I Accidentally Hooked Up with a Vampire (Accidents Happen #2)

4. Maverick’s Tower

4

Maverick’s Tower

F irm taps on my cheek pulled me from a fantasy about wrapping my lips around Domino’s dick. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t realize I was dreaming. I accepted the offer into my mouth and started sucking, but the sensation on my tongue was wrong…furry. I paused and opened my eyes to see Maverick staring at me in total disbelief. He looked genuinely disgusted! I looked down, and yes, his damn paw was in my mouth!

“UGH!” I spit and scratched my tongue as I jumped from the bed and ran to the bathroom to clean my mouth. As I scrubbed my tongue, Maverick stood in the doorway, both judging me and rolling his eyes because my chaotic start to the day was further delaying his meal.

“Raawr,” he fussed as I started my third scrub.

“I’m coming!” I gargled then spit out the oral rinse and wished it was something stronger, like bleach. “This is why they warn women about getting cats!”

Maverick slapped the door with his tail, huffed, turned and walked away.

“Ugh, my head. How the hell did I get home?” The last thing I could remember was orgasms over the ocean. “Please tell me I didn’t drive.”

I stomped back to my bedroom and checked the app for my car. Luckily, it had a location tracker on it. The map showed it was still parked at the venue.

“I must have gotten a ride.” I opened the rideshare app to check if I had tipped the driver. If they got me home safely, they deserved a big one. But there was no ride listed for the night before. “Huh?”

My next option was to check my security cameras. Maybe Jackie or Lena dropped me off. I expected to find an embarrassing clip of them dragging me to my door, but when I opened the app to view the recording, I saw myself walking down the hall at an odd angle, my arm dangling in the air, as if hooked around someone’s neck, but I was alone. When I made it to the door, I struggled to put my key in the lock and swatted at something like it was distracting me, but there was nothing there.

Then, I checked the internal camera to see me standing in an open door and waving at the empty hallway.

“Damn, his scotch really was strong.” I rubbed my head.

There was more to the video, but I closed it, opting to read the new message that popped up on the screen instead. I didn’t need to watch any more embarrassing behavior.

Jackie: Get up and wash ya ass. We’re on our way! I didn’t tell her, but you will! Better order that sushi boat.

Me: Now?

Jackie: You got an hour to pretty up and get your story together.

“Damn it!” I tossed the phone on my bed.

Raawrar! Maverick fussed from the hall outside my bedroom.

“I’m coming!” I rolled my eyes.

After feeding Maverick, I hopped in the shower and scrubbed up. At least I’d be able to offer the girls a juicy story after I told them about how my life fell apart.

While I waited for the girls to arrive, I stood in my kitchen and placed an order for the largest sushi boat from our favorite spot and called the gallery.

“Hi, I left my car there last night. Is it possible to come pick it up?”

“I’m sorry, but the gallery is closed until Monday morning,” the soft voice answered over the phone. “The valet team won’t be back to access any stored keys, but your vehicle will be safe on site until then.”

“Great. Well, I didn’t have much to do this weekend anyway. Thanks.” I ended the call and stared at the phone. It was true; I planned to spend the two days avoiding unpacking by scouting for new artists for the firm. I gave half a thought to pulling out my laptop to the job hunt then tossed that idea aside as well.

Across from the kitchen, freshly unboxed, was my new custom couch. The Chesterfield sofa with the distressed antique nail heads in custom dolphin fabric was the first thing I ordered for my new spot. It said sophisticated, established, and successful. It also came with a hefty price tag of well over three thousand dollars.

“I should send it back.” I frowned. As if protesting the thought, Maverick jumped on to the couch and scowled at me. “Hey, it's either the couch or your tower.”

He rolled his eyes and swatted his tail. After years of being berated by the fussy feline, I knew this was his sign that I was being overdramatic. I would have continued the one-sided argument, but the doorbell rang. It was time to face the music.

I had barely opened the door before the two women barged inside. Not only were they there to get information out of me, this was the first time they would get a look at the condo in person. I had refused to let them in before the deal was final, and then I wanted to wait until I was unpacked and had the space decorated.

“How are you not unpacked yet?” Lena pointed to the stacks of unopened boxes then turned on me with that angry mother glare. She didn’t have kids yet, but when she did, they were in for some prime A guilt!

“I’ve been preoccupied with other things.”

“Yes.” Jackie stepped in between us. “Other things. Do tell.” She threw the scarf I was sure she’d worn only for that moment over her shoulder and headed off to pet Maverick.

“Really?” I rolled my eyes at her. “Real subtle.”

“Okay, what’s going on?” Lena wagged her finger. “Jackie was acting really funny about getting over here, and now you’re getting fidgety on me.”

“Well, tell her.” Jackie reappeared with the massive body of fur in her arms. Maverick stuck his tongue out at me and then nuzzled his face in her neck, just like a traitor.

“Fine.” I took a deep breath, walked over to Lena, and took her hands in mine before blurting it out, “I lost my job.”

“What? I thought you were being promoted.” Lena looked over at Jackie, who shrugged.

“Yeah, so did I.” I dropped her hands. “I don’t know what happened. I was ready to accept this great new position, and now, I’m unemployed.”

“When? I know they didn’t call you on a Saturday morning to tell you this.” Lena sucked her teeth. “That has to be illegal or something.”

“No. They told me a couple of days ago.”

“This happened days ago, and you didn’t tell us?” Lena looked hurt. “Why would you do that?”

“I wanted to wait. It wasn’t like I wouldn’t still be unemployed after your big night.” I looked Lena in the eye. “You needed to enjoy your moment. What kind of friend would I be if I took that away from you, knowing how you are?”

“How am I?” Lena tossed her hands on her hips, and the frame of big curls around her face bounced.

“Mother hen!” I laughed. “Lena, I love you, but you have a hard time celebrating yourself.”

“She’s right,” Jackie chimed in between kissing Maverick. “You’ll find any reason not to, and fussing over one of us is your top reason to disregard your own shit.”

“Well, damn.” Lena chewed her lip. “I guess I can’t be mad at you for not telling me.”

“Oh yeah, you can!” Jackie snapped. “I’m getting my sushi boat!”

“I already ordered it, but they won’t deliver for another few hours, so in the meantime…” I trailed off and looked at the stacks of unopened boxes.

“Not this bitch lying to us and then putting us to work!” Jackie exclaimed as she put Maverick down. He immediately walked over to his half-assembled cat tower and purred. “And my baby’s tower isn’t even done yet?”

“Hey, I can’t do this by myself.” I pouted and fluttered my lashes at them. “I’m sad. Pity me, please. I have no job!”

“That better be the biggest damn sushi boat on the menu!” Lena rolled her eyes. “Where do we start?”

“You help the liar with the boxes. I’m gonna get Mr. Maverick right.” Jackie issued the orders, and we went to work.

A few hours later, Maverick’s cat tower was complete, and the boxes were half empty. I’d given the girls the total rundown of my firing and had to rein Jackie in. She was ready to march down to the office and raise hell.

While Lena and I struggled to stuff the broken-down boxes into the trash chute, Jackie played with Maverick, complaining I wasn’t showing him enough love. We made it back from the trash chute just in time for the sushi boat to arrive. As we sat on the floor of my new living room listening to lo-fi, Maverick took the chance to perch atop his tower and look out the window at the skyline.

“Look at him. Royalty!” Jackie praised him, and he lifted his head in acceptance of her fawning.

“I really love this view.” I rolled my shoulders. “Never thought I would have a condo with a view of the ocean!”

“And now you do. Sitting on top of the world.” Lena wiggled as she popped a roll into her mouth. “I’m so proud of you!”

“For now.” I rolled my eyes.

“You’ll get another job, Whit.” Jackie smacked my leg.

“Yeah, I know. Just feeling a little deflated.”

“I still can’t believe that Conrad guy still showed up at the party. Did he chase you off? I mean, you disappeared. We were about to have a twerk-off, but you weren’t there.” Lena lifted to her knees and started bouncing her ass.

“Oh, just give me another reason to kick that guy's ass, please!” Jackie balled up her fist. “You know he had the nerve to come asking me where you were? Looked like he saw a damn ghost or something.”

“Oh, about that.” I lifted my beer to my lip and took a long sip.

“What?” they said in unison.

“So, John pushed up on me, as if the asshole really thought he could get with me after firing me,” I started.

“Maybe he thought you would be desperate.” Lena laughed. “He sounds like the type to prey on vulnerable women.”

“Maybe. Honestly, I thought I would have to break his hand when he kept grabbing me.”

“Alright, that’s it. I’m whooping ass!” Jackie looked ready to bolt out the door and find John.

“No need. The owner stepped in and handled that.” I offered the detail I knew would bring her focus back to the juicy details I was ready to share.

“The owner?” Lena leaned in. “What owner?”

“He owns the gallery. Apparently, he was John’s contact who got us into the space. You know, that’s the only reason I invited the moron. But anyway, this man was fine, and I don’t know what he said to John after he caught him pushing up on me, but he got the hell out of there.”

“Wait.” Jackie leaned back, squinting her eyes before she wiggled her finger in my face. “That look on your face. What happened?”

“Long story short, I left the party with the owner.” I took another sip and watched them lock eyes.

“You’re boring us about losing your job when you left the party with some hot gallery owner?” Lena scoffed. “What the hell is going on with you?”

“It’s like she wants us to smack her!” Jackie laughed. “Tell us everything.”

“Yeah, so sexy gallery owner gets rid of the scum. Hot! You leave the party with him,” Lena recapped. “What happened next?”

“He took me to see his private collection on the top floor. We had to use this fancy ass elevator with a passcode. While I was looking at the pieces, he accused me of being an art thief, and—”

“That was all it took!” Jackie screamed. “Kinky bitch!”

“What?” Lena rolled her eyes.

“Girl, you know how she has that thing about being a spy!” Jackie sipped her drink.

“You have a thing for spies?” Lena gasped. “I had no idea!”

“I never told her that.” My face warmed.

“You bitches have a lot of secrets,” Lena snipped.

“How did I get in trouble?” Jackie gasped and clutched her imaginary pearls. “It started in college after she worked on that double agent animation with that guy. She got it in her head about how sexy it would be to be a spy. It’s why she made us watch all those movies!”

“You said it was for research!” Lena yelled and pointed at me.

“Oh, it was—for her fantasies!” Jackie laughed.

“Anyway,” I continued the story. “Do you want to hear the rest of the story or not?”

“Sorry. Continue.” Lena swallowed her laughter.

“We started talking about the job shit. Thanks to Dandruff Darla, everyone already knows.”

“Who?!” Lena choked on the piece of fish she had just popped into her mouth.

“Nina. The trifling heffa, I’m sure, will end up with my job after this,” I clarified.

“I gotta write that one down for my next book!” Lena laughed. “Continue.”

“Well, work talk, scotch, spy stuff, and…” I trailed off.

“And what?” Jackie held her breath.

“I lost my favorite panties. Pretty sure they’re still under that desk.” I bit my lip and waited for the meaning to sink in for them.

“No!” Lena gasped. “In the office?”

“Y’all fucked?” Jackie asked. “I need to know for sure. What did you do?”

“Yes, we did.” I dropped my head. “Right there on the floor.”

“You didn’t!” Lena smacked her hand over her mouth.

“Scotch. I’m blaming the scotch.” I looked back up just in time for Maverick to come flying at me. He jumped off his perch, snatched a piece of sushi, and ran down the hall. “Damn cat.”

“Scotch?” Lena asked. “Continue the story.”

“Yes, it must have taken over my brain.” I dropped my head again.

“Nah, sis, look up and face your whorish ways!” Jackie cackled.

“I can’t believe you did that. Did you use protection?” Lena lowered her voice like one of our parents was listening.

“I’ve read those sex scenes you write. When do they ever reach for a condom?” Jackie snickered.

“Hey, that’s fiction. STDs are real!” Lena corrected her. “Readers don’t enjoy reading about sexual precautions, but this isn’t one of my books.”

“We used a condom!” My face was on fire. “I don’t know how it happened. I didn’t think I would be fucking anyone last night, but the drinks, the music, and something about that man…”

“What’s his name?” Lena asked. “Please tell me you know his name.”

“Domino.”

“Domino? Oh, hell, that sounds like a damn sex god.” Jackie sucked her teeth.

“Exactly!” I shook my head.

“Was it good?” Lena asked, whispering again.

“Best I’ve ever had.” I nodded. “I mean, that man made me squirt!”

“You lucky bitch.” Jackie slammed her drink down. “So he dicked you down real good and then what?”

“I don’t know. I mean, after being picked up, flipped around, and having multiple orgasms, it’s all kinda of hazy.”

“Wait, weren’t you still talking to that guy? What’s his name?” Jackie snapped her fingers, trying to recall the name of the guy I’d gone out with exactly twice and never again.

“Patrick?” I scoffed.

“Yeah, the bookstore guy. I thought you liked him.” Jackie looked at Lena, who nodded.

“Long story short, our second date was a disaster that ended with me running away from him and trying to hide my embarrassment until I made it to the safety of my car.” I cringed. I still couldn’t believe what started out as a sweet date had ended so terribly.

“Hold up, what?” Jackie straightened. “Why would you ever be running away from a man?”

“All I can say is that’s the last time I let Lena hook me up with anybody.” I pointed to my curly-headed friend, who dropped her head and pretended to be cleaning her glasses.

I’d met Patrick through Lena. They were both in the publishing industry. She’d met him on a trip to some literary event and said he would be perfect for me. He was, at first, but it wasn’t long before I realized he’d been putting on his absolute best show for me. The man wore a mask of confidence and security when really, he was as about as confident as a toddler taking their first step. On our second date out, he showed me just how secure he was in his manhood.

“I’m being blamed for this?” Lena gasped. “Why?”

“You said the first date was good,” Jackie pointed out. “How did he fuck it up?”

“Yeah.” Lena tapped my leg. “What happened to roaming the bookstore, hand-holding, gaming together? That sounded so sweet.”

“And it was sweet—for a first date.” I inhaled deeply and let out a sigh. “I was really hoping this one would work out, but I should know better by now about getting my hopes up so early.”

“What did you do? The second date was supposed to be a carnival, right?” Jackie nudged me to continue the story. “You ran away from him at a carnival?”

“Yes, I did. Everything was going well until we walk by this cute couple thing. Guys were carrying their ladies to win prizes. The further you make it, the better the prize,” I explained the game that ruined the date. “Honestly, it looked fun, and we stood there watching as people tried to make it further. Soon, you could tell the men were competing with each other. The entire thing was funny as hell.”

“Don’t tell me. Please, don’t tell me.” Jackie put her hands together as if praying to the gods that my story wouldn’t continue down the path she knew I was taking her down.

“You know exactly what happened. Little Patrick decided he wanted to participate in the game.” I cracked open another beer; I was going to need it to finish the story. “Of course, when he asked, I told him no. I mean, you see me. I’m Miss Thickums over here. Ain’t no way in hell that man was going to come anywhere near winning that game carrying me on his back.”

“Is he really that small?” Jackie asked.

“Thin as a string bean,” Lena laughed. “I mean, but skinny guys are strong sometimes. Sometimes, they surprise you. I know I’ve had my share of men come through and toss my ass around like I was nothing. Makes a big girl feel dainty!”

“Yeah, well, he wasn’t one of those surprises. All I know is, he swore he could pick me up and carry me across the finish line. No matter how much I said I didn’t want to, he just knew he could do it.” I recalled the way he begged me to let him try. “It was like having a little kid pleading and tugging at the bottom of your shirt for candy or some shit.”

“See, that right there is annoying as it is. You didn’t want to. Why keep insisting?” Jackie rolled her eyes. “I would have left right then.”

“I should have,” I agreed with her. “Lord knows I should have, but no. I stayed because I really hoped he would drop it.”

“Maybe he was trying to prove something?” Lena offered.

“To who?” I laughed. “Girl, I know what the scale says when I step on it. I’m big and proud of it. But what you’re not about to do is embarrass my big, beautiful ass in public.”

“How bad was it?” Lena asked and, in my peripherals, I could see Maverick stalking back up the hall, ready to snatch another piece of food. It was a game he played—the plate next to me was his, and he knew it. I think it kept his hunting skills sharp.

“Girl, his lil ass was grunting, sweating, and damn near dropped me! He made it three steps!” I held up three fingers. “Three shaky ass steps! I hopped off his back before we both face-planted in front of everyone. People were laughing. Women were trying to avert their eyes, but I caught a couple of those pity glances.”

“Now that is embarrassing.” Jackie put her arm around me. “I’m so sorry, friend.”

“Tell me about it. So, I promptly walked my big, sexy black ass back to my car and drove away. He was running after me like a lost puppy, holding his back like he had hurt himself.” I shook my head. “Second guy this year with wobbly knees trying to prove something by picking me up!”

“Doesn’t sound like Domino had any trouble carrying you.” Jackie shimmied her shoulders.

“Not a damn one!” I lifted my bottle, and we toasted to the triumph. “He would have won that race!”

“So, are you going to see him again?” Lena rubbed her belly, the surefire sign she had reached her max on the sushi.

“I highly doubt it, considering we didn’t exchange information.” Maverick purred nearby, as if he understood what I said. No new men for him to worry about. When I turned to look at him, he huffed and walked back down the hall. He would have to start his stealthy hunt all over.

“You had a damn one-night stand with a millionaire?” Jackie’s look of pride turned into one of feigned disgust. “That’s not one you catch and release, girl!”

“We don’t know he’s a millionaire,” Lena corrected her.

“Hmm. Let's think about this. He owns the hottest gallery in the state and has a private collection inside a secret office only accessible by a special code,” Jackie listed off the man’s known attributes, which to her added up to a new sugar daddy. “You gotta go back there. Claim your man!”

“Jackie, I’m not doing that. I shouldn’t have even been with him. I mean, he clearly has ties to my industry. If anyone found out what happened, it could ruin my reputation!” I rebuked her complaints. “That’s the last thing I need happening right now.”

“Where did I go wrong with you?” Jackie complained. “I knew it. I’m giving too much attention to my audience. That’s why you’re a lamb lost in a world of wolves.”

“You’re so damn dramatic!” I laughed.

“She is, but I need more details. I need positions, smells, textures,” Lena refocused our conversation. “You’ll never see him again, fine. Tell us everything about what happened last night.”

“You going to use this for writing material?” I rolled my eyes. I knew it. Lena was always collecting material for her novels.

“Maybe.” She winked. “Hey, I’m running out of my own source material to pull from.”

“So you go out there and toss your ass in the air!” I joked with her. “I’m going to need a royalty share if you want to use this material.”

“Oh, so the millionaire had your ass in the air?” Lena narrowed her eyes. “Interesting.”

“This is getting juicy!” Jackie was seconds away from squealing. “How was it? You know… Was he big?”

“I’m not answering that question.” I winked, and Lena laughed.

“That means he was!” Lena screamed.

“I still can’t believe you fumbled the bag so hard. I thought I taught you better than that!” Jackie grabbed me by the shoulders and started shaking me. “We could have had paid vacations and spa days!”

“You just want more research for your dick classification.” I rolled my eyes at her when she released me.

“Well, now that you mention it…” She winked. “Happy to swing back around to that question. What was it like?”

“Absolutely not!” I wouldn’t admit anything to her about the classification of Domino’s dick, even though I was sure it was the kind she’d tell me to run away from.

As our laughter died, my phone rang, and I looked down to see an unknown number on the screen.

“You know, if this was my book, that would be Domino calling you.”

“Answer it!” Jackie shouted.

“No! I don’t know the number.”

Lena gave Jackie a look I hadn’t seen since college. Faster than I thought possible, Lena wrapped her arms around me, and Jackie snatched the phone from my hand. She hit the answer button and put the phone to my ear.

I froze.

“Hello, is this Whitney?” the line crackled with the sound of a deep, commanding voice.

“Domino?”