Hours after dark, Sidra watched as Stefano strolled toward the coffee shop where his tragic wife’s doppelganger sat sketching in a notebook. Pathetic, but she had to give it to the woman. Jackie had nerves of steel. They’d spotted her when they first came to Seattle, but she’d managed to stay several steps ahead of them.
Stefano slowed, looking in the window with a lazy smile she returned. “How damned pathetic. Lovesick over a lookalike for his lost love.”
She remembered the first time she’d seen him. How her heart had nearly stopped beating in her chest. He looked so much like her master. How badly she’d wanted to break the man and create an adoring slave, willing to bend to her every whim.
Jude had been a devil in angel’s robes. Beautiful, divine, but a monster lurked under his skin. He lured her in with his sweet smile, then broke her body and soul, creating a hard woman who took everything she wanted.
He’d kept her as a slave, and she watched, learning how he ruled over his subjects. Ultimately, she killed him, taking control back. Because he resembled Jude, she wanted to make Stefano a slave, to remember how far Jude had fallen before she drank the last drop of his blood.
Clive pressed against her, pulling her back to the present. “You’ve smelled her. Why are we waiting to taste?”
Sidra concealed the two of them in shadows. Her prey walked by without noticing they stood inches away.
Once Stefano was past, she whispered, “Soon. I want him to watch as we break another of his obsessions.”
His hand slid up her thigh. “Does that mean I can play with her?”
“Only if Stefano is watching.” She reached behind, grabbed his balls and squeezed.
He groaned low in his throat, pressing tighter in anticipation.
“You’re mine. You only get to play when I allow you to,” she reminded darkly.
“Of course, Mistress. That is why I am asking permission.”
Before long, Stefano returned with a single orange rose as he made his way back to the coffee shop.
Sidra hissed. “Passion, he’s bringing her a rose meaning passion? I’ll show him passion.”
“Tonight?” Clive asked enthusiastically.
* * * *
Jacqueline looked lovely in a flowing dress with her hair pulled up. She’d woven daisies around the bun atop her head. Inspired by the flowers, he’d chosen to give her a rose. She awakened a passion he’d forgotten he once possessed.
The pull toward her was so strong, Stefano had nearly followed her out into the sun earlier. Perhaps he could steal every free second after dark and win her heart.
Her friend was exactly that, a friend. Even if Eddie felt more, she didn’t seem to. Of course she’d been worried about him when he lost his girlfriend. She was a caring woman who looked after her friends and family. Surely that’s the only reason she left the night before.
One last glance over his shoulder and he detected no threat. Smiling, he stepped inside and moved to Jacqueline as if he were attached to the end of a spindle she wound up, pulling him to her. He was several minutes early, and eager to hear her voice.
Closing her notebook, she glanced at her watch and blushed. “Good evening, Stefano.”
“What are you sketching?”
Her smile brightened as she glanced away. “The drawing is not finished, and I never show before it’s done.”
“No hints?”
She shook her head, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “Afraid not.”
His brow arched. “When it’s done, perhaps?”
“Maybe.” One corner of her mouth twitched up.
His heart raced as he watched her. “How long before the next shift comes in?”
She nodded to the door as the chime sounded. Brent walked in with a smile.
Something passed through her features. He couldn’t help wondering what troubled her. She sighed. “Give me a moment, and I’ll be ready.”
“I’ll wait outside.” He hoped giving her space to talk would earn some trust. She seemed more distant than the night before.
Brent gave her a hug, whispering in her ear. She visibly relaxed, and nodded with a faraway smile. Then she grabbed her bag, shoving her notebook in before slipping outside.
“Sorry. Brent’s a true friend, to both Eddie and me. Kim was too. Losing her is hard on all of us.”
“Understandable. I’ll get you home safely. We can go directly there, or if you feel like strolling leisurely through the park, I would greatly enjoy your company.”
“Not too long.” Her eyes sparkled as she started walking. “Thanks for being understanding.”
“We met last night. Your friends should come first.” In contrast to his mild words, he hated the thought of being second. Soon, perhaps she would view him as more than a friend. He desperately wanted to call her his.
“They mean the world to me. Though you’ve certainly captured my attention.” The last fell flat. Perhaps Brent relayed some sad news. Another body had been found. Maybe another of her acquaintances?
Stefano warmed. “I hope so. You intrigue me.” He tugged her into a stand of trees. She resisted for a second before following.
“Why are we stopping?” she asked cautiously. “Do you sense danger? Shouldn’t we keep moving?”
“I only sense our chemistry. The way your dazzling eyes sparkle, the curve of your sensual smile. The tinkling laugh that escapes your lips is music to my ears. I’m drawn to you, Jacqueline.”
Her breath caught as she watched him.
Before she had a chance to derail his intentions, he leaned in, pressing a kiss to her mouth. Her heartbeat quickened, her temperature rose as she gasped. His tongue slid in, caressing hers as he wound his arms around her, pulling her to him, while one hand ran down her spine, sealing them together.
Delicious, soft, a temptation he hadn’t experienced in centuries. The scent of her blood lit a craving to taste her essence as her pulse thrummed through her arteries. He kissed down her jaw as her head fell back.
“Wait,” Jacqueline whispered, pushing at him.
She was torn from his embrace before her plea to halt registered. At first, he didn’t understand what had happened.
His eyes adjusted, focusing on Sidra a dozen feet away, holding Jacqueline facing him. She wriggled in Sidra’s grasp, trying to tear herself loose.
Time slowed down as Sidra’s mouth cranked wide, her fangs long and glistening before she struck. Clive came out of the darkness, pushing Jacqueline’s legs open as he sank his teeth high on her inner thigh.
Stefano stood frozen, watching as Jacqueline twisted and struggled, clawing at Sidra’s face while kicking Clive. He’d never seen a victim fight back. He hadn’t believed it was possible.
Seeing Jacqueline struggle against her captors kicked Stefano into gear. He shot forward, grabbing Clive around the throat as he pulled him back and sank his blade between his ribs, twisting to slice open the bastard’s black heart.
Stefano slid through shadows, reforming behind Sidra, plunging the knife into her side. Sidra spun, shoving a hidden blade into his gut and up through his abdomen, doing maximum damage and lodging the blade in bone.
Jacqueline stood, her hands clasped around the bitch’s throat as ancient words left her lips. Sidra froze solid. A wave of black shadow rolled between them. When it cleared, Sidra and Clive were gone, leaving Jacqueline and Stefano alone.
He sank to his knees and she knelt before him, staring at the long blade that impaled him. She grabbed his shoulder with one hand, and wrapped the other around the hilt, before yanking the small sword out of his body. He caught himself on her shoulders. “Need to go. Must feed.”
She pulled her hair over her shoulder, exposing her already bleeding throat. “You won’t drain me, will you?”
“Never,” he whispered, shaking his head. “You don’t realize what you offer.”
“Drink. You saved me. Only fair I save you.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” his voice cracked.
Her fingers tangled in his hair as she brought his lips to her bleeding throat. “Drink.”
Intoxicating and sweet, her blood called to him. He struck and she gasped but held on tight. Passion churned through him as he trailed his hand over her collarbone. Her whimper brought his hips grinding against her as he pressed tighter. Desire burned bright, with her startled cry, tempting him to lay her down and sink inside until he became one with his siren. He wouldn’t, not like this. When he took her, he wanted her to choose him out of love, not obligation.
His hips continued to rock, the friction growing as pleasure washed over him with climax. She grew weak and he released her, cutting his tongue to seal both sets of wounds at her neck before sitting back.
She stumbled to her feet, her eyes dancing away. “Shit.” Jacqueline backed toward her home.
He stood, moving to follow her.
“No. Best if you stay. I have to explain to Eddie or all hell’s going to break loose. He’s like my overprotective brother. I’ll be back Monday. We can talk then.”
“You aren’t afraid of me?” he croaked.
Jacqueline gave a weak smile. “You saved me, I returned the favor. But before this goes any further, I’ve got to figure out a few things.” She took off at a brisk walk, weaving on her feet. Letting her leave killed him, but he did as she asked.
With Sidra and Clive out of the way for the rest of the night, he needed distance to keep himself from pushing her too far. Her taste was addictive, her blood a sweet elixir of pure temptation. His desire had exploded into a wildfire, and being anywhere near her would lead to the loss of self-control. For the first time in centuries, he wanted to lose himself in a woman.
He reached down to the stomach wound, finding his body already healed. Her blood surged in him, pumping through his body. He had to find enough control to resist the temptation of drinking from her again, for fear he wouldn’t stop before draining her dry.