6

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. He looked down at Kat as she flinched at the sound and sat up, looking bleary eyed and a little startled. Ruben had been contemplatively stroking her hair lost in his own thoughts.

“Did you fall asleep?” He asked amused as he was captivated by her sleepy dazed expression as her large eyes blinked up at him endearingly.

“I think I dozed off, yeah, it is late.” Kat answered apologetically.

“Not for vampires…” He chuckled and called out. “Enter.”

The door opened to reveal the same vampire in the suit, he hesitated and choked on his words at the sight of the young blond woman sitting straddling the Lord’s lap. Ruben smiled at the reaction, it was certainly going to create a stir having her here. Kat moved her leg over to the side and sat sideways on Ruben’s lap so she could see the room better. She saw the same man that had entered earlier and wondered if he was some sort of assistant.

The man got control of himself and finally found his voice. “Your guests have arrived, my Lord.”

“Excellent, thank you Aiden. I will be out shortly.”

The man bowed his head and left.

Kat looked at Ruben with a little sardonic smile. Ruben glanced down at her and met those amazing dark green eyes again, he could stare at them all night. “I’m going to have to get up, aren’t I?”

Ruben smiled and gave a little laugh. “I’m afraid so, I would love for you to join me though?” He really had no intention of letting her out of his sight.

“Join you in what?” Kat said as she stood up, then leaned back on the edge of his desk looking down at Ruben in the chair. It was a very appealing sight to behold as he didn’t move except to open his legs for her to stand between them. His svelte waist and wide shoulders made her wonder what he looked like under that all covering three piece suit.

“My meeting with my guests.”

“And what sort of guests are these? Let me guess…” Kat smiled slightly as she folded her arms looking Ruben up and down, her mouth twisted sardonically. Ruben just sat calmly watching her, smiling amused at the face she was pulling. “Other crime bosses?”

“Other Vampire Lords…actually, I do conduct some legitimate business too you know...” Ruben corrected as he chuckled. He stood up and looked down on her and bopped her gently on the nose with his index finger, then dipped it up and under her chin. She hadn’t really realised how tall he was until this moment as he towered over her with no breathing space between them, she had to tip her head back to look at him as his finger guided her head up. Her heart pattered at his closeness and the dominant aura he possessed in the position. “Are you too tired to join me?” He seemed somewhat disappointed but challenging at the same time as that perfect arched eyebrow rose again in question as he looked down his perfect nose at her.

“I suppose not, but what’s the dress code? You pureblood vamps are always so goddamn glamorous and expensive.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that…I can fix what you are wearing for tonight with a glamour spell…just say you’ll come…please.” He trailed his fingers up from her chin, along her jawline and then seductively tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. His ice blue eyes sparkling with a daring sexiness that Kat found absolutely irresistible. Just like every other female that looks into those eyes no doubt…

“You’re lucky Scott is a night owl too and I’m used to being up this late…” She replied to his unspoken challenge. “So yes, I would love to accompany you, if it’s okay?” Kat smiled at Ruben’s ecstatic look as the grin spread across his face at every word she said.

“Wonderful!” He grabbed her hands and pulled her over to a clear space next to his desk and as his eyes glowed with power he twirled her round in a circle and placed a finger over her head. She was encompassed in an ethereal golden light as her black jeans, t-shirt and jacket turned into a long evening gown of a deep emerald green to match her eyes with a deep cowl from the shoulders front and back that dipped below her cleavage slightly and all the way to her lower back at the back, the fine silk material draped seductively over her hips and clung teasingly to her shapely bottom.

“Leave the boots!” Kat said then as she looked down at herself seeing her clothes changing with Ruben’s magic.

“Okay…why?” Ruben raised one eyebrow and pouted slightly.

“Because I don’t want to lose them, you’re not going to change things back again are you?”

Ruben laughed. “Fair enough.” Ruben stepped back and looked her up and down with a dark appreciative smoulder, taking in every inch of her lithe slender body, making her blush. “The boots are a risqué touch, but I like it…makes you look a bit dangerous.” He said admiring the view, he had glamorised her hair and make-up and she looked absolutely stunning.

“I am dangerous.” Kat muttered, looking down at the dress, feeling a little exposed.

He grabbed her chin, making her lift up on her toes as he brought her mouth to his, not bending down but domineeringly making her come to him and kissed her. “I’m finding it harder and harder to resist you, sweet girl.” He breathed in a husky voice.

Kat smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes which held a solemn cast to them. “It’s nice that you go to the trouble too.”

“Oh, baby…” Ruben chuckled and let her go. “I want to be friends first and foremost and that, I know, will take time.”

“You are a strange individual.” Kat half smiled and blinked slowly.

“Perhaps.” Ruben said nonchalantly. “Let’s go stun everyone with your beauty.”

“Not just with the fact that I’m with you?” Kat rebuked with a chuckle.

Ruben laughed. “And that.”

.

As they walked through to the main living area which seemed to be the congregation place, all the vampires there again froze midway through their conversations and stared for a long moment, before they all bowed their heads in respect to their Lord passing by and fell into gossiping once again. Kat frowned uncomfortable with the attention but Ruben smiled, holding his chin high and led Kat over to his guests who were standing together at the edge of the where the marble foyer met the lush living area, staring open mouthed at Ruben’s stunning companion.

There were two of them, both male and were typical high class, pure blood vampires – meaning gorgeous. Dressed in high end suits and looking, to Kat, like stereotypical mafia type business men. They both looked about the same age as Ruben. One was blond with blue eyes a few shades darker than Ruben’s and was pretty rather than handsome. The other had brown hair cut short in a modern fade and long on top swished back and gelled in place, his face was chiselled and angular and extremely handsome but hard and cold making him look like a supervillain, especially given those amazing clear golden amber eyes that seemed to bore into your soul.

“Lord Luisetti, who is this divine creature and how have you managed to keep her secret?” The blond haired vampire said as he stepped over and took her hand, kissing it flamboyantly like it was still the 1800’s.

Ruben smiled. “This is Katarina.” He said as the other vampire took her hand in his gloved one and brushed his lips just above her skin not touching her, but she felt the faint breeze of his passing breath. He looked up at her with those amazing pale amber eyes and grinned a very seductive look at her.

“It is an absolute pleasure to meet you, Katarina.” The way he said her name gave her goose bumps. She heard Ruben growl deep in his throat in warning. The vampire looked up shocked and glanced at Ruben as he dropped Kat’s hand. “Ruben?”

Ruben smiled again, but his eyes stayed fixed on the other vampire like a challenge and warning all in one. Kat looked between them curious as the blond vampire laughed with delight.

“Oh dear…this is too precious…Ruben Luisetti claiming a woman…wonders will never cease.” His tone was very obviously condescending but playful.

I’m sorry, what!? Kat looked at Ruben with a startled expression.

“Enough!” Ruben growled at him, but glanced at Kat, she noticed his eyes were glowing. She bit her lip to prevent the words that were wanting to come out of her mouth about that comment, she’ll store it for later. She could see decorum was needed here.

She smiled and looked at the blond vampire. “How do you know I didn’t claim him first?” She said ever so sweetly but when she smiled she showed them her fangs of her true form, unlike vampires long canine teeth, hers were all fangs, sharp and pointed with extra-long canines top and bottom that fitted into special ducts in her gums. The blond vampire stepped back shocked, as the other vampire regarded her with great interest and chuckled.

“Oh, this one has teeth…in more ways than the obvious.” He looked at Ruben who was regarding Kat amused. Ruben looked at him and draped his arm around Kat’s shoulders, possessively.

“Indeed she has Mikhail, so take care.” Ruben warned with his usual smile.

“Kat, meet Mikhail and Vladimir.”

“Nice to meet you both.” Kat said smiling normally, her fangs gone. Mikhail frowned at the change, whereas Vladimir smiled wider almost relieved.

“And you my dear.” Vladimir said. “It’s so nice to finally see our Lord Luisetti with someone on his arm and such a beauty. It has been a very long time.”

“Yes, you really did sneak this one up on us, didn’t you?” Mikhail said still looking at Kat with a smouldering look. “But you’re clearly not a vampire, little lady?” He took a long inhale of the air. “It’s hard to say what you are…” He seemed to shiver slightly as her scent filled his nostrils.

“No, I’m not.” Kat said simply, standing her ground and refusing to tell him, there was something off about this guy, he appeared very confrontational in a passive aggressive, manipulative way.

Ruben stepped around them, with Kat tucked under his arm. “Follow me, gentlemen and all will be revealed.”

.