Chapter 26
N iamh had given me a lot to think about. Part of me wondered if she was right. It was possible that my fear after what Steven had done was holding me back.
The following night, on my way to The Underground, I took a detour. I stopped at his gallery. There was no sign of Matteo, only the staff who worked there. Probably off doing whatever it is vampires do. I quickened my pace, heading towards The Underground. I was going to be late.
“You’re late!” Lilith fumed. “Oh my god, Quinn, you weren’t picking up. I called you six times! My next call would have been the police. There’s a killer out there, I thought you’d been-” She cut her words off when Mia grabbed her hand.
The bar was packed. Posters of our tour lined the walls. Pete approached us.
“Tonight’s your last night. I’ve been instructed to only let you sing three songs tonight, and I’ve had to increase the door fee.”
“Three songs?” I asked. “Will that cut into what you usually pay us?”
“That’s why the door fee is higher,” he shrugged. “I had to make money somehow.”
“What do you mean our last night?” Mia demanded.
“This isn’t what we agreed to, Pete.” Lilith’s eyes reflected her annoyance.
He glared. “You booked a tour. Your organisers want to make money out of it. Letting you continue to play at the local pub goes against that. Don’t think I’m happy about this, you’re my main attraction on Fridays.”
Disappointed, I met Lilith’s eyes. “The price of success, I guess,” I muttered.
My income was going to be cut after this.
“Which songs?” Mia asked.
“Alone, Free to party, and City Beats,” Lilith said. “Those will amp up the crowd.
“I’ve never seen it this busy.” Mia stared around the bar in shock.
“Something to get used to, I guess.” I picked up my guitar. “Ready?”
The music started, and again I couldn’t hold back my joy.
I could have been imagining things, but I thought I could feel Matteo’s eyes on me. Not wanting to miss Lilith’s solo again, I avoided looking into the audience. But the memory of his kiss was harder to avoid, and out of nowhere, I felt hot under the lights. Mia must’ve seen something, as she caught my eyes, hers reflecting concern. I forced a smile.
My energy was buzzing, as was the bar when we reached our three songs.
“I’m sorry,” I said into the mic at the end. “That’s all we’re allowed for now, but tickets go on sale in a couple of weeks for our Australia-wide tour.”
Cheers rose from the crowd. Many regulars who watched us play every week grumbled their displeasure, and a few came to talk to us as we were packing up. I had my back to the bar, talking to Mia when her eyes darted away from me, and she smirked.
“Your groupie is here,” she said in a singsong voice.
“Shhh!” Horrified, I glared.
“What?” She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like he can hear me.”
I took a deep breath to steady my nerves and turned, approaching him. Laughter sparked in those dark eyes.
“So, I’m a groupie now, am I?” he mused, his voice too low for Mia to hear over the noise of the bar.
“Something like that.” I grinned.
Niamh’s words played over in my mind. The ground had felt unsteady, but now it had corrected itself. I knew that I’d made my decision, but it still terrified me.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Your heart is unusually fast.” He breathed in deep. “And you smell like lust again. I’d like to hope it’s me that has that effect on you.” His mouth lowered to my ear. “That is a delicious aroma, I must say,” he growled.
My body was reacting to his presence. I yearned for his touch, his lips. I wanted him. The image of him naked against my body caught me by surprise.
“Um.” I couldn’t think of anything to say. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“You are?” He lifted my chin, to look into my eyes.
His smile warmed me.
“Yes,” I said, taking a deep breath.
“I was thinking perhaps I should walk you home,” he said. “Only this time, beside you.”
I couldn’t argue with that. “Sure, just no vampire stuff.”
He smiled. “I promise to keep the fangs away, until you ask.”
I studied him, satisfied that he seemed genuine. “Okay, just let me say bye to the girls.”
He waited, his eyes never leaving me as I told Lilith and Mia I was heading out. Mia gave me a wicked grin. “That’s my girl. It’s about time you went out to get some D.”
“Mia!” Despite my shock at her words, I shook my head as I left them to return to Matteo.
Before I could pull on my jacket, he draped his own over my shoulders, heavy and warm. Outside, he reached for my guitar case, taking the handle before I could do anything. Then he held his free arm up for me to take. As my hand connected with his arm, I took note of his warmth. He’d fed before coming here. I hoped they were still alive.
“You’re strange,” I commented. “This whole gentleman thing, carrying things for me, the men I know don’t usually do this.”
“Just because I am what I am, doesn’t mean I can’t maintain manners,” he said as we walked.
I laughed. “So, chivalry isn’t dead?”
He looked down at me. “Why should it be? Have you been treated in such a way that you believe that?”
I froze, mid-step, avoiding his eyes. “I was involved with someone who…well let’s just say he didn’t respect me. Or my dreams. I lost a part of myself while we were together.” The heartbreak was still there, but in Matteo’s presence I felt less of it.
His fingers brought my chin up. “I’m sorry. I hope you find yourself again.”
We walked in silence, and for the first time since discovering our world had vampires, I started to appreciate the situation. I didn’t have to worry about any mugger, or some guy thinking he could hit on me. It dawned on me that walking beside a vampire made me feel safe from all the dangers that existed in the world of humans.
We were stopped by people who recognised me, asking for photos. An overly excited guy who introduced himself got a bit handsy, and Matteo very firmly intervened.
“This is like having my own personal bodyguard,” I declared. “Maybe I should take you on tour with us.”
“Is this normal for you? People recognise you a lot,” he commented.
I pointed up to a poster featuring me, Lilith, and Mia, announcing our tour. “You came into my life at a very strange time,” I admitted. “But it’s what we’ve all been working towards for such a long time.”
“This is your dream,” he commented, his eyes on the poster.
“Yes. I always knew I would sing. I went to school with Lil and Mia, and they were my best friends, and they had their own passions for music, so we created our band. We were happy with everything, but the end goal was always to sing in a stadium.” I glanced at him. “Was there anything you dreamed of? You know, before?”
He was silent for so long that I looked up at him, to find him looking at me thoughtfully.
“I wanted to paint, and show the world my art,” he said. “As a human, I remember my family had…expectations for me and my brother to fulfil. Follow in our father’s footsteps, of which painting was not. I was considered a dreamer. Only my brother cared about my art. He let me paint him once.”
“Now you own a gallery.” I couldn’t help but wonder what he was like. “I still can’t believe you’ve been around for over six hundred years.” We continued walking. “You’ve seen so much history. You were around during the Renaissance. That’s incredible.” I could feel his eyes on me and glanced up, surprised to find him smiling again. “What?”
“You’ve quickly gone from being afraid of me, to being in awe of when I’m from.” He gave my arm a slight squeeze. “There is something about you that’s more relaxed. More comfortable in my presence.”
“Well, I can’t say I’m comfortable with the idea that you ‘vant’ to suck my blood.” I put on a terrible movie accent, and he scoffed. “But I also can’t deny you have your charm. I haven’t had attention like this for a few years, and I think I find your methods hard to say no to.”
“My methods?” I caught the amusement in his voice.
“You shower me with gifts, take me to expensive restaurants, and even walk me home. You certainly know a way to a girl’s heart.” I sighed. “It’s a different type of attention than what I’m used to. In fact, my last boyfriend…” I stopped walking, my eyes widening. “I mean, um…” I froze up, my brain refusing to bring any words to undo what I’d just said.
“Boyfriend?” he asked in a low voice .
“Well, um, I don’t know what else to call you, other than my persistent vampire stalker,” I frowned. “I’m sorry, I guess I got too comfortable for a second there.”
“Don’t apologise for being comfortable,” he gushed. “It pleases me that you’re comfortable. If you’ll use such words, perhaps you’ll permit a more intimate touch?”
“Such as?” I prepared myself.
He shifted his arm, sliding it around my back to pull me closer to him. It was not what I expected, and I didn’t hate it. Without thinking, I slid my arm around him.
“I don’t think ‘boyfriend’ might quite be the correct term to use for what is clearly sparking between you and me, but I do like that you referred to me as ‘your’ vampire,” he said. “I’m happy to see you more relaxed at my touch.”
We arrived at my apartment building, and this time he walked me through the front door. It seemed strange to stand in the elevator with him. We stopped at the car park level, and Dan got in.
“I saw posters of you and your friends,” he said to me, giving sideways glances to Matteo. “I can say I knew you before you got famous.”
I laughed. “I’m not famous.”
“I don’t know about that, you do have a lot of people take your photo,” Matteo offered. His voice was light, but beside me, he’d tensed, his arm tightening around me. “You have an ever-growing fan club, from what I saw tonight.”
“You’re that gallery owner,” Dan said.
“I am.” There was no warmth in the way Matteo spoke to Dan.
“It seems you don’t have a shortage of your own fans. Women in particular.” Dan’s tone changed, and I picked up jealousy.
Matteo narrowed his eyes. “I’m sorry, who are you?”
Dan stuck his hand out. “I’m Dan. Dan Wilson.”
Matteo took his hand, shaking it, while pulling me closer with his other arm, if that was even possible. “Matteo Barone,” he grunted, making it clear he didn’t like Dan.
“Relax, champ, I’m a friend of Quinn’s.”
As they pulled their hands apart, Dan flexed his as if in pain. I pushed down the urge to roll my eyes. Unsure if Matteo would get the meaning of being called champ, I turned my attention to the numbers. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Why is the elevator moving so slowly?
The feeling in the elevator had chilled, as Matteo and Dan eyed each other up. When he finally got out, Dan turned to force a smile before the door closed. “I’ll see you in the morning, Quinn.”
The door closed, and a growl rose from Matteo.
“Hey, don’t do that,” I said. “He’s harmless. Nothing but a puppy.”
“The affection and desire he feels for you suggest otherwise,” he frowned. “What does he mean he’ll see you in the morning?”
“He helps motivate me in the gym,” I said. “Nothing you need to worry about. Please, Matteo, don’t ruin what has otherwise been a peaceful night.” We got to my floor, and I pulled away from his arm.
He followed me into my apartment and placed my guitar in the corner, before taking my hand. “I’ve displeased you,” he said. “Please allow me to make it up to you.”
“How?” I asked.
“You haven’t eaten. Perhaps I can accompany you to dinner. As you say these days, my shout.”
I hesitated. I was hungry but wasn’t sure a fancy restaurant was what I wanted.
“Would you let me do that? We can get your steak and chips. Anything you want. Then I want to show you something,” he said
“Okay,” I relented. “But no jealous, possessive shit.”
“No jealous, possessive shit,” he agreed.