The Vampire Playboy - Blood and Lust

Chapter 10

Charlie's POV

I knew I was asking for trouble and I knew when I got back to my floor at the hotel Sara would be pissed. I'd slipped her the key card before going after Olivia. I don't know why, but I felt the overwhelming need to make sure she got home safely.

And to my utter shock, I was hurt by her words. I deserved them, sure, but they still stung my usually thick skin. She was right, I'd been an asshole, I'd kissed her back and then humiliated her, I'd pretended I'd not known who she was, and I was crazy jealous that Noah was showing an interest in her and that maybe she was interested in him, and to make sure she felt jealous too, I had rubbed Sara in her face. I felt guilty about it all, actually, I felt embarrassed that she had caught us like that. I don't know how much she had seen but I was praying that she hadn't seen my fingers deep inside Sara moments before she appeared. The truth was I was using Sara to distract me from my thoughts of Olivia, they were consuming me. I'd found myself outside her bedroom window just watching her sleep.

She was an enigma, her sleep was restless and more than once she had woken up and I'd swear she had known I was there. It was out of control, I was out of control and that wasn't like me. I'd lied to my best friend and told him it was fine for him to pursue Olivia, that I wasn't interested. But yet here I was walking a few paces behind her and waiting outside until she was home safe, my throat burned every time I got close to that cotton candy and peaches scent that emanated from her. It was a constant battle with my head not to sink my teeth into her pretty neck and just taste her and the other half of me wanted to feel my mouth on hers.

Tonight put me firmly in my place. She disliked me, she had made that pretty clear and I didn't blame her. I didn't understand what this was, why I was desperate for her in more ways than one. Sure, she was beautiful and different, but this was more than an attraction. The feelings that would course through my body when our hands touched were unlike anything I'd ever felt before and it scared me. Maybe tomorrow I'll go talk to Tom and see if he has experienced anything like this before.

I waited outside in the shadows until I was sure she was in bed and then used my vampire speed to get back to the hotel. I owned the hotel, but not that many locals knew that. I didn't want to take women back to my place, so I'd commissioned the hotel, firstly as good business sense and secondly, so I could have a penthouse suite where I'd be able to take people. Sarah was waiting for me pouting on the bed in just her underwear when I arrived.

"Why did you do that?" She demanded.

I rolled my eyes. I wasn't in the mood to be questioned like this.

I moved to the bed and, in one swift movement, I released the clasp on her bra, allowing her pert breasts to cascade out. I took her n****e into my fingers, caressing a finger over it. Sara moaned and I smirked. I knew how to make women putty in my hands. Well, most women, anyway, Olivia seemed to be the exception.

I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Sara into my lap, she placed one knee at each side and reached her mouth to mine. I turned my head.

"I don't kiss" I growled, causing her to pout once more before she buried her head into my neck, her tongue lapping at it. Normally I'd be ready to burst out of my trousers and take her, but not this evening. There was no heat, no hardness, no overwhelming need. Sara seemed to notice this and placed a hand between my legs, rubbing me up and down. I closed my eyes and saw the image of her smile touching the fabric in Tom's shop, the innocence of the gesture and then the feeling of her lips brushing mine. My head was a mess.

"Charlie?" Sara said, with an air of annoyance, bringing me back to the room.

"What?" I snapped.

"What's going on? You were into this before?"

"Look, I'm just not feeling it. Too much to drink. You stay here tonight and let yourself out in the morning." I said, abruptly lifting her off my lap. I didn't dare look at her. I could feel the rage rolling off of her and quickly made my way out of the room.

That was a first for me. I was always in the mood, I'd never failed to get turned on and hard, and I'd earned my playboy reputation. Before I even knew what I was doing, I was outside Tom's house.

It was the early hours but the light was still on in the living room. I knocked on the door hard.

"Tom, it's Charles," I called out.

Tom opened the door. He looked surprised to see me there. I didn't come here often. He motioned for me to go inside.

"Do you know what time it is?" He asked curiously.

"I do, but you were awake. I need to talk to you, to ask you something, but I need this to remain between us."

Tom tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at me as I took an uninvited seat at his table and poured myself a glass of whisky. He raised an eyebrow and followed with his own glass.

"Go on."

"I told you I was drawn to Olivia, but it's more than that, it's like her blood calls to me, that I have this burning in my throat when I scent her, my body begs me to taste her when I smell it like it won't be satiated until I've done it. I haven't done it and won't do it. I know what the penalty is in this town for drinking directly from a human, and besides that, the thought of causing her physical pain makes me want to vomit. Whenever I touch her, my whole body feels like it's electrified, and I think she felt the same. I can't seem to stay away from her no matter how hard I try. I'm drawn to her like a moth to a flame."

Tom said nothing but was eyeing me intensely whilst taking an occasional sip of his drink.

"I want to taste her, but I want to protect her and hold her and feel her. I've never experienced anything like this before, never, not even with Alexandra." I paused and took a drink. I didn't want to talk about her tonight.

"Hmm, that is interesting. I have experienced that blood lust that you described before, and well, you're right, my body wasn't satiated until I'd acted upon it and tasted it. But I became frenzied with that taste and just a little taste was no longer enough. No, I didn't stop until they were drained and lifeless in my arms. I know you know this, but drinking from a human will mean permanent banishment from this town and killing one means your death. It's the only way this town works and the council can keep both us, vampires and humans, vampires and humans safe."

I nodded.

"I don't plan to act upon the blood lust. Do you think that's truly all it is?"

"I can't explain it otherwise, the other feelings I've heard once or twice in passing. However, this has been other vampires describing their vampire mates. To my knowledge, this doesn't happen with humans. Olivia is a human. You know things never end well with our kind and humans, they tend to break rather easily, and you know the rules about turning anyone here, the vote needs to be unanimous by the council, which David would never agree to."

"Turn her? I don't want to do that. She's only 18, she hasn't had a life and, anyway, like you said, it's blood lust I'm feeling. I just need to get it under control and keep away from her."

"Has she indicated how she may be feeling towards you?" Tom asked dryly.

"She's pissed off at me, I've been….toying with her a bit. She kissed me and I've been pretty hostile to her since then and, well, Noah likes her."

"You do realise that you may have to get on with her for Noah's sake until he gets bored and moves on. Do you think you're capable of that? Is he aware of this blood lust for her?"

"I think I'm capable of handling one human, I've handled more than one at the same time," I said with a smirk.

One side of Tom's lips curled up momentarily, and he quickly regained composure.

"This one you can orgasm into submission."

I laughed at that, he knew me well, but he was right.

"He doesn't know about the blood lust and doesn't have to. I'm in control of myself, I can control it around her. And I can be civil to her, friends even if I need to be."

"I suggest you go hunting before you see her again. The bigger the animal, the better. Make sure you're not hungry around her. I'd hate to have to take action against you, Charles."

"I won't hurt her. I couldn't hurt her and live with myself."

Tom's expression suddenly changed to something I couldn't read and then I realised what I'd said. No, this was blood lust and nothing more. I'd never developed feelings for a human, or anyone since Alexandra. I've never had a serious relationship since then. And Tom was right. Humans were breakable, they were a weakness that enemies could and would exploit. Sure, I liked to live among them and enjoy their company, enjoy their bodies, but that was as far as that went. Maybe it was just the fact Olivia wasn't falling at my feet like all other girls did, my apex predator features didn't seem to draw her in like they did other humans.

"Tom, is it possible for humans to sense when we are around?"

"What do you mean?"

"There's been a few times when…..I've been sure Olvia has sensed me close by, not just me, that day she was in your shop. I took her home, and she got weird, she shivered and then said she felt like someone was watching her. The thing was, someone was watching. I'd scented Noah after she said it, she said she felt it in your shop when I was watching her before I made my presence know and well sometimes at night I've watched her, and it's like she can see me but she can't possibly."

"Watching her stops now. You're playing a dangerous game", Tom said sternly. "But the rest, it sounds impossible. I've never heard of it before. I'll make some discreet enquiries with my contacts. But even if she is sensing us, it doesn't sound like she realises what she's sensing except maybe a presence. David assured me that she is very much in the dark about our kind, as is Sophie. David has ensured that Owen is clear that he is forbidden from telling either of them."

I nodded.

"Thank you for your time. I appreciate it. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go hunting. I've got some steam to blow off and would like a glutinous feed before I next see Olivia."