Sunday Surprise - Lust of the Vampires

Naughty Nights Press has a couple of new surprises for us.

The first is from Kara Hunting who pitches the Beauty against the Geek. Sage is out of work, down on her luck, and living in the back seat of her car. When Tom came around promising forever and a warm meal, Sage readily agreed. Upon discovering Tom's most secret possession, a little black book, she discovers he is not only having an affair, but worse, he’s a hired hit man. With no real friends and nowhere to go, Sage takes a chance on a high school classmate’s wedding. Will Sage once again fallen in love with the wrong man?

Lust of the Vampires isn't one story, but four of them, all from the same fabulous author, Julez Morbius. He has kindly given us an excerpt from the first story, Damon's.

---

The moon guided me, yet it was my need that drove me forward. For too long I had slept, and now the hunger gnawed at my very soul, demanding to be satiated. Coming to rest atop the town’s post office building, I inhaled deeply, my senses seeking my next meal before jumping down into the dark alleyway below.
Exiting the alleyway, I walked briskly but carefully through the late night throng of people leaving the clubs and bars, some of them stumbling from too much alcohol and others just eager to get to the safety and softness of their beds. Keeping my head lowered so no one saw my face in the street lights, I soon reached the street entrance my senses brought me to.
Only two of the houses had lights on, and I inhaled deeply once again. Neither of the lighted houses were the ones I sought. That one was slightly back, in the far right corner and in complete darkness.
Moving slowly towards the house, my senses were on full alert lest I should be discovered, but I reached my target unchallenged. With one leap I was outside the window, and as I peered through the gap in the curtains, I could see her. She was beautiful. Through the moonlight shining through her window, I could make out her outline under the thin sheet covering her naked body, and my excitement rose.
For a few minutes I just watched as the sheets rose and fell in time with her slow breathing. Ghosting into the room and appearing at the foot of her bed, I stood silently, just looking down at her. I licked my lips before moving around the side of the bed until I was standing level with her head.
Normally I was in and out quickly, but there was something about this one that caused me to linger. Her breathing seemed to increase slowly, as if she was dreaming. She kicked at the sheets, knocking them to the floor and exposed her nakedness. Stepping back into the shadows, I watched as her fingers began to run over her soft skin, tracing across her nipples lightly, stiffening them instantly before her fingers made their way down over her stomach towards her beautifully trimmed pussy.

#SerialSunday - Rising Up

A strange image filled my dreams these days. Traffic flowing in two directions. Go forward, or go back, staying still wasn't an option. I was smart enough to know what my subconscious was trying to tell me. I had to move. Limbo wouldn't last and events would carry me in one direction or another if I didn't choose one for myself. I knew what I wanted. I wanted to go forward, with Peter. So I was.

Jamie and I couldn't seem to stop hugging me. She and Brian had been together a month, but she wasn't ready to move in with him. I, however, hadn't spent a night here in the last week. My clothes migrated quickly to Peter's as I took a change with me, and left the dirty there to be washed.

He hadn't proposed to me, the only thorn in my side. We were living like a married couple, but he hadn't taken that one step to tell the world that was what we would be. I hadn't asked him about it; we had only been a couple a month ourselves. Once, that was probably a reasonable courtship, but these days people dated for years without talking about marriage. Not me. I trusted him when he said he wanted to be with him forever. I recognized the look in his eyes as he helped me prepare a meal, when he watched me settle with a book in the living room. He didn't want me to go.

Mary, like Jamie, knew that a change had occurred. After all, I hadn't needed a ride for the last week and a half. She was the only one at the office who knew. I thought we did an excellent job in remaining professional. No one else had commented, and Mary was keen enough to wait until we were alone to bring it up. In fact, we exchanged more email on it than anything else. She was happy for us, but reminded me that the office policy did not look fondly on intra-office relations. So I shouldn't have been surprised when Gary called me into his office.

"Beth, I have good news and bad news." His smile was huge.

I put one hand on a hip, knowing he was playing me. "Bad news?"

#SerialSunday - Rising Up

Beth followed me into the shower. I couldn't help my eyes eating up every one of her curves: her hip, the slight pouch of her belly, her waist, her breasts, her cheeks. She was simply perfect. She fit me perfectly.

She crossed her arms, pursing her lips a little. "I'm getting cold again," she reminded me.

Shaking my head to clear it, I started the shower.

A few times, I had considered remodelling this bathroom to put a stall in place of the shower and tub combo. Now I was glad I hadn't. Although she would have had to press against me in a small stall, we fit much more easily in the tub. I pulled the head from the hook on the wall to run it down her back, over her butt, unable to resist the urge to run my fingers over it as well.

"Lots of mud there?" she asked with a smirk.

"Tons," I said soberly, cupping a cheek, pulling her closer. "I don't know how I'll get you clean enough."

She laughed, squirting a bit of my body wash into her hands. Inhaling, a small smile came to her lips. "This is good stuff," she murmured, putting her palms to my chest and working up a lather.

My mouth opened as her hands roamed over me. She bit her lip occasionally, never really taking her eyes from me. I grabbed the shampoo in one hand, fixing the shower head in place again with the other.

As I twisted, her hand cupped my ass, then slapped it suddenly. I gasped, feeling my dick twitch and harden.

She didn't seem to notice, giggling as she rubbed body wash over my belly. She rubbed her own then, washing away the splatter I'd left on her.

I caught my breath and turned back to her, squirting the shampoo in my hand and sliding past her, letting her stand under the falling water. As we squeezed by one another, I felt her nipples draw a line across my chest, her thighs rub against mine, her hands guiding my step. Could I keep her here? Would she do this with me every day? Could I be so lucky?

#SerialSunday - Rising Up

I felt a little nervous stepping out into Peter's garage. I took off my shoes there, not wanting to drag mud through his house. Then I pulled off my jacket at the door.

"Maybe you should just hose me off outside," I suggested with a grin.

He laughed. "That sounds like a terrible idea." He pulled off his jacket and shirt.

I stopped, staring for a moment at his bare chest, then his bare back as he pulled off his shoes. They were ruined, I noticed, bending to them.

He straightened suddenly, nearly clipping my chin with his head. "What are you doing?" he asked, alarmed. "Your shoes," I moaned.

He pulled me up, kicking off the remaining shoe. "They're old. I expected they wouldn't stay clean. Don't worry."

I met his eyes and found truth. He wasn't saying it to appease me. Then I noticed his chest again and licked my lips, nervous.

"No pressure," he urged me. "There are two bathrooms. You can have the one down here, if you like."

It took a moment for me to look up at him, but when I did, I smiled broadly. "That sounds like a terrible idea," I mimicked.

He chuckled, but not for long, as I continued my imitation of him, removing my own muddy shirt and following with the pants. Standing in my underwear, I felt goosebumps break out all over me.

I gave him at least a full minute to stare. I kept my hands at my sides for the first twenty seconds before crossing them over my pert nipples. They showed dark through the lacy fabric of my bra, but I tried not to be embarrassed; he certainly wasn't declining the show. Still, it was not warm in the garage. "Shower. Hot. Now." I got cranky when I got cold.

He snapped up suddenly. "Yes, mistress."

#SerialSunday - Rising Up - Mud

WeHeartIt

The Point was beautifully dressed for the fall. It was hard to believe a month had passed since I climbed Peter's tree. Half of its leaves had fallen now too. I was glad we weren't at the lake today. The breeze was chilly.

I stepped out the car, still not quite believing he let me drive it. The vehicle was easily the most expensive thing I'd ever touched. It was fun to put my foot down and know that it would jump to whatever speed I chose. The amount of control I had sitting behind that wheel was invigorating.

"You're flushed," Peter commented, brushing my cheek as he rounded the car. "I'd think you'd ran here."

I raised a hand to my cheek, feeling the heat beneath it. Chuckling nervously, I answered, "I just like your car."

Peter's arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer. "Good, then you won't be leaving me soon."

Smiling up at him, I pressed my lips to his. "Not soon, no." I kissed him again, pulling him closer, my hands sliding over his back. One of his hands drifted up, under my ponytail, cupping my neck, thumb on my cheek.

It was not a warm day, but I was starting to think I'd worn too heavy a coat. No... wait. I broke the kiss abruptly, stepping back. I giggled a little. "You'll make me overheat," I warned him.

His eyes drifted down my throat, which I was pretty sure was pinker than usual, over my coat and back up. "You could just shed a layer," he suggested with a smirk.

#SerialSunday - Rising Up - PB&J (Peter, Beth and Jamie)

Beth was cooking me dinner. Not in my kitchen, in hers. It had been her idea. I'd suggested taking her out for dinner before a movie, but she'd vetoed that plan, saying she didn't feel like going out.

We Heart It

So now I was sitting across from Jamie, who was eyeing me up and down. I had stopped at home to
change, thank God. The girls were both in sweats and tank tops. A suit and tie would have been very out of place. As it was, I felt overdressed in a polo shirt and slacks. Jamie's eyes narrowed and she flipped up the hood of the black pullover she had put on when I came in. I tried to figure out what I might have said or done to offend her...

"Peter!" Beth greeted me with a kiss, pulling me in by the arm. "Thanks for coming." Her broad smile and her hair up in a sloppy ponytail, added to her pale arms that were usually hidden under blouse or blazer, drew me close behind her, pulling her into a reversed hug. It wasn't until my hands crossed on her belly that I realized there was someone else in the apartment.

That might have been it. I thought it was a rather innocent hug. It wasn't as though I was groping her, or rubbing myself on her, or anything untoward. In retrospect, I probably would have if Jamie hadn't appeared then.

"Peter," Jamie said formally, her reddish eyebrow arched. "I understand you hadn't taken notice of Beth before two weeks ago."

#SerialSunday - Rising Up - Lunch Special

Mary looked at me crosswise through the morning commute.

"What?" I finally asked her.

"You're glowing," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Are you pregnant?"

"What? No! Mary!" I couldn't believe she would suggest it. I hadn't had sex in months. If my luck held, that wouldn't be true for much longer, but still.

"Okay, okay. Don't get your panties in a bunch." She looked me up and down. "Assuming you're wearing any."

Now she was just being Mary. I pursed my lips and tried to ignore it.

"Who is he?" she asked with a sigh.

"You mean you don't know?" I asked, arching a brow.

"I do. I want you to say it."

I huffed. Were we so obvious? "Does everyone know?"

"No, but I'm not just anyone." She rolled her blue eyes at me, shaking her blonde locks. "Come on, Beth. Out with it. What's going on with you two?"

"We're... seeing each other." What could I tell her? We weren't 'going steady' or any other inane thing like that. We'd gone for dinner twice and he'd fished with me. Oh, and we'd made out hot enough that I needed new underwear. What did that count for?

"Seeing each other," she repeated. "Well, that's a start. How'd the donation go?"

My grin broadened. "I gave you two."

She rolled her eyes. "You can't give twice, Beth."

"I didn't. I brought a second."

Her lips turned up in a grin as well. "Peter?" she asked, a twinkle in her eye.

I nodded vigorously. "And then he took me for a burger. How awesome is that?" I asked excitedly.

"Pretty perfect," she agreed with a smile. "I should have let you handle the drive yourself. You were on the rampage."

"I hate losing," I muttered, slouching and crossing my arms.

Mary chuckled, eyes on the road. "Well, I don't see that being a problem."

#SundaySerial - Rising Up - Game Face

Gary accosted me as soon as I came in the door. "How was your weekend? I tried to call."

Busybody, I thought, wishing he would back off. "Good. I went fishing," I said with a grin.

"You don't fish," Gary said sceptically, narrowing his eyes. "Who fishes?" He tapped his chin trying to figure it out. "Hey, Beth!" he called over the cube walls.

"Would you shut up!" I hissed at him, grabbing his thick arm and not quite getting my fingers around. Gary had been a linebacker. He was pudgy now, but still big everywhere.

He didn't even seem to notice me. He waved to Beth who had rolled her chair out to look down the row of cubicles.

She wasn't alone of course. Half the desks in the row were now looking our way. I rolled my eyes, leaving Gary standing there and heading to my office.

I closed the door, sighing loudly, and put my head on my desk for a moment.

I had spent all of Sunday thinking about Saturday. I'd called Beth and talked to her on the phone for an hour. My own grandmother couldn't keep me on the phone that long. She'd gotten me talking about music, art, movies, all things I hadn't really thought about in years. They'd seemed so frivolous. Yet hearing her talk about the band she'd caught with Jamie, especially having her sing to me, well, it was easy to get interested. I remembered how much I had enjoyed going out with my friends and catching a game, hitting the pub after. I told her about the plays we'd done in high school. I hadn't thought about acting since... since Sarah.

I heard the door open and lifted my head quickly, picking up the first piece of paper on my desk. It was a memo for the blood drive. I groaned and tossed it, looking to see who had come in without knocking, Gary or Mary...

#SerialSunday - Rising Up - Saturday, Beth's side

I bent over and picked up the soft flannel.

KellyHogaBoom

"Here," Peter started, reaching for his discarded shirt. The day was nice enough, and now that the sun was up, he wouldn't need the layer. Disregarding him, I pulled it on. The scales from the fish sparkled in the sun and made me smile. It was still a little damp, but that didn't bother me either. The worst part had to be the smell. Fish, when living, don't smell much, but they decay fast, and the parts on this shirt were well on their way.

I turned to him, one eyebrow cocked, daring him to try to take the shirt from me.

He stopped, hung his head for a moment, and then smiled sheepishly. "It looks good on you?" he asked, offering it rather than stating.

I chuckled. "It looked good on you too. I don't know why you got so upset."

He ran a hand through his now uncapped hair and then grimaced, looking at his hand. He started to turn, but I stopped him, grabbing his arm.

"No, Peter. Tell me."

I held his eyes with mine, trying to give him courage.

They seemed to moisten as they softened. Though no tears fell, I was sure they were there.

"I... I have a... I need to be..." he tried several times, and I slid my hand to his, holding it. I didn't try to guess what he was telling me; I waited.

"People expect me to be this," he said, gesturing first at himself and then at his car. "I worked to make myself fit, and it's disappointing when I don't."

#SerialSunday - Rising Up - Saturday

Photo by: Courtney Carmody

I walked Beth home, dreading leaving her at the door. I held her hand, as I had through the show, luxuriating in the contact. Her laugh was as good as I remembered, and we had both laughed a lot. I wanted to talk to her, to ask her something, but the quiet was so nice. Sharing her company was something new to me, and I didn't want to spoil it.

"This is me," she said, stopping in front of the building.

"Right." I pulled her hand up, rubbing the back of it. "Um..."

"What are you doing tomorrow?" she asked.

I met her eyes, blinking in surprise. "N-nothing," I stuttered.

She looked at our joined hands and put her other hand around mine as well. "My parents have a cabin on the lake. I was thinking of going fishing. Do you fish?" she asked, looking up with those dark eyes, soulful and bottomless.

"I... I haven't," I admitted. "But I'd like to," I added quickly.

She smiled shyly and looked at our hands again. "I only have one pole, but I'm sure we can share."

I put my free hand to her cheek, my thumb rubbing the apple. She met my eyes again, this time seeming almost frightened.

"Beth?"

She blinked and swallowed. "You were going to kiss me again," she said slowly.

I blushed a little. "Would you rather I didn't?" I asked.

#SerialSunday - Rising Up - What's In This?

Monday came quickly. I held my breath as I stepped out of the elevator, preparing to face Peter for the first time since the weekend. I thought about his kiss, his arms, his hair... My heel caught in the gap of the doors and I went sprawling. My purse fell open, contents scattering across the floor.

Gary applauded, the ass.

Mary chuckled, but she scooped up my make-up and various cards. She passed me my phone last.

"Get outta my tree?" she asked.

"Shut up," I complained. Of course Jamie had told her.

My nervousness turned out to be completely unfounded. The end of the quarter had come and everyone was busy. Everyone except Gary. He decided that a lunch swap was a great team-building exercise. If he wasn't such a nice guy, or so big, someone would have shut him down when it came to ideas like this. Instead everyone reluctantly passed over their lunches, or cash if they were buying lunch. He was making the selections at the deli down the block, and we were all eating our desks.

At noon, Gary walked around pushing the mail cart and randomly handing over food.

#SerialSunday - Rising Up - Moth to the Flame

Jamie was still up when I got home.

"Mary make it in her own door?" I asked.

She smirked and crossed her arms. She stood like that for a full minute, not answering me. She was asking, silently. I groaned. "Yes, I climbed his tree."

"I knew it!" she crowed. She ran over to hug me while giggling. "So, what happened? Did you get a good peep?" She pulled me to the couch. I saw a game paused on her computer - some space thing.

Jon Zander, Wikimedia Commons

"Heh, that's like me." I pointed at the bright vortex. "I'm like the moth getting pulled to the flame. I'm that little asteroid right there."

She huffed. "You are not. You might be attracted to bright, shiny things, but you are a lot smarter than a moth." She shut down the game without saving. "Now tell me."

#SerialSunday - Rising Up - Over the Top

Another piece of Rising Up. These tend to alternate between Peter and Beth's POV.

---

I shouldn't be up here. I really shouldn't be smoking. How many times had Mom told me? Hundreds, certainly. She knew it would be the death of one of us.

It was Sarah.

I remembered sitting with her, slipping out onto the roof when she jumped to it from the tree, sneaking in.

I'd idolized Sarah. She wasn't the typical big sister, responsible, providing an example. She was a rebel.

"Pete. Dad is gonna kill you." She told me when she found me sitting on the shingles. I watched her bare toes grip the rough surface. She took off her shoes to be quieter and safer. "What are you doing?"

"You're going to have a smoke, right? I want one too."

DLSImaging @flickr

She rolled her eyes. "No, you don't; you almost puked the last time." Of course she already had her pack out and offered it to me. "I'm not Mom. If you wanna puke your guts out, just don't do it on me." She put one to her lips and lit it. Then she gave it to me, taking the unlit one from my fingers.

"Thanks, Sarah." She took several long drags, sitting beside me.

Finally she said, "You'll be cursing me in a minute. Go on." She motioned for me to take a puff. I did and coughed harshly.

She chuckled, her stream of smoke interrupted slightly. "Don't sweat it, Pete. Not everyone smokes. Let's go in before it rains."

She rubbed her cherry out on the shingles, pocketing the remnant. I passed mine to her as well. She put it next to hers, wrapped an arm around my shoulders and guided me into the house.

I inhaled deeply on the cigarette I now held. I didn't cough anymore, but they still made me nauseous. More with memory than reaction to the contents of the cancer stick. It had killed her, jumping from that stupid tree to the roof. That was the real reason I'd sent Beth the message. I couldn't bear to lose anyone else that way.

Broken body in the flower bed, limbs at odd angles. One shoe still on her foot.

She knew not to wear shoes. She knew the soles of her feet were the best traction. She must have been rushed that night. She had slipped, the forensic team determined, landing the jump, but falling and cracking her head on the eave that broke her neck. It could have just as easily been a broken arm or leg, but instead she had been paralyzed, face down in the muddy dirt.

Why had Mom and Dad let me know that? I rubbed the tears from my face. I'd been sixteen. Couldn't they have told me she died instantly? Why would they want me to know that she had tried to inhale mud until she had drowned in it, unable to move? I wished for the millionth time that I'd been waiting for her that night. That I could have run down, turned her head. But no, I'd played football with friends and passed out early.

I had meant to cut that tree down. Instead I sat out here in a robe and flannel pants, smoking, tempting the fates to finish me the way they had finished her.

"Sarah," I whispered, blowing the last of the smoke from my lungs. "Beth would have liked you." I crushed out the butt imagining Sarah among Beth, and Mary. She would have fit right in. If anything she would have been annoyed that Beth was too 'straight-laced.'

I needed to let her go. Seven years was long enough. I'd already finished mourning Mom and Dad, but I couldn't let go of my big sister. I felt vulnerable without her. This house didn't help. It was filled with memories of them, and me with them, but I couldn't sell it. I couldn't bear to think of anyone else living here. And Mom and Dad had nearly paid it off. It wasn't any trouble to keep up the mortgage, especially after the life insurance came through.

I stood up carefully, looked at the scraggly tree, and sighed. Who would have thought that once again, the best thing in my life would come from it. It looked like it could barely support itself, let alone the women I loved most.

Beth couldn't know I thought that. I had to keep it close. No sense in scaring her off before our first date. No way I was telling her I'd had dreams of her standing in my mother's kitchen, brushing her hair in my bathroom, laying with me here under the stars. Too much, over the top for sure.

No, I'd play cool, as I had all along. Take her to a casual restaurant, maybe Mexican, and then out to see the improv troupe I enjoyed so much. The humor was right up her alley. She'd love it. I had almost lost it tonight, kept her here. I'd do better next time. I'd have the week in the office to settle back, establish the distance I needed. And I'd walk her to her place, not here. That was the real problem. I couldn't have her here unless I could keep her.

One day, if I didn't screw this up.

#SerialSunday - Rising up - Outta My Tree

I thought I needed a new feature. I have a few things that I've written or am writing that I'd like to share in a serial format. This particular serial was prompted by a series of photographs. Sadly, I don't have the rights to the original photos, but I have some replacements. It starts out tame and gets hotter, so hold on and rise up with Beth and Peter.

---

The night had started so well.

Masochismtango @flickr

Drinks with my friends, some laughs at the saps singing. A few drinks later, we were the saps singing. Karaoke should not be legal. Possibly not gin either. At any rate, Bonny Raitt, and another G&T later, I was thinking, These are my girls. They've got my back. I can count on them.

Right?

Wrong.

"Hey, Beth, isn't that Peter's house?" Jamie asked, pointing.

"Huh? Uh, yeah, I think so. I've never been, but he lives around here."

"There's a light on upstairs," Mary pointed out.

"Yeah, so?" I asked.

"So, what if he's home?" Jamie asked, giggling.

I hiccuped. "So what if he is? I'm not going to knock on his door at-" I tried to read my watch. It was blurry, but I thought it said one. "One in the morning. I don't know him that well."

"But you want to," Mary sang, hugging onto me. "Go on, I dare you!" She shoved me at the door.

"What are we, twelve? You're going to dare me to ring his door bell? Should I run away after too?"

They both snorted before erupting in laughter. "No, silly, you jump him."