Counting Midnight Read online

  Counting Midnight

  JJ Massa

  Published 2004

  ISBN 1-59578-067-X

  Published by Liquid Silver Books, imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass Dr, Indianapolis, Indiana 46235. Copyright © 2004, JJ Massa. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  Liquid Silver Books

  http://lsbooks.com

  Email:

  [email protected]

  Cover Art

  by April Martinez

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  To my family and my editor Tracey—you’re always there for me.

  Chapter 1

  Once again, Vasile Velicescu made his way into his office at his usual time of four-thirty in the afternoon. His mood was as black as it was every other day—as it had been for the last two years. For this reason, he was surprised that his generally sensible secretary dared to approach him.

  “I thought you knew better than to bother me when I am having a bad mood, Beverly!” he barked. “Do you too, need replacing?” he growled. His administrative assistant had been the last to go.

  “Sir” she said hesitantly. “Sir,” she said just a little more strongly. “There’s a young lady that Human Relations and the Client Team want you to hire. Sir, they like her very much.” She took a deep breath. “Mr. Velicescu, please just talk to her. They say our company needs her, sir. They think she could be your new assistant.”

  Vasile looked at his secretary and then glanced to the seating area she had indicated. He literally stumbled backward. He felt like the breath had been knocked from him. There she was.

  Two years of agony and loneliness had passed for him and finally he was beginning to accept the disappearance of Nina Caruthers, his longtime lover, from his life.

  But there she was. It was Nina. It had to be. He had no doubt. How could that be possible? He’d been positive she was dead. Stunned, he took her resume and the folder assembled by his staff and turned toward his office, overcome with memories.

  Vasile remembered interrupting her brutal rape at the hands of two violent young men. Nina had been only sixteen years old, then. He’d killed her attackers after first feeding on them. That was eleven years ago.

  Gently, he’d wrapped her in a cloak and stayed with her until the police had arrived. Some impulse had caused him to discreetly check on her at the hospital later that night. After that he’d come at night when no visitors were allowed, entering her room and holding her in his arms. He’d felt drawn to her and his presence had seemed to soothe her.

  Vasile jerked his mind back to the present long enough to address his secretary again.

  “Beverly, send her in after five minutes and get us some coffee,” he growled.

  He turned from Beverly’s desk in the outer office and walked into his own office. Lowering himself into his executive chair, he began scanning through her resume. Yes, it was her—it was his Nina.

  He’d never realized that Nina had achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, another Bachelor’s in Cyrillic Languages with a minor in Romance Languages and a Master’s degree in business law. As an administrative assistant, she was more than he could have ever hoped for and completely through no fault of his she had turned up on his doorstep.

  Looking back Vasile reflected that he had never said one word to Nina. Often, during the first year after the rape, he’d held her and sat with her at night. But, when she left for college, he’d thought to let her go. Until then, he’d fed from her but never had he coupled with her.

  Absently, he’d decided to keep her for his lover. He went looking for her near her college and found her walking along the beach one night, alone. That was the first time he’d kissed her. His body had hardened instantly with an urgent hunger. Fighting the urge to make love to her there in the sand, he’d gently put her away from him.

  Shortly after that, he’d sent her dorm mate away and tenderly soothed Nina into making love. She’d been so afraid. He’d loved her carefully and tenderly for hours.

  Vasile knew that, as a vampire, he had all of eternity to meet people, learn about them, love them—if that were possible, and lose them. He’d never embedded himself into Nina’s mind.

  She had a strong mind and a natural block. He had decided that she was to be his lover. He would protect her from danger but he would not be part of her day-to-day life nor would she be part of his.

  For those reasons, Vasile had never scanned Nina’s mind. He never took the time to learn more about her. When she left him, he couldn’t find her and had no idea where to look.

  He kept an ear on Beverly’s conversation with Nina. As he listened to the two women speaking, Beverly cautioned the girl that she’d be going in while the boss was in a bad mood.

  Vasile heard Nina ask Beverly, “Do you know what Vasile means in English?” Beverly said she didn’t know. “It means Basil.” He heard Beverly chuckle delightedly. “I’m pretty sure Basil won’t bite me. I’m not afraid of him.” His secretary worried over the girl a few more minutes.

  “He doesn’t act much like a Basil, though.” Beverly cautioned her. “Doesn’t look like one, either.”

  Vasile heard Nina tell his secretary, “Don’t worry, please. The worst has already happened to me. I’m going to be okay.”

  For the first time in centuries, Vasile felt like crying. The feeling was at war with the towering anger he’d felt when he first saw her sitting there. Even so, rage still bubbled inside of him. He wasn’t done with Nina Caruthers.

  His Nina had a soft, sweet, husky voice and a mischievous sense of humor. But, she’d left him. He had thought her dead. Now, here she was in his offices, applying for employment.

  She wouldn’t get away from him again. He didn’t know if he would punish her or how, but she would not get away.

  He didn’t look up when she entered the room. He was still gripped with rage at her for leaving him. The fact that she let him think she was dead infuriated him further. Vasile sat reading her paperwork, forcing himself to show no emotion. With difficulty, he kept his anger in check.

  She gracefully lowered herself into a chair near his desk and sat quietly. He watched her covertly but didn’t say anything. His mind reached out to hers, finding definite changes. He could feel her natural shield but it was not nearly as strong as it had been.

  Beverly brought the coffee in a minute later. Nina thanked her for it and indicated that she could leave. Vasile would have been annoyed by such impertinence usually, but this time, he said nothing.

  Finally, he could ignore her no longer. He could feel her scrutiny. Looking up, he found her eyes traveling over his face. He smiled in amusement when she met his eyes. His little Nina was “checking him out”. He probed her mind wondering what she thought of him.

  It seemed that the young lady liked what she saw. She was embarrassed to be caught looking. A little of his fury melted away—only a little.

  “Welcome to Velicescu Finance, Miss Caruthers. I understand you are interested in employment with us,” he told her, focusing on her face. He’d need to look in her eyes to embed his “link” into her thoughts.

  She sat still and quiet for a few more seconds. He didn’t quite know what she was thinking yet—she seemed to be organizing her thoughts. She was pale and more than that, she looke
d fragile. He noticed that her hair was a good deal shorter than it had been two years ago. Had it been cut?

  “Thank you, Mr. Velicescu. Other members of your administrative staff have asked me to come aboard. It is your endorsement we await. Of course, we all understand that your vision for the future may be different than that of your staff.”

  She waited patiently having given him the perfect escape. Now it was up to him. He stared at her over his tented fingers. He could tell that she didn’t know who he was.

  Searching for answers in her mind, he found many changes in her. Her mind seemed raw, bruised.

  Nina’s forehead furrowed. “Mr. Velicescu, have we met before?” He arched a brow at her. A blush stole up her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Sir. I’m sure we haven’t.” He could feel a small ache bloom behind her eyes.

  “Miss Caruthers? It says here that you left your last job rather abruptly. Although you have done some consulting during the last six months, there is quite a gap in your history.” Looking over the papers, he said, “Just over a year and a half. Can you explain that?” Vasile fixed his icy black gaze on her blue-green eyes.

  “I took an impromptu trip abroad, sir. I was to be gone only two weeks. While I was there, I was involved in a catastrophic accident. My recovery has taken a very long time.” He could tell she had practiced saying that.

  “Were others involved in this accident, Nina?” he probed softly, reaching for her mind, compelling her to answer. She attempted to block him, but she was still remarkably weak. She didn’t seem to even know that he was searching her mind or that she was resisting. He found that quite curious.

  “Yes, many people were involved. My g-g-grandmother perished.” her eyes filled with tears. She cleared her throat and shook her head.

  As he explored her thoughts, he heard the screeching of metal wheels and saw an image of an old woman crushed beneath a train car. He heard Nina’s screams for her.

  “Why did you take this trip, Nina?” he purred. He would have his answers now. These last two years without knowing was enough.

  A tear dripped down her cheek. She touched it, surprised. “Nina, tell me.” he commanded her silkily. He gave her no choice. She had to respond.

  “I had to think about some things. I needed to get away for a little while and clear my mind,” she said just above a whisper.

  “What things did you need to think about? Why did you need to get away?” his soothing voice coerced her answers.

  “My friend Jason told me he loved me. I was lonely and the man I loved didn’t love me.” She drew in a deep, trembling breath.

  Something loosened in his chest. “Had you planned to return?” he asked her, his black eyes focused on hers.

  “Yes, sir. I was coming back,” she whispered.

  Once again he foraged for information. “Tell me of your injuries, little Nina.” his smooth, accented, hypnotizing voice tugged at her.

  Against her will, Nina complied. “I was in a coma for many months,” she whispered, her voice cracking.

  So that’s why she’d seemed dead. Her mind had shut down to heal itself. More of the rage he’d been feeling for so long dissolved.

  “I had a head injury, my jaw was broken, some of my ribs were broken, my clavicle was broken and my spleen ruptured and was removed. I was pinned in a farmer’s muddy field and suffered a systemic infection that I must still care for.” She struggled to maintain her composure. It was obvious she did not like talking about the accident or the state of her health.

  “And your health now?” his eyes bored into hers.

  “Mostly, I’m fine, Mr. Velicescu. I am careful of infections and sometimes migraines plague me, but nothing too serious.” He could feel her struggle to hold back.

  “Nina,” his black velvet voice warned her. “You are not to lie to me. Your health now, Nina?” he growled.

  “The infection always threatens me,” her voice shook. “I have to be careful. If I get sick again, it could be life threatening.” She so clearly didn’t want to tell him these things. “But absenteeism won’t be a problem, sir. My later hours seem to agree with yours,” she said immediately, attempting to placate him.

  He probed her mind. What was she trying to hide? Nothing she revealed so far had given him more than a clue. But he knew there was something more. He suspected that her health was much more precarious than she was telling him.

  “Nina? What are you hiding from me, hmmm?” his seductive, black satin voice flowed over her, coercing her, forcing her to answer.

  “I, I, I’m not…” she whispered.

  “Sweet little Nina, what is the secret you dread so? You are powerless to hide your fears from me, you will tell me.” His beguiling voice wrapped around her like cashmere and silk.

  “I must keep the infection at bay. It is similar to Malaria. It is very unstable.” Her voice was a strangled whisper. “I shouldn’t have come here. I should have stayed away and let it happen.” She stood and made to turn for the door.

  “But you did come, my Nina.” His words poured over her, warm and gentle, “You are with me again and I will let nothing, not even death, take you from me this time.”

  He smiled and stood. “Miss Caruthers, thank you for joining our organization.” He walked around the desk with his hand extended. “Is there a Mr. Caruthers we should welcome?” He carefully concealed the instant fury he felt at the idea of another man touching her.

  Nina turned toward him. She seemed surprised to be facing the wrong direction. Vasile took her hand in his. He felt her break out in goose bumps.

  “No sir,” she forced out, “there is no Mr. Caruthers,” she told him.

  “Nina, has any other man touched you intimately?” He cupped her chin in his hand and trained his disturbing gaze on her.

  “Sir?” her brow knit as his thumb caressed her cheek.

  “Have you let another man touch what is mine, little Nina?” his dark, velvet smooth voice stroked her.

  “I’ve only ever wanted one man intimately. I have been celibate since the accident. He, he didn’t… I, I couldn’t…” she was becoming agitated now.

  “Be calm,” he murmured, his thumb moving to caress her lower lip.

  He searched her mind. She missed him. She thought he must not want her anymore. Vasile found a vague memory of growling in her mind—she thought of it as his anger. In her thoughts she worried that he believed she’d deserted him. The last of his ire seeped away.

  He pulled her to him and kissed her forehead. With the wave of a hand, he locked his office door. Gently, he tipped her head up and pressed it to his shoulder. Resting his lips against her racing pulse, Vasile touched it with his tongue.

  “Shh, be at peace, my Nina. I am with you again.”

  His hot tongue traced the rapid pulse along the column of her throat. Up. Down. He sank his fangs deep and drank from her.

  His body was hard in an instant. Fighting the urge to feast on her life force, Vasile took only enough to have her inside of him. He would not lose her another time. His tongue closed the tiny wounds.

  Stepping away from her, he held her hand as if he’d only just begun to shake it, and pumped it again. Dropping her hand, Vasile guided her toward the door. He flicked a finger at it and it unlocked before he reached it.

  “You will not go away from me again, Nina.” he purred in his mesmerizing voice.

  “No, of course not, Mr. Velicescu.” she said in confusion.

  He watched her as she left. So, she had not been leaving him. That was good—good for her, anyway. Still, she couldn’t be allowed to come and go as she pleased.

  True, he was embedded in her now. He’d made a path into her mind and he’d sealed it with her blood. He’d instructed her not to leave him and she would be unable to go more than a few miles without telling him.

  Would that be enough? What punishment should he mete out to her for leaving him to believe she was dead for two long years? Even now she would lie to him about her health. Could he trus
t her?

  Looking inward, he saw her step out into the rain and he did his best to shield her from it. Mentally, he tracked her to her home and watched through her eyes as she changed into comfortable clothes.

  When she lay down to sleep that evening, he sent her tired body an extra nudge. She needed healing sleep to replace the blood he’d taken and to help her body recover. She was still so weak.

  She didn’t know he was her mysterious lover. That didn’t matter to him though. He had her back and he would not let her go a second time. He wasn’t sure why he felt so possessive, but he did. She belonged to him and he would make sure she was his in every way.

  *

  While she stood in the rain waiting for a cab, Nina reviewed her meeting with her new employer. He was a very disconcerting man.

  She had studied Vasile Velicescu from under her lashes. He was sinfully handsome and frighteningly powerful. He had an air of authority about him, but there was more. He seemed to exude danger and mystery.

  Taking inventory of his features, she had appreciated what she could see of his hard muscled body and the coal colored hair held back by a leather cord. As she surveyed his face, she’d admired his sensual mouth, strong chin and high cheekbones. His chiseled face was cruel or it was beautiful, she couldn’t decide which.

  She had felt herself blushing when her gaze moved to his hooded obsidian eyes and found them focused on her. With effort, she’d managed not to squirm in her seat. His eyes were like black magic pools. It had been so hard not to keep staring into them.

  Parts of the interview were a little fuzzy to her but she must have done okay because he had approved her employment. When they shook hands, she had felt a shock run through her followed by goose bumps. Just touching this virile and handsome man had brought her to instant arousal.

  She was a little surprised and offended that he seemed to think she was planning to leave already. She’d show him that she was a good employee and he’d made the right decision.

  Her hours were to be from one in the afternoon to one in the morning most days. That worked well for her because she found herself disoriented for a while when she woke up. She’d learned that many people who’d had a Splenectomy suffered the same side effects. Since she’d be working with banks and companies in other countries, the odd hours were necessary.