A Night at Club Vampire 2 :
Nigel
by
Elixa Everett
A Night at Club Vampire 2 : Nigel
Copyright 2011 by Elixa Everett
Smashwords Edition
Cover by: Elixa Everett
All rights reserved. With the exception of brief quotes used for critical reviews and articles no part of this book may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the author Elixa Everett. Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Elixa Everett can be contacted via her website at www.elixaeverett.com
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This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors imagination and used fictitiously.
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Chapter 1
Nigel stood in his office, looking out of the large mirrored window, at the deserted club below him. He was the owner and operator of Club Vampire, currently the hottest nightclub in New York City. Club Vampire had been in operation for nearly a year now. With each passing week the club gained in popularity, with an ever-increasing number of hopeful patrons being turned away each night. The club played on the humans' fascination for vampires, claiming to have real live vampires for the clubbers to mingle with each night. The public saw it as a clever gimmick. Vampires didn't exist, right?
"This is the life," Nigel said aloud to the empty room. He took a celebratory swig from the glass of blood he was holding. And he meant it; this was the life. He'd been alive for countless centuries, but this was the first time in his existence that he could say he truly enjoyed his undead life.
Not only was his nightclub a raging hit, with both humans and vampires. But he ran a very successful online dating service, VampLovers.com. The dating service also played on the humans' fascination for vampires. Little did the humans know, vampires did use the dating service - and frequently!
There was one thing that Nigel still longed for; one thing that seemed to have eluded him for all his many centuries on earth: a woman to share it with. Nigel huffed. He may run an online dating service and currently the most successful club in New York City, but he couldn't find himself a woman to share it with. The irony of it wasn't lost on him.
Sure, he had tons of women to choose from, but she couldn't be just any woman. He was looking for the woman. The one he was destined to share eternity with, if she even existed. Call him a hopeless romantic, but he felt she was out there... somewhere.
Nigel sighed, took another drink and looked out onto the dance floor of the club.
The entire club could be viewed from his office. To his left was the stage area where the band ‘Intensity’ would start to set up in a few hours’ time. Directly below him was the massive dance floor and to the right, was the upper balcony, lined with plush velvet red sofas and a bar.
Bartenders, William and Franny were busy getting ready for the Friday night craziness. He downed another swig of his blood as he watched them. William was a large vampire with the body of a lumberjack, and the intelligence of a... well he didn't like to think badly of his employees and friends. However, it did irk him that William had found Franny, right here at this club five months ago. Granted, she wasn't really Nigel's type. Too blonde, and too high maintenance for his liking. But they were happy. You could tell just by watching the way they interacted with each other: laughing, sharing intimate looks, or a brief kiss while they worked. When William met Franny she was human, her first time at the club. Just over a month later he'd turned her. And the rest, as they say, was history.
Nigel glanced down at the gold Rolex on his wrist. Five pm. In an hour’s time he would make his way to the security room where the vampires born of the Queen’s bloodline would gather to start making the selections from the potential humans who would have already begun to line up in front of the club. Vampires of the King's bloodline, came through the back and their admittance was at the discretion of his security team.
"Nigel," A sweet, soft female voice called to him from the open doorway of his office, which on many days doubled as an apartment. He felt a stirring in his pants, at the sound of her voice. It was the human Trinity; sweet and delectable Trinity. He cursed the day he let that little number slip through his fingers.
Turning to the sound of her voice Nigel watched her enter the office, quickly followed by Travis. Her mate. Jealousy reared its ugly head, which he almost managed to subdue.
As they came closer, Nigel made a show of sniffing the air before commenting, "I see she's still human, Travis."
Travis stepped close to Trinity and placed a protective arm over her shoulders, pulling her close to him. She allowed herself to fall against his body, slipping an arm around his waist. They shared a look that needed no words but spoke volumes.
Again, the longing to have just that surfaced within him. To find that someone who would live and die for you. Nigel was sick and tired of the one night stands and the flings. So tired, that for close to a year now he'd thrown himself into his work. Perhaps that was part of the reason why his business endeavours were doing so well. At least there was an upside to his solitude.
Yes, it was a great life. Almost perfect.
"Not that it's any business of yours Nigel, but it will happen soon enough," Travis replied, as his hand caressed Trinity's bare shoulder. "I want her to spend a couple of years more as a human." Travis looked down at Trinity, whose eyes were watching her lover intently. "We have an eternity to spend together so there's no rush..."
"But not too long," Trinity interjected, "I don't want to spend forever looking old."
"You'd be stunning to me at any age. Now, or fifty years from now."
Trinity crinkled her nose up at him, but her bright blue eyes shone with amusement. "But then I'd be in my seventies. People would assume I was your grandmother, Travis."
Travis bent down and nibbled lightly down the side of her neck, causing a soft moan to escape her lips. Once he hit her collarbone he stopped, remarking: "I suppose doing that to my granny would be frowned upon?"
Trinity giggled as she nodded, "I would think so. Yes."
Nigel looked on guessing that both amazement and envy showed on his face. He raked a hand through his brown hair as he rolled his storm grey eyes. At one point in time, not all that long ago, Travis had been a lot like Nigel. He enjoyed women, vampire and human alike; had no attachments and came and went as he pleased. He answered to no one, other than himself. This new Travis was - for lack of a better word - a sap.
He's in love, a voice in the back of his head reminded him.
"The Queen will be arriving at the club in the matter of a couple of weeks. I would suggest she be turned by then," Nigel advised, dryly.
Snapping his attention back to Nigel, Travis nodded. "Exactly what I was here to speak to you about."
"Oh?" Nigel raised a curious eyebrow at Travis as he left the window and walked over to his large mahogany desk where he perched on the edge. "You have news about the Queen’s arrival?"
"Not exactly. I'm concerned about the clientele."
"Clientele?"
Travis hesitated before continuing, "I'm... We're..." he nodded towards Trinity and motioned out of the window towards William and Franny still hard at work preparing for the upcoming busy night. "Of the opinion that perhaps we should deny the King's vampires access to the club, at least until the Queen has arrived and the issues between her and the King are resolved."
Nigel lifted the crystal glass to his lips and finished off the blood inside. Setting it down on the desk next to him he shook his head. "No."
"But..." Travis protested.
"It's business as usual, Travis."
"Nigel! The King’s vampires are becoming more destructive. They bring too much negative attention and publicity to this club. As head of your security I would strongly advise that..."
"Business as usual Travis," Nigel cut in, standing and walking to the office's exit. He motioned for Travis and Trinity to follow him, "Now let's head over to the security room. The vampires should be arriving shortly to start making the entrance selections."
Standing by the office door, he motioned for the couple to exit. As Trinity breezed by him, the smell of fresh peaches, sweet and succulent assaulted his nostrils, causing a stirring in his pants again. If he wasn't going to find his future mate tonight, the least he would do was get laid.
It had been much too long since he'd last spent a night with a woman, vampire, human or otherwise. His dry spell was ending tonight, come hell or high water, he promised himself that. All work and no play was making for a very grumpy Nigel, indeed.
****
By 9 pm Nigel was so busy he had no time to think about love, nor the Queen nor anything else for that matter. His full attention was focused on the twenty monitors in front of him, labelled consecutively. One being the camera focused on the entrance and twenty being the one situated around the corner of the building, focused on the end of the line.
Behind him, fifty vampires yelled out their human selections as they caught sight of them on the monitors. The system developed to select the people admitted to Club Vampire was simple. If one of the yelling vampires behind Nigel took an interest in someone outside, they would notify Nigel, who - via a headset linked to the doorman's earpiece - would notify him who was to be admitted and who turned away as they approached the front of the line.
While money, influence and good looks were a bonus when attempting to be admitted to Club Vampire, what really mattered was whether you caught the attention of Nigel or one of the vamps in the room that night. With the massive turnout tonight the rejection rate for the night was currently at seventy percent.
As hundreds of women passed by the screens, none of them seemed to catch Nigel's interest. Maybe I'm just getting too picky in my old age. He chuckled to himself at the thought of old age.
But then he saw her...
The dozens of voices behind him seemed to fade into the background as he noticed a woman on monitor number eight. He normally wasn't a man fond of red heads. However, this one was stunning, enchanting, making him reconsider his distaste for them. While most women attempted to make themselves stand out by wearing outlandish, flesh-revealing outfits. This woman was dressed more conservatively: tight leather pants, with leather lacing running up the side and what appeared to be black work boots and a sleeveless, white button down blouse.
It was the hair which really caught his attention. Long, loose strawberry red curls flowed down to her lower back, ending just above her tight, round bottom. She somehow seemed to sense that she was being watched and looked up into the camera. Two emerald green eyes stared up at him. If he had to wager on it, he would guess she would be in her late twenties.
It appeared that she was with a group of women. The rest of the women in the group dressed as most of the other females attempting to gain admittance into the club. They wore short skirts, low tops displaying expanses of cleavage, or dresses, in a variety of fabrics, though the favourites seemed to be leather, spandex, latex and vinyl.
"Monitor eight is mine," he yelled over his shoulder. His declaration was met with a few groans of displeasure. When they made their way to the front of the line, he let the group of six women in.
Fifteen minutes later, the vampires cleared out of the security room as he told the doorman that the club was full for the night. By the time he had finished relaying the message the only people who remained in the office were himself, Travis, Trinity and three other members of the security team.
Standing, he passed the headset to the vampire named Evan and walked over to Travis and Trinity. "If there is any trouble..."
"You'll be the first to know," Travis assured him.
Nodding, secure in the knowledge that the safety of his club and its patrons were in good hands with Travis and Trinity on watch, Nigel brushed past the couple and exited the security room. He had himself a red-haired siren to track down. A smile touched his lips as he thought of how good it was going to feel to finally relieve the pent up sexual frustration he'd been experiencing lately.
****
While her friends were excited about having the good fortune of being waved into Club Vampire, they were there purely to have a good time. Lacey, on the other hand, was excited for an entirely different reason. She'd graduated from Columbia University with a master's degree in journalism several years before, but she was having a rough time finding a job where she could be a ‘real’ journalist. Currently, she was working at the New York City Scooper, which was the journalistic equivalent of a sleaze magazine.
It wasn't exactly what she had pictured for herself when she graduated. However, for most university graduates she supposed what they dreamed for themselves as they worked hard to secure those great grades and what they actually ended up with were two entirely different things.
Lacey felt certain that Club Vampire could be just the big break she was looking for. Club Vampire was infamous for its questionable activities. People seemed to end up missing or dead, in the vicinity, on a regular basis. And the stats seemed to be getting worse rather than better. The owner, Nigel Stafford refused to talk to reporters and for some odd reason the police seemed reluctant not only to do anything about the club, but to even comment on the situation.
Lacey, rummaged into her small, black satin purse and pulled out a black and white photograph of Nigel Stafford. It was somewhat difficult to see the photograph since the club was so dark, with only the coloured strobe lights for illumination, but when she held the picture close she could make it out well enough. He was a handsome devil, she'd give him that. His full lips were curved into a mischievous smirk. His strong, chiselled jaw told her that he was a force to be reckoned with. But it was his dark eyes... they seemed to call out to her, haunting her. They seemed to leap off the paper and pierce stright through her.
Once she was sure she had his face memorized she stuffed the picture back into her purse. Now all she had to do was find him, and of course convince him to talk to her. If he won't talk to the police what makes you think he'll talk to you? That voice in her head continually taunted her. Lacey clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, considering. She'd find a way to get him to talk. First things first: I have to find him.
Chapter 2
"Nigel! We need your help over here," Luther - vampire and lead singer of the band 'Intensity' - called out to him, just as he appeared on the main floor of the club. Growling to himself Nigel turned off course and headed for the stage.
"What's the problem, Luther?" he asked, jumping up onto the stage.
"We're having a little problem with the microphones," to demonstrate Luther picked to the microphone from the stand and made an attempt to speak into it. A loud screech overrode the DJ's music, causing the crowd to cringe, while looking around for the source of the disruption of their good time.
"Fuck! Where's Edward?"
"Dunno, man. That's why I'm asking you," the singer shrugged as he placed the microphone back on the stand.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Nigel looked out over the sea of faces looking for his sound guy, Edward. He knew close to nothing about the equipment. That's why he paid people to take care of those things for him. He fumed silently. Would be nice if I could get what I pay for.
Finally, he noticed Edward exiting the VIP room and hastily making his way through the overcrowded dance floor heading for the stage. "I'm here. Sorry, I got sidetracked." He hopped up onto the stage, coming to stand next to Nigel.
Giving Edward a once over, Nigel knew exactly what the young vampire had been up to. His eyes were still pearl white and there were a few drops of blood on his cream coloured shirt. He'd been feeding, no doubt about it.
"What the hell are you doing feeding before the band starts playing, Edward?" Nigel fought to control his anger.
The staff was forbidden to feed from the humans until the band began to play. The band itself was made up of three vampires and two djinn. It was the djinn that caused the real magic in the group, literally speaking. With their presence the music the band presented put humans in a state of erotic euphoria, allowing the vampires to feed without fear of the humans objecting. Between the liquor, drugs and the magic the vast majority of humans left the club, went home and remembered virtually nothing about their experience at Club Vampire, all they knew for sure was that they had the time of their lives and wanted to go back. It was foolhardy actions like the one taken by his sound guy that was causing problems for the club. He had enough media and law enforcement sniffing around already without his staff giving them reasons.
He wasn't quite sure who he found more annoying, the police or the nosy reporters. Reporters! There's nothing I'd like to do more, than to drain one of those fucking reporters. Aside from getting laid, that is. Now if he could find himself a female reporter he could drain her while getting laid. Now that would be ideal! He grinned for a moment at the thought, before realizing Edward and Luther were standing there staring in his direction, waiting for him to say something. Slightly embarrassed at being caught in a brief daydream his grin was quickly replaced by a scowl.
Edward cowered under Nigel's fierce glare. "I'm really sorry. I met this girl and..."
"Look, I don't care about the excuses. Just fix the fucking sound system," Nigel growled leaping from the stage. He made his way through the crowd on the dance floor, and quickly headed up the metal staircase leading to the second floor balcony. The coat-tails of his black blazer flapped out behind him as he took the stairs two at a time. He'd be able to find his red headed beauty from the balcony, he was sure of it.
Making it to the top of the staircase he scanned the hundreds of people lounging on the sofas, on the second floor. A good number of couples were already starting their physical exploration of each other, reminding him of his task in hand. Find her. Pushing his way through the swarm of people crowding the bar, he leapt over the bar counter landing to stand beside Franny.
Startled, Franny dropped the vodka bottle she was in the process of pouring into a shot glass. The bottle hit the floor, shattering. Franny placed a hand on her ample hip and gave Nigel a glare of annoyance. "What are you doing behind my bar?" she demanded, pulling another large vodka bottle from under the counter and opening it.
"I need to know if you've seen a woman," Nigel replied running a hand through his thick, brown hair.
Franny poured the waiting customer his shot and took his money before answering. "You mean any woman or are you looking for one in particular, sugar?" As she brushed past him, her hand ‘accidently’ grazed the crotch of his black slacks.
Nigel glanced over at William who was busy serving some women at the other end of the bar and wondered if he knew just how flirtatious his new vampire mate was. Nigel might have a couple of centuries of age on William, but he really didn't want to be on the receiving end of one of William's massive fists, because Franny couldn't keep her hands to herself.
Letting out a loud puff of air, Nigel turned back to Franny who was in the process of serving another customer. "Long red hair. White blouse. Looks like she doesn't fit in here."
"Haven't seen her, baby, but I'll let you know if I do," Franny reached behind him and gave him a quick, hard swat on the ass. "Now get out from behind my bar."
"Technically, it's my bar," Nigel countered.
"Not for the next five hours it isn't," came the smug reply as Franny went back to work, all but ignoring him.
Well that was pointless. With his buttocks still stinging from the forceful slap he had just received, he vaulted over the bar, shoving customers out of the way as he pushed a path through the crowd. He walked over to the glass railing and looked out onto the main floor of the club.
It appeared that the band had finally finished setting up and were about to start. That's when the fun really began at Club Vampire. He needed to find the woman before the band started. Once they began to play the people would begin pairing up, like rabbits in heat. Cutting in once the humans paired off never turned out well. It normally ended up with fights breaking out, and on some occasions someone winding up dead.
Then he spotted her. Close to the stage, speaking with a small group of women. Gotcha, he thought as he raced back down the metal staircase and across the dance floor.
****
Lacey wasn't paying much attention to her friends as they chattered amongst themselves, discussing the men as they walked past the group. Nursing her drink - a vodka tonic - she scanned the crowd, looking for Nigel. She wasn't sure if he would even appear downstairs. She had noticed when she first arrived that there was a large, mirrored window, directly above her head. She assumed it was his office, from which he would watch the club throughout the evening. He really had no need to come downstairs.
To her direct right there was a steel door marked Private. She had noticed a number of staff coming and going through that door. If she was forced to, she was willing to sneak inside, but only as a last resort.
Turing her eyes back to the dance floor she gasped when she noticed Nigel across the room. He was unmistakable. Wearing a black suit, with a black satin button down shirt, he stood out from the rest of the partially-clothed people in the club. What was even more unbelievable was that he appeared to be heading straight towards her!
She looked around her, trying to see if perhaps there was someone else he was moving towards, with such determination in his eyes. There wasn't. Everyone else seemed engrossed in their current conversations. As he drew closer his eyes locked onto hers.
Does he know I'm a reporter? Is he on his way to boot me out of here? She didn't think so. There were no security guards with him. Not like he would need the assistance of one. Considering he must have had close to a foot over her short five foot three inches and perhaps around a hundred pounds of muscle on his side, she was confident he would be able to drag her out of there easily enough all on his own.
Nervous, she looked all around her once again. Still no one seemed to be paying attention to him as he closed the remaining thirty feet between them. He was undoubtedly looking to speak to her. Well I am here to talk with him. Perhaps it's my lucky night and he's delivering himself to me. She let out a soft, nervous chuckle.
Just as he closed the remaining distance from her, he suddenly veered off course and swiftly leapt onto the stage directly to her left and strode up to the microphone at center stage. Lacey could feel a slight flush suffusing her face. Of course he was heading for the stage. Why would he be coming to see her anyway? She was a nobody to him.
She looked back to the door marked Private. Once he was done onstage she was betting money he'd be going back to his office. She smiled to herself as she shuffled herself a little closer to the door. He'd have to go through her to get there!
The DJ music died out.
All talking stopped as everyone's eyes shot over to the stage, where Nigel stood. "Allow me to introduce your band for the evening, Intensity!" Cheers, along with a round of clapping and whistles erupted from the massive crowd. As the band began to play their first song, a fast tempo number, Nigel stepped aside, leaping back off the stage.
As she predicted, once the band was introduced Nigel started towards the door marked Private. Making his way towards her. Lacey still wasn't sure what she was going to say to him to cause him to stop and talk to her. She was certain as soon as she mentioned she was a reporter that would end any possibility of a conversation dead in its tracks and she'd be buying herself a one way ticket out the back of the club.
Perhaps she didn't have to mention that fact right away. If she could just get him to want to talk to her, just long enough that perhaps he'd hear her out. Looking down at her own outfit compared to the other women in the room she soon realized she was very overdressed. Shit. Men love large breasts right? Hastily, she undid a couple more buttons on her blouse, so the collar opened just low enough that it displayed the top of her breasts, held high with her white lacy bra. She silently thanked her mother for blessing her with a couple of good sized...
"Good evening, I'm Nigel." Nigel stood mere inches from Lacey, his hand outstretched waiting for her to accept it.
Lacey noticed that her mouth had dropped open - taken by surprise at his unexpected greeting. She quickly snapped it shut. She took his hand giving it a brief shake before snatching it away. "It's a pleasure." She gave him her sweetest smile.
Nigel returned her smile. His deep grey eyes seemed to light up with amusement. Lacey realized, at that moment, just how little justice the black and white headshot she carried in her purse did him. Nigel was absolutely gorgeous. Handsome, in a boy next door way, but at the same time an aura of mystery and danger seemed to radiate from him. Even the suit he wore, the fabric of his shirt seemed to beg her to touch his broad chest, and torso. So very, very sexy.
Her hand seemed to have a mind of its own, reaching out and stroking the soft, black satin of his shirt. She felt the defined muscles of his chest go rigid under her touch. With a little gasp, Lacey abruptly pulled her hand away. What was she doing? Since when had she begun touching strangers uninvited and for no reason?
Hearing Nigel laugh softly, she could feel her face flame up for the second time since she entered the club. She took a quick sip of her drink before running a shaky hand through her long red locks. Taking a deep breath she looked up into his eyes, and tried to make light of her inappropriate action. "I'm sorry. I should learn to keep my hands to myself." She winced. That sounded less cheesy in her head.
His smile widened. "I have no objections to you touching whatever you like." His eyes roamed over her body, taking an extra few moments to savour the sight of her ample breasts, peeking out from under the fabric of her blouse.
Lacey felt a jolt of desire run through her body as his hunger-filled eyes seemed to roam over every inch of her. She chewed on her lower lip, not quite certain what to say. She was here for a reason wasn't she? She couldn't seem to remember much of anything at that particular moment. The intensity of his gaze as he looked her over and the effect it was having on her body seemed to make her mind slightly hazy. I'm a reporter! I need to get the story. This is business Lacey Turnbell. Business!
"I just have one request to ask," Nigel stated, then paused as if waiting for a reply.
Lacey blinked looked up into his eyes and waited. Was I supposed to say something? "I'm sorry, didn't I ask what? Ummm, what?"
A chuckle erupted from deep down in his throat. "Tell me your name."
"Ohhh," Lacey gave an embarrassed laugh. Hadn't she done that already? Damn it! What was wrong with her tonight? "Lacey," her voice cracked making her name sound like acy so she tried again, "My name is Lacey."
What was that smell? It seemed to be coming from him. She leaned in closer to get a better whiff. Like cologne, but not as harsh. So masculine... She yearned to fall into his arms and trail light kisses down his neck and across his powerful chest. It was intoxicating.
The music switched up to a slow, seductive melody. Leaning around Nigel, Lacey looked onto the dance floor, trying to spot her friends. They all seemed to have paired up already and were being drawn into the arms of their partners.
She began to have an odd feeling. A heat began to simmer between her legs. Her head felt light and all her cares, worries and insecurities seemed to be fading away. She cautiously looked down at her drink. Did someone put something in it when I wasn't looking? She had dabbled lightly in various narcotics when in college and was familiar with many of the effects. The feeling reminded her of ecstasy, but not quite.
She looked up into Nigel's eyes. God, she wanted that man! Her body demanded to be pressed against his. Her hands itched to tear the clothing away from his body so she could explore it more intimately. She closed her eyes and tried to ward off the feelings that were overwhelming her. She was here to work. Get the story. She needed to stay focused.
"Lacey." Nigel repeated, closing the distance between them. He reached out and tilted her chin up with his finger so her eyes met his.
"Nigel." She gave in to her urges and closed the remaining inches between them, slipping her hands around his neck, her breasts pressed tight against him. Her lips close to his ear, she announced in a whisper: "I think I've been drugged."
Chapter 3
Not exactly, Nigel thought as he slipped an arm around Lacey and began to lead her to the door marked Private. "Come with me," he urged when she hesitated. He didn't want her to want him simply because she was under the spell that the band so expertly wove.
Lacey nodded, clinging to him. His breath caught in his throat when her hand found its way under his shirt and began to trail up his flat stomach to his chest. "So cool," she purred in his ear.
The feel of her warm breath against his neck and her body clinging to his fuelled the desire that was beginning to kindle within him. A part of him begged to stay where they were and bask in the feel of her touch. Travis took advantage of the music seduction and it worked out fine for him and Trinity. The thought almost convinced him to stay on the dance floor with her. Why do I have to play the gentleman?
Nigel closed his eyes briefly and a low growl escaped his lips. Keep moving, get her out of here. With the last ounce of resolve he had, Nigel swept Lacey off her feet and into his arms, opening the door marked Private and making his way to his office.
Several minutes later he had escorted her to his office and lowered the blinds over the window, which in turn made the room sound-proof, blocking out the intoxicating music. Nigel settled Lacey on the maroon suede sofa, which sat facing a small stone fireplace.
Crossing the room, he opened the mini fridge located behind his desk where he kept his blood stash, and pushed the bottles of blood aside to grab hold of a bottle of water. He took it back to her, passing it to her as he took a seat beside her.
"Thank you," she murmured.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked, already knowing the answer, but asking anyhow.
Lacey nodded and looked at him, a bewildered look on her face. "It was the strangest thing. I can't even describe the feeling. It's like all my worries lifted and all I wanted to do was..." her voice trailed off as her bright emerald green eyes looked up into his.
"Wanted to do what?" Nigel prompted, amused despite himself. He knew exactly what she wanted to do and God help him that's precisely what he wanted her to do. He reached over and ran his fingers through her silky red hair. So soft. Such beautiful, cascading red curls. He didn't need to lean into her to smell the scent of her shampoo, wild berries. It suited her.
Colour rose in her cheeks to match that of her hair as she shook her head in response. "Nothing. It’s not important."
He’d certainly chosen right when he picked her from the line. She was absolutely stunning; curvy in all the right places and her modesty was refreshing. He’d spent too much time with female vampires, who were by no means modest. For that matter, the vast majority of the human women who frequented his club were far removed from modest or reserved - even without the assistance of the music. Most of the women who showed up at Club Vampire had one main objective in mind: to hook up.
So why was Lacey here? Was it just to accompany her friends? Perhaps she’s the designated driver of the group, he mused. Standing, Nigel shrugged off his blazer and tossed it to the large, matching armchair next to the sofa. When sitting back down he intentionally positioned himself a little closer to her.
"So this is your club? You are the infamous Nigel." Lacey asked, seeming finally to be out from under the influence of the spell as her eyes surveyed the large room.
Nigel's head fell back as he laughed whole heartedly at being referred to as infamous. After his laughter subsided he nodded in confirmation. He supposed to a good many people and vampires he could be considered infamous. "My club and home actually."
Lacey's eyes jumped back to Nigel's. "You live right here at the club?"
"I do, most of the time. Lately anyhow," Nigel motioned toward a door twenty feet to the left of them. "I have an apartment through there."
Leaning back against the sofa she watched him, seeming to consider her next words carefully. Nigel was beginning to get the feeling she was hiding something. He wasn't quite sure why, perhaps it was the way she stood out from the rest of the club’s patrons. Or perhaps it was the way she was beginning to watch him, and choose her words more carefully now that she was no longer under the influence. He simply couldn't put his finger on it, yet. But, he would figure it out.
****
Whatever it was that had taken a hold of her downstairs seemed to have passed now. Lacey was finally thinking clearly and couldn't believe her good fortune. Not only had she run into Nigel, but he had taken her up to his office! If she played her cards right she just might be able to get that interview out of him.
Lacey decided to test the waters with him first before springing the news that she was a reporter on him. He was known for his dislike of reporters so perhaps if she became a friend first, or at least someone familiar he'd be more accommodating. Or he could boot you out on your ear and never speak to you again! Her drive to be a serious reporter - getting the inside scoop on the club - urged her on, quieting her conscience.
"Well aren't you somewhat concerned about your safety?" Upon seeing him raise a questioning eyebrow at her she waved her hand in the air nonchalantly. "You know... with everything that has been going on in the area lately?"
Nigel shrugged. "I'm a big boy. I can handle myself."
I bet you can. Despite her now clear head she was still having a hard time keeping her eyes on his face, she could see the outline of his finely defined muscles under the thin black fabric. She couldn't stop herself from running a hand down the length of his arm, from shoulder to wrist. His muscles instinctively flexed under her light touch. When she reached his hand, her fingertips grazed his palm. The gesture seemed to have an effect on him, she heard him inhale sharply as their fingertips touched, and intertwined.
His hand was so cold. As his fingers closed over hers, a chill ran through her. Her heartbeat accelerated. Lacey noticed one of the middle buttons on his shirt was undone. Her doing from when she was downstairs. Unable to resist the urge, she reached out with her free hand to button it back up. "I'm sorry about that."
A grin lit up his features once more, but his eyes burned with his desire. A desire so intense that it both aroused and surprised her. Have to get the answers. Focus Lacey focus. She flattened her palm against the cool, soft material, feeling the toned muscle it covered. A surprising and intense desire to tear the shirt open hit her. "With all the disappearances and murders going on around here. It would make me a little hesitant to live in the area."
His burning eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Now if you really feel that way, then why did you come here tonight?" His eyes travelled her body, lingering on her breasts, which were begging to be touched by him. "Forgive me for saying, but you don't seem the type of woman to frequent my club."
Lacey snatched her hand from his shirt, but when she tried to free her hand he refused to release it so easily: It was a half-hearted effort anyhow. She was enjoying the way his skin felt against hers. It was refreshing. But at the same time she couldn't help but feel somewhat indignant. What did he mean by she wasn't the type? Was she not sexy enough for his club? Not wild enough? Had he brought her up to his office simply because he noticed she was feeling ill and was worried about more negative publicity for the club? She needed to know.
"What type am I then, if not one that generally frequents your club?" Lacey couldn't keep the sharp edge from her tone.
He seemed to notice her agitation and visibly winced, but swiftly regained his composure and the handsome, somewhat cocky smirk touched his lips once more."What I meant to say was that you seem to be classier than most. More refined."
Lacey considered his response. Refined? Like some middle-aged spinster refined? She was certain it was meant to be a compliment, but at the same time it seemed to spark her defiant nature, prompting her to do something she wouldn't ordinarily have even contemplated doing. She didn't always have to be the play-it-by-the-book, reserved Lacey. She could throw caution to the wind and enjoy a night with a stranger if she wanted to!
She'd show the sexy, smug bugger refined! She had something to prove. To him and to herself.
Without giving her actions a second thought she stood and repositioned herself on the sofa, straddling his lap. She took satisfaction in hearing his breath catch in his throat as she settled on his, shockingly large - at least from what she could feel through her leather pants and his slacks - erect cock.
Lowering her mouth to his, her lips grazed his. Barely touching, teasing; enough to cause a low moan to escape from him. His hand found the nape of her neck, losing itself in her thick fiery mane. Lacey closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his fingers running through her hair. Taking his lower lip between her teeth she nipped at it lightly.
Wanting more, Nigel's lips parted inviting her tongue to further exploration. She gladly accepted the invitation kissing him more deeply, their tongues duelling. With her body pressed up tight against his, heat built between her legs, as her body took over her mind and she began to grind her pelvis against his.
Sweet god she wanted this man! She had come here looking for an interview, but all she seemed to want at that moment was to find out how good his naked body would feel against hers. His hand slipped under the back of her blouse, working its way up her back to the clasp on the back of her bra. With ease, it came undone for him.
Nigel's lips left hers, to trail light kisses across her jaw to the top of her neck. As his mouth worked its way down her neck, he began to undo the buttons on her blouse. Once unbuttoned he slid it off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor behind her. His lips reached her collarbone and he pulled back. His eyes focused on her large, but firm breasts as he peeled the lace from them, and discarded the garment on the floor with the blouse.
Part of Lacey - the self-conscious part - wanted to cover herself up, feeling shy and slightly insecure under his admiring eyes. Surely this man had seen dozens, perhaps hundreds of beautiful naked women in his lifetime. But the look in his eyes as they lingered in her breasts was open admiration. It seemed to put her insecurities to rest.
Her hands left his shoulders and began to work the buttons on his shirt. She wanted to feel his cool bare skin against hers. For a fleeting moment it crossed her mind that his skin was very cool, abnormally cool. However, her desire for him overrode her curious observations.
Nigel's hands closed over her breasts, cupping them, his fingers rolling and pinching her nipples into large hardened pink peaks. His lips kissed her collarbone, at the exact spot where he had originally left off earlier. His mouth worked its way down her chest, licking and kissing until it reached her first hardened peak.
Lacey arched her back giving him better access to her breasts. A soft moan escaped her lips as his teeth nipped lightly at her nipple. Her hands became frantic, attempting the remaining button on his shirt. There seemed to be too much clothing between them. She needed to feel his flesh against hers; needed to massage the muscles of his chest and shoulders.
The button came free as his mouth made its way to her other breast. Her fingers traced the contours of his muscles first in his shoulders, then making their way downward. The feel of his lips, sucking on her hardened nipple was sending tremors through her, causing her body, her pussy to ache for him.
"You smell so sweet Lacey," Nigel whispered as his mouth left her breast and worked it way back up her neck to her lips. "And so beautiful."
His hand on the back of her head pulled it back down to his roughly. His lips claimed hers with increased passion. Her hips rocked against his groin, the clothing between them making it sweet agony.
"Hold on," he growled, lust thick in his voice, as he reluctantly pulled his lips from hers. She looked down at him, confused.
"Hold on?" She found herself asking, slightly breathless as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Her breasts were pushed up tight against his chest.
He smiled at her and nodded. Excitement raced through her veins when she saw the raw hunger in his eyes. She'd never had a man so wild with lust, it was as if he was straining not to devour her.
A squeal of shock and delight came from Lacey as Nigel stood with her clinging tightly to him, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck and legs around his waist. Lacey buried her face in his neck, her tongue teasing as it made it way up and across his strong, chiselled jaw.
With no apparent effort, which deeply impressed Lacey, Nigel carried her to the doorway leading to his apartment. She'd never felt so safe and secure with anyone as she was with him at that moment.
Opening the door he carried her into his pitch black apartment. The music from the club was muffled in here as well. Lacey blinked a number of times, trying to get her eyes to adjust to the dark, but it didn't help. She was as good as blind.