s*x with a Vampire

Avoidance

Throughout the week, the CEO personally goes around to each department introducing each member to Nicolai Draco, our new trustee.

By Friday, it is my department's turn to offically meet him. He introduces himself to everyone and learns our names. When he comes to me, he pauses and smiles widely. I'm unsure why. I don't feel like he's flirting with me. It seems more like a knowing smile than anything else.

Wait, does he remember me from that night on the avenue?

"Hello, Nicolai Draco, nice to make your acquaintance." He takes my hand firmly but gently in his.

"Samantha Daniels, it's great to meet you." I smile. "You can call me Sam if you like, everyone does."

"I will definitely remember that, Sam." He lets go of my hand and stares at me.

"This is our development team. They're the working cogs behind our many successful projects." The CEO compliments.

Wow, I thought, he's really kissing ass.

Nicolai stays and talks with us for a long while. He seems very intrigued in the work we do and our process behind completing our work.

He questions us about our thoughts on the pension and the running of the business and share what he has heard from other departments.

He seems to want to work with our best interest at hand and actually knowing the persons whose money he will be entrusted to invest wisely.

I enjoy his company. Towards the end of the conversation, things become more relax and he shares some of his life experiences with us.

Him and Gary bond over hunting while he and Bertram talk about their love of the outdoors and travelling. He even gets an invite from Garth to spar some time.

During these conversations, I return to working on my code. I'm not completely finish with linking each individual document in the document area. Though Harvey redid the email code, I am still having trouble with multiple documents. I look up after a while to see that everyone was gone except Harvey, Garth and Nicolai. They are all staring at me.

I shrink in my seat. "What?"

They laugh and I look between them quizzically.

"It took you long enough to realise that everyone else had gone home." Harvey says. "Do you know the time?" He asks looking at me sternly.

I look down at my computer screen. The clock reads 5 pm. I look frantically between them and the screen.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" I cry. I was going to miss the boat. It will be back in an hour but I didn't want to wait that long. Besides, the wharf gets crazy around this time on Friday, I might even have to wait longer.

"See, told you she's very dedicated to her work. She gets in a zone and it's hard for her to come out." Harvey says to Nicolai who's watching me with a smirk on his face.

Just then Harvey gets a call and he tells us he has to leave. Garth gets up to leave and looks at me.

"You'll be okay getting a ride to the wharf?" I nod. They leave and I'm left alone with Nicolai.

"You should pack up to get home, everyone has gone already." He stands up as he's about to leave but he doesn't. I think he's waiting to escort me out.

I commit my code and shut down my laptop and gather my things. I thank him weakly for staying and we walk to the elevator.

"Was my discussion with the others so boring to you?" He asks turning to look at me. He has an accent that I can't place. He has a faint Scottish accent I believe.

I lower my gaze and shake my head. "I'm sorry, that's not the case. I just wanted to finish that task so I could enjoy my weekend. I've had it waiting for a while."

"I see." He looks towards the door. "What do you have plan for your weekend?"

"Um, I wanted to go ice skating with a friend from work. He has promised to take me since no one else would go with me." I confided.

Nicolai nods in response. The door open and we walk out. There are no receptionists at the desk. I clock out and a guard let's us out.

I expect Nicolai to leave and get into a car somewhere in the parking lot but he continues to walk with me to the security booth.

The sky is dark, it looks like it's about to rain. We're nearing the end of November and the days have been getting shorter and colder.

I look at Nicholai out of the corner of my eye. He's only wearing a trench coat. Isn't he cold? I'm extra bundled up today. Maybe his suit is insulted, I think.

We walk out the gate and I stop to see if any taxis are coming. I don't have an umbrella and the sky looks like it wants to break open.

"You don't have to stay with me, I can catch a taxi and find my way home. Thank you for escorting me." I smile at him and nod, encouraging him to leave.

"I'm sorry Sam but my mother taught me to ensure a woman's safety before I depart." He stares at me apologetically.

"I wouldn't want to keep you from your evening plans." I say. I shove my hands in my pockets. Even with my mittens, my fingers are freezing. I can feel my face freezing.

"I'm just awaiting my friend to pick me up. Here he is," Nicholai points his head to someone behind of me. I turn to see Eli crossing the road behind of me.

I instinctively back away. Nicholai looks from me to Eli with a confused expression. Good, he doesn't know I know him.

Eli turns to Nicholai and tosses him something. I look at Nicholai to see what he's holding. It seems to be a vehicle fob. Nicholai nods his head as they exchange a silent agreement and bids me farewell.

My heart starts to race as I watch Nicholai walk away. I don't know him that well but I would rather someone else be here with us. I beg God to send me a taxi this instant.

Eli is still staring at me. I can feel his gaze burning a hole in the side of my head as I refuse to acknowledge him. We stay like that for a few minutes before Eli sighs and breaks the silence. "Why are you being so stubborn woman? Would you just talk to me. Tell me what's wrong." I ignore him and continue to look for a taxi.

I feel him grab me. He turns me to face him and I recoil from him. Hurt flashes across his face. My heart aches a little but I will it to behave.

"Don't touch me." My voice is laced with more venom than I wanted it to be. Eli takes a deep breath and drops his hold on me.

"Are you going to speak to me?" He asks.

"No." I state firmly. "I don't want this anymore. This, us," I motion between the both of us. "can't work."

"And why is that?" he seems to be getting agitated now. A vein was visibly ticking in his jaw and his forehead was heavily crease, darkening his expression.

I want to smooth the folds on his forehead and kiss the tick on his jaw. I want to rub my face against his and have him kiss my forehead. I want to feel his hands on my body again and have him take me to ecstasy.

Snap out of it I tell myself. "I need space. This is not healthy. I barely know you. I had s*x with you upstairs a restaurant. Without a condom I might add and I don't even know your history." My voice is getting shaky. "You make me lose all sense of reasoning and that's not healthy. I think we shouldn't see each other anymore. Please respect my wishes."

Eli steps closer to me and I step back. "If you want us to take things slow then we can. I told you, you can ask me anything. I'll do anything to make you more comfortable around me. Just don't do this." He takes another step and I run around him and step off the curb.

I hear tires screech and a horn blaring to my left. I look up in time to see a taxi coming towards me. I feel a jolt backwards and I'm pressed against something hard.

I look up to see Eli looking down at me. I'm pressed against his chest and his arm is wrapped around my waist. I can feel his heart pounding against his chest.

I look back to see the taxi has passed the spot I was standing before coming to a complete stop.

Why did I step off the curb?

Eli still has me to him as the driver comes out of the vehicle cursing at me. I hear a deep growl above me and the taxi driver face pales. He quickly goes back to his vehicle and drives off.

Eli lets go of me and spins me around to face him. I miss his warmth instantly.

"What were you thinking stepping into the road? You want to avoid me that badly you would put yourself in danger?" he's fuming. He runs his hand through his hair and dishevels it.

He continues to chastise me but I barely pay attention. The realisation of what just happened is weighing on me. I stepped off the curb to avoid Eli. I stepped off the curb because I couldn't focus when he's near me. I stepped into oncoming traffic because I have no control over my emotions.

I nearly died just now.

My eyes swell with tears. Somewhere in his rant, Eli stops and grabs me. He's smoothing my hair and rubbing my back.

I shake in his arms as my sobs rock my body. He's doing his best to soothe me.

"It's okay, you're okay." I hear him say. I'm gripping on to his coat tightly, my face against his chest. "Let's get you home." He picks me up and walks me over to his car. I hear him speak to Nicholai and another vehicle pulls up next to us.

A man comes out and open the door for us. Eli slowly and carefully slides inside the back with me still in his arms. He's cradling me and kissing my forehead.

I bury my face in the crook of his neck and he rubs my back some more.

It takes a while to get to my house but when we arrive, I have calmed down. I don't want my sister to see me this way. I don't want her to get upset at Eli for my stupidity.

We stay in the car for a bit not moving. I can tell Eli is afraid if he let's me go, he won't get another chance to hold me again.

"You almost died because of me." I hear him whisper. My face is still in his neck and he has a tight hold on me. "You stepped off the curb to avoid me."

I get up to look at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't know what I was thinking."

"It's clear now that that seems to be the issue. I don't want to cause you any harm or put you in harms way."

I bite my lips and look down in shame. He grabs my chin and gently pry my lips from my teeth. He leans in and kisses me gently. It's so soft I barely feel it. He grabs my face and kisses my forehead before nuzzling his face against mine.

"If you want me to stay away, I will." He says into my ear. "I don't want you to be hurt because of me. I don't ever want to hurt you."

The ache in my heart is back. How can something that feels so good be so wrong for me? None of it makes sense to me. I just feel unlike myself around him.

He lifts me off of him and place me on the seat. I feel empty, like I've lost something.

He looks at me and I can't read his expression. I don't like not knowing what he's thinking. My face reveals my pain and sadness. I don't know what to do.

I like him. I like him a lot. I've already fallen for him. However, I lose my wits when I'm around him. I don't recognise who I've become and that's something I told myself I wouldn't do anymore. I won't change myself for a guy.

But am I really changing myself for a guy if I want all these things? I want the kisses and the touches. I want the playfulness and to make love to him. I want him more than I've ever wanted anyone before.

This couldn't be like my situation with my exes. I wasn't doing this to please him. I was doing it because I wanted to. I pull out my phone and hand it to him. "Can I have your number so we can talk about this later? I just need some time to think. I don't understand what's happening. I've never done any of this before. I just don't want to rush into something and fall for someone who only see me as a fling." I give him a small smile." I haven't had much success with dating and I can be naive sometimes. I'm just unsure and in new territory right now."

He takes my phone and enter his number. He calls his mobile as well. He has yet to take his attention off of me. He hands my phone back to me.

I smile and nod. I grab the door handle to leave when I'm pulled back into his arms. He press his forehead against mine.

"We can take it as slow as you like, just please don't avoid me anymore. I promise I'll have restraint next time we go out. You won't have to worry about me touching you." I feel sad at his words but I know it's for the best. I nod and kiss his cheek. I hear him suck in air.

I get inside and lock up. I'm late for dinner with my sister. I hope she's not mad.