CHAPTER FIVE

Thomas’s bedroom was massive. Eve licked her dry lips and silently took a step inside his private domain. The walls were made entirely of gray flagstone. It was décor was masculine and bold; colors of emerald green, saffron, vivid red, and mellow blue dominated the room. The teakwood floor beneath her bare feet was smooth as glass and warm to the touch. She was horrified by her behavior. She was invading the privacy of a comparative stranger and yet she felt powerless to stop herself. Her breath escaped her lungs in painful trickles.

She felt as though the walls were watching her. Paintings of the seven Archangels stared down at her with unwavering intensity. Eve felt their eyes follow her as she inched her way forward. Thick, beeswax candles flickered throughout the bedroom, their scent was intoxicating. The atmosphere was hushed and secretive.

Eve looked around in awe. Religious artifacts from all over the world adorned the sumptuous room. She lightly touched a plain wood chalice on his dresser. She gasped, and snatched her hand back as if she were burned. She felt an energy emanating from it that was frightening in it’s intensity. She glanced at the enormous iron four-poster bed in the center of the room. She felt a dark thrill run through her. She walked towards it and laid her palm on the snow-white pillow. She saw a long strand of his glistening hair coiled on it. Eve picked it up and twined it around her finger.

“God, what am I doing?” She whispered in shock. She wiggled her finger and let the hair drop to the ground. She felt branded…her forefinger actually felt hot to the touch.

She quickly backed up from the bed and spun around. She felt dizzy and light-headed. The scent of the candles, the room…everything started closing in on her.

Eve heard a faint sound coming from behind a closed door on the far side of the bedroom. Before she knew what she was doing, she found herself in front of it. She turned the knob and peered through the crack in the door. Thomas was seated in the lotus position on a bamboo mat in the center of the room. His back was to her, and all she could see was the glossy fall of his hair.

She craned her head in farther so she could get a better look. He was in nothing but a pair of black silk pajama bottoms. His eyes were closed and he was whispering something in French. She strained to hear what he was saying.

“Je fait ma coupure sous vos bouclier,

Soyez a Mon dos…”

Eve frowned, what did that mean?

“I make my circuit under thy shield,

Be thou at my back…”

Thomas continued chanting in that same husky whisper. She couldn’t make out the rest of the words. He had a heavy jeweled chalice next to him. He picked it up and drank deeply from it.

He slowly rose to his feet and was about to turn around.

She quickly shut the door and ran out of his bedroom in fright. She didn’t stop until she was safely in her own suite. Eve leaned against the door with her eyes clenched shut. Her heart was banging against her ribs so hard she could barely stand.

“Comment oses-tu?”

The low and deadly voice forced Eve’s eyes to snap open. There in front of her stood a very angry Thomas. He stood before her barefoot and bare-chested. His eyes were amber slits in his tight, unsmiling face. “How dare you?” He repeated in a sibilant, hiss.

He braced both of his hands on either side of her head and brought his face inches from her own. His long hard body was pressed against hers from chest to toe.

Thomas felt her heart pounding violently and it was all he could do to keep from sinking his teeth into her throat. He clenched his jaw and glared at her. “Well?” He snapped. “I’m waiting for an answer as to why you invaded my bedroom without my permission?”

Eve was rendered mute. She was so embarrassed and mortified; she wished the ground would swallow her up whole. She was trembling and unable to form a cohesive thought. Had she been thinking clearly she would have been astounded as to how Thomas suddenly appeared in her bedroom in the blink of an eye.

“I…I apologize, Monsieur Lord,” she whispered. “I have no excuse for my conduct…I… c-can only say it…it will n-never happen again…”

His image blurred as tears filled her eyes. She bowed her head in shame. He placed a thumb under her chin and lifted it up. “You didn’t answer my question, Eve,” he said softly. “I asked you why you came into my bedroom. Because there is a reason and you know it, you’re just not telling me what it is. And I am not leaving here until you do.”

The intimate use of her name jolted Eve to the very core of her being. It was as if he were the only person the world to have uttered it. He slid his thumb down the side of her neck. He began making tight, hypnotic, little circles against her pulse.

“Stop it,” she moaned. The feel of his hand on her was her undoing.

“No,” he whispered. He leaned forward and placed his lips a breath away from her own. “Why did you seek me out, petite? Hmm? What were you hoping to gain?”

His warm breath feathered over her mouth. She stared into his eyes and vertigo overcame her. Her own eyes fluttered closed and she slumped against him.

He scooped her up as if she weighed nothing and carried her to her bed. He gently deposited her there and stared down at her. Her black hair was spread out over her pillow like a ravens wing, liquid and alive. In contrast her face was pale as a Madonna’s.

He was breathing harshly as he felt the power in him come out. His eyes glowed amber fire. He ran a finger down her satiny cheek, marveling at its texture. His teeth elongated and sharpened. “Just a taste, mon chou,” he groaned. “Just a taste…”

He bent down and delicately pierced the soft flesh at her throat. The puncture was light and almost indiscernible. Twin drops of scarlet rose to the surface and beaded there wetly. He touched his tongue to it and licked it clean.

He forced himself to draw away from her. Her taste was luscious and exotic. It was the taste of a clean soul. Thomas had forgotten what that tasted like. He half closed his eyes and gazed at her. His long hair fell across her face; he swept it aside and continued to look his fill. Her nightgown had pulled to the side and the swell of one rounded breast was exposed.

Thomas’s breath hissed through his teeth. He was hard and ready. He lowered his head and kissed the tender flesh. He rubbed his chin back and forth against skin so soft that he could have sworn it wasn’t real.

He opened his mouth and drew in the hardening nipple for a brief and fleeting instant. He lightly rolled his tongue over the tight little bud and bit gently. He smiled against her breast and kissed the rosy tip.

Eve began to stir. She reflexively moaned and arched her back up to keep the contact of mouth on flesh.

Thomas rose and pulled the covers over her. “Sleep well, ma petite,” he murmured. She was in his blood, this beautiful and lush creature. It was fate, even her name…Eve. The name of the first woman, she was now his woman.

“You are never leaving here, Eve…I won’t allow it…”

He turned and glided out of her room as quiet as mist.

To be continued….

CHAPTER SIX

Eve woke up slowly. She felt heavy-headed and almost hung over. She squinted against the morning sunlight streaming into her bedroom and groaned softly.

She sat up and limply ran a hand through her hair. She glanced at her watch and did a double take. “Oh my God!” She exclaimed in horror. It was past ten in the morning.

She scrambled out of bed and nearly tripped and broke her neck in the process. It was her first day working for Mr. Lord and here she was sleeping like she was on vacation. What must he think of her?

She stumbled into the bathroom and quickly splashed cold water on her face and brushed her teeth. She yanked a comb through her thick hair and hurried back into the bedroom.

She pulled out a pair of jeans and shirt and threw them on. She tied her shoes with trembling fingers, cursing herself for her stupidity. Eve grabbed a scarf and scraped her hair into a ponytail.

She stole a quick glance in the mirror and almost cried. She looked like a mess. Forcing the unwanted thought from her mind she opened the door and went in search of her new employer.

Thomas was seated behind his desk writing. He looked up and raised a sardonic eyebrow. Eve stood hesitatingly by the doorway looking both miserable and guilty at the same time.

“Nice of you to join me cherie,” he murmured drolly. “I take it you slept well?”

Eve’s discomfort level escalated about ten notches. “I never sleep this late, Mr. Lord. I…I must have been more tired than I imagined. It won’t happen again.” She twisted her hands nervously and forced herself to remain poised.

Dressed in a navy blue cashmere sweater and slakes, he could’ve stepped out of the pages of a European fashion magazine. He looked immaculate and remote. His hair was pulled back from his face in a sleek ponytail and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses sat regally atop the bridge of his nose. Still, his eyes drilled her like an insect to a card. They swept her attire from head to toe. Eve felt underdressed and completely unprofessional. She looked like she just tumbled out of bed, which is exactly what she did do. She didn’t even have the armor of cosmetics to aid her. Her pale face was without a stitch of make-up on, not even lipstick. She began to perspire lightly as she tamped down the rising embarrassment that was flooding through her.

Thomas hid a smile and remained impassive. He could smell her clean scent and it was intoxicating. She looked so young and untouched…virginal even. He narrowed his eyes slightly. She remembered nothing from the night before, he was sure of it. He sat back and absently rubbed his goatee. He really had nothing for her to do. He just wanted her where he could keep tabs on her. Because he knew that it was a matter of time before she brought up her close encounter with a cloaked stranger. He felt it in his bones.

“You can start by proofing these chapter’s for me,” he said abruptly. His spelling and grammar were perfect as always, but until he figured out exactly what he was going to do with her, this would keep her occupied. And close to him.

“Yes, absolutely…I uh…” She glanced around for somewhere to sit.

Thomas did smile then. He was charmed by her confusion. “Have you even had a cup of coffee yet?”

Eve’s stomach rumbled loudly in protest. It was a long low growl that seemed to echo throughout the room like a cannon blast. She sucked in her breath and stared at the ground in mortification. How much more of an idiot could she make out of herself in the space of ten minutes?

He chuckled and rose gracefully from the desk. He flexed his shoulders and stifled a yawn. “Come on…let’s get Kato to make us something to eat, I’m starving.”

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The afternoon went by rather quickly after that. Eve and Thomas worked quietly together. She was a fan of his work and this new novel was proving to be another bestseller.

The writing was harsh, violent, and utterly brilliant. She became captivated and spent the day pouring over the manuscript.

The lull of his fingers quickly typing over the keys was comforting. Eve stole a quick glance at him through her lashes. His face was absorbed and serious. He’d pause every now and then and close his unusual amber eyes. Then they’d snap open and he’d continue typing, his fingers were a blur on the keyboard.

She would have to be blind not to notice how handsome he was. She’d be hard pressed to pick out any physical flaws. If she had to at all it would be his eyes, they were mesmerizing and sharp. She could not bear to look into them for too long, even with his glasses on they were still animalistic, and intimidating.

Sensing her, he looked up and fixed her with a stare. “What?”

Eve smiled shyly. “Nothing…I was just…nothing,” she mumbled. God, what was the matter with her?

Thomas lifted an eyebrow and glanced at his watch. “We’re done for the day.”

Eve rose and stretched. “Are you sure? Because I could still proof the last two chapters…”

“Positive,” he smiled. “You put in a good day’s work. You have the rest of the night to yourself.”

Eve nodded. “All right then.” She looped a strand of hair behind her ear. “I really like what you have written so far. It…it’s… amazing…” She said shyly.

He stared at her for a beat. “Mercie, Eve. Coming from you that’s high praise.” He smiled fleetingly and walked around his desk. “I need to go out for a while, so let Kato know when you want to eat and he’ll take care of you.”

Eve smiled and stacked the proofed chapters neatly on his blotter. A small part of her was disappointed that he wouldn’t be there to dine with her. Stop it. He is your employer, nothing more. What he does with his time is none of your business.

“Okay, well…have a nice evening,” she murmured.

“Bonsoir, cherie,” he said softly. He turned and strode out of the room as quiet as smoke.

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The gothic bar was dark and crowded. Bodies pressed up against each other in a mad crush as heavy metal blasted through the speakers at a deafening volume.

Thomas wove his way through the crowd with ease. He scanned the throng until he found who he was looking for. He clamped a hand around the neck of the scrawny man and propelled him into the hovel that passed for a bathroom.

Thomas kicked the door shut behind him and bolted it. He slammed the man up against the battered stall door. “How ya doin Walter? Long time no see.”

“I told you…my name is Lucien now,” the man whined. He was dressed head to toe in black and in full gothic make-up. There was not one spot on his face that didn’t have piercing on it.

Thomas rolled his eyes. “Oh yes…I forgot. You’re a big time vampire right?” He shook his head. “I’m sure Anne Rice will be beating down your door any day now.”

Walter O’Connor a.k.a. Lucien was in reality, a collage student who worked the night shift at the city morgue two nights a week. He basically sat at the desk and studied, got high, and listened to metal. He was no match for the man in standing in front of him. Unfortunately they both knew it. Lucien swallowed and attempted to put some distance between them. He knew Thomas, and he also knew that he had a mean streak in him a mile wide.

Thomas, sensing the man’s unease kept the pressure up. He stayed on top of him, invading his space, and generally scaring the shit out of him.

“I need information,” he said with a nasty smile.

“Listen, Thomas…if I knew anything about anything, you’d know about it. I mean, you be the first one to know…” he licked his lips nervously and shifted his eyes away from him.

Thomas wrapped his fingers around Lucien’s throat and began to squeeze. “Wrong answer,” he said flatly. His voice was as cold as gravediggers.

“Okay…okay! He gasped, kicking. His feet were two feet off the ground and he was frantically trying to pry off Thomas’s long steely fingers before they crushed his windpipe.

Thomas dropped him to the ground. Lucien lay sprawled on the filthy floor coughing, but happy to be alive.

“There is something, but I wasn’t sure if it was bullshit or not. I wanted to check my source to see if it’s really true.”

“I’m listening,” Thomas said softly. He reached down and grasped Lucien’s collar. He lifted him to his feet effortlessly. “In the future you let me decide what’s bullshit. Comprendez?”

Lucien nodded quickly. “A…a couple of girls turned up dead,” he stammered. “What’s new, right? But the weird thing was that they both had their throats practically ripped out. Both bodies had no blood in them, man. They were drained dry.”

Gerard la Croix. Thomas tightened his jaw. He abruptly stepped away from Lucien and unlocked the door. “I’ll be in touch,” he said over his shoulder. And just like that he was gone, he disappeared into the crowd and then simply vanished.

Thomas walked a fast clip. His boot heels hit the pavement in a hard, angry tattoo. He knew it; he knew that bastard was close by. What did he want? They had no quarrel that he knew of. They were both aware of one another, but so far they managed to stay out of each other’s way.

Not now…Gerard left his calling card. He would never leave bodies out in the open like that. He wanted Thomas to seek him out.

“If it’s a war you want, then that’s what you’ll get, la Croix. Count on it…”

To be continued…