A Vampire's Touch (The Red Velvet Trilogy) Read online

  A Vampire’s Touch

  Black Orchid Press

  Ebook Edition

  Copyright © 2012 Mina J. Moore

  All Rights Reserved

  License Notes

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Nickie Asher, you’ve been a mentor and a great friend through this entire process. I wouldn’t be here today without your guidance.

  Karli Rush, thank you so much for always believing in me and pushing me further than I ever thought I could go.

  Thanks to my Beta Readers: Karli Rush and Maira Holt

  CHAPTER ONE

  Sienna

  I couldn’t believe my ears when Tarah told me she wanted to visit that freak vampire club. What the hell was she thinking?

  “Come on, Sienna! It’ll be fun,” Tarah begged, her pigtails jumping as she plopped on the couch next to me. I had to admit Tarah had always loved anything vampire related. She dressed and breathed the part.

  I took in her get up for the night, which was pretty insane. Her skirt was almost showing a peak of her great ass and the corset a tad too small for my taste. The black lipstick put her over the top but I would never criticize. She was my best friend and I would do anything for her even though this was pushing it. At the end, I always gave in.

  “Is this okay?” I was referring to my clothes. Thinking we were going to a regular club for the night, my jeans and lime green halter was it.

  She looked at me and nodded her head. “Hell no! I don’t think they’d let you in with jeans. Not this place. You may think it’s trashy but it’s not.”

  I knew I was in trouble when she grabbed my hand and dragged me over to the closet. No way in hell was I going to rub black lipstick on my lips.

  Thirty minutes later I stood staring at myself in Tarah’s full length mirror with a worried frown. Where the hell was the rest of my skirt? Bending over would definitely be a no go tonight. That’s if I didn’t bust my ass with the platform boots she forced on me. When it came to the makeup I put my foot down. Tarah scowled but knew she couldn’t cross me here.

  “Now for your hair.”

  “I am not wearing pigtails or piling my hair up a foot tall,” I admonished.

  She smirked at me, putting her hands on her lean hips. I looked down at my curvy ones and groaned. My body simply was not made for this type of clothes.

  “Stop scowling. You look fantastic,” she quipped.

  I rolled my eyes. “You would say anything to get me out looking like this.”

  Tarah smacked me. “For reals! You don’t see the way men ogle you? Your body rocks.”

  “Yeah maybe if I lost fifteen pounds or so.”

  “Not true. I wish I had your curves, instead I’m stuck with this lanky form!”

  I wanted to laugh. Tarah was anything but lanky, more like leggy. The woman had legs that went on forever. At five ten she made my five six look like the little guys on The Wizard of Oz.

  “Lanky my ass,” I murmured.

  Her big blue eyes opened wide. “Exactly! I would give anything to have your ass.”

  We both giggled and after she was done with my hair, which looked pretty damn hot in the pin straight style Tarah had managed, we hopped in her BMW and were on our way.

  My stomach started to roll the closer we got. Looking down at my attire I felt like we were going to be working the corner instead of the club.

  All too quickly, we pulled up and I was apprehensive about this whole idea. What the hell was I thinking? This was, hands down, the strangest thing Tarah had gotten me to do. And being her friend came with strange stamped all over the place.

  The club’s exterior was black with big ‘Got Fangs?’ in neon red over the entrance. This was a relatively new place in this strip of clubs and still the line was around the block. It had been a while since I’d hit this scene.

  Tarah stopped right at the front doors and I jerked my head over to her. What the hell? She smiled, her dimples showing. This meant something was up her fishnet sleeve. Here goes.

  “V.I.P baby. I have a special pass today. It pays to have friends in high places.”

  My jaw dropped. Fucking valet? Great. Now we could make a spectacle of ourselves. I figured we would park around the back in a really dark spot and kind of walk in with another group of vampire lovers, have a few drinks and maybe hide in a coffin like alcove. Didn’t seem to be the case, instead two hunky guys in black suits with red ties walked over and opened our doors. I thought about how I was going to get out without showing my ass. He held his hand out and smiled. My breath caught at the sight of fangs under his generous lips.

  Holy shit! These people were not messing around. Even the help was on stage. Tarah was already out and standing in front of me laughing her head off.

  “Come on Sienna. They won’t bite.”

  I figured I had to get out at some point so I planted my four inch platform on the blacktop and left the rest in God’s hands. I was lifted as if I weighed nothing and stood looking at a very wide muscled chest. My eyes came up and I thanked fang guy before following Tarah, who I was going to kill later, to the front of the line.

  “Tarah, don’t we have to get in line?” I asked looking back at the gathering crowd. Suddenly, I felt underdressed when I saw what the others were wearing. That was a good sign. My leather skirt wasn’t so bad after all.

  “Not with these.” Tarah waved two tickets in the air and as soon as the bouncer vamp at the door examined them, he called on his mic for someone to escort us in. Two minutes later, a blond Adonis walked up and nodded in our direction.

  Where the hell did they hire the people in this place? Straight out of GQ Magazine? The men were all gorgeous as were the women.

  We were led to the second level which was roped off. Our escort motioned for us to sit and a round of champagne waited.

  Tarah smiled as she sat down. “This rocks, doesn’t it?” she said, slipping her coat off.

  I looked around and sat slowly. Reaching for the glass, I took a heavy gulp. Then I took another when I looked down on stage at the huge shirtless male gyrating against a chair. Holy cow!

  “Is this a freaking strip club?”

  Tarah slapped at my hands. “It’s a little bit of everything. They have both male and female strippers, escorts, companions….”

  She must have seen the look on my face because her mouth stopped moving.

  “Come on, Sienna. Live a little. You are always working.”

  I gaped at her. “I don’t mind going out on the town but a vampire escort stripper club?”

  Tarah looked a little anxious. Her face dropped and she was fidgeting. This worried me immensely. Her dimples were usually a sign of some good clean fun but when she fidgeted within hours of the dimples, there was something to be very afraid of.

  “Tarah Marie Clifton, what did you do?” I narrowed my eyes at her. She looked past my shoulder and pasted a fake smile on her face.

  I was seriously scared to look behind me. The delicious scent c
aught me first. It was spicy and dark; a combination of danger and lust. Strong hands settled on my shoulders pulling me back.

  “Good Evening,” he whispered in my ear. I still couldn’t see who the heck he was but I did see a blond giant walking over to Tarah and hold his hand out. She stood and left, disappearing behind the screen next to us. I sat frozen, waiting for the delectable voice behind me to make an appearance.

  I should have gotten out of there when I had the chance. What came at me as he rounded my chair was something out of a fantasy. Dark hair pulled back from a beautiful face and trailed down his back in a braid. His pinstriped suit fit to perfection over wide shoulders and a muscled chest. A tattoo peaked out of his collar and crawled up a couple of inches on his neck, giving him a bad boy vibe.

  Man was I in big trouble. He smiled and I was shocked not to see the fangs everyone else was sporting. His teeth were straight and very white. Turning, he pulled a chair and sat right across from me. His eyes were a magnificent amber yellow. I didn’t think I had ever seen such a shade before. I took another sip of my drink.

  “I’m Jax Sparks. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  I looked down at his hand then back up at his face. The electric shock that went up my arm when I put my hand in his was scary.

  “Sienna Forbes, a pleasure.” What else could I say? He was staring at me like a freaking predator. I looked away and took another swig. At this rate I would be slurring and sputtering like an idiot. Get a grip.

  “First time here?”

  I looked down at my cup. “Yeah. I came with my girlfriend.”

  “Not by choice.”

  I glanced up and smiled. “That obvious?”

  He chuckled. “We have had plenty of business since the doors opened two months ago. You would be amazed at the fetishes people have.”

  Thank God it was dark because I was beat red. Fetishes?

  He chuckled again and I was amazed I could hear him over the music. True on this level the sound was somewhat muted but still. I looked down toward the dance floor where people writhed as one, becoming a wave of movement. I had to admit the place was awesome, with three levels and several bars all done in black granite with neon lights.

  “I see I’ve thrown you off balance with my words. Let’s say it’s more of a fantasy.”

  I gazed at him and fell into those eyes of his. They seemed to dilate and pull me in further. Everything else fell away, the music, the people….

  What the hell was happening to me? In seconds I was in his lap, strong arms wrapped around me. Now the music grew louder, thumping in rhythm with my heart. The techno sounds were both sexy and alluring, making me want things I shouldn’t. His hand reached my throat and covered my pulse possessively. My head fell back and I closed my eyes, allowing him to pet me all the way down to the opening of my one sleeved tank top where my breasts strained for freedom.

  He stood abruptly, bringing my slumberous arousal to a crashing halt. My eyes snapped open and stared into his once more.

  “Such beautiful gray eyes,” he whispered, then his lips came down over mine, feather light. It was the most sensual kiss of my life. Heat and fire coursed through my veins, igniting my passion yet again.

  He deepened the kiss. I felt possessed and out of control. My hands slid up his hard chest and around his neck. I couldn’t image anything deeper with this man. I sure as hell wouldn’t survive it.

  He moved to my neck and I could feel him inhale my scent. His head lifted and his eyes closed, a deep growl rumbling in his chest.

  Shit! That was so hot.

  “I love your hair.” He ran both hands through it. “The fiery deep red color is my favorite. So soft.”

  He nuzzled me again, tickling the back of my ear. My knees gave and his arm snaked around my waist.

  “Not here, sweetness,” he whispered.

  My eyes opened slowly and he was looking at me with a serious expression.

  “Come with me? Will you?”

  I blinked once, then again. How could I leave with a practical stranger? A hot smooch didn’t mean I was going home with someone I didn’t even know.

  “Don’t you have to work?” I asked looking around at the crowded space. He smiled and scratched at his jaw.

  “I own the place.”

  I just about sat my ass down on the cushy chair. His arm stopped my backward motion.

  Wow. This was epic. “So you’re not an escort?”

  “Not really. I prefer to leave that to the professionals.”

  I was seriously confused now. What was he doing here, with me? Shouldn’t he be up in a secret office watching the goings on down below or counting all those dollar bills women stuffed into stripper thongs?

  “I spotted you the moment you entered. Needless to say I was…interested.”

  I looked away, again red faced. “I see.” What the hell else could I say to that? I was totally unprepared for this. Sure I knew I would be coming into a different ambiance and all but this was a whole new ball game. I gazed over at the screen where Tarah was supposedly “hanging out” with blondie.

  “Would you like to talk to your friend?” he asked arching a dark eyebrow.

  He knocked on the screen before I could answer. Tarah came out, a bit disheveled. I smirked at her.

  “Don’t tell me you want to leave now,” she whined.

  I opened my mouth to retort but Jax beat me to it.

  “I asked Sienna to join me tonight.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  My eyes must have bugged out of my head because Tarah was gaping at Jax. She looked at me and cocked her head to one side.

  “Sienna?”

  I was fumbling for words. Part of me wanted to throw myself at him and implore he take me somewhere so we could be alone. The more rational side was mentally doing a background check on the guy.

  I watched as he grabbed his cell phone and punched a button.

  “Portman, have my car around front in five minutes. Thanks.”

  Well hell! Did he think I was that easy? Now I was pissed and wanted him to know it. Standing up I whirled on him and saw Tarah cover her mouth with her hand. She obviously recognized the glare on my face.

  Jax held up his hand. “Talk to your friend and decide what you feel comfortable with. I’ll be leaving in fifteen. He stepped forward and kissed my cheek so very close to my lips. I wanted to pull his hair out. I was frustrated and turned on as hell. I felt like even though he was giving me the option, there really wasn’t one. How could a sane woman refuse? Well, maybe one with half a brain and a little bit of self preservation?

  I sat back down and gazed up at Tarah. “Now what?”

  Tarah knelt down next to me. “What do you want to do? It’s not every day something like that comes around.” She winked.

  “I don’t know. I just met the man. And he owns this place. Can you believe it?”

  Tarah gasped. “That’s even better! He’s not an escort so it’s not like he’s doing a job. He is seriously interested. I say you go for it. Come on, Sienna. You spend all your time working at a job you hate. You’ve had a crappy love life.”

  I winced and she realized it a little too late.

  “Don’t get me wrong. It isn’t your fault, just the sleazy guys that seem to stick to you like glue lately. You deserve to have some fun.”

  I scowled at her because she was right. Life had sucked lately. My mother had married some ass top gun lawyer and moved to Europe. My father had split town the minute I was born. I didn’t have any siblings or close family and life was passing me by in a rush. At thirty I had nothing to show for but a handful of bad relationships and although I had a professional career under my belt as a lawyer, the firm I was affiliated with was no better than ego maniac idiots. It was time to say “what the fuck”.

  I stood up, grabbed my clutch, coat and squared my shoulders. “Will you be okay?”

  Tarah nodded and smiled. “I saw Sammy downstairs. I’ll hang with him once I’m done smooching bl
ondie over there.”

  “I love you,” I whispered and hugged her tightly.

  “You need anything you call me. Keep that phone on you. I’ll come and get you anywhere, anytime. Got it?”

  I squeezed her hand. “Hurry up before your dark knight leaves,” she admonished.

  An escort miraculously appeared at my elbow and I nodded in the affirmative. He talked into his mic and parted the crowd, helping me get to the front. The doors opened and a kick ass red Ferrari waited by the curbside. Holy. Shit.

  I stopped and Mr. Escort almost ate it behind me. He gently urged me forward and opened the door. It looked like there would be more ass flashing. Oh well. Scooting down, because this ride was as low as you could get to the road without getting skid marks on your behind, I managed to sit on the tan leather seat with minimal exposure. When Jax reached over to strap me in, I took a deep breath, inhaling his sexy scent. His braid tickled my chest and I groaned inwardly. He took forever to click the damn thing in and I didn’t breathe. I couldn’t. Well, there was the issue with his cheek pressing against my…

  “There we go. I wouldn’t want you flying around in your seat when we take off.” He grinned.

  He knew exactly what he was doing. And he was loving it! I took a much needed, deep breath and wondered where we were off to. Part of me was a bit hesitant to leave. I glanced at the safety of the club where groups clustered around the entrance. Suddenly it didn’t seem so intimidating anymore. It wasn’t that I was terrified Jax would strangle me and leave my body for the vultures; it was the intense effect he had on my….

  “Are you ready?” he asked, watching my reaction.

  I pulled on the seatbelt, testing its hold, which had nothing to do with anything.

  “As I’ll ever be.” I managed a smile.

  Jax hit the gas and boy did this car move it. We flew down the dark street, the buildings streaking by in a blur. I glanced at him through the corner of my eye. One hand on the steering and the other on the stick gave him a more than sexy vibe. Continuing to watch the road ahead, he smiled. Shit! He knew I was staring.