Blood Lust

CHAPTER NINETEEN


Isaac struggled through the evening. He signed hardbacks, danced a few times with fans and agents. Then, he drank a few glasses of water and went up to his room. Sliding his key card, he entered. The smell of the roses permeated the air recalling the memory of his lover rubbing the cool, silky petals over his skin.

Seth, please. He undressed, placing his clothes on the silent butler. I want you so much.

Nothing. No reply. No connection.

Feeling miserably alone, he brushed his teeth and got ready for bed. For years, he’d spent most of his time in his own company by choice. Now that he’d known the pleasure of a companion, it had lost its charm.

Although he resolved to talk the matter out with Seth the following evening, he laid awake, imaging his lover giving someone else the pleasure of his mouth on their body, taking his communion.

The following morning he woke fuzzy and vague despite his lack of indulgence in alcohol the previous night. He blinked, eyes bleary even in the low light. He’d put in for a six AM wakeup call before he’d known he would spend the night agonizing over his lover’s reaction to their quarrel. Glancing at the clock, he barely made out the time before the land line rang. He rolled over and picked up the cordless handset. “Yeah?”

“Good morning, Mr. Felix. This is Natasha with V.I.P guest services giving you the wakeup call you requested. May I have complimentary coffee and some fresh fruit and bagels sent up?”

“Yes, thank you.” He swiped his hand over his face, trying to erase the bad night, he supposed. In the mood to act like an ass, he asked, “Could you make that Eggs Benedict and bill my publisher’s credit card?”

“Certainly, sir. Their financial rep already told us to give you whatever you wished. Your breakfast will arrive in approximately forty minutes.”

Thunder freshly stolen at losing his adolescent strike at Sweyton-Ross’ wallet, he sighed quietly. “Thank you, Natasha.”

Isaac dropped the handset onto the base.

He didn’t want breakfast.

He wanted Seth.

Sitting on his last panel, Isaac watched his cell for notification he’d received a call or text. Nothing. That word had begun to infuriate him.

After the session let out, he stepped into the hall and a uniformed man approached him. “Mr. Felix?”

“Yes.”

The short, dapper man inclined his head. “Hedricks, Madam Rutherford’s personal driver. Mr. Vincent sent me to fetch you, sir.”

Relieved, Isaac replied, “I’m packed. Let me run up for my bags.”

“Not at all, sir. Staff will fetch them.”

He nodded, then remembered the bouquet. “There’re roses in my room. I want them treated gently.”

“Of course. Let me speak with guest services. May I meet you out front in ten minutes, sir?”

“‘Isaac’,” he corrected. “Yes, please.” He walked along, looking forward to seeing his lover.

At the appointed spot, he waited, brain churning. Having a creative personality did not help in this kind of situation, he realized. However, a sleek, silver Rolls Royce Phantom rolled up to the curb promptly. A valet stepped out and surrendered the keys to Hedricks. Conjured almost from thin air, the driver walked back to open the door for Isaac. “All’s secured, sir. Shall we?”

He settled himself in the back seat, noting the soft leather upholstery. Isaac sat quietly until he began to recognize the way to the airport. “Hedricks, where’re you driving me?”

“Airport, sir. Mr. Vincent’s booked a flight to ROA. Not to worry. He’s arranged for a security escort to travel with you and remain until such time he returns to his residence. ”

“Oh, I don’t think so,” he murmured. As they stopped at a light, Isaac opened the door and stepped out onto the street.

“Sir!”

“I’ll walk this fucking burg until I find him, Hedricks. Take me to him, or explain losing me when I have a damn bullseye on my ass.”

“Yes, sir! Please get back in, sir.”

Isaac saw the light change and knew he had the man. Shamelessly, he committed his first dabble in coercion. “I know cars like this have master door locks. I intend to ride without fully shutting my door so you can’t make use of that.”

“Sir, please!”

He smiled. “Nothing like a man connecting with his inner villain.” Isaac slid back into the car. “Nothing against you, man. Just doing your job.”

“Yes, sir.”

Isaac put on his seat belt and held the door in a careful position to prevent the driver from having the power to lock down the sedan. Nothing red-flagged him during the next while, so he relaxed a bit. Soon, architecture began to tell him where they drove. “This’s like the sixteen hundred stretch of northwest twenty-fifth street.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I know places here can go in the forty million range.” He opened his mind, seeking Seth. “Keep driving.” Watching the luxurious homes, he trolled mentally. “This one, Hedricks.”

“Correct, sir.”

Attendants rushed out to greet. Isaac leapt out and ascended the wide antebellum stairs at a gallop. A strikingly tall woman with upswept gold hair, dark brown eyes, and olive skin emerged to greet him. Wearing an expensive, casual ensemble of European shoes, slacks and Irish sweater, she spoke, “Let me guess. Mr. Felix?”

“I wanna see Seth.” As he reached the top step, he observed her expression. “I know you’re human. You can’t stop me.”

“This house has two subterranean levels, Mr. Felix.” Her cocoa-colored eyes seemed to study him. “If you’re brave enough to travel down into them, just be aware my guard dog wanders the halls.”

“They make signs for that,” he said and strode into the residence. Incense and smoke from burning candles hit his nose. Isaac concentrated, following his instinct through the lavishly appointed mansion. In a hall, he found a door under a staircase.

Summoning his courage, he opened the door and descended. Torchlight flickered in the small room at the steps’ base. A tiled floor under his feet, sapphire silk moiré-hung walls around, Isaac inhaled deep and sought his lover. Doors stood to his left and right. Choosing left, he walked over, opened it and entered the close quarters of the gaslight-illuminated hallway.

A sense of menace struck him. “Guard dog,” he murmured. “Christ.”

A figure, tall, broad-shouldered, slim-hipped and lean, loomed ahead. It seemed to shimmer, then appear much closer. Isaac’s heart thundered. Holding his ground, he nonetheless yelped when the creature vanished before appearing directly before him. “Christ!”

Brilliant, shimmering, long copper hair crowned his head. Bone-white skin. Eyes entirely black in a lean, harshly-featured face, wide mouth with elongated blood teeth, and a pervading scent of predatory musk. The vampire wore only low-slung pants on his exaggeratedly T-shaped body. His hands, with their long, very terrifying fingers, ended in shiny, curved, jet-hued nails.

Isaac shivered. “Guard dog. Fuck. Okay. Couple weeks ago, I’d have needed a defibrillator and clean shorts.” Terrified, yet resolute, he continued. “I intend to see Seth. So, scare me to death, tear me to shreds with those claws, or take me to him.”

The petrifying vampire spoke, his voice so musical and seductive Isaac swayed on his feet hearing it. “You’re the first human to face me thus.”

“Don’t know about ‘thus’. I get the whole ‘Fear Factor’ meets ‘Scare Tactics’.” Isaac inhaled deeply. “You control your scent, don’t you?”

That harsh-planed face sharpened further. “Receiver, allow me to escort you to where your lover rests.”

Isaac followed, noting the predominant muscle and vertebrae under ivory skin.

When the vampire halted outside a door, waved his long-fingered hand over the latch and it opened, the creature looked down at Isaac. “May I seek you, receiver? Not as food or for sex.”

Isaac, following his instincts, reached up to touch the vampire’s face. The white, taut skin felt warm and smooth. Almost like a statue. “Yes.”

“Your lover sleeps within.”

“Thank you. I look forward to our next meeting.” Isaac entered the room, knowing his encounter with Seth would go far less smoothly.