Eva
We danced a bit and then got ready to leave. I tried to keep the physical contact to a minimum because I already felt a pull to these guys, and I didn't want to explore it…at least, not yet. Anytime that I had let a guy get close, it only ended in disaster. I am not sure that I am ready for such entanglements again. But there's just something about them and I don't think it is because they are supernatural beings either. They're strangers, yet I feel almost like I'm home.
Sam goes to leave, "I'll text you about meeting my family."
His self-assuredness about all of this rubs off on me, making me smile, "Sounds good." Honestly, it does, and that scares me. He kisses me on the cheek and I feel this tingling rush that makes me giggle and blush. I am not the type of woman who is so easily flustered, but these guys make my head spin. I'm not used to this kind of attention either. I'm used to a different kind…a controlling kind. Any past relationship I have had, except for Kevin, turned into a fight for either my mental or physical health. Sometimes both, as in, the major issues with Victor. He seemed so charming and gallant. He was a mix of Vincent and Sam in that regard, but he hid a lot from me. Now that I think of it, I don't think that his abusive cheating ass was human. I hope that I never see him again!
We walked to my car and I completely forgot that Vincent was walking with us. He is as quiet as a cat because you forget he's there unless he chooses to make his presence known. Katie teases, "So meeting his family?" she inquires, as she wiggles her eyebrows.
I roll my eyes, "It's for a story."
She gives me a look, "Sure it is."
"Girl, just because you can't keep your panties on doesn't mean I can't either," I quickly cover my mouth. Fuck! I should have worded that differently. I look over at Vincent who is shaking his head while a smirk plays on his lips. Ugh, he's infuriating! "Sorry, Vincent." I don't know what else to say because I know that he's not used to such crass behavior.
He gives me a soft smile, "This all is going to take some getting used to. I have been silent for so long."
I answer without thinking, "For you and me both."
Katie exclaims, "What?"
Shit! I have to think of a cover! So I said, "Oh, we are staying at Vincent's for a bit. I thought I said that earlier."
She whispered, "Weird, but okay. He's hot so you better make the most of it."
I have a feeling Vincent heard that, because his smirk widened. If the legends are true, vampires have excellent hearing. Based on his reaction, it would appear that the legend has been confirmed true. I am going to have a lot to learn, and it looks like Vincent will enjoy teaching and teasing me, even if I happen to die of embarrassment in the process. We got into my car. Katie stretches out in the backseat. I roll my eyes and laugh. She's always the princess diva type.
Vincent motions towards Katie and whispers, "Is she always like this?"
I laugh, "Yes."
"Why?" he asks.
I laugh harder, "You'll be surprised at the lengths one goes to for those you love." When he wasn't laughing with me, I looked over at him. I see the sadness that briefly crept into his eyes. I blink a few times and then it's gone. I don't care if he hears me or not, "What or who has hurt you so much that there is no one you hold dear? Why is an eternity of loneliness better?" I see him look at me briefly and then look away. I'm pretty sure he heard me, but I will let it rest. I, of all people, know how poking around in the past can open up old wounds.
We pulled into our apartment complex. We go up to our apartment and begin packing. Vincent wanders around looking at everything and eventually ends up in my room, "Nice room." He notices my framed poems on the wall. He reads one aloud, "Darkness's Kiss: Every night it's the same dark dream. And it always ends with me in a scream…" It is a poem that I wrote about a vampire finding its mate and surrendering to it. He looks at me, "Goth phase?"
I reply, "No, I've always been like this. I have always been different."
He gives me an appraising look, "Which is a good thing. So you believe in love?"
This might be my chance to learn more about the mystery that is Vincent Black. So I decided to open up to him, "I do. I also think it's different for everyone. Some people love one person their whole lives, others never find it, and some love a few. There's also sibling and parental type love. I think we all need some type of love to truly live."
He asks, "Have you found it?"
"The lasting kind, no, just familial with Katie. There was a guy that I loved once, but he's gone. Have you ever found it?" I ask.
He sighs, "Once many centuries ago."
I can tell that he won't elaborate so I steer the conversation, "I guess it's different for your kind."
He nods, "If you could become immortal, would you?"
I think for a moment, "I suppose given the right circumstances I would. It would be sad to watch those around me die, but if I helped them make that life worth living and experiencing love then it would be worth it."
He smiles as if I lifted a weight from his shoulders, "You're taking this whole immortal thing well. I don't sense any fear in you."
It's my turn to smile, "What's to fear? If you wanted me dead, I'd already be dead. You're more powerful than the vampires I've compelled before."
He looks shocked. I bet he thought that he was doing a great job of hiding himself from me. I think if I didn't feel this pull to him, I wouldn't be able to read him well, if at all.
He asks, "How?"
I don't want to say too much, "A feeling, the same as I had at the Gala."
He changes the topic, "Do you trust the Prince?"
I don't have to think, "He was being honest with what he knew. He has secrets just like all of us, but he means no harm. By the way, you both hide your secrets well."
Vincent says, "And the wolf?"
I laugh, "He's harmless. He won't harm me. He wants to help. I do have an odd question, though." He nods for me to proceed. "Well a few, actually. First, why can we hear each other's thoughts sometimes? Secondly, wasn't it odd that we all ended up at a table together?"
He nervously answers, "I wasn't supposed to be at your table. I chose to be."
I don't truly believe what I'm saying. I think he knows why he chose my table, "So maybe it was just a coincidence, but why did you choose to talk to me? There were tons of beautiful people there to talk to. Or you could've taken a liking to Katie."
I can tell that I am onto something because he's not wanting to make eye contact. He relents, "Maybe a coincidence, but there was just something about you that drew me to approach you. I don't usually initiate conversation."
I say, "I bet your upbringing has something to do with it."
I can tell that he's shrouded. He's not ready to be open about his past, but neither am I. He nods, "It does. As for your other question, I'm not sure you'll like the answer. Even I have trouble with it."
I can tell that he's being honest about what he's about to tell me, even though he is having trouble accepting it. I blurt out, "Ugh, just tell me!"
He's trying to figure out how to tell me, "Well, humans are guided by emotions, and feelings towards others, right?"
I nod, "Yeah, and often basic chemistry."
He looks me in the eye as he sighs, "Vampires give into carnal temptation a lot, which coincides with what you refer to as chemistry. However, feelings are more reserved for humans. This pertains to that poem a bit. Now let's see if you believe in what you write." Is he challenging me? I look at him. He smirks, "Vampires rely on certain things to indicate who they can...let close."
I glare at him and say, "You mean as an ally or lover?" He surely can't mean what I think he does!
His smirk widens, "We aren't close with lovers, Eva. As we can have many, they come and go. We also have very few allies because many lust for power."
He's getting off on my agitation, "Then what?"
He hesitated, "Eric was thinking Vicky could turn out to be his mate. It is why he chose to marry her so that he could be with her around humans. He was wrong."
He said, mate! I ask, "Why?"
He says, "He didn't share enough indicators with her. They never had the mind-link."
I tilt my head, "But he married her and let her close?"
Vincent adds, "Yes, perhaps he was just tired of being lonely and he didn't feel like she'd betray him. He hoped to grow to love her."
I'm trying to understand all of this, "Maybe not everyone has the ESP thing like me."
He says, "No, all vampires do, just most are very weak. But even weak ones have it with their…"
He trailed off so I insisted, "Their what? I'm doing my best not to pry it out of you!"
He said softly, as his blue eyes flicked to mine, "Mates."
My eyes go wide. No, no, this can't be what this pull means! "Ummm, no."
He looks at me almost annoyed, "Then you don't believe in what you write. That poem was about vampires. Your protagonist was in search of her king, her mate, just as he was stalking her." He's right, but then, what about the pull I have to Sam and that slight one to Eric? Vincent looks into my eyes, "At first, I thought the same because you're not human, so I don't think I can make you into a vampire. I don't know how it could work, although hybrids did exist long ago. But I am certain of one fact and it is that you are my mate."
I say, "But you're not the only one."
He tilts his head, "Are you sure?"
I nod, "If what you say is true, he will call." I felt that pull to Sam. After talking with Vincent, I realized why. I touched the cheek that I was kissed by him on as I held out my phone.
It begins to ring and I answer.
***Phone call on speaker***
Sam Fall: Eva, are you ok?
Eva Sims: Highly confused but not as much as Vincent is right now.
Vincent Black: How?
Eva Sims: I showed you how I got him to call.
Vincent Black: Fine, then why a vampire and a wolf?
Sam Fall: Okay, now I'm confused.
Eva Sims: We were talking about the mind-link, mind-reading, I guess, or whatever, but how it is an indicator of a potential mate and how Vicky wasn't Eric's mate.
Vincent Black: How'd you know to call?
Sam Fall: I heard her ask me.
Vincent Black: Well, fuck!
I stifle a giggle because it looks like these boys will have to learn to share and get along, too.
Sam Fall: Not following!
Eva Sims: How does a wolf know if they've found a mate? I'm not talking about just a casual lover either!
The line went dead silent. Sam suddenly isn't so brazen just as Vincent got nervous earlier about this very same topic.
Sam Fall: Stop trying to pry!
Vincent Black: Yeah, she does that. She doesn't like the silent treatment, so I suggest that you answer her.
Sam Fall: This is best left to discuss in person.
I roll my eyes.
Eva: "Fine!"
Sam Fall: Are you ready to believe or should I even bother?
Vincent Black: I had the same thought, but I got her to try. She just has to see to believe.
I sigh. This night couldn't be more confusing. I do want to know though, because I want to understand this world, and I want to know why it feels like home, and why I so badly want these men.
Eva Sims: Ugh, fuck my life. I should've stayed home!
Sam Fall: You know you'd have gone anyway.
Eva Sims: We will talk tomorrow.
Sam Fall: Get some rest.
Eva Sims: I'll try.
****End Call****
How ironic, the werewolf wants me to get some rest in the house of a vampire, who is my mate, and that I want to claw and lick every inch of. I say, maybe too loudly, "Great, in one fucking night, I go from being single to having two or more possible boyfriends!"
Katie comes running in, "What?"
I shrug, "Nothing."
She won't relent, "Oh, it's something! No wonder we are staying with Vincent and Sam wants you to meet his family. You have two guys fighting over you. It is so romantic!"
I facepalm, "No, it's not. I'm not a prize that one of them wins."
She squeals, "Girl, I would be so turned on if I had two guys wanting me!"
I glare at her, "Get your mind out of the gutter."
She blushes, "Nah, I'm too close to cumming at the thought now."
Katie
I have been playing dumb all evening. I saw how those guys looked at Eva. I know when a man desires a woman and all three of those men have it bad. Obviously, Vincent has it the worst. In an effort to keep Eva close, we are living in his home. I have read about couples moving fast, but this is at lightning speed. It is otherworldly. When I go to work next, I will research all of these men. If I find one thing out of place, I am taking Eva and running. I won't allow her to suffer as she did after the Victor mess. Eva is still closed off too, but yet she so freely went with Vincent. I giggle. She even got off of the phone with Sam who s extremely eager for her to meet his family. Why are these men so quick to commit?
End Katie's POV
I facepalm again, but this time I look at Vincent through my fingers. He smirks, "My life isn't going to be dull now, is it!" We all laugh. He's just so accepting. I guess I need to be, too. I smile, "No, no, it's certainly not."
Vincent
I am doing my best to keep my thoughts private, but she is making it incredibly difficult. I am used to my privacy, and now it's gone. I have a human in my home and a mate who is in denial. Some vampires find their mates after a few centuries but I have waited much longer. Several centuries ago, I gave up hope. I have traveled the world over during my long existence, and never had I found a mate. Now, I have one, but I'm afraid. I have lost someone that I held dear. She wasn't my mate, but I did love her, and that loss turned me into a monster. I can't lose Eva, but I'm not sure that I can risk loving her. What if I can't protect her?
Not to mention, it looks like she might also be a mate to a shifter. I don't have the animosity towards shifters like many of my kind do, but this could put Eva in further danger. Also, just what is she? She isn't a vampire, and doesn't smell like any species I have known. Vampires can't renounce the bond, but shifters can, unless she's his fated mate. Maybe I can get Sam to reject his mate?