CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Eve ran until her lungs felt like they would explode. Leaning against the stables on Thomas’s property she sank to her knees and tried to catch her breath.

Tears blinded her. How could she have been so wrong about him? Thomas didn’t care about her, not really. Certainly not in the way she cared for him. What did she expect anyway? They came from two worlds entirely. He was sophisticated and worldly.

She wasn’t. It was as plain and simple as that.

Eve jumped when she felt a hand at her shoulder.

“Whoever he is, he’s not worth it,” said a deep male voice.

Eve quickly rose to her feet, embarrassed at being caught crying. She brushed the leaves off her jeans and stared warily at the stranger.

Sensing her unease he smiled. “It’s okay, I work here in the stables. Mr. Lord knows who I am.”

Eve smiled back relieved. “Hello. Eve Knight.”

He grasped her hand in his large calloused one. “Pierce Winters. Very nice to make your acquaintance, Eve Knight.”

He was about the same height as Thomas. But that’s where the resemblance ended. This man had a fresh, open face. He was handsome and muscular. His green eyes were deep, honest, and guileless. He had the most attractive dimples on either side of his full mouth.

His hair was golden and cut fashionably short. He had on jeans and a thick sweater. He smelled of sunshine, hay, and horses.

“So…what’s a beautiful woman like you doing crying her eyes out?” He asked with gentle concern.

Eve laughed self-consciously. “It’s nothing, really. I was just feeling sorry for myself.”

“Hmmm… I somehow doubt that.” He paused for a moment. “Would you like a tour of the stables?”

“Sure, I never knew they existed. Monsieur Lord’s property extends so far.”

“How do you know Mr. Lord?” Pierce asked curiously. Together they walked into the barn.

“I’m doing research on his novel,” Eve replied vaguely. She wasn’t comfortable with telling a veritable stranger, details of her relationship with Thomas.

He nodded. “Sounds interesting.”

Eve smiled and walked over to a beautiful black stallion. “Hey there fella,” she cooed softly, stroking its velvety nose.

The horse nickered and snuffled at her hand. It’s liquid black eyes gazed soulfully at her.

“Oh he’s lovely,” she sighed. She turned around and was surprised that Pierce was still across the room from her.

“What’s his name?” She asked.

Pierce walked slowly to her. “Santino.”

As he got closer the horse suddenly whinnied loudly and reared up on its hind legs. Eve was startled and scrambled back. The horse began bucking wildly. The beast’s eyes were bulging from their sockets.

Pierce took her hand and led her quickly out of the barn.

“What happened?” Eve cried in alarm.

“I don’t know,” Pierce said grimly. “He’s never acted that way before.”

“Will he be alright?”

He nodded. “Yeah…I think so. I’m sorry, Eve. I hope Santino didn’t frighten you too much.” He turned to her and lightly ran his finger down her cheekbone.

Eve stepped back slightly. “No…don’t be silly. You have no reason to apologize. I’m fine.” She glanced at her watch. “Uh…I really should get back to the main house.”

“I will escort you back and I won’t take no for an answer,” he said charmingly.

They walked in silence. It was a comfortable, easy one though. Eve liked him. He was uncomplicated and warm. Light years away from Thomas. “Well…thank you so much for walking me back,’ Eve said.

Pierce grinned whitely. “Anything for a pretty lady. As a matter of fact I was wondering…would you be free for dinner sometime?”

Before Eve could answer the front door swung open.

Thomas stood just inside and looked furious. His amber eyes glowed like a demon’s as he stared a hole right through Eve. “Where did you get to?” He asked coldly.

“She found her way to the stables Mr. Lord. I walked her back.”

Thomas shifted his eyes to the other man. “Pierce,’ he acknowledged shortly. “I’ll take it from here, thanks,” he said in a flat voice.

Pierce hid a smile and turned to Eve. “Let me know about dinner, okay?” He touched her hand briefly and with a side long glance at Thomas walked down the porch steps whistling under his breath.

Thomas curled his long fingers around Eve’s upper arm and yanked her inside, slamming the door shut behind them.

“Let me go!” Eve snapped. She wrenched her arm free and headed for her room.

“Oh non ne vous faites pas!” He growled. “You’re not going anywhere, until I say so, est-ce que vous comprenez?

Eve rubbed her arm. “You’re not the boss of me. I don’t have to listen to anything you have to say!”

Thomas smiled. “Oh yeah?” He whispered softly.

He bodily carried her to his bedroom. He dropped her to her feet and slammed his door shut. “I say you do,” he said with icy calm. Eve was shaking with fury. “I thought you had big plans tonight,” she sneered.

How dare he act like a caveman and manhandle her! “I am leaving here tonight!” She shouted.

She made to go around him but he blocked her at every turn. He did it effortlessly.

Eve was beyond incensed. Her anger and hurt she felt over his callous treatment of her earlier came spilling out. With a war yell any Indian would have been proud of she launched herself at him.

Thomas simply laughed and pinned her arms to her sides, as he would a small child. “You have a vicious temper, too bad you’re out of your league, petite.”

Eve saw red. She bent down and sank her small white teeth in his hand. Thomas grunted in surprise. He let her go and stared in shock at his bleeding hand.

Eve was stunned at her wild behavior. What on earth possessed her to do such a horrible thing?

Thomas put his hand to his mouth and licked the scarlet beads. His raised his head slowly. His eyes were glowing and he smiled at her like a predator. “You shouldn’t have done that, Eve.”

The soft sibilant hiss floated between them like a deadly snake.

Eve’s face was leeched of all color. She backed up until the stone wall hit her behind. “I…I’m sorry,” she trembled quickly. “I didn’t mean….”

“Fermer en haut.”

Eve gulped. “But I…”

Thomas advanced toward her deliberately. “I said shut up,” he rasped.

He wrapped his steely fingers around the back of her neck and drew her to him. “You like to bite, hmm? Well, so do I…”

He ripped open her blouse and gazed impassively at her. He traced the fierce beating of her pulse with his fingertip. One deft twist at her back and her lacy bra fell away from her body and floated to the floor beneath her feet. Eve couldn’t move if her life depended on it. She stood transfixed and motionless.

As if in slow motion Thomas bent his head to her breast. She looked on in shock as he sank his teeth into side of the soft mound. She cried out as her knees buckled under her.

Thomas scooped her in his arms and without breaking contact laid her on his bed.

Eve weakly tried to push him off of her, but to no avail. She was helpless as a powerful orgasm overtook her. Eve arched her back and moaned loudly as the exquisite feeling swept through her.

Thomas was held in the grip of blood lust and only the glint of her golden crucifix brought him back to sanity. His sharp teeth retracted and he pulled away from her.

He lay on top of her and they both stared silently at one another. Thomas was breathing rapidly, his eyes still glowing fiercely. Several minutes passed without a word spoken between them.

Eve’s breast was tender she winced at the pressure of his body on hers. She couldn’t believe what had just transpired, and her reaction to it. “Get off of me,” she said dully.

Thomas got himself under control rapidly. He eased off her and stood. He smoothed back his hair and looked as if he were going to speak. Instead he walked to the tall armoire and pulled out a white cotton shirt.

He silently handed it to her.

Eve swung her legs over the side of his bed and jammed her arms into the crisp shirt. Her hands were shaking so badly she could barely perform the simple task.

With a muffled curse Thomas strode over to her and pushed her hands out of the way. He swiftly finishing the job and helped her to her feet. Eve stared at him for a beat. “I meant what I said Thomas. I’m leaving here.”

His eyes narrowed. “You leave and I will hunt you down and drag you back by your hair.”

Eve’s eyes filled with tears. “You cannot keep me here against my will. There are laws and…”

“Non, there is only one law, Eve. My law and I am telling you that you will not set foot off this property without me knowing about it, comprendre?”

Eve could not believe what she was hearing. He looked tough, cold, and remote. Arguing with him was useless.

“And stay away from that prick, Winters.”

Thomas’s gut tightened in jealousy. He should have never hired that asshole. He was making moves on his woman right in front of his face and it sent his temper over the edge.

His father could stuff it as far as he was concerned. Eve belonged to him and no one else.

Eve spun around and with as much dignity she could muster, stalked out of his room.

“I expect you at dinner. Do not make me kick down your door and bodily carry you to the table!” He yelled as the Eve gave the door a mighty slam. Thomas sighed heavily. “Shit,” he whispered.

Nothing was going as he’d hoped. He dragged his hand over his face and flopped back on his bed staring vacantly at the ceiling.

“Mister Lord?”

“Oui? Le quel est? What now?”

Kato cleared his throat nervously. “You have a visitor, Monsieur. Jasmine is here.”

Thomas sat bolt upright. His day went from bad to worse in a heartbeat. “You are kidding me, right?”

Kato looked as distressed as Thomas. “I would never joke about this, Sir.” Thomas gritted his teeth. Papa this is your doing.

He wished his meddlesome Father were here right now, he’d surely ring his neck.

Jasmine DuMonde was an extremely beautiful and very deadly Vampire. She had set her sights on Thomas and was tenacious in her pursuit of him. He thought he’d shaken her off because he hadn’t heard from her in a while. Now Renouart had to stick his big nose in matters that didn’t concern him. And his personal life was off limits.

Thomas cursed his infernal Father to the heavens.

“Kato…tell Jasmine I will receive her in my study. Go before Eve sees her,” he said urgently.

Kato was gone in an instant. Thomas quickly dressed in formal attire. His razor sharp mind was ticking over the possibilities trying to figure out the best way to resolve this ghastly situation.

“Fuck,” he growled. For once in his life he didn’t know what in the hell to do.

He made his way into his study to face the cloying Jasmine.

************************

“Jasmine,” Thomas murmured suavely.

He entered the study and lightly grasped her hand. He brought it to his lips and barely made contact with her soft flesh.

Jasmine DuMonde smiled liked a cat. She could smell his cologne the instant he splashed it on his handsome face.

“Bonjour darling,” she trilled. She wrapped her arms around Thomas and kissed him ravenously.

Thomas gently disengaged himself and stepped back. He smiled and resisted the urge to wipe his mouth.

“What brings you here?” And around my neck like a boat anchor.

Jasmine ran her small pink tongue over her perfect teeth. “I was chatting with your handsome papa, and he told me that I must visit you. So here I am,” she smiled.

Thomas smiled faintly. “Well, I’m afraid I will be terrible company, cherie. I am literally swamped with work and I…”

“Oh pooh,” she interrupted firmly. “Work… that is so silly Thomas. You are immensely wealthy. We all are ma colombe, you have no reason to work at all.”

Thomas set his jaw. He wanted to slap her. “Jasmine, I know I am wealthy. That isn’t the point. I enjoy being a productive member of society.” She arched her brow. “A member of society that hunts down the evildoer and kills them in the name of Micheal de Saint. I wonder what society would think of you then, mon amour?”

Thomas narrowed his eyes. He’d forgotten how vicious her tongue was. In two quick strides he was in her face. He loomed darkly over her. “They will never find out will they, Jasmine?”

Jasmine smiled like a bitch. “Relax, my sweet. I was merely teasing.” She lightly scratched her blood red talons across his cheek.

Thomas grabbed her hand. “So long as you never forget your place, cherie. Because I can destroy you in a heartbeat if I choose to.”

Jasmine laughed. “My, my. What a poor sport you’ve become since you decided to hide away in your little abode in the woods.”

Kato appeared as if on cue. “Dinner is ready.”

Thomas nodded his head. “Merci, Kato.”

Jasmine linked her arm through Thomas’s. “Shall we dine?”

Thomas felt a flutter of dread run through him. This was going to be the longest evening of his life.

**********************

Eve trudged into the dining room as if she were going to an execution. She could not believe the way she’d behaved. She no longer knew herself. She reached up and felt her breast. It was tender to the touch.

He bit her, and…and…her mind refused to finish the thought. He broke the skin and then...

You loved it; you wanted him to continue doing it. You came for him.

“Oh God,” she moaned in repulsion.

What kind of sick person was she? This was not normal, this desire she felt for him. A part of her never wanted to leave him. The other was truly afraid of him. And yet another part of her was angry at his high-handed treatment of her.

She was so mad at him she couldn’t see straight. She refused to dress formally for dinner tonight. It was bad enough he commanded her to the dinner table; she wasn’t about to dress up and please him in any way. She still wore his white shirt over her tight faded 501’s. She swept her hair in a high glossy ponytail and her face was scrubbed clean of any make up. She wore bobby socks and comfy sneakers. She looked about sixteen. Tough luck if he didn’t like it she thought sourly.

She heard voices and turned expectantly. When she saw Thomas and a woman enter the room looking like a vision from Vogue magazine her jaw dropped.

Both women stopped short when they saw each other.

Eve’s discomfort level escalated about one hundred notches. Why oh why hadn’t she dressed civilly?

This woman was devastatingly beautiful. She was tall and slender with the longest flame red hair she’d ever seen. It hung like a rippled silken curtain to her knees.

She had pale skin and cat green eyes, a lush full mouth, and tiny perfect nose. She was dressed like a supermodel and Eve detested her on sight.

Jasmine’s almond eyes swept Eve’s plain attire from head to toe. She smiled derisively at Thomas. “Darling, you really must tell the help to wear uniforms, this creature looks positively tatty.”

Eve’s eyes widened in shock at the woman’s rude behavior. “Why you…” Thomas quickly walked over to Eve before she could finish. “Eve, this is a friend of mine, Jasmine DuMonde.

Jasmine, this is my… this is Eve Knight. She’s doing research for me and has proven herself invaluable.”

His tone held a thread of warning to it.

Jasmine ignored Eve completely and slinked over to Thomas. “Fix me a Martini, would you, darling?”

Thomas bit his lip in irritation. “Of course,” he said graciously. He turned to Eve.

“Would you care for something soft, Eve? I have fresh mango juice or…” “I’ll take a Martini please,” Eve said sharply.

How dare he treat her like a child in front of this…red haired witch! Thomas raised a disbelieving eyebrow. Eve barely drank wine and now she wanted a Martini?

“Are you sure, petite? That’s a very potent cocktail. I don’t think you will like it.”

Eve clenched her fists. “Oui, just fix me the damn drink…s’il vous plait,” she said with acid sweetness.

Thomas drilled her with a look. He expertly fixed the Martini and handed it to her.

Jasmine gloated over her own cocktail and waited. “Cheers,” she said. Eve took a healthy gulp. The second the alcohol hit her throat she wanted to choke. She swallowed the fiery vodka down and managed not to disgrace herself in the process.

Thomas suppressed a smile when he saw Eve’s eyes water. He knew she had to be dying, served her right for being a smarty pants.

Eve took another gulp and this time the drink slid down her throat like satin. She unwisely drained her glass and set it carefully on the coffee table.

Jasmine snickered and turned her attention to Thomas. “You look incredible tonight, mon amour. Doesn’t he …what did you say your name was dear?” Eve glared at her. “Eve,” she said flatly.

She glanced at Thomas coolly. “And yes, Thomas looks handsome. If you like that type,” she added.

She knew was being a bitch but she couldn’t help it. The two of them looked so perfect together. Why would Thomas ever be interested in her when he could have Jasmine?

Jasmine glided over to Thomas and wrapped herself around him like a snake. “Well I most definitely do,” she purred.

Eve felt jealousy coil around her stomach like battery acid. She was choking on it. So…Thomas and Jasmine were lovers. It was plain as day. She just wanted to get as far away from them as she could.

Thomas stepped away from Jasmine. “Lets dine shall we?”

Jasmine took his arm and chatting easily, led him into the dinning room. Eve poured herself another Martini gulped it down and topped it off again. She followed behind them, willing her angry tears away.

They all sat down at the lovely table. Eve felt a wave of dizziness hit her. She wasn’t used to the strong cocktail, but was grateful for it all the same. She took another deep sip and plunked it down on the table with a snap. “So Yasmine…where exactly do you come from?” Eve asked with a challenge. Her eyes sparkled dangerously.

Jasmine glared at her. “It’s Jasmine and you know it. You really should lay off the alcohol darling, it’s obvious you cannot handle it.”

“That’s enough Jasmine,” Thomas warned.

This situation was rapidly getting out of control. He knew how destructive Jasmine was and Eve was no match for her.

Jasmine shot Thomas a dirty look. “Don’t lecture me. She’s the one who has no class or breeding.”

Eve had just about enough abuse from this harridan for one night. He rose unsteadily to her feet and very carefully threw the remaining contents of her Martini in Jasmine’s face.

“Fuck…you…” Eve enunciated in the way that only the very inebriated could do. “And the broomstick you flew in on.”

The silence at the table was almost biblical. Thomas briefly closed his eyes. This was not going well.

Jasmine’s face turned beet red. “You little bitch!” She screeched. She drew her hand back to hit Eve.

Thomas quickly rose from the table and grabbed Jasmine’s hand. “You will not touch a hair on her head. Do you understand me?” He rapped out coldly. Jasmine slapped Thomas instead. “How dare you stand there and defend this little nobody? Your Father will hear about this, Thomas. I promise you that.”

Eve threw her head back and laughed. “Like I care what you think!” “Eve! You will apologize to Jasmine at once for your outrageous behavior!” Thomas said in an exasperated tone.

“I will not apologize to that…that…over-done harpy! And you cannot make me! Did you hear that you red-headed witch?”

“Jesus!” Exclaimed Thomas in wonder. She was like a tiny spitting cat. He wanted her more than anything in his life.

Jasmine launched herself across the room with her talons bared. Thomas beat her to the punch and grabbed Eve, hauling her over his shoulder. He stiff-armed the furious Jasmine while trying to control Eve who was kicking and wiggling in protest.

“Kato!” Thomas yelled in a slight panic. He could not control two jealous females alone.

Kato hurried into the room and saw the pandemonium. He started to rapidly back out.

“Don’t even think about it!” Growled Thomas. “Help me here!” The diminutive Kato looked from Eve to the Amazon Jasmine. “I’ll take Eve.”

Thomas smiled grimly. “You will calm Miss DuMonde down Kato. I’ll take Mademoiselle Knight to her suite.”

Kato sighed heavily and placed himself in front Jasmine.

Thomas strode out of the room and did not stop until he reached her suite. He set her down and fixed her with a look. “Remind me never to give you alcohol again.”

Eve’s head was spinning. “She deserved it,” she muttered.

Thomas tipped up her chin with his finger. “You were completely rude, Eve. Totally berserk.”

Thomas bit his lip suddenly. He started to laugh, tried to restrain himself, then he really let it roll out. Soon Eve was giggling and then belly laughing herself.

“Fuck you and the broomstick you flew in on?” He said between fits of laughter.

Eve clutched her stomach and began to giggle all over again. She fell back against her bed and pictured Jasmine’s constipated face when she tossed the drink in her face.

Thomas sobered up and stared down at her. “You will have to apologize to her tomorrow.”

Eve stared at the ceiling and wondered why the room was spinning. “Yeah…sure…whatever,” she slurred. “Let me just close my eyes just for a tiny little…” She wrinkled her brow. “What did I just say?”

Thomas chuckled and removed her shoes. “I pity you in the morning, ma coeur.”

Eve was sound asleep. She looked young and untroubled.

Thomas kissed her lips softly. “You will be my bride. No one will get in my way. Goodnight my sweet angel.”

*****************

It was late, around two in the morning when Jasmine entered Eve’s bedroom. She stealthily walked over to her and stared down at her malevolently. That little beast was going to pay in spades for humiliating her in front of Thomas. Her razor sharp teeth were bared. She was going to drain her of every last drop of blood from her body until it was a lifeless shell. With an unearthly growl she lowered her head to Eve’s heart, ready to rip it from her chest.

To be continued…