Page 1 of Vampire

CHAPTER ONE

I WATCHED HERas she moved from table to table,every few minutes giving me a nervous side glance as I gazed at her. My little butterfly wanted to ask me a question. I know this because she had already asked that very question to Lord, who I had already warned to send her to me. I took another drag of my cigarette as I continued watching her knowing her time to ask was about up. Finally, she stopped, seeming to have an internal conversation with herself before squaring her shoulders and heading toward my table in the back.

I watched her walk my way, her curvy little body filling out the tiny shorts and tank the servers wore at the strip club. Her thick, long blond hair swayed as it hit the top of her ass. Finally, she was standing before me, those big innocent blue eyes that seemed too big for her face looking anywhere but at me. I could make this easy for my little butterfly, but I won’t. I waited for her to start instead of initiating the conversation.

Not raising her eyes, she said quietly, “Um, Vampire, would it be okay if I left a few hours early? Terri said she can finish my shift.”

She had such a soft voice that was soothing to my ears. “Eyes on me, little butterfly.” I was pleased when she did as I asked, raising her eyes to mine. “Good girl, now why do you need to leave early?”

I watched the emotions run across her face; she was going to lie. “I have a family thing I need to attend, last minute,” She lied not so smoothly, her voice uncertain.

She was hiding something. I knew it from the first time she walked into the club looking for a job. Nicolette Albans did not belong here. She had lowered her eyes again with the lie. “Look at me, Nicolette,” I commanded her, and she did as I asked. “It is alright if you leave early, provided Terri covers you.”

Nicolette gave me a nervous smile. “Thanks, Vampire. I appreciate you letting me leave early.” Then, turning to leave so fast, she almost broke her ankle in the heels she was wearing.

I watched Nicolette hurry over to Terri, talking with her a minute before heading to the back to change. I imagined Nicolette changing, showing all that pale, unblemished skin my hands itched to mark. I have thought a lot about my little butterfly since she started working here a few months back.

Too fucking much.

I have never been tempted by any woman who came through the strip club or the clubhouse. None of them were what I was looking for or needed. But unfortunately for Nicolette, she is. My little butterfly is a true submissive, which is rare; sure, some women claim to be submissive but are not. Shadow is lucky; he has a true submissive with Mary. Not that I would ever let on that I know their dynamic in the bedroom. But Shadow is, without a doubt, a Dom.

I’m attracted as fuck to Nicolette. Everything about her screams that she is mine and belongs to me. But, getting close to her is not easy; she is scared shitless of me, always avoiding me and taking her problems to every other person in ‘Scarlett’ but for me. So, I took care of that and warned the other brothers only I would deal with any issues with Nicolette forcing her to interact with me.

I have not followed her to find out where she goes when she is not working here. But that will change come Saturday night. I know she shares an apartment with Terri, who helped her get a job here. I was only willing to let her wait tables, which she was happy about. I also know she is single and doesn’t date, and I’m willing to bet she’s a virgin at twenty-two. Nicolette breathes innocence and subtle sexuality only an untried woman has.

“Hey, Vampire, can I get you another drink?” Callie asked, thrusting her near-naked tits out, licking her lips, and trying to tempt me. I deal with this shit on a daily basis, and the women here never learn. I’m in charge of the strip club because it takes more than naked tits and pussy to tempt me. I had an acquired taste that, until Nicolette, never walked through these doors.

Stubbing out my cigarette, I stood from the table, walking away without a backward glance. Was I an asshole? Sure, did I give a fuck? No.

VAMPIRE WAS WATCHINGme as I walked away.I could feel it, and it made me hurry my steps. I reached Terri. “Vampire said it was okay for me to leave and you to finish my shift,” I said, giving her a big smile of relief.

“See, I told you he would be okay with it. You worried for nothing,” Terri chuckled. She flipped her long red hair over her shoulder. Terri waited tables and stripped at Scarlett. She was gorgeous and gave off a sexual vibe that earned her big tips. I can’t seem to master what she does because I do okay but not nearly as well as Terri.

“He just makes me so nervous. I better get out of here if I’m going to make it on time. See you later,” I said, hurrying to the back to change.

I had wasted precious time gathering the courage to talk to Vampire. The man took handsome to the next level, but a darkness about him gave me pause, he had long black hair he kept pulled back, a close-cropped beard and mustache, and he was tall and lean, stealthy like a panther. Not to mention I was widely attracted to him, and the way he watched me during my shifts, his stormy gray eyes following me around the room, made my heart flutter. Then, when he spoke to me in his commanding voice and praised me, calling me by my full name Nicolette or little butterfly, I almost melted. But, I was shy and awkward, and his dark presence intimidated me so that I couldn’t talk to him.

I hurried out to my car, a yellow VW Bug that has seen better days, but beggars can’t be choosy, and it gets me where I need to be. I had a half-hour to make it to the underground club where I played violin. I couldn’t tell Vampire why I needed the night off; Terri is the only person who knows what my second job is. The club had a call-off tonight and asked me to come in. I jump at any chance to be able to play my violin.

I am classically trained in playing the violin. And am good enough to play in a symphony, but since I ran from my home three years ago and hid using a false last name, I can’t take a job that doesn’t pay me under the table. So I can’t take a chance of being found.

Parking in the back of the lot, I ran my hands over the tight, white, form-fitting dress I was required to wear, grabbed my violin, and hurried toward the club entrance. The building is not marked, and you must be a member to enter. I knocked on the door and waited for it open. When it did, a familiar face greeted me.

“Hey Nikki, get called in tonight?” Blake, the guard at the door, asked while letting me slide through. Blake was a great guy and looked out for me when I was here. Blake was all muscles, blond hair, and a blue-eyed hottie. He had asked me out a few times, but I wasn’t interested. Friendship was all there was for me when it came to Blake.

“Yeah, and I’m almost late. Catcha later, Blake,” I said over my shoulder as I rushed toward the room I needed to be. I hit the door open into the dressing room, seeing everyone else must already be on stage. I quickly got my violin out and headed through the door in the back of the room that led to the stage, taking my seat.

“Right on time,” Shelly said from the chair beside me; she played the bass clarinet in our little symphony. And she was right; no sooner had I sat down than the lights dimmed. So I put my violin on my shoulder and started to play, losing myself in the music and not looking down into the room below us. Because if I did, I would be turning fifty shades of red.

This was a sex club.

And we are here to play dramatic classical music that seemed to be a fetish for some patrons, who liked to have sex while the music was being performed. An orgy was happening below, and I kept my eyes straight ahead. I had grown up sheltered; between the strip club Scarlett and Dominant Candy, I had gotten a quick education about sexual activities. But, I needed the money, and both clubs paid me under the table.

I played for the next two hours. When the music stops, I’m out. I don’t hang around like most of the musicians who play. I don’t need to see what is happening on the floor or in any room. It’s too much for me, a twenty-two-year-old virgin. My parents were super strict growing up—no dates for me. My parents had already promised me to a colleague’s son, and I had no say in the matter. The Mafia worked that way. Carson Jameson, the man I was to marry, was an abusive asshole. I decided to run rather than end up his wife. My Nanna helped me get out and gave me enough money to distance myself from the West Coast. That’s how I ended up here in Pennsylvania.

I put my violin back in its case and headed for the rear exit. Blake is still there; as is his habit, he will walk me to my car. “Ready to head out, Nikki?” Blake asked, holding the door.

“Yep, I have a long shift tomorrow, so I need some sleep,” I said, looking at my phone; it was now one in the morning. I worked at the Scarlett Sunday-Thursday and Dominate Candy on Friday and Saturday nights. Today being Wednesday, I worked a nine-hour shift at Scarlett tomorrow.