Part 24 (2/2)

”So from that, you got Hot?” I laughed as Chaz rolled his eyes at the rest of the group, making Lanie do her usual giggling fit.

”NO but when you went the colour of my favourite jello then alarm bells rang.” She said letting her pink hair cover half of her smug face.

”Whatever!” I said lamely.

”Alright, we will see you tomorrow, go and tell wonder boy we all say hi.” I couldn't stay angry at RJ, not when she made me smile so much. RJ and me had been an unlikely pair from the beginning but after everything I had been through in my past, she was a perfect friend. She drew attention to herself like bees to pollen and it kept me in the shadows where I was very happy to be.

When first moving here, she quickly became my ticket to a new life. My first friend who had welcomed me into her group, despite our differences. She knew there was something under the surface of my past and didn't buy my reasons for moving here for one second but she never asked and for that I was more than thankful for. Every now and again I would catch her looking at my covered scars and I could almost hear the question playing out in her mind but again she never asked. And for RJ (Gossip queen extraordinaire) this was like torture.

This is how I knew she loved me. It was her never faltering ability to keep her mouth shut when it mattered the most. I suppose that is why I forgave all her little digs about Draven, not that there were many. But still it must have been hard, to see some new girl access the only thing that was completely out of bounds for this small town. Afterlife was like a drug and when the Dravens were around, that drug turned into full blown obsession to fuel their new fix!

After saying my goodbyes, I made my way to the back staircase. Draven had told me that he liked to see me come up the front main staircase but I felt too exposed doing that, so I slipped past the crowd of drunken rockers to the door near the stage. This door had always been kind of hidden and it was only when I first went up to the VIP that I even knew it existed.

The two men that filled the doorway took only a slight look at me before they opened the door granting me access. I had used this door so many times you would have thought by now that I would at least get a smile, or some small indication that they recognised me. But no, I would always receive the same odd cold stare from the both of them. This is what made me s.h.i.+ver as I climbed the stairs.

Once inside the VIP I felt the warmth hit me like walking off a plane into a hot country. Every eye focused on me for a split second before returning to their strange companions. It had taken me a while to get used to the unusual characters that the VIP had to offer but now I knew they were all Demons and Angels, well let's just say, it didn't make it any easier, more enlightening but no way easier.

As I walked round the tables, not being able to help the Marilyn Monroe swagger I had going on, thanks to the steel bones in my corset, I noticed Rue, the blind waitress, give me a nod as a h.e.l.lo. It was only when I saw her palms turned slightly outwards did I realise how she spotted me. She had tattoos of eyes on her hands that did her seeing for her. I thought this was so cool when I found out, plus she had always been really nice to me, even when some of the others had looked down at me for being human.

I winked my own h.e.l.lo back at her and walked round the front to the top table. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of Draven in his black suit. Everything was black, his s.h.i.+rt, tie and waistcoat. He was simply breathtaking, like some modern day dark knight.

He was looking very serious until his eyes met mine. The harsh glint he was portraying quickly left them and was replaced by a warm glow of fiery purple. He quickly stood and was around the front of the table in micro seconds, making his body turn into a black blur. When his arms pulled my body into his, I let out a gasp at the surprise with him getting to me so fast. It was kind of dating superman in that way, and instead of the cape and spandex, I got wings and a Armani suit! His hands tightened around my waist and his eyes searched out my lips.

”I missed you, it was cruel to make me wait!” His voice was deep and it rumbled out like a pa.s.sionate man that had been starved of the touch he craved. I had no time to reply as his kiss drew me in like a spellbound race. His lips covered mine with perfect precision and expert timing, making my toes want to curl up like the witch in the Wizard of Oz. Of course the effect was similar to a house landing on me when he kissed me like that!

As you've already gathered, Draven had no problems displaying affection towards me in front his council, h.e.l.l the whole VIP for that matter, but on the other hand I still couldn't help my burning cheeks from near exploding. When he finished tasting me, I looked down with embarra.s.sment, which made him chuckle before raising my face back to his eye line. He smoothed his thumb across the blushed skin and smiled to himself.

”Mmm keep blus.h.i.+ng like that and I will stand here kissing you all night my girl.” This comment didn't help with the way my cheeks were melting like lava rocks but again he found this amusing and laughed to himself as he pulled me behind him to his table. As always his council all stood for his approach and he sat me before taking his place next to me. There I was greeted by all except Aurora. No surprises there! She looked as dazzling as ever, in her peac.o.c.k coloured dress and hair glittering like the morning sun. Boy I hated her!

Sophia grabbed my arms and looked me up and down before giving me a cheeky wink. I had already seen her once today at college and told her my plans about tonight. This had made her clap her hands together in the middle of cla.s.s, making everyone stop and stare like we were two morons that found the French revolution exciting. Reed had to swallow his tongue before committing the cardinal sin and asking Sophia to explain herself. If there was one thing you didn't do in this town and that was to p.i.s.s off a Draven!

I had my regular bottle of Corona waiting for me and when I felt Draven's hand start to feel up my leg I couldn't help but start necking it.

”Whoa, easy there, rough night?” Draven teased as he knew full well that my night was completely uneventful. Ever since dating Draven my customers had all been super nice to me. I would even hear Jerry on the phone relaying my night back to Drave if anyone had caused me any trouble. I thought that this was sweet but a little OTT. I never said that I knew about these little check-ups but I did find it funny whenever he asked me about my night.

”Just thirsty I guess” I said biting my lip at the bad lying I was doing.

”If I didn't know better I would say you look nervous my Keira.” His velvet voice tested me, causing me to shrug my shoulders so that I didn't have to continue my lying. I sat quietly while the conversation continued on about how there was going to be some new guests coming to stay at the club. I put this down to the fact that the Dravens had stayed here much longer than usual and how normally they would have moved on to their next destination.

Draven explained that I might be seeing a few new faces soon as now that they were staying, his leaders were going to have to come to him to conduct their business. The business being the controlling of the rest of America's supernatural. See, the way this worked was all down to the Angels and Demons that Draven put in charge of the different states. He was after all just one man (so to speak) and he couldn't deal with every supernatural on the planet. So the world was drawn up into sections, which were all governed by district members of his council. A bit like police and politics.

I tried to follow the conversation but I s.h.i.+fted, uncomfortable in my seat thanks to my squeezed rib cage that felt like it was sucking the air from my lungs. I twisted the bottle of Spanish beer round in my gloved hands and focused on the bubbling movement it was creating when Draven banged his fist down on the table in anger.

”NO, that is not good enough! I am their master and they will do as I order, there is no negotiating on this! For too many years they have lived in the shadow of the unknown and I will no longer stand for it. If they doubt the truth then let them stand before me and speak it but I will NOT succ.u.mb to their wishes just because they forget how to Fuc...”

”Dom!” Sophia shouted at her brother, preventing him from saying the F word and this calmed him slightly. He was standing while making this speech and the entire room had been silenced by it.

”It will be handled brother.” Vincent said in a cool, controlled voice and I doubted there was another alive that knew how to calm his brother's temper like he did. The very sound of his voice had Draven sitting once more.

”I have no doubt about that brother!” He said harshly and I noticed Aurora's eyes flicker with a burning pa.s.sion at the sight of Draven's outburst, the sight made me feel sick in the pit of my stomach. Draven grabbed his claw shaped shot gla.s.s with his anger still in full flame beneath the flexed muscle and emptied it of its glossy liquid. This seemed to help with his rage and when he opened his eyes again they turned to me.

”Forgive me, I hope I didn't scare you.”

”No, its fine,” I lied. Of course I was scared of Draven when he was in a rage. I would have to be an idiot not to be! He knew I was lying but smiled at the effort I made all the same. He leaned into me and held my head with his big hands so that he could kiss me lightly on the top of my head. I felt my pulse race at just being closer to him and my bottom half felt the fire his touch created. I wanted him so badly I was close to exploding but the way the conversation continued I knew it would be a while yet. I almost felt like telling him that my body was fully accessible again and I was waiting for him to take full advantage of it right now but that would ruin my plan.

I decided to make the first move and after three drinks and an hour of debating Demon politics I got up from the table.

”I think I'll go to bed.” I whispered and he was about to stand when I stopped him by laying my hand on his shoulder.

”It's alright, I will see you when you've finished.” He nodded and took my hand, raising it to his lips to kiss it goodbye. Sophia got up as well and stated that she too was tired and would walk me back to Draven's room. On the way I asked her how I would know if Draven was coming back to the room before he saw me. I wanted to be prepared.

”I will get a message to him to knock before he comes in, that way you can get into position before he sees you.”

”That will never work, can you imagine Draven knocking to get into his own room?” She laughed at the thought and admitted that no, she couldn't.

After a cheeky grin and a mischievous wink she was gone, leaving me to enter Draven's bed chamber alone. As usual, there was a drink waiting for me and after I downed the first gla.s.s of rose wine, I poured myself another. I let my bag slide to the floor before my clothes followed. I slipped each layer off as I let the wine slip down my throat to help with my nerves. Soon I had a pile around my feet and nothing covering my skin apart from my corseted bodice, stockings and thong with garter belt that were covering next to nothing. The set that was promiscuously called temptress was starting to work its magic by making me feel s.e.xier than I ever had in my life!

I went into the bathroom with my bag to add the extra touches to the look I was trying to achieve. I let my hair down and ran my fingers through the still damp waves, creating volume. It hung down my back like a mane, curly around my curvy figure and moving with every heavy breath I took. I tried to control my shaking hands as I fished around in my bag for my black silk gloves that for once weren't fingerless.

I located them and replaced my usual ones, then found a small stick for my lips that Libby had lent me. It was the exact colour of the roses that were featured across my body like they were now a part of me. I smoothed it across my heart shaped lips and broke my one rule about being blonde and wearing red lipstick. The high gloss made them look wet and inviting, so when they curled up into a smile, I was surprised to find the whole look was starting to give me courage in my plans for seduction.

So with my outfit in place I walked in my black stockinged feet back to lounge dramatically on the huge bed that was draped with luxurious black material with was a mix of velvet and satin. I almost laughed out loud when I saw how much I stood out against the gothic bedding. The blood red roses almost came to life they looked so real amongst this perfect mix of rich, high cla.s.s theatrics. Then I remembered the matches I had brought with me.

See, I was normally used to Draven's click of the fingers and poof there would be the perfect setting for a perfect romantic evening but now I had to do things the mortal way. I decided to just light around the bed to create the focus to where I wanted most of the night's activity's to happen and also if I were to light every candle in the room I would be there forever and a day, not to mention running out of matches.

Once that part was done I started to relax while I waited. I imagined Draven's strong hands searching my corset for access to my skin, would he undo the cord gently or would his demon side show through and tear his way through with impatience. My head rolled back at the s.e.xual tension I was creating in my mind. I wanted him so badly and it wouldn't be long before he found the evidence of this for himself. I closed my eyes and retraced through the memories of his touch, the endless nights of pa.s.sion fuelled by raw heat, pa.s.sion and an unstoppable love that fused us together like one ent.i.ty.

After hardly anytime at all my heart nearly stopped as I heard footsteps at the door. I expected for it to just open and see that tall frame silhouetted in the darkness but when I heard the door knock lightly I was surprised. I smiled and mentally thanked Sophia as she must have delivered the message to her brother after we said our goodnights. I took a deep breath before trying to control my shaky voice, after all I needed to play the dominant one tonight and that would never work if I was stuttering.

I moved onto my side and cast my own shadows as I posed seductively, lifting one knee up and giving a full view of my new s.e.xy look. I arranged my hair around one side and made sure my bulging cleavage was on full show. I licked my lips and said ”Come in” in the s.e.xiest voice that had pa.s.sed through my lips in twenty three years.

The door opened and there Draven stood, strong and solid but frozen in shock. He stepped further into the room but it looked like he had other ideas. He slowly moved his feet as if fighting with his own actions. I bit my lip as the idea that he might not like this new Keira that he was discovering in his room. I tried to banish that idea and after another deep breath, I had the guts to say, ”Won't you come closer?”

Again the figure was silent and I was starting to regret this pretty quickly as he had now stopped completely. I now wished I had taken the time to light all the candles so that I could see his features. His face was in complete darkness and I tried to squint my eyes to make out if he was wearing his usual frown. I was about to speak but Draven beat me to it.

”Keira, I'm sorry, I didn't know you would be...be like that!”

”Like what?” I asked before my mind had time to realise my mistake.

”So exquisite,” the voice rumbled out like a starved man and it sent a shudder of mixed emotions to the core.

The voice of a man is a powerful thing, when words like that are heard. The voice of a man's soul can seep through his lips, when words like that are spoken. And the voice of an Angel's heart was heard that night, for those words spoken belonged....

To the voice of Vincent.

<script>