As the Ball Drops

As the Ball Drops

by 

Eva Rayne

I had told McKenna what felt like a dozen times that I didn't want to do anything this new years eve. My love life, hell my life in general, had been pretty dull since Braden, my boyfriend of two years, and I had broken up several weeks ago and the last thing I wanted to do tonight was go to a party, let alone our law firm's stupid annual new years eve masquerade ball.

But here I was, holding my breath as McKenna pulled up the zipper of the deep blue ball gown she had brought over for me.

"You look beautiful!" she cried, spinning me around to face her. "Wait, hang on," she adjusted one of my curls, "There, now you're perfect!"

I felt like I had been her Barbie all afternoon. It had started with "Let's just add a little wave to your hair," which ended up being completely curled. She had also insisted on doing my make up herself. I still didn't understand the point of spending almost half an hour perfecting my make up when I'd be wearing a mask for the majority of the night, but apparently McKenna did, and it was important to her at least, so that's what we did. 

"Now you just need your mask." Careful not to muss my carefully placed curls, McKenna place the mask over my eyes, pulling the thin black elastic strap around my head. "I thought it would go perfectly with the dress and it does! Go look in the mirror," she demanded before going back into the bathroom to change into her own dress. 

Following orders, just as I had all night I stood in front of my full length mirror. I had to admit, she had done a fantastic job, I almost didn't recognize myself. The deep blue dress hugged the curves of my upper body before it turned into a full skirt. I normally wouldn't have picked something out for myself with this much glitter - the skirt was covered in thin layer of it and my chest was decorated with an intricate pattern of tiny, sparkling beads - but I actually loved it. I couldn't help but think I looked like a princess. 

As much as I loved the dress, the mask was my favorite part of the costume. It was a simple black mask covering my eyes and part of my forehead. The black seemed to sparkle, but wasn't choked in glitter the way some of the masks I had seen at these parties were. There was a handful of white beads sewn into the mask, bright, shining, against the black. They looked like stars in a dark night sky.

"Are you ready?" McKenna asked, reappearing in my room. Her dress was a light purple, her mask was the same color and covered in sparkles. She looked young and flirty in all the ways I looked older, more mysterious. 

"Yeah, I'm ready."

It was only ten thirty and I was wondering yet again why I had let McKenna talk me into this. She had sworn up and down that it would be good for me, that I needed to get out there again, and that she wouldn't leave my side all night if I didn't want her to. But, in true McKenna fashion, the second we were in the door to the ballroom she had disappeared. She may be the world's best assistant, and a wonderful friend - for the most part - but she was still a little naive. She was still under the impression that no one knew she had started seeing the new intern up in legal, but I had known for weeks and I was pretty sure that's where she had disappeared to.

The expansive ball room was filled with our entire company, as well as what seemed like half the community. Our firm had been throwing this party every new years eve for as long as I had worked for them and all the proceeds from the tickets went to charity and every year the turn out seemed bigger than the last. 

I stood off to the side, sipping a martini that the very nice bartender had been kind enough to refill...again. It would have been easy to pretend that I was in a movie, some of the dresses and masks were definitely elaborate enough to be right out of a movie. It was almost eleven and I had started to wonder if anyone would notice if I slipped out a side door and took a cab home.

I had almost made up my mind to go when I felt someone step up next to me. I turned and looked and was suddenly very glad I stayed. The man standing next to me was wearing a well tailored black suit with thin gold trim around his jacket that matched the golden mask on his face. 

"What are you doing over here all by yourself?" he asked, not looking at me but out over the crowd just as I had been moments before.

"No date," I said shrugging, "I didn't think I was coming until the very last minute." At this the mystery man turned to face me and raised an eyebrow.

"Six hundred dollar tickets and you didn't know if you were going to come or not?"

I shook my head, "I work for the company, it's kind of expected of us to be here,"

"So you're a lawyer?" he asked, sounding genuinely interested.

"For a couple years now, I love it," I said nodding before bringing my glass up to me lips.

"Let me get you another of those," he nodded at my now empty martini glass, "And then I have a proposition for you." His mysterious tone had caught my attention and I handed him my glass, "Don't move." His bright blue eye sparkled behind his mask and I smiled. 

"I'll be right here,"

When my mystery man reappeared he handed me my glass, sipping on a tumbler of his own, filled with something amber colored.

"So, what is this proposition you have for me," I asked after a moment of silence, running my finger around the lip of my martini glass. 

"How would you feel about ringing in the new year with a bang?" he asked, turning to face me. His tone was mysterious but the excited twinkle in his eye made me feel bold.

"Let's do it." I couldn't help the smile playing on my lips. Setting his tumbler on a near by table he grabbed my hand. I had barely enough time to set my own glass down before he was pulling me after him. We slid through a small side door which led down a carpeted hallway. I couldn't help but laugh as we ran down the hallway, headed who knows where. 

After a minute though I had to pull on his hand, "Hey, slow down," I said through breathless giggles, leaning against the wall. 

"Are you okay?" he asked, coming to stand in front of me, looking slightly worried. 

"I'm fine," I said shaking me head, "The combination of vodka and heels and running though, recipe for disaster," he chuckled, shaking his head. 

"Yeah, I know, I'm adorable," I said, poking his chest, feeling bold.

"Have you seen yourself tonight?" he asked, raising an eyebrow again and I looked up at him confused. "That dress? You're gorgeous," as his eyes flickered over my body the excited sparkle turned dark with lust. 

"Thank you," I said softly, my hand now resting lightly against his chest. He was so close now, his scent invading my senses.

"You're very welcome," his voice was low and husky, his hands hovering lightly against my hips. Feeling bold I pushed myself off from the wall and his arm quickly found its way around my waist, holding me against him. His other hand gently tipped my chin up and before I could think of anything remotely witty to say his lips were finding mine.

What was that old saying, that one about doing on new years day what you wanted to do all year? If how I felt now - the butterflies in my stomach, the electricity racing along my skin where he touched me, the heat running through my veins, spreading through out my body - was any indicator, I was going to be in for a very good year.

Bad Moon Rising

Bad Moon Rising

By

Eva Rayne

I couldn't help but cry out as Korbin ran the alcohol covered gauze over the bleeding gash on my side.

“Fucking wolf,” I swore, taking a swig of the whiskey Liam had left on the night stand.

“I'm sorry, Rikky,” Korbin apologized as he cleaned the last of the blood from my side. By the amount of blood on the rags and gauze on the bed the cut between my ribs was deeper than I had originally thought. “This is going to need stitches, hold this here while I grab the other first aid kit out of the other room.”

I held the fresh piece of gauze against my side with one hand while taking another shot of the whiskey with the other. The alcohol was starting to take the edge off the stinging pain when Korbin came back in from the room Aaron and Liam were sharing next door.

“Where did the guys go?” I asked through gritted teeth as Korbin sat on the edge of the bed carefully peeling the blood soaked gauze away and letting out a low whistle.

“They said they were gonna go to the bar up the street and get something to eat,” he rummaged through our make shift first aid kit and pulled out the curved needle and a spool of black embroidery thread.

“Yeah, and drink off a shitty hunt,” I grumbled.

“Yeah, that too,” Korbin chuckled as I took another long swig of the Jack Daniels. “Here, let me see that,” he held his hand out for the bottle and I reluctantly handed it over.

I immediately regretted it as he poured a large amount over my wound. “God fucking damn it Korbin!” I swore, biting my fist to keep from screaming.

“I'm sorry Rikky, I had to though, it had to be cleaned somehow,” he explained, wiping away the excess whiskey and blood.

“Warn a girl next time, will you?” I bit my lip until I could taste blood, trying to keep my tears in check.

“Only if you promise there isn't going to be a next time,” he tossed back, handing me the bottle and putting my hand over a clean rag against my side to keep it in place as he threaded the needle. “I mean come on, Rikky. Pissing off a werewolf on the fucking full moon? What in hell's name were you thinking?” His voice was full of anger, but it was the large amount of concern there as well that surprised me.

“Bitch had it coming,” I muttered, remembering how she had looked at him earlier that day, how she kept making excuses to touch him. I pressed the rag a little harder against my side, focusing on the pain and not his fingers against my hip as he turned me slightly so he could get a better look at my savaged skin.

“You're gonna get yourself killed one of these days,” he snapped, his fingers digging into my skin momentarily causing me to gasp. “Sorry, here come lay on your side so I can sew you up.”

I moved over to the bed without saying anything, slightly taken aback by his sudden mood shift. I stretched out on my side as Korbin stood up, the soft comforter felt good against my sore, feverish skin.

“I'm sorry, Erika,” Korbin said softly, pulling the now red rag away from my side and sitting next to me. “You just really scared me back there, and this could have been so much worse,” he explained as he punctured my skin to make the first stitch.

I pressed a hand against my mouth trying to hold in a strangled cry. “I know, it was stupid. I mean, telling a cornered werewolf to bite me? Yeah, not my smartest move ever,” I tried chuckling to cover my heavy breathing.

“You're lucky she didn't bite you, that all you got was a side full of claws.” Korbin's fingers were gently against my torn ribs and his stitches were slow and careful as he tried not to tug excessively on my skin.

“I know,” I admitted through gritted teeth, trying not to think about what was going on with my side.

The next several minutes went by in a long, almost stressful silence. I tried to ignore the tears that were building up, and then running down my cheeks. Finally, I could fell Korbin knotting the thread and cutting it with the pocket knife he pulled out of my back pocket.

I watched Korbin run the needle through a lighter flame to clean it after cleaning the blood off on his jeans. I didn't move as he finished packing up the first aid kit and threw away all of the blood stained cloth. When he sat back down, Korbin carefully taped a clean piece of gauze that he had left out over his careful stitches.

Once he finished he left his hand resting softly on my hip just above my jeans. “Erika, come here,” he said softly.

I sat up slowly, rolling my shoulder, trying to stretch the stiff muscles and wincing slightly as my blood stained bra pulled away from my skin. Korbin held out his hand, offering my two white Tylenol. “Here, this will take the edge off.”

“Thank you,” I said quietly, swallowing them with a shot of whiskey before leaving it on the night stand and leaning into Korbin. Korbin wrapped his arm around my waist and I sighed, resting my head on his shoulder, exhaustion washing over me like a wave.

“I'm sorry about earlier,” Korbin said into my hair after a minute. “You scared the shit out of me this afternoon, you know,” his hold on my waist tightened.

“I know, I was stupid,” I said studying the carpet.

“You were, and I swear to God, you ever go into a situation like that again and I'll start locking your ass in a hotel room while we go on hunts,” he threatened, his voice a low growl.

“But it wasn't just that,” he took a deep breath, “Seeing you fly across the room like that, crumpled on the floor and not moving. With all that blood, I thought you were dead.” I felt him shudder and I snuggled closer to him.

“I'm okay, a little beat up and sore, but I'll live,” I reassured him, resting my hand lightly on his and he intertwined our fingers, his other arm still wrapped securely around me.

“I don't even know what to say Erika, I didn't think twice about shooting that girl, I just had to make sure you were still alive, to know that you were okay. I don't think I was convinced that you were going to be alright until we got back here and you started demanding booze.” I chuckled and he finally relaxed enough to let out a little laugh of his own.

“I promise I'll be more careful,” I whispered, looking up at him.

“You better be,” he let go of my hand and brought his hand up to my face, gently cupping my cheek, carefully wiping away tear streaked eyeliner with the pad of his thumb.

Before I could say anything else Korbin leaned down and kissed me gently. It was soft, the complete opposite of the way our lives together had been up until this point – hard and fast and dark. Instead, this kiss was soft and sweet, full of the promise of more, and of happier times.

When he pulled away, his fingers running through my hair, I noticed a sparkle in his eyes that I had never seen before. “Korbin,” I whispered, resting my hand lightly on his chest.

“Yes, Rikky?” his voice was a husky whisper as he rested his forehead against mine.

“Hi,” I slid my hand up his chest, resting on the back of his neck, pulling him back in, finding his lips with mine. Korbin's hands were warm against my bare sides, leaving tingling sparks over my skin as he pulled me in closer.

We stayed like that for several minutes, holding each other close. When we finally separated, I clutched Korbin's t-shirt, my vision swimming. Korbin steadied me, carefully moving me into his lap as I swayed.

“Erika? Are you okay?” The concern in his voice touched me in a way I hadn't expected as he carefully brushed my hair behind my ear.

“I'm okay, just a little dizzy,” I admitted, resting my head on his shoulder, cuddling into him and trying to avoid the pain in my side.

“Is your side okay? Are you bleeding again?” I smiled at his concern.

“I'm okay, I promise,” I assured him, running my fingers around the bandage to prove that they would come back blood free. Only they didn't.

“You were saying?” Korbin asked, raising an eyebrow. Confused I looked down.

“It's my bra,” I said after a short investigation, “The stitches are fine, it's my clothes that are still bloody.”

“Come here,” he said, helping me to my feet. “Do you want a shirt?” he asked, gesturing to his duffel bag that had been tossed in the corner when we had come back from putting down the wolf.

“Yes, please,” I said with a small smile. I couldn't help but smile as Korbin crossed the room, rummaging through his bag to find something for me to wear.

“Do you need help?” Korbin asked as I reached around to try and unhook my bra without pulling at my stitches.

“Thank you,” I said turning around, giving him access to the clasp. His fingers were warm against my skin, leaving a tingling trail down my arms as he slowly slid the straps off my shoulders.

When I heard the fabric land in the small pile of torn dirty clothes I turned around, looking up at Korbin through my thick eyelashes. I couldn't help but notice as his gaze flickered over my body before he helped me into his large t-shirt which fell down to mid thigh.

“You should probably rest,” he said finally, breaking the easy silence that filled the room as he held my hips, my hands resting on his chest.

“Whatever you say, doctor,” I joked, standing on tip toe in order to brush a light kiss against his lips. “Will you stay with me?” I asked, suddenly worried that he would leave and meet up with the guys at the bar.

“Whatever you want, Rikky,” he promised, pulling me a little closer and kissing my forehead. “Lay down, I'll get the light.” With a smile he let me go.

Yawning I took the few steps back over to the large hotel bed as I unbuttoned my blood splattered jeans, kicking them off before climbing into bed.

Once I was curled up under the blanket Korbin flipped the light off, joining me in bed under the blanket. The second he was laying down I snuggled up next to him, laying on my good side, resting my head on his chest as he wrapped his arms securely around me.

“Thank you for taking care of me tonight,” I whispered, loving the feeling of his fingers drawing absentminded circles on my hip.

“Of course, Erika. I'm just glad you're okay,” he kissed the top of my head lightly. “Go to sleep, hun.”

I nodded against him, whispering, “Good night, Korbin.”

Bloodgasm

BLOODGASM PART 1

This is a two part series that will bring out the vampire in you. Bloodgasm will make you thirst for blood and want something a little more satisfying. Readers sit back and enjoy. Oh, don’t forget to cool off because this is one steamy, hot read.

Bloodgasm Part 1

By Krystol Diggs

I remember like it was yesterday. It was about ten thousand years ago. I was 21 and at a college party with my friends drinking. I noticed that my boyfriend Lorenzo wasn’t at the party. He never misses a party. As I’m sitting on the couch two couples are on the side making out in front of me. I was annoyed so I got up to get some fresh air. While leaving the room, my friend Jalisa called me.

“ Soriah Marie, where are you going? They got X over here. Come on!” She said grabbing me back to the party.

“ Lisa, I’m not really feeling X right now, I’m trying to wait for Lorenzo.”

“ Lorenzo will be here just come on, it will get your mind off of things.”

“ Okay.”

I went back inside with Lisa. I needed something quick because people dancing and the loud music was getting on my nerves. I had my beer in my hand and I  started to dance by myself. Lisa handed me a pill and I popped and followed it with my beer. I closed my eyes and started dancing in the middle of the floor. I needed to release the stress that I was having. Lorenzo and I had a big fight a few days ago.

“ Lorenzo it’s not my fault that you lost your job.”  I said with rage.

“ God, Soriah Marie, you can’t just support me this one time?” 

“ No, I’m not asking my family for money so you can get drugs.” I yelled.

“ You take them too.” He yelled back.

I just plopped on his bed and started to cry. I was tired of arguing with all the time. My family was rich but he had no right to take advantage of them.

Lorenzo came over to me with his blonde hair in his face as he moved hair from his eye.

“ Look, I love you Soriah Marie. I just want us to be happy.”

Before I could say another word he kissed me. I pushed him away.

“ Don’t!”

He kissed me again, this time harder with more force. I kissed him back.

We started taking off our clothes as our lips intertwined as one. I could feel my gina get moist and I was ready to have sex.

Completely naked, Lorenzo laid me on the bed and entered me slowly.

“ UUgghhhh.” I moaned softly.

He started kissing my body as he thrusted inside of me. I could feel my gina getting wetter and wetter.

“ Man, I love having sex with you.”  

I couldn’t respond because I was so in the moment.

I pushed him outside of me and climbed on top of him. I started to ride him very slowly and he moaned softly.

“ MMM… Soriah, I love you.”

I smiled as he showed his love for me.

I started to speed up and have my first orgasm.

“ Oohhh Yes!” I said as I gripped his chest.

We were both so into the moment that we didn’t hear someone knock on his door. 

“ Oh my God! What the fuck are you two, doing?” His mom yelled.

“ You tramp get the fuck out of my house!” She yelled at me.

“ Oh my God, I’m so sorry Ms. Peters.” I said as she came darting at me smacking me while I was still on top of Lorenzo.

He tried his best to shield me.

Next thing I knew I was on the his bedroom floor naked, being hit and called a slut and tramp.

I didn’t want to hit his mom back.

“ Mom, get off of my girlfriend, I love her!” He yelled and he grabbed her off me.

She turned around and started yelling at Lorenzo. I quickly turned around put on my jeans and shirt. I couldn’t find my bra, and I didn’t want to find it either. I ran downstairs and out of the house. I went through the alleyway and ran down three blocks to my house. I sat on the porch and gasped for air. I began crying again. I couldn’t believe that Lorenzo’s mom called me a slut. We had been dating for over two years now. But, she didn’t like me from the beginning.

***

Still dancing to the music at the party, I started to feel really horny and mellow. Sweat started to form on my foreward and my body. When I opened my eyes, Lorenzo was there with a group of boys. I ran over to him. Something looked different about him. He was still wearing the same outfit that he was a few days when we got caught having sex.

“ Hey baby where have you been. I called you this afternoon and your dad said you were sleep.”

I went to give him a hug and he didn’t embrace me.

“ Lorenzo what is up with you? And who are the guys you’re hanging with. They seem so scary looking.” I said.

“ They are my friends. Look we need to talk.” He said grabbing my arm.

“ Okay, let’s go upstairs.” I said heading toward the stairs.

“ No we need to go somewhere quiet outside.”

It was the summertime but it was a cold night. My jacket was inside the house with the party.

We walked down a dark ally. I noticed his friends were behind us.

“ Why are they following us?” I said with a scared look on my face.

“ God do you always have to talk so fucking much?” He said to me.

I looked at his face and noticed how pale he was, he looked thinner then normal.

“ Look do you want to be with me for the rest of your life?” Lorenzo asked me.

“ You’re proposing to me here?”

He kissed me. I was already horny so I kissed him back and I started to get aroused. He snapped his fingers and his guy friends started touching me.

“ What’s going on?” I managed to say as we stopped kissing.

One of his friends started to play with my gina, while another boy was rubbing his dick on my hands. I started to get real turned on. Lorenzo kissed my neck slowly then he started to lick it. I could hear my heart beat a mile a minute. Then he did it and I didn’t even see it coming. He bit my neck. I couldn’t scream from pain but from pleasure. The whole time he was feasting on my neck, someone was tasting my gina and sucking on my clit. As blood was flowing down, I was having a orgasm. I moaned so loud in the ally way.

After I finished cumming I started to feel weird in my body. I was more horny but I felt so weak too. I went to say something to Lorenzo and it started to sound like echos. All I heard was,

“ She will pass out in a few. She’s one us now, Lorenzo, a vampire.