They say man was made in the image of God, but the vampires who stood before Tawne were sculpted from a different sort of clay. The Greek Gods she read about in school had nothing on the men in the room. Long hair tied to the nape of a strong neck, or short cut business with a slight beard growth. Most were tall, and all were breathtaking. She was a kid in the candy store, but the candies in this scenario were the men, and she was ready to shop until she’d satiated her sweet tooth.
“How do you do it?” Tawne whispered to Olivia. “Seriously, how?”
Olivia grinned. “We just let it happen. We’ll talk details later. First, we need to get you properly introduced to our guests.”
Tawne nibbled on her bottom lip. They walked further into the center of the room. Men and women were mingling, carrying on conversations about who knows what. In the past, most parties she’d attended she was either with Olivia or another friend. They people watched and kept their distance from either the rough guy or the crazy party girl.
However, here, in this setting, Tawne wasn’t sure who may be who in this scenario.
Do vampires get drunk?
Do they eat or drink anything other than blood?
What happens if they feed on her? Would she survive the bite or be turned into a vampire?
So many questions, but it wasn’t the time or place…at least, not yet.
“Our coven frowns upon humans knowing of our existence,” Olivia told her. “No coven members are here tonight, but they’ll find out soon enough about you.”
Tawne frowned. “What does that mean for me?”
“Nothing, right now. They’re not going to make you do anything you don’t want to do or are not comfortable with. We’ll discuss this later as well.”
“What happens if one of them bites me?”
Olivia chuckled. “No one will ever do that to you without your consent.”
Tawne noticed Olivia’s face lose some of its luster with the comment she’d made. Making a mental note to bring this up later, she looked down at her hands. Fidgeting with her fingers, she whispered, “I don’t know what to say or do.”
Across the room, Tawne spied a man in a gray business suit. His back to her, she felt free to ogle his wide shoulders and thick arms. The arms of his jacket clung to what could only be muscles Tawne imagined. Her gaze drifted down his body and she lifted a brow at the roundness of his ass. She pictured herself on her back, reaching around this man’s body, grabbing a handful of his delectable backside.
The man turned, and his gaze met hers. He smirked and winked at her.
Feeling a blush rush to her cheeks, she lowered her gaze and grabbed Olivia’s hand. Yanking her friend toward her, she whispered, “Please, tell me they cannot my read mind. For all things holy, please, tell me they can’t.”
A soft laugh escaped Olivia and she carefully removed the grip Tawne held on her hand. “No, they can’t read minds.”
“Oh, thank gawd,” she sighed.
“However…”
“Oh shit,” Tawne whispered and cringed to think what information Olivia may be about to deliver.
“They can sense a change in the air. Kind of like the weather. It’s cool but if the sun were to come out and warm up the atmosphere, they would feel that, but within us.”
“Oh, so if I were casual then got caught up checking out a delicious ass on a man, and it made my mood change, he would pick up on that?”
Olivia nodded. “Exactly.”
“Well, hell, he might as well read minds then!”
Giggling, Olivia took a side step then let go of Tawne. “Tawne, allow me to introduce to you Cristofano Moretti. He’s a financial advisor to his family and the coven. He loves cars and motorcycles. Cris,” she turned to the man who joined the two of them. “This is my very best friend, Tawne. She’s from my hometown of New Orleans. Tawne’s family is from Ireland and she’s a full-time student, learning about history. She has a goal to become a museum curator.”
Tawne stared at the man before her. Tall, dark, with an ass like a snack, he smiled down at her. His hair was longish on top, cut short on the sides, and styled up in a modern look men wore. His hair was like the color of an Autumn morning with a small gray line of hair in the front. His face had a close cut beard. She wanted to run her hands through his hair and feel his face between her legs.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“Very nice to meet you,” Cristofano said and held his hand out.
She placed her hand in his and her lips parted. A squeak slipped from between her lips when he lifted her hand and fleetingly pressed his lips to the back of her wrist. “H-H-Hi…”
“Please, call me Cris.”
She blinked. Momentarily breathless as she battled to control the heat rushing within her over that single, simple caress of his mouth over her hand, she startled and sucked a deep breath.
Get control of yourself, woman!
She blurted out, “I’ve never ridden a motorcycle.”
Cristofano lifted his brows, then grinned. “Then maybe one evening I may escort you on a ride.”
She noticed an accent when he spoke. One that sent a delicious chill skating down her spine. She nodded. “I would like that. May I ask, where are you from?”
“Originally from Venice, Italy. I have been here for many years, though. Louisiana is now my home.”
She smiled. “I’ve never been outside the US. I’d love to travel one day.”
He grinned. “Maybe one day you will. Until then, may I get you a drink?” He lifted a crimson substance to his lips that appeared thick. It didn’t congeal, but was it blood?
She swallowed a hard lump, then nodded. “I like merlot.”
“Then I’ll bring you a merlot. Olivia,” he nodded to her friend.
“Cris.”
As Cristofano walked away, Tawne found herself watching him with a grin. “Oh my goodness, Olivia. Cristofano from Venice… I could eat him alive.”
“Wait until you meet his brothers,” Olivia whispered to her.
“What?” Alarm set in and she shook her head. “No, I can’t… I couldn’t possibly do what you do.”
“What I do?” Olivia asked. “Listen, there’s a lot to talk about later, and I promise we will, but just because he has brothers means nothing about nothing. Meet and mingle. Let things progress. Don’t be so hard to judge at first glance. Everyone here, except for the blood demons like me, were once human. Take that into consideration. Most people here had no choice in becoming what they are. You, however, are different.”
Tawne looked at the floor. She pictured the woman from Game of Thrones who repeated Shame, Shame, Shame over and over while ringing a bell. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to be rude. I promise. It’s just so much to take in.”
“One at a time, okay?”
She nodded and let out a long sigh. “I’ve got this. Who’s next?”
Olivia grinned. “That’s my girl. Now, come on, I’ll introduce you to his brothers.”
“Do vampires normally form a family like this?”
Olivia looked at her friend. “You could say that. When I met my men, I thought only Jared claimed me. It wasn’t until I found out about his brothers I realized it was a package deal.”
“Is it a hard life to juggle, having five men?”
Olivia shook her head. “Not at all. I never thought I could love five men at the same time, but here I am doing it.”
Tawne nodded. “I believe you, and Olivia, you look so unbelievably happy.”
Her friend smiled. “That’s because I am. Now,” she paused and turned toward a group of men, then casually pointed toward a man. He was tall like Cristofano, but his hair was jet black and cut short. He chuckled and turned slightly when he took a drink. Where Cristofano’s skin was olive in tone, his was paler. Dark facial scruff covered his cheeks and his full lips captured the glass between them. Then he glanced at Tawne from the corner of his eyes.
He lowered his glass and said something to the group of men he was chatting with, then turned to face her. Their eyes met and Tawne gasped. His eyes were beautiful, like the morning ocean after a storm. She felt her body shiver with anticipation of this man looking directly into her soul.
As he crossed the room toward them, he smiled and held out his hand. “You must be new here.”
She grasped his hand and nodded. Like before, she opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Olivia cleared her throat. “Tawne, allow me to introduce you to Will. He’s an attorney and works for the same practice as my Ethan. Will, this is my best friend Tawne.”
Will, like Cristofano, pressed his lips to the back of her hand, then let her go. “Pleasure to meet you. You’re human?”
The question almost came off as a sneer. She let it go, like Olivia told her, not to judge. She nodded. “Yes, that’s right. What law do you practice?”
He shrugged. “Depends, but mainly contracts.”
“Oh, is that interesting?”
“Not really,” he told her and took a step back. “I need to grab another drink. Are you staying here with Olivia?”
She nodded. “Yes, I am.”
“Well, then I guess I’ll be seeing you around.” He glanced at Olivia. “Olivia,” then turned away.
Tawne lifted her brow and looked at her friend. “Was it me, or was he a little curt?”
Olivia sighed and nodded. “Yeah, that’s Will. He comes off as cold, but get through that tough exterior, you have a knight in shining armor.”
“Is it tarnished?”
Olivia smirked. “All the best knights have tarnished armor.”
Tawne grinned. “He was so hot. The bad boy thing kind of makes him a little hotter.”
Grinning, Olivia winked at her. “Then keep it in mind. Evan,” she called out.
Tawne shifted her gaze from the retreating back of Will to the man who approached. His hair was similar to how Cristofano styled his, but it was darker. He smiled as he drew near. Dark suit and red tie, blue eyes and white teeth. Like the two others before, he was right off a magazine cover exquisite.
“Tawne,” Olivia started with her introduction, “this is Evan Wilson. Evan is from New York originally and is an accountant. He does work for Ethan’s firm and the coven. Evan, this is my best friend Tawne.”
“My oh my, my sweet cherry pie.” Evan waggled his brows and held his hand out for hers. Tawne took it and he lifted it up, brushing his mouth over the back of her hand. “How have you found yourself this evening, Miss Tawne? You are as beautiful as your name.”
She grinned and felt the blood rush to her cheeks and warm her in a delightful way. “You’re a charmer, aren’t you?”
He chuckled. “I like having a good time as much as any man.”
“Your drink, my lady,” Cristofano interrupted and handed her a glass. He turned to face Evan. “I see you’ve met the beautiful, Tawne.”
“Yes, brother, I sure have. Isn’t she pure perfection?”
“Indeed, I agree,” Cristofano answered. “Don’t let him sweep you off your feet too soon.” He leaned into her ear and whispered, “Allow all of us to do that for you.”
She grinned and met Cristofano’s gaze. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Evan chuckled. “You’re the most beautiful thing in this room, pardon Miss Olivia, of course.”
“No offense,” Olivia grinned. “I would like to introduce her to Chayton.”
“I’ll get him for you,” Cristofano turned. “He was at the pool table last I saw him.”
“Nice to meet you, Miss Tawne.” Evan stepped closer and placed a gentle finger under her chin. “I look forward to seeing you again, very soon.” He leaned in.
Tawne’s heart skipped to a quicker beat when his lips met her skin.
She struggled to open her mouth to say something back when, “Me, too,” stumbled out.
He grinned and met her gaze. “Your hair is like a fire that has been extinguished for so long. Your eyes are a beautiful green of the forest. You are a vision.”
“I could listen to you all day, but I’m afraid I would become shallow with all the compliments.”
He chuckled. “Then, I would have to make sure to keep you grounded.”
Oh yes, Tawne was in heaven here with the vampires. All the stories she read, the movies she watched, did nothing for what stood before her.
Evan looked past her and nodded. “Here comes our brother, Chayton.”
She turned her back to Evan. Approaching was a man whose skin was tan like a delicious color of butterscotch. His onyx hair was long, past his shoulders. He appeared to be Native American. The man, like his brothers, was breathtaking.
He smiled and held out his hand. “Hi there, I’m Chayton Blair.”
She took his hand. “Hello, I’m Tawne.”
“Tawne,” he placed his other hand on top of hers and took a step closer. “Welcome to our small part of the world. It is truly a pleasure meeting you.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
“Chayton, tell her a little about what you’re working on,” Olivia asked and took a step back from the duo.
“Absolutely.” He continued to hold onto her hand when he began. “I’m a doctor. I do research for the coven and looking to perfect a serum I’m working on.”
“Sounds exciting,” she told him. “What is the serum for?”
“It is a way to make synthetic blood for us.”
She raised a brow. “How do you mean?”
Chayton glanced at Olivia and she nodded. “Go ahead. She knows of me being a blood demon.”
He nodded and shifted his attention back to Tawne. “Vampires can only survive on the blood of a blood demon, like your friend here.”
Tawne nodded. “Right, that’s what Olivia told me. You’re creating a way to survive without needing the blood of a demon?”
“Exactly. My hope is to make it successful in the coming weeks. I’m oh-so-close!”
She smiled at his excitement. “And here I am studying history when there’s a whole new world I’ve never known anything about.”
He leaned in. “Our possibilities are endless!”
She giggled and pulled her hand free from his. Sipping her merlot, she found Cristofano returning to the room with Evan and Will just behind him. She thought of the four men courting her all at the same time. How would she do it? Well, would they actually want to see her? How does this dating work between humans and vampires? Was it even allowed?
“I’ll be right back. I’m leaving you in very capable hands,” Olivia told her. “Now, Chayton, protect my friend. Don’t let any danger come to her or you’ll answer to me.”
Chayton grinned, then chuckled. “I promise to protect her with my life, my lady!”
Tawne laughed and covered her lips with her hand. Moments later, Cristofano, Will, and Evan joined Chayton.
“It truly has been a pleasure to meet you this evening,” Cristofano announced. “Would you consider visiting us at our home?”
She met the gaze of three of the four men. Will had his eyes lowered to the ground but didn’t say anything.
“Yes, I would be happy to, so long as I’m welcomed by all.”
Will lifted his eyes and met her gaze. Neither said anything, just stared. Will lifted his brow, then looked at Cristofano. “Do what you want. You know where you’ll find me.” He then turned to leave.
“Ignore him,” Chayton told her. “He welcomes you as well.”
She smiled. “I’m sure he just takes some warming up to.”
“Something like that,” Evan added.
Cristofano took her hands in his. “We’ll set up the trip with Jared and Jesse. Once a plan is in place, we’ll have you escorted over.”
She nodded. “I’m looking forward to it.”
He leaned in, then hesitated. “May I kiss your cheek?”
She smiled. “Yes, you may.”
Cristofano cupped her cheeks and tilted her head up. He leaned in and feathered a kiss just on the corner of her mouth. “I can hardly stand the wait.”
Her knees weakened, and her panties grew wet with need. She nibbled on her bottom lip and smiled.
A hand caressed the back of her neck and when she looked over, it was Chayton. “Winyan, you are beautiful, and if I may be so bold to admit, hard to resist.”
She turned to face Chayton as Cristofano released her. “What does Winyan mean?”
“Woman, in Sioux. My name, Chayton, means Falcon.” He leaned in and, like Cristofano, swept his lips over her cheek.
“She will be spoiled by us and never want to return home,” Evan told them.
She met his gaze and when he smiled, she could see his fangs. A part of her had thought this would scare her, or maybe remind her they’re the predator where she’s the prey. In this moment, though, surrounded by these men, she never felt safer.
“Enjoy the rest of your evening,” Cristofano told her. “You have made this wonderful night unforgettable.”
The three men left her side and she stood momentarily alone. She pressed her lips together and when she turned, Olivia was behind her, smiling like a damned Cheshire Cat.
“I told you,” Olivia whispered. “Are you ready for this part of my world?”
“I have never been more ready for anything in my life!” Tawne’s heart leapt and excitement pulsed through her veins. Then she thought of Will and her smile drooped slightly. “Except for Will. He doesn't seem to care for me very much.”
“Give him time,” Olivia took her hands and pulled her toward the bar. “Think of him like a wounded dog. He just needs some time. I promise, he’ll come around.”
Tawne nodded and slid onto a leather topped seat at the bar. She lifted her gaze to the back wall. Bottles of liquor lined the mirrored wall. She watched her own reflection, then just behind her, off to the side, tucked into a dark corner, stood Will. And his eyes were hard on hers.
She lifted one side of her mouth in a half smile, then lowered her gaze. Maybe playing coy was what she needed to do. When she looked up again, Will had left. She picked up her merlot, savored a long sip, and thought about the men she'd met, and the family that had become Olivia’s. Would this be her fate, if she accepted it?