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

8. The Truth about Domino

8

The Truth about Domino

I didn’t hear what Domino said to Vance before he closed the door, but I did hear Maverick’s battle cry as he ran down the hall and positioned himself between us. He hissed at Domino, as if daring him to take one step closer to me. I looked down at the massive cat and realized he looked even bigger than before.

“No. Stay back. What the hell was that?” I shouted when Domino tried to navigate around the cat. “What are you? Why can’t I see your ass on the security camera? Is that bitch a damn vampire? Are you? I mean, she had fucking fangs! What the actual fuck is happening?”

“What question would you like me to answer first?” As he spoke, the cut I hadn’t realized was on his lip moved. The blood sucked back into the open wound, and it sealed shut like a zipper being closed. Within a few moments, the mark was completely gone.

“Oh, hell no! See, that’s fucked up!” When I stepped back, Maverick took that as his permission to attack. He pounced at Domino, once again digging his claws into his face, and reopened the wound that had just healed.

I could have helped, but I didn’t. This man knew he wasn’t human, and he still let me fuck him. As far as I was concerned, Maverick was doing me a favor. I stepped back and fixed my braids while they struggled. It took a minute, but eventually, Domino grabbed Maverick by the collar. He held him at an arm's length and tossed him into the office.

“Were you even going to help me?” Domino slammed the door and turned to me. “Were you just going to stand there and let your cat maul me?”

“Were you going to tell me you were a fucking vampire?” I pointed at him. “That’s what you are, right?”

“No, I wasn’t going to tell you because I didn’t want to involve you in this.”

“Right, and that’s why you fucked me twice and offered me a job?” I slapped my hand over my mouth. “Oh shit, I bit you. I fucking bit you! Your blood. It got in my mouth!”

Of course, that little piece of information slipped out of my head until I was facing down the vamp. I bit him and I swallowed his blood. I should have known something was up with his ass when I did that. What the fuck was I thinking? “Does that mean I’m going to become a fucking vampire? I don’t want to be a vampire. I’m not trying to live forever!”

“Were you able to go out into the sun today?” He rolled his eyes. “Don’t be dramatic.”

“Don't come at me like that! Thanks to Lena’s spooky loving ass, I’ve watched the movies and I read the books, but vampires aren’t supposed to be real. They sure as hell ain’t supposed to be doing the freaky shit we did together!” I suddenly felt nauseous. Nothing about living forever sounded appealing! “I’m going to be sick.”

“No, Whitney.” He held his hand up to me. “You're not a vampire. Calm down.”

“What about your blood? It's in me now. Does it do anything?” I touched my stomach. “I think I feel different. Am I different? I mean, is that how vampire babies are made or something?”

“Vampire babies?” he scoffed. “No, that’s not a thing. You’re the same as you ever were, only I can feel you now. It’s the start of the process to making a familiar. You drink my blood and I drink yours. Only, I haven’t had your blood, so it will fade in time. But for now, when you're in danger, I'll know it. I’ll know how to find you.”

“And if you drink my blood?” I didn’t know why the hell I asked. Why did it matter? I wasn’t letting his ass drink my blood.

“The bond becomes permanent.” I could hear the hope in his voice. He wanted it to happen! Domino wanted to do some freaky blood bond with me.

“So I'm basically your temporary familiar now?” I started pacing the room. “Great. This is just great!”

“Something like that, except you don't work for me.” He shrugged. “Usually, familiars end up working in the vampire system, hoping to one day become immortal. Most never do. They die serving their vampires.”

“But you offered me a job!” That was it. The panic kicked in. The deep breaths I took to combat the tightening feeling in my chest did absolutely nothing to help. “This was your plan all along, wasn’t it? But the purple afro bitch ruined it for you.”

“Whitney, you need to slow down. You’re going to pass out if you keep breathing like that.” He stepped closer to me, and I held my hand out to stop him.

“Of course, I’m going to pass out! You do realize my entire frame of thinking is crashing and burning right now, right? I mean vampires are real, and I let one eat me out!”

“Whitney…” he said my name.

“Nope!” I put my hand in his face to silence him. “On second thought, get out. I don’t want you here.” I pointed to the door.

“Aaaaahhhhh!” Domino screamed, because the moment the words left my mouth, it was like I’d hit a magical ejection button. An invisible force lifted him into the air and carried him away from me. As Domino went flying down the hall, the door swung open, seemingly of its own accord, adding to the chaotic scene. The force dropped him outside the door, and he stumbled back, his body crashing against the wall with a thud.

“Holy shit!” I ran to the door and looked out at him. “Are you okay?”

“Really?” he grunted and rubbed the back of his head.

“Sorry.” I paused then stepped back and crossed my arms. This was actually good for me. “You know what? No, actually. I’m not sorry. This is better. You stand there and tell me what the hell is going on.”

“This is how you want to do this?” He took a step closer to the door.

“Yes, actually.” I nodded. “Tell me everything from right there. Start with the obvious. Are you really a vampire?”

“We’ve covered that, but yes, I am.” He spoke through a tightened jaw, clearly not happy with the position he was in, but I didn’t give a fuck. At any point, he could just walk away and leave me the hell alone.

“Shit, you were supposed to say no!” I pointed at him.

“Whitney, a magical force just kicked me out of your home because you told me to leave. How would me lying to you about what I am account for that?” I could see the frustration building in his expression.

“You were supposed to say whatever the hell you needed to say for me to go back to a normal fucking life.” I dropped my head back. “I know what this means, Domino. You being here means my life is going to be a nightmare now. And it’s already not on the best path as it is.”

“Would you like me to also apologize for that?” He tilted his head.

“I can’t believe this shit. No. Actually, I don’t believe it. You’re not a vampire. I’m choosing delusion!” I waved my hands in front of me, as if the motion would erase everything that had just happened. “None of this is real. I don’t care. It’s fiction because I say it is. I don’t believe it. I refuse.”

“Alright, that’s how you want to do this.” Domino grinned and stepped as close to the door as he could without getting another shock from the barrier. He looked me in the eyes and then slowly let his fangs extend. The sharp points rested against his bottom lip, and my pussy actually quivered. This was not supposed to be sexy!

“You couldn’t just let me live in the delusion?” I pointed at him but kept my hand on my side of the barrier. “You had to go and put your fangs out there?”

“How else would I get you to believe me?” He looked up at the door frame. “I’m not about to take another shock to prove my point. That shit hurts. And that’s saying something, because very little actually hurts a vampire.”

“You’re a vampire.” I took a deep breath.

“I am.” He nodded. “Will you let your delusion go now so we can talk?”

“Damn it. I’m too old for this shit! Hot young girls get the vampires. I’m in my thirties. My back hurts if I sneeze without bracing for impact!”

Domino slowly inhaled as I tested his patience. “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing. Damn.” I threw my hands up in defeat.

“Whitney, please let me in.” He said calmly. “I need to talk to you, and I would prefer it if I didn’t have to stand in the hall. As you can see, all you have to do is say you want me to leave, and I will. I can’t hurt you.”

“You know what else I saw? I saw how fucking fast you are.” I narrowed my eyes. “What’s stopping you from taping my mouth shut so I can’t say the words?”

“Do you think I would violate your trust like that?” he asked. “If you do, I will leave.”

“Yep!” I slammed the door in his shocked face so hard, the wall still trembled as I marched down the hall.

“Seriously, Whitney?” he called from the other side of the door.

“Damn right! You got me fucked up!” Despite how boastful I was, I didn’t make it far before my damn heart started pounding in my chest like I was about to have a panic attack. “Fuck!” I frowned and turned back to the door. “This is such a stupid idea!”

“Come on!” he continued. “Let me in.”

When I reached the door, I swung it open. “Fine, maybe I don’t think you would hurt me. Which makes no fucking sense, because you’re a literal monster. But that’s probably because your weird ass vampire blood is messing with my head.”

“I am one. And I promised you, I don’t plan on ever hurting you, but they do.” He pointed to the closed elevator door. “They know where you are now. They will come back.”

“Damn it.” I looked at the elevator then back at him. “Okay, but I swear, one bad move, and I’m kicking your ass back out.”

“I understand.” He nodded in agreement before I stepped back and waved him forward. When he didn’t move, I frowned.

“What’s the problem? You don’t want to come in now?”

“You actually have to say the words.” He looked at me like I was a toddler learning to walk. I could just hear his thoughts. How foolish this silly little human is!

“Oh, okay. Domino, please come in.”

Domino smiled, picked up the bag of food I’d forgotten about from the floor outside my door, and came inside.

I took the food to the kitchen counter, sat down, and busted the bag open so fast, I almost got a paper cut. It took years to overcome being an emotional binger. This seemed like the perfect time to resurrect that old side of myself.

“Alright, give me your vampy history.” I pointed at him as I laid the food out in front of me. “What do I need to know so I don’t get eaten by one of your buddies out there?”

He chuckled. “Very well.” Domino stood across from me and watched me dig into my food. “We’ve established that I’m a vampire. Nyesha and Vance are vampires as well, and there is a whole world out there full of them. We are the creatures of the night. We can’t go in the sun, and we drink blood to survive.”

“Human blood?” I gawked and slid the red sauce that came with my food to the side.

“Yes.” He smirked. “Human blood.”

“You're supposed to tell me that you only drink dogs, wolves, and lions, and you don't need to drink that often,” I corrected him. “Tell me you have to run off to the woods to catch a meal.”

“Once again, you’re asking me to lie to you. I’m a monster. A reluctant monster, but nonetheless, I enjoy the feed. And I'm telling you the truth so you can understand what is really happening.” No longer hiding his enhanced abilities, he moved so quickly around the table, he brought a gust of air with him. He leaned into me and was so close, I could feel his breath on my cheek. “You are a part of this world now. My world. You are a part of my monstrosities, and there is no going back. I won't pretend that there it is. All I can do now is try my best to protect you for as long as possible.”

“Alright, turn down the brooding vampire shit.” I hesitated then put my hand on his chest. He looked down at it and licked his lips before I pushed him to the other side of the counter and returned to my food. “So I’m like a walking snack bag to you?”

“Yes.” His eyes dropped to my breasts. “But not for those reasons.”

“Hey, eyes on my face, sir! This is not the time to flirt. You’re a vampire. I’m a human who should be having a mental breakdown about all this, but I think I’m in shock.” I pulled the first taco out and took a bite. “Pretty sure you just said I’m a monster or some shit.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. It just happens sometimes.” He shrugged. “Look, long story short, I’ve spent most of my time as a vampire alone. Nyesha and Vance were my friends at a time, but they changed. It happens. The longer you’re a vampire, the less you care about humanity.”

“How long have you been a vampire?” I asked around a mouthful of food. “And don’t just say something vague, like ‘a long time’. How old are you?

“I’m one hundred and forty-seven years old.”

“Get the fuck out of here!” I smacked my hand over my mouth when the front door opened, and Domino lifted from the ground. “Oh shit, no. I invite you in!” The door slammed shut, and he fell on his ass.

I lifted from my seat and peered over the edge of the counter at him. “My bad.”

“It’s fine.” He huffed as he stood again. “As I was saying, I was forty at the time my brother made me vampire, and I have been a vampire for one hundred and seven years.”

“You've looked like this for over a hundred years. That's impressive.”

“Not so difficult to do when magic is the reason behind it.”

“Magic. So magic is real too? Is everything real?”

“I’m not exactly sure what you mean by everything.” He leaned back against the counter. “But there are many unexplained things in the world. Humans make them fictional because they can’t fathom not having an understanding of how something came to be.”

“Wait, you said your brother made you a vampire? How?”

“Yes. He left our home as human one day and returned as vampire. He didn’t want to suffer eternity alone. So, he made me join him. It hasn’t been the best for our relationship.”

“He’s still alive?” I asked.

“Yes,” Domino forced the answer out of his mouth.

“Why did you say it like that?” I peered at him. “Like you wish he wasn’t.”

“Because as long as he is alive, those nutcases won’t leave me alone.” Domino glanced toward the window. “I’ll never know peace.”

“What nutcases?”

“Nyesha and Vance. They work for him.” Domino looked at the door. “And now, he undoubtedly knows all about you. They would have told him the night they first saw us together.”

“Seriously?” I dropped the taco on the plate. “What the hell do I have to do with any of this?”

“It’s their job to report everything to him. He’s the king of this region,” Domino explained. “I’m a loner, so seeing me with anyone is something worthy of reporting.”

“I’m sorry your brother is the vampire king. There’s a vampire king?”

“Yes, and now that he knows about you, you can’t stay here.”

“What do you mean, I can’t stay here? This is my home. Hell, I just signed a mortgage!” I defended. “Besides, I am safe. They can’t come in here, right?”

“Are you planning to never leave your home?” He laughed. “You think you can manage to be inside every night before the sun sets?”

“Well…” I thought about it. “No. I guess not.”

“Finally you agree with me. How long will it take you to pack your bag so we can get out of here?” He left me in the kitchen and headed for my bedroom.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I followed him. “Look, I don’t know what makes you think I would just pack up my stuff and waltz out of here with you, but I don’t know you like that, freaky shit or not.”

“I’m trying to keep you safe.” He looked back at me as he opened the doors to my walk-in closet. “I thought you were on board with that.”

“Funny, as far as I can tell, you’re the only reason I’m not safe right now.” I pointed out. “Wouldn’t hanging with you mean more danger?”

“That's not entirely true.”

“Oh? Then what is the truth?

“We don’t have time for this now.” He looked around the closet. “Where do you keep your luggage?”

“I have the time. You need to make it. And keep your hands off my stuff!” I grabbed his arm and pulled him out of my closet before I shut the door.

My head was spinning. There I was, standing in my home, talking to a man who had revealed he was a vampire. A vampire who I had fucked, twice! A vampire who I wanted to fuck again, despite knowing how completely ridiculous it was to want to do so. Maybe it was the blood. Yeah, it had to be. I wasn’t a horny nutcase who didn’t care about the fact that her life was in danger!

“What are you thinking?” Domino asked after I’d gone silent.

“I’m thinking about how insane this is. And how I want to make all this go away, but I don’t have time to sit here trying to debunk the logic of the moment. I need to look beyond that, and you need to tell me everything I need to know about this vampire king and his lackeys he might try to send after me.”

“What do you want to know?” Domino walked back out of my bedroom and headed for that custom couch I didn’t want to sit on.

“So the king, do you work for him too?” I stood as he sat, asking the first thing that came to mind.

“In a sense, yes. I do. Every vampire in the region does.” He looked up at me. “We have to report in about our businesses, pay taxes, and stay in line. Honestly, it’s not that different from being a human.”

“Great. Just my luck to get hooked up with an immortal who has a damn day job.”

“Funny.” He winked. “I don’t have a day job, to be clear. I cut a check twice a year, and for the most part, he leaves me alone.”

“If he leaves you alone, why is it a problem now?” I crossed my arms over my chest because I knew the answer to the question. It was the most obvious thing.

“Because you exist now.” He said it. Damn it, he said it! I was the reason this shit was happening now.

“So this is one of those things where siblings have an issue with keeping their hands off each other's things? Am I like a toy you two are fighting over now?”

“To put it in the simplest of terms, yes. But there is something more.”

“Let me guess: my blood is special and you both need it to unlock some secret hidden magical properties?" I laughed, but he didn't, and I stopped. “Wait, no, you gotta be kidding me. I was joking.”

“Joke or not, it is the truth. There is something special about your blood. I haven’t even tasted you, but I know it. I can smell it and so can the others. It’s why Nyesha lost her shit. Believe it or not, she’s usually more composed than that. You’re enticing.”

“You know, typically, an attractive man telling me I’m enticing would be a good thing. But in this case, it’s disturbing. I mean, you and your brother only want me because of the blood that's in my veins. Here I thought I was going to have some sexy sibling rivalry going on.” I tried to joke to ease the tension.

“Is that another one of your fantasies?” He raised a brow and stretched his arm along the back of the couch. “I’m enjoying my dive into spy fiction, you know.”

“Maybe, but this is one I think we can avoid acting out, especially since I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t end in orgasms, but in death.”

“That's a smart choice.” He looked at the empty space next to him then back at me.

I wasn’t ready to join him.

“What's the plan, vampire man? You clearly have enemies, and as a result of that, I have enemies. How do we deal with this?”

“First, as I said before, we need to find a new place for you to go.”

“Why do I have to go somewhere else?”

“I think it would be obvious that you're not safe here now.”

“I have Maverick. Clearly, he’s like a vampire detection system, right? That’s why he doesn’t like you!”

“About him. You may want to look into that cat. I’m not sure he’s one hundred percent feline.”

“What?”

“It’s a joke.” He laughed, but I got the feeling there was some truth to his comment.

“Regardless, he can detect you. And as long as I don't invite them inside of my house, what's the problem?”

“Vance and Nyesha have become my brother's favorite pets. They were among the first vampires to join his territories. They do whatever he wants without question.” He looked at the door. “But they aren’t the only people on his payroll. He has humans, familiars, who work for him. They won’t have any problem walking through that door with or without your invitation.”

“What makes your brother king?” I didn’t want to think about the second part of his statement. Living alone was scary enough without thinking about human threats who could potentially break in.

“Vampire politics. He's only king of this region. There are more. Every region has a king or queen, and under them are other rankings that I won’t go into right now. Just know that in this region, there are thousands of vampires who have pledged their loyalty to him.”

“Have you ever tried to usurp your brother?” I thought about what would make them hate each other so much. It would be stupid of me to automatically assume Domino was the good brother. He could have been the asshole who tried to take everything and failed.

“No, I don't want to be king. I didn't even want to be immortal. Why would I want to be the leader of the immortals? Vampires are annoying and selfish and entitled.”

“And you're so above the rest of them, huh?” I pointed at him. “You have your ass on my brand new couch and are trying to force me to leave my home just because you said so.”

Domino looked me in the eye then took his hand to rub it across the seat next to him. “It’s a really nice couch. You should join me.”

“Thanks.” I rolled my eyes. “I feel better standing right now.”

“Whitney, I’m a monster. I’m not trying to convince you I’m not. There’s no point in pretending I’m good. I’ve done terrible things in my life and I don’t regret them. This isn’t the case of the tortured soul.” He stood and stepped close to me again, leaving little space to breathe. “I kill humans often. I drink their blood and I love it. The taste, the smell, the feel of the kill. It’s amazing to me. Right now, I would love nothing more than to sink my teeth into your neck and taste what has been tempting me since I first laid eyes on you.”

“Why don’t you?” I challenged him. “Wouldn’t that be easier? Then you wouldn’t have to deal with your brother.”

“Because I like you and I want to keep you alive. I want to enjoy you, Whitney.” He placed his hand on the small of my back and pulled me closer to him. I should have pulled away, but I didn’t want to. “I plan to taste you, but I want to take my time with you. Savor you. No one else will have you. Do you understand?”

“Well damn.”