Chapter 1 #2
Just before the lights went down, Raul caught a glimpse of Ji-Su a few tables over.
He was smiling his thanks at the server who’d set a dessert plate in front of him.
Once the actors retook the stage, Raul made an attempt to put Ji-Su from his mind and focus on the show.
But he couldn’t stop thinking about that soft, happy laugh and those sparkling dark eyes for the rest of the night.
A FEW HOURS LATER, their trio returned to the ranch. The tall black entrance gates slid smoothly open to allow the limo to enter the property. After the driver let them out at the front of the mansion, Raul thanked him and said goodnight.
“Goodnight, Mr. Raul.”
The limo pulled away, and Raul went up the wide front steps accompanied by Linda and Alan. The three of them walked inside and were greeted by the doorman in the softly lit foyer. Linda handed the servant the white swing coat she’d worn over her pink dress.
“Raul, my love. I think our time here is over,” she said as she slipped out of her heels.
That statement had Raul raising his eyebrows in surprise.
Linda and Alana weren’t on an official blood pet contract with him.
They were there because the three of them were in a casual relationship.
He drank their blood and in exchange he showered them with money and gifts.
It was a mutually beneficial relationship but it wasn’t facilitated by one of the agencies that set up humans and vampires.
This was the pairs third time staying with him over the past few years. He’d met them long ago at one of Everett’s costume balls. They came at his invitation and left when they chose. But they hadn’t mentioned anything about wanting to leave before now.
“That’s news to me. Is something wrong?”
“Of course not, sweetie. We always have the best time when we’re here. But...”
“But?” He prompted her when she didn’t finish.
Linda folded her hands together in front of her, an almost mischievous smile on her fuchsia-tinted lips. “Your mind is about to be preoccupied with someone else.”
“He is really cute,” Alan added. “I don’t mind leaving so you can focus on him.”
Raul shook his head when he realized who they were referring to. “You’re both being silly. I talked to Ji-Su for less than five minutes. And he already belongs to someone else. Our paths probably won’t cross again anytime soon if ever.”
Linda walked up to him. She put a hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes. Raul met her gaze without flinching, letting her find whatever she was looking for. After several moments she patted him lightly on the cheek before she dropped her hand.
“I know what I saw. And I never doubt what I see is coming.”
“I won’t deny my attraction to him. But that is no reason for either of you to leave. I listen to you two rave over the vampires you’re attracted to all the time and it’s never been a problem.”
Linda pursed her lips, thinking. Finally, she nodded and stepped back.
“All right. We’ll stay. For now.”
“Good.”
“Would you like to feed tonight?” she asked in an abrupt change of subject.
Raul dropped his gaze to her throat. She’d worn her hair up, exposing smooth, honey brown skin. Normally he’d be tempted by the sight. Tonight, his fangs didn’t so much as tingle. He shook his head. “No, I don’t need to.”
Alan stepped behind Linda and slid his arms around her waist in a tight hug.
“How about sex with one or both of us?” he asked with a grin.
“Not tonight.”
“No appetite for that either?” Linda asked with a dark brow raised. She looked over her shoulder at Alan. “What a surprise,” she said in an exaggerated tone.
“A truly shocking surprise,” Alan teased back.
Raul barked a laugh. “You two are ridiculous. It has nothing to do with that little human. I’m simply not hungry and not in the mood for sex.”
“If you say so. Come on, Alan. Those heels made my feet ache and I could use a foot rub.”
The two said goodnight, and hand in hand, they climbed the stairs, going up to the room they shared.
After checking in with the ranch’s mayordoma to make sure nothing needed his attention, Raul went up to his room as well.
He undressed and stretched out in bed. As he lay there, waiting for sleep to come, his mind wasn’t on the two beautiful humans who were down the hall, there in his home for his pleasure.
Instead, he thought of Ji-Su. A soft, pretty name for a soft, pretty human.
If he’d come across Ji-Su socially before he’d been contracted to Cedric or seen him on stage at one of his organization’s blood pet auctions, he most certainly would have made a play for him.
But he didn’t poach from other vampires.
He had a moment’s regret that he hadn’t had a chance to ask Ji-Su when his contract with Cedric was up.
If he had, he might have been able to make arrangements to be Ji-Su’s next blood patron.
With another sigh of regret at the missed opportunity, Raul turned over to go to sleep. As he closed his eyes, he accepted that Ji-Su was simply someone he’d felt an overwhelmingly strong attraction to but more than likely would never see again.
“THAT WAS A FUN SHOW.” Ji-Su chatted with Cedric as they walked into the vampire’s luxury town house.
Cedric’s butler, dressed entirely in white, waited to greet them and take their coats.
The lights from the heavy crystal chandelier hanging above reflected on the white marble floor of the foyer, making the space almost painfully bright.
“It’s good to get away from my screens and meet new people every once in a while. ”
“Like Raul,” Cedric replied with a barely hidden sneer to his tone.
“I didn’t mean him in particular but yes he seemed like a nice guy.”
“Just remember what I said.” Cedric tossed his coat at the butler. “Stay away from vampires that I haven’t introduced you to.”
Ji-Su managed to keep the annoyance out of his expression when he agreed. “I will remember.”
They both went upstairs then separated on the second-floor landing to go to their individual bedrooms.
As Ji-Su undressed and prepared for bed, he couldn’t help but think that Cedric’s insistence he didn’t speak to anyone without his prior introduction and permission was insecure at best and controlling at worst. But whatever.
Cedric wasn’t his lover. The vampire was simply his blood patron.
He supplied Cedric with his blood a few times a month in exchange for room, board, and a hefty monthly cash deposit.
He’d already completed the first two months of his contract.
There were ten months remaining and then he’d be free to talk to whoever he wanted, Raul included.
Hopefully, by the time his contract with Cedric was over he would no longer need a blood patron.
But he wouldn’t mind getting to know Raul outside of an official human-vampire agreement.
Raul was a ruggedly handsome vampire. He was Hispanic, with warm brown skin, black brows that arched over eyes the color of melted chocolate, and dark, neatly styled hair that curled just below his ears.
The rough scruff of a well-groomed shadow beard enhanced a strong jaw and full lips.
And he wore onyx stud earrings in each pierced ear.
He’d been dressed in a tux, the burgundy color so deep, it was almost black.
The jacket and pants were cut to perfectly fit his tall, broad-shouldered frame, giving him a smooth, elegant air.
But the accents he’d chosen—an understated Western copper belt buckle and black leather cowboy boots with copper tips—set him apart from everyone else in the room.
Raul’s style reminded Ji-Su of a wealthy rancher from old Western movies. That was probably a fitting description, since as a vampire, there was no telling how old Raul actually was. He appeared to be in his early thirties, but he’d probably looked that way for a very long time.
As Ji-Su slid between the crisp, clean sheets, he thought that his favorite thing about the handsome vampire had been the way Raul smiled.
Raul smiled with a slow, lazy curl to his lips and a hint of that tell-tale vampire glow lighting his dark eyes to an amber brown.
His entire vibe was relaxed and friendly, which made his easy flirting charming and welcome.
Ji-Su had been attracted to the vampire from the moment he’d seen him.
Ji-Su sighed and turned over. Unfortunately, his attraction was pointless because as expected, a gorgeous vampire like Raul wasn’t single.
He’d snuck a few glances at him throughout the night and noticed there were two dates accompanying him.
A man and a woman—both of them beautiful and well dressed.
So even if he wasn’t in a contract with Cedric, nothing would have happened past their brief flirtation.
Maybe one day he’d see Raul again when they were both in a position to take their interaction beyond a five-minute conversation.
That would be nice. With a smile on his lips, Ji-Su fell asleep imagining it.