Gypsy Nights Read online

  He took a few bites of the sandwich she’d made him and tried to wash it down with the tea she’d poured him. The last thing he wanted to do was offend her, but trying to push down human food on an empty stomach was never a good idea. After he had blood, he would sometimes eat a few strawberries or have a glass of wine. He should have fed before he came to see her, but his excitement over finally finding her had clouded his better judgment. He needed to go and feed soon, or he’d be unable to control himself much longer. As much as he hated to leave her, he didn’t want her to see his demon manifest itself. He rose from his chair and picked up his plate.

  Gitana rushed around the table and took it from him. "Here, I’ll get that."

  "Merci, and I hope to see you again soon. I really should be getting home."

  She shifted and bit at her lower lip. Instantly, his body tightened and his cock hardened. Thoughts of her lush lips wrapped around his shaft flooded him.

  "Are you sure? I mean, you don’t have any utilities hooked up yet and it’s supposed to be cold tonight. I have a guest bedroom. You’re welcome to stay in that."

  He couldn’t hide his shock. He never expected her to go so far as to invite him to stay the night. Sure, he’d hoped, but he never really thought that she would. Truthfully, he didn’t mind sleeping in a house with no heat. His body stayed cold regardless of his surroundings, so it didn’t matter. As much as he wanted to be with her, in her, the need to feed was too great. He was about to decline her polite offer when he sensed her fear of being alone. Aaron’s call had unnerved her and Sebastian wanted to have a go at him if for no other reason then that. Standing slowly, he nodded.

  "If you are sure that it would be no trouble, then yes. I would welcome the opportunity to not only have a warm bed, but the company of a beautiful woman as well." His comment was suggestive, just as he intended it to be. Gitana blushed and it warmed him. He wanted to touch her, hold her in his arms and feel the length of her body pressed close to his.

  Suddenly, the lights flickered and then died. Gitana yelped and crashed into the corner of the table. Sebastian’s vampire eyes could see perfectly in any light, and he used his speed to cover the distance between them. Touching her arm lightly, he whispered in her ear. "It is okay. A storm approaches from the west." He ran his fingers down her arm. She tipped her head back, exposing her smooth neck to him, and let out a soft, sexy sigh. "Can you smell it…the rain I mean."

  Gitana took in a deep breath and held it for a moment. "Yes, I do smell it."

  She turned into his arms and tightened under his touch. Her body wanted him. He could sense it. But she was unsure of what to do next. Sebastian also sensed fear in her. It was unclear if her fear was of him or for him. There was only one way to find out.

  Leaning down to her, he let his lips hover just above her cheek. He wrapped his body around hers, embracing her, holding her tight. "Ma vie, you are shaking. Do you not like storms?"

  "No, I’ve never liked them. I have these dreams sometimes of...." She stopped short.

  He moved his head more and blew out a cool breath onto her cheek. It wasn’t hard to notice the sweet smell of her nervous sweat and the soft scent of vanilla that she seemed to secrete. He wondered if her cream would taste every bit as sweet as it smelled.

  Thunder boomed around them and the window lit up with the blue flashes of lightning. Gitana jumped and threw herself against Sebastian, leaving his body tightening and his cock painfully erect. He closed his eyes for a moment to try to regain his composure, but being this close to her proved to be too much.

  He wanted to have her naked in his arms, to taste what wonders lay beneath her long red skirt, and to press his cock deep within her velvety folds. At least, if he’d taken blood today, he could have held his sexual urges at bay. But now he wasn’t sure if blood would do much in the way of calming him while he was around Gitana, and that was a sign that she was a candidate to be his mate.

  * * * *

  Gitana held tight to Sebastian’s shirt and took in the scent of his Dolce and Gabbana. It was one of many types of cologne that Aaron had owned. He treated his colognes the same way he treated his women. He used them quickly, changed them often, and tossed them aside. She shook her head, not wanting to associate Aaron with Sebastian any further. Something about Sebastian felt so right, and she wouldn’t let her ugly past interfere.

  Gitana thought about pulling away from Sebastian. She hardly knew him, and yet she had her face pressed against his hard chest. To top it off, she’d invited him to spend the night. It was a bold move on her part. She’d never done such a thing before. He’d seemed reluctant at first, but when he finally agreed to stay, she’d felt like she could fly. She wished that she’d had the nerve to ask him to stay with her in her bed, but she’d chickened out and offered him the spare room.

  He moved his arms lower, leaving his hands resting on her hips. Tipping her forehead down, she let it rest on his chest. She wanted to run her hands up and through his long black curls, to feel the muscles in his neck as her fingers danced along them, and to know what it would feel like to see them straining above her as he worked his body in and out of hers. The lights flickered back on and startled her. She pulled away, brining her hand to her face as she laughed.

  "Geesh, I’m jumpy. Sorry, I didn’t mean for you…you didn’t have to…" She wasn’t sure how to thank him for comforting her. She’d never had a man do that before.

  Aaron’s temper always prevented him from being too nurturing. He liked to blame it on his "condition," but a year into their marriage she realized that was just the way he was, mean and domineering. Sebastian seemed different. He seemed to have a tender side that he wasn’t afraid to let show, yet something dangerous lurked just below the surface.

  Her grandmother had told her that Aaron was the one for her, her true mullo mate. In her language, mullo was a term used to describe demons like vampires and werewolves. The prophecies had told of Gitana’s coming, and that one day she would mate with a mullo. Their union would produce a ruler that would end the fighting between the Roma and the demons, saving mankind in the process. She’d been raised to believe in demons and creatures of the night. She’d seen so many different types of things that were thought to exist only in nightmares that they no longer fazed her.

  That’s what had made Aaron seem perfect for her. Being a werewolf himself, he knew about how strange her life was and he understood the traditions of her people, the craft that they practiced, their vows of secrecy. Normal people just didn’t get it, and letting them know that there were demons living and working among them would only cause mass chaos.

  There was a loud crash and the house seemed to shake for a brief moment. The lights went out with a pop. Gitana screamed and fell backwards, tripping over the leg of the table. She waited to hit the floor, but didn’t. Sebastian was suddenly there, holding her tight, protecting her. He sparked something primitive in her, something she’d never before experienced. Raw animal lust overcame her and she almost begged the stranger to take her to bed, to ravish her, to use her until their bodies were spent.

  His face was so close to hers that she couldn’t help herself. Leaning up, she planted her lips on his. Part of her expected him to just drop her. Another part hoped he’d reciprocate her advances. He did.

  Sebastian’s cool tongue slid into her slightly parted lips and inched its way around her mouth. Tiny, low moans and throaty laughs passed between them as they embraced. She shifted her legs a bit in an attempt to stop the dampness that he was creating, but only managed to stimulate her body more. Slick, wet cream lined her inner thighs now. As she slid her fingers into his silky curls, her dampened legs gave out from under her. In an instant, Sebastian had her swept up and off the floor.

  It was hard to make out his face in the dark, and the sporadic flashes of lightning weren’t helping much. Sebastian’s pale skin looked blue as each bolt struck out. He walked with her in his arms, carrying her toward the back of the house. He was doin
g remarkably well for a man who had never been in her home before, especially in the pitch darkness. He stopped only once to open her bedroom door before he continued onward.

  Sebastian laid her on her bed gently and moved his body over hers. His kisses came faster now but were every bit as rewarding as the first one. He was so much taller than she was that her legs stopped at just below his knee. She moved her legs out and allowed him to settle against the soft material of her long red skirt.

  * * * *

  Sebastian used his arms to prop himself up to keep his full weight from bearing down on Gitana. She seemed so tiny to him that he didn’t want to hurt her. He’d spent too long looking for her to risk anything happening to her now. He’d thought that she would have a hard time breaking through the barrier of him being undead, but he was pleasantly surprised to find out that Gitana not only knew creatures like him existed, but had been married to a werewolf. His chest tightened as he thought of her sharing her bed with another, and he silently cursed himself for not finding her sooner.

  No man but me will ever touch you again, my beautiful Gitana.

  Chapter 4

  She’d never taken a man she’d just met to bed before. Gitana had known Aaron for close to six months before she found herself in his arms. This was a first for her, and so far, it was wonderful. Sebastian’s kisses moved down her neck. It took everything in her not to push him off her and run from the room. She had to keep reminding herself that Sebastian didn’t pose the same risk to her throat and chest that Aaron had. She’d learned to be cautious about baring her neck to Aaron around the time of the full moon. He’d come close to ripping her throat out during intercourse once. Thankfully, he’d managed to stop himself before any real damage had been done.

  It felt good to relax and let Sebastian’s fingers and kisses run all over her. So far, he was being a gentleman. It was Gitana who finally crossed the line and pulled his shirt out of his pants. Running her fingers over his back, she felt his smooth, cool skin give way to thick raised welts. Sebastian tightened under her touch as she traced the length of the scars. His kisses slowed and he pulled back from her. He kissed the tip of her nose softly. She pulled her hands away from his back and tried to cover her mouth as she smiled. Sebastian caught hold of her wrist and pulled her hand to his lips.

  "Why do you cover your mouth when you smile?"

  Gitana tried to lower her face from him and pull her hand away. She hadn’t realized that she covered her mouth when she smiled, but it made sense. After years of living with Aaron she’d started to feel ugly, inferior. He made it a point to tell her daily that she was nothing like the wolf bitches he had lined up. He would go on and on about the she-wolves beauty and their knowledge behind bedroom doors. Aaron had made Gitana feel ugly, and not even divorce could erase that pain.

  He bent down towards her and kissed her cheek. "Let no man tell you lies, Gitana. You are tres jolie, and to say otherwise is a lie."

  Gitana’s stomach tightened, and she had a hard time holding back her tears. Only in her wildest dreams did men say such sweet things to her. To have one here with her, whispering all the right words was a bit overwhelming. The Goddess must have sent Sebastian to her. There was no other explanation for him. He was just too perfect, but the best thing about him was that he wasn’t a mullo--he wasn’t a demon.

  * * * *

  Sebastian kissed Gitana’s lips and tried to kiss away the salty tears on her cheeks. For the first time in over two hundred years, he felt as if he might cry as well. Some of his pain was Gitana’s, but the rest was all his own. He’d been eavesdropping on her thoughts and picked up on how relieved she was that he wasn’t like Aaron, that he wasn’t a demon. What had Aaron done to ruin her so? How could a werewolf allow himself to harm a woman he loved? If he ever found out, he would kill him, so it was best that he not know all the details.

  He wanted to take Gitana and mate with her the way it had been written long ago, but it would be a lie. She had the right to know what he was before he made love to her. If she found out that he was a vampire, she would send him away. But, he’d rather know that he’d been honest with her, than use her like she’d been used before. The Sebastian of centuries ago wouldn’t have thought twice about taking advantage of Gitana, but not now.

  It was so much easier then, he thought to himself as he kissed along her collarbone.

  He couldn’t remember the exact date of his change, but he did know that it had happened close to fifty years ago. He’d eaten his fill of human blood in a whorehouse outside of New Orleans and was ready to retire for the day. It was no different from the thousands of other pre-dawn expeditions he’d been on in his life, that was, not until he found himself on his knees with the sun pouring down on him. It’d seemed odd, at first, for the sun to be up so early, and even odder for him not to be burned by it.

  Soon after his morning in the sun, Sebastian began having bizarre dreams that involved helping humans. He’d wake covered in sweat and wonder how this could be. He was a vampire, and vampires don’t sweat. His tolerance for sunlight grew. He did not burst into flames as the rest of his kind did, but it would leave him drained, so he still tended to avoid the sun if at all possible. But that wasn’t the strangest part of the slow change. Over time Sebastian had begun to lose the taste for the blood of the innocent victims he used to feast upon. Now, he took care to make connections at local hospitals. And if he felt the need to hunt, he’d only hunt the humans who deserved to be bled. Those were always easy to find. He could read their minds and know what they’d done. The world was a better place without killers on the street.

  The only thing that mattered now was Gitana. Sebastian couldn’t remember a time that he’d ever felt this way for a woman. It was hard to pull away from her when all he really wanted to do was mold their bodies into one and feel how glorious it would be to release his seed into her. She tried to pull him to her, but he kept her at bay. Her big brown eyes looked hurt, and instantly Sebastian second-guessed his decision to wait until she knew what he truly was.

  I pushed too hard, moved to fast. He’ll never be back, he heard her thoughts as clear as if they were his own. He wasn’t sure how to comfort her without revealing that he had the power to read her mind.

  He was about to say something endearing, something comforting when his vampire senses kicked in and told him that danger was near them. A tingling sensation that supernatural creatures gave off crept up Sebastian’s spine. There were at least two, possible three threats. Tipping his head to the side, he took in a deep breath. Over the sweet vanilla smell of Gitana he picked up the scent of wolves. His body stiffened and his jaw tightened as he thought about Gitana’s ex-husband trying to hurt her.

  "Sebastian, are you okay? Did I do something wrong? I’m not normally like this. I’m sorry. You came here looking for help with a garden, and I do this…I’m sorry…I…"

  "Shh, my sweet Gitana, you are perfect. You could never do anything wrong. I just need to...." The telltale howls of a wolf rose over the wind of the storm.

  Gitana grabbed hold of his shoulders and stared up at him, a look of sheer terror on her face. "Stay here, and do not move," she said as she wiggled out from under him.

  Rolling off her, he climbed out of the bed and watched as she smoothed her skirt down. She unpinned her hair and let it fall in dark waves down her back. She was breathtaking. "Sebastian, I’m sorry. I should’ve never let this happen. I need you understand…promise to stay here."

  She glanced around the room and moved toward her dresser. Curious as to what she’d do next, he watched in silence as she lit several candles and took one in her hand. The soft candlelight reflected off her lovely face. He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss away the worried look that now clouded her beauty, but he had to deal with the danger lurking outside first.

  Howls sounded in the darkness again. Gitana jumped and then regained herself before heading toward the door. Sebastian moved behind her and she spun around on her heels, gla
ring at him. Even angry she made his body burn. He wanted her now, more then ever. "I told you to wait here!"

  The sound of glass breaking, followed by a loud thud filled the room. Sebastian tried to push past Gitana without hurting her, but she grabbed hold of his arm. He could have shook her off without effort, but he would never do that to her. He could never harm her. Taking her hand, he lowered it gently. "I will be back. Stay here."

  She huffed and grabbed hold of him again. "Okay, rich Frenchman, I can see that you don’t listen very well, so this is for your own good." She moved her hand over the candle and through the flame. It didn’t harm her. Instead, the flame burned bright blue. "Spirits of the past, those beyond the grave…who no longer live today…keep the living here to stay." The candle flared, and the temperature in the room dropped as she looked up at Sebastian. "I’m sorry, I should have told you that I was a…"

  "Witch, yes, but I assumed as much."

  Leaning up, she kissed his cheek and he wanted to confess his secret to her then and there. He didn’t. "I’m so sorry. I’ll lift the spell come morning, but for now I need to know that you’re safe."

  Chapter 5

  Gitana ran from the room. She felt horrible using her magic to imprison Sebastian, but if what she feared were true, Aaron would do far worse to him if he got the chance. She wouldn’t let that happen. She’d spent hours burying crystals around her house to ward off evil and keep those intent on doing her harm out. Even though she didn’t actively practice the craft anymore, she knew that she was powerful. Her grandmother had raised her to understand all the power she possessed and to respect it. It was about time that Aaron learned to do the same.