The Vampire Playboy - Blood and Lust

Chapter 16

Olivia's POV

"Ok so are we going to talk about what happened tonight?" Sophie asked as she sat on the edge of my bed. The drive home had been silent. I'd been stunned by that kiss and was still trying to process it.

"I…I don't know what to say. It's been a weird night. Most of today and tonight feels a bit of a blur. We had dinner and it was good, I think."

"You think? How much did you have to drink?"

"I don't know. A few glasses of wine? I'm not sure, my mind is fuzzy."

"Glad to see you girls are back," David said poking his head around the door, "How was your date?"

"There was some tongue action," Sophie laughed.

"Soph!" I cried out throwing a pillow at her.

"What? There was! We were just having the post-date debrief. Then she looked straight for Charlie!"

"Oh my god!" I groaned. "I didn't! I don't even like Charlie and he can't stand me!"

David looked at us both with raised eyebrows whilst I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole. I was going to kill Sophie for this.

"Olivia was just saying she must have had one too many glasses of wine as her memories are hazy, I think it might have more to do with that super hot kiss from one super hot Noah!"

"Did you drink a lot?" David asked, concerned.

"I didn't think so, but I might have, things are just a bit blurry from tonight, I can't explain it. I didn't have a bad time. I don't drink wine so maybe I did have some that haven't agreed with me or just one too many" I shrugged.

"Hmmmm, maybe I should have a word with Noah."

"No! I mean please don't David, I would die off from embarrassment. I don't think he was trying to get me drunk or anything like that. He was the perfect gentleman. It's just me, I'm not normal, I'm a bit weird."

"You're not weird!" Both shouted at me in unison.

"Honey I'm going to be brutally honest with you right now. You're an 18-year-old girl whose parents did wrong. You're pretty vulnerable right now even if you can't see it or won't admit it, you just need time to let those wounds heal and put yourself back together, figure out who you are. Maybe put boys on hold?"

"Is there something about Noah that I should know? " I blurted out.

That seemed to take David by surprise and he took a moment to compose himself before sucking in a breath.

"I just think maybe he's a bit too old for you and I question his motives. We've all heard about his reputation."

"You don't need to worry about me with that. I'm not planning to be one of his conquests or his new plaything. Have a bit of faith in me."

"It's not you that I don't trust Olivia." He sighed. "We can talk more tomorrow, it's late and you've both got work tomorrow."

Sophie got up and left raising her eyebrows in a what the hell gesture at me as she did so. I had to resist the urge to shrug my shoulders at her.

Unlike previous nights, I slept soundly and wasn't haunted by dreams. When I woke the next morning I felt more awake and rested than I had done since I arrived. I was determined to put all thoughts of Noah out of my mind, while I got ready for my early shift. It was a short shift today which initially annoyed me as I really could use the money but it was another gorgeous day outside and I wanted to go for a long walk when I was done. I felt like I needed to blow away the cobwebs. I'd heard Richmond Park mentioned, Sophie had agreed to drop me off on her break and then I'd walk home, probably with the help of Google maps.

I packed a change of clothes into my bag today for work, nothing fancy, just a lemon-coloured t-shirt with ruffle puff sleeves and a pair of denim shorts.

O'Malley's was especially quiet today, Sadie had opened up with me and Carmella was due to start her shift when mine ended.

"Tell me you're going out again with that fine piece of ass?" Sadie called to me across the very empty bar as I cleaned tables for the third time.

"Um I don't know, I haven't really thought about it"

"You can't be serious! I saw that kiss and he has serious I want to f**k you eyes when he looks at you!"

"You're as bad as Sophie!" I laughed.

"He must have it bad, I've never seen him chase after a female before like this. I'm impressed." I laughed.

Just then Noah walked in with Charlie behind him, they sat at the table I'd just cleaned.

"Do you two spend every day here?" I asked laughing.

Charlie rolled his eyes, and Noah laughed "Only since you started here" he winked.

"I'm beginning to think you're stalking me, what can I get you two?"

"Two cokes, please," Charlie replied dryly.

"Oh wow, you actually spoke to me and you actually said please!"

Noah let out a loud laugh, followed by Sadie laughing maniacally from behind the bar. She appeared moments later with two glasses of coke, winking at me as she handed them over.

"Take your time, it's not like we've got any other customers," she said followed by another wink.

"Sooooo Liv, is this what you aspired to do in life? What you dreamed about as a little girl? Working in a bar in the middle of nowhere? Your parents must be proud!" Charlie said with a smirk, I noticed Noah kick him under the table but it did nothing to remove the smirk.

I had to admit his comments stung, it was like he had seen inside me and picked out the most insecure part of me and used it against me. My words momentarily caught in my throat.

"Only my friends call me Liv, and we aren't friends Charles." I made sure his name rolled from my tongue. "And yeah for your information, my parents aren't proud of me, in fact, I'm such a disappointment and embarrassment to them for making my first-ever decision for myself and deciding not to go to a university that they kicked me out, cut me off and disowned me. So that's why I'm in this town, that's why I'm working here, and you know what, they might not be proud of me but I'm damn proud of me that despite their s**t attempts at being a parent I'm still standing, I've got a job, I'm standing on my own two feet with the help of David and Sophie and I'm picking myself back up again. So does that answer your question asshole?"

Noah sucked in a sharp breath but didn't say anything. Charlie looked at me intensely but said nothing and Sadie stood behind the bar looking horrified.

"Excuse me," I said, my voice shaking as I turned. I didn't want him to see that he had rattled me but I could feel tears prick in my eyes. I moved behind the bar and began wiping down the counters. After a few minutes, Noah sheepishly approached.

"Sorry about that, he can be a bit of a d**k sometimes."

"No I'm sorry for snapping at him, I shouldn't have let him get to me, he's your friend."

"Actually that might be the first time I've not heard him with a witty comeback, you silenced him, usually he's got to have the last word."

"I'm sure he'll get over it" I smiled.

"I've got to get back to work, but I wanted to know if you would like to go out again. With me?"

"Oh damn, I thought you meant with Charles" I mocked.

He laughed and lowered his head, looking over his shoulders to where his friend sat.

"We can do something different this time, and I promise we don't need to come to O’Malley’s, I realised it was kind of lame to bring you to where you work."

"I didn't mind, but yeah I'd like to go out again."

"Well, I'll come up with an idea for another date and call you?"

"Awww is it hard having to graft?" I teased.

"Let's just say it's not something I'm used to"

"Mmm so I've been hearing"

He raised his eyebrows at me, winked and leaned across the bar brushing the softest and briefest of kisses across my lips.

"I'm enjoying the chase and effort, but shh don't tell anyone, I don't want to ruin my bad boy image," he whispered laughing, before leaning in once more, this time catching my bottom lip between his.

I parted my lips further and leaned in to reciprocate his kiss, his taste wasn't one I could describe, sort of metallic.

A chair scraped across the floor distracting us both and ending the kiss. I looked up to find Charlie standing with his back to us. Noah rolled his eyes.

"Mmm you taste good, I wish I didn't have to go right now" he murmured.

"Well if it makes you feel any better, I'm due to finish work soon so won't be missing much." I teased, fluttering my eyelashes.

"I'll call you later" he called with a wave as he jogged after Charlie who had already left.

"I thought I was about to have to douse you two in cold water. Damn! I am so jealous, everything about that boy is sexy! He is s*x on legs! Maybe not as hot as his moody friend but I wouldn't say no and you are one lucky girl. Tell me he kisses like a god?"

I roared laughing.

"It wasn't bad" I replied, trying to be coy. He was better than the wet sloppy kisses I'd have with the one person at school. Oh god, I hoped he didn't think I kissed badly. He can't have though or he wouldn't have kissed me again, would he?

"I bet he's good in bed" Sadie mused.

"Sadie!"

"I wouldn't get too comfortable, he'll get bored in a few weeks, he always does," a voice said from behind.

I turned to find Carmella standing against the frame of the door, dressed for work with her hair pulled back smoothly into a high ponytail.

"Speaking from experience there, Carm? " Sadie asked.

"You know I am. So trust me when I say this Olivia, I've been there, with both of them, it always ends the same way, they play with their new toys and then move onto something else shiny and new."

"Oh ignore her, she's just bitter," Sadie said with scorn.

"Who's just bitter?" Sophie said.

Bloody hell where did people keep appearing from.

"Carmella, she's just bitter and jealous that Noah is choosing to play tonsil tennis with Olivia and not her."

"Not bitter and not jealous. You're welcome to him." Carmella defended.

"Um OK, I think I'm going to go and get changed," I said as I quickly made my way to the backroom. This was not a conversation I wanted to be part of, Carmella already didn't like me much, and I didn't want to add to it. I made a mental note to tell Sadie to knock it off on our next shift together.