Vampire Lane (8 page)

“Natasha, my beauty, you will never be an inconvenience; you are just what I want you to be, yourself.”

“Right now I want nothing more than to fuck you on this desk and show you exactly how I feel,” Natasha responded in a sultry, sex kitten voice. She could tell it affected him because he looked away for a moment and took a few deep breaths before he looked her in the eyes again. “I am leaving before I take you up on that offer. I can promise you this: I will pay you a visit tonight, so tell your roommate to expect me.

Tanek left quickly, leaving Natasha on her own. He said he could never love her, but she wasn’t so sure. Maybe she was wrong, but a man who didn’t love, wouldn’t care so much if she was angry at him. Then he came and apologized for something that wasn’t even his fault. That was totally a boyfriend move. She wasn’t sure how she felt about him, but whatever it was, she would have fun figuring it out with him.

Chapter 15

As Tanek left Natasha, he was turned on to the point his cock was aching. He needed blood. Yes, blood would help take the edge off. He went behind the bar and made a drink laced with blood. He swallowed it down in one big gulp, but it did little to help his craving for Natasha. He saw Josh, the bartender, come around from the back with some beer to replenish the shelves. He started stocking the shelves then stopped when he noticed Tanek standing there.

“Sir, can I get you something?” Josh asked.

“Yes, can you make me a drink? I need to unwind.”

“Sure, what would you like? Blood or dry?”

“Blood, please.”

Josh nodded and mixed a few ingredients then gave it to Tanek. He drank it, not quite as quickly this time. Then he walked around the bar and took a seat at one of the stools, taking off his tie and jacket. Tonight he would be taking the night off and be just like a regular customer. He finished the drink, and although he wasn't quite sure what it was, he wanted another.

“Josh, I would like another, please.”

“Sure boss. Can I ask a question?”

“Of course, Josh; you can always ask me anything, and that goes for all the employees.”

“I have never seen you drink. Why are you drinking tonight?”

Tanek took the offered drink and immediately took a sip. “I am drinking for pleasure and to take the edge off. I am having control issues, and I just need a drink to relax.”

“Well, just don’t drive home,” Josh added.

Not a hard thing to promise when you don’t drive.

After Tanek drank his third drink, he began to feel more relaxed. His erection finally went away, but he could still only think of Natasha. He still planned on seeing her later. Until then, he needed more drinks to keep himself under control. He knew he couldn’t drink at his bar all night, so he finished his drink, then decided to go to another bar. This was New Orleans; there were plenty to choose from.

He grabbed his jacket and walked outside. It was a pleasant night and he could hear the live bands from down the street, so he walked about a block and entered a bar he knew had blood drinks. The bar was called
Reds
. Not his normal hang out, but he didn’t care; he just needed some more drinks. He unbuttoned a few of his top buttons from his shirt and found a seat at the bar.

It was very loud inside as a live band played jazz, and the crowd seemed to love it. He waved over the bartender and asked for a drink with blood. The bartender, a pretty blonde woman, quickly made something and then passed it to him. He took it and drank it quickly. It wasn’t as good as the one Josh made, but as that point, he didn’t care. The Jazz music blared loudly and Tanek took his drink and found a table closer to the band. He was actually starting to really enjoy the live music. He would have to look at adding some live music to his bars. It seemed to attract quite a crowd—a lively crowd, but nothing he couldn’t handle. He finished another drink and spotted a waitress nearby, and he waved her down.

“My dear, could I trouble you for another special drink?”

“Special?” she asked.

“Yes, the bartender will know what you mean.”

The waitress nodded and took his empty glass with her. Tanek waited and enjoyed his empty table when unexpectedly someone sat down in the unoccupied chair. The minute the stranger sat at his table, he knew he was a vampire, and not a good one either. He didn’t like the man and he didn’t even say one word, just sat there and stared at him.

“I am Godfryd Rosner,” the stranger said in a slight German accent.

Tanek looked at the man dressed in all black with a handsome, yet cruel face, and he didn’t know what the man wanted. He was drunk, but still, he wanted nothing to do with this man.

“Godfryd, it was nice to meet you, but I have somewhere I have to be.”

“So close to dawn, my vampire friend?”

“Well, I have a woman I need to see.”

“Human or vampire?” he asked.

Tanek was already tired of the man, as well as anything he had to say. “A vampire, not that it matters.”

“Oh, but it does. Humans are only good for fucking and eating, but another vampire could be something more.”

“Yes, well, that may be, but I really must go now.”

He finally got away from the strange vampire. He could feel the effects of the alcohol, so he cut himself off. It was late and all he wanted was to get to Natasha.

***

Natasha got out of the shower. Tanek promised to stop by, so she wanted to freshen up. She dried her hair and put on a white, silky night gown trimmed with lace. She put a small drop of her favorite perfume behind each ear, as well.

“Maureen!” Natasha yelled.

Maureen ran up the stairs and stood in the doorway. “Yes, Tasha, do you need to feed?”

Natasha nodded. “I’m sorry, you really don’t have to do this anymore. You have a job now, you can pay rent instead.”

“I know I don’t have to, but I like feeding you. It may sound weird, but it makes me feel sort of motherly, feeding someone.”

Natasha never really thought about it like that. If it made Maureen feel better, she was happy to feed from her. Fresh blood tasted so much better than synthetic, or even bagged blood for that matter. Maureen sat next to Natasha on the bed, and she moved her hair over to give Natasha easy access.

Natasha drank from Maureen. She loved the way she tasted, so warm, fresh, and always a hint of copper. She finished and thanked Maureen as she heard the doorbell ring and knew it must be Tanek. She smiled and stood up to go answer the door.

“No, Tasha, let me get the door; you just relax.”

Natasha just waited, and then Tanek appeared inside her room. Immediately, he was all over her, kissing and touching her. She moaned and started tearing off his clothes; she had waited all night for this. And she had a feeling he had been waiting, too.

Tanek whispered in her ear something she never expected to hear from him. “I love you, my beauty Natasha, oh how I love you.”

She could not believe what she heard. He loved her and she knew she loved him, too.

Chapter 16

Natasha awoke in Tanek’s arms. They made love well through the day and slept until the sun set again. He was already awake and watching her when she opened her eyes.

“How long have you been watching me like that?”

“Not long, maybe an hour.”

“An hour? Why didn’t you wake me?”

“You looked so beautiful. I couldn’t bring myself to disturb you.”

“What happened to Vamp 101 training?”

“We can take one night off. We will continue tomorrow.”

Natasha was hoping he would just cancel the entire training. She thought she was fine living at night. She didn’t see why she had to change. Shouldn’t it be her choice to change, not his?

Natasha took a quick shower and changed into her work clothes. She chose an emerald green dress with black pumps. She hated drying her hair, so she towel dried it, and would let it air dry the rest of the way. She went down the stairs and found Maureen cooking away, and Tanek at the table talking while she cooked.

“Hey, sweetie, I hope you like tacos,” Maureen said to Natasha.

Maureen had on her bartending uniform, a white shirt with
Bite Me
in red on the corner, and a pair of black shorts. Her hair was pulled back in a black headband, and a smile spread across her face. Natasha liked that she seemed happy living with her.

“I love tacos,” Natasha replied, sitting at the table with Tanek. Natasha kept thinking about last night and his suddenly telling her he loved her. It was almost hard to believe. She wanted to talk to him, but didn’t think it was something she should do in front of Maureen.

“So will you be at work tonight, Tanek?” Natasha asked

“I will, and the new office should be finished, too. I had some of my men get it done today while we slept.”

“I’m surprised, I always thought of you as the hands on kind of man.”

“I am, but like all men, I can’t do it all; some things are more important than others. I would much rather be spending time with you than watching an office being put together.”

Natasha stood up and walked over to the fridge. She grabbed to rest of the needed items for dinner, and put them on the table. Maureen put the taco shells and all the fixings on the table. Natasha sat back down and started making her taco. Tanek did the same and they all started eating together. Natasha loved everything that Maureen cooked, and this was no exception. She wondered to herself why, even after she left Godfryd, she almost never ate food. She sometimes ate deserts, because she liked the sweetness. Other than that, food never really interested her.

Natasha finished eating, and she sat in the living room and waited for Tanek. She knew he would come to find her. She felt nervous and knew this was something they needed to talk about. She needed to hear it again, to know she didn’t imagine it.

"There you are. Why are you hiding in here?"

"Not hiding, just thinking."

"That can be dangerous. Normally when a woman is thinking, something is wrong."

"I just wanted to talk about last night, what you said."

“Yeah?”

“You said you loved me then we had fabulous sex. I know you said you could never love me, so I wanted to hear it. I need to hear it to know I wasn’t imagining it.”

Natasha waited for his response. She could see the look of confusion on his face, and that was not be a good sign.

“I’m sorry, my beauty, I was blood drunk last night when I came to you. I know I should have stayed away in that state, but I wanted to be with you. I’m sorry, I have no memory of what I said.”

Natasha was crushed. “But you said you love me.”

“I know. I am so sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I am such an idiot. Please forgive me if I have hurt you. Love is not something I am willing to give.”

“You are a coward! I can’t believe I ever trusted you!” Natasha shouted and flipped over the table as her fangs came out in an angry fury, her eyes turning red and angry.

“Natasha, you need to calm down. You will work yourself into a blood rage.”

“I don’t fucking care! I hate you and I want to hurt you like you hurt me!”

“I will leave now. Please calm yourself before you come into work.”

Tanek left with vampire speed, and Natasha was left alone. But she wasn’t through with her tantrum. She grabbed every breakable thing she could get her hands on, throwing and shattering all the little knick knacks she painstakingly picked out for her house. She screamed as loud as her voice would go. When she finally finished, she calmed herself, and then saw Maureen off to the side, watching.

“Tasha, what happened?”

Natasha fell to the ground and cried. She loved him, really loved him, and he broke her heart. Maureen rushed over and held her, letting her cry on her shoulder.

“Sweetie, whatever it is, I am here for you. I won’t ever leave you.”

Natasha couldn’t express how much those words meant to her. To have a true friend who would always be there for her no matter what. “Tanek, he said he loved me. It was a lie; he was blood drunk. He doesn’t love me.”

Maureen stroked her hair. “If that’s what he said, then he is just lying to himself. I can see the way he looks at you. If that isn’t love, I don't know what is.”

Natasha couldn’t see what Maureen saw, but she knew one thing: whatever they had, it was over. She wouldn’t see him again.

Chapter 17

The old brink house in the Garden District stood proudly. No one would ever know the owners had just died a violent death. The house was gated and private, no nosey neighbors to worry about. He had to kill a few humans to get the place, but then again, it was a very nice meal. He didn't kill the staff; he just put the suggestion in their head that he was the new owner. That was it. He had a new life as a millionaire. Tomorrow he would go to the bank and secure the previous owners’ finances. In the past, he never cared about those kinds of things, preferring to live under the radar and on his own terms, but now that he had been a vampire a very long time, he wanted money and prestige. He was finished living in squalor; he wanted the finer things in life and wasn’t afraid to use his powers to get it. So far he loved this city. So many activities and other paranormals … He could do what he wanted, like indefinitely, without ever being caught.