Counting Midnight Read online

Nina didn’t feel ill anymore. She felt pretty good, really. Okay, the truth was that she felt better than she had the day before. In all honesty, that didn’t really qualify as “pretty good”.

  For a little while, she stayed nestled in her bed just thinking about her boss and the amazing dream she’d had about him. She’d dreamed that she’d finally seen her Midnight Guardian’s face. It had been Vasile.

  They’d watched a movie and then he’d made love with her. She also dreamed they had taken blood from each other. She wasn’t sure where the Oompa Loompas had come in but she had a memory of them as well.

  Nina was more than a little embarrassed about how attracted she was to Vasile Velicescu. In fact, she was worried about how she felt. He was dark and well built. He did remind her of her Midnight Guardian in that way.

  Nina remembered the first time her Midnight Guardian had made love to her. She remembered it with Vasile Velicescu’s face.

  She’d fallen asleep wearing only her robe. She’d awakened to find him kissing her. His touch was so gentle and loving. He’d slowly taken her hands and placed them on his chest. He’d untied her robe and opened it. He’d then kissed and touched every bit of her. He’d suckled her breasts and fondled her nipples. He’d rubbed her clit and penetrated her with his fingers making her come again and again. When she was so overwhelmed with her many climaxes that she didn’t think she could even feel excitement again, he had raised himself above her.

  Lowering his mouth to hers, he’d slowly entered her wet channel. His cock had pushed its way through her dripping folds until he was buried deep inside her. He gave her a little time to get used to the feeling.

  She had been completely overwhelmed. Slowly at first he began pumping himself into her. He’d plunged into her body over and over. She began coming almost right away and didn’t stop until after he climaxed. He then kissed her emotional tears away and held her in his arms. He let her doze a while and then awakened her.

  Once again, he’d parted her legs and licked her labia, her clit, her little opening. He sucked her and plunged his tongue into her. He moved her to her tummy and entered her from behind. As he’d plunged into her she’d thrust back against him.

  She’d never forget the ecstasy of that night. If only he would have spoken to her. When she moved to speak to him, he’d placed his fingers on her lips, shaking his head. She realized then that theirs was to be a silent exchange. Their only language would be passion.

  Now, thinking of it, it was so easy to replace Vasile’s face and body with the dark shadow that had been her Midnight Guardian. She’d kept track of every minute she’d spent with him in her little diary. He wasn’t Vasile and she couldn’t let herself imagine that he was. What kind of a fool was she if she fell for her boss? She was turning into a lonely old spinster.

  She pulled out some of her favorite movies, Young Frankenstein, Princess Bride, Ever After and had a little movie festival. Around one in the morning, she cleaned up her movie litter and made her way to bed.

  * * * *

  A little past two in the morning, Vasile prowled around the office and reached for Nina’s mind and found her sleeping. He continued looking into her subconscious and was surprised to find an indistinct memory of himself flitting through her thoughts.

  She was worried about falling for him and the trouble that could cause. She was attracted to him, but she was also nervous and insecure.

  Nina wanted him. She also wanted the man she remembered. His body tightened. He was hungry for her in every way. He made his way to her townhouse.

  As he entered, he could hear her restlessness and tossing in her bed. He knew he could come to her as the lover he used to be, but now he wanted more.

  Vasile sat on the bed and reached for her. “Nina, meu dragoste, come to me.” he bade her, peeling off his shirt and kicking off his shoes.

  She didn’t open her eyes but she rolled toward him. He brushed back the sheet and comforter that covered her. Her eyes opened and she was seeing him as if in a dream.

  She wore a long sleeved, pink satin sleep shirt that brushed the tops of her thighs. His body was hard and heavy. He reached to the hem of her short gown and caught the bottom with one finger. He edged it up an inch and saw the tiny black curls peeking out at the vee of her thighs.

  Vasile reinforced in her mind the idea that she was dreaming. He slid into bed facing her and trailed his hand up her thigh. With one hand he sliced a small cut into the heavy artery over his heart. He pressed her lips to it. Her sleeping mind was easily manipulated. She began to suck.

  He slid his fingers into the nest of curls covering her womanly treasure. She moaned, arching her hips toward him.

  Unzipping his pants, he pulled his heavy erection free. He raised her leg over his and slid into her warmth. His fangs lengthened in his mouth. He slowly moved in and out of her, cupping her bottom in his hands. He wanted to thrust hard. He could make her his mate this very minute if he fed from her now.

  He knew they would come at the same time. Her juices and his would mingle. Her blood and his would be pulsing through both their bodies. She was his—she belonged to him. He was nearly overwhelmed with the intense need to guarantee that she would be his for all time.

  He knew he had to let her make the choice to change of her own free will. If he didn’t, she would never be happy. Her happiness was so important to him.

  Reluctantly, he pulled his still rigid cock from her body, tucking it back into his pants. When he joined with Nina again, he wanted her to know he was making love with her. She reached for him. He closed the wound on his breast. Until then, he would try to ease his hunger for her and meet her needs at the same time.

  He lowered his mouth to hers and eased his hand between her legs until he once again found her silk heat covered by tiny curls. With his thumb, he massaged her little nub and he gently pumped two fingers into her rhythmically. When she was close to her climax, he reached behind her with his other hand and pressed the tip of his finger into her puckered little opening. At the same time he sunk his fangs into the pulse at her throat.

  She tightened on both his hands and sobbed out her climax, burying her fingernails into his back. Moaning, Vasile felt himself come in his pants.

  Slowly, he withdrew his finger from her nether hole and his other hand from between her legs. He eased her nightgown back down her legs. He licked the pinpricks on her neck closed.

  He stared into her eyes and sent her a command to sleep and remember this as another dream she had of making love to her boss. He wanted her to remember the blood exchange in her dream He wanted her subconscious to accept, even desire, the drinking of each other’s blood.

  Chapter 7

  The next day, Vasile was looking for Nina when he noticed several people filing out of a small conference room just down the hall from her office. He heard Nina’s voice joined with that of another man. She was talking to Soames, the manager from the Consumer Loan division.

  Deciding to eavesdrop, he seated himself in a waiting area nearby and listened.

  “Well Miss Caruthers, I’d say you’ve achieved a great deal since you’ve joined our little family.”

  “Why thank you Mr. Soames, I enjoy being here,” Nina responded. Vasile smiled.

  “What part of being here do you enjoy the most? Let me put that another way. Which one of your duties is more strenuous?” Mr. Soames asked.

  “I’m afraid I’m not sure what you’re asking, Mr. Soames.” Vasile noticed a warning edge to her voice now.

  “What’s more difficult Miss Caruthers—leading the project team or fucking the boss?” Vasile felt his fangs burst in his mouth. “Did you know that we call him Drac?” Soames asked.

  Vasile shot to his feet but her next words stopped him. He forced himself to follow her mental path and see what she was seeing.

  “I’d say fucking the boss is harder, Mr. Soames.” Her husky laugh floated through the air. “Forgive me, Mr. Soames, I couldn’t resist. Seriously, it does bring wi
th it all kinds of extra responsibilities. You should pay attention here.” Her voice was firmer now. Vasile wished he could see her face but her anger was coming through loud and clear.

  He heard her shift and could tell that she was leaning closer to the man. He couldn’t control a growl. He hoped she didn’t hear it. He knew she’d associate it with her phantom lover’s anger.

  “Since fucking the boss is a singular talent of mine and goes above and beyond my stated responsibilities, I expect to be amply compensated. You understand that means I keep my eye on the prize?”

  Mr. Soames could be heard moving. Looking through Nina’s eyes, Vasile saw the man nodding his head. It was obvious he hadn’t expected this reaction from Nina.

  “With that in mind, it would behoove you to remember that I guard each and every one of Mr. Velicescu’s interests like a jealous wife.” Soames swallowed loudly and nodded again. “That said, I’ve noticed that your department is not going to feather my nest this quarter.” She paused. “I don’t like that.” He heard the sound of a chair rolling back. He could tell she was moving.

  “I had my eye on a little trinket, Mr. Soames, but the projected earnings have suffered. And Mr. Velicescu promised to donate to my favorite charity, but today, loan reports were down.”

  She had paced away from the man. Now she turned back to lean inches from his face.

  “Because of you, I don’t get my little treats.” Her eyes seemed to narrow. “I don’t think I’ll suck his dick tonight, Mr. Soames.” Vasile jerked. He heard and saw her move around the table. “If Ol’ Drac is cranky in the morning, I’d lock myself in my office if I were you.”

  Nina nearly plowed into Vasile in the hallway. She obviously wondered what he’d heard. She mumbled something about the Humane Society and fled toward the elevators. Her favorite charity? Vasile ambled to the conference room she’d just left.

  “Soames, is it?” he inquired of the man still seated at the table, shaking nervously. “I thought Nina was meeting with some people in here? We are … we will be getting together later, I think. I thought I could confirm that.” Vasile gave Soames a man-to-man smile and left.

  The next day, Vasile made a point of seeking Soames out. He scorched his ears about the failings of his department and how someone would be replaced. He gave a credible impression of a man whose dick did not get sucked the previous evening.

  Since the idea of Nina taking his cock in her mouth had made him hungrier for her than he already was, Vasile didn’t mind making someone pay.

  * * * *

  Nina decided that she was becoming too infatuated with her boss. Two wet dreams in a row? Okay, ten wet dreams in a row…

  She resolved that she needed to get out or something. It just wasn’t a good idea to have such a monster crush on the man she worked for like this. It would be bad enough if she didn’t work so closely with him but she was his administrative assistant. He would never be attracted to someone like her she was sure of that. No good could come of this.

  Physically, Nina was feeling better these days than she had in so long. One weekend evening, she agreed to meet some of the department managers from the project team for a drink. She felt a little like a fifth wheel at first but she made herself stay at the bar. Several people showed up that she hadn’t expected to see. Soon, a kind of “party” atmosphere permeated the group.

  “Sometimes ol’ Drac joins us when we show up here!” One of the women said in a conspiratorial whisper.

  “He does?” she was surprised. It was a nice bar but she just didn’t think of Vasile as a “bar” kind of guy. “I’m sure he wouldn’t want to run into me on his day off!” she laughed. “I know he gets tired of my ugly mug!”

  One of the guys grabbed her and demanded, “Okay, who’s been slipping Nina doubles? She’s obviously drunk over here!”

  Everybody laughed but Nina felt a little funny. “Don’t worry about Michael,” Wanda from Business Loans had soothed her. “He likes to be the center of attention. So, Nina, tell us all about Mr. Velicescu!”

  “Yeah, Nina, how do you like staring at that ‘ugly mug’ all day?” Jeanne, one of the secretaries laughed.

  “Be honest, Nina! You know you think he’s hot!” Jeannie’s best friend Gail piped up.

  She knew her face was crimson. “Umm,” she began, not sure what to say. “Maybe just a little warm…”

  “Warm?” gasped Jeanne, “He’s smokin’!”

  “Tell us a little secret about him, Nina. Just a tiny one,” Wanda begged.

  Nina took a deep breath. Oh hell! Life is short. “Don’t get me in trouble you guys!” she warned.

  “Oh, no!” protested Gail.

  “Of course not!” Wanda shook her head solemnly.

  “Well, he’s a closet Brak fan.” She paused for effect. “He likes to watch it at eleven on Tuesday nights with a big bowl of Peanut Butter Captain Crunch™. He likes Space Ghost, too.”

  Everybody got quiet. Nina wasn’t sure what to do. Were they astounded? Angry?

  “You promised never to tell my secret, Nina.”

  NOOOOOOO! Only one man on the planet had such a warm, sexy, midnight bedroom voice.

  Slowly, she turned toward Vasile. Why does the floor never open up when you need it to?

  “Fancy meeting you here, Vasile,” she croaked.

  “Ahh, but I had to come, Nina. It was only a matter of time before you revealed my secret fetish for marshmallow chickens.”

  Nina breathed a sigh of relief. She could see his lips twitch in a barely contained smile. He slid onto a high stool someone had vacated next to her and leaned in close.

  “You must tell me all about this “Brak” so that I recognize the memorabilia when my employees begin plying me with it. Lucky for you, my Nina, I happen to like Peanut Butter Captain Crunch™.” He slid an arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze.

  No guts, no glory, I guess. “Does that mean I have to eat all the marshmallow chickens you end up with?” She knew her face was as red as his wine.

  “I think our Nina requires a glass of wine—and a shot of whiskey!” he called out. “It does indeed. Wretched things aren’t they?” he chuckled.

  Later that night, snug in her bed, Nina admitted that she was doomed. It was bad enough that Vasile Velicescu was sexy, handsome, smelled good, and had that black velvet voice with the old world accent. To find out that he was both fun and funny—how was a girl supposed to fight those odds?

  Chapter 8

  When one of the lawyers who had offices in their building asked Nina to go to a concert with him the next week, desperately she accepted. She had to do something to combat this head over heels like, lust, crush she had for her boss before it became love.

  It was to be a casual date but she was looking forward to it. The singer was one of her favorites who specialized in a Jazz, Blues, and Rock ‘n Roll blend of music.

  Nervously, Nina broached the subject of the night off with Vasile.

  “Vasile, would you mind if I left really early on Friday?” she asked him that Tuesday morning before going home.

  “Is anything pressing that evening?” he asked her smoothly. His cultured, old European accent sent chills of awareness up her spine. She was in so much trouble with this man.

  “No, Sir. All’s quiet on the banking front,” she told him.

  She was standing near his shoulder having just gone over a series of documents with him. He turned toward her and she was nearly standing between his knees. I could be in his lap if there was a wrinkle in this carpet. Damn that plastic chair mat!

  “You are not ill again are you, Nina?” he asked her.

  “Oh no, Sir,” she responded quickly. “I’m going to a music performance with Jack Gibson from the law firm. I’m really looking forward to it.” Nina smiled broadly at Vasile. Yep, REALLY looking forward to it. Really.

  *

  Vasile felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time—uncertainty. His stomach dropped and he wondered if Nina pr
eferred the company of this human to his company. Frowning, he studied her face. Tilting his head and pursing his lips, he considered her for a moment.

  “So you are dating a lawyer, little Nina? Do you like him?” Vasile asked her, looking deeply into her eyes.

  “Um, I wouldn’t say dating, Sir. I hardly know him.” she smiled. “I just like the music and he asked me to go.”

  “No other reason, little Nina?” he purred.

  She looked down and turned her face away from him. That was all he needed. She didn’t want him to see how she felt.

  Just knowing that she had accepted a date with another man to run from her feelings for him was a mixed blessing. While the idea of her being alone with any other man made him furious, he managed to calm himself. It wasn’t as if he would actually let her go out with this lawyer, Jack Gibson.

  * * * *

  On Wednesday, Nina got a call from Jack Gibson, canceling their date. He told her honestly that there was someone else that he really had to take to the show. She was disappointed, not because she wouldn’t be seeing Jack, but because she really liked the singer performing.

  By that time, Vasile and Nina had achieved a comfortable working relationship. Many nights they worked together until only the security guards were left in the building.

  Vasile would not let her stay as late as he did—some days he stayed until eight in the morning. Her day ended at one in the morning. More than once, he insisted she finish any instructions for her staff and let him drive her home.

  When he did drive her home, Nina felt compelled to invite him in. He was, after all, doing her a favor. Usually, Vasile declined but Thursday morning after he drove her home early in the morning, he accepted. She was only a little nervous—she knew he wouldn’t hurt her.

  She welcomed him in and offered him a drink or a bite to eat. He looked at her oddly as she kicked her shoes off and nudged them toward the wall by the door.

  “It’s a habit, I guess” she smiled to him.

  Just as she spoke, a tiny gray animal shot into the room and launched itself at her. It landed on her hip before it began to hiss at Vasile. He reached out and tilted its little face up and stroked it, staring intently at the pintsized beast.