Desires Unleashed (44 page)

Annette looked at him, confused. “How do you know Natasha?” she asked guardedly.

“We became acquainted two nights ago. With her assistance and my own, we aided the police in their investigation of the serial killings of the past week,” he said matter-of-factly. “May I...” he raised the flowers to his nose and inhaled seductively, eyes focusing on Annette's. “...give these to her?” he asked once again. Annette looked at Darian and nodded. He smiled and walked into the kitchen. He saw Natasha standing by the stove, stirring a pot of pasta.

“Annette, who was that at the door?” Natasha asked. She had become concerned when she'd heard Annette talking to someone.

“It is I,” said Darian smoothly. Natasha turned around, surprised. “I wanted to speak with you and to bring you these. Although, they can't begin to convey my feelings for you.” He extended the bouquet of red roses towards Natasha.

She took the flowers and smelled them. She smiled warmly. “Thank you. I heard what you did last night and I want to thank you for helping us, you didn't have to,” she said, feeling herself blush.

“I helped your police friends because I'm interested in you. It has been a long time since I've met a woman like you. You intrigue me, your gift...” He raised his hand now, to caress the left side of Natasha face. He brushed the back of his fingertips lightly over her soft skin. “You have an extraordinary gift. I want to help you control it, master it,” he said in a hushed, seductive voice.

“I...I don't know what to say. All of this is new to me. I'm still trying to get used to the fact that you're a vampire, Xavier's a vampire, Warren's a werewolf and well, it's going to take some getting used to.” Natasha turned, placing the flowers on the counter and took the spatula to stir the pasta. She opened a can of meat sauce and poured the contents into a separate pot. Darian watched her prepare the meal with a keen fascination. Natasha looked over her shoulder, catching him trying to peek over her shoulder at the pots on the stove.

“What?” she asked, perplexed. His eyes moved from the pots to hers.

“It's been a long time since I've seen anyone prepare a meal,” he said honestly.

“It's been a long time for a lot of things for you, hasn't it? Perhaps you should get out more,” she suggested. Darian laughed, his dimples giving his features a boyish charm.

“So it seems. Why don't you show me all that I've been missing,” he said softly. He stepped closer to Natasha, pressing his chest against her back. Natasha felt alarms go off in her head. She was powerfully attracted to Darian, as well as Xavier. She didn't know how she felt about Darian's advances.

“Darian listen, you are handsome, I'm sure you're aware of that. But I'm with Xavier...well, Xavier and I are talking, getting to know one another. It wouldn't be right if I started something with you. Not to mention it might be too overwhelming,” Natasha said, stepping away from Darian. His gaze still locked on her, he reached over and took her hand in his. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips in a gentle kiss on the back of her hand.

“Xavier hasn't told you, has he?” Darian asked, looking up at her.

“Told me what?” Natasha asked. She didn't like the implications of Darian's question. What was it that Xavier hadn't told her?

“Natasha...” Darian started, but the doorbell interrupted him. He glanced over his shoulder when he heard Annette open the door. He recognized the male voice as it charmed Annette. “Well, it looks as though Xavier will tell you firsthand what he decided to keep from you,” he said. Darian turned off the pots on the stove, then led her into the living room.

Xavier stood in the middle of the room, fashionably dressed. He was wearing a long, calf length, black leather trench coat. His brown hair was cropped short and was neatly combed back, parted on the side. He wore brown silk slacks and a cream cashmere turtleneck sweater. He was breathtaking. He turned, his eyes sparkling when he saw Natasha. Xavier's gaze fixed on Darian and a hint of lust spread across his face.

“Hello Natasha,” Xavier said as he walked toward her. He took her hand in his, performing the same action that Darian had, gently kissing the back of her hand. “You're looking gorgeous this evening,”
he
said. He straightened up and smiled at Darian. It was as if the two vampires were sharing a secret joke. Natasha didn't like it.

“Annette, can you give us a few minutes?” Natasha asked, as she looked at the two beautiful vampires standing in front of her.

“Sure. I'll just finish dinner,” Annette said. She had
wanted
an excuse to leave the room anyway. She could feel the tension in the air. But she also wanted to stay, curious to know what
was
going on. She would have to ask Natasha later for all of the juicy details. She walked past Darian, into the kitchen to finish preparing the dinner.

Natasha looked at the two men, arms folded across her chest. “Okay Xavier, what is it that you need to tell me?” she asked sternly.

Xavier threw a glance at Darian, who shrugged one shoulder. He turned to face Natasha. “I was going to tell you, we just haven't had a whole lot of time to be alone to talk. That's why I came over tonight.” He looked at Darian. “I wasn't expecting to find you here.”

“And I wasn't expecting to be interrupted by you once again. This is a pattern you're going to have to put an end to,” Darian said playfully. Natasha glared at both of the men.

“Okay, so spill it, what is it?!” she asked, losing her patience. Xavier's eyes turned back to her. He sat down on the sofa gracefully. Darian followed suit, sitting next to him, their shoulders touching. Natasha looked at both of them, sitting side by side, feeling herself blush. They were both so beautiful to her, she didn't want to have to choose but she was more interested in this secret the two of them seemed to share.

“Natasha, Darian and I are lovers,” Xavier said suddenly. He drew her out of her fantasy. Her eyes bulged as she stared at them.

“We've been lovers for over 70 years. I don't know how you feel about that. But I'd like to find out what you're thinking?” Xavier asked, determined and hopeful.

“Think about it this way, you won't have to choose after all,” Darian said, reading her mind. Natasha frowned, she didn't like being violated in any way.

“Look you,” she pointed to Darian, “stay out of my mind, don't read my thoughts unless I want you to. Got that?!” she said forcefully.

“Ohh, though she be little, she is fierce,” Darian said with a coy grin.

“You haven't seen fierce! I don't like you reading my thoughts. You said you were going to help me, and that's fine, but that's as far as it goes,” Natasha said commandingly.

Darian nodded. “As you wish.”

He rose from the sofa to stand next to her. “Really Natasha, I am quite fond of you, as is Xavier. Before you decide anything...” In a movement too fast for her to see, she found herself in Darian's arms. His lips pressed to hers, his tongue exploring her mouth. She felt her knees grow weak. She wondered how many years he'd had to perfect his techniques. She felt her body respond to Darian's advances and blushed as he released her. She opened her eyes, only to find that Xavier was taking Darian's place. He pressed his lips to hers, mimicking Darian's kiss. Natasha had never been kissed the way Darian had and Xavier still was kissing her. She had never known a man who could weaken her knees with such a simple intimacy, much less two of them. Xavier released her, sitting her down on the chair. Both of the men looked down at her. As she regained her composure, she stared at them.

“I think both of you should leave,” she said steadily. The two men glanced at each other.

“Remember, I am here if you need me, my darling. I will be keeping in contact with you,” Darian said as he bowed. He turned and left the apartment. Xavier watched him go. He turned back to face Natasha.

“I didn't want you to learn everything like this. But I suppose there's no better way to reveal such a thing,” Xavier said solemnly. “I love Darian, we are in a, what you may call, an open relationship.” He knelt down in front of Natasha, keeping his gaze locked on hers.

“I know this is all alien to you and thoughts are running through your head right now. I do want to say this before I leave.” He took her hands into his. “I want you to be with us. Before you protest, think about the advantages of what we offer. I'm completely enamored with you and Darian's bewitched. Besides, once he sets his sights on something, he goes after it, not taking 'no' for an answer. Just think about it,” he urged, releasing her hands. He rose to his full height and left her apartment.

Annette emerged from the kitchen, carrying a hot bowl of spaghetti. She looked at Natasha and frowned. She didn't like it when her friend looked so bewildered. She sat on the couch, resting the bowl on the armrest. She folded her legs on the sofa, getting comfortable.

“Wanna tell me what's gong on?” Annette asked Natasha.

Natasha looked at her friend then exhaled deeply. She felt like she had been holding her breath the whole time. “Xavier and Darian are lovers,” she said.

Annette smiled. “I suspected as much...go on.”

“And you didn't tell me?!”

“I
said
I suspected, meaning I wasn't sure...now finish telling me the juicy details.”

“Fine. They want me to join them,” Natasha stated flatly, uncertain and still in shock.

“A threesome? Wow, that's really kinky. In a way, it's like having your own harem or something like it,” Annette said. She was beginning to like the idea. Natasha looked at her.

“You're corrupt, you know that,” Natasha said blatantly.

Annette pressed her good hand to her heart, mockingly. “Why I'm appalled! Here you have two of the most gorgeous men walking the earth drooling over you and you accuse me of being corrupt just because
I
can see the potential.”

“Annette, I don't think so. I mean, yeah, they're gorgeous and mysterious. Xavier's really funny and laid back. Darian's charming and sexy...well, they're both insanely sexy. But Darian has something that's dark and intriguing about him. I feel like I'm drawn to it. I don't know. Maybe because I've drunk his blood.”

“Wait, hold up! You drank his blood? When did this happen?!” Annette asked, shocked. She wanted to know all the details.

“Well, two nights ago, I helped the police track down one of the killers I told you about. Well, I was injured.” She proceeded to tell Annette everything about the werewolf attacking them, almost killing her and how Darian gave her his blood to save her life. Annette listened to her with wide eyes.
To
Annette, it was as if she were hearing a recount of a movie.

“So, can you do any vampire type stuff? What did it taste like?” Annette asked curiously.

“It...well. .There's no way for me to tell you this without blushing, so here goes.” She took a deep breath, and let it out. “It was amazing!!! It was like sex, only a thousand times better. It was also like the world's most healing medicine. I could feel my body healing as I drank it. But it is something I want to avoid in the future,” she said seriously.

“Why?” Annette asked. “Anything that good needs to be bottled and sold retail!” she joked.

“Well, Darian told me it was addictive and I just don't want to turn into a blood junkie or whatever you call those people who hang out in vampire bars looking for a hit,” Natasha said, shaking her head.

“Yeah, I understand you. I guess I wouldn't want to be addicted to that either. But then when you think about it, being addicted to Darian might not be so bad,” Annette said cheerfully.

“If you say so. I don't know about all that,” Natasha said doubtfully as she turned on the television. They watched the news at nine. Natasha smiled when she saw Warren's face on the news. Natasha informed Annette that he and his partner were the two detectives she had helped. Annette told her how proud she was of her. After finishing dinner, both of the women went to their respective bedrooms. Natasha decided to pass on taking her pill this night, just in case someone needed help. She climbed into bed then laid there looking at the ceiling while she thought about the two vampires. Could she be in that kind of relationship? Would she like it? She felt the sleep blanket her as she closed her eyes, and drifted off.