The Elixir Maidens: Crimson Page 2

  Making a conscious effort to control her lust, Sondra forced a smile and said, “Aren’t you pushing it a bit with the direct approach?”

  “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

  “Wouldn’t you like to get to know each other a little first?”

  “Sondra, I would love to.”

  The song ended and they walked back to the table where the waitress had placed their drinks.

  “Where are you from?” she asked and took a sip of her wine. She hadn’t ordered blood-laced wine because she hoped to quench her thirst on Richie’s blood. When he’d made his move so quickly, he’d startled her a bit. Nigel had trained her to be conservative in her actions, just as he was, but deep down Sondra had a wild side she longed to indulge. Richie seemed like just the vamp to show her how.

  * * *

  By two in the morning, Sondra decided she definitely wanted a taste of Richie. They’d talked, danced, and seemed hypnotized with one another. She’d learned he was several thousand years old, an investor and a musician.

  Just looking into his eyes and hearing his voice sent waves of heat crashing over her body. Since meeting him she’d been tingling in all the right places. If she didn’t have him soon, she’d go crazy.

  She danced in his arms, her head resting lightly against his shoulder while she relished the lean, hard sensation of his tall body.

  “I’m going upstairs, Sondra,” he said, “but I’d like to see you again.”

  They stopped dancing and she gazed into his eyes. Standing on tiptoe, she drew a sharp breath. With her lips hovering close to his, she waited, hoping he’d kiss her. He didn’t disappoint.

  One of his long, slender hands cupped the back of her head while his mouth covered hers in a soft, moist kiss that soon turned demanding. Sondra moaned softly and closed her eyes as his tongue plunged into her mouth, thrusting and exploring. He tasted wonderful -- like wine, peppermint, and a unique taste all his own. Tightening her arms around him, she felt her nipples harden and a tantalizing ache below the waist told her she couldn’t walk away from him tonight.

  When the kiss broke, he whispered against her lips, “Or you could come upstairs with me. No pressure, of course.”

  “Oh, of course.” She grinned. No pressure except that I can’t seem to get enough of you. She cleared her throat and stepped away. “I’m just going to the ladies’ room first. Wait for me?”

  “All morning if I have to.”

  Another smile tugged at her lips and she brushed a kiss across his mouth before heading for the restrooms.

  She stood, her hands braced against the sink, and closed her eyes, her pulse racing. Though she was a centuries-old vampire who’d had lovers before, something about Richie was different. Usually she kept control around men, but with him she felt like a lovesick schoolgirl. Not only was he physically attractive, but she liked him. Somehow she knew his rather silly sense of humor concealed a lot of alpha vamp power. She liked that. It was a rare quality among ancient vamps who tried to cultivate controlling, mysterious personas.

  The bathroom door banged open as Mel rushed inside wearing a curious smile.

  “Hey, you’re really taking the rebellion act to new levels, aren’t you?” Mel asked.

  Sondra turned to her friend and wrinkled her nose. “Huh?”

  “You and Richie. Close dancing all night.” Mel winked. “Nigel would just love it.”

  “Mel, what are you talking about?”

  Mel’s smile faded when she realized Sondra really had no clue about what she was hinting at. “I thought you were with him to get back at Nigel, but you really don’t know.”

  “Richie’s waiting for me, so unless you plan to tell me what’s going on --”

  “He’s an Elixir Maiden.”

  Sondra’s brow furrowed. “Huh?”

  “You heard me.”

  “You’re telling me that stud out there is a drag queen?”

  “I thought you knew.”

  “No.”

  For the first time Mel looked a bit uncomfortable. “He’s a really nice guy. The drag thing is just a job for him.”

  “Wow,” Sondra murmured. No wonder she’d caught his scent all night but hadn’t seen him. He’d been on stage in full makeup wearing a beaded gown and a wig.

  “I should have minded my own business,” Mel said, slamming her fist into her palm. “Zigor told me to keep my mouth shut, but did I listen to him? No. I had to be nosy. It’s this hotel. Since moving here, I’m becoming as big a gossiper as members of the staff --”

  “Mel, it’s okay. I was bound to find out sooner or later,” Sondra said, though she wondered if Richie intended to tell her before or after he took her to bed. Not that it should matter, but somehow it did.

  Sondra strode out of the bathroom and approached Richie who sat at the table, finishing his drink.

  “So you’re a musician, huh?” She stood beside him and placed her hands on her hips.

  He looked startled by her tone and said, “Yeah.”

  “Would you care to elaborate on that?”

  “Elaborate?”

  “Yes. Does the term drag queen fit in anywhere?”

  He chuckled. “Oh, that.”

  “Yes, that.”

  He reached for her hand and squeezed it gently while gazing at her with those melting eyes. “I prefer the term female impersonator.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t think about it. Besides, you sat there for hours watching my show. For all I knew you were just being coy by pretending not to care that I’m a performer.”

  “Coy?” She wrinkled her nose.

  “Obviously I was wrong. Does this change anything?”

  She glanced down at their joined hands then back to his handsome face. He wore a hopeful expression she found most endearing and his delicious scent cried out to her. Lord, she longed to sink her fangs into his gorgeous throat, feel that hard, lean body against hers, this time without the barrier of clothes. Even if it was just for one night. She could hardly imagine an ongoing relationship with a drag queen -- not with a Creator like Nigel in her life, but that didn’t mean she and Richie couldn’t enjoy one night of unbridled passion.

  “No.”

  “Good. Let’s go upstairs.” He stood and offered her his arm in a gentlemanly manner.

  Her heart fluttering, she took her purse and coat, then grasped his biceps. They made their way out of the club area. In the foyer, the club’s chief of security, a powerfully built, ebony-skinned ancient, glanced at them. With Onan in charge of security, little in the way of violence happened at Burgundy Peak. That was one of the reasons Sondra enjoyed coming here whenever she had the chance. The way her career had been lately, she’d had little opportunity for fun. Tonight with Richie was exactly the sort of excitement she needed.

  They stopped in front of the door to Richie’s room and he unlocked it.

  “Ohh. This is a nice room,” Sondra said, glancing around the suite. It had a kitchenette and sitting room with an arched entrance leading to the bedroom. Like all the rooms at Burgundy Peak, it was decorated in colors comfortable to vampiric eyes -- black, tan, and forest green. A plush carpet covered the floor and heavy drapes were pulled back from the glass door leading to a balcony.

  “It’s not bad. Comfortable. Clean. Firm mattress on the bed.” Richie cast her a flirtatious look. He lit a candelabrum on the table, then took her coat and purse. He placed them on the couch and turned back to her. Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her. His tongue slid between her lips, tasting and exploring with confident yet tender strokes.

  Sondra had never felt such a strong connection to anyone. It was as if she was meant to be in his arms, kissing and caressing him.

  “I love your taste, your scent,” Richie murmured in her ear. He swept his hands down her back to her buttocks. “Your feel. You’re such a beautiful woman, Sondra.”

  “Thank you.”

  He covered her neck with kisses while slow
ly unzipping the back of her dress. Soon his warm hands stroked her flesh. His fingertips slid beneath her bra, then deftly unhooked it. Within moments he’d tugged her dress down her torso and over her hips. It pooled at her ankles and she kicked it aside, at the same time allowing him to remove her bra.

  “You are fucking gorgeous,” he breathed and cupped her breasts. Running his thumbs over her nipples, he continued to devour her with his gaze. The tip of his tongue moistened his sexy lips and she noticed the tips of his fangs gleaming against them.

  The thought of those fangs sinking into her flesh made her tingle from head to toe, as did the idea of sampling his blood. He probably tasted as delicious as he looked.

  Sondra’s breathing deepened and she couldn’t stop the moan of pleasure when he bent and took one of her nipples between his lips. He sucked and laved it. Using his teeth he tugged the sensitive nub, then pierced it slightly with his fang.

  “Oh, Richie!” Sondra gasped with pleasure and writhed. She clutched his head closer to her breast. “Yes, oh, yes!”

  Releasing her breast, he hooked his thumbs on her pantyhose and underwear. While he kissed his way down her torso, he slid off her hose and panties. She lifted first one foot, then her other so he could discard her shoes and undergarments. Finally she stood naked, her body hot with desire.

  When he stepped away from her, she reached for him. “Where are you go --”

  Sondra paused mid-sentence and watched him strip off his clothes, a smile on his full lips. A moment later, he stood before her in all his masculine glory. Lean and well muscled, he had an absolutely gorgeous body. His shoulders were broad, chest smooth and abs flat. Long, muscular legs and a thick, ruddy cock completed the perfect picture. She also noted he had a very cute belly button.

  “Umm,” she purred, taking a step closer to him and circling his belly button with her fingertip. Her hands swept over his hard chest, her thumbs playfully teasing his nipples. “Speaking of beautiful…” With a feline growl, she slid down his body, licking and kissing his torso.

  When she took his cock in her hands and rubbed, he groaned. His fingers wove through her hair and he thrust his hips slightly. Unable to resist, Sondra took his cock head between her lips. She laved and sucked, her eyes closed as she explored every well-veined inch of velvet over steel.

  Finally he grasped her shoulders and pushed her slightly away. Sondra glanced into his smoldering eyes and couldn’t resist smiling.

  “That deserves payback, baby,” he grunted and tugged her toward the bed. He pushed her gently onto her back and used his long, slim hands to spread her legs. After positioning himself between them, he lay still for a moment, his breath fanning her clit.

  “Richie, please,” she murmured.

  “You want me to eat you, don’t you?” he said in a husky voice. “You want to feel my tongue on you. Say it.”

  “Yes, oh, yes!”

  “You want this.” He took her plump clit between his lips and ran his tongue over it. He rolled it down one side, then the other.

  “Oh!” She gasped and clung to his head, her entire body tense with desire.

  “You want this,” he continued and began licking her clit in a rhythm that drove her wild. For several moments he teased her, speeding up his motions, then slowing them down before she slipped over the edge.

  “Please, please, please don’t stop!” she chanted, trying to thrust her hips, but he held her steady, using his lips and tongue until she exploded. While she throbbed and writhed, he continued pleasuring her, not stopping until the last little orgasmic wave rolled through her.

  Sondra lay panting and thoroughly content. She smiled when he covered her body with his, the tip of his cock pressed against her pussy.

  “I want you, Sondra,” he whispered against her lips. “I want to fuck you so bad.”

  Her eyes opened and she held his gaze, her body again tingling with anticipation. “Go for it, stud.”

  A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and he filled her with a long, slow thrust. Once buried to the hilt, he remained still, his gaze fixed on hers with such intensity that she felt as if their souls were mingling. His telepathic voice spoke to her. This feels so good, Sondra.

  She felt his pleasure washing over her and knew this coupling meant as much to him as it did to her.

  Richie, I wish this could last forever.

  So do I.

  He teased her with long thrusts that slowly increased in speed. Sondra’s hips lifted to meet him. As passion built, he began thrusting so hard and fast that she was forced to lock her legs around his waist. Her entire body aflame, she moaned and gasped, straining for pure ecstasy just beyond her reach. Simultaneously, they sank their fangs into each other’s shoulders. Richie’s sweet, delectable blood filled her mouth as orgasm broke over her body.

  Richie, oh, this is unbelievable.

  Sondra, yes. Yes!

  Panting and trembling in the aftermath, they fell asleep locked in each other’s arms.

  Chapter Two

  That night Sondra awoke in Richie’s embrace. Smiling, she snuggled closer and kissed his chest.

  He tightened his hold on her and said, “Good evening.”

  “Hi.”

  “Can you stay a while?”

  “I wish I could, but I need to get home and check my business messages.”

  “What do you do, anyway?”

  “I’m a graphic artist.”

  “Interesting. And very modern.”

  “About as modern as a vampire drag queen?” She grinned and sat up, the sheets pooling around her waist.

  His gaze riveted to her bare breasts and he gently cupped one and squeezed. A quiver of desire ran through her when he rolled his thumb over her nipple.

  “Actually, men dressing as women isn’t a new idea at all. It’s occurred throughout many great cultures of the world. Some even believe that a man pretending to be a woman is the ultimate beauty.”

  “You’re a cute queen, Richie, but I like you better as a man.”

  “Female impersonator,” he snarled playfully and slapped her bottom when she left the bed and headed for the bathroom.

  Sondra quickly showered and dressed, then said a reluctant goodbye to Richie, who was still lounging in bed. She didn’t blame him. The Elixir Maidens had been on the road for a long time and with their stint at Burgundy Peak over, it was their first real vacation in years.

  “I’d like to see you again, Sondra,” Richie said, holding her hand tightly even when she tried to tug away. She sat on the edge of the bed and stroked his face, relishing the sensation of his five-o’clock shadow against her fingertips. He was so handsome and virile that she still could hardly believe he was an Elixir Maiden.

  “So would I.”

  “When are you free next?” he asked.

  “How about tomorrow for dinner?”

  “Great. I’ll pick you up.

  Sondra was about to agree, then a disastrous thought struck her. What if Nigel happened to stop by while Richie was there? Not that he usually dropped in uninvited, but he was her Creator and such a thing wasn’t unheard of. There was no way she could tell him she was dating a drag queen. At this point in their relationship she didn’t want to ask Richie to pretend to be something he wasn’t because of her Creator. She liked him a lot and wanted to explore a relationship with him. If he was really the nice guy she thought him to be, he’d eventually accept her situation.

  “Can I meet you here instead?” she asked.

  “Sure. We can eat in the club section and if you’re not too bored coming back here after…” He wiggled his eyebrows in a suggestive manner that both amused and aroused her.

  “Somehow I doubt I could ever be bored with you.” She kissed his cheek, then stood. At the door, she turned and waved to him.

  “I can’t wait until tomorrow, Sondra.”

  “Neither can I.”

  She left quickly, before she was tempted to dive back into bed with him.

  *
* *

  In the gym at Burgundy Peak, Richie blinked sweat from his eyes as he completed the last few reps of his weightlifting workout. All evening his thoughts had spun with the day he’d spent with Sondra. Her sweet, sexy scent still filled him and he imagined caressing her soft, warm flesh, filling her with his cock and pumping until they exploded in mind-blowing ecstasy. Damn, he hadn’t felt this way about a woman since… had he ever felt like this about a woman? No. She was something special. As a vamp who liked his freedom, he usually engaged in plenty of meaningless relationships that satisfied his sexual and blood-drinking urges. Sondra was probably the first woman in ages he’d sat down and talked to. The way she’d wanted to spend some time getting to know him before hitting the sheets touched him more deeply than he wanted to admit. Though a good-looking vamp, he usually didn’t attract many “nice” girls. Especially not one like Sondra who seemed sincere and a bit modest.

  Other than his fellow Elixir Maidens -- Ruby and Scarlet -- the gym was empty. It was still early in the night and most of the other vamps didn’t use the gym until later.

  Ruby, a tall redhead, walked on the treadmill. To Ruby, drag wasn’t simply a job, but a way of life. Even now he wore his thick hair pinned atop his head and light makeup, his shapely legs encased in black spandex pants.

  Glancing at Richie who grunted his way through the last rep, Ruby shook his head. “I’m glad our tour is finally over because you’re getting way too much muscle for your costumes again. How many times have I told you more reps with less weight?”

  “Shove it, Ru,” Richie said, wiping his brow. He walked across the room, picked up his sword, and went to join Scarlet, also known as Greg, who was engaged in fencing practice.

  Greg’s lips turned up in a slight smile as they touched swords. He and Richie had been together a long time. Being his vampiric child, Greg held a special place in Richie’s heart. After a horrible mortal life that continued to plague him in the form of violent nightmares, Greg had finally learned to allow a lover into his heart. Just last night he and his new boyfriend Andrew decided to have a shot at a long term relationship. To Richie, who had spent years as Greg’s protector and confidant, this was pleasing news.