After everyone had gone home, Charlie went to the bar and poured himself a drink. He was disappointed. After that kiss, Antoinette had stayed for the whole show, dancing right up front, and then she’d disappeared. No doubt her black mountain of a body guard had hustled her out so they could beat the traffic, but Charlie had been sure she would stay.
Charlie touched his lips, imagining that kiss. He downed his drink and walked to the back door, stepping out into the cool night air. The gentle slap of the water on the dock was amplified in the heavy fog. In the haze, Charlie could barely see anything even with the security lights on.
Charlie tensed as rapid footsteps approached through the mist.
“Argus?” he said, surprised.
The wolf sat and looked up at him, panting, his golden eyes warm as his tail beat the ground.
“Where’s your mama?” Charlie asked him quietly.
Argus looked off into the shifting clouds and woofed softly. Antoinette was leaning on the corner of the building, smoking a cigarette in a long filter. When she exhaled, Charlie was sure he could see shapes in the fog. He blinked rapidly and they vanished.
“You came back,” Charlie said, walking towards her.
The woman smiled, her black-rimmed eyes dancing, “Of course. You’re the most interesting thing I’ve seen around here in ages.”
Charlie laughed, “Where have you been? Who were all those people with you?”
“Who? Annette and Marlo? Or the others?”
Charlie’s brow furrowed, “What others?”
“Charlie…” Antoinette said, leaning forward, “I invited every major business owner in the city to see you play tonight. I’m told they all enjoyed it.”
Charlie gulped, “Seriously? How did you manage that?”
“Dax made a few phone calls. I figured you wouldn’t mind the publicity. Anyway, Marlo insisted on coming, and I brought Annette just for fun. She’s loves this kind of thing.”
Charlie nodded, “Well I definitely appreciate that, I –” Charlie shook his head, “Wait, who are you exactly? I mean, what do you do? How the hell did you convince every suit in the city to come to what was essentially a rave to see me? I mean, Maudlin’s not exactly a pop band.”
Antoinette laughed, and even Argus barked as though he was amused, “Oh, Charlie, you’re adorable when you’re confused. May I go inside? It’s getting chilly out here.”
“Of course,” Charlie took her arm and walked inside with her. “I’ll leave the door open for Argus. As long as he does his business outside I don’t care if he comes in.”
“Hear that, love?” Antoinette asked Argus.
Argus just sneezed in response and lay down in front of the door, the breeze making his fur ripple.
Charlie paused for a moment, “Um, I want to keep talking, but I really need to shower and get out of these clothes. You’re welcome to come upstairs if you don’t mind waiting.”
Antoinette smiled, “Freely and of my own will.” She winked.
Charlie swallowed hard, “And mine.”
She nodded, “Obviously.”
Charlie led her upstairs. He noticed Argus lifted his head to watch them go but he stayed by the door. Charlie’s pulse picked up. A beautiful woman was following him up to his room. A beautiful woman he was extremely attracted to. The fact that he barely knew her never crossed his mind. She was here with him, and they were alone.
Antoinette went to sit on the bed, and Charlie realized she wasn’t wearing the same thing she’d had on at the concert. The shark tooth hung around her neck on a thin black cord now, and she was wearing a silver tank top and black leggings with combat boots that came up to her knees.
“Where do you live?” Charlie asked, taking his shirt off. “It must be close.”
“It is,” she replied, not taking her eyes off of him.
“Why haven’t I seen you before?” he asked. “I’ve been living here for over a year now, and I ran into you last night on a path you and I supposedly both walk all the time. How is it, as important as you are, that I’ve never heard of you? How have I not met you until now?”
“You weren’t ready,” she said.
“Ready for what?”
“Ready for me,” Antoinette’s eyes bored into his, “ready for the answers to all the questions you’ve asked me tonight.”
Charlie tried to remember everything he’d asked her, “Am I ready now?” He unbuttoned his fly.
Antoinette smirked, “Perhaps.”
Charlie slid out of his pants and his boxers and flung them down the chute in the corner. Without taking his eyes off Antoinette, he grabbed a towel and went into the bathroom, not bothering to close the door. His mind raced as the water poured over him and he found himself straining to hear the woman in the other room. So he was startled when he stepped out of the shower and a warm tongue ran up his back as he toweled off.
Charlie spun, grabbing a fistful of Antoinette’s hair and pushing her against the wall in one motion. One look in her molten eyes said all he needed to know. He kissed her, biting her lip this time and pulling her head back so far he was surprised she didn’t yelp. He bit and kissed down her neck, his tongue feeling for the seductive swell of her pulse. He found it and sunk his teeth in. Waves of desire rushed through him, and he almost came when Antoinette moaned and leaned into his teeth.
“More,” she whispered. “Take me in.”
Her blood was sweet and coppery, and as his mouth filled, his mind’s eye flickered with images. He opened his eyes as he swallowed, an icy band pulsing around his heart. This woman was different than anyone he’d ever met. After that taste, he wasn’t so sure she was a “who” as much as a “what.” Lust stomped out his fear as he licked the bite. When she moaned again, he grabbed her arms and steered her into the bedroom, lying her face down on the bed.
While he was in the shower, Antoinette had lit more candles than Charlie realized he had. His room had been transformed from a rather austere bachelor’s loft into a flickering grotto. He blinked for a moment and Antoinette flipped over, her chest heaving. Charlie’s eyes moved to her fingers as they slid under the edges of the sheer bra she was wearing, teasing the soft skin of her breasts.
Charlie growled and shoved her hands away before turning her over again. He unclasped her bra with one flick and dragged her thong away in a swipe, flinging it off the bed. Her ass was tilted up at him like an invitation. Charlie plunged into her, shouting at the silky, hot wetness. He let go of her hair and grabbed her hips, driving into her forcefully. Antoinette moaned, and it echoed around the room, amplifying the animal rawness of it.
Shoving her towards the head of the bed, Charlie bent her body towards him so her chest was pressed against the cool brick wall, her skin rubbing against the uneven texture as he thrust. Charlie felt Antoinette’s body convulse with orgasm and hot streams of liquid ran down their legs. Charlie’s mind was filled with feral passion, and indiscernible cries ripped from his throat. For a moment he was sure he heard wolves howling, or was it whale song? But he had no mind to ponder it. He bit the back of Antoinette’s neck like a panther, his lithe body writhing into hers with ecstatic friction. He felt himself on the brink of his climax and he pulled away from her, laying her down on the bed.
Antoinette looked up at him and he gasped at the look in her eyes. There was no fear. He was sure in that moment that she knew his mind, and she welcomed it. He kissed her with bruising force as he thrust into her again, bucking against her willing body until he yielded at last and let go with a shout. He fell to his elbows, Antoinette’s body cradling him as she bit and sucked at his neck and his jaw. Then he winced with surprise as her teeth truly pierced him, right on the tender muscles of his shoulder. He felt his skin pop in her mouth and the gentle pulling motions as his blood flowed over her tongue. She moaned and he felt her shudder beneath him again, his sensitive cock teased almost painfully by the rhythmic contractions.
When she relaxed and let her head fall back on the pillows, Charlie lay down beside her, his eyes closing as they hit the pillow. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep, he wanted to talk, but for some reason he couldn’t keep his eyes open. Charlie’s dreams were filled with Antoinette’s face and form. She spoke to him in a language he didn’t understand, but for some reason, it was comforting and it filled him with a sense of excitement. He slept like a dead man, without moving at all, and so deeply he felt like his entire self was being restored. Years of exhaustion melted away and life was a fire in his veins again. He prayed to whatever gods existed that he would still feel that way when he woke up; he couldn’t ever remember feeling this way. Read more »