ABIGAIL

Abigail awoke with a start. Since the curtains were drawn, she could only see a small stream of sunlight sneaking in through the gap where her curtains met. Rubbing her eyes, she climbed out of bed and studied her room. Alexander was nowhere in sight. Taking it as he had already left, she went into the bathroom and prepared herself for the day. She wanted to visit her dad at the hospital in the evening and had to think of something to bring him to keep him occupied for another week.

Dressed in shorts and a baggy grey Guns N’ Roses T-shirt, she padded along the floor into the living room where she stopped dead in her tracks. Alexander sat on her sofa with her laptop on his lap. His shirt’s sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and the top two buttons were undone. The only light came from the laptop’s screen since he had drawn the curtains in here as well.

She shook her head and flicked on the lights. “You stayed? I thought you would leave at the crack of dawn.” She made her way to the kitchenette. “And, I’m pretty sure I didn’t give you permission to use my laptop.”

Alexander looked up from the screen long enough for her to notice his attention lingering on her bare legs. “When I woke up, the sun had already risen. I couldn’t leave, and I needed to check my e-mails in case there was an urgent issue that needed my attention.”

“I thought your car had those fancy tinted windows.”

He set the laptop on the coffee table. “Maybe I wanted to stay a little longer to see your bedhead.”

She made their cups of coffee and handed him one before settling into a seat next to him. “You never stop working, do you?”

He smiled. “Not if I can help it. Business waits for no man…or woman.”

“Mind telling me how you know Glen Wilson?”

Alexander’s light mood fled from his face. “Must we talk about him now?”

“No time better than the present.” She scooted closer, eagerly awaiting his response.

With a sigh, Alexander placed his cup on the coffee table. “It was a couple of years ago. I own a media company in the U.S. During the merger, he was there as the other company’s right-hand man.”

“That’s it? By the way you two talked, I thought you had a fight over a woman,” she said, laughing.

“No, but he did end up taking out one of my female employees on a date. Over the weeks, her job performance dropped. Eventually, we found out why. He was taking her life force during their dates. I had exchanged some discreet words with him to stay away from my staff before returning to Dublin.”

“She didn’t die, right?”

“No. She was back to full health in a week or two. He heeded my warning without a fight.”

Abigail sipped her coffee. “Why were you so angry with him yesterday? And, what exactly is an incubus or a ghoul for that matter? Actually, how does being a vampire affect you?”

“You have a lot of questions, it seems,” he said with a laugh.

“Of course, I do. They’ve been swirling around in my head ever since I saw you kill a man who turned into a mummy.” She shuddered at the memory. “Not a story I can tell anyone else over a drink.”

Alexander reclined in his seat, draping his arm over the back of the sofa. “I will humour you just this once.”

“Great!” She bounced on the spot, almost spilling her coffee. Her cheeks turned red. She set her mug down and folded her legs under her. “So, why were you angry with him?”

“Because I did not want you to get hurt,” he replied matter-of-factly.

“That’s it? No jealousy or hidden meanings?” She poked his chest.

He caught her hand, pulling her into his hard body. His hand glided along her left thigh, raising goosebumps where he touched her. “Why? Did you want me to be jealous?”

She swallowed nervously. Her heart rate climbed in her chest, and their eyes met. “S-so…the next question.” She licked her lips, trying to formulate a sentence while his fingertips shifted higher. “What does an incubus do? What is it?”

“They’re born, not created like vampires,” he said, pulling her closer until their lips were almost touching. “An incubus is a term for a male succubus. I’m certain you’re familiar with some succubus lore. They—” He smirked. His hand snuck into her shorts, and he stroked her sensitive area in pleasurable patterns. “—feed on mortals, and other supernatural beings upon occasion, during the exchange of physical contact. I can demonstrate if you’d like.”

She moaned, and his lips met hers. He moved her, making her straddle him, as he devoured her mouth. The taste of coffee mixed with his cologne. She ran her hands up and down his muscular chest. The material of his shirt was in the way, so she hastily undid his buttons to be able to touch his smooth, bare skin.

As her muscles tensed, readying her for release, Alexander sank his fingers inside of her, bringing out another moan from her that was trapped between their connected mouths. All of her body ached for him to bring her to ecstasy. An inferno built in her core as he worked her damp and sensitive clit until she came undone around him. He broke the kiss just in time for her to voice her orgasm aloud.

She crumpled into a tingling heap on his lap, and he chuckled. “I take it you have enjoyed yourself?”

“Did you just,” she began, panting, “do that to stop me asking about you?”

“Would you like to continue questioning me in the bedroom?” he asked, his eyes filling with desire.

Abigail wasn’t going to get any more information out of him. She decided that she may as well enjoy herself while he was around. Not like she had any other plans for the day.

“I have one rule,” she said, grinning. “Your clothes come off in the bedroom.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He lifted her into his arms, summoning a giggle from her.

A shower had helped soothe some of the aches in her body. Alexander was a relentless sex partner. The only time he allowed her to rest was for the spare ten or so seconds when they changed positions. She checked the time on her phone and put on a pair of jeans. It was almost 6 p.m. The visiting hours would end around eight. She needed to hurry and figure out her route to the hospital. The public transport had a tendency to get busy in the evenings, and she didn’t feel like standing at a bus stop for the next hour.

She peered over her shoulder at the half-naked man in her bed. He was back on her laptop, responding to more e-mails. “Would you mind giving me a lift to the hospital? I have to check in with my dad.”

Alexander nodded and finished typing. He closed the lid on her laptop and slid off the bed.

Ten minutes later, they were both dressed and leaving her apartment. Once she got into his car, the hairs on the back of her neck stood as if someone was giving her the evil eye. Abigail looked around, seeking out anyone suspicious through the windscreen.

Alexander got into the driver’s seat and started the engine. “What is the matter?”

“Nothing.”

He drove according to the directions she had given him to their destination. The strange feeling of being watched vanished as soon as they left her place. Her shoulders sagged, and she relaxed in her seat, allowing him to take control of everything else.

They arrived in the underground car park of the hospital. Once he shut off the engine, he eyed her.  “Would you like me to escort you to your floor?”

She couldn’t ask any more of him. Judging by a huge amount of time he spent on her computer before and after their lovemaking, she guessed that he didn’t have much time to spare to babysit her. “I’m good. Take care on your way home.”

When she was about to climb out, he caught her by the arm and pulled her in for a kiss that melted her insides. If only this man didn’t come with so much baggage…

He broke away first. “Could I take you out to dinner tomorrow?”

She cringed, remembering that she had promised to meet with Ursula and discuss Glen’s hotness in more detail. Although she would rather go on an adventure of exploring more of Alexander’s body, she didn’t want to alienate her best friend for what could be a fling.

“I can’t. I have plans.”

“Monday then?”

Her heart fluttered at the fact that he wanted to spend more time with her. She wanted to say yes, but something at the back of her mind continued to fight for her attention. Moving away from him until she could see him in full focus, she asked, “What is a ghoul?”

Alexander’s face became an emotionless mask in a split-second. It was as if the man she had spent her day with simply vacated the premises with a single press of an eject button. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s something Glen mentioned yesterday.”

“Him again,” Alexander said with distaste. “Is he someone you’re interested in?”

“No. It’s just—”

“Then drop this topic.” He got out of the car and opened the door for her. “I believe your father is waiting for you.”

She clenched her jaw. Once he clammed up like that, there was no way to get the answers out of him. Maybe she could ask Tanya to shine some light on the situation later. She grabbed her purse and stormed away from his car.

Anger fuelling her, she shouted over her shoulder, “You know what, Glen does seem like an interesting guy. I might have to spend my Monday night with him. He will probably be more forthcoming.”

“Abigail,” he growled. “Do not go down this path.”

“Or what? You’ll kill me? I’m pretty sure Jen will be pissed.”

She didn’t get a chance to see him move. He instantly caught her in a bruising hold by the upper arm. “There are things I do not wish to involve you in.”

“Why not? What’s a ghoul?”

“In this situation, it’s not a what per se.” A beautiful redhead emerged from behind one of the parked cars. “It’s a who.”

“Katharine…” Alexander’s eyes widened a fraction. He stepped in front of Abigail as if trying to protect her. “What are you doing here?”

“I got bored and took a stroll. You did not return home last night. I was worried, Master,” Katharine replied.

Master? Abigail stuck her head around his shoulder. “What’s going on? Do you two know each other?”

Katharine settled her hands on her hips. “We were lovers, are lovers. Or am I wrong, my dearest Alexander?”

He didn’t say a word and kept staring at the woman in front of him like she was the Grim Reaper who came here to collect his soul.

With her hand trembling, Abigail touched his arm. “Who is she?”

He inhaled sharply and strode to the strange woman. Alexander took her hand in his and pulled her after him towards the car.

“Alexander!” Abigail called after him.

No response came. He got into the car with the redhead, and they drove off with a screech of his tires.

Abigail’s brows scrunched together. Is he two-timing his girlfriend? Is Katharine even his girlfriend or something else? The way he reacted made Abigail think he was involved with her, but in what way? And why did he get so defensive when Abigail asked about ghouls? Her head started to hurt with the multitude of unanswered questions. Taking in a lengthy breath, she pushed her worries aside and turned on her heels. After all, she came here to visit her dad. The other distractions could wait. Yet, if he was involved with someone, she would have to steer clear of him. A homewreaker was not something she wished to become.