Charming The Warriors (The Charmer) (13 page)

             
“Parrise I really don’t like you being able to do this to me, why don’t you just knock on my door if you want to speak to me? It’s so creepy when you speak in my head like that.”

             
“The dogs wouldn’t let me close enough,” He says simply.

Dogs! He must mean the
Wolves that were out here howling earlier, was he the reason for their unrest?

             
“Why would you worry about the Wolf?”

             
“He thinks he is watching out for your safety.”

             
“Safety?”

             
“Do not fear my love, you’re safe with me. I’m sorry, again I only have a few moments, please come to me my love.”

Parrise holds out his hand for me to take.
Shaking my head I tell him ‘No!’ I must get myself together and gain some control back. Before I can utter another word, he is right in front of me and his mouth is on my lips in a split second, cradling my head with one hand and my lower back with the other.

             
The kiss is demanding but wonderful, why did I even try to resist him, I am not myself around him. Kissing him back with the same intensity and running my fingers through his glorious hair, pulling him closer. As I let out a moan of desire, our tryst is rudely broken by the close sound of a feral snarl. Whipping my head around in fear, I inhale a shaky breath. Standing right before us is a massive black Wolf, looking even bigger with its heckles up, wild eyes glowing gold. It is magnificent, nevertheless, scary as hell.

             
“Shit” I scream and turn in Parrise’s arms so I’m front on facing the Wolf, hoping if it sees and doesn’t attack.

             
“Leave dog!” Parrise commands, making me jump. I wish I were back inside the house, in safety. Why does Parrise keep doing this to me?

             
“I’m sorry love! I thought we had a little longer.”

The big black
Wolf starts howling, as if he’s calling to the pack. My fear is kicking up a notch looking at the glorious but deadly beast.

             
“Do not fear them little one, you’re safe, it is me they want!”

He turns me to face him. I eye him from underneath my
lashes; his body speaks to me demanding I look at him.

             
“Please don’t keep doing this to me,” I whisper, with a single tear running down my cheek from knowing he is about to make me forget.

             
“Love please forgive me?” He signs sadly, “We will be together soon I promise you but till then forget me till next time.” He says and turns me away from him.

              “What the fuck!” I’m outside with a massive black Wolf growling at something behind me, I quickly look over my shoulder, nothing’s there.

             
“Den!” I scream at the top of my lungs as the Wolf runs into the night so fast I only see a blur.

             
“Den!” I scream again, running to the house.

Why the hell has this happened again!
Like the night the club when I went through the fire exit, I knew I was lying to Ruk about how I got there and why.

             
“Zara where the fuck are you?” I hear Den shout with fear in his voice. The porch light is now on so I can see him, running up to him I throw my arms and legs around his massive body, instantly calming me.

             
“Babe what’s going on? Why are you out here?” He puts me down and takes my face in his hands, searching my eyes.

             
“I don’t know Den! Something’s wrong with me. I don’t know how I got here! I’m upset and I don’t know why!”

Tears fall softly from my
eyes; Den puts his arm over my shoulder holding me close to him as we walk back inside the house and straight to his bedroom.

             
“Your safe babe, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

             
“I know Den.”

             
“You’re staying with me tonight baby so relax nothings gonna happen to you, not without getting through me first!”

He pulls me down to lay with him in his bed
. He won’t get any argument from me, I need him tonight as I don’t understand what’s going on, but I feel like everything is about to change and I don’t think I want it to, the feeling puts me on edge.

              The following morning I awake alone in Den’s rumpled bed; I had a restless night even with Den’s comforting presence. The strong smell of coffee and bacon drifting upstairs is making my stomach growl, definitely time to get up I think. Sitting up and rubbing my eyes, I recall the happenings of last night. What is going on? I really don’t like the thought of my mind going blank the way it did last night. What happened in that small space of time? Why would I go outside? I’ve never sleep walked in my life, but that seems the only plausible explanation.

              Jogging down stairs to see what Den’s been up to, I’m surprised to see Julian at the table pouring himself a coffee.

             
“Hey Julian,” I say smiling down at him.

             
“Zara… wow do you always sleep like that?” Julian asks, looking intensely at me from head to toe. I look down at myself, I’m wearing a sports bra, and little black sleep shorts. Shit! I might as well be in underwear. How long has he been here, why didn’t Den tell me he was here?

             
“Yes it’s very hot at night, I’m still trying to get used to the weather here.” I smile back at him and go to the fridge to get out some juice, but mostly to hide the embarrassment showing on my face. I’m going to kill Den for not warning me we had company.

             
“Where’s Den? And what are you doing here so early?” I ask smiling at him trying not to sound rude, just curious, as I sit with him at the table.

             
“I’m here babe,” Den calls as he walks in from the hallway, he bends and kisses my cheek before sitting beside me at the table.

             
“I wanted to check on you Zara, Miss Bellwood who lives over the other side of the clearing thought she heard shouting last night, so I wanted to see everything’s ok?”

             
“Umm oh, well yes I’m fine, just a little clueless as to why I was outside in the night, I must be sleepwalking. Why would Miss Bellwood ring you?” I ask a little suspiciously.

             
“I and a few others patrol the area,” He replies simply. I nod my head understanding, neighborhood watch.

             
“I need to ask a favor from you Zara if that ok?”

             
“Of course it is.”

             
“Would you be ok start work tonight, as we’re a little short staffed. I know you’re meant to start tomorrow, but we would appreciate it. Thursdays are normally a fairly relaxed night and we don’t normally have a DJ playing but tonight’s a big night and we have a lot of people coming down?”

             
“Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll look forward to it; will it still be from 9pm?”

             
“Thank you Zara, 9 would be perfect. I must go, I’ll see you tonight.”

He stands up readying himself to leave.

              “Thank you for checking in on me, it’s very thoughtful of you Julian. Hey can I ask you something?”

He smiles down at me,
taking my hand, making my heartbeat a little faster. He’s so smooth.

             
“Anything?”

             
“Well it’s just the Wolves…” his expression changes from amusement to attentiveness, I carry on, “…last night they were howling in the woods, are we safe here?

             
“Well Zara there’s not been any incidents that I know of they normally keep themselves to them self. Have any of them come close to the house?”

             
“Well yes, I have seen a friendly Wolf the last couple of days, he just came up to me, and seemed friendly enough, he licked my wrist and even let me stroke him. They are safe aren’t they?”

He raises his eyebrows with a smile showing on his lips.

              “Oh I bet he has. There is nothing to be scared of; they have been in the area protecting it for many years. They can be quite friendly if you let them!”

             
“Really! That’s wonderful, are other locals friendly with them?”

             
“No not really, they keep their distance; you must have a wonderful scent?”

             
“He comes to me because of my scent?”

             
“Partly,” He winks, “I’ll see you this evening, don’t forget the uniform.”

             
“Ok see you then.”

Just as
I go to shut the door, Den comes from the kitchen ready to go to work.

             
“I’ll see you tonight; I’m coming to the club with you, gotta look out for my girl.”

             
“You haven’t got to do that I’ll be fine, please don’t worry about me, I feel bad.”

             
“I know you will, but I’ll have fun and I get to see you.”

             
“I wanted to apologize for last night; I let everything get on top of me. I love you Den.”

             
“Babe, don’t be stupid we all have them moments. Love you too, see you later.”

Chapter 8

Abbey comes by the house at lunchtime, so I put together some nibbles we can have out on the grass. I have my first try of ice tea, not sure about that maybe it’ll grow on me, maybe not! I tell Abbey about what happened last night as she listens to me with an open mind.

             
“So you just woke up in front of a Wolf, and wasn’t scared?”

             
“I was scared but not from the Wolf it was more of a feeling of being outside in the dark not knowing why.”

             
“Yeah I get that. Why were you not afraid of the Wolf? Most people would run screaming.”

             
“I just felt safe, I know it sounds crazy.”

             
“No it’s not crazy; you’re a very special person to see the beauty in the beasts.”

             
“Yeah I suppose.”

             
“I remember the look in the black Wolves’ eyes, he seems concerned for me, and there was reluctance in leaving me, maybe I could become a Wolf whisper.” We both giggle.

             
“Hey are you looking forward to work? You’re going to turn some head’s in that uniform.”

             
“I can’t wait to meeting everyone; the uniform is really nice isn’t it?”

             
“Yeah and I bet Sallack will be all over you,” She says with a wink.

             
“Uh I hope so!” I nudge her playfully.

             
Abbey leaves around 3 o’clock saying she will pop in the club tonight, and wishing me luck. I’ve been having a bad feeling all day in the pit of my stomach; I feel it’s because of what happened last night. I hope it doesn’t happen again, the thought freaks me out.

              Later in the evening, I hear the door as Den gets in from work.

             
“I’ve made dinner; it’s in the oven keeping warm.” I shout down to him. I made him his favorite ‘enchiladas’.

             
“You’re the best, thanks babe, I’m starving,” He shouts back.

It’s only half five but I want to make a good
impression at work tonight, so I start working on my hair, putting lose curls in using my iron tongs, as my hair is fairly thick and long so it takes awhile. Slipping into my uniform, which is a black tight vest with ‘Whites’ printed across the back, and a tight black pencil shirt, not bad as far as uniforms go. It really does look great, I think while looking in the mirror, smart, professional with a little sexiness. I finish the look with a little makeup, slip on my heels and done.

              We get to the club at 8:45. Ruk’s and Julian are by the bar going through paperwork.

             
“Zara you look great,” Ruk says as he gets up to kiss my cheek, Julian follows his lead.

             
“Ok let’s get you set up at the bar.”

Julian introduces me to the two men behind the bar, I meet Will first, he is slim,
tall, and very cute, then I meet Tom, he is a big man with a lot of muscle, short styled red/blond hair.

             
“Hello, nice to meet you both,” I say to them.

             
“Ah an English rose, lovely,” Tom says to me taking my hand, pressing a light kiss, I laugh at his playfulness.

             
There are two girls Emma and Sally, they seem very friendly, and happy to have me here. I jump straight in to my roll at the bar making drinks with Will, while Dom shows up soon after and chats with Den on the opposite bar, like they are long lost brothers. It’s good to see Den getting on so well with everyone. Julian and Ruk are also working the bar at the other side of the club, it seems like a well run friendly place.

              At around 12:30 it gets really busy, I take my note-pad to the VIP area to attend to the party of men.

             
“About time we get so see you sweet little body up here,” The drunken man says laughing while his hand comes out and slaps my bum.

             
“Don’t touch me again, k?” I warn him sternly.

He laughs again and get back to chatting with his friends.

I get to
Julian at the closest bar and give him my drink orders.

             
“Hey can you fix me these, I’ll go grab some empty glasses,” I ask Julian, who winks in return.

             
As I get back to Julian he’s putting the drinks on my tray and stops in his tracks smelling the air, while his gaze travels over my shoulder.

I stop what I’m doing as I feel a shiver run through my body as my skin tingles, I wait for the feeling to pass, but it doesn’t. I turn and look where Julian eyes linger. I don’t see anyone to fear, but I
can’t shake the bizarre feeling off. As my gaze catches with Julian, it’s as if we are watching each other for a reaction. I try desperately to shake the feeling off, so I smile up at him. I really want get on with my work; I don’t want anyone to think I’m some sort of freak.

             
“Ok all set.” I grab the tray off the bar, “Thanks,” I holler over my shoulder and take the drinks to the VIPs section.

Walking back to the bar
with my now empty tray when strong hands grab me by the waist and swing me around.

             
“Whaao…Sallack!” I scream excitedly.

He chuckles and pulls me close as our lips lock. I’m in seventh heaven, wrapped in his big strong arms.

             
“You will get me in trouble!”

             
“Oh I don’t think so.” He takes a step back at gazes up and down my body.

             
“You look good enough to eat!”

             
“Bet you say that to all the girls.”

             
“Never,” He says in a serious tone.

             
“Oh ok…good.”

             
“I’ll let you get on; I just had to see you. I only popped into speak with Julian, and see your beautiful face.”

             
“Well you have made my night as always,” I wink at him, walking away swinging my hips to the music, taking a last look at him over my shoulder with a sensual smile, his eyes narrow as his focus is on my behind. I swear I can hear him growl over the music. A few men also take advantage of my flirting, stopping to watch me walking away. Sallack gives them a look of promised murder; they quickly divert their eyes walking away from him. There is something about Sallack, he is extremely dominant, and women within a mile want him to notice them, which pisses me off a little because I want him more than any of those woman do.

             
“Hey how much for a lap dance?” The man that slapped my butt earlier asks.

             
“You came to the wrong place for that!”

             
“I know where I am, slag’s like you will do anything for a bit of money.”

             
“What the fuck makes you think I’m a slag!” I ask him angrily.

             
“Ahh don’t mean any harm gorgeous, but I see you walking round flashing sexy smiles, come on give us a dance, ill pay good?”

I look at him in disbelief as he actually waits for me to sit on his lap, by patting his legs with a
n evil grin. I grab hold of his crutch and squeeze none too tightly as I whisper in his ear,

             
“Call me a slag or touch me again and I will rip these off!”

             
“Ok, ok I’m sorry, fuck let go I said I’m sorry!” He squeals in a high-pitched tone.

             
“That’s more like it.” I say sarcastically while patting his shoulder before walking away from him as his friends cry with laughter.

             
20 minutes later Sallack comes behind me at the bar, kissing the side of my neck, and gripping my bottom in his strong hands. He can do things to me I never thought possible. He leaves after telling me he will see me the day after tomorrow, which saddens me a little that it couldn’t be sooner.

             
It’s coming to the end of the night and we clear up the glasses and wipe the tables when everyone leaves.

             
“You did really well tonight! Thanks for helping out.”

             
“Thank you and your welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow. Hey where’s Ruk? I wanted to say goodnight.”

             
“He just slipped out the back, I’ll tell him you said bye.”

             
“Ok thanks Julian”

I find
Den chatting to Sally at the entrance door, he kisses her on the cheek, saying goodbye.

             
“Didn’t take long!” I wink at him laughing aloud. He grabs me under the legs a puts me over his shoulder as he swipes my butt.

              We pull up to the house and I can feel my bed calling, Den must be really tired his been at work all day.

             
“Den, thanks for coming along with me. Ruk said he’d pick me up and drop me home after work, until I find a car. I feel awful with you working all day then staying up so late.”

             
“Don’t be silly, I had a good time. Johns got 2 cars coming in tomorrow, he wants us to fix up and sell, I’ll let you know if they are any good as you could do with your own set of wheels.”

             
“Ah really, that would be great, I don’t want anything special, just to be able to get around town, without bugging you.”

              I crawl into bed happy about how my first night at work went, I think I‘m going to be happy working there. Just as I’m drifting off I am suddenly really thirsty, so needing a drink, I lean over to my bedside side cabinets to get my glass, no not there, I must have left it down stairs where I was so tired.

             
Creeping quietly down stairs as not to wake Den, I feel a shiver run over me, then there is a quiet knock at the door. I peek out of the window to see who is knocking at this time of night. Parrise! I open the door with precaution; here he is at the door, just as I asked him to. He grins at me mischievously,

             
“I knocked.”

             
“Yes you did, but your still messing with my memory?” I say slightly annoyed.

             
“Can I come in?”

             
“Will you stop messing with my head?”

             
“Yes I will.”

             
“Well thank you, but Den is up stairs, we’d better talk out here.”

             
“As you wish, love.”

I walk past him and stand under the small amount of light coming from the kitchen.

              “What do you want with me? Was it you at the club tonight?”

             
“Yes I was there. How did you know?”

             
“Oh well, it’s just that I              ...Um.. Get a shiver when you’re near, and I felt it this evening.”

             
“Shiver umm. Why are you working in a place like that little one?”

             
“Hey, I was lucky to get the job. I work so I can live!”

             
“A beauty like you shouldn’t be around the dogs so much.”

             
“Dogs? What is with you and dogs?”

             
“Ah yes here we are.”

Parrise stands in front of me facing
away, hiding my body with his, he then puts his arm around my middle and pulls me into his back.

             
“What’s going on?” I start to panic a little, as Parrise stands quietly looking left to right as if waiting for something to happen.

             
“Do not worry love, nothing will happen to you, it’s me they want.”

             
“What, Why? I don’t want anything to happen to
you
!”

Be
fore he can reply, ‘my Wolf’ runs up growling, bearing his canines at Parrise.

             
“Go, this is nothing to do with you!”

Why is he talking to a
Wolf? Is he mad?

             
“WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON, WHO IS THIS PRICK?” Den’s voice booms loudly.

I want to go to him, to reassure him that I’m fine but Parrise hold on me tightens.

              “Uh silly Wolf, you woke the dog!” Parrise says to the Wolf.

The
Wolf and Den growl at the same time. This is too unreal! What the hell is going on? I’m scared for Den and the Wolf, Den doesn’t know Parrise is a Vampire! He will get hurt if he isn’t careful.