Passion For Hire (Passion #5) (20 page)

After picking up some fish and chips for her and trying not to gag over the smell of them in his car, he turned in the direction of his home, his mind still spinning with all that had happened over the last couple of days.

He had no idea what was going to happen, where the future was headed and that scared the hell out of him.

Faith

I don’t know why I had been filled with such hope that Adrian would return home while I was still in his bed and come lie with me, maybe even be happy to see me. Fabian had said it was unlikely he’d be home before dark, and I could tell as I lay in his bed that it was night time now.

I’d just climbed out of bed when I heard a knock at the door. “Faith, are you there?” It was Lucas. “Faith please, I tried to find you in your room, are you in there?”

I hastily slipped on a robe I found of Adrian’s and hurried over to the door, pulling it open to find a fairly ruffled looking Lucas standing there.

Despite everything, seeing him looking, well, the only way I could describe him, was well and truly fucked, made me smile. “So, you had a good night obviously?” I grinned at him.

A reluctant smile tugged at his lips. “Yeah, you could say that but now I need to get over to see mum. I’m worried about her. Please, can you drive me? There are a lot of cars out there, but I don’t want to ask to take one. Can you take me, please?”

“You don’t want to ask Francesca?” I asked, sticking my head out the doorway to look up and down the hall.

“She’s not here. She’s gone hunting, and you do know that was only a one night deal? Fran’s not exactly a forever girl. Anyway, can you take me? I need to feed too, how about you?”

“Ok but I need to change. I’ll be quick.” I assured him as I rushed down the hall to my room to get ready.

Fifteen minutes later I met up with Lucas in the living room and we were about to head out down the hall to the front door when Fabian and Sirene walked in. “How are you this evening little one?” He asked me.

“I’m ok Fabian thank you. Lucas and I are about to go out. We need to feed and Lucas wishes to see his mother.”

“You were going out alone?” Sirene’s tone sounded like she didn’t think that was such a good idea.

“We’ll be ok. Lucas and I don’t have the blood lust and we can eat some human food anyway. It’s just Katherine, she should be checked on to make sure she’s ok.”

“You are not going out alone, and I wish to meet this Katherine for myself. Her future must be decided.” Fabian’s eyes met Lucas’s. “You can’t go back to live there. You need to stay with us, get to learn all the ways of a vampire. Your mother will be well taken care of. She should be in a place where she gets to be with other people. Do you not agree?”

“You’re talking about a home aren’t you?” Lucas asked.

“Yes but somewhere she will be very happy and well cared for. A place that can look after her as her condition becomes more advanced.” Fabian assured him.

“We cannot afford some expensive retirement home. Father has been very good to us and has cared for us but without him now, I don’t have the kind of money it would take to give mum the lifestyle you’re talking about.”

“What’s going on?” Flame breezed into the room with Damien’s arm draped casually over her shoulders.

“I’m not sure this conversation concerns you.” Fabian’s expression seemed cooler than usual when he answered her. Obviously he had not forgiven her for her attack on Adrian yet. Well, I hadn’t really forgiven her either. It seemed my sister was incredibly hot headed and when she made up her mind about something, she wasn’t very good at changing it or admitting she might be wrong.

“You’re home Faith. Are you ok? Do you need to feed? How about I take you out to feed?”

“No thank you. I’m going with Lucas and now it would seem Fabian and Sirene are coming with us. We need to check on Lucas’s mother.” My tone was cool when I answered her. I wanted my sister to realise I would not be so forgiving of her attack on Adrian either.

“You’re not still upset with me baby girl are you?” Flame came over to give me a brief hug but I remained stiff in her arms.

I pulled away from her. “You tried to kill Adrian, and hate him all you want but I don’t hate him, I never will. I…I love him, and although he doesn’t…he doesn’t love me, I can’t forgive you for trying to kill him. Not yet, not now. I can’t talk anyway, I’m going out.”

“Oh come on Faith, he survived. You can’t blame me for being upset.” She tried to hug me again.

“Leave me alone Flame. I need some time. Everything is so…so messed up. I’m not going to forgive you, just to ease your guilt.” I snapped, my fangs descending. I pulled away from her and turned to the others. “Are you coming?” I asked and without waiting for them, I walked out of the room and headed for the front door.

Adrian

“Is my son alright Adrian, please, I haven’t seen him for hours? I’m so worried about him.” Katherine’s clouded eyes turned up towards him and he could see the concern etched in the deep frown lines on her face.

“He is ok, please don’t worry about him. I will bring him by later to see you. He is with my family and they are very well experienced in dealing with the ‘health problems’ he has.” He tried to reassure her, wincing at having to refer to Lucas being vampire as ‘health problems.’ “Please eat your food while it’s hot.” He walked away from her and began to restlessly pace up and down the room.

He stopped abruptly when he heard a noise from outside, and the sound of voices approaching, followed by someone knocking at his front door. Immediately he froze. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with visitors now.

“Ooh we have guests? Please open the door for them Adrian, let them in.” Katherine’s tone was filled with excitement and he felt a pang of guilt when he heard it. He’d kept her isolated for so long too. She probably missed the company of others and someone to talk to.

Still not even knowing she was excited made him feel any less dubious about opening the door. When he recognised the voices, he felt even more reluctant to open it. His parents were here. How the fuck had they found his home? When he pulled the door open and saw who was with his parents, he knew who had brought them here. Not only was his son Lucas with them, so was the woman who was turning his entire world upside down. Faith stood there looking nervous, tense and a little fearful when she briefly met his eyes.

“Aren’t you going to invite us in son?” Fabian finally asked.

Adrian stepped aside, saying nothing as they all filed in past him. His father knew he didn’t have to actually invite them in. Only if the home was owned by a human would that be necessary but he was vampire. Not even Katherine made a difference as she was a guest in his home.

“Whose here?” Katherine rolled into the entryway where they all still stood. “Please tell me my boy is here? Lucas, Lucas?” She called, her head moving from side to side, her unseeing eyes appearing to search the room.

“I’m here mum. I’m fine and I’ve brought some friends. These people are here to help us, not only myself but you too. Come; let me introduce them all to you.”

It was taking all my self-control not to simply just sit and stare at Adrian. He had taken us through to the living room and looked every bit the caged animal, as he paced restlessly up and down the room.

He’d made all the introductions to Katherine and now Fabian had taken over the conversation. I tried to focus on what he had to say but I was too distracted by Adrian. Every time he passed by me, his gorgeous scent filled my nostrils and although as vampire, breathing wasn’t necessary, I still found myself inhaling, just so I could smell him.

“We’ve come to see what you would think about leaving this house Katherine, and going to live in a place where you will have your own space but many other people living nearby, people like yourself, even some with your condition.”

“What about my son? He’s always lived with me. Will he be able to live with me in this place you talk of?”

“No mum.” Lucas answered before Fabian could. “This is a special place, a happy place for you to live and mix with people who are dealing with their own personal issues. I want to live with these people now. They can help me with my condition. I will come and see you all the time. What do you say?”

“Where is this place? How much will it cost? Can I come and see you sometimes Lucas?” I could see the worry in Katherine’s clouded eyes.

“Don’t you worry about the cost Katherine.” Fabian’s voice was gentle and I stared at him a little shocked. He was a confusing man to keep up with. One minute he could be nearly ripping someone’s head off, then he’d be all sweet, and he was too imposing, too intimidating to be sweet. “It’s already done. We have a beautiful home for you. We can take you over the next few days to see it. Would you like that?”

That made me gape at Fabian then. When had he purchased something for Katherine? How much had that cost, and who was paying for it? I might have been shocked at his revelation, but obviously not as shocked as Adrian and Lucas going by their facial expressions.

“Katherine, you remember me?” I stepped towards the old woman. “I am what they call a visionary. I can see things that are going to happen. Not everything, but I can see flashes of things that are happening or that are yet to come when I touch someone. I wish you could see what I see but if you trust me I will describe what I see if you like?”

“Are you saying you’re like a psychic, child?” Katherine turned to me. “I am a believer in people’s ability to see the future. I am not familiar with this term you use, visionary, but I would very much like to know what you see for my future if you can.”

I placed my hand on her arm and immediately my head filled with sounds. I was getting sounds. I never got sounds with my visions. Everything was mostly dark, only broken up by muted tones of grey and white. Then it hit me, I was seeing things as they would be seen through the eyes of a blind, or at least almost completely blind woman.

I could hear laughter, a woman seemed to be giggling uncontrollably and there was a man talking, older going by the tone of his voice. He was telling jokes and it seemed a group of women were all laughing. I realised one of the women laughing was Katherine.

The familiar flash of white light blinded me and I could hear a steady beep, beep sound. I frowned trying to work out what it was. There was some other sound too, a regular sucking and whooshing noise. Then I heard voices; Lucas. He sounded upset like he was crying. I jumped slightly when I heard myself. I hadn’t expected that. I was trying to reassure someone. Who? I spoke again and realised I was speaking to Lucas; I was telling him I was sorry and that his mum had lasted longer than anyone had expected. Just as the realisation of what I was hearing hit me, the vision changed again.

I ripped my hand off Katherine’s arm and forced a smile to my lips in an attempt to cover up my shock over what I’d heard in my vision for Katherine. I forced my lips into a smile, but they felt stiff and I’m sure I probably looked more like I was grimacing than smiling
.
I looked up to find nearly everyone looking at me, and this time I pasted a huge grin on my face. I couldn’t let them see what I’d heard. “Well, girl, what did you see?”

I forced out a laugh. “I couldn’t see much besides shadows but I heard voices. I heard a man talking and laughter from a few ladies and you were one of them.” I stood up. I want to see what visions I get from Fabian now since he’s the one who has found this ideal home for you.”

I walked over to the intimidating vampire and saw the question in his pale eyes. He knew something was up but when he reached out to tip my chin up, I gave him a barely detectable shake of my head. I couldn’t let Katherine and certainly not Lucas hear what I had heard. I placed my hand on his forearm feeling the muscles flex and almost immediately images began to fill my head.

I see Katherine being wheeled through what looks like a brand new home. On closer inspection it’s not a free standing house, it’s a villa. It’s beautiful and open plan with a generous kitchen, spacious living area and down a short hallway are two bedrooms. There are grab handles everywhere throughout it and it’s fully furnished. Everything appears to be decorated in various shades of cream and everything is very modern looking. The place is obviously set up for people who have limited mobility.

Katherine looks excited as Lucas wheels her around the villa and she turns talking to someone, and it’s then that I realise Fabian and Sirene are there too.

The scene changed again and I see Adrian holding something while his head is tipped back, eyes closed and he is obviously crying. This vision has come to me before; I’ve seen it another time. What did it mean? Who or what was Adrian crying about? Fabian steps forward his hand dropping to Adrian’s shoulder but there is a flash of white again and my vision was gone. There were several more brief images but nothing I could clearly focus on and with a resigned sigh; I removed my hand from Fabian’s arm.

“I saw your new home Katherine and it’s beautiful. It’s a brand new two bedroom villa. There are other people that live in the complex but you don’t have to share your home with anyone else. There are all sorts of activities for you to do, and plenty of men and women for you to meet. You are happy there until you…” I fell silent, suddenly aware that I had been about to say too much. What I’d heard was not something I could share with her. We all knew the cancer would claim her eventually, but seeing the reality of it in the visions was difficult to bear.

Fortunately no one seemed to notice my slip up and as the conversation returned to Fabian, Lucas and Katherine discussing her future, I stood up and walked out of the room. I needed to get outside, I wanted time to digest what I’d seen and heard.

Once I was outside, I wandered around Adrian’s tranquil front garden that was totally closed off from the outside world by the high fence that dominated the property. There were paved pathways leading off in different directions so I chose one and followed it to the end. It finished beneath what I thought was a Weeping Willow tree and when I stepped under the low hanging branches; I found a wooden bench seat there.

I sank down on it and leaned back, my mind filled with what I’d learned tonight about Katherine, and still wondering just what it was that would have Adrian as upset as I’d seen in my visions. The only problem was thinking of him made tears burn at the back of my eyes, and I didn’t want to shed any more tears for a man who didn’t want me. I needed to think about something else instead, but the only thing that came to mind was food. I needed to eat something soon.

“Hiding from the world Faith?” I jumped, when I heard that deep, masculine voice nearby. I’d been so preoccupied with my thoughts that I hadn’t heard Adrian approach.

“What do you want?” I asked him, torn between wanting to drink in the sight of his sheer beauty, but also wanting to reject him and hate him for how he’d hurt me, abandoning me in that motel.

“I want to know what you saw when you touched my father and Katherine. You started to say something but stopped. What was it?”

“It’s not your concern Adrian. Nothing to do with me is your concern. Why don’t you go back inside with the others and leave me alone?” I stood up to brush past him but he grabbed my wrist yanking me back. I stumbled slightly on the pavers, falling against him, clutching at his hard chest while I pulled myself upright again.

His fingers bit into my arms. “Answer me Faith. What the fuck did you see? I know you saw something. I could see it in your eyes. What is wrong, what did you see?”

I snorted. “What the fuck does it have to do with you? Why so interested in my visions now? You’ve never believed in them or paid attention to them before, so why now?”

“Damn you Faith, just answer me.” He snapped, curling one hand into my hair so he could pull my head back, forcing me to meet his eyes.

I didn’t answer him; I merely stared at him, trying not to let him see how much he affected me. The trouble was I could feel my gums tingling and when my fangs descended, I lunged at his neck and buried them deep in his vein, feeding hungrily.

I heard him growl, his grip tightening on me, and as I fed I was aware of his erection digging into my hip. Frustrated, I ripped my fangs from him and raised my hands to his hair, dragging his face closer to mine.

“Fuck you Adrian.” I cursed him, slamming my lips against his, forcing them apart where I shoved my tongue deep into his mouth. Something in my behaviour triggered an answering response in him and his arms closed around me, cupping my buttocks and grinding me against his arousal. We kissed like animals, out of control, rough, violent, using our mouths like weapons, abusing each other, hurting one another.

Finally he pulled his lips from mine and I protested, wanting his mouth on mine again. “Adrian, please.” I murmured and his hands dropped to the waistband of my jeans. Hastily he opened them, shoving the denim down my legs, and although a part of me knew it was wrong to do this, that he would only hurt me again, I couldn’t help myself and kicked off my shoes. Somehow I only ended up removing my jeans from one leg, and my panties never stood a chance when Adrian jerked hard on them and the fragile fabric gave way.

I heard the sound of his zipper being lowered and he lifted me into his arms where I felt the head of his cock nudging me. I wrapped my legs around him just as he lowered me onto him, and we both groaned as he slid deep inside me, filling me completely.

I knew somehow that this was not going to be anything gentle or sweet; there was nothing romantic about it. This was fucking at its most basic. It was primal, uncontrolled, and animalistic. It was going to be punishingly brutal, and it was going to be exactly what I needed from him. I needed it to be just sex; I needed to feel like he was using me, abusing me. I needed to feel like he was doing me a service, because it was the only way I could let this beautiful vampire into my body and not let it take any more of a toll on my fragile heart; my poor silent and broken heart that longed for a man who didn’t want me.

Groaning softly Adrian carried me to the high fence that surrounded his property and propped me against it before settling into a punishing rhythm, plunging deep inside, pushing me up the fence with the force of his thrusts.

It was incredibly exciting, but bittersweet too. The sheer size of him, the friction of his body against mine, teasing and tantalising my clit, was hurtling me rapidly towards my orgasm. I longed for the release, that moment of nirvana when for a few moments I forgot how much this man had hurt me, I forgot everything that was going on around me, and for those few moments, I felt as close to this vampire as I could ever feel. For those few moments, we were as one. I longed for it, I wanted it, but I feared it too, because I knew, once I came, once he emptied himself in me, that all the heartache would be cruelly and painfully brought back to me, and once again, I would remember that he didn’t love me.

Adrian grunted, lunging harder into me, and I cried out, my fingers delving into his hair, holding him as he pounded into me, the wall behind me, hard and hurting my back. Through my growing sexual haze I almost smiled at the brutal pace this brooding vampire had set. He could deny all he liked that he wanted me, but this was the first time he’d fucked me so totally and completely out of control. His mind was not ruling this; his body, his need and his instinct had taken over. It was incredibly exciting and yet heartbreaking to see and feel the effect I was having on him. Before I could think about it much longer though, Adrian bit into me and at the familiar pain, then pleasure, my orgasm exploded through me. I cried out, holding onto him like he was my lifeline as my body shuddered and convulsed in his arms, and my inner muscles clenched around him. He didn’t slow down as I rode out my climax; he kept thrusting into me and feeding from me, his pace unrelenting, despite the fact I was coming around him.

I’d no sooner sagged in his arms, having been reduced to a quivering mess from the sheer force of my climax, when Adrian dragged his fangs from me. His head fell back, and he grunted loudly, the sound rough, torn from him. His face twisted as if he was in pain and with one final thrust, he held himself pressed to me, grinding his hips against mine and he came.

I heard my name whispered over and over like a mantra; his cock jerking as he came deep inside me, in what felt like an endless release. I held him, savouring this time, knowing very well, this might be the last time I got to hold him, to pretend for just these few stolen moments, that he was mine. Of course it couldn’t last, and finally he settled, his body no longer in the grip of his orgasm. He rested against me, holding me up with my back still resting against the wall, his cock still in me, but beginning to soften. I knew as his body began to retreat from mine that it wouldn’t be long and his mind would be retreating too; he would be preparing for what he always did, he would be ready to run, he would leave me.