We dance a bit and then get ready to leave. I try to keep the physical contact to a minimum. I already feel a pull to these guys, and I don't want to explore it…at least just yet. Anytime that I let a guy get close, it only ended in disaster. I am not sure that I am ready for such entanglements again. But there's just something about them. I don't think it is because they are supernatural beings either. They're strangers yet I feel almost like I'm home.
Sam goes to leave, “I'll text you about meeting my family.” He is just so sure of this that it rubs off onto me.
I smile, “Sounds good.” Honestly, it does, and that scares me.
He kisses me on the cheek and I feel this tingling rush. It makes
me giggle and blush. I am not the type of woman that is so easily flustered, but these guys make my head spin. I'm so not used to this kind of attention. I'm used to a different kind. A controlling kind. Any past relationship I had except for Kevin turned into a fight for either my mental or physical health. Sometimes both as in the issues with Victor. He seemed so charming and gallant. He was a mix of Vincent and Sam in that regard, but he hid a lot from me. Now that I think of it, I don't think that his abusive cheating ass was human. I hope that I never see him again!
We go to my car and I completely forget that Vincent is walking with us. Vincent is just so quiet like a cat. You forget he's there unless he chooses to make his presence known.
Katie teases, “So meeting his family?” as she wiggles her eyebrows.
I roll my eyes, “It’s for a story.”
She gives me a look, “Sure it is.”
“Girl just because you can't keep your panties on doesn't mean I can't,” I quickly cover my mouth.
F*ck I should have worded that differently. I look over at Vincent who is just shaking his head while a smirk plays on his lips. Ugh, he's infuriating!
“Sorry, Vincent,” I don't know what else to say because I know that he's not used to such crass behavior.
He gives me a soft smile, “This all is going to take some getting used to. I have had silence for so long.”
I answer without thinking, “For you and me both.”
Katie exclaims, “What?”
Sh*t, I have to think of a cover! So I say, “Oh, we are staying at Vincent's for a bit. I thought I said earlier.”
She whispered, “Weird but okay, he's hot so you better make the most of it.”
I have a feeling Vincent heard as his smirk widened. Because if the legends are true, vampires have excellent hearing. So it looks like that isn't a rumor. I am going to have a lot to learn, and it looks like Vincent will enjoy teaching me even if I die of embarrassment.
We get into my car. Katie stretches out in the backseat. I just roll my eyes and laugh. She's always the princess diva type.
Vincent motions towards Katie and whispers, “She always like this?”
I laugh, “Yes.”
“Why?” he asks.
I laugh harder, “You'll be surprised at the lengths you'll go to for those you love.”
When he wasn't laughing with me, I looked over at him. I see sadness that briefly crept into his eyes. I blink a few times and then it's gone.
I think not caring if he hears me or not, "what or who has hurt you so much that there is no one you hold
dear? Why is an eternity of loneliness better?"
I see him look at me briefly and then look away. I'm pretty sure he heard me. But I will let it rest. I of all people know how poking around in the past can open up old wounds. We pull into our apartment complex. We go up to our apartment and begin packing.
Vincent wonders around looking at everything and eventually ends up in my room, “Nice room.”
He notices my framed poems on the wall.
He reads one aloud, “Darkness's Kiss:
Every night it's the same dark dream
And it always ends with me in a scream
You're following me
You're haunting me
You know I'm not what I seem
You know I am unclean
It's a sticky heat
This late-night on an empty street
You're chasing me
I wonder what you think I must be
And you smell so eternally sweet
Oh how I have longed for us to meet
I know you don't come from the human swarm
You're of a darkened demon form
You're touching me
Your tongue is dominating me
You're sending me to a heightened place
I don't care if I never feel God's grace
Your hand slides up
And you find my wet core
Life should be always so wondrous that it has you begging for more
I want an eternity of just us
I'm prepared to do what I must
My nails dig deep into your skin
Even as my head begins to spin
You're a burning flame
But I'll not cast any blame
For you've given me an evil grin
I'm so ready to commit this sin
We're on the brink of a coiled spring
It's time to make you my new king
Your tongue finds mine
And I can taste your bloody wine
Please make my body sing
I need you, my eternal king
I give in to a long deep sigh
Tell me we'll never say goodbye
Now comes the bite,
and I won't fight
Even if it's time to die.
So I can eternally live this lie.
Now together forever we can share eternal bliss
All thanks to darkness's kiss.”
He looks at me, “Goth phase?”
I reply, “No, I've always been like this. I have always been different.”
He gives me an appraising look, “Which is a good thing. So you believe in love?”
This might be my chance to learn more about the mystery that is Vincent Black. So I open up to him, “I do, I also think it's different for everyone. Some people love one person their whole lives, others never find it, and some love a few. There's also sibling and parental type love. I think we all need some type of love to truly live.”
He asks, “Have you found it?”
“The lasting kind, no, just familial with Katie. There was a guy that I loved but he's gone. Have you ever found it?” I ask.
He sighs, “Once a few centuries ago.”
I can tell that he won't elaborate so I steer the conversation, “I guess it's different for your kind.”
He nods, “If you could become immortal, would you?”
I think for a moment, “I suppose given the right circumstances I would. It would be sad to watch those around me die, but if I helped them make that life worth living and loving then it would be worth it.”
He smiles as if I lifted a weight from his shoulders, “You're taking this whole immortal thing well. I don't sense any fear in you.”
It's my turn to smile, “What's to fear? If you wanted me dead, l'd already be. You're more powerful then the vampires I compelled.”
He looks shocked. I bet he thought that he was doing a great job of hiding himself from me. I think if I didn't feel this pull to him, I wouldn't be able to read him well if at all.
He asks, “How?”
I don't want to say too much, “A feeling same as I had at the Gala.”
He changes the topic, “Do you trust the Prince?”
I don't have to think, “He was being honest with what he knows. He has secrets just like all of us. But he means me no harm. You both hide your secrets well by the way.”
Vincent says, “And the wolf?”
I laugh, “He's harmless. He won't harm me. He wants to help. I do have an odd question.”
He nods for me to proceed, “Well a few. First why can we hear each other's thoughts sometimes? Secondly, wasn't it odd that we all ended up at a table together?”
He nervously answers, “I wasn't supposed to be at your table. I chose to be.”
I don't truly believe what I'm saying. I think he knows why he chose my table, “So maybe just coincidence, but why did you choose to talk to me? There were tons of beautiful people there to talk to. Or you could've taken a liking to Katie.”
I can tell that I am onto something because he's not wanting to make eye contact.
He relents, “Maybe a coincidence, but there was just something about you that drew me to approach you. I don't usually
initiate conversation.”
I say, “I bet your upbringing has something to do with it.”
I can tell that he's shrouded. He's not ready to be open about his past, but neither am I.
He nods, “It does. As for your other question, I'm not sure you'll like the answer. Even I have trouble with it.”
I can tell that he's being honest. What he's about to tell me even he is having trouble accepting.
I blurt out, “Ugh just tell me!”
He's trying to figure out how to tell me, “Well humans are guided by emotions, feelings towards others right?”
I nod, “Yeah and often basic chemistry.”
He looks me in the eye as he sighs, “Vampires give into carnal temptation a lot which coincides with what you refer to as chemistry. However, feelings are more reserved for humans. This pertains to that poem a bit. Now let's see if you believe in what you write.”
Is he challenging me? I look at him.
He smirks, “Vampires rely on certain things to indicate who they can...let close.”
I glare at him and say, “You mean as an ally or lover?” because he surely can't mean what I think he does!
His smirk widens, “We aren't close with lovers, Eva. As we can have many and they come and go. We also have very few allies as many lust for power.”
He's getting off on my agitation, “Then what?”
He hesitated, “Eric was thinking Vicky could turnout to be his mate. Why he chose to marry her so that he could be with her around humans. He was wrong.”
He said mate!
I ask, “Why?”
He says, “He didn't share enough indicators with her. They never had the mindlink.”
I tilt my head, “But he married her and let her close?”
Vincent adds, “Yes, perhaps he was just tired of being lonely and he didn't feel like she'd betray him. He
hoped to grow to love her.”
I'm trying to understand all of this, “Maybe not everyone has the ESP thing like me.”
He says, “No all vampires do, just most are very weak. But even weak ones have it with their…”
He trailed off so I insist, “Their what? I'm doing my best not to pry it out of you!”
He says softly as his blue eyes flicked to mine, “Mates.”
My eyes go wide. No, no this can't be what this pull means! “Ummm no.”
He looks at me almost annoyed, “Then you don't believe in what you write. That poem was about vampires. Your protagonist was in search of her king, her mate, just as he was stalking her.”
He's right, but then what about the pull I have to Sam and that slight one to Eric?
Vincent looks into my eyes, “But at first, I thought the same because you're not human so I don't think I can make you into a vampire. I don't know how it could work although hybrids did exist long ago. But you are my mate.”
I say, “But you're not the only one.”
He tilts his head, “You sure?”
I nod, “If what you say is true, he will call.”
I felt that pull to Sam. After talking with Vincent I realized why. I touch the cheek that I was kissed by him as I held out my phone. It begins to ring and I answer.
***Phone call on speaker***
Sam Fall: Eva you ok?
Eva Sims: Highly confused but not as much as Vincent is right now.
Vincent Black: How?
Eva Sims: I showed you how I got him to call.
Vincent Black: Fine then why a vampire and a wolf?
Sam Fall: Ok now I'm confused.
Eva Sims: We were talking about the mindlink, mind-reading I guess or whatever, but how it's an indicator to a potential mate and how Vicky wasn'tEric's.
Vincent Black: How'd you know to call?
Sam Fall: I heard her ask me.
Vincent Black: Well f*ck!
I stifle a giggle because it looks like these boys will have to learn to share and get along.
Sam Fall: Not following!
Eva Sims: How does a wolf know if they've found a mate? I'm not talking just a casual lover!
The line went dead silent. Sam suddenly isn't so brazen just as Vincent got nervous earlier about this same topic.
Sam Fall: Stop trying to pry!
Vincent Black: Yeah, she does that. She doesn't like the silent treatment, so I suggest that you answer her.
Sam Fall: This is best left to discuss in person.
I roll my eyes, “Fine!”
Sam Fall: Are you ready to believe or should I even bother?
Vincent Black: I had the same thought, but I got her to try. She just has to see to believe.
I sigh. This night couldn't be more confusing. I do want to know though. I want to understand this world and I want to know why it feels like home and why I so badly want these men.
Eva Sims: Ugh f*ck my life. I should've stayed home!
Sam Fall: You know you'd have gone anyway.
Eva Sims: We will talk tomorrow.
Sam Fall: Get some rest
Eva Sims: I'll try.
****End Call****
How ironic, the werewolf wants me to get some rest in the house of a vampire that is my mate and that I want to claw and lick every inch of.
I say maybe too loudly, “Great in one fucking night I went from being single to having two or more possible
boyfriends!”
Katie comes running in, “What?”
I shrug, “Nothing.”
She won't relent, “Oh it's something! No wonder we are staying with Vincent and Sam wants you to meet his family. You
have two guys fighting over you it's so romantic!”
I facepalm, “No it's not. I'm not a prize that one of them wins.”
She squeals, “Girl I would be so turned on if I had two guys wanting me!”
I glare at her, “Get your mind out of the gutter.”
She blushes, “Nah I'm too close to coming at the thought now.”
I facepalm again but this time I look at Vincent through my fingers.
He smirks, “My life isn't going to be dull now is it!”
We all laugh. He's just so accepting. I guess I need to be too. I smile, “No, no it's certainly not.”
———-Vincent’s POV———-
I am doing my best to keep my thoughts private, but she is making it incredibly hard. I am used to my
privacy, and now it's gone. I have a human in my home, and a mate who is in denial.
Some vampires find their mate after a few centuries but I have waited much longer. A many centuries ago, I gave up hope. I traveled the world over during my eternity and never did I find a mate.
Now, I have one but I'm afraid. I have lost someone that I held dear. She wasn't my mate, but that loss made me into a monster. I can't lose Eva, but I'm not sure that I can risk loving her. What if I can't protect her? Not to mention it looks like she might be a mate to a shifter. I don't have the animosity towards shifters like many of my kind do, but this could put Eva in further danger. Also, just what being is she? She isn't a vampire and doesn't scent like anything I have known. Vampires can't renounce the bond, but shifters can. Maybe I can get Sam to reject his mate?