Michelle Hasker

In anticipation of my guest tonight, I made sure that I had nothing that would make him feel uncomfortable. I took down my picture of The Last Supper, and the candleholders with Jesus on a crucifix.

I hoped he would feed well before he arrived, because there was nothing in our agreement about me paying for the interview with myself. Of course I had no way of knowing which vampire stereotypes were true, and which were not.

A knock on my door signaled that my guest had arrived. I wiped my suddenly sweaty hands on a towel, then tossed it in the hamper. One last glance in a mirror showed that the small silver cross I wore around my neck was safely hidden under my black sweater.

Not wanting to keep him waiting, I hurried to the door and opened it wide. "Please come in, Mr. Knight."

My visitor was dressed in black from the cowboy hat to the shiny cowboy boots. My heart fluttered at the sight of him in that long leather coat. I didn't know if he was exerting his vampire sexual magnetism, or if it was just the reminder of the sexy vampire hunter from one of my favorite movies that got my engine revved.

"Thank you."

He'd warned me he would disguise his appearance, but I wasn't prepared for the shiver his deep husky whisper sent up my spine. I had to struggle to keep away the image of black satin sheets that popped into my mind.

"I appreciate you granting me this interview. I know how important anonymity is in your business."

"It doesn't bother you to be alone with me, Ms. Hasker?"

"Michelle, please. And no." I fought the urge to make sure my cross was still there. "Can I get you anything? Is everything satisfactory?"

He glanced around the darkened room. "This is fine."

"Please, have a seat. Do you mind if we get started?"

"Not at all. I'm in between cases right now, but I still need to feed before the sun rises."

"Ahhh, feed?" My heart stuttered. Did he think I was going to let him drink my blood?

That was definitely not in our verbal agreement.

"You don't have to fear me. Remember, I'm one of the good guys."

I blushed realizing I’d let him see my fear. This was going downhill fast.

"No, no. I'm not afraid. I was just worried that our interview will need to be quick."

"We've got plenty of time," he said as he leaned back in the chair.

He shifted his hat, and I could see the gleam of his eyes as he watched me. His face was still in the shadows, and the temptation to turn on a light so I could see him grew in the silence.

He cleared his throat, and I blushed again.

"So, Mr. Knight. Why did you start Black Knight Investigations?"

"I started my detective agency once I realized how much of a disadvantage many humans have when dealing with vampires. Not every vampire is honest in his dealings, and untrained humans don't stand much of a chance against even a fledgling vampire. I don't like to see anyone taken advantage of."

I didn't understand what he meant so I asked, "So any human who has problems with vampires should come see you?"

"I'm not like the police. I just help humans recover items, or people that turn up missing. Sometimes I will help locate a vampire and then turn him into the police. The majority of my cases are simple."

"Could you tell me what a night might be like for you?" I leaned close as I took notes, hoping he'd have something exciting to tell me.

"On a typical night I spend time interviewing potential clients and deciding if I should take their case. If I already have a case I might canvas the area around the suspect I'm going to watch. Obviously I'm not going to divulge very much information."

"Obviously," I agreed with a breathless nod as he leaned forward, spearing me with those captivating eyes. "So I guess you wouldn't tell me if you've ever done anything illegal."

"By your laws, yes. But I only do what I have to complete an assignment."

"Do you have a lot of vampire detectives working for you?" I asked watching the way his eyes swirled.

"I have a few. But they have all been tested thoroughly before I hired them. I wouldn't hire anyone I couldn't trust."

"Is there a great need for your services? Are there a lot of bad vampires out there waiting to take advantage of us humans?" I asked, waiting breathlessly for his answer. His voice, even as a whisper, was intoxicating. I found myself hanging on each and every word. It was hard to remember what I'd already asked him.

"You don't really want to ask me more questions do you?" he asked softly.

"I would like to know what it's like to be a private investigator. You must face lots of danger."

"There is some danger, but most of my work is because of domestic problems. It is more boring than you think." He tapped his finger on the arm of chair. "Did you really invite me here for an interview?"

My eyes widened as he sat up and took off his hat. My God, the man was an Adonis. My jaw dropped open as he opened his leather coat and shrugged out of it. My gaze dropped to the tight black sweater he wore.

"It's rather warm in here, isn’t it?" He smiled at me.

I nodded and tugged on the neck of my sweater. He moved to the sofa and sat down, patting the spot next to him. Without hesitating, I joined him.

Trembling at his nearness, I glanced nervously around the room. I had anticipated something like this, but couldn't remember what I'd planned to prevent him from hurting me.

"You fear me?" He said it as if he was surprised. "Why did you invite me here?"

"For an interview. You're confusing me. You need to tone down those pheromones or your vampire voodoo, whatever it is that is making my mind mush. I promised an interview that wouldn't betray your identity, or put any of your clients or detectives at risk."

"You also know I never grant interviews."

"Yes." I swallowed audibly.

"Aren’t you wondering why I said yes?"

"Yes." My voice cracked, and I blushed again. Geesh, it wasn't as if he was flirting with me or anything... was he?

"Michelle?" The way he said my name curled my toes.

"Yes?" I leaned close to him.

"You don't have to fear me. I heard your voice, and had to come see if you were what I imagined you were."

"Am I? What did you imagine?"

"You are even better than I imagined. Since the interview is over, would you mind offering me some refreshments?"

"But what do I have that would interest you? Sherry? Orange juice?"

"You."

"Me?" I squeaked.

Then before I could blink, tall, dark and luscious leaned down and kissed me. Closing my eyes, I sighed as his tongue traced my lips, then dipped inside my mouth. Shivers raced up my spine as he lowered his hand to my waist, and rubbed his fingers back and forth. All I could think was, Oh my God, he wants me.

I grabbed onto his shoulders as he deepened the kiss. His other hand crept up to my neck, where he massaged me until I relaxed in his arms.

"Don't fear me," he whispered, brushing his lips across my cheeks to my ear. "I have no desire to hurt you. I want to give you pleasure like no other can."

I shivered again as vivid pictures of him pleasuring me raced across my mind. Images of our naked bodies entwined on black satin sheets, me on top of him in a hot tub, and my back pressed against the shower wall with my legs wrapped around his waist filled me with a lust I didn't want to fight.

I'd always wondered what it would be like to make love to a vampire, and now it seemed I was going to get my wish. I hoped I didn't disappoint him.

"I don't even know your name." I hissed when he dragged his fangs down my neck. "Call me Alec.

"Alec," I sighed, as he licked his way back up to my ear.

"Michelle," he whispered, his warm breath tickling me as he nibbled his way down my neck.

He didn’t make it very far when he choked. I pulled back to look at him. He laughed and tugged my cross out of my sweater.

"Did you think this would protect you?" he asked.

"Um..." I didn't know what to say. It seemed so silly that only an hour ago I was worried he'd bite me, and now I was ready to beg him to. I reached up and quickly undid the clasp. I tossed the necklace aside and reached for him.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, placing kisses on his cheek and then his mouth.

He shrugged my apology aside, but I knew it had to bother him. It must have happened often enough that he hid it well, but I knew better.

"I truly am sorry, Alec." I said as I tugged his sweater up so that I could caress the flat planes of his hard stomach.

I tried not to drool as my hands ran over his muscular body. I know it is terrible to admit, but I am a sucker for muscular men. If they aren't in good shape I won't even look twice at them. I might not be a model, but I do take care of myself, so why shouldn't my guy be the same way?

"Let me make it up to you." I glanced up into his midnight blue eyes and groaned as I noticed the red haze swirling in them. If I interpreted things right, then I was making him as hot for me as I was for him.

I tugged off his sweater, and pushed him back against the sofa as I climbed onto him to straddle his lap. Then I leaned back and pulled off my own sweater and tossed it aside. As I reached for my bra he beat me to it, pulling it off and then covering my breasts with his large hands.

I moaned when he pinched my nipples, then rolled them between his fingers. The man was going to drive me insane with desire before the night was over, I could tell. Remembering that I was trying to apologize to him, I kissed him again and reached for the waistband of his black jeans. While I fumbled with his pants, he broke the kiss, and latched onto my breast, sucking my nipple into his mouth and teasing it with his tongue. I gasped, and arched my back, forgetting all about his pants and fisting my hands in his thick black hair. My stomach tightened as a delicious tingling spread through my body. His mouth was like magic and I wanted more.

This time I managed to get his pants open, then I stood up and he helped me remove them. I took mine off and started to push him back on the sofa, but he scooped me into his arms, and started down the hall. Maybe he read my mind or something, but he knew exactly where my bedroom was. He carried me up the stairs and into my bedroom where he placed me on the bed, and crawled above me.

"Alec." I gasped and reached for his throbbing erection. His moan made me tremble with excitement. I wanted to see if I could make him shout my name.

He didn't resist as I pushed him down on the bed and took him as far into my mouth as I could. He moaned again so I began to suck on him, sliding my mouth up and down his length. When his breaths grew loud and panting I increased the speed and suckled harder, his pleasure the only thing on my mind.

"Michelle!" He shouted and pulled away from me so suddenly I dropped back on my rear end.

"What?" I gasped, trembling, not know what I'd done wrong.

"Damn it, woman. I want to be in you. That was almost too close."

I laughed realizing I'd misunderstood his reaction. I reached for him and ran my hand down his shaft.

"You are not what I expected after all," he admitted as he rolled me over and pinned me underneath him.

"Thank you." I purred as he ran his hands over me. "Trust me, I didn’t expect this either."

"No, but you hoped." He grinned at me. A wicked grin full of promises of pleasure.

"Once I heard your sexy voice, yes. But I never thought..."

I cried out as he slid into my welcoming dampness. All rational thought fled as he pounded into me over and over again, harder and faster until I dug my nails into his back. I wrapped my legs around him and held on as he moved faster and deeper with every thrust.

Alec nuzzled my neck and whispered sweet, sexy words. "You feel like heaven. You're so tight. I can't wait any longer."

His words were almost enough to send me over the edge, but when he bit my neck and sucked on my carotid, my body shattered into a million pieces of star dust. While I was screaming his name, and dragging my nails across his back, I heard him moan, then felt his body tense, and then shudder.

Slowly he licked at my neck, lulling me to sleep. When I closed my eyes, he crawled behind me and pulled me close.

"Alec?"

"Hmm?"

"Will you still be here when I wake?"

"If I'm not, I'll be back as soon as the sun sets."

I smiled as he kissed the sensitive space beneath my ear.

"Good. I have plans for tomorrow." I smiled again, then sighed as sleep became too much a temptation to resist. Tomorrow...