Bodyguard

"The Dark Stranger"

© VeGirl 2014

We're still sitting in my kitchen, with me struggling to process this mystical common past of ours when he drops the next bomb.

"I can't leave? What do you mean I can't leave the house?" I snap at him. "You can't put me on some freaking house-arrest!" Ire pushes the desire away for the moment.

"You don't get it; there are people out there that don't want us to find each other again." He has an assertive voice however sweet he is trying to make it sound.

"Again? What do you mean; find each other again?" I raise one of my eyebrows. "If I met you before, I would have remembered; I told you that." Why does he keep saying such profoundly confusing stuff?

He exhales slowly.

I just stare at him. "So I'm grounded?" I snap again.

"That is the best way for me to keep you safe," he says tenderly, which strikes a core deep inside me.

I ignore it. "You are aware of the fact that I managed to stay alive before you moved into this neighbourhood?" I use the sarcastic tone with a glare to accompany that.

"Yes, but I couldn't stay away any longer, and now I won't let you go again."

"Stalker much?" I mutter and he turns his serious face into a chuckle. I can't comprehend how much a smile changes his face and my body wants him anew; craves him.

"I think you'll be fine during the day, but I rather you stayed inside after dark." There is a serious protective, sweet tone in his voice, but I can't help myself. I have to push him away.

"Curfew?" I snort.

A surprised smile appears on his beautiful face. "Yes, I'm grounding you; if you don't obey I will take stronger actions." He speaks slowly and I can see that it is part serious, and part playful and I just can't help myself but to push further.

"What; a lock down?"

"I have a space in my basement that would be perfect for that, so... try me!" His eyes sparkle and his voice is threatening, however soft the words are spoken, and I can see for my inner sight a dungeon with barred windows and I shudder. The room is not a cell, but a restraining place of playthings. A room of pleasure.

I swallow hard. "Sorry, that's really not my thing," I say defiantly.

He chuckles dark and then he leans forward over the table with a finger under my chin. "I'm sure I can get you to like it." His voice is ominous sounding, his blue eyes sparkle like mercury and I have a hard time to think of any snarky reply. My body is on high alert again after being too shocked to react to him for a while. Suddenly he sighs, totally surprising me with the changed mood. "Your phone has been vibrating constantly since you got out of that shack, is there any chance that you'll pick it up?"

I have my hand in my purse before his sentence is finished. "Eddie!" I yelp and tap the answer button that is shining bright red on my display. "Eddie, I'm sorry," I answer. "I'm okay, at home and I'm sorry I couldn't hear your call."

I look up at Vincent's gorgeous face when he passes me by, on the way to my couch. Eddie says something, but I have no idea what it is, all I'm aware of is this man walking around in my home as if he owns it, and the feelings that are buzzing inside of me.

"Hello, are you there?" Eddie yells on the phone.

"Yeah, I'm here. I'm sorry; something happened and we... I... I had to get out of there. It might have been that creep that was stalking me," I lie with my eyes locked in Vincent's and notice a raised eyebrow on the drop dead gorgeous guy, lounging on my couch. "But I got some help, so I got away this time, thankfully." It is a bit scary how easy those lies comes out of my mouth. "But I better stay here tonight." Truthfully I am still a bit shook up and I expect to break down the minute I allow myself.

"Do you want me to come over?" The concern in my friends voice makes my guilt overflow, but something really did happen at the fair; that was certainly no lie.

"No, I'll just get into a nice bubble-bath, and then to bed, so you go ahead and have fun, I'll call you in the morning." I end the call and glance towards the couch where my eyes catch a smirking black-haired dude with two raised eyebrows, looking like I was offering him to join me in the tub. "Just forget it," I mutter.

"I can't; you really gave me something to think about through my nights." He has a smug grin on and I exhale sharply at the thought of him and me naked in my tub, all wrapped in bubbles.

Oh Em Ge; let's focus on something else! I try to tell myself and turn toward the kitchen where I seriously considering washing my face under the cold tap.

"Samira?" he coo with a voice sweet and alluring and I find myself walking over to him almost in a daze. "Come sit here, gorgeous." He pats the seat on the couch next to him and I sit down, not sure if it was on his order or on my own free will. He has removed his leather jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt revealing sinewy, muscular arms, just as I imagined.

I have to force myself to snap out of it. "Why should I believe any of this?" I say slowly. "It sounds preposterous!"

He lifts his hand and takes a stray strand of hair to put behind my ear, making the air between us sparkle of static electricity. "Because it's the truth." His answer is just as unbelievable as his prior statement and I just can't swallow this piece of fiction; it can't be true.

"This curfew, does that mean you'll be here all night?" I dare to ask.

A crooked smile appears on his face. "If you ask me I'd gladly say yes, but I can stalk you from my house if you don't want me here."

I don't know what to say.

His prescence is all I want; I want him to touch me, to let his breath caress my skin and I have to focus like a neurosurgeon during an operation to stop myself.

We end up on my couch, watching some random film on tv, and as soon as my eyelids are getting heavy, he excuses himself and walks out of my home. I'm still indecisive as to whether I should have asked him to stay or not.

That night I dream that he is standing by my bed. Seriously I watch his splendid face, filled with desire and I move to give him room in the bed. With his glowing silver blue eyes on me he lie down in my bed, slide his hand in my hair and kiss me deeply. My entire body feels as if on fire.

* * *

I wake up gasping, still with a warm aching sensation deep down in my stomach. I roll on my back, breathing deeply and rolling eyes at myself. I turn to the empty side of my bed, looking at the pillow that was occupied in my dream and burrow my face in it.

It smells like leather and Jasmine.

What is it about this Jasmine scent? I have noticed it on him, almost hiding in the mixture of his after shave and that sweet leathery signature of his. Even if Jasmine isn't a particular male scent, it suits him.

I spend the morning hour trying to process the information he has brought me and everything that has happened over these last few days.

He claims that there are people out there that don't want us together and I want to find out why. Who it is, seems less important, but the why is what is intriguing. Perhaps it could be some old lover of his that wants him to himself? I glance over to his house several times during that day, but there is absolutely no sign of him. It seems like he's sleeping during the day and apparently is on Sam-watch during the nights.

Perhaps Eddie is right after all, perhaps he is a vampire?

I laugh at how crazy that sounds, vampires belong in books and movies; they certainly don't live across the street.

Before lunch I remember to call Eddie and tell her some lie about the events the night before. She tells me that they had a great time and that she hooked up with Kevin.

"Finally!" I laugh. "It took you long enough."

Eddie laughs as well. "Yeah, I just got back from his place." She admits.

"Good, that was about time!"

"Yeah, and it was good!" We both laugh for a while before we end the call.

After ignoring the longing for nightfall, I sit down on my back patio and try to catch up on my reading, but I feel restless and have a hard time to focus.

I am anxious to see Vincent again.

To distract myself I decide to call my mom to take my mind off my bodyguard. I haven't spoken to my mom for a good while. Not because we don't get along, by because we're both busy. She's glad that I called and she's worried about how I'm doing since Peter and I split up.

"I assure you that I'm fine, mom."

"Anyone new?" Her tone is curious and I weigh my words.

"Several new, mom," I chuckle and she whistles. "But none so serious that I'm about to introduce them yet."

"How sad, I'd like to see you and if you had someone to introduce perhaps you'd have time from work to come see us, " she teases.

"The road is equally long in this direction," I tease back, since they haven't been in my town for almost a year.

"I heard some rumours about that, but I find it really hard believe," she joke and we both laugh.

When the sun sets, I am determined to test Eddie's absurd theory and have set the table out on my back patio with different delicacies, and wait by the lit candles for Vincent to show up. The doorbell signals and I bounce up and find him standing outside, looking incredible as always in his black jeans and a black button down shirt.

"Hi, baby." That is all he has to say for my inner to become turmoil.

"Hi," is all I can come up with in return as I stand there watching him. Finally I shake out of it. "Come in." I take a step to the side and give him room to walk inside. Determined to make a conversation I ask if he's hungry.

He smiles at me. "Perhaps a little."

"Good, I made fingerfood." I wonder what fingerfood for a vampire is, but then scowl myself internally. I decide I don't want to know and that I should read some books to know what to expect from a relationship like this, it can't be like Bella and Edward's. "Can I offer you something to drink, like a Scotch?"

"Please."

We walk to the kitchen and I pour one each and then walk out on the patio. I am nervous as if this was a date; which it isn't.

"Wow, this is beautiful." He smiles appreciative at me and I feel pleased and almost giddy, glad to have done this for him.

"I'm glad you like it." I mumble.

"So you were certain that I would come?"

I look surprised at him. "You were the one who put the curfew on me," I accuse, suddenly feeling hurt and defensive. "I didn't tell you to be here."

He walks right up to me and with a finger under my chin, tilt my head up towards his face. "You wanted me to come," he states and I can't deny it however much I try.

My pulse is beating wildly and I have to distract myself by pulling out if this stance, reaching for a piece of snack on the table and put in my mouth. When my eyes flicker towards him, I notice how he is studying me intense. Why would he do that? I start to get nervous and I motion for the seat on the other side of the table. "Please sit down." I swallow thickly as I slump down on my chair.

He keep studying me. "You're afraid of me," he deduce slowly. "Why?"

I chuckle dry and do my best to deflect. "I'm not afraid, I just don't want the food to get cold." I look at the different tapas dishes, and smile. "Or warm," I add as I realise the food is supposed to be cold. I take another piece; put it in my mouth and chew, to avoid eyecontact with him.

He leans over the table and put a finger under my chin to turn my face toward him. "You don't have to be afraid of me." He smiles a wayward at me.

Oh yes I do!

* * *

The alarm goes off and I roll over and tap the snooze button on my alarm clock. It is Wednesday and I have many hours work before it is time to lay my head to rest on my pillow again.

That day at work, Eddie is busy with client meetings all day and she won't be back until late that evening. I miss her. After work I head home, eat and freshen up before it is time to get back to work for the evening session. We have another catering appointment and this time it is a big party at the Cave, so I promised that I'd help out. It's not like I have a guy at home to protest anymore and I like this part of my work; possibly because it isn't something I do all the time.

Eddie watches me surprised when I step into the kitchen again that night. "Have you dyed your hair?"

"No!" I laugh flat.

She takes a step closer and takes a strand of my hair. "Sure you have; it's much darker than usual," my friend laughs, making me look down at it and then confused at her. "It is a little stupid to deny what everybody can see, sweetie!"

"What?" With furrowed brows I just turn from her and walk fast to the bathroom mirror where I stare at a much more dark-haired version of myself. "What the hell?" I start to separate my hair in strands and stare at it in confusion. I know for a fact that I haven't dyed my hair and I don't understand anything. It must be the light, making it look darker.

The others are packing all the desserts, china and glasses, drinks and coffeepots in the van outside and I do my best to help out. When we arrive at the Cave, Mark is already in full motion with his crew, just about to hand out the main course.

"Hey'a girls. Could you do me a favour and take the other plates?"

Mary and I take as many as we can and walk after Mark and his crew, while Amelia and Eddie unload our stuff from the van.

It is quite obvious when we walk out in the huge area that this is a much bigger gathering of people than we usually serv. Yes, we knew it was going to be a lot of people, since we have been working hard to keep both the coffee house going and making desserts all day, but walking out in this huge room with the crystal chandeliers it seems even bigger. Right now the room is furnished with long white linen-clad tables and all the people are dressed in swanky cocktail dresses and suits.

We work effectively as usual and soon conversations among the guests die out as everybody starts on their dinner, and we can return to the back quarters.

Trey walks up to me in the kitchen. "Hey beautiful." I can see Mary looking longingly at him when he bends down to kiss my cheek. "You shouldn't be in here; you should be out there, strutting your stuff." He nods out towards the fine and fancy people eating the food we're cooking.

"I heard that!" Eddie yell. "Stop corrupting my staff Trey."

"Eddie; my favourite cousin!" He smiles widely and kiss her on the cheeks.

She just laugh and shake her head. "Trey, you're just a big kiss up!"

"He can kiss me anytime, I hear Mary mumble, but when I turn to look at her, she just turns away, busying herself. A smile widens on my face and I glance at her, making her cheeks turn pink. So...she has a crush on Trey? Well, I can hardly blame her; he is gorgeous, and he a true charmer.

"I like your new hair." Trey is standing behind me, whispering in my ear and I almost jump in surprise.

"What?" I snap, watching him be taken aback by my sudden anger.

"The colour; I like it."

"Oh... Thank you," I mumble, still confused why people are talking as if I've been at the hair salon all day.

Trey keeps a little more distance to me during the night and I catch him narrowing in on Amelia and Mary, sweet-talking the two of them. Eddie and I exchange looks and several smiles, knowing that is just his way. Time flies when the company we are here to serve is this big, and soon the main course is eaten as well as the starters and dessert.

I flex my neck and hear it crack a little. It has been a long day.

"I'll take care of this; you can take off with Amelia and Mary." Eddie says.

"Really? I can stay if you like."

"No, Mark promised to help me," my friend assure me.

"Well, you don't have to ask twice." I smile at her, wave my hand in the air and hurry after my co-workers out the staff door.

It takes no time for my eyes to adjust and find a dark figure leaning against the wall. "Is the shift over now love?" he says and I can feel my body tremble when he calls me that.

I exhale sharply. "Yes." My voice sounds much weaker than I intended and I walk up to him, feeling my whole body tingle. "How did you know I was here?"

"You're easy to track..." He smirks and I have a hard time breathing in this close proximity.

"Sam? Are you coming?" Mary asks and I turn to find them watching us with curious eyes.

"Err..."

"I'll take her home," I hear Vincent call out to them and wave dismissingly. "I want you to myself," he whisper in my ear and once again I am startled as I haven't noticed how close to me he suddenly is. I draw in a ragged breath and notice how dizzy I feel.

I can hear him chuckle darkly. "Aren't you a little too easy?" His words send shivers down my spine until the words clear up in my head.

"Easy? I'm not easy!" I object feeling insulted.

Once again he chuckle. "Come on, I'll take you home, sugar."

"Not like that!" I pout. Even if I enjoy the attention from others, I have never been easy!

He grabs my upper arm. "Come here, I'm taking you home."

"Yes yes, I'm coming," I hiss at the bossy side of him and stumble along next to my ground keeper as I hear him chuckle.

"Sam?" I hear my friend call out for me.

After a glance at Vincent, I stop and turn around. "Did I forget something Eddie?" I smile cautiously at my friend. She walks carefully closer, with a curious look on Vincent.

Vincent surprises me by turning toward her with a completely different look on his face than the guarded one I have got to know. He reaches his hand for Eddie, who looks slightly dazed by his friendly expression."I'm Vin', it is so nice to finally meet you." He takes Eddie's hand, shakes it and then he gives her a kiss on the back of her hand, dazzling her further and then he flashes off a smile that radiates so much trust and energy that I'm sure it could support a minor country for months.

Eddie turns to scowl at me and I give her an uncomfortable smile. I open my mouth to say something, but just one look at Vincent makes my head go blank again.

Vincent pulls me in and kisses my temple. "I'll go get the car so I can take you home darling. " He turns and walk away and I sway slightly without his supportive arm.

"What is this?" Eddie hisses quietly and gestures towards Vincent's back with her eyes open wide.

"Not now!" I hiss back at her while waving my arms. "I'll talk about it some other time."

"Definitely!" Eddie seems to remember that she has a job to do. "I'll see you tomorrow," she says, turns on her heal and walks away from me. As soon as she has left, Vincent is there with a black sports car, opening the door for me while looking around again, to check if anybody is watching us.

"What is it with you and black? Are you a true creature of the night or are you just allergic to any colour?" I blurt out when he has me secured in his car and in seconds is speeding off.

"That sarcasm isn't helping much right now." He is glaring at me.

"Really?" I snort.

He narrows his eyes and chuckle darkly; something that sends shivers up and down my spine again. "Just keep it up, and you'll see what I'll do to you." His voice is low; almost an octave lower than his usual tone and it sends lust though my body like he's radiating pure hormones.

Sure, just agitate the vampire, will you?

Once again, I start to ponder what kind of danger I am in; could it be grave danger due to my unability to know when to stop speaking? What do I really know about the fuse-length of an aggravated vampire?

When we get home he parks that car in a garage that seems to be in much better shape than the house, and I haven't really noticed either the garage or the car before. He opens the car-door for me and glances around before he walks me across the street to my house.

I unlock the deadbolt and he follows me inside. "Not a gentleman tonight?" I ask since he jus stepped inside. I watch him get a surprised look on his face.

"But I've already been invited," he smirks.

I purse my lips together. "Perhaps I should take that invitation back?" I murmur and hear him snicker again.

"That won't work."

I grind my teeth, flick the lights on and slump down on my couch. I see him pucker his eyebrows and walk slowly closer to me and sit down next to me on the couch. Surprised I watch him lift a hand and take a strand of my hair in it and study me with a serious expression.

"What?" I murmur, feeling a little uncomfortable and am suddenly very aware of how short the black skirt I'm wearing is, and how high it rises up on my thigh when I sit. I pull it down, concious of how close he is.

"It's getting darker," he murmurs silently, still with that bemused face.

I can't look away and totally forget my anger as my eyes flicker down to his soft looking lips. I long to feel them on mine. As if he can read my mind, he takes my face between his hands and kisses me softly at first, and then with so much passion that I've never experienced before in my life. My whole body is on fire, my head is spinning and I am totally unaware that I forgot to breathe again.

When he breaks off the kiss I notice that his eyes are almost black; not pitch black, but the silvery blue is more deep dark cobalt blue. I draw in a deep breath and stare at his face, unable to do anything but be aware of his presence, how my body and mind reacts instinctively to him. I remember that there is something I want to ask him, but I am unable to recall what it is.

"I better leave you, before I do something you don't want me to," he says with a teasing expression and all I can think of is; please stay!

He bends closer to me and kisses my forehead before he walks out on me, and I slump back in the couch.

All I can think of is that it is such an intimate thing to do, even after that deep kiss.

.