Melanie

Hitting the floor of the station gym with a thump, Melanie fought and lost an attempt to smother a groan of pain. Landing on her ass for the umpteenth time had her bones groaning in complaint, but out in the field, hesitation could get her deader than she already was. Agony flared in her spine as she leaned her head back and stared up at her sparring partner.

“Hey, it’s no fair if you just read my mind and know exactly what I’m going to do.”

With a grin, Donnie retorted, “Fighting isn’t fair. What are you going to do, pause and ask your attacker to play nice and not use every advantage he or she has to put you in the ground for good?”

“Well no, but you don’t have to act so smug every time you put me on my ass.”

With a shrug, the former rugby player held out his hand to help her up. “What kinda big brother would I be if I took no enjoyment out of kicking your ass?”

On her feet again thanks to an assist from Donnie, Melanie rubbed her tender backside, sure that if she’d still been human she’d have broken either her back or her tailbone by now. The exertion sent pangs of hunger ripping into her stomach and punched her fangs free so suddenly they drew blood from her lower lip.

Clasping a hand over her mouth, she turned away from Donnie. She wanted to be better, needed to be so much more than she thought of herself. But that was her own issue, and Donnie didn’t need to see her embarrassed by premature fangs.

Donnie cleared his throat and came over to stand next to her. “Don’t hide from me, Melanie. I told you once; I’ll tell you again. We are family. We go through this together. Always.”

“I just… I just want to be ready.”

“Mel, you’re barely a few months into vampirism. When I was your age, I was still under lock and key in Caitlyn’s compound, unable to be around anyone let alone be in a police station surrounded by all those lovely bags of fast food walking around.”

The grin on his face quashed the sickness that rolled in her stomach at his words. Because that’s what humans were to her now, right? Walking, talking Happy Meals?

Sensing her discomfort, Donnie slung a muscled arm around her shoulder, dragging Melanie into a hug. He always seemed to know when she needed a little extra care. Perhaps it was because he could read minds, or maybe it was what made him Donnie. He simply cared.

Donnie released Melanie and handed her a bottle of blood, which she drained seconds later. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she tossed the bottle aside and took her fighting stance. “Again,” she demanded.

Donnie came at her like a raging bull charging with all its strength. If he hit her head on, it would be like an articulated lorry hitting a Mini Cooper at 120 kilometres an hour. But where Donnie was brute strength, Melanie tended to be quick and light on her feet. Waiting until the last possible second, she sidestepped him, dropping to her knees and yanking his ankle so that he lost his balance.

The sound of Donnie crashing to the ground with a grunt filled her with so much pride she punched a fist into the air. Bouncing back and forth on her feet, Melanie laughed as Donnie clambered to his feet.

“Who taught you that?”

“Erika.”

“Shoulda known. Who let Erika spar with you?”

“Caitlyn,” Melanie replied. “Since we are similar in height and build, Caitlyn said Erika might teach me a thing or two about how to overcome my lack of height and muscle mass. Although, Erika’s got enough muscle on her. God, I’d love to know what she is.”

Lightning quick, Donnie rushed her, linking his arm through hers and with the toss of his hip, flipping her over. Melanie braced herself for impact, and when her back hit the ground she used the momentum to roll into a crouch, one hand in front of her to keep her balance.

“Good. C’mon, Batgirl. Again.”

“Sure, Hulk. Just don’t get angry, k?”

An hour bled into two as Donnie kept charging her, and each time she hit the ground it was easier to get back up. The pain was beginning to be a welcome intrusion, as if feeling the pain meant she were still alive, sort of, and needed to fight to stay that way. Melanie began to feel as if she might actually be able to handle herself.

When Donnie paused, distracted by something over her shoulder, confidence flooded Melanie and she tried to do the hip-toss thing Donnie had been inflicting on her for the last few hours. She forgot Donnie was built like a mountain. He countered her move, grabbing her around the waist, flipping her, and body-slamming her onto the ground.

She half cried out, half laughed as Donnie helped her up. “Learn your limitations and don’t let yourself become cocky. I could have taken your head if I’d wanted to.”

“You forgot to not get distracted, non?”

The sound of Caitlyn’s chuckle dragged a smile from Melanie. A smile from her stunning maker tended to be rare, and Melanie assumed the vampire didn’t know how her face lit up when she smiled. Dressed in black jeans tucked into biker boots, rounded off with a three-quarter-sleeved, black T-shirt, Caitlyn managed to make a simple ensemble look a million dollars.

Melanie’s black workout leggings, paired with a red tee that read Squat like Tom Hardy is watching, made her feel like she was wearing a potato sack compared to Caitlyn. Well, that’s what she thought, anyway. Having seen Caitlyn in both a Munster jersey and yoga pants and in a dress that cost more than Melanie’s entire wardrobe combined, Melanie assured herself that everyone paled in comparison to Caitlyn.

Donnie shook his head, but he was laughing also.

Caitlyn cupped Melanie’s cheek as she came to stand by them. “You’re doing well. I think Erika is a good teacher. I think we will get her more involved in your training.”

“Great,” Melanie said as Caitlyn removed her hand. “Anything to stop this sadist from enjoying pummelling me into the ground.”

Caitlyn studied Donnie as a cat watches a mouse. “Perhaps we should spar?”

Donnie held up his hands in surrender. “Hell no. Last time we sparred, I nursed a dislocated shoulder and a fractured kneecap. I just grew back this hand—I’d like to keep it.”

Melanie found herself smiling at the interaction. Caitlyn was like two people—the public persona of ice she liked the world to see, and this smiling woman around them in private. Melanie wished Caitlyn could see herself through their eyes, because the darkness that lurked behind those grey eyes scared even her.

Caitlyn turned her attention back to Melanie. “It’s not always about appearing strong, Melanie. Sometimes the smallest of creatures can chop down a bigger foe once he or she knows how to. I will speak to Erika about further training.”

Caitlyn sashayed from the room, Donnie watching every single step she took. Melanie punched him on the shoulder. “Dude, you’ve got it bad.”

“Pot and kettle, Miss ‘Mine’.”

With a groan, she slapped her hand to her forehead. “Am I ever going to live that down?”

“Nope, but feel free to tease anyone who brings it up when they embarrass themselves.”

With a slight shake of her head, Melanie lowered herself to the ground and blew out an unnecessary breath. Donnie followed her, stretching his long legs out in front of him, bracing himself against the wall for comfort. They drank some blood in silence, Donnie looking troubled, his face dark as he seemed trapped in his own head. Melanie hoped Donnie wasn’t going away again; selfish as it was, Melanie needed him.

Shaking his troubles away, he peered at her, saying, “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. So, tell me… how are you doing around Ricky? Still want to jump his bones?”

“Donnie!” Melanie exclaimed, knowing if she were still alive she’d have probably blushed, or maybe she already was since her face felt like it was on fire. Note to self, find out whether you can blush if you consume enough blood.

Donnie flashed her an innocent smile. “I’m just asking since everyone else is afraid to. You’ve been around him a few times now, and so far, you’ve restrained yourself. Don’t you like him anymore?”

Melanie sighed. How to explain this to someone who was essentially her brother? This topic was one of those things you never talked about with a brother.

“Of course I still like him, but…” her voice trailed off because the words playing in her head sounded stupid, even to her.

“But?” Donnie prodded.

“But the idiot is being so damn polite! It’s like he’s afraid I’m about to break.”

“You do realize that everyone from Derek to Sarge has told him to behave. That you need time to adjust to being a vampire.”

Melanie threw her arms up in the air. “I don’t need him to be warned off. What I want is for him to be the same charming idiot he always is. This over-polite moron is bugging the hell out of me. He’s keeping his distance, and I can’t help but think my being made a vampire has turned him off me… and now I sound like an idiot.”

Donnie cracked the muscles in his neck while rubbing the slight stubble on his chin. “Do you want me to have a word?”

“God no!”

Donnie remained silent for a minute. When he did speak, Melanie listened eagerly. “I’ve seen into his mind, little sister, and it’s full of insecurities and even a little darkness. It’s not my story to tell—his childhood, his engagement to Sadie, the aftermath that led him on a path of destruction that almost got him kicked out of P.I.T. That all forged Ricky into the man he is today. When it happens, and it will, be prepared to deal with that because if you become his partner, his mate in everything, then he will share that darkness with you. Can you really say you are prepared for that?”

Melanie cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow as she fidgeted with the ends of her tee. “Speaking from experience?”

“I know what it’s like to love someone who is so soaked in darkness they cannot see the light for the shadows. I had my own darkness when I was human. Born to a teenage mother who bled out on the streets for fear her father would kill us both, thrown into foster care and surviving the horrors that came with that, and then my own self-loathing when too many knocks ended my career. Being turned into a vampire made me the man I am today. There is not a doubt in my mind that Caitlyn saved my ass that night. I love being a vampire, and I love her; darkness and all.”

Leaning forward to rest her chin in her hands while balancing her elbows on her knees, Melanie gave Donnie a grin. “I never pegged you for a romantic, big bro.”

Donnie snickered. “It’s all those damn rom-coms Cait made me watch over the years… made me soft.”

“Can she find her way out of the darkness, Donnie? I mean, will she ever be free of her past?”

“One day, when she kills him. Then she can begin to heal.”

Wishing to shift the topic from sad thoughts, Melanie wriggled her eyebrows. “Remember when I almost jumped Ricky’s bones and you said to ask you about what happened the night you became a vampire? I want that story now.”

Donnie growled at her and flashed his fangs, but Melanie only laughed.

“Okay, so you remember waking up in the ground with Caitlyn after becoming a vampire?”

When Melanie gave a timid nod of her head, Donnie continued, amusement dancing in his eyes. “When I died, I saw a leather-clad angel come to take me to heaven. I woke up starving and felt a very feminine body curled up against me. My body went into overdrive. I struck out with my fangs, sprang on top of Caitlyn, and drank my fill as I ground against her like a teenager at the deb’s ball. Every single primal urge in me told me that this woman was mine and I needed to claim her.”

Melanie’s eyes widened. “And what happened then?”

“I got my ass handed to me. Cait kneed me in the balls and pushed me off her as if I weighed nothing. To prove she was in charge, she sank her fangs into my throat, drank, and then ripped her mouth from my neck. She wrapped her hand around my throat, then scowled at the evidence I was so turned on. I’m pretty sure she had no clue what to do with me and my reactions. I’ve never seen her so puzzled.”

Melanie couldn’t help it. She doubled over, laughing so much it hurt. Soon Donnie joined in, and they spent the next few minutes just laughing and relieving some tension. When they had composed themselves, Melanie reached out her fist, and Donnie bumped it.

“So you see, little sister, you’re not the first vampire to be overcome with lust, and you certainly won’t be the last.”

“Now if I could just make him see me.”

“Have you thought that he might be afraid?”

With a snort, Melanie said, “Afraid of what? Me?”

“No, you silly thing. Afraid that now you’re a vampire your feelings for him might have changed.”

“Well no, Dr. Phil, I hadn’t thought of that. But perhaps you can enlighten me further.” Unable to mask the grumpiness in her tone, Melanie began to play with the ends of her tee once again.

“Don’t sulk. What I mean is that you’ve changed. You might not think it, but when I first met you, Melanie, you could barely look at me, never mind get snarky with me. You are now higher in the food chain than he is. You are stronger, where he is more breakable. Maybe he’s giving you time to figure out what you want.”

“But I want him,” Melanie whispered.

“Then hound him. Make sure you stand near him when you’re both in the room together. Do you know how I manage to stay sane when Caitlyn won’t let me be with her? I satisfy my cravings by playing with her hair, brushing my bare arm against hers, breathing in her scent as much as possible. It’s both torture and ecstasy at the same time. Crowd him; he’ll be an easier nut to crack than Caitlyn, that’s for damn sure.”

Donnie jumped to his feet, dragging Melanie with him. He engulfed her in a hug, and Melanie realized she’d never felt safer than when tucked in his arms.

“And if you do all that and he’s still being a dickhead, I’ll knock some sense into him.”

“Donnie!” she whined, but her lips turned up at the corners.

The vampire released her, giving her a big, Donnie-sized grin before he said his goodbyes. Then he strode out the door to shower and get changed. Melanie gathered up her few belongings and turned, halting at the delicious sight lounging in the doorway.

Ricky watched her with a smile on his face, yet Melanie noticed the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. His arms were folded across his chest as he leaned against the doorframe.

“I’ve been sparring with Donnie.” Yeesh, genius. Great opening.

“How’s it going?”

“Good. Erika’s been teaching me some things. I could show you someday. Maybe you could spar with me… or something?”

“Baby, I’m a lover not a fighter. Why do you think I drag Derek everywhere I go? I’m the brains; he’s the brawn.”

“You gonna tell me what’s put that look in your eyes?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does to me,” Melanie retorted.

“Leave it alone, Lanie. Please.”

He was practically begging her not to probe him further, so she didn’t. She’d leave it alone… for now. If Donnie could be patient for twenty years, she could wait a little more for him to open up.

“Right, so… I’m just going to go shower and stuff.” Melanie moved away from Ricky, towards the ladies’ changing room. She had almost made it to the entrance when Ricky’s voice froze her to the spot.

“Want company?”

With all the grace of an elephant, Melanie dropped the stuff she’d been carrying to stare wide eyed at him. Something had happened to Ricky to make him be so forward with her, and she could almost see the battle being waged in his mind as he schooled himself for his lack of control.

“And if I said yes?”

“Damn, Lanie, please don’t tempt me. I’m not myself today.”

Chewing on her bottom lip, she held his gaze. “Then no, I don’t want company. I want the Ricky who wants to be with me, not use me as a distraction.”

Ricky moved a foot forward in her direction, halted, and shook his head so hard Melanie was sure his brains were rattling around in there. He released a string of swear words, then grumbled an apology and backed out of the room, sparks on his fingertips.

Only when he was gone did Melanie realize what had almost happened, what she would have let happen. If Ricky had stridden over and taken her mouth exactly as she had imagined he would, then she would have been powerless against him.

Because damn, the vampire girl wanted him as much as the human girl once had.