hair over her shoulder.

Nic laughed. "Yes, actually. He doesn't actually want to get anywhere, I don't think," he said. "He doesn't do blood-suckers."

Vera put a small hand on his leg. "But do you?"

Nic sucked in a breath. Where has this girl been all my life? "Absolutely."

"I want to go home with you tonight," she said, looking directly into his eyes. "You do know what that means, right?"

"You want to... suck my blood," Nic said hoarsely.

Vera gave him a cute smile with those red-painted lips. "And other things."