ABIGAIL

By the time Abigail arrived at work, she thought her day couldn’t get any worse. She was tired, desperately wanted to have a prolonged hot shower and possibly a blow to the head to forget everything that happened last night.

How can I forget everything otherwise?

Alexander’s crazy friend nearly died next to her and there was a shootout in the city, which in the morning papers dismissively appeared as ‘a case of gang violence’. Who were those people? Andrew obviously knew based on his reaction, so why didn’t he run away the moment he spotted them?

She tapped the end of her pen against her lips and contemplated his possible reasoning. Nothing came to mind. Whatever Andrew was, he was like Alexander, weird and complicated. She needed none of that in her already messy life.

A tap on her shoulder forced her to spin around in her swivel chair. Her mouth fell open and her eyes turned the size of walnuts at the sight of a Greek god before her. She studied the man whose ruggedly handsome face was next to hers. Subconsciously, she started ticking all the boxes in her mind for the word sexy: wavy sandy hair, a pair of almond-shaped hazel eyes, an aquiline nose, athletic build, and tall. He was very tall, especially since she had to crane her neck back to meet his amused gaze when he straightened his posture.

“Miss Greene?” he asked in a deep, husky voice.

“Yes… I mean, I’m her. I mean—”

He chuckled and offered her his hand. “I am Glen Wilson, the new Editor in Chief.”

Realisation dawned on her like a slap to the face. This was the man I had to pick up from the airport? She should have continued waiting for him until the sun came up. Shooting out of her seat, she shook hands with him, enjoying the firm grip he had.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t get to pick you up last night. At the Airport,” she added and blushed.

His playfulness reflected in his honest eyes as he smiled. “It’s alright. The novelty of my looks wears off after a day or two, or so I’m told.”

“They’re probably lying,” she admitted without thinking.

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his expensive-looking charcoal suit trousers. His pristine striped grey and black shirt stretched over his toned torso and slim waist, and she had to fight back the drool.

“I came over to introduce myself to the staff but just realised that most of them have left for lunch. Anyway, starting today, I will be working from the office next to Jennifer’s,” he explained.

Abigail nodded, too many times. She couldn’t help it. The guy was pulling her in with his charm and confidence. Even the American twang he had when he spoke was sexy somehow. She shook herself mentally. She couldn’t start hitting on her boss’s boss. It could get her fired.

Once her mind was more or less settled, she lifted her eyes to see that he was no longer in front of her but was making his way to his office. She breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed into her chair, letting it spin her in full circle. Although dating him wasn’t allowed, that didn’t mean she couldn’t check him out when he wasn’t looking. Taking a quick peek over her computer screen, she assessed his tight ass and sighed again.

Why does God want me to contain myself so much recently?

To keep from ogling him for the rest of the year, she started working on the O’Brien article. She needed to finish transcribing the audio recording into text before writing her piece. Jennifer wanted it done by Wednesday and it was already Tuesday. Not to mention that Abigail had jury duty starting next week. Just thinking about spending endless mornings at a courthouse, listening to the lengthy selection process for cases, made her grumpy.

Lost in her work, she had forgotten about the time. Someone cleared their throat, making her jump in her seat and drop her earphone onto her keyboard. She faced the offender, seeing Glen resting his arm against the half-wall of her booth.

“Would you mind getting me a cup of coffee?” he asked.

She automatically got up as if he pulled on her strings. “Sure. What would you like in it?”

“Surprise me.”

She smiled—something she hadn’t done in a long while. Her heart felt lighter as she made her way to the coffee vending machine in the canteen. She grabbed one of the disposable paper cups and placed it under the dispenser. For a whole minute, she mulled over the options. He seemed like the coffee with cream kind of guy. Her finger pressed the button, and she waited until the cup filled.

Jennifer entered the canteen with a stack of papers in her hands. She dumped them on the round table in the middle of the room and hurried to Abigail’s side. “I heard about what happened from Tanya. Are you okay?”

Abigail scanned their surroundings for anyone else who could be listening. Once satisfied, she blew out a breath. “Yeah, I’m fine. Crazy night…”

“You nearly got shot!” Jen hissed, trying to keep her agitated voice low. “What were you thinking?”

“Honestly? I have no idea. I just wanted to make sure the guy was okay.”

“I warned you about getting involved with Alexander’s business. You could get hurt or worse.”

The paper cup in her hand was starting to burn her skin, so Abigail set it on the counter. “I’m fine, though. Not a scratch on me. Can’t say the same about Andrew. That guy had no pulse when I checked it. I have no idea how he’s still breathing.”

Jennifer covered her eyes with her hand and rested her hip against the counter for what seemed to be support. “I’m going on a limb here and guessing that you know what they are.”

“I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. I would say vampires but that would put me in a room with a shrink.”

“You’re right,” Jen said, placing a reassuring hand on Abigail’s shoulder.

“About what?”

“About the vampires part.”

Abigail’s mouth formed a silent ‘o’. She stared at her boss in disbelief. Did she just say what I think she did? Her brows drew together. No. It couldn’t be. Abigail’s hand shot up to her face, slapping herself on the forehead. She had a one-night stand with a real vampire. A hot vampire, sure, but a vampire nonetheless.

“What happened? Do you have a headache?”

Abigail lowered her hand, meeting her boss’ concerned eyes. “No, but I think I need to get some sleep.”

“Then go. Take the rest of the day off and come back tomorrow. I’ll give you an extension on the article you’re working on.”

“Thanks, boss.” Abigail lifted Glen’s coffee off the counter. She left the canteen and delivered the cup to his office, which was empty. A little disappointed that she didn’t get to see his reaction to her choice of hot beverage, she saved her work on her computer and headed home.

She woke up to the sound of her doorbell ringing over and over again as if someone had a problem with patience. After climbing out from under her bedsheets, she flicked on the light switch on her bedside lamp. The time on her phone told her it was 3:07 a.m.

With a groan, she walked to the door, yawning and covering her mouth. She peered through the peephole, seeing a rather annoyed Alexander standing on the other side. Her traitorous heart leapt with joy and her mind panicked.

“Abby, I know you’re in there. Let me in!” he ordered.

She scowled but opened the door for him anyway. “What do you want?”

“I have something to discuss with you,” he said matter-of-factly, pushing his way into her apartment.

“I didn’t—”

He pressed his body against hers and stretched his arm to close the door behind her. Her mouth went dry when she met his transfixing grey eyes. She couldn’t move an inch while he looked at her full of purpose.

Damn him!

Never breaking eye contact, in a business-like manner, he said, “I wish to thank you for your bravery and for contacting Tanya when you did. It was a dangerous situation, and you were willing to—”

She covered his mouth with her hand, glaring at his confused look. “Quit it with the telemarketing spiel. I thought I asked Tanya not to tell you I was even there.”

He pulled back and folded his arms. “Nevertheless, I have transferred a small compensation into your account. I’m certain you will be more than happy with the amount.”

Her face turned red with anger. “How did you find out my bank account details?”

“It wasn’t difficult. When I was here last, I saw a letter from your bank amidst other things and simply memorised your details.”

“Do you have an eidetic memory or something?”

He shrugged one shoulder and lowered his hands. “Centuries of practice help.”

Unable to withhold her sharp tongue, she forced her words through gritted teeth. “Take you damn money back. I don’t need them.”

“Your father in a hospital would disagree,” he countered, narrowing his eyes.

“My father would also tell you to shove them up your arse.”

“That’s not very ladylike of you.”

“Nor is it gentlemanly of you to burst into my apartment without so much as an invitation!”

His jaw tensed. He was visibly trying to restrain himself from speaking, so she did instead. “I never asked for compensation, Mr Grekov. Think of it all as goodwill.”

“There is no such thing. And, since when did we go back to using our surnames?” he inquired, invading her personal space.

Her breath caught in her throat. “Since…just now.”

He never stopped advancing until his hands rested on either side of her head. “Is that so, Ms Greene?”

“Alexander, please…”

His eyes lit with that familiar silver glow that she remembered from their night together, and she could no longer hold back. Her hands wound around his neck, pulling him in for a slow, careful kiss. She couldn’t understand why they were testing each other. But, the moment they both reciprocated it, her body began to burn for him, and she opened her mouth to meet his searching tongue.

His strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her into him. For a second, he broke away to ask, “I thought you wanted nothing more to do with me after our one night together.”

“I thought the same thing about you.”

He raised a dark brow that brushed his mussed platinum hair. “I’m not the commitment type of man, I hope you understand that.”

“I saw you in bed with two models.” She pursed her lips. “It didn’t make me happy, but I’m not much into commitment stuff, either.”

“Friends with benefits, perhaps?”

She snorted. “Whatever floats your boat.”

He didn’t need any more encouragement than that. He captured her lips again and lifted her up. Her legs wrapped around his middle before he marched them into her bedroom.

Abigail felt like a naughty kid. Being this close to Alexander and allowing the strange current that made her tingle all over to continue had to be the biggest mistake of her lifetime. Yet, in those pure moments of his hungry, possessive kisses, she couldn’t care less. She just wanted him, preferably in bed, and stripped naked.

Her fingers frantically worked on the buttons of his shirt while he settled her on the bed. His chilled lips moved from her jawline and travelled down her neck until he reached the V-cut of her green T-shirt.

“May I?” he asked, grabbing the hem of her top.

She sat up, letting him strip her until she was only wearing her pyjama shorts and panties.

Alexander’s thumb traced the length of her collarbone from her shoulder to the small dip of her neck. His deft fingers roamed downward, sending a pleasurable set of shivers through her. Her body reacted to him by awakening goosebumps on her arms and legs.

“Stop playing around,” she whispered.

He smiled and cupped her cheek. “You have a beautiful body, Abigail. One of the finest I have seen.”

At his words, she blushed. His sincerity was right there, reflected in his smouldering eyes. “I’m going to guess you’ve seen a lot in your life.”

His face contorted briefly with distaste. “Yes. I have.”

As if the magical spell was lifted, he pushed away from the bed and searched for something on the floor. When he found her T-shirt, he handed it to her. “Please, put it on.”

She blinked. Her brain was a little too busy trying to process what had just happened. Did I ruin the mood by asking about his past hook-ups? It wasn’t like she was a saint. She had dated more than a dozen guys in college alone.

Abigail slipped on her top. By then, he was already heading for the living room. She scrambled off the bed and ran after him, catching him by the elbow. “You’re leaving?”

“I believe it was a mistake to consider prolonging our relationship past a single night. Good night to you, Abigail.” He jerked his hand out of her hold and fled the apartment faster than she could conjure a response.

“You horrible, self-absorbed, womanising, vampire asshole!” she screeched at the top of her lungs. “I’m going to throw your damn money right back in your face the second I get them.” An idea came to mind once she finished her sentence and sucked in a lungful of air to calm her agitation.

She rubbed her hands together as an evil smirk reached the corners of her full lips. Alexander was known for never giving a cent to charities. It was high time he made a donation.