For the Love of Blood

I can’t believe I fell in love with a vampire! Oh, not just any vampire, but Tamara Hightower, Master of the East Coast, whose name and reputation quakes fear in every other vampire, not to mention a few Counsel members that crossed her path.

Can this modern day relationship between a half-witch and a vampire work out or am I just fooling myself? No doubt, she stole my heart, but can I command her pleasures?

I loved the beach and the tropical weather. So when I found the quaint little town of Lake Worthington in Florida, I jumped in my trusted canary yellow VW Bug and said goodbye to the bitter cold of New England.

With my parents killed in a car accident when I was nine years old, the State jumped in to take care of me. Growing up, I always knew I was different. I could manipulate energies, whereas no one else around me could. Looking back now, I find it kind of humorous that the foster homes couldn’t keep a hanging picture frame straight on the wall. At the age of eleven, I learned how to intentionally channel energy at small objects and knock pencils and cups off tables. Unfortunately, that got me bounced around from one foster home to another. No one wanted to have a possessed nine year old around their goody-two-shoes kids. Near the end of my eligible foster years, a nice older couple took me in, claiming that they could help me and the State listened. Shipping me off to Mr. and Mrs. Katz, part-time schoolteachers, full-time witches was the result. They taught me everything my young adult, naïve mind could handle.

Looking back, I wish I had paid better attention. After High School, I lived with the Katz’s for several years until they passed away. I remember them telling me, Izzy, we’re older than you think and being half-witch, you’re going to have a long life, too.

I had heard stories about werewolves and that their thick, heavy coats kept them warm so they preferred the really cold temperatures and stayed to the North, living in Canada or Alaska. Vampires on the other hand, were naturally cold and sought the warmer temperatures so they typically stayed to the South. However, I never believed in them. I thought they were just telling stories, like parents tell their children stories about bedtime monsters.

I arrived in Lake Worthington and found myself intrigued by the nightlife. I spent what little money I had drinking and buying drinks for other people, seducing and being seduced, screwing and being screwed. This is how I ended up parked directly across the street from Kaley’s Center with gas tank on empty, no money and no place to live, unless you count my car.

I parked there about two weeks before Kaley came out to visit with me. Of course, I wasn’t interested in making new friends who would just end up screwing me. I’d had enough of that so I blew her off. However, I loved to people watch and started paying attention to the dynamics of the center. Apparently, Kaley was a very popular person. Always surrounded by people just simply wanting to be in her presence, intrigued me. I also started to notice little things, like how she mostly came out at night. Once or twice, I saw her right before dusk and she was always in a hurry to get inside the center, I chalked that up to her having a heavy nightlife. I didn’t really give it a thought.

One night, I decided to take a midnight stroll on the beach. I was feeling alone and worse than that, I was lonely. It seems that when you run out of money, you also run out of friends. I was the only one on the beach or so I thought, until some idiot attacked me. However, he didn’t want my money, he wanted blood, my blood. That’s when I realized the Katzs were right about vampires. I used everything the Katzs taught me and I put up a good fight, but he was too strong for me to fend off. Exhausted and beaten, I finally accepted that he would kill me or turn me into one of the walking dead so I prepared for his bite. Only it never came. I looked up to find Kaley standing a few feet away from us, her arms crossed with a disapproving look on her face.

She crouched, balancing her weight on one knee. She ran her fingers through the dry sand, shaking her head. “I thought I made it perfectly clear.”

I knew she couldn’t have been talking to me. We had barely exchanged two words to each other the entire time I’d been in Florida.

The vampire stood, puffing out his chest. He stood about six feet tall, his muscles bulging as he lifted his arms and removed his cutoff tee shirt.

“Really?” Kaley asked, staying crouched on one knee.

Her energy was calm. I got the impression that she was almost hoping for a good challenge. She motioned her hand toward me, as if giving me away to this creep. I thought about protesting, but realized this was far beyond me. This was personal.

The vampire bent down to pick me up. Before he reached me, Kaley pulled out a sword from under her overcoat, and in one clean swipe, cut through his neck, leaving his severed head in place, resting on his shoulders. He stood there for a moment with a shocked look on his face.

Kaley extended her hand to help me off the ground just when he exploded into a dust ball. The dust flew into my hair, face and last set of clean clothes.

“Oh gross! You could have warned me,” I yelled at her.

Kaley just smiled and continued holding her hand out.

I refused her help and stood by myself, trying to shake the vampire dust off me.

Kaley giggled and started walking away. “You can take a shower at the center if you’d like.”

“Wait a minute,” I called after her, “don’t leave me out here alone.” Kaley never slowed her pace, which forced me to run to catch up to her. “Wait.” I yelled and she stopped, never turning to look at me. “Look, I’m sorry about the other day. I shouldn’t have blown you off like that.” I shook my hair furiously as more vampire dust fell out.

“I know you’re down on your luck,” Kaley’s voice soft and comforting, “and I know you’re not all human. I can offer you a job, take you off the streets and teach you what I know, but you’re going to have to trust me.”

“How can I trust you if I don’t even know your name?” I was getting obsessed with getting the vampire dust off me. The dust even made it into my bra. I was creeped out and a shower sounded really good.

Kaley started walking toward her car.

This left me in the parking lot alone so I ran after her. “Okay. I’ll trust you as long as a shower is in my near future.” Then I climbed into the front seat of her Lexus.

 

Working at Kaley’s Center really expanded my sheltered and naïve way of thinking. I had always believed that vampires would suck you dry and leave you for dead or turn you into one of them. Kaley Hightower taught me so much more. She showed me that the half-witch in me was immune to vampmones—that’s what I call the pheromones vampires naturally have—combined with the ability to cloud human minds with sexual impulses. This allowed me to seduce a vampire without having sex.

I also made her a lot of money while I made myself a very nice and comfortable living feeding hungry vamps.

I learned that when Kaley opened the centers, less humans were bled dry, partly due to the Hightowers forbidding it among their fledglings. The Hightowers controlled much of the East Coast, and Kaley made sure that her centers were in every convenient location possible and staffed with an abundant supply of willing blood donors. The Red Cross Blood Drives had nothing compared to the amount of blood donors regularly gave their clients on a daily basis at a single Center.

You see, the punishment for bleeding a human was death. The introduction of directive 7311 changed the way vampires interacted with humans. The directive states that, vampires are protected from discrimination and it is thereby illegal to pursue, with the intent to hunt and kill, a vampire. It was a difficult transition at first. The lower vampires thought they had a free get out of jail card until the Hightowers stepped in and restored order with their centers.

Kaley’s sister, Tamara, was the Hightower peacekeeper. She did what she needed to do to keep the peace between humans and vampires, which usually meant that she was the only one walking away. Although never formally introduced, I saw her around the center on occasion. She struck me as the typical bad girl. The kind of girl that knew she was gorgeous and hot. She knew she ruled and acted like it.

I caught myself staring at her a few times, wondering what she would be like behind closed doors. Tamara scared me, but I couldn’t help feeling giddy around her. I found myself waiting for her to visit the center and then I would try to catch a glimpse of her. For some reason her energy excited me, pulling me straight to her.

One day Kaley told me that Tamara would be coming into town for a few weeks. She asked if I would do her the favor of taking care of her little sister. She didn’t think any of the other donors could handle her. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that they all were too scared to be alone with her. Tamara, from what Kaley told me, was a stickler for formalities and got off in feeling as if she was in control.

Kaley told me that a piece of her sister died when townspeople murdered her lover, Mila, three hundred years ago. Tamara had taken her vengeance out on the townspeople. The children saw a quick and painless death. However, their parents did not fare as well. Kept alive for weeks, they begged the dark angel to hear their prayers and end their suffering. Within months, the small town of Gentsville was reduced to ruins and not another soul dared to step foot on the cursed land. Kaley told me Tamara earned her evil reputation one townsperson at a time. Now, Kaley wanted me to tend to her sister’s needs after she scared the hell out of me!

It took a lot of convincing on Kaley’s part. She had dry-walked me through the entire scenario many times, showing me where every help button was positioned in the room. Every room had help buttons in case a vamp got out of line with a donor. Hitting the button, if you could get to it, brought help in moments. Kaley was a stickler for taking care of her girls. She only had to use one vampire to make an example of and hadn’t had a single bit of trouble since then. Kaley even had a couple more help buttons installed in the Medieval Room for my own piece of mind. She took me upstairs, which was off limits to everyone except a few of her most trusted employees, and showed me that not only were the rooms all soundproof, but that the ceilings were a see through plastic, allowing her to keep a watchful eye on everything below. I was amazed, I had no idea they had been watching everything that happened and I started feeling a little embarrassed that I had had an audience. Oh the things I’d done!

The day finally arrived when Kaley escorted me into the Medieval Room. The room was set up like an old castle, the air was stale and thick. It smelled moldy and I gasped for a breath, taking in my surroundings. The dry runs Kaley and I had, hadn’t been like this. The room hadn’t looked or smelled so dingy, all the lights had been on, illuminating every corner. I steadied myself, absorbing my new surroundings. The flames flickered in the gas-burning lamps affixed to the walls and the enormous wood-burning fireplace emitted a low glow of light. Certainly not the amount of light I had been used to seeing. New tapestries hung on the walls and all had some form of the Hightower crest, the big H in the middle gave that away. A large, comfortable throne with a big H on the backrest cushion sat in one corner and faced the fireplace. I was starting to get the idea that the Hightowers were very proud of themselves.

 The new addition of the leather wrist restraints fastened to the walls made my heart skip a beat. Oh God, what have I gotten myself into? I had never done business in the Medieval Room. I had heard too many stories about how the room changes a person permanently. Nevertheless, Kaley had convinced me I was too valuable to lose and she guaranteed my safety.

“I will not let her harm you,” Kaley reassured me while securing the leather strap around my wrist. “Remember what I’ve taught you. You must give your consent or she cannot feed from you, not while you are under my protection.” She securely fastened my other wrist and gave the leather strap a quick pull, taking up the slack, pulling my arms straight out to either side of me.

This was not what we had rehearsed. “Is this really necessary?” I swallowed hard, “…to be tied up like a piece of…meat?”

Kaley smiled.“My sister has quirks.”

Turning, she left me alone in this dungeon. I’m not sure how much time passed before Tamara entered the room, but she startled me from a light sleep. She was as beautiful as I remembered, her presence even more intense. Her long, black, straight hair rested over one shoulder, covering part of her face. Her black leather outfit fit tightly. It gently caressed her muscular build. Now, come to think about it, I’ve never seen her in anything but leather and damn she looked good. Her vampmones were in overdrive. My only saving grace was that the half-witch in me was partially immune to her skilled power. The excitement of finally being in her presence, knowing she would feed from me and hoping she would do more, excited me. I felt the wetness growing between my legs as I said, “Glad you finally joined me. I was getting bored in here by myself.”

“You will address me as My Lady,” Tamara softly corrected while she took her black gloves off and laid them on the throne. “I am important and you will show me the respect I desire.”

Oh, hell no. Kaley wasn’t really expecting me to play this game, was she? She had told me her sister had control issues, but this was overboard. It took everything I had to bite back my smartass comeback. Then again, I was getting excited. This time I wasn’t thinking about my paycheck. This time I wanted to be touched. I swallowed, “Very well, My Lady.” Defiantly, I looked straight into her beautiful green eyes.

Smiling, she leaned into the crevice of my neck.

I felt her readying to bite me. “No,” I moved, putting my head in her way. “I am not yours for the taking…not yet…My Lady.” I didn’t want my time with her to be over so quickly and Kaley didn’t say I couldn’t play hard to get. I know Tamara’s control issues wanted to get straight to the point, but I had other plans for her tonight.

“If you do not consent, then why are you here?”

Her breath bounced off my ear as she ran her hand over the crotch of my pants, teasing me. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t consent.” Tamara’s vampmones were enticing me. My skin craved her touch. I leaned my hips out to her and she grabbed my crotch, gently squeezing it. God, her stroke felt so good. I knew she was working my mind and my desires, “I am better seduced if I have use of my arms,” I whispered in her ear. She caressed my thighs and kissed my neck, ignoring me. “Please,” I finally begged leaning my body toward her and away from the wall, trying to rub my hips against her. Her tongue slowly worked its way down my soft neck and rested on my artery. I could feel it pulse under the slight weight of her tongue as she pressed me against the wall.

“I am not ready to release your bonds yet.” She snuggled her face into the crevice of my neck.

I felt her fangs lightly brush against my skin and exciting my clit. I wanted her more than ever. My desires were burning steady. I would have agreed to anything if she would touch me.

Tamara unbuttoned my cotton blouse, exposing my hard and swollen nipples. “Do you not wear a bra?” She stared into my eyes.

I shook my head no.

“Do you want me to touch you?”

Remembering that I had an audience, I looked down at the floor and nodded, embarrassed that I wanted more from her.

“I can’t hear you.” Her voice was soft but noble.

Swallowing my pride, I whispered, “Yes…My…Lady.” And I felt my wetness grow.

She ran her tongue over my hard nipple barely touching it. “I don’t think I heard you.”

She was playing games with me now. She wanted me to submit to her, to obey her and stroke her enormous ego and I couldn’t stand it anymore. I leaned my chest into her face, silently begging that her lips and her tongue would suckle my waiting breast. I needed her touch. With one hand on my crest, she effortlessly pushed my back against the cold wall holding me in place. Her strength was remarkable as she pushed her thigh in between my legs, making contact with my hot groin.

 “Yes,” she smiled. “I know I didn’t hear you.”

I gasped. It felt so good, I didn’t want her to stop. I pushed against her thigh, trying to rub against her. She gave me a curiously sinister look and took a half step back, just moving out of my reach. My body screamed for her. With the one hand firmly pressed upon my chest, she used her free hand to unzip my pants and slid them down around my thighs. She was clever. She had used my own pants to restrain me and then slid her fingers through my wet folds. She moaned approvingly.

“Shall we see what you taste like?” Raising her fingers to her mouth, her nose caught my smell. “You are not completely human and not a were. That only leaves a witch.” She leisurely licked her fingers and then slid her hand through my wet, hot pussy again and placed her fingers to my lips, rubbing my wetness on them. “Have you ever tasted yourself?” She pressed her lips against mine forcing me to taste the sticky substance she found my excited bud swimming in.

Sampling my taste on her lips set a fire burning inside me. More wetness escaped me. Kissing her passionately, I took her tongue between my teeth and sucked it. Releasing her, I whispered, “Touch me.”

“As you wish.” She gently slid her tongue over my breast, encircling my nipple. She then nibbled the erect tip before running her tongue down my cleavage, stopping short of my pubic hair.

The pleasure was unbearable. “Untie me.”

Tamara cocked a disapproving eyebrow and pinched my hard nipple between her fingers. I knew she was reprimanding me and yet, I was getting hornier. I wanted to wrap my hands around her and feel her exquisite body pressed against mine. Instead, I felt the soft leather restraints hugging me tightly. I wrapped my hands around the straps for support and leaned toward her. Tamara’s reprimand came swiftly. She pressed her body tightly against me, sliding her hand in between my legs and forced three fingers deep inside my cunt.

“I do not encourage disobedience,” she said forcing her fingers even deeper.

I gasped for air. My knees buckled underneath me, but the straps kept me upright as she filled me completely. Blood rushed to my groin. My clit yelled for attention and my cunt silently praised her intrusion. “Yes…My…Lady.”

Tamara pulled her fingers out of me. “I knew you had it in you.” She pulled my pants down, lifting my right leg, then the left. She had taken my pants completely off and left me naked except for the unbuttoned shirt that hung on my shoulders.

The first wrist strap came undone and my arm fell heavily to my side, then the second strap came loose again with my arm feeling heavy. She placed her hand around my throat and pressed me tightly against the wall. She used her foot to scoot my legs further apart. Tenderly, she kissed my lips and I nipped at her, drawing blood from her bottom lip. She stopped and ran her tongue over her cut lip, tasting her own blood. A mischievous smile broke across her face. She released the hold she had on me.

“What are you going to do now that you have use of your arms?”

“I will command your pleasure.” I kissed her neck, gently nibbling her skin between my teeth. She moaned and I knew I had excited something in her. My fingers fumbled with her zipper so she touched my hand, taking the lead in unzipping her pants. I pushed her pants down past her knees and stopped at her ankles. My hands caressed her toned legs, working myself up her thighs. I lightly pressed my face against her pubic hair and teasingly ran my tongue around her triangle-shaped groin.

She moaned.

I stood, slowly working my hands all over her firm body. I kissed her neck, then her mouth. Pushing my tongue past her lips, I found her fangs. Careful not to cut myself, I ran my tongue over the sharp tips, teasing her. Her fangs lowered and I pulled away. “Get on your knees,” I ordered, while pushing down on her shoulders. “I do not give anything away for free so it will cost you to taste my blood, My Lady.”

Tamara looked at me confused, but obeyed. She slipped out of her pants and hesitantly bowed to her knees. My bareness teased mere inches away from her mouth. I pulled her face into me. She wrapped her strong arms around my ass and pulled my wetness toward her. Her tongue caressed every fold, suckling my lips, licking me and teasing me. She slid two fingers inside me, then pulled out and slid a third finger deeper into me. My muscles froze. She held me upright, my head leaned back and I stared at the deceiving ceiling, knowing someone was watching me. My eyes rolled back. I was close. I was going to cum, but she pulled her tongue away, leaving her fingers buried deep inside me.

Still kneeling at my feet, she challenged, “Command my pleasure.”

I knelt in front of her, face to face. We stared into each other’s eyes. I sensed her seeing into my soul. I pulled her tight leather shirt off, exposing her round perfect breasts. Her nipples were hard, waiting for me to suckle them. My tongue took turns running circles around each nipple, nibbling them and they swelled all the more, becoming harder. I wrapped my lips around one, sucked and nibbled on it. It obeyed my tongue’s commands. I groped the other and pinched her nipple with my fingers. Then I worked my fingers over her tightly muscled and rippled stomach.

She jerked.

I moved my hand down until I felt her sticky wetness. Without pausing, I slid two fingers deep inside her. She moaned and leaned toward me. I pulled out and slid back in harder, repeatedly. Her arms surrounded me, holding her stance as she leaned toward the wall, her face buried on my shoulder. Her muscles rippled and her mouth found my neck. I stopped, knowing she would cum soon.

“Lay down,” I commanded.

Tamara obediently responded. Thrusting a third finger deeper into her, she raised her hips. I responded by burying my fingers into her even deeper.

“Tighten up and don’t let go.”

She did.

“More!” I commanded and I felt her cunt lovingly hug my fingers tight. I maneuvered my wetness over her mouth and she raised her head to meet me. I pushed harder into her and then pulled my hips away. I declared, “Not yet.”

Her head fell back onto the floor.

I felt her frustration. Slowly, I lowered my lips to her awaiting pleasure. Running my tongue through her pussy, I separated her folds, exposing my fingers buried deep inside her dripping hole. My tongue teased her bud, licking and sucking it. This time, she moaned louder as I lowered myself onto her waiting face. Her tongue slid through my pubes and found my hole. Teasing, she slid the tip of her tongue into me and then she slid it in as far as she could. With her tongue fucking me, she sucked the juices right out of my cunt. Desperate to keep up with her thirst, my juices flowed freely into her mouth. Then she invaded me, sliding three fingers deep inside, filling me completely. She fucked me with a passion I had never felt from a man. She raised her hips, pressing me harder against her swollen tip. She tasted so sweet. My breathing turned sporadic while sweat dripped uncontrollably into my eyes. I smelled her musk everywhere. Her fingers claimed my cunt as her property. She took total control over me. My body tensed. She touched my soul and caressed it in her hands, giving me pleasure I had never felt before.

“I need.” She bucked her hips under my weight. She was close.

I held my breath. I needed to cum with her. I needed to feel her energy captivate mine. “Not yet,” I mumbled.

She moaned louder and her hips raised, but didn’t drop.

I felt my orgasm escaping and I couldn’t stop it. She had demanded my pleasure and my body obeyed. “Now,” I whined and I felt her fangs dig deep into my femoral artery, next to my pubic bone. Her fingers fucking me distracted the momentary pain. Sending a new shock of pleasure to my already excited clit, my orgasm surged. I buried my face more firmly into her, sucking her swollen bud as we both started shaking. I thrust a finger deep into her ass and instantly drowned in her sweet cum. We moaned together, we came together.

 

It was no surprise that Tamara bruised my thigh that night. I really couldn’t have expected anything less. I knew where she would bite and I knew it would hurt afterward. What I wasn’t prepared for was the tenderness it would cause. I had a hard time getting a pair of jeans on without cursing her name. Yes, I know, I agreed, but shit, I didn’t think it would hurt this badly to get dressed.

Kaley took me out of the schedule for a couple of weeks, telling me that she wanted to give me enough time to heal. Even during the painful act of getting dressed, I craved to be near her and feel her. I longed to have her touch me. I didn’t care that she lacked a soul. I have enough for both of us and I would willingly share mine with her.

After a couple of weeks of not seeing or hearing from her, I started to believe that I was just another feed and fuck for her and that I wouldn’t see her again. Maybe I had challenged her ego or her pride too much. Maybe, she thought I was the kind of girl she wanted to be around, but not the kind you took home to mother. I had always been attracted to Tamara and our little fling encouraged me to wear my heart on my sleeve. I was missing her terribly. I knew her vampmones didn’t screw with my mind—this was all natural.

 

To my surprise, she came back the week after Kaley let me go back to work. Three weeks I hadn’t seen nor heard from her and now she’s requesting to see only me. Kaley said Tamara wanted to meet me in the Medieval Room. Of course she did, no surprise there. Of course, I agreed to meet her.

I was wearing a white, sleeveless, cotton sundress and sandals. I carried around my beach bag when I entered the musky smelling room. It hadn’t changed much from what I remembered. Except this time I wasn’t strapped to the wall. I was free to move around as I waited for her to join me.

“I have been thinking about you,” she announced her presence.

Damn, she blended so perfectly into the corner of the room that I hadn’t even noticed her. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of telling her that I had also thought about her—a lot. “And?” I sat on the throne armrest.

“I would like to try this again, if it’s all right with you.” She approached, holding one arm behind her back.

Immediately my desires sparked. My passion awakened. “Well, what do you have in mind?” I crossed my arms and legs. This time, I wasn’t going to give in so easily. I would control my lust.

She stopped a foot away. “My name is Tamara Hightower and I’m extremely pleased to meet you,” she said, handing me a dozen red roses.

I was not expecting that from her. My heart skipped a beat and my silent walls melted as I took the roses and relished their smell. They were fresh, newly picked. “I’m Izzy,” I said, holding the roses closer to my nose, “and I’m glad you came back.”

“You have touched me in a way only one other has. I would like to pursue this and see what happens next.” She caressed my bare arm and her energy soared through me, exciting me as if this had been the first time we had ever touched. She leaned into me, pressing her soft lips against mine, demanding entrance, our tongues dancing together, rekindling our insatiable sexual hunger for each other. She grabbed my ass, standing me up and pressing us closer together.

I pushed her back. “Wait a minute.” I reached into my beach bag and pulled out a leather harness. Giving her a sheepish smile, I said, “I’d like to see what you can do with this.”

Her eyes lit up and she met my smile with her own impish grin. I kissed her passionately as I unzipped and pulled her pants off. My tongue tasted every inch of her hard muscular belly. I slipped the harness on her and snapped the buckles, situating it perfectly over her crotch. I knelt down and took her new cock in my mouth. Slowly, I stroked it to make sure she could feel the base hitting her clit. Her eyes rolled up and her lips parted slightly as she met my gentle thrusts. I guided her to the throne and sat her down. Sliding it deeper into my mouth, I pressed down on her cock, knowing it would excite her even more.

I took one of her hands and strapped it to the throne armrest as I worked her dick further into my mouth. She looked down at me and I pressed her cock harder against her nub. Her eyes rolled and she leaned her head back, arching her body. I took her other hand and pulled it through the leather strap on the opposite armrest. Pulling the strap tight, I raised my head and ran my tongue up her belly to her neck. The throne was wide enough that I knelt directly over her while I nibbled her soft skin.

My sundress draped across her, shielding us from prying eyes. Then I moved my neck close to her mouth. A tease. I let her tongue touch my skin. More teasing. I had learned a few things working at the Center—vampires and men are alike. They are easily worked by an experienced hand and I intended to work Tamara tonight. I moved my neck closer to her tongue, encouraging her to feel the hard, steady pulse of my artery beat. She opened her mouth and I pulled away, “Uh-uh. Not yet…first you fuck me, then you taste me.”

She raised her hips, pushing her stiff cock against me, but it slid past my cunt and stopped at my ass. I raised my hips. “That hole is for another day,” I cautioned as I stroked her eager cock back to my waiting cunt and slid it inside me.

I mounted her. Wiggling, I took every inch, making sure she felt me. With each of her up-thrusts, I pushed down, driving the base harder against her swollen tip. Her fingers dug into the armrest and I quickened my momentum, wiggling the base, heightening her sexual intensity. She arched her back. I knew she was close. I stopped, sitting perfectly still on her lap. I kissed her cheek and my sweat ran down her face, gleaming in the candlelight. She had never looked so beautiful and so distraught. She opened her mouth and I kissed her lips. “I am the keeper of your pleasure,” I said, squirming in her lap.

Her eyes rolled back.

“Look at me,” I commanded, but she resisted. “Look at me.”

Finally, she obeyed. “Bid me your blood,” she pleaded.

Her vampmones were working overtime. I felt her energy absorb into me and I wanted nothing more than to please her, but I wouldn’t give in. I smiled. “You have not earned it yet.” I kissed her neck and slowly moved my hips. Her groin immediately obeyed me, thrusting up and into me, a moan escaped my lips and her fangs brushed my neck. I felt her sharp points scrape my skin.

“My naughty little vamp,” I whispered as I vigorously rode her, “I should make you wait.” I slid my hand under my dress and found the leather harness bound to her. I slipped my hand under it and felt her dampness. She pushed up and I moved with her. My fingers soaked in her wetness. I slid my fingers down and caressed her asshole.

She clenched her cheeks and bared her ass down into the throne cushions.

I forced the tip of my finger into her ass. “All. Of. You. Belongs. To. Me.” I wiggled my hips on the base of her cock. “All. Of. You.”

Tamara threw her head back, arching her back, “Yes…Mila,” she mumbled.

I was flattered I could make her feel like Mila did three hundred years ago. I wouldn’t take her memories from her, but I needed her to know who it was that now claimed her pleasure. “Who?” I whispered without releasing my grip on her ass. A silent moment passed and I mounted her cock harder. “Who commands your pleasure?” I bit her neck and sucked on it, drawing her blood into my mouth. Her hickie was nothing compared to the bruise she left on me, but I would leave my mark on her tonight. I tasted her sweet blood as she would soon taste mine.

She clenched her teeth. “You.” She dug her fingers harder into the armrest.

My breath teased her ear, “Who? Who commands your pleasure?” I jiggled her dick against her clit.

She parted her lips and said nothing.

My cunt rubbed against her. I kissed her neck and then bit it again. Harder. I thrust down deeper onto her cock.

“You.” She bucked her hips up.

“Who?”

 “Izzy,” she barked. “Izzy commands my pleasure.”

I released her ass from my grip and she looked at me with new eyes, as if seeing me for the first time. At that moment, I knew Tamara was mine, not Mila’s. My excitement was unbearable. My desires burned my soul. I rode her cock deeper and harder into me. Her arms pulled on her restraints, but she couldn’t escape me. My world slowed down as the pleasure built inside me. I looked into her eyes and saw a small spark of humanity. I needed her to break the passion loose from my being and claim me as much as I claimed her. Her eyes turned black and her fangs peeked out from under her lip. She stared at me, longing for permission and I realized that in her own way she had claimed me, too. I leaned my neck closer to her, exposing my artery as my groin plunged down, tightening my muscles around her. I thrust faster and deeper until I felt myself cuming on her eager cock. I pulled her mouth to my neck. She needed no further invitation. She drove her fangs into my artery.

She moaned and bucked underneath me, simultaneously cuming and drinking my blood. Her moans ricocheted through my senses, her bucks heightened me and her fangs excited me, rousing another unrestrained orgasm from deep within my core. I wrapped my arms around her neck, holding her firmly against me as my orgasm exploded, enveloping her in my delight. I collapsed on her shoulder, trying desperately to catch my breath. She wrapped her arms around me, holding me, comforting me and shielding me in her arms. “Your ties,” I mumbled through gasps of air.

“You didn’t really think leather would hold me?” she gently licked my neck, healing the puncture wounds she had just left.

I tried raising myself, but didn’t have the energy. Tamara grabbed my sides and raised me, letting the dildo slide out from inside me as she slowly lowered me back onto her lap. Letting her new member glide through my wetness, I tightened my thighs and hugged it close to me as she wrapped her arms around me and I fell asleep in her arms.

 

Shortly after that, I asked Kaley for an early retirement and she willingly obliged my request. Tamara and I bought a house together. Knowing that she had concerns for her safety while she slept, I hired a construction crew to build her a safe room. It was equipped with electronic door locks and a monitor so she could see the door before she came out. Completing the security was an emergency escape route if she needed one. After weeks of remodeling, we finally settled into our new home and decided to join Kaley on a night out on the town to celebrate.

With the sun safely tucked away for the evening, the night crowd came to life. Neon signs glowed attracting patrons, bars encouraged would be partygoers in with the lure of no cover charges. Lake Worthington drag shows were extremely popular, attracting hordes of visitors from all over the state. It wasn’t unusual to see celebrities like a Cher or Madonna casually walking the strip, taking in all the sights.

We decided to meet Kaley at our favorite Sushi restaurant. Kaley skipped dinner and we decided to meet at Dale’s later in the evening. I love to people watch and Tamara loves to make her presence known, so our plans had worked out anyway.

Dale’s was proving to be quite a popular bar these days. After remodeling the old, run down bar, the nightlife swung into full action, commanding that bouncers keep a running tab of its patrons as not to exceed the maximum limit. Not finding a parking spot in front of the bar, I drove across the street. It would be a short, but nice walk. Dale’s was at one end of the building and next to it was a new metaphysical herb shop The Sister’s Cauldron while The Old Time Ice Cream Parlor claimed the rest of the block.

It was a quaint little town stuck in the past and every street had its own little niche to get patrons to enter. I saw a tall, handsome man approaching with a sense of urgency. I had seen him hanging around Tamara before and the hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up.

Tamara felt my tension and sidestepped her gait to position herself in front of me.

As the young man got close, he dropped to one knee, grabbed hold of his Master’s hand and desperately kissed her palm.

I knew this was not good.

She stood regally still. She was absorbing the fear the stranger carried. It washed over her like a warm shower. She closed her eyes. “I’ll only be a minute,” she whispered into my ear. I heard the sadness she carried in her voice. With one hand, she grabbed him by the throat and effortlessly picked him up to his feet.

His eyes flared with panic as he pleaded, “Forgive me, My Lady.”

Keeping his feet an inch off the ground, she quietly carried him around the back of the building. I followed silently.

“Where is your prey?” she asked of him, her strong hand still wrapped around his throat.

He pointed to the middle of the alley. ”Behind the can.” He lowered his eyes in shame.

Her green eyes turned black in an instant, her fangs protruded out from under her lip. “You left her there like garbage?” Her intense anger filled her eyes with an eerie glow.

I had never seen her that angry. I knew he had only moments to live or to die for good—I wasn’t sure. I always get that one confused.

 She turned, resting his back against the building with one hand and, with her free hand, plunged his chest with her fist, cracking his ribs. She then tightened her fingers around his heart and ripped it out of him.

His body began to spasm and then turned to ashes, dropping into a neat pile at her feet.

She dropped his heart, kicked his ashes and headed for the garbage can where the woman’s body laid. She was standing over the dead woman when a rod of white lighting enveloped her body, lifting her feet off the ground.

Tamara’s back arched and I heard her yelp in excruciating pain, her arms and legs going limp, dangling by her side. I felt her pain and reached out for her. Electricity crackled in the air surrounding me and I felt my hair rise on the back of my tingling arms as if I had stuck my finger in a power outlet. A blue light shot out from my hands, encircling her. She hung helplessly paralyzed in the air. Slowly, I approached her. Closing the distance between us, my energy became stronger until it completely overtook the white rod of light, surrounding her in my radiant blue energy.

“I felt my sister go,” a woman called out from the dark. “She must pay for what she has done.”

“She has committed no crime,” I shouted back. “Her hand was swift in punishment.”

“I do not believe you.”

The voice had moved. It came from my right.

“No witch has ever protected a bloodsucker.”

 A second rod of white light joined the first. It snatched Tamara from my energy and she yelped again.

I shouted as I stepped into the energy circle that imprisoned her. Wrapping my arms around my lover’s waist, the two of us became one. I pushed my blue energy outward until it enveloped the attacker’s energy. I protected her with the essence of my power. “I will give you his heart as proof,” I called out to the shadows and the rod of lights diminished. I pulled my energy back, dropping her to the ground. Instantly, she was in a crouching position as if ready to strike.

“Some warning would be nice next time, my love,” she whispered.HH

“Tame your beast,” a different woman spoke, she was on my left, “or she shall feel my wrath again.”

I stepped in front of Tamara again, shielding her from any further attacks. “Show yourself so we can settle this dispute,” I snapped at the faceless voice.

An old frumpy woman appeared from the shadows. She wore a handkerchief on her head and her dress was two sizes to big for her. Tears had cut canals down her plump, wrinkled face. “The heart,” the woman said while a white ball of energy hovered above her right hand.

Tamara stepped out from behind me and a three-foot long wall of fire appeared, blocking her way. “We are not alone,” she whispered.

“Really? Where have you been, my love?” I smiled at Tamara and extended my hands, pulling the fire into me until there was nothing left. “Enough of the games,” I shouted. “Show yourselves.”

Another women, wearing high heels, dressed in a tight black miniskirt with a white long sleeve puffy shirt, emerged from the shadows.

“The heart,” Handkerchief woman said.

Tamara cautiously stepped out from behind me. “It is where I took it,” she announced. “At the beginning of the alley.”

I grabbed her hand. If they were to attack again, I could protect her better if we joined.

 “It is true,” the young woman spoke after carefully inspecting it, “I feel her presence.”

“You will bring my sister back to us,” Handkerchief woman demanded.

She looked at me. This night couldn’t possibly get any weirder.

“I will not,” Tamara countered. “She has been gone too long. She has forgotten what it’s like to be human. Her body has already started to decom—”

I jabbed Tamara in the ribs, stopping her from finishing her thought.

The two women curiously looked at each other. “We have heard there is a protector of humans here, are you the protector?” The younger woman moved closer to Tamara.

She didn’t answer. That’s when I noticed people walking past the entrance of the alley not even looking in our direction. There was powerful magic in this alleyway.

“Are you their protector, bloodsucker?” Handkerchief woman demanded.

“Stop calling me bloodsucker. And no, I am not the protector.” Tamara pulled her shoulders back, lapping up the fear the youngest woman was emitting. “I protect my own.”

“You lie, Bloodsucker!” Handkerchief woman accused. “You protect that one,” she said, pointing at me.

“She cares for her,” as another voice entered the argument. Tamara’s mother, Lady Hightower, announced from the shadows. “She cares for the human as you once cared for us, Shamana.”

“Who calls me by that name?” Handkerchief woman demanded. “Show your face!”

“It is I, your oldest friend,” Lady Hightower answered. “Did you think I wouldn’t hear my daughter’s silent agony or feel the magnitude of your powers? Give me credit, dear friend.”

“It is not so!” the woman yelled. “I heard your line was removed.”

“Teram would have requested proof. Have you forgotten his teachings?”

I looked at Tamara curiously. I heard Lady Hightower, but didn’t see her. “Where is she?” I whispered.

“She’s not here. Her powers allow her thoughts to enter your mind,” she whispered back.

I had never heard of a vampire being able to do something that powerful. “That’s so cool,” I mumbled.

Tamara smiled.

From the end of the alley, I saw a tall, dark shadow approaching. The man towered the old woman by a good two feet. His height was impressive. His appearance was breathtaking.

“Hello, old friend,” he greeted the old woman. “The disguise does not become you.”

“Edgar, you bloodsucker!” the woman yelped in joy. “It has been too long, my friend.” She reached up and wrapped her tiny arms around Edgar’s waist, hugging him with a death grip, and before our eyes, the old woman’s appearance changed. Shamana now stood five foot two—still a short woman—but her face was flawless, her straight, dark brown hair hung just below her shoulders. Her old woman body vanished, leaving exposed an attractive, good-looking middle-aged woman.

I pegged her for mid forties with the body of Angelina Jolie.

“Lady Hightower awaits your arrival at the Estate.” Edgar held out his arm, offering to lead the woman. He turned to Tamara. “Lady T’mra, your presence is requested at the Estate tomorrow,” Edgar paused. Looking me over, he added, “And please bring Izzy with you.”

“I guess that means we can go have a good time tonight?” I hugged Tamara, grateful that she was all right.

“Yes, my love,” she hugged me back. “As good a time as you’d like.” She smiled the smile that always got her laid.

 

Dale’s was crowded, but we managed to get in without having to wait. Kaley was already at the bar with a couple of empty glasses in front of her. Tamara told her what had just happened.

“Sounds like you had a run in with the Brujas.” Kaley tossed her drink back. “Another drink,” she called.

The cute little bartender nodded and pulled a clean glass, filling it with whiskey.

“Brujas. What are they?” I asked.

Kaley frowned. “They are witches from the past. They hit their teenage years and the true vixen in them comes out, reeking havoc wherever they go.” The bartender placed the whiskey in front of Kaley and she tossed the drink back without pausing, slamming the empty glass on the bar. “Another!”

Tamara and I looked at each other curiously. Drinking like this was foreign to Kaley. Just as she tossed down the third drink, a woman came up behind her and wrapped her arms around her. “Are you going to leave me on the floor by myself?”

Kaley smiled. “No. I’ll join you in a minute.” She grabbed the woman’s hands and pulled her body around so she was facing us. “This is Jules and she likes to make me dance with my hands in my pockets.” Kaley leaned to give her a kiss and Jules turned her face so that Kaley kissed her cheek instead. “And Jules thinks it’s fun to get me horny, then tease the shit out of me.”

Jules smiled. “Hi.”

Jules was cute as a button, reminded me of a typical cheerleader. Go vamps, go. Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders and the sweat on her forehead hadn’t touched her perfectly applied makeup—the makeup must have been glued on.

Tamara laughed. “Well, looks like you met your match.”

She looked at me and I knew it was time for us to go home.

“Nice to meet you, Jules and we’ll see you later, sis.”

I said my goodbyes as Tamara lead me out of the bar. Once we were in the car, she leaned over and started kissing my neck.

“Your blue light really turned me on. Want to hit me again?”

“Is that why you dragged me out of there so fast? You’re horny.” That was more of a statement than a question. I knew I could always count on her pseudo dick to stiffen up. All it takes is a stiff breeze to get her interested.

“Want to go to the center?” She rubbed my crotch as incentive.

“You know those rooms are reserved. We can’t just walk in.” I caressed her chest, egging her hard-on. She moaned and forced her hand further between my legs.

“We can go upstairs,” she whispered.

I had completely forgotten about the see-through ceilings. “You just want to watch.” I pulled her hand out from in between my legs and kissed it. “You naughty little vamp.”

 

She dismissed the guards posted upstairs and we walked around the floor, surveying the scenes below us. The Traditional Rooms were rather boring, typical vamp sucking girl or boy, depending on which room you looked in. The Deco Rooms paraded naked couples frolicking in the rooms equipped with beach sand Kaley had provided. I never cared for having to remove sand from places it didn’t belong so I scrunched my shoulders at that one.

The Medieval Rooms looked like they had potential. There was a human woman blindfolded and tied with the same leather straps I had become acquainted with. In the other room, a potentially seductive scene was beginning to play itself out, involving the throne Tamara seemed to like so much.

Watching the room with the blindfolded woman, I realized that Alea, one of Tamara’s fledglings, was at the helm of this woman’s captivity. She was tall with ripped muscles. She was gorgeous to look at. Her blonde hair gently caressed the mask that kept her blind while the leather restraints, securely fastened to her ankles, included a thin bar that kept her legs from coming together. She was fully exposed. Alea approached her and pinched her nipples. Her chest flexed. She licked her, first one nipple, then the other. The restrained woman relaxed. Her captor loosened the straps that kept the woman bound against the wall and positioned her on her hands and knees on the floor in front of the throne. The woman obeyed. The vampire slapped one cheek and the woman jerked forward. She slapped her other cheek and again the blindfolded woman jerked forward, but held her position steady. Then she strapped the woman’s wrists to the throne’s armrest.

Tamara had raised my shirt and her tongue slowly ran down the center of my back. Standing behind me, her hands wrapped around my waist and fumbled with my zipper, I leaned into her as I watched Alea work her woman.

Alea sat on the throne and leaned the woman forward until her mouth covered her pubic hair. Then she stood and circled her, slapping her ass again. She tried tucking her ass and Alea slapped her harder. She tried moving her arms, but couldn’t, her restraints held her in place. Alea was enjoying herself too much. She laid the woman down in front of the throne and removed her blindfold, then opened the chamber door inviting in another naked woman. The woman immediately started kissing Alea, caressing and fondling her. The subservient woman laid on the floor, watching Alea and her new partner love on each other.

Tamara pulled me around so I was facing her.

“If all you wanted to do was watch, you could have told me before we came up here.”

I looked down. Tamara had taken off my pants. I’m sure she had tried to get my attention, but I just couldn’t take my gaze off the submissive woman lying on the floor. She was so sexy.

“Do you want to join them?” Tamara kissed my exposed skin.

Kneeling in front of me, she kissed the moisture between my legs. “No, my love.” I gently thrust my hips forward to meet her waiting tongue. I knew she had the power to interrupt her fledglings, but I was content knowing she would satisfy me tonight.

Tamara’s tongue worshipped every inch of my sensuality. My bud exposed itself to the reverence she paid. My passion eagerly released the dam holding back my juices from her taste. My cunt tightened, waiting for her to force herself into my temple and claim it as hers once again. She passionately lapped up every drop of wetness that escaped me. Sliding her fingers deep inside me, she hit my g-spot, demanding my body obey her. Her tongue, completely devoted to my pleasure, never let up. She worked my senses harder, exciting me more. My body shook. My blood rushed to my groin. My nerves were raw. Her touch fueled the fire burning my desires, I needed her touch even more. I teetered on the brink of ecstasy she had led me to, but wouldn’t allow me to cross. I was at her mercy. “Please.” I begged.

“Lay down,” she ordered.

Her fingers kept my cunt captive. I obeyed. Lying on the cold floor, Tamara forced another finger into me. A moan escaped my lips as she laid her body against mine.

“Spread your legs.”

Again I obeyed.

“Touch me,” she ordered.

I obeyed, touching her pulsating pussy. Her female hard-on greeted my fingers as I slid through her swollen folds. Her moans burned as they echoed through my soul. I wanted her. I wanted the release only she could allow me. With her free hand, she dug through her jacket pocket, pulling out a set of stringed pearls. I needed to cum, I would have agreed to anything! She pulled her fingers out of me, leaving my cunt feeling empty and lonely. She spread my legs further apart.

“Don’t move,” she commanded.

I held my legs as still as my restless body would allow. Meticulously, she inserted each individual pearl into my waiting cunt, teasing me as she slowly filled my emptiness. Filling me completely, my muscles stretched, taking in the last pearl. She pressed her lips on my folds and kissed me. Standing, she extended her hand and lifted me to my feet.

“Get dressed,” she said while putting on her pants.

“You’ve got to be kidding!” I snapped.

Tamara smiled. “Get dressed. And don’t put your underwear on.”

I couldn’t believe she was subjecting me to this. As I reached for my pants, the pearls inside me shifted and sent a shock wave through me. Oh God, maybe she did know what she was doing. I straightened. “Could you please?” I pointed at my jeans.

“No.” She smiled and leaned against the wall, watching me. “Get them yourself.”

Slowly, I bent down, again the pearls shifted and my cunt tightened around them. They felt so good. I slipped my hand between my legs, massaging my crotch as I grabbed the jeans off the floor. She was on me, instantly, grabbing my hand away from my own wetness.

“Don’t.” She slid her own hand between my legs. “Touch yourself.”

She helped me get into my jeans, but before she slipped them over my hips, she tugged on the string that hung out of my cunt. Slowly, she pulled out a pearl and it slid between my lips. Continuing to pull on the string, she dragged the pearl up through my wetness, blissfully tormenting me. She then pulled out another one. Following the path of the first one, the second pearl was almost my undoing. My excitement grew.

“Now.” She motioned that I pull my jeans up while she held the string between her fingers, commanding my pleasure.

I zipped my jeans and again she gently tugged at the string. Another pearl slipped out as she laid the string up and over my waistband.

“You ready?” She held out her arm, offering to escort me out.

“You’re kidding.” I snarled.

She just smiled, keeping her arm out.

I took a step and the pearls came to life, teasing me and exciting me. I stopped in mid-step. The pleasure was unbearable. Reluctantly, I grabbed her arm for support. She wouldn’t allow me to take the elevator down so we ventured the stairs very slowly. The pearls took on a renewed life with every step I took. Halfway down, I stopped, the pearls threatened to dominate my orgasm. I grabbed her arm harder, balancing myself as euphoria started to take control of me. I couldn’t stop the pleasure building inside of me. I was going to cum.

“Look at me,” she ordered.

I tried, but I couldn’t focus. I gripped her arm harder as my orgasm threatened to explode.

“Do not cum.” She scorned and pinched my nipple hard.

The pain rocked my body, temporarily keeping my orgasm at bay. “Ouch! Did you have to do that?”

“You were going to cum.” She was wrapping her finger around the string hanging over my waistband.

“Don’t. Please don’t.” I stepped backward, trying to get out of her reach. She smiled and slowly tugged at the string, sliding another pearl out of me. My desires screamed as the pearl brushed against me, teasing me. My knees buckled.

“You need to get a hold of yourself or you won’t make it through the rest of the evening.” She smiled.

“You are one cruel bit—” I stopped as Tamara threatened to tug on the string again. She leaned into me closely, teasing my lips with her tongue, then she kissed me passionately.

“You cum only when I say you do.” She motioned at the rest of the stairs. “Ready?”

Each step heightened to new levels of pleasure. The short stroll to the car almost did me in, again. I didn’t know how much longer I could fend off my orgasm. The car ride home threw me into a state of desperation. Every bump in the road sent my new intruder on a rampage. I needed to cum. I needed to find relief. My heart skipped a beat when we pulled into our driveway. My nightmare would soon end. She helped me out of the car and then accidentally dropped her house key by the front door.

“Shit.” She smiled. “Honey, could you get those for me?”

“Really?” I asked her, knowing what her intentions were. She wanted me to bend over and let the pearls work their magic deep inside me.

She smiled. “Please.”

I bent over, reaching for the keys. She slid her hand between my crotch, rubbing me while the pearls shifted and moved inside me. My juices escaped me again. I gasped for air. My body started shaking. I couldn’t do much more of this. Right now, I’d fuck our hundred-year-old neighbor if I could find some relief. Picking up her keys, I stayed bent over slightly, rubbing my crotch back and forth on her hand.

“Come on.” She grabbed my arm and led me inside the foyer, closing the door behind her. “Take off your clothes and don’t touch yourself.”

I obeyed. It was difficult not to touch myself. She disrobed while watching me and then threw her clothing on the floor where she stood. “Come here.”

I stood in front of her naked, vulnerable and anxious. My hands shook.

“Lay down. Belly up,” she ordered while grabbing hold of my string and tugging at it.

I lay down quickly. I didn’t care what she had in mind anymore as long as I got some satisfaction out of this adventure. Tamara knelt over my face, her inviting pussy inches away from my mouth.

“Taste me.”

She lowered her crotch onto my face. Her sweet taste reignited all my burning desires. I greedily slathered my face into her juices. My tongue felt her hardness begging for attention and I happily obliged its request. I sucked and caressed her with my tongue. Her juices slid into my mouth and I lapped them up. Slowly, she pulled the pearls out one by one, licking my juices and teasing me. She sucked on my clit so hard I felt her pull it out from under its hood and hold it between her teeth. Then another pearl massaged my cunt as it escaped me.

I held my breath, thrusting my hips up. I dug my nails into her back, causing my world to explode. Then her fangs dug into my groin and my orgasm doubled. I couldn’t breath. My nails dug deeper into her flesh, my back arched, almost lifting us off the ground. Her body shook. Her muscles tensed. She thrust down onto my mouth, rubbing harder against me. I finger fucked her while she pulled the last of the pearls out of me and I nibbled her sweet spot.

She moaned louder.

My body went rigid. I couldn’t move. My orgasm took control of me. I shook wildly underneath her. My soul enveloped us and I felt my essence fill the emptiness of Tamara’s soul. I felt the euphoria in her growing. Then we both exploded together again, thrusting and sucking and fucking each other.

I lay silent under her for a while before I rolled her off me. I knew she finished drinking from me as I felt her lick my wounds closed. That was the best orgasm I’ve ever had. It was a definite toe-curler.

 

I fell asleep in Tamara’s arms. When I woke late that afternoon, I found that she had covered me in a blanket and placed my favorite pillow under my head before going into her safe room. She had also set the coffeemaker and left a single rose for me to find. I never thought I would end up with someone so thoughtful and considerate. I admit that it took me some time to get used to her being a vampire and running on a lunar, not solar calendar, but I certainly considered myself lucky to have found her.

Setting the coffeemaker, I totally understood, she claims I’m a bear without my coffee. I guess there’s something to be said when my vampire girlfriend doesn’t want to deal with me sans coffee, but I’m sure she’ll get used to my quirks, too. I remembered that Lady Hightower wanted to meet me tonight, I didn’t have much sunlight left so I headed off to pretty myself up.

Tamara and I had been living together for almost a year and now it was time to meet and greet the family. Before I was done with my shower, she was up and waiting for me to finish dressing for the meeting with Lady Hightower. I admit I took my time, shaving, exfoliating and soaking in our huge tub, but her curiosity had been getting the better of her since last night. She couldn’t wait to find out who it was that had attacked her and why her own mother had seemed to warm up so suddenly.

I sat in the overstuffed chair, wrapped in my robes, cooling off from my hot shower, sipping my coffee and thinking, I knew I couldn’t get out of this meeting. I had yet to meet, formally, Lady Hightower, not because I feared her, but because I was uncomfortable around the Hightower’s price tag. I knew they were worth billions and that intimidated me.

Tamara stood at the doorway, tapping her foot. She wore a pair of black leather pants and a pressed, white, high-collared French cuff style shirt. Very sexy, I need to put her in that more often. I smiled, knowing she was getting impatient, “Okay, I’ll go get dressed.” I got up and headed upstairs to change. A short while later, I emerged into the living room wearing a pair of tight-fitting blue jeans, sandals and a tee shirt that read Bite Me.

Tamara raised an eyebrow and shook her head in disbelief. “Izzy, that’s not an appropriate shirt to wear tonight.”

I ignored her.

“Izzy,” she tried again, “she has earned more respect than that.”

I turned, getting within inches of her face, and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Not with me. You are going to make us late.” I headed out the front door.

The ride to the Hightower Estate consisted of Tamara giving me quick lessons on etiquette when addressing her mother. I nodded in boredom and stared out of the window. I knew she was nervous. Here I was, her lover of almost a year and I was only now playing meet and greet with the family. How could it not be nerve racking? Maybe I should have worn a different shirt.

Arriving at the massive gates that separated the Estate from public access, Tamara had only to slow down when the gates opened, welcoming us. The road stretched for a mile through a heavily wooded area before ending in a circular driveway. A large fountain with two techno modern women embracing adorned the center of the drive. The estate was an old Victorian two-story mansion, equipped with turn-of-the-century large pillars on either side, large windows and an equally large door. Parking her sports car in front of the mansion, Tamara hopped out and opened my door.

Surprised by the pure enormity of the mansion, I truly felt underdressed. Edgar stood by the open door. “Good day, Ms. T’mra.” He curtly bowed. Edgar looked me over, then extended the same curtsies as I entered.

“Good evening, Edgar,” Tamara responded.

“It is good to see you home again,” he offered. “The house has been too empty without you.”

She shyly grinned. “The stories Edgar could tell would endlessly embarrass me.”

“Lady Hightower, awaits you in the study,” he addressed Tamara.

I was in awe of the beautifully designed mansion. The marble floors accentuated the elaborate hand craved banister on the staircase leading to the second floor. The grand chandeliers were exquisite and I assumed they were sixteen-hundreds originals. I had pictured an old dark, stuffy, rundown house, hiding vampires afraid of sunlight. Instead, I found an open, airy and very comfortable home with old world charms and modern luxuries. Opposite the stained glass front doors, French doors led to a colorful and stunning backyard where tulips, baby’s breath and roses of all kinds were in full bloom, all brilliantly lit by backyard lighting. Off to one side of the yard was an in-ground Olympic-size swimming pool with built-in caves and a waterfall.

Edgar had pulled my attention back, by saying, “Ms. Izzy, this way please, we have prepared a snack for you.”

I was flattered. Had I known I would be treated so well, I would have come sooner.

 “We have prepared the patio for your enjoyment,” Edgar said, leading me outside.

The patio was something I had only seen in those how-the-rich-live shows, rose covered trellises comprised the walls and ceiling. A small round table comfortably able to seat six, set with linen tablecloths and fine china, rested on the perfectly laid imported slate slab.

“Coffee?” Edgar asked.

 Awestruck by my surroundings, I nodded in agreement. I had no idea that Kaley and Tamara lived in such unbounded wealth. Lady Hightower may not be the Queen of England, but she certainly lived better than the queen. The serving staff carried out a healthy portion of small, triangle shaped sandwiches, flat crackers, cream cheese and something that looked like black B.B’s in a bowl and left while one member positioned himself behind me. I thought it weird that they would stand over me and watch me eat. Jeez, I’m not going to steal the silverware. Halfway through my meal, I reached for the adorned pot and my watcher sprung into action, placing his white gloved hand on the handle and pouring coffee.

“Sugar madam?” he asked.

That’s when I realized my watcher wasn’t watching me. I had my own manservant. I finished eating, and sat outside, listening to the gentle sounds of the waterfall and the frogs croaking, enjoying the peace my surroundings generated when Edgar appeared.

“Lady Hightower requests your presence,” he said flatly. “Please follow me, Ms. Izzy.”

All right. Show time. I hated to admit it, but I was feeling intimidated by meeting Lady Hightower. Just like in the movies, Edgar opened the two large doors that led into the study where Lady Hightower, Tamara, Shamana and the young woman from last night sat waiting my arrival. I wasn’t sure how to greet the room of spectators. I stood motionless in the doorway.

“Come, my dear,” Lady Hightower addressed me. “Come here and let me take a look at you.”

Slowly, I ambled into the huge room. Hearing the door close behind me, I breathed deeply. I stopped several feet from Lady Hightower. Show submissiveness. Don’t make eye contact. Keep head bowed. Don’t look at her…my mind flooded with information from the tame your vamp books I had been reading.

“Come closer,” Lady Hightower ordered, looking me over and showing Tamara a questioning look.

I was in Lady Hightower’s fortress, at her mercy, how could I not comply? Slowly, I inched toward the Majestic Matriarch and cleared my throat. “Huh, it’s nice to meet you,” I blurted.

Lady Hightower laughed. “Yes, dear, it is nice to finally meet you, too.” She pointed at my shirt. “That is an interesting request you advertise.”

“Kate,” Shamana interrupted, “stop giving the girl a hard time. Can’t you see she’s half-scared to death?”

Shit, I knew I should have gotten rid of this tee shirt.

“My Lady,” Tamara swiftly interjected. “She meant no disrespect…”

Spontaneously, both Lady Hightower and I gave Tamara a disapproving look. I would not have her fight my battles for me, unless I needed her brute strength. Meeting Lady Hightower’s look, I smiled. “I had it made for Tamara.”

Lady Hightower cocked her head and raised her eyebrows. “And she approves?”

I raised an eyebrow back at her. “It’s not like I need her approval.” I felt the tenseness escape the air.

Lady Hightower smiled. “Very well, my dear. You really should visit more often. We will talk more later.”

“Oh bravo,” Shamana stood, introducing herself and her daughter Celeste, to me. “You showed remarkable abilities last night. I congratulate you for controlling your powers.”

“Yes, thank you for not injuring us,” Celeste offered.

She stared at Tamara, giving her what I call flirty-flirt eyes. I wasn’t normally a jealous person. I knew vampires were seductive creatures by nature and I had seen Tamara’s innocent interactions with her fledglings. Most people who didn’t know vampires would consider it foreplay, but this was different.

Tamara was mesmerized, unable to take her eyes off Celeste. Lady Hightower and Shamana apparently had no problem with this as they just ignored the girls’ flirtation. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I could smell Tamara’s vampmones. She was trying to seduce Celeste!

“Please forgive my daughter,” Shamana said, pointing at the couple. “She has not yet learned how to control her powers.”

Concentrating all my energies, I stared at Tamara, until she jerked back.

“Ouch! What’d you do that for?” she snapped, “We’re only talking.” Tamara was acting like a schoolchild admiring their first crush.

I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow with a disapproving look.

“Considering your powers, Izzy,” Lady Hightower proceeded, “you should know of the battle brewing. The council has systematically started eliminating not only vampires but brujas as well. They are out to eradicate us from this world and it seems we have a council member living among us.”

Shamana and I seemed to be the only ones paying attention to what Lady Hightower had just said. I glanced at Tamara who had placed her hand on Celeste’s thigh while she moved closer to Celeste on the couch. “Why have I not heard of this before now?” I asked, not being able to take my gaze off Tamara.

“We did not want to alarm anyone prematurely,” Lady Hightower replied. “The time when you will have to choose sides is near.”

“Choose what side?” I asked, moving my attention back to Lady Hightower and Shamana.

“To stand with your bruja sisters, your vampire lover or your human friends,” Shamana interjected. “The choice will ultimately be yours to make.”

“Why can’t we all stand together against them?” I asked.

“It does not work that way, Izzy,” Shamana answered. “The brujas and the vampires might be able to reach a contemptuous agreement, but the humans will not accept it. The council is comprised mostly of fanatical humans.”

I glanced at Tamara. She was rubbing her face on Celeste’s neck, taking in her smell and listening to her strong heartbeat. Celeste had leaned back into the couch and stretched her leg out, showing off a little more of the tanned thigh trapped under her miniskirt. “Oh, hell no,” I mumbled, approaching Tamara. “Is there something you’d like to share with me, too?” I crossed my arms and tilted my hip, waiting for a response.

She embarrassingly shrugged her shoulders.

I leaned close to Celeste’s ear, “If your want Tamara, you’ll have to go through me first.” Celeste turned her face, rubbing her cheek against mine.

“Oh goody. I love a challenge,” she replied, giving me a peck on the cheek.

Shamana stood, “Celeste enough! We have matters to attend to.”

“But, Mother,” Celeste whined, “I was just starting to have fun. Tamara’s loyalties run deep, but with a little more time, I can entice her as well.”

“Forgive her, she is just turning two hundred and coming into her sexual prime. She means no disrespect to you. Celeste!” Shamana yelled at her again.

“The council,” Lady Hightower tried stirring the conversation back. “We need to find out who among us is part of the council. Tamara, see if you can find Kaley. I’m sure Shamana would like to see her.”

The ride home felt like it took forever. My jealousy roared. I finally reasoned that I couldn’t be mad at her. Being half-witch is what kept me from the vixen’s be-spelling charisma. I was afraid I had no idea how to keep Tamara’s interest if some two-hundred year old, drop dead, gorgeous, vixen bitch set her claws into her, but I would find a way.