Chapter 24 Two perfect dots #2
“You mentioned you saw her in concert once, so I asked the pianist for a special request,” Renata answers, as though it’s the most natural thing in the world to arrange a live piano cover for your date.
“You remember an awful lot.”
“I remember important things.”
There’s a swelling of emotion in my chest. Then a server comes by with a cloth over one arm and a bottle of sparkling water in another.
“Wonderful to see you again, Ms. Espina.” She nods to Renata, then turns to me, filling my glass with water. “Good evening, my name is Jacqueline, and I’ll be taking care of you this evening.”
I’m not used to being waited on so formally, but it feels nice. “Thank you.”
“May I start you off with something to drink? We have a delicious pinot noir from Burgundy, or perhaps a bottle of Veuve Cliquot, if you prefer champagne?”
I look over at Renata, then remember that she wouldn’t be drinking any wine or champagne. The attention is all on me. I’m a little anxious at the idea of ordering such an expensive drink.
Renata senses my hesitation, and leans forward slightly in her seat. “Anything you like, Lily.”
I feel a bit silly about my nervousness. I know how much Renata is worth, and that this is all completely normal for her. But it’s still a bit of an adjustment for me. “Champagne, please.”
“Right away,” the server gives me a smile, and then disappears.
“This is really nice,” I whisper to Renata. “You didn’t have to do this…”
“Of course I did,” she replies, smoothly. “I wanted to make you feel special. And I’m glad you ordered the champagne. We can celebrate our first evening out.”
“I’d really like that.” I look at her across the table from me. Her red lips curve into a smile. I can’t believe this is really happening. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever have envisioned this.
I haven’t forgotten what Mel told me in the Human Resources office.
That if someone finds out about our relationship, I could lose my job.
But each time we take a step further, it just feels so right.
And I know I can’t go back. I’m absolutely devoted to Renata.
I love her, I know that now. And even though she didn’t say it back to me in her crypt, I know that I’m never going to stop loving her.
The server brings my champagne, and I order the seared scallops. The champagne is delicious, sweet how I like it, and crisp on my tongue.
“It’s a little odd,” I say to Renata. “To drink and eat in front of you. Is it rude…?”
“Not at all,” she replies. “I sustain myself in other ways, as you know.”
“Yes.” I think of the last time she drank from me. Then I realize that it was over a week ago. “Oh. Should I…coordinate another donor for you, this week?”
“That won’t be necessary,” she says simply.
“You should make sure you’re drinking regularly,” I tell her. I don’t want to lecture her, but the idea of her weakening herself again is difficult to bear. I hated seeing her like that.
“I will manage. I’ll tell the donor that I won’t be needing his services anymore.”
But I squirm a little in my chair. I’m not sure what this means. I take another sip of champagne. “Does that…mean that you’ll be getting your blood another way?”
“Well,” she raises an eyebrow. “I could always go down to the club, the way Celine used to.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. “I guess you could.”
There’s a little mischievous twinkle in her eye. “Would that make you jealous, Lily?”
There’s no point in being coy. She can read me like a book. Even if she wasn’t as cunning as she is, I’ve always worn my emotions on my sleeve. “Yes. I hate thinking of you drinking from anyone else.”
My heart races, but there’s a satisfying relief in telling her how I feel. In being totally vulnerable with her. I trust her completely.
“I understand if you want to,” I add quickly. “But I do want you to know…I don’t want to be with anyone else except for you. I’m all your’s.”
Her lips part slightly. For a second, I almost think I can see the glistening, sharp points of her fangs.
But then she composes herself again. She leans across the table and takes my hand.
Her touch is thrillingly cool, her skin soft and smooth.
“There’s no one else I want to drink from but you, Lily.
No more blood donors. And definitely no going to the club. ”
Her words are music to my ears. I would have been happy just being with her. But knowing that she only wants me…
My food arrives. I take an eager bite of a perfectly seared scallop. The taste is subtle and tantalizing, and it melts in my mouth. It’s the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten.
“This is amazing!” I gasp. “Wow, no offense to our chef, but…”
“I’m considering making this chef an offer to come work at our restaurant,” Renata says. “I can’t sample the food, of course, but I’ve heard excellent things. And your opinion matters most of all.”
I grin at her. “Did you take me on this date just to get my opinion on the seafood?”
“Certainly not,” she replies. “And I’m sorry for bringing up work.”
“Actually, I like talking about work. Everyone gets so sick of hearing me go on about it, especially my mom. But I really like what I do.”
“And you’re good at it. The hotel operates much more smoothly since you’ve joined. Cycling schedules, creating a database of regular room requests, and the idea to have consistent vendors for all of our events. You’ve really improved the hotel’s operations.”
“Thank you.” It’s nice that she’s noticed. “Did you hear back from the flower vendor today with the updated contract?”
“I did,” she says eagerly.
We chat about the hotel for a little while.
I don’t know if there’s anyone else who cares as much about the hotel as Renata and I.
It’s wonderful to be able to share that passion with someone.
I get the sense that she feels the same way.
She’s always so frustrated with her sisters and the other managers.
But with me, she’s different. It makes me feel special.
And it’s exciting, to be able to talk to her this way.
She really respects what I have to say, and she treats me like an equal.
“Oh, and I had an idea about the daycare,” I say to her. “It’s been so helpful for Eli. What do you think about starting a program so that other staff members can use it for their kids, too? I know that it would mean increasing the hours, and maybe even expanding the space…”
“It’s an excellent idea,” she says. “It would improve staff retention, which is very important to me.”
“Exactly! Eli loves it there, and it’s made a huge difference.
” I take a little sip of champagne, and look over to her sheepishly.
“I was…asking him about you. He really liked spending time with you the other week, and I wondered if maybe you wanted to see him again sometime. Maybe all three of us could do something.”
Her eyes flit away from me, for just a moment. I pause.
“I…do think Elijah is a very sweet boy,” Renata says, her words slow and deliberate. “But I’m not sure if it’s such a good idea for me to spend more time with him, right now. I’m so busy with everything going on, of course.”
“Of course,” I say quickly, but there’s no hiding the disappointment in my voice. She gives me a tight smile. “I’m sorry for suggesting it.”
“It’s all right, Lily.” She waves a hand.
I take another sip of champagne, finishing the glass. I wish I hadn’t said anything. Perhaps it’s too painful to be around Eli, since it reminds her of her own son. Or maybe I overestimated how serious things were between us.
“Well,” Renata says. “Shall we return to the hotel?”
“I think so,” I reply, hoping I haven’t soured the mood with my question. She stands, and takes my hand to help me rise.
I move toward the door we came through, but she gestures in the other direction.
“Just to be discreet,” she says.
“Oh! Yes, of course.” We thank the pianist, who gives us a warm nod, and then exit out of the back door.
I suppose I should be upset that we can’t be more public with our relationship, but there is something exhilarating about being a secret. Even if this is all it ever is between us, I’ll be happy.
The door exits to a side street. The car is already waiting for us. Renata opens the door for me.
“I could get used to this,” I giggle, as I enter the car.
“I hope you do,” she replies.
She gets in the other side, and the car accelerates smoothly as we drive off, back to the hotel.
“Did you have a pleasant evening?” Renata asks me, crossing her legs casually and putting her arm across the back seat behind her. I swoon at her proximity.
“I had a wonderful evening! I wish it didn’t have to end.”
“Perhaps it doesn’t,” she says slyly. She turns to the driver. “Take the long way home,” she tells him. Then she presses a button, and a dark partition rises between the back seat of the car and the front.
A warm shiver of anticipation runs through me, and I know she can sense my excitement. She fixes her deep eyes on me.
“All evening,” she says, looking up and down my body. “I’ve been wanting to tear that dress off of you.”
“Go ahead,” I whisper, my heart pounding.
She shrugs out of her jacket and I admire her smooth, toned arms as she bends down over me.
Her lips find mine, and she pulls me into a passionate kiss.
The idea of her deep crimson lipstick mixing with my pale pink shade makes me feel all gooey inside, and I kiss her enthusiastically. Her eyes travel down my neck.
“Your bite marks…” she says, her lips trailing on the final word.
“Just a bit of make-up,” I tell her.
“It’s too bad,” she sighs. “I like to see them.”
Now my heart is hammering properly in my chest, and a warm, urgent desire penetrates my core. She bends down over me further, and I sink into the generous, soft leather seat. I’m glad the tinted windows give us the privacy we need. I’d like her to have me in every way she can.
She pulls down my silk dress and my breasts spill out. She takes a tender, sensitive nipple in hand and caresses it, pinching a little harder than she has before. I moan, and she bends down to put the other between her lips, sucking it insistently.
I feel myself becoming wetter and wetter. I don’t know what I want more badly…for her to fuck me, or to bite me.
“There’s a place we haven’t tried,” she says, her eyes finding mine. “An artery.”
“Where?” I breathe.
“Here.” She taps a spot on my breast and I feel my body weaken with longing.
She sees the look in my eyes and a little crimson tinges her irises.
Her lipstick is smudged. The powerful vampire shines through the corporate veneer, and her fangs elongate past her lips, perhaps longer than they have before.
The light catches their bright white tips and they gleam.
She bares her fangs, and adrenaline courses through my veins.
“Please,” I say, desperately, offering up my breast to her. “Please bite me…I want you so badly…”
“I love it when you beg,” she replies, her voice thick. Then her eyes find mine and pull me into the glamour.
It’s the perfect, full-body high. Every inch of me tingles, sensitive and ready for her. No matter how many times she charms me, it never loses its magic. For a moment, it feels like it’s only the two of us in the whole world.
Ecstasy overwhelms me as her fangs sink into my breast, warm blood spilling out across my chest. But before it can stain the fabric of my dress, she pulls her fangs from me and laps up every drop of blood with her hungry, artful tongue.
Her lips fix to my breast and she drinks powerfully.
I moan with pleasure as she sucks the blood from my veins.
I can sense her growing stronger, and she holds me tightly in her arms.
As she feasts on me, another desire rises up inside my core. She seems to sense it, and catches my eye without lifting her lips from my chest. Unhesitating, she reaches down under my dress. Finding that I’m not wearing panties, she groans, and her fingers explore my sensitive folds.
I shriek with delight as she plays with my clit between her skillful fingers. I feel my pleasure start to build, and so does she. Teasingly, she slows. I know she likes to draw it out. Impatiently, I buck at her hand with my hips.
She laughs, and takes her lips from my breast.
“Do you want more, Lily?” she asks.
“Yes, yes!”
“What do you want?” she says, with a raised eyebrow. I smile up at her shyly. I know that she knows, but she likes to hear me say it.
“I want you to fuck me…please…”
“Good.” With a shimmer of crimson in her eyes, she enters me with three fingers, plunging deep inside me in a beckoning motion, teasing my G-spot.
I gasp and thrust against her hand, and she puts her lips back to my breast, drinking deeply once again.
I swoon at the twin pleasures, the sensations complementing each other, the glamour making each motion so sensitive…
The other two times she drank from me, she stopped very quickly, just taking enough to satiate herself.
But this time, she truly feasts, allowing her carnal side to emerge.
Her eyes turn completely red, and she fucks me harder than she ever has before.
I lose all sense of space and time, completely at her mercy, belonging totally to her.
Unable to hold back, I come in a crashing, overwhelming orgasm. As I cum, she sucks deeper, drinking her fill of my blood. It makes my head spin and my entire body spasm. I’ve never experienced pleasure like this. I never even knew it was possible.
I fall back down onto the smooth leather seat, completely satisfied.
Renata takes her lips from my skin and licks the marks so they form two perfect dots upon my breast. Looking up at her, I can see how she radiates power and strength, fueled by my blood.
The idea of giving myself to her in this way fills me with joy, and I sigh happily.
Her fangs retract, and she kisses me tenderly on the cheek.
“You look beautiful like this,” she whispers. “My Lily.”