Just for Fun

gauge, DMShepard.com

I’ve been compiling my tweets about my character who is on the run and her hot friend Connor who is trying to help her. escape. Thought I would put them all in one place. Enjoy!

“Let me take you to my place for a drink, sweetheart.”

She looked up from her father’s coffin and her heart hammered. His goons guarded every exit. Her father’s death was a set-up. A ruse to lure her back here-to his domain.

She swallowed hard. I need to escape.

His hair came to a widow’s peak over his onyx eyes, reminding her of the vampire movies she used to watch with her father. She looked away, back to the casket.

Then it came to her. “I’ll have a drink. Just let me powder my nose.”

“Sure doll.”

She turned on the faucets and fan as if to cover the bad smells. Her father had just been the gardener-a simple man saving up to send her to school.

She sent a text to Conor: I NEED YOU.

Why the hell did I wear a skirt, she thought gazing at the window.

The blood stained her sleeve vermillion. She ignored the pain from the cut and sprinted into the darkness. I should have known Giovanni’s concern for my father and me wasn’t altruistic. Now father is dead. I need to get out of town.

No reply from Connor.

The city came into view as she emerged from the woods. Sapphire, vermillion, emerald and gold lights twinkled in the distance. Giovanni ruled it all, she would find no safe haven in his city. She looked back toward the cemetery and the church.

I have to try.

She felt sanguine as the woman cleaned the wound on her arm. She’d been lucky to find this cottage on the border of the city. Her phone buzzed as she took another sip of the warm soup the woman had poured.

CONNOR GET OUT OF THAT FARMHOUSE NOW-ITS A TRAP

Her head spun as she rose to her feet. The woman clutched at the border of the table cloth with her gnarled hands, weathered eyes filling with tears. “I’m sorry, I had to. Giovanni-” She didn’t stay to hear her defense. She bolted for the door.

She snatched a set of keys on her way out the door and climbed in the rusty ford covered in dust in the drive way. Belts screeching in protest as it clunked to life, she pointed it to the county border. It was better than nothing. CONNOR: I’M ON MY WAY

The car bellowed smoke, giving one last shudder before coasting to a stop next to a concrete barrier. She tapped her fingers against the cracked vinyl, temples throbbing. The sign in the dying headlights read: THE RENEGADE DEITY No other choice

She sifted through the bowl of curry, the Renegade Deity’s special for the night. Her heart nearly stopped when she felt his hand on her shoulder. A strange duality. Connor was a ruthless assassin, but she’d never felt such love.

Connor curled his arm around her. “I don’t know what game Gio is playing, but we’ll get you out of town—out of this mess”

“You know that my father is dead?”

He clutched her closer, “WHAT?”

The door chimed as a party of 4 entered.

Connor was the only thing keeping her hope from descending into a tailspin. She recognized the party of men dressed in black as Gio’s thugs from the funeral parlor.

“We don’t want a quarrel with you, we’re just here to collect Gio’s girl” Tony told Connor

Her fingers curled around the gun Connor slipped her under the table.

“Don’t be stubborn, Doll,” Tony said.

“For my father,” she said as she stomped past the fallen collection party.

Connor tossed a wad of cash to the waitress.

“Sorry for the mess.”

The drove in silence all the way back to his safe house. In between shifting the gears on the Porsche he clutched her hand in his.

As soon as the door closed, their passion erupted like a volcanic explosion. Connor pressed her against the wall, plundering her mouth. She shamelessly explored his body with her hands.

He pulled back, caressing her face, “I’ll never let Gio hurt you.”

She kept her legs shamelessly draped around his hips. Connor tangled his free hand in her hair, pressing his lips to her temple. “So what happened to your father—when?” he asked.

“I don’t know. They claimed it was an accident.”

“I know them-it wasn’t”

She let her head collapse against his chest as she took deep breaths, struggling to control her emotions. “Giovanni killed my father to lure me back here-an innocent old man who never hurt anyone.” Connor continued to stroke her hair and kiss her forehead. “It’s okay.”

“I never imagined Giovanni would become so evil, Connor. We all grew up together. Even though I was just the gardener’s daughter, his father included us at their parties—treated us like family.

“Power corrupts,” Connor said. “We need to get you out of his reach.”

He kissed her again before getting out of bed. The low light filtering through the window cast shadows on his lean muscled body as he moved around the room, getting dressed.

“Giovanni is Rodrigo’s favorite son, but his power is still nascent. He’s overstepped his bounds,” Connor said. “Stay here. I’m going to find out what Rodrigo knows about your father. He loved him as I did. He has no tolerance for treachery.

The Adventures of Danyjella, part one

I see a lot of people ask what they do to get over writer’s block. for me, I do one of a few things. I read a book and write a review. Or I write a piece of what I might like to call fan fiction. I have met so many talented and wonderful authors through social media that push my writing in different directions it is hard not to be inspired.

This particular snippet was inspired by one of my favorite authors/blogs I follow on Twitter, Rowena Tisdale.

http://www.rowena-tisdale.com/

Her sultry and steamy writing, along with her no-nonsense female characters are highly inspiring. It is refreshing to read about women who truly want sex and are not shy about it. It got me to really think back to my early twenties where for lots of really messed-up reasons (which I discuss in other blogs) I was less than popular with the guys and pretty shy and repressed. It took me a long time to find my confidence. After reading her blogs, I couldn’t help but ask myself, what if?

What if, in my early years as a technician/engineer my boss/mentor had been a confident woman leader? How would that have changed my trajectory?

Obviously, I cannot change the past. But I can write a little fantasy about what I would have liked it to look like. Now that I am 40, and infinitely more confident than I was at 24 it’s fun to indulge. Maybe it will inspire some of the other 20-somethings, struggling to find their voice and sexuality in a world sending mixed messages about what women should want and need.

Downtown Seattle, setting for this segment

Danyjella ran a comb through her damp auburn hair while she waited for the email to connect to the server.

I’ll just fire off one more email, then I’ll head to the reception upstairs. She thought, as she applied mascara to her long red eyelashes, then tapped blush on her pale cheeks in the mirror next to the desk.

The IM window flashed on her laptop.

RO: What the HELL are you still doing working?

DANY: I’m sending you that report on the plc and relay tests you requested

RO: GURL REALLY? It can wait until Mon

DANY: Then YTF did you text me asking if it was ready to go????

RO: Just wanted to know when it would be ready

DANY: What the HELL are you still doing working? You’re 3 hours ahead.

RO: I’m the boss, wanted to stalk you and make sure you were done for the day, off scoring with hot men

DANY: HAHA! Remember who you’re talking to?

RO: I do, so are you off to have some fun?

DANY: I am. Heading to the bar for the reception I&M is throwing for the crew tonight.

RO: Great, BTW, sorry to cut into your weekend, but the owner wants have dinner to go over progress Sunday night

DANY: OK

RO: What are you going to wear?

Danyjella paused, looking down at her plain khaki pants and crimson tank top. It was the nicest thing she had at the moment. The matching cardigan she planned on wearing over the top of it was draped over the back of the chair. She looked out of the window as Elliot Bay faded from silver into navy and the lights came on across the way in West Seattle. She wondered where the rest of her stuff was. Somewhere between Anchorage and Seattle in a shipping container. She sighed and then gave a wry smile. She loved Rowena’s sense of style. The chic, vivacious woman who’d hired her as field engineer and project lead for the new office here in Seattle could get every head in the room to turn just by raising a perfectly arched eyebrow and tapping immaculately manicured nails against a crystal wine stem. Danyjella always wondered what that was like.

RO: Well???

DANY: I don’t know. Haven’t had much time to go shopping since I moved down here. My new boss is a total slave driver 😛

RO: My assistant is going to make an appointment for you with the personal shopper at the downtown Nordstrom’s in Seattle tomorrow. Make-up after! Be there as soon as they open.

DANY: Yes mummy. Make sure the appointment is early. The building manager is giving me a personal tour of the condos here tomorrow afternoon. I may put in an offer.

RO: EXCELLENT! I’ll be in town next weekend. Sending you the file Monday for a software company in Redmond I need to you review. Setting up a lunch meeting for you to head over there next week and talk with their VP. We may want to acquire them.

DANY: Sounds good. Make it for later in the week, Friday maybe. We’re testing the fire systems here Monday and Tuesday. I need to be here for that. It’s going to be hectic.

RO: When is the security system test?

DANY: Depends on how the F&G tests go. Probably not until next week. Want to integrate the generator controls first. I need to get moving. I can already feel the guys racking up the bar tab upstairs.

RO: You go gurl. Thanks again. You’re doing a fantastic job. Have a great weekend.

DANY: You too woman

Danyjella sent the email off to Rowena, then she tugged her cardigan over her tank top and slid her feet into her leather sandals. She wriggled her pink painted toes, feet grateful to be free of the steel toed boots after such a long hot day. She stretched and looked around the neatly furnished corporate apartment.

I love how close to downtown and the Lightrail this place is. I hope they can get me a good deal. She thought as she went into the bathroom to blow-dry her fine, shoulder-length auburn hair. She headed to the outdoor mezzanine bar and restaurant that was part of the new condo resort complex in downtown Seattle.

“Hey it’s Little Dipper Dany!” OT shouted as the elevator door slid open, revealing the Friday night party to already be in full swing. “Whata’ ya’ have?” The compact Irishman man asked. She smiled as she approached the group. OT barely came to her nose, but insisted on calling her “Little.” She wondered what he’d call her if she wore heels. At 5’9 she wasn’t gigantic, but tall enough for a girl.

“White wine and sparkling water. It was a hot day today.” Danyjella replied as the bartender began to pour.

“No shit it was. I’ll be glad when they get the AC fully functional in that other building.” OT replied. There were several comments of agreement from the rest of the commissioning crew.

“Should be done by Monday. They’re working on it this weekend. We’re going to test the HVAC with the fire and gas systems on Tuesday.” Danyjella said, taking a sip of her drink. The scantily clad waitresses brought out plates of appetizers for the group, while Danyjella leaned against the bar, listening to the music play over the speakers. Her mind wandered as she watched her guys hit on the girls.

Really, Jeff? You’re married. Oh yeah, I forgot. “Crew policy” If its another zip code, it doesn’t count. She shook her head as her stomach knotted. Shrugging her shoulders, she took a zip of her white wine spritzer. She really would enjoy something a little stronger, but damn, it had been hot today. Had Seattle been this brutally hot in the summers when she went to college? She couldn’t remember. She put a hand against the bar and took another sip, counting down the time until she could go back up to her room, peel off her clothes and climb into the giant tub in the bathroom and soak away all the aches from this week. Too bad the pool was closed for repairs. What a rotten time of year to be out of service.

“Enjoying the party?” A husky voice said behind her. She nearly choked on her drink as she turned around to see a wall of sky-blue buttoned-down shirt.

“Uh—yes thank you, Mr. Erikson.” She replied, recovering herself as she gazed up into the site foreman’s vivid sapphire eyes. “It was very nice of I&M to put this on for the guys, I know they’re enjoying it.” Danyjella said, motioning to her crew of technicians, scattered around the bar, drinking, playing pool and shuffle board, talking up some of the local girls.

“You can call me Isaak. We’ve only been working together all week,” he said, running a hand through his thick, golden-brown hair. “What about you? You looked rather bored.” He said, eyes crinkling as his smooth pink lips curled up in a grin.

“It’s fine. Just a little tired I suppose. It’s been a long week,” she replied, rubbing her shoulder. She looked down, thinking of Rowena and her penchant for hot guys in jeans, as she took in his well-fitting blue jeans and black leather cowboy boots.

“Hey, wait a sec,” she said, cocking her head to the side. “The email said the bar has a strict ‘no jeans’ policy.” She pointed down to her khaki pants then his jeans.

His grin got wider, and she felt her heart flutter as his eyes traveled up and down her body, lingering on her breasts in a way that made her knees turn to water. “Well, I suppose they make a special exception for me.”

“Why is that?” she asked.

He shrugged, taking another drink of his beer. “I don’t know. Probably because I own half the building. I’m the I of I&M Enterprise.”

“Oh,” was Danyjella’s only inarticulate reply. Why the fuck didn’t Ro mention that, I thought he was just the site foreman. “I—I suppose that makes sense then.” She said, shrugging her shoulders, wishing she could think up something else to say.

He frowned, then looked like he was about to say something else as a gorgeous brunette came up alongside him, putting a flawlessly manicured hand on his forearm. The metal of her gold choker gleamed against her glowing olive skin. She simpered at Danyjella, then squeezed Isaak’s bicep.

Of course, he’d be taken. Didn’t see a ring. But what the hell do I care? Not like guys like that are interested in me anyway.

“I heard you’re interested in buying into a unit in the new building,” He said, taking a sip of his beer.

“Yes, I just moved back down here from Alaska. The company’s putting me up here temporarily while I house hunt, but I really like the location and the amenities. You’ve built a fantastic property.”

“Have you tried the pool yet?” he asked, the woman standing next to him frowned and sighed, trying to get his attention.

“Uh, no. I understand the pool is closed right now. Repairs or something,” Danyjella replied, heat rising to her cheeks as he continued to stare.

“The main pool is, but I can give you access to the penthouse pool. Here,” he pulled a business card from his wallet and grabbed a pen from the bar. He scribbled some numbers on it. “This is the floor number, and the code to get in. Don’t worry about bringing a towel, they have everything you need at the spa. Its open 24/7.” The brunette squeezed his arm again and raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. “If you’ll pardon me. Please, enjoy the party.”

“Thanks, I—will,” she said, but he had already turned away.

That was really kind of him, she thought to herself, putting the card into her back pocket. She finished the rest of her white wine spritzer. Her heart sank as she watched him move through the crowd gorgeous brunette clinging to his side. He’d been flirty and friendly all week as they worked. Not that she thought she really had a shot with a guy like him, even when she thought he was the construction manager/site foreman. Now that she realized he was the VP of the company she knew he was totally out of her league. Guys like that only went for really pretty girls, not Plain Janes like her. She sighed. Get over it. She told herself

“Care for another?” the bartender asked, flashing a smile.

“No thanks, maybe just sparkling water and lime.” She replied as he refilled her. She wandered around the room, chatting up with the crew and having a few appetizers as the bar filled up with regular patrons. She noticed Isaak sitting in the lounge section in the back, the lovely brunette huddled close beside him. Meanwhile, across the table, a dark-haired man in a neatly cut navy blue suit sat opposite. Her heart fluttered as his gaze seemed to go right through her. She suddenly wished she’d had something better to wear than this plain tank top and cardigan as his sapphire eyes raked over her. Eyes that were identical in color to Isaak’s, I wonder if they’re related, she thought. He tipped his glass slightly in her direction. The voluptuous platinum blonde at his side smiled broadly, coral pink lips glittering under the now dimmed lights. Her eyes were dark and luminous as she looked Danyjella over as well, the diamonds at her throat winking as she turned her head and whispered in the man’s ear.

Danyjella froze and nodded in return, not really sure of the protocol she found herself looking around. Are they really looking at me like that?

“Hey, Little Dipper,” OT interrupted, “Bunch of us are going boating tomorrow on Lake Washington, wanna’ come?”

“Sorry OT, can’t. I’ve got to run some errands for the boss tomorrow,” she replied. “But keep me in mind for next weekend perhaps.” When she looked back, her breath came even faster as the man in the corner continued to stare. He put his glass to his lips, never taking his eyes off of her. Isaak looked up and frowned when he saw her standing there. He said something to the man in the corner that only made him smile wider. He looked away and went back to talking with Isaak. Meanwhile the blonde flipped her hair over her shoulder, dark eyes raising the heat in Danyjella’s cheeks. Then she turned her attention back to the conversation.

Danyjella shook her head, spell broken. What the hell is wrong with me? I need to just get a grip. They were probably staring at someone behind me. She downed the rest of her drink and placed an order at the bar for some food to be sent to her room later from one of the restaurants downstairs. She made a beeline back to her room to change for the pool.

Seattle waterfront in Summertime

Wow, I could get used to this, Danyjella thought as she rested her chin on her arms, staring at the twinkling Seattle lights. The infinity pool glowed blue as she looked out from the 50th floor over Elliott Bay, Lake Union, and West Seattle. She could see the lights from the stadiums to the south. It looked like a Mariners game had just gotten out. Ahh, but I would be using the “regular pool” not this one. I’ll have to make sure to tell Isaak thank you.

“Enjoying the view?” A smooth voice asked from the pool deck behind her. She jerked away from the edge, bobbing in the water and sputtering as she came back up. “Whoa, don’t drown on me,” the dark-haired man from the bar said with a chuckle as he crouched down by the edge. “Though, I’ll admit, I’d love to revive you.”

“The view is beautiful,” she replied, treading water as she moved toward the shallow end. Her eyes searched the patio area to see that they were indeed alone.

“Sorry to startle you, Miss Napier,” he said, taking a seat in one of the plush blue lounge chairs.

“I’m fine,” she replied. “Pardon me, but who are you?”

His navy sports coat from earlier was gone. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled up “Forgive me, Rayne, Rayne Mattson,” he said, leaning back in the lounge chair and putting his muscled arms behind his head. He kicked his patent leather-clad feet up and looked down at her in the water through thick inky eyelashes.

“Ah yes,” Danyjella replied. “We’re supposed to have dinner Sunday night and go over the progress so far on integrating the controls for the new building into the existing.” She ran her hands over her wet hair, feeling at a disadvantage, half naked in the pool while their client watched.

“Yes,” he replied, “And I’m looking forward to it. I’ve read your plans, I’m sure it will be brilliant. But enough about work for tonight.” He said, leaning his head back and looking up at the night sky. The pools retractable roof had been pulled back, revealing a hazy night sky. “I don’t know about you, but its been a long week.”

“Uh, yes,” she replied. That’s why I’m here in the pool. Trying to relax. Alone.

“I’m sorry,” he said, sitting upright and leaning toward her, eyes reflecting the blue light of the pool. “You’re trying to wind down. I’m barging in. This is my favorite place to relax too.” He pointed to one of the three penthouse suites that surrounded the pool area. “I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“It’s fine,” she said, feeling the heat rise despite the cool water. Had he been reading her mind? He had just as much right to be here, if not more so. Now she felt like an interloper.

“Are you hungry?” he asked. “I ordered dinner from downstairs, it should be here any minute. I know we’re having dinner Sunday, but would you care to join me,” his blue eyes crinkled, as he lowered his voice and leaned forward again. “A little less formally?”

Her stomach rumbled, other than the appetizers at the reception, she hadn’t eaten anything since lunch. “Sure,” she replied.

“Why don’t I go in and pick out a nice bottle of wine,” her breath caught as he smiled. “I’ll give you a little privacy while you get out of the pool and rinse off.” He rose and went into one of the corner penthouse suites. She climbed out of the pool and toweled off with the downy blue town she’d left on one of the lounge chairs and wrapped it around her midsection, tucking it securely around her breasts. She glanced in the direction he had gone. The lights glowed through the floor to ceiling windows. He moved gracefully around his apartment, picking out a bottle of wine. Grabbing her nylon bag of clothes, she walked to the spa area and rinsed quickly. She put on her simple chemise and shorts that she brought with her and pulled one of the lush robes hanging in the spa over it. She slipped her feet back into her sandals and padded out into the warm summer evening.

When she came back out to the pool area, Rayne had the small table between the lounge chairs set for two. “The food will be here any minute,” he said, smiling up at her and handing her a crystal goblet of red wine.

“Thank you,” she replied taking a seat on the lounge chair opposite of him. “So, you’re the ‘M’ then of I&M Enterprises?”

“Yes,” he replied, leaning back in his chair and sipping his wine.

“How did you and Isaak meet then?” Her eyes scanned his face. Both men were tall and muscled. But Isaak was more golden complexioned. This man was dark-haired and olive skinned, but they both shared vivid blue eyes.

His face contorted, so fast that if she would have blinked, she would have missed it. An expression of almost, malevolence. But it faded so fast she thought she must have been mistaken. A peculiar smile crossed his face. It sent a chill up her spine in that, it didn’t seem to reach his eyes. “We’re related. Isaak is my half-brother. He’s an excellent architect and construction manager.”

“And what do you do?”

“My expertise is in Business Management and Finance,” he took a sip of wine, looking her over once more. “You have a fascinating resume, Miss Napier. Ex-military, automation and electrical engineer, medically discharged. No husband or boyfriend?”

She choked on her sip of wine, “No, I’m afraid not, Mr. Mattson.”

“Rayne, please call me Rayne. May I call you Danyjella?”

“Sure.” She replied, dragging her eyes away from his face.

“Danyjella is an unusual name. Eastern European, I take it?”

“The spelling is. My family is not.” She replied. “There was a couple from Sarajevo who lived next door to my parents when my mother was pregnant. The woman’s sister was named Danyjella. My mom thought that was a pretty name.”

“It is indeed,” the tone of his voice sent a quiver through her body. They were interrupted by his cell phone buzzing in his pocket. He pulled it out and looked at it. He punched a code into his phone, and the delivery girl entered the pool area carrying multiple containers tied together with string.

“Thanks for your order, Mr. Mattson,” the slender girl said with a smile, her pink dyed hair cast in a purple sheen from the azure lights of the pool as she set the cartons down on the table.

“Thank you Jen,” he replied. He turned his mesmerizing eyes back on her as he began to serve her Dim Sum from the containers. “You’re an intriguing woman, Danyjella. Tell me a little more about yourself, I’m interested in knowing what makes a woman like you tick.”


Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for more sexy engineering adventures. Who will my alter-ego pick?

A Drink of Darkness-The softer side of Eve

Tihatnu Pass, dmshepard, Alaska, travel

My last post on my antagonist Eve was rather dark and disturbing. While barely a rough draft, I thought I’d post a softer side of my seductive villain Eve.

Eve curled her body around Helena, shuddering, holding her close as she kept her mind in step with Helena’s as she slept. Mind throbbing with every blow, every contraction as the baby within Helena’s body died. Her heart broke along with Helena’s as she heard the brutal words from her murderous husband. She pressed her lips to Helena’s hair, careful not to touch her skin. Using her gloved hands, she stroked Helena’s face as she cried out, reliving the worst night of her life in her dreams.

“It’s okay, Angel. That bastard is burning in hell. I promise. I only wish I could have put him there myself,” she whispered through clenched teeth. Her own body trembled, blood boiling as she saw and felt Helena’s pain and agony.

You’re so lovely Helena, she thought. I wish it could just be you and me, running our own business together somewhere. Somewhere where I don’t have to read the nasty thoughts of men all the time. You could paint and sketch and I could cook. That would be lovely. Just the two of us, not a care in the world.

The she sighed, plunking her head against the pillow. The world doesn’t work that way. The world revolves around money and power. And for now, men control all of that. The only way to get any is to take it from them. Eve twined her fingers in her silky platinum curls, wrapping Helena’s nude body firmly in the satin sheets. Helena batted with a satin gloved hand. Eve smiled, wishing she could touch her skin, but the gloves were a necessity until the herbs worked their way out of her system. Eve’s mind wandered as she watched her sleep. I wonder if she has what it takes to make it as a vampire. I hope she does. Most don’t last the first year. And if they do, they choose to go back to being human, its too much. I wish she were awake so I could look into those pretty eyes and make love to her again. Maybe later.

“What are you doing, Eve?” Bianca asked, petticoats rustling as she stepped into the room.

“Daydreaming,” Eve said. She gave Helena another squeeze. Bianca put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips.

“Be careful not to get too attached too soon,” she said. She ran her fingers over her bodice, toying with her favorite knife. “You never know what can happen.”

Eve let out a long sigh and gazed up at the ceiling. “I know. I remember how much you loved Calista.”

Bianca scrunched her forehead, face hard for a moment. The brass bed creaked as she sat down on the edge. She gazed down at Helena, then closed her dark eyes. “It was her choice. She decided immortality was not for her. Sometimes I think she was far wiser than I. I just didn’t know our time together was going to be—so short after that…” Bianca hung her head for a moment clutching at her skirts. “Sometimes, I think she made the right choice. But then—so did I. If I hadn’t chosen to be a vampire. I never would have met her. We were born 200 years apart.”

Eve sat up and reached for Bianca’s hand. “I’m sorry, love.”

“I—I’m not,” Bianca said, holding Eve’s hand for a moment in return before rubbing at her own eyes then smoothing her hair. “I couldn’t save her from the yellow fever in New Orleans after she decided to be human again. But at least I had time with her. I would like to think that my immortality will lead me to other wonderful souls like hers.”

“That’s a lovely thought Bianca,” Eve replied. She looked down at Helena as she murmured in her sleep. She focused her mind on changing Helena’s dreams, giving her something softer, sweeter to dream about until she could come back up and focus her energy on seduction. She disentangled herself from Helena, tucking the sheets and blankets around her. She tested the thick leather collar around Helena’s neck, ensuring it was securely locked and fastened to the metal bed. “I suppose I should change.” She ran her hands over her gown, emerald satin gleaming in the lantern light.

“Yes,” Bianca replied. “We have the five men who came back with us from the saloon…” her eyes went to the door as her lips drew in a hard line. “And then McNabb showed up with a friend. He’s specifically requesting Liz. They both want to—play with her.”

Eve’s stomach knotted. She rose from the bed and walked with Bianca to the door. “She needs to feed anyway—she did a lot better last time. With two of them—maybe we won’t have to kill either.”

“But are you up to it? Do you think you can control them, her and yourself?” Bianca asked.

Eve’s breath came faster. She wanted to be angry, to snap at Bianca for questioning her abilities, but she knew Bianca was right.

“I will, if I feed first. I’ll need your help. I need to focus when we’re down there. I can’t let them get her too wound up. She starts flashing back to what her family let those men do to her,” Eve shook her head as they locked the door behind them, leaving Helena sleeping and went into their own boudoir. “Bianca—I have never experienced anything so horrific. And the fact that it was her own parents—turning a little girl into some sort of animal. Because they wanted money. Letting her be gang raped, humiliated. They kept her in a cage, Bianca. They did so many things that were just unbelievable. And not just to her, but to her other siblings. Selling them off to the highest bidder like they were objects not people.”

“There are some truly disgusting people in the world,” Bianca agreed unhooking the back of Eve’s dress and holding it up while she stepped out of it. “While my own psychic abilities have increased over the centuries. Mine are just enough that I can manipulate them on a basic level. I don’t even want to think about what you deal with. I can’t imagine being completely immersed in someone’s thoughts and feelings.” Bianca turned so Eve could help with her dress.

“Sometimes,” Eve said, “It’s amazing. Like with Helena. Her pleasure and innocence just coursed through me like—like a river. Imagine having your own orgasm, but then having Calista’s at the same time.”

Bianca threw back her head and laughed as she wiped herself down with neroli and jasmine water. “I don’t know if I could handle that. It might be too much. Calista was a true Creole. She could bring men and women to their knees just by casting a glance in their direction. I swear, all she had to do was brush her lips against my neck and was ready to scream for her. She probably had a voodoo doll made of me the first night we met there in the French Quarter.” Bianca ran a silk cloth over her now heaving breasts, closing her eyes against the memory. “The only other lover I had that compared to her was Marissa.”

“Why did Marissa leave?” Eve asked. “Fabiyan won’t say anything. I’ve tried reading his mind, but it’s like a steel trap when it comes to her.”

Bianca re-applied rouge to her cheeks and painted her lips. “I wasn’t there that night,” Bianca admitted, adjusting her corset. “We were in France at the time, right before—you know.” She drew a line over her throat. Eve nodded. “I was in Paris with Heloise and Sasha. We were working the taverns, gathering information on the activity. The unrest just seethed in the city. It was like a pot, getting ready to boil over. Demyan and Marissa were at Versailles, working the royals. Something happened when they had to escape the palace. Some rift between them that she wouldn’t forgive. He met us outside of Paris. She vanished. She writes me from time to time. Her psychic powers are a lot like yours. She always seems to know where we are. She keeps trying to convince me to leave him and come to her. Part of me wants to, but then—I don’t know.”

“I wish I could have known her,” Eve said, as they made their way down to the parlor full of eager, waiting men. Not even in the room yet, and her temples were already starting to throb from their lust and desires.

“There was something about her,” Bianca said. “And it wasn’t necessarily how she looked. She claimed to be related to Cleopatra. She was Greek, Macedonian and Egyptian. Who knows, maybe she is? She’s a far older vampire than Demyan.”

“Well maybe someday,” Eve said. They both squared their shoulders and plastered on sunny smiles for their clientele and dinner for the evening.

Thanks for reading! A Drink of Darkness is still progressing. I hope to have a complete rough draft soon.

Eve from my horror Novel A Drink of Darkness

Sometimes you start writing a story, get most of the way through and realize that some of the characters need more work. In your head, they are fully developed, colorful and living, but in your manuscript, they are flat and one dimensional.

That’s what happened with one of my antagonists, Eve. As I hit the 30K mark I realized that while I fully understood her complexity and backstory, I hadn’t included much of it in the plot. I decided she deserved a bigger part in the story. Now my novella is turning into a full-blown novel.

For my blog, I decided to include a scene revolving around Eve.

TRIGGER WARNING!

THIS IS DEFINITELY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN IN THE PAST. IT’S A LOT DARKER, AND WAS DEFINITELY HARD TO WRITE FOR A MULTITUDE OF PERSONAL REASONS. IT VERGES ON THE BORDER OF EROTICA, BUT IT ALSO REVOLVES AROUND SEX ABUSE. IF THIS BOTHERS YOU. PLEASE READ NO FURTHER.

The man’s eyes rolled back and his jaw slackened, drool dripping down his wiry brown beard. His head lolled against the back of the chair as Bianca whispered against his neck. His arms dropped to his sides, limp, like two dead fish. She took a rag and cleaned his neck.

Eve laughed as she came in behind her. “Pathetic, you would think they would put up some resistance.”

“Not even a struggle,” Bianca purred, “They never do. Not when they think they’re going to get their cocks serviced. It’s almost too easy. And even easier to make them believe I did anything. They’re so starved for female attention; their minds are so easy to manipulate.”

“I know,” Eve agreed. “I try not to look too deeply at what they’re thinking. It’s disgusting, the things they think they want to do to women, and specifically to us, just because we’re whores and they’ve paid for it.” She shook her head as she shuddered. “But at least it makes it easy to control them.”

“But you think the would at least wash. They’re so—disgusting.” Bianca continued to prepare the area of his neck, then his wrists as he lounged back, smiling and moaning.

Her stiletto gleamed as she removed it from the sheath in her bodice. She poked it into the flesh of his clavicle, not hard enough to pierce the skin, but just enough to elicit a moan from the mesmerized man. “What shall we do with this one? He had the nerve to try to put his hand up my thigh under the table tonight.”

“Drain him. We’ve already got his gold. When we’re done feeding, we’ll have him walk himself out to his claim and just fall asleep in the snow, still thinking about enjoying you. He’ll die a happy, frozen man.”

“What about our two ‘Men of the Law’?” Bianca asked, flashing her teeth as she pulled his hair back exposing his neck. Eve came closer, sitting on the stool next to the man, picking up a wrist and examining it.

“I’ve already got them entranced in the next room. Along with that Carpenter. They’re for later. Demyan thinks they’ll be helpful in securing our new position here. But for tonight,” she licked her lips. “We’re going to initiate our pretty new friend Helena in her dreams show her what becoming one of us could mean,” Eve said, taking a bite of his muscled wrist.

“Mmmn, she’ll be a treat when we finally get to have her. Too bad it will only be a dream tonight,” Bianca drawled as she made a precision cut with her knife at his throat, then sucked as the blood trickled from the incision. “She’s got a delicious body, but so sweet and innocent too. Hard to believe she was married.” She flicked the knife between her fingers.

“Show-off,” Eve giggled in-between drinks at his wrist. “But I know what you mean. I could practically taste her innocence. But as to being married,” Eve rolled her eyes and wagged the man’s wrist she was drinking back at Bianca. “You’ve seen it for yourself, half these men don’t know how to pleasure a woman, and the rest don’t care. They just want to satisfy themselves. I’d be surprised if her dead husband ever made her come.”

“I know what you mean. I think the first time I ever came was when Demyan and Marissa made love to me after they taught me how to drain my husband. We threw him in the Grand Canal under the full moon and watched him bob away,” she said with a giggle. “Best Carnivale I ever attended.”

Eve threw back her head and laughed. “Sounds like you were heart broken.”

Bianca simpered and nodded as she drank, “She’ll be a lovely little sister. Better than that wretched, feral thing we turned to make up for losing Natasha.” The man continued to moan and writhe as the two women drained his life’s blood.

“Have you fed her tonight? We need to keep building her powers, at least until the solstice or we turn Helena.” Eve asked as she sat back on the ottoman next to the chair, satiated.

“I gave her regular food. Haven’t brought her a man yet tonight. Can’t seem to break her of the habit of draining them completely,” Bianca said eyebrows drawn together as she lifted her bloodstained lips from the man’s neck. “Which of the men downstairs do we want to give to the little bitch?”

“I’ll go read their minds and bring one up. I’ll make sure it’s one that won’t be terribly missed, just in case. Meet me at the bottom of the stairs. You can take one up to hypnotize for later with the others, I’ll take one downstairs for Liz.”

Eve stood up, daubing her lips with a square of black silk. Bianca walked away, cleaning her knife and re-sheathing it between her breasts. Eve leaned over him, chanting a few words into his ear. He obediently rose from the chair and made his way out of the room and down the stairs. She followed him down to the parlor, where Demyan sat playing cards with the men who had made “appointments” for massage for the evening. She helped the tranced miner with his jacket and shooed him out the door into the subzero night. Then she turned her enchanting smile on the eager party crowded around the red velvet draped card table.

“Who’s next?” she asked as the three remaining men perked up, adjusting their collars and belts as they set their cards down. She scanned their minds. The two law men and the Carpenter were already unconscious in the spare bedroom upstairs, waiting for later. Swiftwater Bill, considered to be one of the “Kings of Dawson” sat to Demyan’s left. She’d let Demyan deal with him. He was too well-known and famous to take a chance. Doc Anderson sat to his right, and was one of the two “medical professionals” in town. He called himself a doctor, but in reality, he was little more than a charlatan. Selling laudanum and other opiates and potions, pretending to have medical training with a fake certificate from Harvard. Really, he was an expert at bleeding sick people of their money, literally and figuratively. Eve couldn’t wait to bleed him later. Robert McNabb, sitting directly across the table was a well-to-do miner who had struck it fairly rich in the fall, but not necessarily of great importance. She’d have to be careful. She telegraphed her thoughts to Demyan.

She placed her hands on her thigh, adjusting one of her garters. “Mr. McNabb, Doctor Anderson. Why don’t you follow me?” she said, adjusting the black lace on the top of her corset. Bill frowned, while Doc Anderson and McNabb rose, eyes glued to the sway of her hips and the bobbing of her breasts as she talked.

“Don’t be sore,” Demyan said to Bill, pouring him more whiskey. “They’re obviously saving the best for last. You’ll have the benefit of a two for one deal, being the last customer of the night.” Placated, Swiftwater Bill sat back in his chair, puffing his cigar and sipping his whiskey as they settled into polite conversation. Eve knew as soon as the door closed behind her, Demyan would begin his own enchantment. He would manipulate his mind and feed on the rich, pompous man.

Bianca stood at the bottom of the stairs, her large breasts barely contained by the burgundy satin corset. She licked her lips and fluffed her raven ringlets as the two men approached.

“Bianca, darling,” Eve said with the men in tow. “Why don’t you take the good Doctor upstairs, make him comfortable for his massage.

“Absolutely,” She replied with a giggle. “Please follow me,” she said, taking his arm as they walked up the stairs.

“Mr. McNabb,” Eve whispered in his ear. She shoved him up against the wall and ran her hands down, caressing the bulge at his crotch, “I get the impression you’re a man of more unique tastes. Would you care to try something, a little—darker, more painful tonight?” She knew what his answer would be before he did. She’d already read his thoughts, had started manipulating them. He fantasized about tying women up, about doing cruel things to them. He was just the right candidate to introduce to little Liz in the basement.

“Yes—oh yes, please,” he panted, tangling his fingers in her hair while giving her ass a squeeze though the silk of her tap pants.

She kissed his lips, darting her tongue into his mouth. Her temples throbbed as his disgusting, lustful thoughts poured into her brain. Her rage built inside as his thoughts swirled, flashes of brutal scenes. Binding her to a bed, choking her, whipping her with his belt while he groped her small breasts. If she hadn’t already fed, she’d rip his throat out herself. She clawed at his clothes, snapping away buttons in pretend passion. She yanked her head back from his, coppery taste of blood against her tongue as she nipped a fraction too hard in her bitterness.

“Patience, Stud,” she gripped his muscled wrists, forcing them to his sides. “Follow me to our playroom. Bianca will join us as soon as she’s done with the Doctor,” Eve promised with a smile.

The man followed down into the chilly basement level without a question as she tugged him along by the ornate silver and gold buckle holding on his belt. At the heavy cellar door, she paused, pushing him against the wall once more. “Wait here just a moment Stud, let me make sure she’s ready.”

“Who’s ready?” he asked, his voice husky with need.

“Our other friend, Liz. She likes to be kept tied up, waiting, in pain. It’s her little turn on. We only introduce her to special customers who we think can handle it. Most customers are a little too uptight for that kind of thing.” She smiled wider at the gleam in the pathetic fool’s eye. He was hooked, salivating at the prospect of torturing a willing woman. He’d follow her to hell at the crook of her finger. She didn’t even need to use her powers to trance this disgusting sadist. She kissed him once more time licking the blood she’d drawn from the cut on his lips.

“You’ll pay for that,” he growled, toying with his belt buckle as he leaned back against the wall.

“Mmmn, I can’t wait,” she simpered. She turned away and eased the door open, guts boiling at the thought of him laying even a finger on her in the way his thoughts implied.

Just like that night. Like that old lecher. He thinks I’ll let him choke me, whip me then rape me. I’ll show him who’s in charge. She thought to herself, igniting the candles in the room with the snap of her fingers. So many of them, so many are like that. Disgusting. She flickered her eyes around the room. The lumpy mattress and bedding on the floor lay in a tangled mess. At least she ate the mush Bianca gave her. Eve thought, taking in the empty bowl next to the bed. “Liz, come out. It’s me, Eve,” she called, bracing herself, hands ready for the attack.

A pair of red eyes glittered from the closet in the corner as a chain rattled. Eve stiffened her spine and glared back as a low hiss filled the room. Less than a heartbeat later, the girl sprang from the closet, lunging at Eve with her hands and snapping her tiny fangs. She jerked against the chain attached by a thick piece of leather locked to her neck. She fell to the floor, whimpering, her sheer blue silk chemise stained and torn to shreds. Eve reached down gripped both wrists. She yanked the girl to her feet and locked her arms into the iron manacles dangling from the ceiling. Then she grabbed a leather bit from the wall. Gripping the girl’s jaw in her hand she examined her teeth.

Still not very well developed, but razor sharp. She forced the gag into the girl’s mouth as she continued to sob and writhe. Next she bound her feet far apart as she continued to struggle, her plump pale skin jiggling as she tried to free herself.

“Liz,” she said, stroking the girl’s tangled toffee-brown hair. Her gray eyes darted up to meet Eve’s. “You really need to stop this behavior, you know.” The girl moaned and nodded. “I’ve brought you a little present. Are you hungry?”

Her head bobbed up and down and she smiled behind the leather gag. “Please? Please?” Eve recognized the garbled word despite the impediment.

“Of course, love. But only if you promise to behave,” Eve cupped handfuls of breast and pinched her nipples as the girl squirmed and squealed. Her head lolling back as Eve licked her neck. “Now, precious, are you ready to entertain our friend? I will do so much more for you if you obey me. I know you want to make me happy.”

She nodded once more, eyes shining. “Yes, Mother Eve.” She mumbled.

Eve stepped back, stomach churning once more as she ground her teeth. She grabbed the leather crop from the wall and held it up so Liz could see it. Liz wriggled and moaned. Eve closed her eyes, gripping the leather-bound rod hard enough her hands ached. She hated using the girl’s strange proclivities like this. She shook her head, we’ll get her fed, then we’ll civilize her later. She can’t help what happened to her, what those cruel people did to her. Men and women. How could they do that to a mere child? It’s not her fault she now confuses pleasure and pain.

She turned back to the door, swallowing bile as she plastered a smile on her lips, easing it open. The man leaned against the wall, still fiddling with his undone belt, his erection straining against the canvas of his pants.

“She’s ready and waiting now,” Eve purred, taking him by the wrist and leading him into the candlelit cellar.

Eve’s temples throbbed, head pounding as his sick thoughts hammered their way into her brain. He licked his lips, taking in the sight of Liz writhing and moaning with her hands high above her head, her half-naked body exposed for what he thought was going to be his pleasure. He never even gave a second thought about such a young girl in a state. His twisted brain immediately jumped to torturing Liz on repeat.

“This is special,” he said, stroking her hair as he positioned himself behind Liz. He lifted her chemise and began rubbing himself against her exposed backside. Eve’s jaw ached from clenching her teeth.

Bianca better hurry up and get her ass here. I don’t know how long I can watch this.

“Give me that crop,” he said, holding out his hand. Eve’s own hands shook as she placed it into his.

God are they all like this? Disgusting sadists who like to hit women. Like that night with Lord Walshingham, when he came to my room. Thank god Fabiyan was also visiting. He was able to stop him in time-before it got too bad. And father knew…that was the worst part, He condoned it because we were to be wed. She rubbed her temples, forcing herself to focus on the glow of the candles as her touched the crop to Liz’s face. She wanted to put her hands over her ears, block out the sound of the squeals and whimpers coming from Liz’ gagged mouth as he began to slap her plump body with his hands and the crop, raising small red welts. Liz turned into his abuse, eager for more. Eve clutched at her stomach, tightly bound under her black satin corset.

No more, I can’t watch this. She told herself, shaking her head. She rushed forward, arresting his wrist mid-strike. “Save some for later Stud,” she managed to stammer. “We don’t want to wear her out too much,” she whispered in his ear. He nodded, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he relinquished the crop to her. I can’t let him wind her up too much. She’s already so hard to control. I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop her.

“I want her on her knees,” he said, yanking Liz’s matted, sweaty hair. Liz cooed and drooled, panting hard as her eyes flickered to Eve’s. Eve’s stomach knotted again. She nodded to the girl and she smiled at Eve behind the gag.

“Of course,” Eve said, offering up a fake smile. “Let me take care of that. Step back please.” He obeyed, breathing hard as he stoked his cock, bulging beneath his pants.

She moved her hands up to Liz’s restraints, meanwhile she whispered in the girl’s ear. “Remember, you won’t get your reward unless you obey.”

“Yes Mother Eve,” she mumbled in return. Eve shuddered, as Liz’s rage and lust pulsed through her. She tried to read her thoughts, use her powers to quell the swirling maelstrom. It was like trying to douse a raging inferno with a single bucket of water.

I hope I can control her. How can I control her if I can barely control myself? This is utterly disgusting.

She bound Liz’s wrists behind her back with rope and helped her to kneel. Liz rubbed her head against Eve’s stocking-clad legs like a cat, moaning and whimpering. Eve stroked her hair, hand shaking, then she removed the leather bit from her mouth.

“That’s so beautiful,” McNabb said, stepping closer, dropping his hands to his pants. “When I’m finished with her, I’ll take you on next. I’d love to tangle my hands in that red hair while I ride you, beautiful. Show you what a real man can do. I’ll wrap my hands around that pretty white throat, put you in your place. Beneath me.” He chuckled as he unfastened his belt, then his pants, dropping them to the floor as he placed himself in front of Liz.

“I can’t wait,” Eve lied, holding on to Liz’s shoulder as she strained forward, eager to feed. A noise at the door caught her eye. Bianca stood at the threshold, arms crossed, lips pursed. Eve let out a long sigh, relieved.

He glanced over his shoulder, tangling his rough hands in Liz’s hair. “I’m a lucky man tonight. Looks like now it’s a real party.”

“Indeed, it is,” Bianca drawled, hamming up her Italian accent. Her satin heels echoed against the rough stone floor as she slinked across the room. She positioned herself behind him, running her hands up and down his torso as she pressed her breasts into his back. She slid her stiletto from her bodice and sliced his shirt open down the front. She tugged it open, exposing the pale skin of his chest.

“This is the best night of my life,” he moaned as Eve urged Liz forward on her knees. Liz chortled with glee as her lips closed around his now exposed cock. She released Liz, then ran her fingers through his hair, jerking his head back and exposing his neck for Bianca.

“What—What—oh my—g!” he began to cry as sharp teeth began to dig in to sensitive flesh. Eve cut off his cry by clapping her lips over his mouth, tasting copper as she bit into his tongue and flesh. Bianca made a few precise incisions in his throat and began to lick the crimson stream flowing down his neck. As his struggles weakened and he began to grow limp, Bianca and Eve lowered him to the floor. Liz pulled her head back and giggled, chin and cheeks smeared scarlet in the flickering candlelight.

“Yes, you’re doing good tonight,” Eve said, stroking her face. Liz rubbed her cheek against Eve’s leg once more, smearing gore against her gossamer silk stockings.

Bianca tutted in disgust and re-sheathed her knife. “So now what?”

Eve nudged him with her toe, as much as she wanted to watch Liz finish him, she knew that wasn’t the answer tonight. “I’ll send him home. Disgusting pervert. I’ll make him think he slipped on the ice and bit his tongue while taking a piss.” She dragged him toward the threshold by his legs. Once out of the room at the bottom of the stairs, she whispered in his ear. He obediently got up and re-arranged his disheveled clothes. He staggered up the staircase.

“He’ll be back you know,” Bianca said.

“I’m counting on it,” Eve replied, turning her attention to cleaning up Liz. “We have to teach her somehow. She needs to learn to drain them slowly, not always kill them. He deserves to die, but we’ll do it some other time.” She washed Liz’s face and neck vigorously while the girl purred and cooed. Bianca rolled her eyes as she smoother her curls.

“I think you’re wasting your time,” Bianca said, motioning with her hands toward Liz as she groveled on the floor from Eve’s attention. “You can’t save her. My telepathic powers are no where near as good as yours but even I can see that her mind is rotten. She’s crazy. You don’t endure that much torture, have that many men gang rape you for that many years and come back. You just don’t, Eve.”

“What should we do with her then? Just put her out of her misery like a horse with a broken leg,” Eve spat, gripping the gore stained rag in her gloved fingers.

“Yes,” Bianca said. “Once we get a true third, that’s exactly what we should do. She’d be better off.”

Eve’s temples throbbed as she bared her fangs. Before she could raise her fist to slug Bianca, cold fingers circled her wrist, arresting it mid-air. Bianca was shoved back several feet as Fabiyan appeared between them.

“That’s enough for tonight,” he snarled. “Bianca, go upstairs and get everything ready for our ceremony. Now.” He continued to hold Eve’s wrist as Bianca slunk from the room. Her steps echoed on the stairs. Liz cowered at Eve’s feet, eyes wide as she gazed up at Fabiyan. His own eyes glowed crimson as he stared Eve down.

“Eve, you have to learn to let it go. You’re going to have an eternity to exact your revenge for what was done to you. You don’t have to do it all at once. And Bianca’s right.” He ran his hands over Liz’s hair. “She’s too far gone. You’re going to encounter lots of wounded creatures like her, Love. You can’t save them all. We have to be careful to whom we grant immortality. An immortal with no reason, just rage, can be a dangerous beast walking the earth. We should never have turned her.”

Eve’s knees turned to water and her arm went limp in his grasp. She closed her eyes, desperate to not look down at the girl still quivering against her legs like a beaten puppy. She nodded.

“Let’s put her to bed, then we need to get to work.” Fabiyan said, stroking Eve’s cheek with his fingers.

She sighed. They finished cleaning up in the basement, and locked their monstrosity away for another night.


            At the sound of the door creaking closed, the candles snuffed. A haze of gray smoke created shapes in the darkness as she opened her eyes and giggled. The harsh guttural sound echoed against the stone walls of the crude basement, filling her with delight. The silver shined orange and red the glow of the stove beyond the reach of the chain around her neck.  She ran her fingers over the ornate metalwork of the man’s belt buckle, rage and lust surging as she remember the power of having her lips around his sensitive organ and drawing blood. All while Mother Eve stroked her hair.

            I was good. She said I was a good girl. She’s so happy with me. Mother Eve loves me. Not like that vicious cunt Bianca or that evil man Demyan.

Mother Eve and that cruel witch Bianca had been so busy bickering that they hadn’t noticed it fall from the man’s clothing when he was on the floor. Concealing it beneath her legs, while they argued, she shoved it under the mattress with her foot for later.

            Blue and white sparks flew in the dark as she raked it back and forth against the crude stone floor, sharpening an edge.

            She tested the metal against her thigh, waves of pleasure and pain radiating, making her moan as a ragged slash appeared against the old cut marks on her pale skin. She threw back her head and moaned in ecstasy as the gouge resealed as if it had never been.

            Soon, she promised herself, tucking her new toy under her mattress and sticking her thumb in her mouth. I’ll free myself of this stupid chain. I’ll show Mother Eve just how smart I am. Just how happy I can make her. I’ll get rid of nasty Bianca and Demyan. I need to figure out who this ‘other’ is. The one they want to replace me with. Mother Eve will never let them hurt me I can tell. Not like the other people. She gives me pleasure and tells me how special I am. She rescued me for the real monsters. I owe her my life, and I’m willing to pay.

            She snuggled under her blankets, watching the wrist irons sway from the ceiling above. I’ll clamp Bianca to the ceiling. Then I’ll show her real pain. I’ll show the world pain. She drifted to sleep with her jumbled thoughts of rage, lust, love and revenge.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more blog posts on this and my other horror and Romantic Suspense stories.

Lace

An steamy excerpt from a WIP set in the interior of Alaska

Lake near Mentasta Lodge

“Evelyn,” Zeke said. She raised her head and looked at him, eyes wide and still full of tears. “Would you like to stay here with me tonight? It’s a little late to be driving back to Anchorage or trying to get a hotel.”

“Yes, Zeke. Please? I don’t want to bother you, but I’m scared. I feel safe here with you,” she said, lips trembling.

“You’re not a bother,” he said, brushing a lock of hair away from her face with his good hand. “Not at all. I’m glad you came to me for help.” While the thought of her in danger tore at him, her words made his heart swell. “How about I get you something to drink? Would you like a beer?” He motioned to the bottle on the coffee table with his prosthetic claw.

“Sure,” she replied. “I’ll be right back, I’m going to clean up.” She ran her hands over her hair as she rose to her feet, petite body quaking.

“Take your time.” He said, going into the kitchen and getting two more bottles of beer. He grinned when she emerged from his bathroom. Ivory silk blouse neatly tucked back into her linen skirt. Ash blonde hair smoothed, skin fresh scrubbed. She kicked off her tan pumps under his coffee table and plopped down onto the couch beside him, wriggling pretty pink manicured toenails in her silky sheer stockings as he handed her a beer.

She took a swig and leaned against him, eyelashes making butterfly kisses against his bare skin as she blinked. Now that things were calm, he was painfully aware of her warm breath and that tiny perfect body pressing against his. With every inhalation, those pert breasts under the filmy blouse brushed against his side, ratcheting the heat in his own core a fraction higher.

“Zeke?”

“Yeah Evelyn?”

“Thank you. I didn’t know where else to go. I was so scared.” She ran her fingers along the muscles of his chest. Zeke closed his eyes, savoring the sensation. His groin throbbed in time with the light stroke of her fingers.

A jolt coursed through him as her satiny lips brushed his neck. His eyes flew open wide and he jerked away.

Evelyn jumped back too, tears filling her eyes. “I’m sorry. I just—I thought maybe you—never mind.” She covered her face with her hands and started to rise.

“Wait, no.” Zeke said, snaking his good arm around her. arresting her flight. “You just startled me. I wasn’t expecting that.” He moved her hands away from her face. “I—I didn’t think you could want a guy like me.”

“Why?” she asked cocking her head to the side and wiping her eyes.

His laughter came out more like a harsh bark as he held up his metal claw. “Do I really need to answer?”

“Really?” she replied, eyes flashing. “You really think I’m so shallow that something as minor as that would bother me?” She motioned to his prosthetic arm. “I’m not like Emily,” she said, face flushing red.

“Whoa, whoa. It has nothing to do with me thinking you’re shallow Evelyn,” he said, running a hand through his dark hair. “You’re amazing. I’ve wanted you since the first time I saw you in the 6th grade, in your tiny pink sweater and jeans. I just thought a smart perfect girl like you could never want a big dumb jock like me. And now I’m—” His words trailed off as his dark eyes looked at the claw where his forearm and hand used to be.

“You’re what? You’re successful, handsome, talented, strong, sexy—you’re so many things Zeke. I wish you could see yourself the way I see you,” she replied, touching his cheek.

“I think I’m starting to.” He put his hand under her chin and pressed his lips to hers, savoring the sweet taste. She kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck, kneeling on the couch next to him so she could be eye level with his face.

He jerked his prosthetic arm back as the claw started to catch on the filmy lace of her top.

“What? What’s wrong?” She asked, cocking her head to the side.

“I’m just afraid I’m going to hurt you,” he said metal claw gleaming as he held it up.

She frowned, running her fingers over the stubble on his chin. Then her full lips curled up, the gleam in her eyes brought a fresh surge to his groin. She stood up from the couch.

“Come with me. Now,” she ordered, holding out her hand. He took it and allowed her to lead him into the bedroom. She stopped next to his bed and pushed him up against it with her tiny hands. Eyes huge as she craned her neck to look up at him, running her fingers over the muscles of his chest. She stood on her tip-toes, raining licks and kisses against his collar bone. He started to reach for her. She arrested his arms shaking her head.

“No,” she whispered. “Hands off. You’re not allowed to touch.” He obeyed, dropping his arms to his sides. His groin grew harder as she continued her inspection of his body with her eyes, lips and tongue. Clever fingers moved lower to the waist of his boxers, tugging them to the floor.

“Lie down on the bed,” she said, as she lightly cupped him.

He complied, erection standing up like a post. She hiked up her linen skirt and slid one gossamer stocking from a shapely leg, then the other.

“Hands over your head,” She commanded as she climbed on top of him, straddling his chest. Using the frail fabric, she bound his muscled wrist then his prosthetic arm far apart to the bed posts. She leaned over him, glossy hair tickling his face. Zeke’s pulse climbed as her sweet perfume filled his senses. Her lace panty rubbed against his abs as she squeezed with her thighs. Her lips brushed his as she whispered, “There. Now you don’t have to worry about hurting me. I’m in charge.”

She dismounted and reached for the light switch.

“No!” Zeke barked. “If I can’t touch you, I want to see you.”

Her lip trembled as she crossed her arms over her chest. “But I’m so—”

“Beautiful? Sexy? Perfect?” He asked, smiling.

“Small. Skinny.” She said, hanging her head.

“Not at all. Please, Evelyn. Take off your clothes. I’ve only been dreaming of this since I was eleven.”

Her trembling fingers worked the intricate buttons on the ivory silk blouse. She peeled off the gossamer layer to reveal a sheer lace bra clinging to her pert breasts. Next, she unbuttoned her skirt and wriggled it to the floor, nothing but the barest slip of ivory lace beneath. He longed to trace his finger, followed by his tongue, along that perfect curve outlined by delicate flowery stitching. She kneeled beside him on the bed, eyes huge.

“Aren’t you going to take your bra and panties off?” he asked, mouth dry, as her golden skin brushed up against his.

Her perky breasts strained against the sheer fabric as she leaned over him, voice almost a purr as she said, “You’ve waited this long. I feel like I should stretch out the suspense, make sure it’s worth your while.” His cock surged, entire being quaking as she flicked her tongue against his ear then let out her breath in a sigh.

She ran her fingers over the muscles of his chest, then trailed kisses toward his lips. She then worked her way back down to his navel, tracing his abs with her tongue.

“Zeke,” she panted against his skin as she crawled up his body again. “Do you know how hot you get me?” she asked as she nipped each of his nipples with her pearly teeth.

He gasped, body jerking, pulse pounding. “No baby. Why don’t you show me?”

She let one strap of lace fall from her shoulder, then the other. Zeke counted every rise and fall of her breasts as she inched her hands around her back, then finally unsnapped the frilly garment. Freeing those perfect peaks from their sheer prison, she threw it aside and smiled. With a wicked gleam in her eyes, she leaned over him, offering him one succulent pink nipple then the other. He craned his neck, suckling greedily. Her soft moans and whimpers as her body flexed above him sent new surges to his already hard cock.

She jerked back and he moaned with dismay. “Oh baby, please. Untie me. I want you.”

“No,” she said, lips against his ear as her hard nipples grazed his skin, setting his groin on fire. “You should have thought of that before you said you were afraid to touch me.” His breath came harder as she began to wriggle out of the lace thong covering her netherlips. His swollen erection pulsed at the sight of her bare skin with the neat strip of blonde hair at the entrance. She probed his mouth with her tongue, teasing, testing; while he strained to touch her. She pulled back again, eyes steady as she trailed her fingers along his lips.

“Zeke, would you like to taste me?

“God yes.” He choked out a reply. She turned her back to him and straddled his face, spreading her folds and lowering slowly. He opened his mouth and suckled her wet opening. Leaning over his body, she stretched and writhed as he found her hard little pearl with his tongue. He reveled in her sweet and salty taste and in her whimpers and cries as he worked her. Her breath was hot against his navel as she moaned, pressing her face into him. She clawed him with her nails gripping and tugging as he probed. Meanwhile, he worked one hand free of her restraints, then the other. Completely lost in her world of pleasure, she didn’t feel his hand grip her hip, pulling her closer, increasing pressure.

“Oh, oh, oh Zeke! Oh fuck!” She moaned as she quivered, rubbing against him as she began to peak. He sucked and licked harder, determined to feel her come against him. When she finally went limp against him, cries becoming whimpers against his skin, he sat up. Scooping her up with his good arm, he flipped her over onto her back and rolled on top of her. He smiled at her wide eyes and gaping jaw as she gazed up at him.

He kissed her neck, sandpaper-like stubble leaving a red mark against her flawless golden tan. She tangled her fingers in his hair.

“Please Zeke. I want you inside of me. Now.” She pleaded. He shook his head.

“Sorry. Now I’m in charge. Just relax Evelyn. It’s going to be a long night.”