Daughters of Dracula (The Stoker Sisters #1) (13 page)

The front door flew open, startling them both. A strong breeze carried a wealth of fresh air into the house, fluttering through Alexis’ long hair in the process.

“Why, hello lovebirds. How quaint to see your heads bowed together so studiously.” Alexis kicked off her sandals, letting one fall by the door while the other flew clear into the kitchen.

Glum, Sadie stared at the discarded sandal at the door, but refrained from complaining to her sister. “We were just finishing up.” She slammed her book shut, letting the frustration she felt out on science.

“Oh, am I just in time for dinner?” Alexis sauntered into the kitchen to find some food. She never failed to make an exaggerated show of her appreciation for Keegan’s cooking.

Always of service, Keegan jumped to his feet. “All that’s left to do is warm it up.”

Fifteen minutes later they were enjoying his ravioli. Keegan continued to intermittently test Sadie on the elements and their properties, at times elaborating where science collided with cooking.

“It’s like alchemy,” he said. “You never know what incredible concoction you may come up with. You know sodium, or salt, isn’t just a matter of taste. It serves a scientific purpose. Don’t you just love it when your two favorite things meet up to become one?” He beamed as he glanced from Sadie to Alexis.

When his eyes rested on Alexis a little longer, Sadie almost gagged. Though she knew Keegan really liked her, she had to constantly struggle with a tiresome sense of insecurity. His last statement along with the way he’d looked at her and her sister left her wondering if he was still talking about science and cooking or his growing affection for both of them. Since the book club, it was as if Keegan couldn’t help noticing Alexis whenever she appeared.

I don’t want to have to compete with my sister, she thought.

She glanced sidelong at Alexis, who looked like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine. She’d adjusted to the fashion sense of America far better than Sadie had.

Letting her eyes fall to her own simple pink t-shirt, she let out a silent and tired sigh. The effort of battling for his attention was exhausting, yet she had too much pride to play the game the way Alexis did.
 
Never would she stoop so low as to dress provocatively and gain his love with her body.

“Speaking of science, there’s a great movie in town,” Alexis said.
“Any takers?”

“Sure. What movie?” Keegan said.

“
Frat House Party
.”

Sadie shook her head. “What does that have to do with science?”

With a quick back shove of her chair, Alexis rose and let her fork fall into her plate with a loud clang.
 
“Nothing, little sis.
 
I was just trying to segue out of all this dull academic talk.” She flashed Keegan an apologetic grin then returned her irritated grimace to Sadie. Clenching her teeth, she hissed, “Get off my back.”

Tension in the house had never ceased rising, and it had reached an all-time high. Between Alexis’ tornado effect on the house and her blatant seduction attempts on Keegan, Sadie had come to find living with her intolerable, but she was yet to find an alternative to their living arrangement.

Then again, she knew her meticulous and orderly ways could at times be annoying. Towels in the bathroom had to hang just right. Jars and bottles had to be properly aligned in the pantry. Bills and bank notices had to be filed in a precise manner.
 

After months spent trying to get Alexis to understand her method and after pointing to every little thing Alexis left hanging around the house, Sadie had only recently decided to just shut up and clean up.

“I’m going to go splash cool water on my face, change into something hot and meet you guys out by the car.” Alexis strutted out and slammed her bedroom door behind her.

“She’s got quite a temper,” Keegan said.

Sadie piled the dinner dishes one atop the other and brought them to the kitchen counter. Her own temper was flaring up and she had to bite down to control it.

“I guess it mustn’t always be easy to live with a sibling.” He’d come up behind her and wrapped his strong arms around her.

A smile instantly erased all the angst her sister so easily created. Keegan’s arms were warm, his hold tender despite the enormous strength he had. He brushed his lips across her temple, gently groaning his hunger for her. “I would have given anything to have a brother,” he murmured.

While her tiny fingers worked to lace through his, she glanced back at him. “I guess I should learn to appreciate her more.”

“People come and go in your life, but a sibling is there forever.”

Forever.
The thought wasn’t comforting at all.

Keegan helped clean up the rest of the dinner mess while Sadie quickly freshened up for their outing. Hand in hand they headed out to the truck to wait for Alexis. Twenty minutes later she emerged, smiling and oblivious of how long she’d kept them waiting.

Sadie’s mouth opened in disbelief and she heard Keegan give off some strange animalistic groan of appreciation.

Wearing a black skintight cat suit, her every curve was explicitly and enticingly displayed. Cut in a daringly low V-neck, the laced bodice, with its web of satin ribbon that began at her navel, was cleverly left as wide as was permitted, exposing the weight of her breasts. Her four inch spike heels added length and definition to her already shapely legs and her heavy make-up, dramatic and fiery, emphasized the danger she sought. With catlike precision, Alexis took long, slow strides down the walkway. Her lips, dark and glossy, parted in hunger then spread into a sultry grin, while her tongue visibly rolled along her teeth. She’d pulled back her dark hair, letting it fall down her back in
a sheen
of black velvet. She looked every bit the vampire seductress that she was.

“You look great, Alexis,” Keegan offered as she got in.

All Sadie could do was bite her lip and stare out her passenger window. She felt virtually invisible, shadowed in Alexis’ brilliant spotlight. Then she felt the warmth of Keegan’s hand over hers and turned to him.

His eyes steadily on hers, he brought her palm to his mouth and pressed his lips to her skin, mouthing, “You’re exquisite.”

They drove off and barely made it to the theater in time for the seven o’clock showing. Seated firmly between her sister and her boyfriend, Sadie enjoyed the movie, letting the silliness of the comedy wash away the frustrations of the day.

“That was better than I thought,” Keegan announced as they walked out.

“Not bad,” Alexis conceded.

They stepped outside and Sadie immediately wrapped her arms around herself as the chill of the night air greeted them.

“Darn it,” she exclaimed. “I forgot my jacket.
 
Wait for me here.”

**********

A thrill shot through Alexis at the thought of a moment alone with Keegan. Though his love for Sadie was obvious, his attraction to her was also apparent. She’d seen the way he looked at her, the hunger in his eyes whenever she entered the room.

Her sweet little sister might have the makings for a proper wife, but Alexis could sense the passion and intensity in Keegan that could match Alexis’. He was like no human she had met, and each time she came near him, she wanted more of him…his scent, his touch, and his very soul.

“We’ll cut through here,” he suggested, pointing to the alley way. They’d left his truck one street down and the alley offered a quick shortcut.

But only two steps in, the decision proved to be bloody.

A grimy shadow appeared from the darkness and stabbed Keegan without warning. Screeching in pain, Keegan grabbed his bleeding thigh and leaned back against the wall. The shadow moved in over him, eager for more blood.

Instantly, Alexis smelled the blood that gushed from Keegan’s wound and her eyes widened with hunger and anticipation. But his assailant had to be dealt with first. Before he could go in for the kill, she grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw him into the air.

While the young thug was airborne, she realized the excessive strength she’d displayed. Hopefully the cover of darkness would shadow the true goings on and Keegan wouldn’t be the wiser.

The young man landed head first, his head sounding very much like a large hard-boiled egg crashing to the floor.

Alexis turned her attention to Keegan and saw in his steady gaze just how much he’d seen of her ability. She’d shown too much, but there was no going back now. As he squeezed his leg just above his wound, his eyes remained on her, awed, impressed then afraid and confused.

Alexis sighed then cupped Keegan’s face turning his eyes to look into hers. “You will forget you saw me throwing the man. You will remember…” she smiled wickedly laying on the compulsion thickly, “how good I look, how much you want me, and how good we would be together…” With her eyes focused on the blood of his wound, Alexis controlled the hunger that threatened to take over. The sight of his blood excited her and a part of her was thrilled by the fear in his eyes.

It intensified as she approached and she saw him search, with hand and eyes, for some sort of weapon with which to defend himself.

Alexis inserted her finger into the last tab of her laced up satin ribbon and with a single flick of her wrist, pulled the length of ribbon free, further exposing her flesh.
 
She delighted in Keegan’s cocked brow and knelt before him to make swift work of wrapping the length of satin around Keegan’s thigh.
 
Blood stained her fingers as she worked, heightening her hunger.

Her breathing was labored, each intake of air bringing the tantalizing scent of nourishment to her nose. She licked her lips and contemplated tasting just a drop.

“This should slow the bleeding until we can get you to the hospital,” she said. One hand held onto the back of his injured thigh while the other clung to his healthy leg. With her face so close to the wound, she could almost taste him and her fangs slowly crept out in anticipation.

She rose to face him, slyly licking her fingers on the way. Her hunger for him intensified until she caught the strange look in his eyes.

It was as if he knew her. Not as Alexis. Not as Sadie’s sister. But he knew her, deep inside and with intricate precision. His hand took hers and held
on,
bringing her back to a time she’d almost forgotten.
The softness of his skin, the firm grip of his fingers and the warmth that sent thrills throughout her body, all as
Ashwin
had once made her feel.

She leaned into him, wanting to feel more of the sensations the years had erased. In the dim light, she could almost see
Ashwin’s
features; his amused grin and fiery eyes. All that remained was the taste of his lips and the heat of his tongue.

His hands gripped her tiny waist, holding her close. His lips parted, hungry and prepared to devour.

Alexis was suddenly breathless and lightheaded. Her love for
Ashwin
rushed over her, drowning her with a need to be secure in his arms. She brushed her hand over his smooth cheek and brought her lips to the edge of his sharp jaw.

Her eyes caught on the movement of a shadow; a shadow that had come from the lit street, but had remained immobile since. Alexis wanted to ignore it.
 
She wanted to fight it. This moment was too good and she’d waited so long to feel this much passion again. Right or wrong, she refused to relinquish the sensations her body played with.

But Keegan saw it too, and his control proved stronger than hers. His hold of her waist became firm where it’d been sensual and his intent to push her away was clear as his eyes focused on Sadie.

Alexis pulled out her cool veneer and backed away from Keegan before he could push her further.