NightFall: Book One: Bloodlust Is the Cure for the Immortal Soul (14 page)

“I know you do not know me so I would think you would be more co
mfortable meeting me,”
he guessed.

Simone was touched at his consideration. “That would be great. When and where?”

“Meet me in front of the
Louvre Museum at, say, eight?”
suggested Van.

“I’ll be there,”
Simone promised.

“It was wonderful talking with you, Simone.
If you’ll please excuse me?”
He captured her hand in his and placed a slow, soft kiss on her fevered skin.
“Until tomorrow.”

Simone was breathless when his lips
touched her skin. “Tomorrow,”
she whispered.

Wow,
she thought to herself. It was like some fantastic dream. Maybe she should pinch herself.

Nah.
I might wake up.

Indea finished her dance with the bartender, Michael. She came over to the table where Simone was still sitting.

“I think you’ve found your sexy Frenchman.” Indea stated in a sing-song lilt. “If you’re ready, Michael’s going to walk us to the car.”

Simone stood. “You go ahead. I’m going to the restroom.
I’ll be out as soon as I can,”
she
informed her. “Besides, I think
Michael was just being nice. He really wouldn’t mine taking only you to
your car. It’s okay. Go on,”
she said with a playful push.

“Okay.” Indea left out the door with Michael following close behind.

Maybe Michael would work out for Indea but never with her. He was just a bit too annoying for her liking. He acted like Indea had
bones in her pocket and he was
a love sick puppy, going wherever Indea went. Simone didn’t t
hink she could put up with that kind of neediness.

*

By the time Indea and Michael got to her car there were no people around. Most were probably on their way home or decided to get something to eat. It sounded like a great idea to her.

“I think I’m a little hungry,”
she mentioned to Michael.

Michael bumped her from behind. He turned her around and seized her waist rather harshly and pressed himself against her. “I’m hungry, too.” The carnal look in his eyes implied that food was not what he was hungry for.

“No, Michael. I want food,”
she stated firmly, trying to break loose from his powerful grip.

He laughed and pushed her backwards until she felt the car at her back. He had her pinned. He pushed his obvious state of arousal against the apex of her thighs. It made her nauseous. “And I want you. Don’t even tell me you don’t want it. Not the way you were dancing.”

Indea’s nostrils flared. “How dare you! I danced with you f
or fun and only for fun. Why
is
it
a man thinks it
‘s always a precursor to sex?”
she asked, not expecting an answer.

Michael leaned in, trying to kiss her. “Come on.
Right here.
It won’t take long.”

Indea turned her head from his sloppy advances.
“I’m sure,”
Indea said dryly.

“Are you i
mplying of my sexual prowess?”
he asked menacingly.

“I’m not implying. I’m stating it flat out!” Indea shouted. “Leave!”

“No,”
he said stubbornly. “You want me. I know it. You can’t act like a sl
ut then leave me in the cold,”
he whined pathetically.

Indea’s temper was rising by the minute. “I’m going to do more than leave you in the cold if you don’t get away from me,” she said hotly.

Michael narrowed
his dark eyes dangerously. “Is that a threat?” His voice was low and ominous.

Indea pushed against him once more, panic starting to set in when he wouldn’t bu
dge. “No. That’s a promise,”
she said with more bravado than she felt.

Michael rammed her against the car, causing Indea to lose her breath. “No one threatens me.” He shook her roughly. “Do you hear me?” He pressed against her once more. Indea started to scream but he clamped his beefy hand over her mouth hard. “What are you going to do now, you teasing little b–—,”

Quick as a flash, it seemed Michael was hurled five feet in the air. He landed with a bone crunching thud on the asphalt.

Indea’s almond shaped eyes focused on her protector. He was looming over Michael. She could hear his animalistic growl as he spoke. “I can’t stand men like you. You pick on women solely because you’re too mollycoddled to mess with a man.
A
real
man.
Would you dare to try facing a man in anger? Are you too frightened to get up and look me in the eyes and face me as it should be? When did you get it in your head that just because a woman is nice enough to dance with you means she’s putting out later? They lady said no.
Multiple times.
You should have stopped at the first one.” He crossed his arms, looking more dangerous than Michael ever could. “As for coming back to work for me, the answer is no. You’re fired. Now leave before my patience dwindles more than it already has.”

Michael, wide-eyed and holding his left arm, got up and ran off. No doubt to nurse his bruised ego.

The stranger turned to Indea. She smiled weakly right before her knees buckled. Blackness enveloped her world. The ground was slowly rising up to meet her. She fell, though she didn’t feel the hard road beneath he
r, j
ust a pair of hard arms, holding her, s
oothing her.

*

Saldivar’s temper was slowly calming. He had felt her distress and had come as soon as possible. He would not allow some man, any man, to touch her like that. He knew how it felt, centuries ago, when he was overpowered by the guards. He was helpless.
Defenseless.
He vowed never to witness such brutality ever again. And when Indea was in trouble, he knew he had to act. He would see to it that no harm would ever befall her.

CHAPTER VII

“Are you all right, my dear?”
the
man asked gently.

Indea looked up to her protector and saw the most gorgeous ambe
r eyes she’s ever seen. With his
sooty lashes and black brows, he was quite ravishing.
Dark and sensual with an air of mystery.
The very thing she was looking for. He had the most unusual shaped goatee. Small at the lips, curved smaller as it went downward, then very wide at his chin. It was black and seemed a touch of golden color was just on the surface of his goatee. His hair was even darker than hers. It was so bla
ck it shone blue. It was short
and very well trimmed save for the top. It was somewhat full with a slight curl to it. It shone in the night and looked to be styled with gel. His skin had a pallid glow to it, albeit healthy looking. He was, perhaps, pale by nature. It didn’t mar his features, only enhance
d
them somehow. His lips looked bee-stung and luscious and colored as a berry. And with that body and animalistic voice, he was sure feral and passionate looking at the same time.

His nose was straight, the end being just a bit full. It had a noble air to it. He must come from an important background for he gave off a confidence in his whole being. He carried himself with dignity and honor, but without arrogance. If some of the men she had known looked even half as good as he did, they would be so conceited, the only company they would be able to keep would be with themselves.

The man’s eyes were probing Indea’s, waiting for an answer.

Indea took a few deep breaths. “Yes. I’m fine.
Really.
Thanks, Mr…….?”

“Saldivar.”

“Mr. Saldivar?”

“No.
Just Saldivar.
Please to make your acquaintance.”

“Likewise.
My name is Indea Sky.” She held out a slightly shaky hand but when Saldivar grasped it and held it in his, the shaking ceased. He brought her hand up to meet his lips. He barely brushed his mouth across her soft flesh. Her breath caught in her throat. The velvety touch of his lips stoked a fire in her so fie
rce it shocked her.
Shocked
that she would react this way so quickly.
Especially from someone she’s never met. For goodness’ sake, she only knew his first name.

“Indea Sky.” Saldivar repeated, loving the feel her name roll off his tongue. “Quite a beautiful, peculiar name you have there.” He looked her over once more. “Are you sure you are all right?”

Indea touched his shoulder reassu
ringly but thought to herself,
Oh, what an arm
,
but
said out aloud: “Yes, I am.
Thanks to you, Saldivar.”

*

Simone just stepped out of the club when she thought she heard a muffled scream. She thought it sounded vaguely like Indea.

Panicked, she started running to the car but stopped short when she witnessed a tall and well-built man throw Michael about five or six feet away. The man didn’t seem to have any trouble in the effort, either, even though Michael was bigger than him. She’s never seen anything like it.

Simone wanted to go see about Indea but stopped suddenly. It didn’t look like Indea needed her help at this time. She could see the sparks already between
Indea and her mysterious and handsome hero. In that split second when lips met hand, the connection was made. Simone could plainly see it even a
t
thirty feet away.

What astonished Simone was Indea’s reaction to the man: awe. She’d never seen that expression on Indea’s face before. But then again, no other man could hold a candle to Indea’s stranger. Well, except Van, of course.

Looks like Simone wasn’t the only one thrown for a big loop tonight.

After several minutes went by, Simone felt it was okay to walk on over to Indea.

“Indea.
Are you okay?” Concern was evident on Simone’s face.

“Yes. It’s just that Michael turned out to be a major jerk. He thought that since I danced with him, I was going to do him right here in the parking lot.”

Simone’s nose crinkled in disgust. “What a revolting little horndog.” Simone hugged Indea. “I’m so sorry I didn’t walk out with you.”

“Don’t be. I had Sal––”
Indea turned to find that Saldivar had disappeared. It was as if he vanished without a trace.

“Don’t tell me I’m seeing things.” Indea shut her eyes then opened them.

“No. I saw him too.” Simone eyed the parking lot. Empty. “I don’t see him anywhere. I tell you, strange things have been happening ever since we stepped foot into ‘Club Paradox’. Don’t you feel it?
That funny feeling in the pit of your stomach?
Like there’s something just beyond reach and one more step and we’ll find out something crazy?”

“You’re right. Crazy,”
Indea echoed. “Let’s just go. A good night’s sleep is probably just what the doctor ordered.”

They got into the car and headed back to Indea’s parent’s home, agreeing that mum’s the word.

*