Pixie Dust (Karli Lane #1) (24 page)

 “I don’t give a flying fuck about you calling in sick!” He shouted. Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever heard Leo use a profanity before. Lowering his voice he added, “I’m here because I care about you. I’m concerned about you. Your despair is killing me. I don’t like feeling helpless my dear, in any respect, but especially not when it involves you. I want to make this better for you. I just wish you’d trust me.”

“I do trust you.” I said.

“No, you don’t. Not enough at least. I don’t know what I can do to change that since you won’t share your problem with me.”

“Leo, please just let me be. I’ll see you tomorrow night at work, okay? I promise I’ll be fine by then.”

“If you want me to leave your bed, fine.” He crossed his arms. “But I am not leaving your house until I know that you’re okay.”

“Leo, don’t be ridiculous. My window blinds are not nearly enough to block out the sunlight.”

“I don’t care.”

“Leo, you’re being stupid. I’m not going to sit here and allow you to cause yourself harm because you’re being a stubborn ass.”

“Again, I don’t care. I’m not leaving.” He sat down again to prove his point.

Sighing I asked, “Okay, what’s it going to take to make you leave?”

“Come with me to my place.” He answered.

“What?”

“It’s the only way I’m leaving. I can at least keep an eye on you then.”

“Leo, you’re not my father. I don’t need you to take care of me.”

“I am
well aware
that I am not your father Karli. I am your future lover, therefore it is my duty to take care of you.”
My future what?

 “Did you forget to mention that you were clairvoyant the other night?” I snapped.

“No, of course not.” He scoffed, actually having the nerve to look offended.

“Well, then you don’t know what you and I
will or won’t be
in the future. Now please, leave.”

“Not without you.” He insisted.

Knowing that I could not possibly best a vampire physically, I finally conceded defeat. I made him leave my bedroom so I could get dressed. When I was decent, I packed my overnight bag, intentionally stomping around and huffing as much was possible in my weakened state. It seemed to have no effect on Leo because he just sat there with a smug expression on his face. Ugh!

We got back to his place and I walked straight into the bedroom, slamming the door behind me. I was so exhausted I could hardly think straight anymore. I locked the bedroom door, knowing that wouldn’t really keep him out, but I was trying to make a point. I crawled into bed fully clothed and fell asleep.

***********
*****

I woke up the next morning determined to get Leo off my back. I took my time getting ready, trying to gather both my strength and my courage. I still felt weak but I needed to deceive his stupid senses. I walked out of the bedroom, looking as bright and chipper as possible. “Good morning.” I called using my best Julie Andrews impression.

“Good morning.” He said as he lifted his head from the newspaper. “You look better. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, great thank you!” I gave him a big smile and in return he gave me a suspicious look.
Damn, turn it down a notch girl, you’re being too obvious.
I grabbed the room service menu and started looking for something to eat. If he’s going to hold me prisoner, he’s going to pay for it. Literally. Wow, everything sounded really good!  “Hey, do you mind if I get some breakfast? I’m starving.”

“Of course not. Please order anything you’d like.”

I picked up the phone and began placing my order. I decided on an egg white omelet with a side of pancakes. Leo raised his eyebrows at me when I added a bagel with cream cheese and a fruit plate. Then he actually had the nerve to laugh when I called them back to tack on some strawberry waffles, biscuits and gravy, and some coffee.

Okay, I was originally ordering so much food because I wanted to rack up a huge bill, but I became really impatient waiting for its arrival. I think I may have even started pacing. Leo just smirked and said, “Hungry are you, my dear?”

I glared. “Shut it, Leo.” He just shook his head and resumed reading the headlines.

The food came and I actually began salivating while the server was transferring everything over from the cart. Okay, this has to be connected to the change. My God, I feel like I could eat a horse right now! I made a mad dash for the table as soon as the guy left. I began shoving food into my mouth at an alarming rate. Leo came up to the table and asked, “Do you mind if I grab some fruit?”

“Do what you want.” I replied while chewing on a piece of bagel. “It’s your dime.”

Chuckling he said, “Okay, well I was just making sure. I was afraid you’d gnaw my hand off if I just went for it.” I countered his smartass remark with a good ole’ two finger salute. That just got an even bigger laugh out of him! Well, I’m glad I can be so amusing, asshole.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I ate everything on the table. I’m even more embarrassed that I had a witness. When I was done, I stood up from the table and started walking back into the bedroom. “I need to take a nap.” I said as I was stifling a yawn.

“Doesn’t surprise me. I thought you were going to go after the chairs next. That’d be pretty rough on the company dental plan.”

“Ha! Ha! Very funny.” I replied, slamming the door behind me.

I wasn’t sure how long I slept but I woke up in a much better mood. My stomach growled. Oh, you’ve got to me kidding me! I ate enough to last me a week! Nope, I was definitely hungry again. There was a soft knock on the door as Leo said, “Karli, can I come in?”

“Yeah, go ahead.” I Iooked over at the alarm clock to see what time it was. Oh shit! It’s after eleven! I slept for twelve hours! Are you kidding me? Christ, I was supposed to have been at work by six.

He opened the door and smiled. “I could sense that you were awake. I hope I’m not bothering you.”

“No, Leo you’re not. I still don’t appreciate you making me come here against my will, but I don’t want to be mad at you.”

 “Good my darling, because as entertaining as that was, I would much rather spend our time together doing more constructive things.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up? I’m really late for work. And why are you not down at the bar?”

“I gave you the night off.” He smiled. “It’s one of the perks you get for being the favorite.”

“Jesus Leo! I don’t want the other girls to think I’m getting special treatment!”

“Don’t worry my dear,” he said. “I told them you were still suffering from a terrible head cold but you expected to be in tomorrow evening. To answer your other question, I have one of my men taking lead in my absence.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks.” My stomach growled again, making me think of food. “Hey Leo, can I ask you a question?”

“Of course you can.” He replied.

“Well, I’ve been wondering something lately. When was the last time you had blood?”

He smiled. “Excluding the small taste of yours, the night we officially met. I believe you remember Natasha.”

“How could I forget?” I said bitterly.

His grin got even bigger. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, because it’s been almost a month. Didn’t you say you require blood every month or so?”

“Yes, you are correct. Are you offering?”

 Cripes, here comes the blush. “No…..um, I was wondering something else though.”

“And that would be?” He asked.

“Are you planning to find a…donor soon?”
Please say no!

“Maybe.” He replied. “If that bothers you, I could always visit a blood bank.”

“Didn’t you say that tasted bad?”

“It’s nearly unbearable.” His fangs lengthened a little. “I’d much prefer present company.”

“Does drinking blood always lead to having sex?”

“Typically yes. It makes the experience much more pleasurable for both parties.”
Oh, I have no doubts about that anymore!

“Did you sleep with Natasha the night we met?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

 “Does it bother you to think of me being intimate with another woman?” He asked.

“Can you refrain from having sex when you drink someone’s blood?” I countered.

“Are you avoiding the question, my pet?”

“Leo, please. I need to know.”

“Yes, I can restrain myself. Again I ask, are you offering?”

“I don’t know. I’m just gathering information here. How much longer do you have before you have to drink?”

“Perhaps another week or so.” Sensing I didn’t know how to respond, he started walking towards the bathroom. “I’m going to take a shower. I would’ve done so earlier but I didn’t want to wake you. Care to join me?”

Still blushing, I hid my face and replied, “Um, no thanks. You go ahead. Is it okay if I order some food?”

“Yes, of course. If you change your mind about the shower, you know where to find me.” He wagged his eyebrows at me before disappearing behind the door.

I decided to check my phone before I did something stupid, like oh….jumping in the shower with Leo. I got out of bed headed for my bag in the closet. As I found my phone, I noticed that the bathroom door was slightly ajar. I didn’t think anything of it until I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. My body became possessed as I walked over to the door for closer inspection.

Hot damn!
Directly in front of me was a full frontal view of Leo standing naked behind the glass door of the shower.  He looked like a statue of Adonis under a cascading waterfall. He was breathtaking! No, make that mesmerizing. I was suddenly filled with some very impure thoughts. I felt compelled to rub my naked body against his until my skin was raw. My breasts heaved, my breathing was ragged, and my nipples were painfully hard. I just stood there frozen, as moisture started pooling between my thighs. I
ached
to be filled by him. He must have sensed my desire because he turned his head in my direction, making direct eye contact with me. He gave me a sexy smile and silently invited me in with his eyes. Weird, I was having some pretty major Déjà vu.
What the hell am I doing
? I ran out of the bedroom as fast as I could.