The Blood Awakening (The Rose Vampire Coven #9)

CHAPTER ONE

Thomas Carter, fresh out of University with a degree in Art History, found himself working at the Art Institute of Chicago, which had been his dream.

It all seemed great until he found out he would be working primarily as a cashier in the gift shop.

He would do tours from time to time when the tour guide, Mandy, was otherwise engaged, but basically he was a fucking cashier, eight hours a day, five days a week.

He worked in what was called visitor services, but he was promised an internship with Dr. Orin Ferris, a Collection Manager and department head, only for that to fall through when the man suddenly decided he didn't want an intern until next year.

There was no guarantee that he would be chosen next year.

Thomas had some hard thinking to do over the next few months.

He wanted to stay, but he had to grow his career, and clerking at the gift shop would get him nowhere.

“Hey, what are you doing this evening?” Jeremy, a co-worker, came up to the counter and leaned while drinking a pop he got from the machine.

"No plans, why?" Thomas rearranged the bookmarks and magnets on the counter for the hundredth time as they spoke.

"The Blood Rose." He said it so dramatically that Thomas laughed. "It's open. They had their grand opening last week with the big party and limited invitations, but this week it's back to business as usual." He grinned salaciously. "I love business as usual, especially at the Blood Rose."

"You are ridiculous." Thomas shook his head. "The place will be swamped, we probably won't even get in."

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Again, he smiled and bounced his eyebrows suggestively. "What do you say, come on, it will be fun even if we don't get in. I've been there nights where the line outside was just as happening as the activity inside."

"Who all is coming?" He knew there would be more. Jeremy was a fun-loving guy with many friends, so there would be more than just the two of them.

"I invited a few, and then they invited a few, it will be like a work event, team building thing, maybe." That sounded so manufactured. Thomas just stared at him for a few seconds. "Okay, everyone in my department, plus you and Mandy."

"No, not interested, besides, I doubt the museum does any team building at the Blood Rose." He kept shaking his head.

“You have to meet these people away from work.

You have to network and get familiar with everyone if you ever want to move into the job you want.

It's all politics here, Thomas. Ferris will be there, let him see you and get to know him, and others, he's not the only one who takes interns.

You have to do this, Thomas." He was very insistent.

Jeremy was interning with Dr. Walsh in the exhibitions department. Jeremy had a very good eye for design.

“I don’t get off until eight.” Thomas was trying desperately to find a reason not to go. The thought of having to sit in a bar and sell himself to his superiors was rather sickening.

"So do I," Jeremy stated, cutting him off. "I'll meet you out front, and you can ride with me."

"I don't have a change of clothes." He looked down at himself, noting that he was not dressed for a night out, especially a night out at the Blood Rose.

"You look great, besides some guys really go for the bow-tied nerd types."

“Dr. Ferris agreed to go to the Blood Rose?” It didn’t seem like his type of entertainment. Ferris struck him as stiff and conservative.

"He's a lot wilder than you know. From what I hear, there's a bartender there that he's interested in sampling." Jeremy winked. He downed the last of his pop and tossed the can in the trash. "See you at eight." He said and left before Thomas could come up with another excuse.

"Tonight is our second night open to the public.

" Master Rose began. "Last night was a big hit.

The new Blood Rose has risen, elevated to semi-exclusive, which means a more sophisticated and affluent clientele.

" He was pleased but also wanted to keep the mystery and the shadow of darkness that played at the edges of his club.

Damien, the General Manager of the Blood Rose, stood with him as they looked out over the rebuilt and thoroughly remodeled Blood Rose. "Those bastards who tried to burn us out actually did us a big favor."

“Yes, the Blood Rose is back and bigger and better than ever.”

"I put Riggs on the bar this weekend to add to the spice and sex appeal." He laughed, and Master Rose just nodded, pleased with the choice. "He knows how to work a room without even trying."

"Riggs is very adept at inspiring passion and obsession. No human is safe." The Master shook his head.

"Errol is also working tonight, so we're guaranteed that there will be no dry panties in the house. Should be a banging good weekend for the Blood Rose.” Damien stated.

"Banging good." The Master was very satisfied.

Riggs arrived at four, and Errol was already there.

They had worked the previous night as well.

Management wanted to push the dark, sensual, and suggestive aspect of the club atmosphere, and that was their assignment this weekend.

He smiled and patted Errol on the shoulder.

"Ready for the heat?" He asked and got comfortable behind the bar.

Errol shot him a hungry grin. "I woke up in the back room in bed with three guys this morning." He laughed. "I didn't know any of their names, and they didn't know mine, and it was beautiful."

“Alas, I went to bed alone, but my ass was handled more in one night than in the year combined. I even have a few interesting bruises.” He smoothed out the snug black denims he was wearing.

It was important to dress for the job, and his job was to titillate.

He laughed with Errol, who gave him a sympathetic look.

"Better luck tonight." He said, and then added. "The men were hanging off you last night. Didn't any of them interest you?"

“They were a handsome lot, but it was all too theatrical for my tastes. Maybe someone will strike me as genuine tonight." He started stacking glasses and arranging the bar.

"Genuine." Errol scoffed. "All I need is for them to present as willing, and I'm there." He tossed several limes to Riggs. "You weren't always this picky, my friend."

"Yeah, not sure where it came from. The last couple of weeks, no one has captivated me enough to take things further.”

"I think your gentle flirting and teasing, coupled with the fact that you're hard to get, have helped electrify this environment.

Keep them guessing, Riggs, make them believe they have a chance, and they'll be back every night.

" Riggs slipped off his black t-shirt and tossed it under the bar, and Errol did the same. "Upping the ante, are we?"

"Keep them entertained." Riggs danced to the other end of the bar, thrusting his hips suggestively.

"You'll have them in a sweat." Errol leapt over the bar and did a couple of salacious maneuvers that had Riggs clapping. "Bring them on." He shouted, and the doors were opened.

Thomas was out front at ten after eight, and Jeremy pulled up in his Jeep. "Get in." He said with an excited smile. Thomas did so, but still felt like he was making a mistake. He let himself be pressured too easily; he should have said no and stuck to it.

"You're going to have a good time, Thomas.

Stop overthinking." Jeremy stated as they made their way through town.

Thomas nodded, not completely on board, but was willing to stick it out.

Maybe an hour or so, and he could leave, catch a cab back to his apartment.

Tomorrow was Sunday, so he could sleep in and enjoy his alone time.

He valued alone time; actually, he cherished it.

The place was literally hopping, people were lined up outside, and the club itself looked to be packed. "I doubt we'll get inside," Thomas commented hopefully.

“I think we have a chance.” Jeremy glanced at him and smiled. He parked down the street, and they walked the block up to the Blood Rose.

"They really did a good job remodeling this place.

The steel and marble are an impressive upgrade.

" Thomas looked around, remembering that it used to be more basic, and now it was exciting and alluring.

"It still has that carnal, erotic feel to it, though.

" He added. The smell and the thump of excitement were filling the air.

"That's their bread and butter," Jeremy interjected with a smile as he pulled Thomas to move faster. "The Blood Rose has a shameless reputation, and it's what brings the crowds here every weekend."

"I look ridiculous." Thomas caught his reflection in one of the windows. The bowtie, the crisp white button-down, and dress pants, he looked ridiculous and grossly out of place. He tried to mess up his hair a little, but that just made him look worse.

"You look fine, now come on." Jeremy continued to drag him to the line, which wasn't as long as it had looked from the street.

They were at the door within about five minutes, and they were let in with a nod from the doorman.

"See, I told you it wouldn't be a problem.

" Jeremy led the way, and Thomas followed.

Once inside, they quickly found the rest of their party, who were already seated with their drinks. Thomas recognized Dr. Ferris but did not acknowledge him. He was a strange guy, and Thomas didn't want to do the wrong thing, so he waited until Ferris spoke.

Thomas noticed his gaze was following one of the bartenders and assumed it was the one Jeremy had spoken of.

The bartender was impressively well-built and knew how to move to accentuate his many mouthwatering attributes.

If Dr. Ferris thought he had a chance with a man who looked like that, he was seriously delusional.

Ferris was far from good-looking and had an attitude that often drove people away.

"Glad you could make it." A few around the table said to him as he took a seat.

Thomas just nodded and did not comment. Dr. Ferris sneered at him and then turned away.

Thomas turned to Mandy and started a superficial conversation for lack of anything else to do.

Jeremey headed to the bar and said he'd grab Thomas a beer.

He didn't know the people at the table other than Mandy and Jeremy, and he was starting to feel a little ill at ease.

He could feel Dr. Ferris's eyes on him, studying, weighing, and measuring, no doubt.

Every time he stole a glance at the man, the man looked angry, unless the bartender was in view; then he was very happy.

This whole thing was feeling like a bad idea, and he hated having to watch Dr. Ferris drool over the bartender.

He wasn’t being too overt about it, but he was frequenting the bar and constantly touching the guy’s arm.

Ferris was back at the table with another drink after trying to get the guy's attention, and he didn't look pleased.

Jeremy was still at the bar, so Thomas sat there growing more uncomfortable by the minute.

He should have gone after his own beer; it would have given him something to do.

“You like doing the tours.” He asked Mandy.

"It's okay, I'd hoped for an internship, but like you, I have to wait until next year.

" She shot a glance over at Dr. Ferris, who was now deep in discussion with one of the waiters.

He was asking about the dark, handsome bartender with the sexy stare, as he called it.

Lucky for Mandy that he didn't intercept her scathing glance because he was not known for his understanding nature.

Thomas looked over toward the bar and saw the bartender Ferris was lusting after.

He was gorgeous, no question about that, and he was playing all the customers, including Ferris, but Thomas sensed no depth or meaning in the flirty gestures.

It was his job to flirt. Their eyes connected for a moment, and Thomas felt the power of that gaze trained on him.

He quickly looked away, not wanting to look desperate or creepy.

"I was thinking of applying at one of the other museums just to see what they might offer.

" Thomas wanted to put his focus on something other than the gorgeous bartender, so he continued his discussion with Mandy.

"Next year is a long way away, and I'd like to get started on something more meaningful than the gift shop. "

“Right, just what I was saying to Sally this morning.” He had no idea who Sally was, but she sounded sympathetic. Jeremy came back to the table with no drinks but an announcement.

“The bartender, the one with the rock-hard abs and the skintight jeans, said he’d bring our order to the table.

” Jeremy was nearly salivating as he continued to describe the man in detail.

It was the gorgeous bartender that Dr. Ferris was following, so he instantly perked up as Jeremy continued to describe the man.

“Fuck, I’m getting hard just talking about him.” Everyone laughed except Thomas. He looked back over his shoulder and saw the man in question approaching their table. He was handsome but also focused on his job. He probably got a lot of unwanted attention over the course of an evening.

"Loosen up, Thomas," Jeremy stated too loudly and slapped him on the upper back, forcing his attention back to the table. "Try to have some fun." Thomas nodded and wished he could will himself out of there. What he wouldn’t give to be relaxing on his couch in his living room right now.