The Girl & the Vampire (The Embassy #1) (2 page)

My whole face felt on fire as I picked up the papers and quickly perused them. Rachel glared at them, and I quickly angled them away from her so that she wouldn’t see how specific the questions were.

“How quickly can you enroll me in your program?” I asked, my voice a little raspy.

“Today, if you want to. I will personally handle your file.” Emily’s eyes flitted from me to Rachel for a moment. “Do you require some privacy to fill our the questionnaire?”

Now Rachel made as if to protest, and I was quick not to give her another stage for her performance.

“No, that won’t be necessary. I’m comfortable filling it out right here, right now.”

That was a blatant lie, but considering that Rachel had insisted on coming along so she could make sure that there were no hidden clauses in any contract I signed, she’d better not mention what else she’d get to read through in the process. I still felt terribly self-conscious as I went over the offered choices—including options like “giving, receiving, or being in the presence of” a lot of things I wasn’t sure people were actually doing outside of porn—but answered every single one truthfully. In one aspect, I hadn’t been trying to be circumspect before—I was fascinated by the whole concept of the Embassy. But there were also a few things I’d been thinking about trying for ages, and finding someone to try them with had so far been a task I hadn’t felt up to. Now all those options seemed like banalities next to the reason why the man I hoped was going to do all this with me would agree to fulfill my fantasy.

Emily waited patiently while I filled out my form and Rachel perused the contract, but allowed herself a small smile as we switched forms and we both noticed Rachel’s eyebrows climbing toward her hairline. In the end, she handed me back my list without batting an eyelash, though, and I felt my stomach unknot just a little bit at her acceptance. As much as we might be quarreling about some details, it felt good not to have to defend everything I was here for.

Emily then got up to make copies of the list and contract, then remained standing next to my chair as she handed them to me.

“If you will please follow me? We only have one more thing to take care of, and then you can go get that drink.”

“Do I look like I need one?” I joked as I got up, quickly forcing my knees to lock to keep my legs from shaking as I followed her to the discreet door at the back of the room.

“I would if it was my first visit here,” Emily confided, then opened the door for me so I could step in.

Unlike her office, it was a small, simple room, holding just two chairs, a tray with medical supplies, and a small refrigerator. Swallowing thickly, I sat down, then rolled up the sleeve of my blouse to give her access to the veins in my elbow crease. She was quick and efficient about it, wielding the cuff and the sterile needle with ease and practice. Watching her fill two small vials was strangely fascinating, but I couldn’t keep from shuddering a little when she withdrew the needle and had me put pressure on the puncture mark with a cotton pad.

“Does it hurt? When they bite, I mean.”

I hated how timid I sounded, but her smile remained warm, not even the least bit condescending.

“You feel them, and, I won’t lie—the sensation by itself isn’t all that pleasant, but by that time you should be distracted by other things. That’s why you come here and don’t just set up a meeting in a dark alley with a stranger that you’ve never met before and can’t be sure they won’t just leave you drained in the gutter.”

I nodded, feeling a little sick at the notion. Open feeding was strictly forbidden, and that’s why there were free clinics everywhere now where vampires could legally obtain bagged blood from donors. It was still a mystery how the Embassy had gotten permission for handling things differently, but I wasn’t going to complain about that.

“Exactly.”

“We’ve never had any complaints, if that helps alleviate your fears.”

“Somewhat,” I admitted. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask. You can also call us at any time of the day—or night. Our telephones are staffed around the clock,” she offered.

“No, that’s all,” I replied, then hesitated despite my claim. “What happens now?”

“Well, first our specialists in the lab will use some of your blood sample to test for possible contaminants. You probably know that vampires cannot be infected by most human diseases, but we like to make sure that the safety of all our clients is ensured, not just the human half.” Her smile widened for a moment. “We also see that as a service to our clients to make sure that they are in perfect health. Once we have the results, you can still opt out of reading them, but we only accept you if there are no medical concerns. You already submitted a report from your doctor with your application, so I don’t expect our tests to come up differently.”

“And after that?” I hedged.

Emily shrugged.

“Then we divide the rest and keep it refrigerated for taste sampling. Some people think this is morbid, but only prospective matches who have read your questionnaire will be provided with those to ensure no misuse of resources happening. Then I compile the list of possible matches for you, and we set up another appointment so you can meet and choose.”

Everything she told me I’d read in the brochures already, but the last part surprised me.

“I get to choose? What if there are no matches?”

Irritation flitted across her face but was gone before I could latch on to it, and when she saw that my bewilderment was genuine, she looked a little guilty.

“That has never happened before. Our algorithms are stringent, and I do the last round of selection personally to ensure that no incompatibilities slip through the cracks. Usually, of the eight to ten matches who go on to actual blood sampling, at least five signal their interest for a face-to-face meeting, and then it’s up to you to pick who you feel most comfortable with or are attracted to the most.” As an afterthought, she added, “We also store the results in our system, so if your preferences don’t change, next time you can drop the procedure and go straight to the last interview. You see, it’s more of an all-you-can-eat buffet from your end rather than theirs.”

I could feel my heart hammering in my throat, and not just because this suddenly all seemed so much more real.

“How soon can you schedule the interviews?”

Emily’s grin was a knowing one. I hated sounding like an overeager puppy, but she didn’t seem to hold it against me in the least.

“Depends on how much time you want to allot to the selection process? The more time, the more positive matches, but provided your sample comes back clean, I can have the first results as early as tomorrow evening.”

“Tomorrow already?” I squeaked, then cleaned my throat. “How long do clients normally wait?”

“Their first time? Not more than a day or two,” she confided, then laughed softly when I looked at her sheepishly. “If you continue to use our service for an extended period of time, you will see that you get more selective, but that’s normal. We always try to match experienced clients with new ones, so you need not worry that any of the candidates we find for you won’t know exactly what they are looking for. If they indicate their interest, they are interested for real. We also inform them that this is your first time with us so they know what to expect. Don’t worry, you’re in good hands with us.”

Part of me told me to be wary of her assurances. After all, she was a sales woman, even if I wasn’t the party paying for the service provided, but it was hard to keep that in mind when the bigger part of me just wanted to clap excitedly and rub my thighs together. As it was, I did my best to keep my composure as I threw away the cotton pad, then followed Emily back into the main room. Rachel was where we’d left her, still looking petulant and itching for a fight, but I didn’t give her another opportunity to antagonize me.

We said our good-byes quickly, and five minutes later we stepped out into the sunlight again that seemed blindingly bright after the comfortable gloom inside. I blinked, my eyes tearing up until I got my sunglasses back out, but Rachel remained standing there, letting the rays warm her face.

“Won’t you miss this?” she asked, her voice almost small and forlorn.

“Sheesh, why do you have to be such a drama queen? I’m not asking anyone to turn me. I’m just going to spend one single night with a vampire of my choice. Hopefully not sleeping, if you know what I mean.”

“Anyone would know what you mean, only you’re too prim and proper to call it by its proper name.”

Rolling my eyes, I turned down the street toward the coffee shop.

“Are you coming? The brochures say to load up on sugar beforehand, and I’m not going to let this opportunity of an excuse to indulge get away!”

Rachel sent another long, dirty look at the tall glass facade, then turned to follow me.

It was over coffee and cupcakes that I shared the details about the time frame with Rachel, and she reacted exactly as I’d expected, storming off after telling me—twice—that I was rushing into things I didn’t understand, history repeating itself. Just as she must have expected in turn, I didn’t contradict her, knowing too well that there was nothing I could say to convince her otherwise. It was true that I’d made my share of mistakes in the past, but this time was different.

And just as I’d anticipated, when I returned to the Embassy the following evening, half an hour after sunset, Rachel was already waiting for me in the lobby. With her arms crossed over her chest, she was obviously trying to look tough and disapproving, but utterly ruined the effect with the way she kept gnawing on her bottom lip. She was dressed in her usual T-shirt and jeans, while I’d taken my time with makeup and hair and had slipped into a sleek, blue sheath dress that I knew accentuated what curves I had, and simulated those I didn’t. Looking good was easy for her when virtually everything she wore looked painted on and sexy, while my evening dress just made me feel like I was borrowing someone else’s clothes.

When she caught me watching, she stopped worrying her lip. I half expected her to launch into another tirade, but instead she surged forward and hugged me, throwing me off balance.

“What is that for?” I asked once she let go and I was able to extricate myself from her grip.

“For good luck,” she offered, even managing a small smile, if a shaky one. “Contrary to what you seem to believe, I just want what’s best for you. And if I can’t set your head straight, least I can do is make sure that you don’t spend the next hours silently bitching me out.”

“I doubt that I’ll be thinking of much, if at all,” I replied, laughing softly when she made a face. “Relax. I know what I’m doing. Trust me on this?”

“Of course I trust you!” she shot back, offended, but then quickly reined in her temper. “Just be careful, okay? I really don’t like this. It’s all too sleek, too concerted—there has to be a catch somewhere.”

“You have to stop being so paranoid,” I chided her, but I couldn’t help the bit of doubt weaving its way through the armor of my conviction. “You know that they have a spotless record. No complaints, no issues. And, you know, you can always wait here for me and make sure I get home safely.”

“You bet I’m not leaving here without you!” she huffed, and after giving me a last squeeze with her hands on my arms, let go. “Have fun.”

“I will.” I smiled and did a quick whirl in front of her. “How do I look?”

Rachel dropped her gaze, clearly at war with herself. For a second, I thought that this was the moment when her resentment would win and she would start bitching me out, but she remained calm, if worried, as she responded.

“You look good enough to eat. They don’t stand a chance of getting away from you.”

Sharing her grin, although with a much brighter one on my side, I took a step away to turn toward the front desk where the receptionist was already waiting for me.

“Don’t stay up for me. I plan on spending the night.”

Exhaling noisily, Rachel left it at a brief nod before she turned in the other direction. I thought I heard her murmur something under her breath about needing a drink, but I made myself ignore her. Wherever that resentment came from, I could do nothing about it, and I wouldn’t let her bully me into backing down.

Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if the bloodsucking part was what had her all up in arms.

“Ms. Taylor told me to lead you right in when you are ready,” the receptionist let me know, and at my nod showed me the way.

I’d expected her to aim for the office we had met Emily in yesterday, but instead she went over to the bank of elevators and pressed the button for the second floor. Between the closing doors, I caught a last glimpse of Rachel at the bar, staring at a glass of vodka in front of her. It would be vodka, because it always was with her.

Sighing inwardly, I forced myself to forget about my friend, and hoped that I wasn’t making a colossal mistake.

The elevator came to a halt almost as soon as it started to ascend, opening into a hallway paved with white marble. The receptionist led me down to our right, then took a quick turn and held the door to what looked like a conference room for me. I thanked her when she told me that we’d arrived at our destination, and after a last moment of hesitation, I stepped in.

The first thing I noticed was the bank of windows spanning two sides of the room, making me realize that we’d reached the corner of the building. Even only two floors up, the city lay sprawling around us, a sea of lights and life, making the soft, warm illumination of the room seem stark in contrast.

But I wasn’t here to enjoy the view—at least not the view outside the windows—so it wasn’t hard to make myself focus on the inhabitants of the room.

My eyes found Emily first, likely because she was the only one standing, my familiar lifeline in this. She was wearing almost identical clothes to the day before but had ditched her suit jacket, lending her an air of casualness as she smiled at me in greeting.
 

A pang of nervousness had my pulse spiking, but I tried my best to remain calm as I let my gaze drift to the three men waiting for me. Just that fact—three guys, here just for me, and I’d get to decide who I’d want to get to know better and maybe have sex with—made my thoughts rile. I must have looked like a deer caught in the headlights as Emily approached me and led me to the single remaining free seat opposite the occupied ones, but none of them batted an eyelash. That made me remember that Emily had explained that they were aware that I was a novice at this, and likely expected me to blunder around.