Midweek Tease o2.28.18

Welcome to MidWeek Tease! Thanks to Angelica Dawson for hosting this fun blog hop!

We continue on where we left off last week, with Charlotte's thoughts as she opens the museum in the morning.

Sarah came up from the cafe to bring Frank a nice hot cup of coffee, like she always did. She made her way over after she gave it to him and had a short conversation, probably about the good old days.

“SO did you go home with him?!” She exclaimed, practically pouncing on the desk. I pushed my chair a bit back from the desk, a little frightened by her behavior.

“No.” I replied, quietly.

“I saw you leave with him.”

“He walked me to my car.” I simply said.

“And the flowers?” She asked, looking at the daisies. “Hey, that’s not our coffee and muffins.”

She smiled at me like she already knew the answer.

“Mr. Pierce surprised me with it this morning with it. He had it delivered.”

“It must be nice to have money and be able to have things delivered.”

“Yeah, he’s a real fairy tale prince.” I said.

How do I make people realize I wasn’t interested in his money? Actually his money, could end up being a big problem for me.

“Would you have gone home with him, if he had asked?”

“No.” I answered, although it came out unsure instead of confident. Shit.

I watched as Sarah grinned and walked back down to the cafe.

Okay, truth, if he had asked me last night, I probably would have, even though I told him last night on the phone I wouldn’t have. It was true, I still felt I was representing the museum last night as he walked me to my car, but it would have been very difficult to say no. I was glad I didn’t have to make that decision.

He’s damn sexy, intelligent, and intense. I just needed to sleep with him and get it out of my system and hopefully move on, falling in love was not my thing. Although being infatuated with him since he walked through the doors last night seemed to be. Usually that wasn’t my thing either. Especially after complaining that I had to stay late last night, and then after I met him, all that went away and I suddenly would stay ALL night if I had to just to be near him. Damn it, why did everything feel so intense around him?

I had a feeling Mr. Pierce and I were already the water cooler talk of the museum, but I was hoping Sarah wouldn’t blab any of our conversation. I didn’t want to earn the reputation of going home with our exhibiting artists. Or having to explain my sexual preferences, when everyone in this city was so cookie cutter, by the mold, on dating and relationships.

I enjoyed the muffin and tea while checking my museum email. Jonathan had sent me an updated list of works sold of Mr. Pierce, in case any museum patrons were interested in purchasing. I perused the list after I printed it, so I would be more knowledgeable. The price tags on the art were mind boggling, even though I worked in a museum. I saw the ones that were to be gifts to the museum, and gifts to…..Charlotte Hayes...me. Wait...what??

I stared at the paper and then grabbed my phone. I was going to wait to text Mr. Pierce, I figured we both had a late night and it was possible he was still sleeping, but I just couldn’t wait.

Good morning, thank you for everything. It wasn’t necessary, especially not your works of art. I can’t take those, they are worth so much more.

I wasn’t expecting a response right away, hoping my text didn’t wake him. As I waited for the museum to open for the day, I went through the bubble bath, smelling each one, trying to use the scents to relax. My thoughts traveled back to my bubble bath last night and how I thought about him the whole time, up until he had called me. If he had only known what I was doing in that bathtub. I had a feeling using the bubble bath he had gotten me would only enhance the next time.

Thanks for reading! You can read more great authors below.

Bleeding Hearts & Fangs,

~Siren X

WeWriWa o2.25.18

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors / Snippet Sunday!

We continue on from last week. Karlea is a bit of a bind... she is the first to speak.

"Why would you do this to me? I don't want this with you."
"That's not what you've said every time we've been in bed together. Besides, Love, it never happens the way we want it too. I didn't ask to be turned, I just was. Its just how it works. I wanted you, you weren't bound to any vampire. Now you are mine, now you are bound and owned."
Karlea crawled toward the heap of her of dress on the floor, her muscles felt like they had a death grip on her body. Her head was such a mess to reality, she felt pain but nothing felt real anymore. 

Thanks for reading! You can read more amazing authors here and here.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Bleeding Hearts & Fangs, ~Siren X

Vampire Friday o2.23.18

Welcome to Vampire Friday!
We continue where we left off last week...

Karlea stepped into the living room after she was ready, Jake at his computer.
"How was your shower?" He asked, noticing how beautiful she looked all dressed up for work at the club. 
"It felt good." She replied, as Jake made his way to her
"I thought about joining you, but I figured you needed some time to be alone with your thoughts. I've kind of dumped a lot on you."
"Next time for sure." She smiled. 
She looked up into his eyes. For whatever reason, she just knew. "You're getting hungry, aren't you?"
"A little." He replied.
"I can notice it in your eyes, they're changing."
"Most wouldn't notice until my eyes change completely to red or black, which isn't normally a good thing."
"Well, I can see it." Karlea replied.
"You're not an ordinary human." Jake smiled, walking to the kitchen. 

Karlea watched as he went to the refrigerator, moving fruit and food out of the way, so he could reach far into the back. She watched as he pulled out a bag of blood from the blood bank. He emptied some into a glass and heated it in the microwave.
"So, explain the eyes changing color."
"Red means hunger and usually when we feed they turn red. Either way you get a head start and run. Black...Black you run even faster. Black, we've lost all control, nothing will stop us from killing everything in sight."
"Right, got it."
She watched as Jake choked down the glass of blood.
"Here." She said, instinctually holding out her wrist.
"I can't. I can't get used to drinking from you. Its how accidents happen."
"But isn't it unsafe for you not to, like if you have a little every day won't it help for you be around me?"
"Perhaps. But all of it is risky. I don't drink from you, I could go into a frenzy and kill you. I do drink from you and I could not stop and kill you."
"Rough. We should probably just accept the fact that you could kill me...in whatever way."
Jake shook his head.
"Why, not?" Karlea asked, "I have nothing to lose, especially with everything that could happen out there."
She watched Jake take another gross sip.
"And its got to be better than that." She added.
"Much." Jake agreed.
"Please just take it." She said holding out her wrist again.
Jake looked at her wrist, then to his glass, then back to her wrist. He shook his head and placed his fingers around her wrist. He closed his eyes, bringing his fangs to her wrist. As he bit down, a small moan escaped her. She put her free arm around Jake and dug her nails into his skin, pressing her body into him. 
Jake didn't take much before he felt full, the bagged blood helping with that, even though her blood tasted infinitely better. But with her reaction to his bite, he wanted to continue drinking.
He pulled away, planting kisses on her wrist and licking up any left over blood. He placed his hand on her warm cheek, bringing his lips to hers. Their kiss intense, Jake lifted her up and set her down on the island counter, continuing to kiss her. 

Thanks for reading! You can read more great authors here:
Linda Hamonou

Bleeding Hearts & Fangs,
~Siren X

Midweek Tease o2.21.18

Welcome to MidWeek Tease! Thanks to Angelica Dawson for hosting this fun blog hop!

We continue on where we left off last week. This takes place the next morning in Charlotte's POV...

“There’s a delivery on your desk for you.” Frank, the museum’s weekend security guard said as he let me into the building, locking the doors behind me.

Still not awake, it didn’t exactly register what he meant.

“A delivery?” I questioned.

“Someone must have wanted you to have a good day.” Frank replied.

As I started to walk towards the admissions desk, I saw a small vase with a few brightly colored daisies. It seemed to make the whole admissions desk brighten up against the plain grey desk. As I walked around behind the desk, I saw a cup of tea and a blueberry muffin waiting for me….and a small pastel purple plastic drawstring bag. I wondered for a split second where this stuff had come from, but then just knew it had come from Mr. Pierce. I opened the drawstring bag expecting to find tiny sample bottles of his wine, but instead inside where different bottles of scented bubble bath from one of the best bath shops in town. I opened one that was peach scented and it smelled heavenly. The thought of walking out of the museum and just going to home to soak in the bathtub with it was tempting. But then the thought of inviting Mr. Pierce over for a bubble bath was even more tempting, so I might as well stay for my shift. It definitely wasn’t going to be an easy one, I was already anxious and flustered for our date tonight, and I had to get through the whole day.

A note, not written in his script, also sat on my desk. It read: Sorry I kept you up so late. Looking forward to tonight. Enjoy your day. -Anton

Yeah, that wasn’t going to help me get through my day at all.

Before setting up the admissions desk for the day, I went and interrogated Frank about who exactly delivered everything. His response was a modern day courier and then went into how back in his day, deliveries were made by bicycle. Then he politely asked if it was from the young wine guy. When I replied, yes, he went off on a tangent of how rich Mr. Pierce was for his age, and if he had been as rich as Mr. Pierce he would retire and buy a golf course in Florida. He then went into how to properly win a woman’s heart back in his day and approved of how Mr. Pierce was going about this.

I thanked Frank and left him with his memories, as I went back to the desk to get ready for the museum to open for the day.

Thanks for reading! You can read more great authors below.

Bleeding Hearts & Fangs, ~Siren X

WeWriWa o2.18.18

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors / Snippet Sunday!

We continue on where we left off last week, where Karlea was finding out the consequences of her blood high...

Anger took over her and she swatted Armani's arm away.
"I can beat this." She said, trying to get ahold of herself.
"No, you can't, Karlea. This isn't like some human drug addiction where you'll go through withdrawl and come out on the other side okay."
Karlea pulled away from him, taking a step before collapsing onto the carpet.
"It will get worse and worse. Eventually you will blackout and lose all control, you might even kill people. After days and days of no blood and no human sustenance, you will die a very slow death. It's either drink or slowly perish, there is no other choice."

Thanks for reading! You can read more amazing authors here and here.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Bleeding Hearts & Fangs, ~Siren X

Vampire Friday o2.16.18

Welcome to Vampire Friday, my favorite day of the week!

We continue right where we left off last week...

Karlea stood under the hot water of Jake's nice, contemporary shower. She admired how nice his SOHO luxury apartment was, compared to what she lived in. Even though Jake had been into her apartment already, now that she had been in his, she was embarrassed when they made the quick trip over for her to grab her things, all though she knew he didn't care about things like that.

It felt good to be out of that apartment and somewhere else. It had carried so much bad history for her. Danny had plagued her in that apartment, even after he became a drug addict and ran off with Luna. She tried so many times to move, but every shoebox apartment she went for, fell though. One of the problems of living in Manhattan. 

She continued to stand under the water, trying to wrap her head around everything that had happened over the last few days. Her life was no longer the same. She was caught between whether or not this a good thing, being thrown into a world of vampires...most of which wanted her all dead in some form or another. Her life no longer boring. She always thought she would fit into the vampire world and always wished it were real. And it was, and she was already apart of it. 

And then there was this whole thing with Jake that came out of nowhere. That's why she was so attracted to him that night at the club and why she felt an immediate connection, he was not part of the human world. Things that would matter to humans didn't phase him, such as having a woman you just met move in with you out of the blue. He was hot, sexy, and just made her feel amazing. 

She didn't know how much time she had, so she decided she was going to enjoy whatever she could despite the circumstances that stood before her. 

Thanks for reading! You can read more authors here:
Linda Hamonou

Bleeding Hearts & Fangs,
~Siren X

Midweek Tease o2.14.18

Happy Valentine's Day! 

I am going to continue on where I left off with my WIP. I have been on a writing hiatus and just got back into writing this. It's about a young, wealthy, winery owner and artist, who falls for a woman who works at the art museum. He is immediately drawn to her not only because he thinks she is beautiful, but because she is so bold and sassy. Only his true identity, as a vampire, must not ever be known to her. Both struggle to fight their growing attraction to each other, until Anton proposes a strictly physical affair. But how long will it last before they admit to each other that they want something more? And what will happen if she discovers his secret? 

This scene takes place later in the night...

“Are you not hungry?” Marlena asked.

She sat beside me on the chaise sofa, as I drank from her wrist. She was comfortable always, in case I took too much and she became weak. I barely took any blood before pushing her wrist away.

“This is strange for you, Anton, you’re usually hungry. Did you feed already?” She asked, “And you’re taking it from my wrist, instead of my throat...what’s going on?”

Marlena was nothing more than a good friend and a donor. I had known her and her husband for years. They had made a good living being blood donors to vampires and managing a blood donor service.

“I haven’t fed tonight…” I started out. “I met someone. At the museum. And she’s human...”

“And you feel guilty drinking from a female.” She finished for me.

“Yes.”

“I get it,” She smiled, “but you still need to feed. I would be willing to ask Jax if he would trade a client for me, as soon as possible. How much does she know?”

“Absolutely nothing, other than we made a connection tonight. I intend on keeping it all from her.”

“How much does the other part of you want to tell her?” Marlena inquired. She knew me too well.

I stood up and went over to the bar, pouring a glass of whiskey.

“Everything. In a perfect world I would share everything with her and she would be accepting, and eventually she would profess her love by wanting to be turned and spend eternity with me.” I took a long sip, trying to calm the craving. “But this isn’t a perfect world, so I’ll keep her at a distance. The truth could be dangerous for her in so many ways. Even if she survived those truths and begged to be turned, I wouldn’t do it.”

I took another long sip, emptying the glass.

“I have a date with her tomorrow night.” I confessed as I poured another drink.

“I know twenty years isn’t a long time for you, but doing what I do for that long has given me a lot of experience with vampires. And from what I know, you’re going to have to feed really well before that date tomorrow. I will get Jax over here at sundown. But long term, if something with her develops, you’re going to need to calm that beast inside you, Anton, you’re going to need to hunt."

“I know, I was trying to avoid that part.” I replied, drinking more whiskey. I wondered if a stronger drink was in order to help with the craving I was feeling, such as a straight up homemade Kentucky moonshine; whiskey and wine weren’t going to cut it. I was going to have to call my business partner, Colin, and make that happen.

“Will I get to meet her?” Marlena smiled.

“If everything goes well tomorrow and she wants to see me again. And if she doesn’t have a case of accidental death.”

I let out a long breath, the thought of any of it making me sad. I would be heartbroken if she didn’t want to see me again and heartbroken if I accidentally killed her in a fit of lust. Marlena must have seen the anguish in my eyes for she came walking over to me, placing her hand on my cheek.

“Anton, how serious is this?”

“For her, I don’t know. She may just be curious. For me…” I stumbled to find the words. Unusual for me, but thinking about Charlotte had a way of twisting me up inside.

“Oh my god, Anton, is she it? Is she the one?”

“For me, she is. I have to play this so carefully.”

Marlena stared at me.

“Are you sure you don’t want any more while I’m here?” She asked, holding out her wrist.
“I do, I’m hungry, but I can’t. Thank you.”

Thanks for reading! You can read more great authors below.

Bleeding Hearts & Fangs, ~Siren X

WeWriWa o2.11.18

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors / Snippet Sunday!

Where we left off last left off, Karlea wasn't feeling to well and thought she was dying. But it turns out it's a consequence of her blood high...

Karlea looked at herself, naked, in the mirror. Her skin was even paler than normal, her eyes were sunken in with dark circles around them. Her lips and pupils were as white as her skin. She looked like a porcelain doll.
"This is what you wanted from Jake and didn't get." Armani bit his wrist and held it out for her to drink.
"Once you drink, you won't feel any of this. Everyday you must drink."
She eyed the blood, the urge to drink was so great and pulling her to his wrist.

Thanks for reading! I did not get around to other's snippets this week, I am so sorry. I have spent the week being incredibly sick to the point where I needed antibiotics. This is the worst cold/flu season ever. 

You can read more amazing authors here and here.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Bleeding Hearts & Fangs,
~Siren X

Vampire Friday o2.o9.18

Welcome to Vampire Friday!

We continue on where we left off last week...

"Why would you risk everything for me, Jake? There's millions of me out there."
"There's only one of you. And you know why I'm willing to risk everything...you're more than a just another human." Jake replied. 
Karlea looked at him and gave him a slight smile before resting her head on his shoulder. 
"I know this is so much to take in. It completely changes your life and opens a whole other world."
"Its okay." She said, "But I'm not like you. I would imagine years pass like days for you."
Jake nodded.
"I can't stay holed up in your apartment for an infinite amount of time. I'll go crazy. I'm a bartender. I need to do my thing, not be a hermit, afraid of the world."
"You mean you don't want to be holed up, having amazing sex all day and night?" He joked. 
Karlea smiled and slightly laughed. Jake pulled her close.
"I'm kidding. I understand what you mean. Its why I work for the magazine, passes the time. I'll be by your side the whole time, whatever it is that you need to do."
Karlea walked over to the window and looked out, down over the street below. 
"I harbor this secret that most humans don't know, of a world they have no idea that exists..."
Jake appeared behind her.
"...with my own personal vampire." She added as she reached her arms back around Jake.
She looked at the sky as clouds rolled out of the way, and rays of the setting sun reflected off the buildings.
"Wait...you can't go outside until its completely dark." 
Jake laughed. "I'm not going to burst into flames, Karlea. I can walk in the sun. It drains me, but it would take it awhile to drain me to death. Not all the myths are true."
Karlea turned around to face him, "I should go to work tonight or I probably won't have a job anymore."
"Anything you need." Jake replied.
"A shower and some new clothes from my place."
Jake nodded. "Let me call Vaughn. I'll have him meet us at the club later."
"Really? Vaughn?" Karlea said, rolling her eyes. "Sure to be an interesting night."
"Always." Jake responded.

Thanks for reading! You can read more great authors here:
Linda Hamonou

Bleeding Hearts & Fangs,
~Siren

WeWriWa o2.o4.18

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors / Snippet Sunday!

Where we left off last left off, Karlea wasn't feeling to well and thought she was dying...

"In a way, love." Armani answered. "You're body needs a blood fix. My blood."
"No." Karlea cried out. 
"This is what it is to be bloodbonded."
Armani lifted her up and held her in front of the mirror with no effort.
"Look...this is what happens when you don't get blood."

Consequences of her fun filled blood high. 

Thanks for reading! Thank you for all your great comments last week. I didn't respond, but I did read them all. I'm still trying to figure out how to fit this blog hop and the others I was doing months back into my crazy schedule, that includes reading others' posts, commenting, and commenting back on mine. As of September, I started a new job working at a school, so time I had last year while my kids were in school, is now spent in their school. It makes for little free time without the kids where I can focus. If I can make a routine, I'll be good. Does anyone see my responses to comments, when I do respond anyway? Other writers I comment on their posts but never get notification or even check if they responded back. Is that bad?

You can read more amazing authors here and here.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Bleeding Hearts & Fangs,
~Siren X

Vampire Friday o2.o2.18

Welcome to Vampire Friday! My favorite day of the week! We continue on where we left off last week...

"We should have a talk," Jake said, as he set a cup of tea in front of Karlea, who was seated at the island counter, "we got so caught up in everything....which I love, but I found out things the other night at Battery Park."
"You never did tell me what happened out there." Karlea replied.
"Danny wasn't there, or if he was, he was hiding really good. But Luna was there. We were ambushed by what I would call her minions. Although, Vaughn and I took a devastating hit, we still managed to win. Vaughn was able to information out of her before he killed her."
"Vaughn staked her?" She asked.
"More like ripped out her dead heart and then staked it."
Oh, Karlea mouthed, having a bit of a hard time imagining all this happening. 
"Danny got on the bad side of some really bad vampires. Not that any of us are good. He took something from them and said he gave it to you. Now they are after you. ANd their leader is none other than Reed."
Karlea looked at Jake, recognizing that name from Jake and Vaughn fighting in the bedroom.
"Reed is --" Jake started out.
"Vaughn's sire." Karlea finished. Jake stared at Karlea. "Reed made Vaughn, Vaughn made you. You're all connected in blood. And Reed wants to kill me. Your whole lineage wants me dead in some form or another."
Jake placed his hand on hers. "Reed is one of the first and oldest vampires, which also makes him the strongest."
A tear ran down Karlea's cheek.
"Hey," Jake said, wiping it away, "I promised to protect you and that's what I'm going to do."
"How do you protect me from one of the oldest and strongest vampires?" 
"Vaughn and I will handle Reed. And I'm not letting you out of my sight." He answered.
"How long can you do that for? I mean, realistically, Jake, --" 
"Karlea, realistically, I can do this for an eternity. And I want to do it for however long it takes."

Thanks for reading! You can read more great authors here:
Linda Hamonou

Bleeding Hearts & Fangs,
~Siren X