Of Fate & Forbidden Desire (The Gatekeeper Duet #1)

3. Chapter Three

Chapter Three

A scent so tantalising it drives you mad - Dina

“ D id you get her out of your system?” Tilly asks, propping her short lean leg up on the small bedside table in my hotel room and re-tying the laces on her knee high boots.

“No, she was already at her home,” I replied, strapping another short dagger to my thigh. Tilly sighed before turning to face me fully.

“You’re not going to be any use on this hunt until you’ve sated your need for her.” She deadpanned, fixing me with her sternest look. I knew she was right but I also didn’t know how to fix it. “Leave your weapons and go meet her.” Tilly said as if she could read my thoughts.

“You sure? What if you find the rogue?” I raised an eyebrow at her.

“I’ll be fine,” she answered, waving off my concern, which was unneeded. She was deadly with or without my help; she’d been a huntress longer than I’d been alive.

“Ok,” I replied, removing the daggers I had just secured, before giving her a brief smile to show how grateful I was. My head had been filled with images of the woman all day, leaving me with little rest. I’d imagined all the ways she could wrap her legs around me, as her lingering scent in my nose tortured me.

“Happy hunting,” Tilly said instead of goodbye, before she let herself out of my room with a smirk on her lips. Rolling my eyes I glanced in the mirror, checking out my clothes. My tight black shirt and skin tight black jeans would have to do, it was all my wardrobe consisted of nowadays. Long gone were the days when women were confined to dresses and tight corsets. Thank God .

Slipping out of my hotel room I followed a similar route to last night, but as I arrived on her street her delicious scent wrapped around me. Following it again, I stalked her back through the city. Pausing when it almost got lost amongst the throng of party goers, I stood still, shifting through each scent until I picked hers back up and continued following it to the street where I’d first seen her.

Expecting it to go towards the same club she’d been in last night I crossed the road, only for it to disappear. Frowning, I crossed back over and followed her further down the street to a smaller club.

Society

The name above the door declared and behind a pitiful red rope stood a small queue. Joining the back of it, I stood tapping my foot as the music’s bass bounced against my eardrums, almost deafening me as I pondered how I was going to meet her. The queue moved slowly but steadily towards the entrance, and after a few minutes, I stepped inside.

Lights flashed above the sticky dancefloor as I walked towards the small bar, barely giving the redhead who was serving a second glance, as I ordered a vodka and coke. With my drink in hand I scoured the club, searching both for the human and an empty table. I found an empty table at the edge of the dance floor and sitting down, I saw her!

She sat with a group of humans; all of them seemed to be in various states of drunkenness as they chatted easily and occasionally laughed. My human sat slightly apart from them, but still close enough to be part of their conversation, as she glanced around the steadily filling club. What the heck am I thinking , she wasn’t my anything. If luck would have it she’d be a one night stand. Get her out of your system tonight and be done with her. I thought, taking a sip of my drink as I watched her.

The DJ switched tracks to another annoying drum and bass track that were so popular nowadays. What was wrong with a nice piano and violin concerto? I wondered as I scanned the thickening crowd briefly, before my gaze snapped back to her .

I hummed appreciatively, letting my eyes scan the human from head to toe. She kept tucking her longish dirty blonde hair behind her ear, as she leaned forward slightly, smiling back politely at her companions. The black top she was wearing had lacy sections—from what I could see from my seat— that went down her arms and continued over the rise of her chest as the top strained to keep her voluptuous curves covered. Flickering my eyes further down, I took in the short black skirt that ended just before the low table blocked the view of her long legs.

How the hell do I make this work? I pondered, my gaze never straying from the woman I was fixated on. Does she even like women?

One of the human’s female companions poked her arm, and nodded over in my direction, making her blue eyes scan the crowd before meeting mine across the room. Her companion whisper-shouted something in her ear and a rosy blush spread across her cheeks moments before she glanced back down at her now empty glass.

Did she not like my attention? I wondered, my brow furrowing, How did humans manage to do this night after night?

Wanting to flee or have the floor swallow me, I downed the last of my drink and stood meaning to merge into the crowded dance floor and leave. I’d taken two steps when her intoxicating scent of Gardenias and Myrrh with a hint of strawberries wrapped around me, and I spun around on the spot, coming face to face with Her.

Flinching back a step, I narrowed my eyes at her innocent look.

“Hi?” I asked, unsure if I even wanted to speak to the human anymore.

“Hello,” she said, her voice low and uncertain with a subtle hint of the Yorkshire accent, her fidgeting hands making me fight a smile.

“Erm, would you like to dance?” I found myself asking in a shout, just as the music paused and switched songs, making my voice sound much louder.

The human nodded, with a slight lift of her full lips as she moved backwards. Mesmerised I followed, my hips swaying with each step, as the tightly packed crowd closed around us. My chest brushed up against hers, but I couldn’t move away without bumping into someone else.

We swayed together, both nervous and a little shy, until the music changed again to a slower song. I took a deep breath, reaching my hands out, tentatively settling them on her hips as I brought my lips to her ear.

“What’s your name?” I shouted, smiling as she shivered beneath my hands.

“Charleene, yours?” She called back, moving her own lips close to my ear.

“Dina.”

"That's unusual, where are you from?" Charleene continued, competing with the music that's thumping through the club.

"It's an old family name." I called back, not saying how old it was, "And Scotland originally."

"Funny, you don't have much of a Scottish accent," she pondered aloud, making me smile.

"I've lived in England for a long time now," I reassured her.

"What about you?" I asked, not wanting the conversation to end now it had begun, as we danced letting the world fade away around us.

“All over really,” she shouted, before dipping her head as though embarrassed.

A few drinks and dances later and we were chatting away like old friends, smiling, laughing, and she’d even swatted at my arm a couple of times. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt so carefree, but with Charleene my worries seemed to float away as my usually slow heart raced like a jack rabbit. She was enchanting.

I'd forgotten we weren't alone when someone knocked into me from behind, startling me, and a low growl left my lips before I could reign it in as I spun around fixing my most pissed off stare at whoever had dared to interrupt us.

One of Charleene's friends stood staring innocently back at me. She gave me a strange look before shaking her head and moving to Charleene’s side. "Charl, we're going over to Salvation, you coming?" she asked, glancing over at me briefly.

"It's ok Lily, I think I'm going to stay here," Charleene answered, her eyes never leaving my face.

"You sure?" Lily asked, obviously feeling like she needed to save her friend from me, but Charleene nodded, flicking her eyes to meet Lily's before they returned to mine. "Ok, but you know where we are if you need us."

"Yep," Charleene replied before we're left alone again.

"We can go with your friends if you want?" I forced myself to say, not really wanting to go with them, but I had the feeling that for this human I'd do many things I didn't want to, just to see her smile.

"It's alright, I'm enjoying myself right here," she said with a small, shy smile while stepping even closer to me and running her hand up my arm.

“Funny, I’m enjoying myself too,” I found myself muttering as I stared transfixed into her blue eyes. They remind me of the Mediterranean sea. Smiling back at her I let my arms close around her body; she’s an inch or two taller than me but I liked how her head rested on top of mine as we danced.

I lost track of time as we swayed to the music, talking when we could. I found out that Charleene was what they called a “mature student” at one of the local universities, working towards a better future than the past she’d had.

“Last song,” the DJ announced through his microphone, suddenly bursting our little bubble.

“What now?” I asked, not wanting our time to end. I found that I no longer cared about getting her out of my system, there was something about her making me want to know her more.

“Do you want to come back to mine?” Charleene asked nervously, glancing around at the almost empty club. “Or we could go to another club?” she tagged on, when I didn’t answer quicker.

“I can walk you home if you want.” I offered, not wanting to put too much pressure on anything further. I still wasn’t even sure if she liked women in that way—or if I did for that matter—there was just something that drew me to her like a moth to a flame. Would I get burned? I wondered as she led me to the exit my hand clasped in hers .

The walk to Charleene’s passed quickly as we talked easily about her varied past growing up in the foster system since she’d been a baby. I could tell it made her uncomfortable to talk about it, however I couldn’t find it in myself to stop her. She was fascinating. “I don’t know why I told you all of that.” Her voice brings me out of my thoughts, as we turn onto her street.

“Sometimes we just need to talk to someone we don’t know.” I reassured her, “I hope telling me this has helped you.”

“It’s strange, I feel a little lighter. I also feel like I’ve known you longer than just tonight.” She mumbled, almost to herself, as she unlocked her front door.

I remained on the threshold—and no, we don't need permission to enter a person’s home— waiting for her to decide if she wants to take things further or not. Butterflies flutter agitatedly in my stomach as the seconds tick by and my mind goes into overdrive. Do I want to be invited in? Would I be able to take whatever this was further? My mind spun, as I remembered all the rules against same sex relationships from my childhood.

“Erm, would you like to come in?” Charleene finally asked, breaking into my thoughts and making her decision.

“Erm, yes, please” I forced myself to whisper, my butterflies doubling and dancing now, as I slowly stepped into her house.

“Would you like a drink or…” her voice trailed off as if she’s embarrassed or as nervous as I am. “Sorry I don’t do this often, well not at all recently.”

“Neither do I,” I whispered, my voice sounding too loud in the silent house. I may have been a vampire for three hundred years but until now this was one line I hadn’t ventured over. Taking another step closer, I shoved my doubts down and tucked an annoying strand of hair behind her ear. I let my fingers trail softly down her face, watching her eyes close before leaning forward and placing a hesitant kiss to her parted lips. She tasted like alcohol and strawberries.

“Dina,” she mumbled, her breath skating over my tingling lips and I wondered if I’d done something wrong .

“Mmmm,” I answer incoherently, my body now pressing up against hers, enjoying how her lips feel against mine.

“Maybe we should move this out of the hallway?” she asked before backing up, igniting my predatory instincts. I wanted to stalk her, make her heart thunder even faster than it was in her chest, but instead I followed her through the small living room to a thin set of stairs in the corner.

Hunt Her! The huntress in me screamed, when she turned her back to me and took the first step up. Taking measured steps, my mind catalogued everything; the slight whooshing sound of her blood rushing through her veins, the flurry of goosebumps that raised on her exposed skin, drawing in a deep breath, I smile as her scent thickens around me, her desire increasing with each step we take.

It takes every thread of my self-control not to make her run so that I can hunt her. I want to taste every inch of her. Wanted to sink my fangs into her soft skin. I needed to lose myself in her, I realised, as we steadily grew closer to what I’m assuming is her bedroom.

Charleene paused before one of three doors on the tiny landing. She took a deep breath before pushing it open, revealing her personal space. Stepping inside, I noticed that her room is quite plain. The carpet, like the rest of the house, is cream. Her walls are beige, with a lonely motivational cat poster that says, 'You've got this' in big letters above a ginger cat. She has one bookcase with a few books on the shelves, and her rainbow bedspread is the brightest thing in the whole room.

Catching a glimpse of Charleene in the full length mirror next to the door, I watched as she pushed it shut with a soft click. Her room was illuminated from the closest streetlight shining in through the small window and she didn’t switch the main light on. Not that I needed it to see her clearly, as she paused with her hand still on the door. In the past I'd always chosen to keep rooms dark when I've taken someone to bed, but with her something's different; I want to see her every reaction.

Maybe it's because she's a woman , I wondered as my eyes took her in. Her hips curved out, giving her an hourglass figure. She’s not overly wide, like some women had seemed to aim for over the centuries, and my hands itched to roam over every curve, even as my mind told me it’s wrong. I shouldn’t be having these feelings for her.

Confused, I stepped closer, taking it slow, unsure on what I should be doing. With men it was easy; flash a little flesh and they can't seem to help themselves from being aroused, but with Charleene it's harder to judge. Did she find me attractive? Did she want me to make the first move? Should I make any moves at all?

Standing behind her I ignored my errant thoughts and reached out, running my hand down one of her arms, drawing her attention to me. The pink staining her cheeks was adorable and I want to see more of her. Running a finger down the soft skin of her cheek I watched, gauging her reaction to my touch. She leaned her cheek into my palm and I took another step closer.

Slipping my hand down until it settles against the warmth of her neck, my thumb rubbed across her thumping pulse point as I leaned closer.

"You're beautiful," I whispered, not giving myself time to overthink as I pressed my lips gently back against hers.

They’re soft and part as my tongue swept across her bottom lip. Emboldened by the quiet moan that slipped from her, I deepened the kiss letting my tongue play with hers. We’re battling for dominance, I realised, as her hand grabbed a fistful of my hair. She tugged it forcefully, pulling my head back, and letting me know she was in charge here, not me.

My lips moved slowly down the smooth column of her neck, and I nipped gently, smiling when her fist in my hair loosened. Able to move freely, my tongue flicked out over her thumping pulse. The salty taste of sweat on her skin barely registered as her hand caressed the back of my head, encouraging me on. She gasped as I sucked on her skin gently, and my fingers moved to the buttons on her shirt, slowly flicking them open one after another .

Taking my time, I enjoyed how she responded to my touch. Each soft gasp or throaty hum sent tingles rushing from low in my stomach to my throbbing pussy. But I reminded myself to give her the option to stop this if she wanted.

“Do you want more?” I found myself asking in the huskiest voice I’d ever heard leave my throat.

“Yes,” she gasped as her hands found my arms. Opening the last few buttons I pushed her shirt from her shoulders and let my lips trail short quick kisses across her skin. Finding a small scar marring her beauty I gave it two kisses, before moving back towards her chest.

You’re in uncharted waters right now , my mind chimed, making me pause in my lips’ exploration as I glanced up. Her blue eyes stared down at me above her pink cheeks.

“Please don’t stop,” she encouraged, like she could read my mind and knew the doubts I was suddenly having.

“I’ve never…” I bit off the words before they could leave my mouth, not wanting her to know how inexperienced I was.

“It’s ok,” she said, being so understanding that I almost growled at her, “we don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” she said, gently cupping my cheek trying to reassure me. Ha, me, the vampire that’s lived more lives than she could dream needs reassurance from a human. Shut the fuck up! I screamed at my stupid head, I need to be rid of her, I reminded myself before responding.

“I want this,” I choked out, fighting with wanting to have my lips all over her and the morals that growing up in my time had instilled in me. In some ways humans were far more progressive than some vampires.

Her scent was overpowering and now that I was this close to her, I noticed an unusual undertone that I couldn't place. However before I could delve further into what about her scent was unusual, her thumb swiped over my bottom lip, freeing it from my teeth, and snapped my attention back to her. Her smile distracted me as her hand moved softly down the side of my neck and across my shoulder .

Tingles raced away from her touch as it continued down my arm, then across my chest, pausing just above my breast, as her oceanic eyes searched mine. I gave her a shaky nod and gasped as she cupped my breast, making my chest heave forward further into her hand. The tingles raced from my breast straight to my vagina.

“Does that feel good?” Charleene questioned, her smile devilish as her thumb rubbed over my nipple, creating delicious friction between my clothes and the now sensitive skin.

Does it? I wondered, trying to shut off that pesky voice in the back of my mind that’s telling me this was wrong.

“Y…y…yes,” I finally managed to gasp out after warring with myself.

“Good.” She responded before taking full control.

Her hands slid to the bottom edge of my top, brushing against my stomach before dragging it up and over my head. Once it hit the floor her hands were back on my skin, gliding up over my flat stomach, feeling every dip in my abs. Then they slid over my smallish breasts, still covered by the thin material of my bra, until she slipped one free and circled her finger tip around one nipple. I couldn’t stop the moan from escaping my lips.

My eyes closed when Charleene’s thumb and finger squeezed my hardened nipple, as her lips found mine, and kissed away my next moan. I barely noticed her other hand reaching around my back and unhooking my bra, until it fell to the floor between us, freeing my breasts to the cool air of her room.

A sudden pressure on my bottom lip made me aware of my elongated fangs. Shit, how do I hide this? I thought, not wanting her to be scared of what I was, and with the amount of desire flooding through my blood, they wouldn’t be going away anytime soon.

“You ok?” Charleene’s voice brought me out of my thoughts. I nodded, stopping myself from overthinking everything and smiled at her, not wanting this to end, but also not wanting her to see my true self either. It was like torture, but torture of the best kind .

I watched as her tongue flicked out, teasing my nipple gently, before sucking it into her mouth hard as her oceanic eyes stared up at me unblinkingly. I loved how she watched my responses to her touch. Tilting my head up I let out the groan trapped in my throat to her ceiling, hiding my mouth as her tongue flicked over one nipple again before moving to the other and I forgot my doubts about what was right or wrong.

“More than ok,” I finally croaked out, needing her to continue as she began pushing me backwards, while lavishing attention to my tits. I’d been with men before but never had their attention felt this good, this single-minded on my own pleasure over theirs.

Charleene’s bed hit the back of my calves, and I gave up any preconceived notions I might have had with how tonight was going to go and enjoyed Charleene’s mouth and hands on my body. Letting myself get lost in the various sensations coursing through me instead.

The noises I made should have been embarrassing, but each one fanned my desire higher until I was falling—both figuratively and literally—onto Charleene’s soft mattress as she wrestled with my tight jeans.

The rough rasp of my clothing made me realise she was still wearing far too many clothes. Pushing myself up on my elbows I gazed down at the beauty between my legs. “Your clothes need to come off.” I demanded, receiving a sultry smile back before her mouth descended on my soaking pussy, making my head fall back against her soft mattress.

“Mmmmm, delicious,” Charleene moaned, her soft breath raising goosebumps across my flesh as I fisted her sheets. Her tongue was both rough and smooth at the same time as it slipped between the lips of my pussy, hitting my clit in light teasing touches, before repeating the same path over and over, driving me senseless. Tingles chased each other around my body as my hips buckled. I need more , I managed to think somewhat coherently as I began to ride her face, chasing the high her tongue was pushing me towards .

Her finger pressed gently against my entrance, and I groaned as her tongue pressed more forcefully against my clit. Losing myself to her tongue's attention, I screamed as she thrust first one finger and then two inside me. Her fingers twisted and turned, caressing the walls of my pussy and stretching it, as her hand pumped in and out. Wetness rushed from me as her fingers wriggled before she pulled them back out. The slick sound of my desire had my heart beating faster and my hips gyrating against her mouth as she lapped up the cum that escaped.

“Come for me,” she demanded and I did just that, screaming my release when her tongue circles my clit again.

Shivers coursed through my body as I rode her fingers, coming down from the high she’d just given me. Smiling like a dope, I opened my eyes to find her standing and peeling her own trousers off. Lust raced through me as she bent down, showing me her perfect round arse, encased in lacy black panties.

Biting my lip I shoved myself up until I was sitting on the edge of her bed and reached for her. Wanting to taste her, as her scent wrapped around me from the desire I knew was pooling between her legs.

“My turn,” I rasped before sliding to my knees and dragging her lacy underwear down her legs. I placed small kisses up her thighs, first one and then the other, delighting in hearing her lustful noises. She squirmed in anticipation as my mouth drew close to her pussy and I dragged my teeth gently across her skin, wondering if I was doing it right or not.

Glancing up, I met her eyes as my tongue darted out, and captured a drop of her juices as it tried to escape down her leg. Following it up I licked between her pussy's lips, savouring the sweet taste that was completely her. Reaching up, my fingers brushed over her belly, flowing over the dip of her belly button, before I gently cupped one of her large breasts. It was heavy in my hand as I kneaded it. Enjoying my touch Charleene moaned and thrusted her breasts harder against my palm.

Giving it a final hard squeeze, I dropped my hand and grabbed her hips, yanking her pussy to my mouth as I let my tongue swirl and lick until her cum was dripping down my chin. She tasted just like she smelt, floral and exotic, as I lapped at her. Remembering how her tongue moved against me, I flicked my tongue over her clit in short quick taps and her moans turned into loud groans of delight. Emboldened by the sounds she was making I parted her thighs more so I could see her gloriously wet pussy and slid my forefinger slowly through it. Exploring how she felt.

Applying the same amount of pressure as I would to my own, I circled her clit, teasing her, before thrusting it inside.

Twisting my hand so I could slip another finger into her I let my thumb rest on her clit and when I pushed my fingers as far inside as they’d go, I circled her small nub. A small grin tugged at my lips, when I was rewarded with more of her cum, it coated the palm of my hand making it slicker. Charleene’s hips bucked, ridding my hand and fingers to the pace that would bring her to the edge she’d thrust me over moments before.

Hazy dawn light began turning Charleene’s walls rosy red as the autumn sun began its accent into the sky. I pulled Charleene’s soft, warm naked body against my own, prolonging the moment before I’d need to leave. We’d spent all night pleasuring each other but it still hadn’t been enough. Charleene’s scent covered me, but it only made me want more. Reaching out I smoothed the small furrow that had appeared in Charleene’s brow as she mumbled something about a monster in her sleep.

It had been so peaceful watching the human sleep for the last couple of hours, that I was hesitant to leave her, not to mention the fact that something inside my heart was begging me not to leave.

A soft buzzing, vibrated against the carpet, drawing my own brows into a frown as I realised it would be Tilly wondering where I was. I’d never stayed out all night when we’d been on a hunt before. What’s wrong with me? I wondered, while softly untangling myself from Charleene, trying not to wake her. If Charleene woke, I knew it would be so much harder to leave.

I’d just hunted down my jeans and was pulling my still vibrating phone from the back pocket when suddenly the whole room was flooded with the sharp tangy smell of ozone. It was like I’d suddenly been thrown into a lightning storm just after lightning had hit close by. My limbs froze where I was bent, my head turning sharply, watching the sleeping human over my shoulder. No, not human, witch! I mentally corrected myself. It had been the tantalising part of Charleene’s scent that she hadn’t been able to place until now as her power poured into the room.

“No! No! Get Off Me!” Charleene’s terrified voice filled the room, making every protective instinct in me flare to the surface. Flashing to Charleene’s side in a heartbeat, I reached out not knowing if I should wake her or let her ride out the nightmare.

What are you doing? I screamed silently at myself, you’re supposed to be getting the lass out of your system and leaving, not embedding yourself further into her life. I chastise myself, just as Tilly would have done, if she’d been here. Get dressed and leave the witch alone! My mind begged.

Listening to it, I dressed silently and went to leave. However before I could even open the door my chest ached. For some reason I couldn’t fathom, I was hesitant to go without leaving Charleene a note or something, explaining my actions.

Weak! My mind screamed at me, remembering the few times I’d left a sleeping partner before they’d woken and never left a damn note then. However with Charleene, who now slept comfortably again, it felt wrong. Before I could second guess my actions, I acted on impulse, grabbing a pen and slip of paper from Charleene’s small desk.

The note was small and to the point; Call me: 07728992124 Dina. Walking carefully to the bed I took one last look at her beautiful face, before dropping the note on the pillow beside her head and using my vampire speed to leave. In seconds I was outside on the street, dragging in a last lungful of the witch’s intoxicating scent, and with one last glance at Charleene’s front door, I disappeared into the early morning, already cursing my rash decision to leave the note.

You’re not going to see her again! I told myself firmly.