Intimately Bitten
Chapter 1
Nadia sat at her desk and sighed. It had been another long night. As much as she loved her job, she wondered if maybe she needed a break before she burnt out. Reading other people’s writing and working with authors to make their book perfect was the career she’d been working for since she graduated with her two degrees. She’d final made the promotion to publisher last year and knew she needed to prove her worthiness. So she worked 80 plus hours a week just to keep on her tight schedule. She tried her best to take on as many authors as possible, knowing she would be helping them create their dreams.
She closed her tired eyes and took a deep calming breath. She needed to reach a stopping point and call it a night. She’d already been losing too much sleep and it was finally warring on her. Opening her eyes her they blurred from overuse and she dropped her red pen on her desk and stood before she changed her mind and pushed through for another couple of hours. It was time to go home, open a bottle of wine, and finally schedule that vacation she’s been saving for since she was 25. Ten years later she’d be able to take a month hiatus if she wanted.
Her boss told her she needed to take a couple of weeks off, and now was the time. She would have her assistant finish the last couple chapters of her last manuscript and then she’d be on plane out of the city. Her original plan was to go to a quiet resort so she could be on her own, but her sister told her she should go to New Orleans and sight see. There was a lot to see and maybe she’d get out of her comfort and do something crazy. If there was a place in the world to do something she would never dream of doing otherwise, New Orleans was the place.
Nadia left a note for her assistant and turned off the light and left her office locking the door behind her. She was bone tired. Every inch of her body ached, and as she walked down the hall and stopped in front of the elevator to wait she imagined what her life would be like if she wasn’t such a workaholic. Her feet hurt like hell and all she wanted to do was take her heels of and kick up her feet.
* * * *
A bottle of wine later and Nadia finally felt like she was brave enough to push the green ‘book flight’ button on her screen. She wasn’t one to do anything except what was expected and taking a random trip to New Orleans wasn’t on that list. She played by the rules and lived a strict life. Everyone in her life knew she was predictable and for once she wanted to prove them wrong.
Nibbling her lip, her finger hovered over the button that could very possibly change her life. Her sister said she’d never be the same when she came back, and for the first time in a long while Nadia hope and prayed for a change. She was tired of being dull and boring, and lonely. It was time to put herself out there and try to find a man. What she really wanted was a one night stand with no strings attached hot sex. It had been nearly three years since she had sex. And if that wasn’t a depressing thought, she hadn’t even been on a date in over a year. Bringing her finger down towards the keyboard, she pressed enter. And her fate was sealed. Tomorrow at ten in the morning she’d be on her way to New Orleans ready to explore the city that held so many delightful adventures.
She closed her laptop and stood from the couch stretching her muscles that were now admittedly more relaxed after the wine and decided to call it a night. She had to get up early and pack so she could get to the airport in time.
After doing her nighttime routine Nadia climbed into bed and closed her eyes. She let out a breath and hoped she wasn’t making a mistake. Traveling across the country was major and she smiled proud she’d finally began to make a change.
Chapter 2
Aurel paced the bar waiting for the beautiful curvy woman to show up. He’d had the vision and knew she was the one. The one meant for him. He grew tired of searching for the perfect mate, and once he stopped looking fate sent him the woman with enough curves to sate he desires. He couldn’t wait to run his fingers all over her body. Just the thought of touching her soft olive skin had his cock hardening and his fangs lengthening. He ran his tongue along the tips pushing them back. It wasn’t time. Not yet anyhow.
“Snap out of it, you don’t know for sure she’s yours. There might be another reason you had the vision,” Reyes said sternly.
Aurel knew his friend didn’t want him disappointed, but he didn’t like being told he was wrong about a vision. He knew what it was for and the fact that Reyes doubted him was a disappointment. “You doubt me really? Haven’t my visions always been correct? And this one is no different. You’ll see.”
Reyes was the leader to their family and for the most part Aurel had the utmost respect for his maker, but sometimes when he treated him like a child, he wanted to rebel as such. He wanted to be treated as an equal. He was second in command after all. He deserved some level of respect and he had proven himself time and time again.
“I don’t doubt you my friend, I just don’t want you to get too excited. Fate is cruel sometimes.”
He sighed knowing Reyes was right. He shouldn’t be planning his mating ceremony until he knew for certain that she was the real deal. And what if she was and she refused to be his mate? He shuddered at the thought of having his own mate refuse him. He’d be heartbroken and humiliated and to make matters worse, he’d be alone for eternity. He’d be a joke to Vampires everywhere. In history there weren’t many mates who refused the bond, but it was possible especially if the mate was human. Sometimes they just didn’t get that feeling.
The bar door swung open, and it was her scent that caught him first. She smelled like rosemary and caramel. His mouth watered and his fangs dropped with such force the tip nicked his tongue. He watched her walk in looking a bit frazzled, with flushed cheeks and wide doe eyes. She glanced around the large bar but her eyes froze on him for a second before she finished her perusal of the place. Then she spotted Reyes and she froze again. He heard Reyes’ quiet growl and he looked at his maker whose reaction to the plus sized beauty was the same as his. Shit.
“She’s yours too?” He wasn’t happy. He wanted his mate to himself.
“Yes,” he replied not sounding anymore thrilled. “I guess she is ours to share.”
Aurel sighed. “She’s perfect.”
“Yep.”
The woman walked up to the bar and sat on an empty stool. The bar tender smiled at her and Aurel wanted to tear his throat out. He growled and was about to rip the man apart when Reyes’ strong hand gripped him. “Stop, we can’t make a scene. Or we risk her running off.”
He was right. As usual so he closed his eyes and took in her sweet scent. “You’re right. How do we do this?” He looked to his maker for the answers.
“I’m not sure. I suppose we approach her and buy her a drink?”
Aurel wanted to laugh. For the first time the all-knowing Reyes didn’t know shit. It was nice to know he wasn’t perfect. “That sounds good to me. I’ll approach her first.”
“Go ahead; you’re a lot sweeter than me. Women like that.”
He wasn’t sure if he should be insulted or not, but he stalked towards his mate with one thing in mind. He would have her as soon as possible, and he would have to share her with his best friend. At least fate stuck him with someone he already knew and was close to.
Reyes leaned against the counter unsure on how to deal with the latest development. He never wanted a mate, unlike Aurel. He was okay with running his business and feeding off of strangers and fucking them too. He wasn’t sure if he’d be ready to settle down or if he ever would be. But he couldn’t deny her scent was driving him crazy. He was harder than ever before and he had to fight to keep his fangs retracted. He felt the pull to be near her. One he wouldn’t be able to ignore for long.
He should have found it amusing that fate deemed him and Aurel to form a tri-bond. It was quite popular within the Vampire community. He had shared women with Aurel before, and only Aurel, but this was different. It wasn’t just a fun night of sex and blood. It was for a lifetime, if she accepted. And she could run away, or choose one over the other, but if she chose one over the other, the one she denied would never be the same. Hell he’d find someone to off him. Living without a mate, once you felt the mating call was the worst torture.
He watched as Aurel charmed his way into sitting next to the sexiest woman he had ever laid eyes on. She smiled and nodded her head. His friend then proceeded to charm her. He watched as he lifted her hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. She blushed and Reyes nearly groaned when the scent of her arousal reached him. She was attracted to Aurel. Now it was his turn.
He pushed off of the counter and approached her on her other side. “Well, hello beautiful,” he said in a low voice.
She turned towards him and her eyes widened. She nodded and kept her eyes locked on his.
“Mind if I join you as well?”
She glanced at Aurel and when he nodded she smiled nervously at him. “Sure,” she said.
Her voice was seductive and he sat on the stood evading her space. “So you’ve met my friend Aurel, I’m Reyes. What’s your name?”
“Nadia,” she whispered and licked her lips.
He couldn’t help but watch the tip of her tongue run across her plump lip. He ached to taste her. And when he looked at Aurel, he knew his friend was having the same difficulties. They were both in trouble. And for once in his undead life he wanted a mate, specifically this woman, but now he worried she wouldn’t want him too.