Crimson Midnight (A New Adult Dark Urban Fantasy Series) (The Crimson Series Book 1) (23 page)

“You’ve been hanging around with
the newbies again, haven’t you?” She smiled fondly up at him. 

He shrugged looking slightly
bashful. “Well, everything is changing. If we are to survive as a race then we
must move with the times.  Gabriel understands this, but he is very proud of
our culture, our ways, and our heritage.  It will take some getting used to but
with someone like you by his side, someone to challenge him and make him think
twice, he may just be the best leader yet.”

“You know I would do anything for
you, Jeremiah. You’ve been like a father to me.”  He reached out and patted her
cheek. “You’re a good girl, Thistle.” He stepped back distancing himself and
putting on his work face. “Well, I must go and do my rounds.  I need to take
Gabriel with me to visit every vampire here and welcome them all to the new
night, show him how it is done properly. Anyway, see you in a little while.”
And with that he left.

A buzzing sound caught her
attention and she turned to see her mobile phone skittering across the coffee
table as it vibrated to a call.  She snatched it up, flipping it open. “Hello?”

“Hello, baby.”
Roman said on
the other end.

“Hi there.”

“Just wanted to call and say
Happy Harvest Moon.”

“Thanks, baby.” She giggled.

“I wish I could see the
wedding.”

“Vampires only is the rule.”

“I bet you look smoking hot.”

She giggled again. “Indeed I do.
I’ll replicate the look for our reunion next Friday.”

“Can’t wait.”

“Goodnight, Roman.”

“Happy Harvest Moon.”

“Happy Harvest Moon.”

“See ya.”

“Bye.”

She hung up and checked her hair
and makeup once more before leaving her flat to sing some more praises with the
rest of the colony.

29.

 ERIN SITTING

It had been two whole days since
Rose had registered as part of the supernatural community, and they were no
closer to figuring out what she was.  It was a little daunting not knowing
because until she knew for sure she couldn’t possibly control her abilities,
and there was no telling what she might do unintentionally. 

Mick had deduced that the best
thing to do would be for her to meditate and try and remain in control of her
emotions at all times. 

“Extremes in emotion like anger and
fear can cause a warlock to lose control, and it may be the same for you.  From
what Maxwell has told me, the only times your powers have manifested themselves
have been under attack and then in my office under threat.” 

He was right, she knew that, but it
didn’t make her feel any better.  She felt like a ticking bomb and had grasped
the concept of meditation like the life line she felt it was.  For now it would
have to suffice.  The warlocks were ‘hitting the books’ to try and determine
her nature. And Bob, whom she had yet to meet, was even looking into her family
tree.  In the meantime she had been instructed to wait.  They would need to
train her, but training could only commence once they knew what they were
training.  It would be driving her crazy if she hadn’t just stepped into a
luxurious bubble bath.  Yeah, this was the kind of meditating that she did
best. In accordance with her new, calmer lifestyle she had sandwiched a
challenging morning at work with a calm frivolous lunch with Faye, who had
thankfully agreed not to bring Catherine along.  She frowned. She and Faye
really had little to talk about. Well, little in common that is.  Faye was all
about Harold this and Harold that and Catherine this and…and so on. Rose had to
spend her lunch hour biting her tongue to stop herself screaming, “Harold’s a
big hairy werewolf!” and “Catherine’s a big hairy bitch!”

 God, that was a thought! From the
way Faye was harping on, anyone would think she was in love, and if the mating
thing applied to Roman surely it applied to Harold too. So what the hell was he
playing at dating Faye?  She made a mental note to raise the issue with him as
soon as possible. 

Despite the lack of common ground
at the moment, Faye was still her best friend.  She would have invited her to
chill out this evening if she hadn’t already made plans with Catherine. Thistle
had also been unavailable– she was attending a vampire wedding! How cool was
that? Thistle had promised to tell her all about it in minute detail a week
Saturday. 

So this was going to be her life
from now on.  Warning werewolves to stop dating her friends and going gooey
over vampire weddings. Weird.

A tiny tap on the door brought her
to attention. “Who is it?”

“Erin!”

“What’s up, little man?”

“Mum wants to know if you can watch
me ‘til Roman gets home, she has to go out for a few hours.”

“No problem.” She didn’t have any
pressing plans. She eased her head back onto the balled up towel she had
propped behind her.

“Okay…” there was a pause. “She has
to leave in ten minutes.”

Great, so much for that long soak.
“I’ll be out in a sec!”

Hair still damp from the bath and
dressed in an old pair of track suit bottoms and a ratty T-shirt, Rose
presented herself in the lounge. Erin was already deep into a game on his
X-Box.  Flo was standing by the window, peering out and looking flustered. 
Sensing Rose’s arrival, she pulled herself away and picked up her coat, which
was flung on the back of the sofa.  “I’m sorry, luv. Roman was supposed to be
watching Erin but he’s stuck at work, an automotive emergency, whatever that
is.” She threw up her hands in mock despair.  “He shouldn’t be more than an
hour getting back but I’m expected at the local community council meeting.  I
opened me big mouth about putting on a charity gig for Halloween and they
saddled me with it.”  Flo was dressed in a deep purple trouser suit and her
usually unruly hair had been set, looking glossy and elegant. A dash of
blusher, a sweep of mascara and slick of lip gloss had completely transformed
her. 

“You look lovely,” Rose said.

“Oh, get away with ya.” Flo made a
shooing motion with her hands, trying to dismiss the compliment. But from the
blush that stained her cheeks, Rose could tell she was pleased.

“It’s fine, I’ll watch Erin until Roman gets home. I didn’t have any plans, just a couple of magazines and a hot
drink.” She smiled reassuringly.

“You sure?” Flo was already inching
her way towards the door.

 Rose hid her smile. “Absolutely.”

A horn sounded outside the house.

“Lift?” Rose raised a brow.

Flo blushed again. “Um, yes. Mr
McIntire. He’s going to the meeting too. He offered to drive me.”

Oh my God! Flo had an admirer. “Mr
McIntire? Is he cute?”

The horn sounded again saving Flo
from having to reply. “See you later, luv. And, Erin, in bed by half eight, no
back chat!” With that she was gone.

“So, Erin, what you want to do? You
want to play a board game or something.” Well, she might as well get involved
in the whole babysitting thing. 

Erin, however, obviously wasn’t on
the same page.  He shook his head, eyes never leaving the screen.  “I’m on
level six!  Only two more levels to complete the game! Yeah! I made the jump!”

“Okay, I’ll take that as a no
then.” Rose padded out to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea.

It was nine o’clock when she heard key in the door.  She had managed to coerce Erin away from the X-Box and into his
bed fifteen minutes ago, and had only just sat down with a cup of hot chocolate
and her trashy celebrity gossip magazine.

“Shit, Rose, I’m so sorry.” Roman
popped his head around the door. “I just need to wash up, be with you in a
moment.” He waggled his oil stained hands in the air, careful not to touch any
paintwork, and then retreated up the stairs to the bathroom.

Fifteen minutes later he re-emerged
dressed in his bedtime trackies, and a faded blue T-shirt.  “Any more of that?”
He pointed to her mug.

She flicked her gaze to him then
back to her magazine. “There’s some in the pan on the hob,” she replied, trying
for distracted.

Roman quietly left the room and
returned a few moments later with a mug of his own.  He took the armchair
opposite her and Rose sifted uncomfortably in her seat. 

Eyes on the magazine, relax, act
nonchalant,
she told herself.

A few minutes passed, agonising in
their intensity, the air hung with unanswered questions and unsaid things.  She
realised that she’d been reading the same sentence over and over again.
Growling in exasperation, she flung her magazine onto the coffee table. “I
can’t do this!”

Roman plastered an innocent look on
his face. “Do what?”

“This! This pretending to be all
normal and unaffected, pretending like nothing happened!”  She hadn’t intended
to be so honest, but she was on a roll. “Being in the same room as you makes me
feel all screwy.”

His lips twitched. “Screwy?”

“Okay not the best choice of words,
but you know what I mean.  Look, you’re probably finding this a lot easier than
I am. So, got any tips?”

“Keep busy.”

“Tried that.”

“Take lots of cold showers.”

“Hmmm.”

“And get acquainted with your
hand.”

“Urgh, okay, too much info.”

He chuckled. “Seriously? I don’t
know.  I guess we just have to take it one day at a time and remember that
besides this…chemical attraction we have going on, we also have a pretty solid
basis for a friendship.”

“Yeah, I miss the banter.”

“I lived for your insults.”

“And I lived to deliver them.”

They both burst out laughing. This
was so much better. They were actually talking without getting all hot and
heavy. “You know it’s good to know that even the usually unfazed werewolf
playboy has a weakness,” she said teasingly.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, your inability to control
your lust for yours truly of course.  It could be your Achilles Heel.” She bit
her lip at the expression of total horror on his face.

“That is a normal male response to
a hot female, not a weakness.  It’s where babies come from and that keeps the
human race alive.  It’s a strength. Besides, I have no weaknesses,” he finished
smugly.

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, really.”

Rose slid off the sofa and before
Roman could raise a hand to protect himself, she was on him, her fingers
digging into his sides as she tickled him.

“No! No! Get off!” He was giggling,
albeit in a totally manly way, trying to push her away.

But she was having none of it.  “I
can see it now, the big brave wolf brought to heel by a group of vampires with
a penchant for tickling.” 

Roman was almost breathless with
laughter now. He twisted under her, sliding onto the floor. But Rose wasn’t
going to give up that easily and she slid down with him. Suddenly he was on top
of her, her hands pinned above her head, his face buried in the crook of her
neck as he struggled to regain his composure. 

Fuck! She twisted her body from
side to sided trying to loosen his grip.  No way was she going to let him
tickle her, last time she’d been tickled she’d almost wet herself.

Roman moaned low in his throat, his
lips inches from her jugular and she was suddenly very aware of his hard body
pressing down on her from shoulder to hip.  Legs entwined in an accidental
caress. Hot on that revelation was the one where she realised he was also very
definitely aroused.

“Um, Roman?” her voice came out
shaky.

“Rose.” He lifted his head so they
were almost nose to nose, his eyes heavy lidded with desire, his lips full and
inviting.

“Maybe we should…” she could feel
her breasts pressing onto his chest. It felt good, the whole thing felt so
good.  She shifted under him, a slight movement that rubbed against his
erection and elicited another one of those delicious groans.

“Rose, what are you doing to me?” he
said as if in wonder.

She couldn’t help it. She did it
again– heady with the power she seemed to have over him, heady from the
sensations travelling through her body. She arched her back, and then pushed up
with her pelvis.  She was goading him. A small part of her knew this to be wrong
but the other part, the purely primal part, revelled in the good vibrations.

She licked her lips.

Taste me
, she thought,
do
it, just this one time. I want to feel you
,
I
need to feel you
.
And then his lips were on hers, hard, almost punishing, his tongue invading her
mouth, stroking her, taking her. His hands released hers and ran over her body,
grasping and kneading– there was nothing gentle about what they were doing.  It
was desperate and wanton and she let herself go, pushing a hand into his hair and
thrusting up with her pelvis so they were moving together, rubbing against each
other. She could feel how wet she was.

Damn all these clothes!

He was kissing her neck, trailing
his mouth and tongue over her clavicle then back up to her neck, teasing her
earlobe then taking her mouth, bruising, almost punishing.
Oh, God, it was
so good even though it was so bad!
 

His hands were pushing at her
tracksuit bottoms, trying to pull them down.

Yes! Yes!

She wriggled to provide him with
the leverage he needed, she wanted him inside her now!

Almost there…

Somewhere on the edge of her senses
she heard the click of a latch.

“Shit!” Roman cursed in a harsh
whisper, launching himself away from her. “Mum’s home!”

“Fuck!”

Rose sprang up off the floor,
adjusting her clothes before grabbing her magazine and leaping onto the sofa.

A moment later Flo popped her head
around the door. “Hello, you two. Did Erin get to bed all right?” She looked
flushed and happy.

“Fine.” Rose smiled shakily, hoping
that Flo wouldn’t notice the sexual undercurrent in the room.  She needn’t have
worried– Flo seemed to be in a little world of her own.

Flo yawned. “Ah, well, I’ll be off
to bed then. See you two in the morning.”

“Er, night.” Rose waved weakly to
the now empty doorway. Flo had gone.

She turned her attention to Roman
who was sitting stiff-backed on the armchair, staring at the television, which
was showing an old black and white movie, the sound turned down low.  He didn’t
look at her. “Roman?”

“Maybe you should go to bed,” he
said tightly.

“Roman…I’m…I’m sorry. I don’t know
what got into me?” And she meant it. She really couldn’t understand how she
could have lost control so easily.

“Yeah, well a few more minutes and
it would have been me.” He sighed, closing his eyes briefly. “Just go to bed,
Rose.” He ran his hand over his face tiredly. “It’ll all be better in the
morning.”

She wanted to stay and talk, to
explain…explain what? That she had wanted him to lose control? That she had
deliberately ignored common sense and gone for it anyway?  He was right, they
both needed to sleep, separately, not together, and look at things afresh in
the morning.