Counting Midnight Read online

  “What is her name?” he asked Nina, peeling it from her hip.

  “Abby” she grinned in delight. “It’s for how much I love her. Absolutely.”

  He chuckled, handing the kitten back to her. “I wanted to speak with you, Nina, away from the office,” he said finally.

  She was instantly nervous. He slipped a palm under her elbow and guided her to her own couch. He sat across from her in the chair.

  Looking at her face, he said, “I heard you telling Beverly that Mr. Jack Gibson cancelled your date.”

  “Yes, he did, Vasile.” she told him. “I guess I won’t need to leave early that day after all.”

  “Nina, I would like you to come with me to this event,” he said. “I would very much like to have a date with you.”

  She was sure she was looking at him as if he had three heads. Date? Vasile Velicescu wanted to take her on a date? Plain Jane Nina Caruthers on a date with Vasile Velicescu?

  “Me?” she croaked. He chuckled.

  “You, Nina” he said. “I will come here and get you at seven on Friday?” he raised a sleek brow at her in question.

  “Yes, please, Vasile, I’d like to come with you,” she said. She could have clapped her hands over her mouth as soon as she heard herself utter the words. How needy had that sounded?

  “You will accompany me as my lovely companion whose friendship and intelligence I enjoy?” his eyes wrapped her in black satin and his voice felt like velvet stroking over her.

  “Yes, as a companion and not an employee.” she smiled slightly.

  Vasile walked to her, and leaning down, kissed her forehead. “Thank you, Nina. I am looking most forward to this.”

  He left shortly after that. Nina was agog. Vasile Velicescu had requested the pleasure of her company… She was more excited about spending an evening with Vasile than she was about seeing her favorite performer.

  *

  Vasile was still smiling to himself when he stopped to feed on the way back to the office. He chose a restaurant worker taking a break from busing tables. When he’d satisfied himself, he’d tucked a couple of hundred dollar bills into the man’s pocket. He implanted the memory of finding the money after hitting his head and falling.

  It made him smile to realize that Nina didn’t know how beautiful she was. She didn’t understand that all men most likely found her irresistible and he was no exception. The idea of other men wanting her didn’t sit too well with him but he’d try to control himself for now. He wanted her to know him for himself and not just as her boss.

  When she’d kicked her shoes to the wall, he’d been overcome by the memory of the last time he’d had sexual relations with her. His mind drifted back to his last night with her before she took that fateful trip.

  As she had entered her home she kicked off first one shoe and then its mate, pushing them to the wall by the door. He’d been waiting for her. She turned to flick on the light when his arms came around her.

  Vasile slid one hand under her short blouse, palming her breast while the other hand skimmed her abdomen. He kissed her neck and pulled the blouse off of her shoulder with his teeth.

  His hand on Nina’s abdomen slipped lower, into her panties. A finger found its way down between the folds of her sex. Her knees began to buckle but he held her firmly. Still holding her from behind, he pulled his hands from under her clothes. He unbuttoned her blouse and tugged it off, removing her bra just as efficiently.

  Quickly, Vasile unsnapped and unzipped her jeans pushing them down her legs, lifting her to remove them the rest of the way. When she was completely naked, he renewed his onslaught on her body.

  Standing behind her, he plunged two fingers inside of her while he massaged her breasts with his other hand. He nipped at her neck and the back of her shoulder, sucking out a little blood each time and licking the puncture wounds closed.

  When he decided she was ready, he lowered her to her knees and unfastened his own pants. He held her hips in his hands and entered her from behind. As his cock slid deeply inside of her, Vasile sunk his teeth into the pulse at her neck and shoulder and fed. He thrust again and again, harder and more deeply each time.

  Suddenly, he pulled out. She whimpered in complaint.

  “Shhh” he whispered to her.

  He rolled her to her back. He kissed her and caressed her while removing his black shirt and jeans. When his naked form rose above her, he leaned down and kissed her deeply.

  He slid down her body, massaging her breasts with both hands. He began kissing her abdomen and then lower still. When he got to her sex, he spread her legs apart with his hands.

  Lowering his face to her sex, he began licking her and making love to her with his tongue. Alternating between drinking her juices and sucking her clit, he soon had her writhing on the floor.

  He clamped each hand on one of her thighs and held her still. When he felt her begin to climax, he buried his long incisors into the flesh on either side of her clit. He drank for a moment until her climax subsided. With a flick of his tongue, he closed the wounds.

  Lifting her, he carried her down the hall, gently laying her on the bed. He covered her with his body and slid his cock into her. Slowly, lovingly, he pumped himself into her until he could hold back no more.

  His cock lengthened and widened, shooting his hot semen into her, she screamed out hoarsely, moaning her climax. He too shouted as he lowered his mouth to her breast and suckled and drank while they came together.

  He cuddled her and kissed her until she fell asleep. Stretched beside her, he leaned over her and looked down at her face. She was so beautiful to him. Her long, wavy black hair fell almost to her elbow. How he loved seeing it spread over the white pillowcases.

  He knew she had enjoyed his lovemaking… He thought she still did. Vasile didn’t like the direction these thoughts were going. He decided instead to focus on the upcoming “date” he would have with Nina.

  Chapter 9

  Nina was trying valiantly to contain her excitement when Vasile arrived to pick her up on Friday evening. She was wearing a close fitting, embroidered denim dress with long sleeves. It had a straight skirt and she wore light slippers with it and no stockings.

  Vasile nodded in approval as he helped her into his Jaguar. Experiencing a sense of déjà vu, her eyes drank in the sight of him in black denim jeans and a snug black shirt.

  “So, little Nina,” he said, taking her hand, “what shall we discuss on our way to this concert? I can now extol the virtues of the baloney sandwich or, if you prefer, I have learned an entertaining song about beans.”

  Nina had to grin. Apparently, his employees were torturing Vasile with Brak songs and sayings from the Space Ghost Coast-to-Coast character.

  “What about coffee?” Nina grinned.

  “Hey kids,” he said in his cultured voice, “too much coffee makes me jittery.”

  She laughed out loud. “So are you very mad at me?”

  She supposed it was kind of mean to tell everybody that he was a devoted fan of the silly and sweet but dumb little alien and his family and friends.

  “Well, my Nina,” he spoke slowly, lifting her hand to his mouth and kissing it lingeringly, “I think I am so angry that I will make you watch the Brak show with me Tuesday night wearing nothing but my new “Don’t Dance in the Tub” tee shirt. It sports a picture of a large green mantis glaring. He has a bruise on his hind shell.”

  Nina was giggling so hard that tears ran down her face. She almost missed the fact that they had stopped. Vasile walked around and opened her car door, moving in front of a valet to do it. He helped her to her feet and into his arms

  “Worry not, sweet Nina,” he murmured, dropping a teasing kiss on her mouth. “I have plenty of marshmallow chickens for you to eat during the show.”

  When they entered the concert hall where the singer was performing, she and Vasile were escorted to seats up front near the stage. Nightclub seating had been organized there and Nina was seated at a table with
Vasile and offered drinks.

  She couldn’t believe the service and attention he received. He’d explained that Velicescu Finance supported the series of concerts and the concert venue itself.

  Almost as soon as the singer began performing, Nina was lost in the music and fighting herself to stay in her seat. She’d always been weak to good music and wanted to move with it.

  Surprising her completely, Vasile pulled her from her seat and back into his body. He began swaying to the music, his arms encircling her waist while she moved with him. With her derriere resting in the cradle of his hips, she couldn’t miss his swollen erection.

  “Vasile.” she whispered.

  “Worry not, meu inimã, you are safe with me,” he murmured into her ear.

  “Vasile, I don’t want to tease you or make you uncomfortable.” she worried.

  “Nina, I will not hide the fact that I find you attractive and I want very much to make love to you,” he kissed her throat and hugged her tighter for a second, rolling his hips against her bottom. “Simply because I feel something does not mean I have to act upon it.” He chuckled. “You have not yet turned me into a savage beast.”

  Still, Nina worried. “I feel bad about teasing you, Vasile,” she told him.

  “You tease me by covering that delectable body with clothing every day, my Nina. Hush, dance with me.” He turned her to him and they pressed against each other, moving with the throbbing saxophone.

  When the concert ended, Vasile led her backstage and introduced her to the performer and his band. To Nina’s surprise, the singer and his girlfriend joined them for a light supper. Several people stopped by their table and Vasile kept a proprietary arm around Nina most of the evening.

  Nina was fighting a severe case of nerves when Vasile drove her home later. What was expected of her? Should she kiss him? Invite him in?

  “Calm yourself, little Nina,” Vasile purred, walking her to her door. “I would be pleased to have from you a kiss for goodnight before I leave?” His voice flowed over her like warm scented oil.

  Nina stood on her tiptoes and braced her hands on his solid chest. “I had a wonderful time, Vasile, and I enjoyed your company very much.”

  His face was angled down toward her and she kissed his bottom lip. It was smooth and soft. She wanted to do it again. He lowered his head an inch more and she pressed her lips against his, touching them, his lower lip first and then his upper lip, with her tongue.

  Vasile parted his lips against hers and wrapped his arms around her. Nina shyly eased her tongue into his mouth exploring his teeth. She slipped past them and stroked his tongue with hers.

  Vasile groaned and took over the kiss. Nina was overwhelmed, losing herself in his taste, his feel, and his demanding mouth. By the time Vasile pulled his face away from hers, she would have fallen if she hadn’t been clinging to him still.

  “I, too, had a wonderful date, my Nina. Please to come out with me again?” his voice sounded like sandpaper and black velvet to her sensitive ears.

  “I’d like that very much, Vasile.” she responded huskily.

  He helped her in the door and made sure she locked it. Nina fought the ache in her heart as she watched him stride away into the night.

  Chapter 10

  Nina and Vasile worked closely together but she found herself thinking of them more and more as a couple. It had been two weeks since their date and he’d asked her out on numerous occasions.

  One Monday night, near the end of a quiet dinner, Vasile asked her if she had plans for that weekend.

  “There is a large dinner party coming up that I attend each year. It could be considered a business event, I suppose.” He leaned back and crossed one ankle over the other.

  “I did avoid it last year, now that I think back. I realize that the last time I attended, you were there.” His gaze was still focused on her.

  “Vasile, do you mean the event my old firm hosts each year?” she was surprised.

  Nodding, he said, “I remember that you were there for a few reasons, not the least of which is how beautiful you looked that night.”

  Nina was shocked. He’d thought her attractive enough to remember her all this time? He thought she’d looked beautiful that night? She knew she’d changed since then. Unaccountably, she wondered if that meant he didn’t find her beautiful anymore.

  His amused male chuckle and twinkling jet eyes confused her for a moment. It was as if he’d heard her thoughts. She shrugged the idea off.

  “I remember bumping you as we entered the gala and thinking I had hurt you. When I came to see if I had, you were contending with a couple of lowlife insects. You were handling them expertly, I might add” he grinned.

  She smiled back at him. “I’m afraid I don’t remember that very clearly. That must have been Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum” she dimpled at him, “that’s not their real names…”

  He seemed to experience a coughing fit and she started to hail a waiter to get him some water.

  “No, Nina, please, it has passed. I bring this dinner up for a reason.” She was a little concerned again. “It would mean much to me if you will join me. We will go there Friday instead of work. You can visit old friends and family, perhaps?”

  Nina remembered the last time she’d attended the party he now mentioned.

  That evening, upon arriving at the party, Nina had waited in the hotel foyer for her best friend Jason. After several minutes, she’d felt a strange prickling sensation on the back of her neck and turned.

  Jason had been standing against a column staring at her. When their eyes met, he’d grinned and straightened, walking toward her.

  “God, you’re beautiful,” Jason had murmured, walking up. Pulling her into his arms, he’d kissed her cheek.

  “You look like six feet of hot sex in a suit, yourself, big boy.” she’d flirted, caressing his cheek and ear with a manicured finger and lightly flicking the tiny hoop he wore.

  “Shall we?” he’d taken her hand.

  They’d entered the main room bumping some people going through the doors at the same time. She remembered waiting when Jason had gone to get them a drink.

  Standing alone, she’d attracted the attention of the men Vasile had just referred to as “lowlife insects”. They usually made lewd comments to her, evidently believing she’d go out with one of them if they demeaned her.

  “Hey Ice Lady,” said the guy she thought of as Tweedle-dee “You look good tonight! Want to come home with me and fuck my brains out?”

  She’d looked at him a minute and responded, “I don’t need to. Apparently someone has already beaten me to it.” He’d stared at her, confused. She turned away.

  His friend, Tweedle-dum had reached for her and she’d asked, “What am I, flypaper for losers?”

  Right then, Jason had returned with drinks for them. Nina remembered the whiskey and how much better she’d felt after drinking it.

  She couldn’t forget what had happened when she had left the party with Jason.

  “I wanted to talk to you tonight, Nina, so I parked quite a ways away,” he had explained, gripping her hand tightly as they’d walked down the dark streets.

  Stopping, Nina had jerked hard on both his hands. “Jason,” she’d asked sternly, “what’s on your mind?”

  On a deep breath Jason had asked, “He came last night, didn’t he?”

  She didn’t pretend not to understand that he was referring to her Midnight Guardian. “Yes, he came.” She’d said honestly.

  “When he first started coming to you, I was glad,” Jason had told her. “I wanted you to have a regular life. I wanted you to have what I had. I had a lot of sex, Nina, and I felt guilty.”

  She’d said nothing.

  “When I first learned that he was there for you, I was grateful. I knew I couldn’t help you with what had happened to you. I just wanted to have fun and have sex. I also wanted you to be my friend” he went on. “Thanks to your mysterious lover, I had all that I wanted and you did,
too.”

  “So” questioned Nina, “what’s wrong now?” she’d asked.

  “Sweet, beautiful Nina. Life cannot be lived in a vacuum. I know it and you’re elusive lover knows it. You are the only one who doesn’t know it. I think he likes it that way.” He’d seemed so sure of himself—knowing just what he meant. Nina hadn’t wanted to know.

  “Jason?” she’d asked hesitantly.

  “Nina, you are my best friend. You are beautiful, you are sexy, you are intelligent, and you are so much fun.” He’d kissed her nose. “I don’t really know which way I love you, Nina. I just love you. I can’t stand that you are so alone. This man comes to your house whenever he wants and he fucks you.”

  Nina gave a cry of argument. “Nina,” Jason had growled, “It’s true and you know it. You’re there for me and you’re there for him.” Jason had been on a roll by then. “You are the loneliest person I know. I love you, Nina. I can help you. All he’s going to do is fuck you some more. You’ve repaid your debt to him, let him go.”

  Nina remembered that she’d stared into the face of her best friend not knowing what to do next.

  “Give me a chance. I’ll walk beside you in the light of day. I’ll be proud of you. He doesn’t even know you, Nina.”

  She recalled that she’d heard a strange growling sound in her head. She’d known somehow that her lover could hear what Jason was saying and how she felt about it. Obviously, he was angry.

  “Maybe it’s you I love, Jason,” she’d said tearfully. “Maybe it’s him.” The growling had grown louder. She’d spoken louder, too. “Maybe I love somebody I haven’t met yet.”

  Jason put his arms around her but she buried her face in her hands. As she rested in the circle of Jason’s arms she acknowledged that her Midnight Guardian could sometimes read her thoughts.

  “I don’t think I love you that way. Kiss me,” she’d told him.

  Jason had lowered his mouth to hers and she’d blocked out the raging, growling sound of her unknown lover.

  The kiss had lasted for some time. That’s really all she remembered about that kiss. It happened and it lasted a long time. When Jason raised his head from her, she’d stepped back.