Desires after dark, p.1
Desires After Dark, page 1
Desires After Dark
Synopsis
Alex Bogdan is a creature of the night. Her hunger for blood is only outweighed by her desire for women, and she never misses an opportunity for pleasure.
Shantay is Alex’s driver and the only human who knows that Alex is a vampire. When they end up in a threesome with another woman, it becomes clear their attraction to each other is more than just physical. But there’s no way they could ever have an actual relationship.
Alex and Shantay spend their nights exploring New Orleans and the early morning hours exploring each other. Until Shantay falls deathly ill and Alex must decide which is worse, letting Shantay go or condemning her to everlasting life.
What Reviewers Say About MJ Williamz’s Work
Exposed
“The love affair between Randi and Eleanor goes along in fits and starts. It is a wonderful story, and the sex is hot. Definitely read it as soon as you have a chance!”—Janice Best, Librarian (Albion District Library)
Shots Fired
“MJ Williamz, in her first romantic thriller, has done an impressive job of building the tension and suspense. Williamz has a firm grasp of keeping the reader guessing and quickly turning the pages to get to the bottom of the mystery. Shots Fired clearly shows the author’s ability to spin an engaging tale and is sure to be just the beginning of great things to follow as the author matures.”—Lambda Literary Review
“Williamz tells her story in the voices of Kyla, Echo, and Detective Pat Silverton. She does a great job with the twists and turns of the story, along with the secondary plot. The police procedure is first rate, as are the scenes between Kyla and Echo, as they try to keep their relationship alive through the stress and mistrust.”—Just About Write
Forbidden Passions
“Forbidden Passions is 192 pages of bodice ripping antebellum erotica not so gently wrapped in the moistest, muskiest pantalets of lesbian horn dog high jinks ever written. While the book is joyfully and unabashedly smut, the love story is well written and the characters are multi-dimensional. …Forbidden Passions is the very model of modern major erotica, but hidden within the sweet swells and trembling clefts of that erotica is a beautiful May-September romance between two wonderful and memorable characters.”—Rainbow Reader
Sheltered Love
“The main pair in this story is astoundingly special, amazingly in sync nearly all the time, and perhaps the hottest twosome on a sexual front I have read to date. …This book has an intensity plus an atypical yet delightful original set of characters that drew me in and made me care for most of them. Tantalizingly tempting!”—Rainbow Book Reviews
Speakeasy
“Speakeasy is a bit of a blast from the past. It takes place in Chicago when Prohibition was in full flower and Al Capone was a name to be feared. The really fascinating twist is a small speakeasy operation run by a woman. She was more than incredible. This was such great fun and I most assuredly recommend it. Even the bloody battling that went on fit with the times and certainly spiced things up!”—Rainbow Book Reviews
Heartscapes
“The development of the relationship was well told and believable. Now the sex actually means something and M J Williamz certainly knows how to write a good sex scene. Just when you think life has finally become great again for Jesse, Odette has a stroke and can’t remember her at all. It is heartbreaking. Odette was a lovely character and I thought she was well developed. She was just the right person at the right time for Jesse. It was an engaging book, a beautiful love story.”—Inked Rainbow Reads
By the Author
Shots Fired
Forbidden Passions
Initiation by Desire
Speakeasy
Escapades
Sheltered Love
Summer Passion
Heartscapes
Love on Liberty
Love Down Under
Complications
Lessons in Desire
Hookin’ Up
Score
Exposed
Broken Vows
Model Behavior
Scene of the Crime
Thief of the Heart
Desires After Dark
Desires After Dark
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Desires After Dark
© 2021 By MJ Williamz. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-941-5
This Electronic Original Is Published By
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, NY 12185
First Edition: June 2021
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Cindy Cresap
Production Design: Susan Ramundo
Cover Design by Tina Michele
eBook Design by Toni Whitaker
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I need to acknowledge Laydin Michaels, who is my inspiration, muse, everything.
Next, I want to thank my beta readers: Sarah, Sue, and Karen for keeping me on my toes and encouraging me to keep writing.
I can’t forget to thank all the folks at Bold Strokes for believing in me for twenty books now.
And, finally, I want to thank the readers. Your warm reception for all my books is greatly appreciated.
Oh, yes—I can’t forget to thank Tina Michele for the awesome cover.
Dedication
Dedicated to all vampire lovers and to everyone who loves the mystery of New Orleans
Chapter One
The streets were crowded with people, mostly tourists on that balmy evening in December. The stores were decorated for Christmas and the sights, and sounds had my senses reeling. I felt alive, so very alive. The music pulsed through me as I watched the mortals milling about, watching the dancers perform a perfect tango, shopping at the tourist traps, and eating at the myriad restaurants.
Florida Street in Buenos Aires was my favorite haunt. And I’d had quite a few over the centuries I’d roamed the earth. I loved Buenos Aires. It had a European feel to it but was really an entity unto itself.
It was warm, and many of the women were scantily clad, which I loved. I loved women. All shapes and sizes. As I wandered the pedestrian street, I almost forgot my hunger as I admired all the beautiful mujeres. There were dark ones, light ones, and every shade in between. Perhaps I’d take one to my house in Recoleta later.
I kept a house in one of the most affluent areas of the city. It showed my vanity, to be sure. I was all about appearance. My house was ninety years old and designed to look like an old Argentinian palace. It was opulent, just the way I liked it. It had seven bedrooms, but I slept in the basement accessed by a hidden secret door in the floor in my study. No one was allowed in my study. Not even my housekeepers. I kept it locked at all times so no one could happen upon my lair. That could prove disastrous.
As I moved through the throngs, I kept my eyes and ears open for anyone who might be a good dinner for me. I needed to feed. And soon.
The music changed, and a techno beat floated on the air as I wandered down the street. The beat called to me, and I thought dancing would take my mind off my hunger. I followed the sound and came to a modern club. I was about to pay my cover charge when I heard a woman scream.
“He has my purse!”
I turned to see a man running in the opposite direction, jostling his way through the crowd. I used my preternatural speed to catch up to him. I dragged him off the main thoroughfare.
“Let me go. You don’t know who you’re messing with,” he protested. But I didn’t listen. I was on a mission.
Once off Florida, I found the nearest alley and carried him in. I shoved him against a wall and saw pure fury in his eyes. Too bad for him. I wasn’t the least bit afraid. I unsheathed my fangs and his fury turned to disbelief and then fear. He started pleading for his life. Too late.
I buried my fangs deep and drank my fill. I drank until I felt his heart stop. Some vampires believed that it was dangerous to wait for the heart to stop, but I didn’t hold stock in that. I wanted this deadbeat dead as dead could be.
Once he was gone, I licked his wounds to cover the bite marks, picked up the woman’s purse, and began to cut through the crowds again. I sped up and made it back to the club where the woman was talking to a seriously disinterested policeman.
“I believe this is yours?” I held out her purse.
She snatched it from me and began looking through it.
“Is this the person who took it?” The cop began to unhook his handcuffs from his belt.
“What? No. This kind woman brought it back for me.” To me, she said, “Thank you so very much.”
“Everything should be there. I don’t think he had anything on him.”
“It all looks to be in order. Oh. Thank you again. How can I repay you?”
I looked at the blond beauty standing before me. She had wavy shoulder length hair
“Don’t worry about repaying me. I’m just happy you got everything back,” I said.
She stared hard at me and then glanced at the club. Then back to me.
“At least let me buy you a drink,” she said.
I smiled my best smile.
“A drink would be nice.”
“I take it I’m not needed anymore?” I’d forgotten about the policeman.
“No, sir,” she said. “But thank you.”
We watched him walk off, then she turned to look at me.
“Come on, my hero. Or heroine. Let’s get that drink. I know I could use one.”
“Lead the way.”
She paid our covers and we went into the darkened room with laser lights pulsating. The music felt like a living being. I wanted to dance so desperately, but I would first have a drink with my beautiful stranger. Not only was she attractive, but she had the most delicious accent. It was from the southern United States. I could figure that much out but couldn’t pinpoint the exact whereabouts.
“What are you drinking?” she drawled.
“I’ll have a Fernet and Coke.” She arched an eyebrow at me. “It’s practically the national drink here.”
“Then I’ll have one, too.” She beamed at me, showing me perfectly straight white teeth. She was beautiful.
It was only nine thirty, so the place was still fairly empty. We easily found a table away from the speakers and sat down. She raised her glass.
“Here’s to heroines.”
I laughed but raised my glass.
“Here’s to new friends.”
“Oh. I like that,” she said.
We clinked glasses and each took a sip. I watched her expression, as many people find Fernet to be quite bitter. She smiled.
“This is quite good.”
“Excellent. I’m glad you like it.”
Excellent was a word I used too often. I had only recently begun saying it. I picked it up in the nineties and it stuck with me. I hoped I didn’t sound too old-school for my luscious date.
“Tell me about yourself,” she said. “And tell me how you caught that horrible purse snatcher. I thought he was long gone with my information and money.”
“I was a track star at university,” I lied, “so he was no match for me.”
“Well, thank you again.”
“You’re quite welcome. Tell me about you. Let’s start with a name.”
“My name’s Martha.”
“Nice to meet you, Martha.”
“And you are?”
“I’m Alex.”
“I love it. An androgynous name for an androgynous woman.”
That was it. She’d won me over. She might have had an old woman’s name, but she was anything but. She looked to be in her mid-thirties and was obviously open-minded. I settled in to enjoy our time together.
“Yes, ma’am. I’m androgynous. I’m glad that doesn’t bother you.”
“Heavens no,” she said.
“And where are you from, Martha?”
“Georgia, in the US. What about you?”
“I’m from all over really. Though I was born and raised in Romania.”
“Oh. How exciting. And enticing. Tell me, how did you end up in beautiful Buenos Aires?”
“I travel a lot. I came here once and loved it, so I decided to make it my home.”
Martha sighed.
“Oh, how I wish I could make it my home. I love it here.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Only a few days. In another few, it’ll be time to head home. I’ll miss this city.”
“There is something so special about Buenos Aires,” I said.
“It’s definitely on my return to list.”
As we talked, the music got louder, and people started filling up the place. I glanced around and couldn’t help but notice that the patrons were all women.
“I think we may be in a women’s club.” I waited for her response. She glanced around.
“I believe you’re right. Would you like another drink?”
That was nice. She didn’t freak out or insist we leave or anything of the sort. She seemed to take it all in stride. I wondered if my sweet Georgia peach swung the same way I did. How fortuitous would that be?
“I’d love another drink. Allow me to buy this time,” I said.
“Nonsense. I’m buying tonight.”
She was back from the bar and must have noticed my toe tapping to the bass. She set the drinks on the table, then extended her hand to me. I looked at her, unsure what exactly she wanted. She motioned with her head to the dance floor. How could I say no?
I stood, took her hand, and we made our way to the center of the floor. The music took hold of my body and I moved this way and that. I jumped up and down with the others and only after the third song did I even remember Martha was there.
She didn’t seem to have noticed. She had her eyes closed and was flowing with the music. It seemed a part of her and it was beautiful to watch. After five dances, she pointed to her open mouth and I agreed. It was definitely time for a drink.
I was parched and it was hard to simply sip my drink. I wanted to chug the whole thing but didn’t want to look like a lush. So I sipped and sipped and sipped again. My respirations returned to normal and I glanced over to find her smiling at me.
“What?” I mouthed the word since I know my voice wouldn’t be heard over the now blaring music.
She walked over to my side of the table and whispered in my ear.
“I’d love to see your house, Alex. I mean, this is fun, but I’m ready for some peace and quiet.”
I was ready for that and oh so much more. I nodded, stood, took her hand, and guided her back out to Florida Street. It was almost midnight and the place was still teeming with people. It was a magical feeling.
We’d need a ride home, so I stopped her and pulled her into a space between shops.
“What are we doing?” She grinned at me.
“I need to call my driver,” I hastened to explain. “Give me just a moment, please.”
I told my driver to meet us at the south entrance of Florida Street and then stepped back among the masses with Martha in tow. We got to the entrance and there was no sign of a car.
“Are you sure he knew where to meet us?” Martha looked worried. I smiled at her.
“I’m sure. And look. Here she is.”
The car pulled right up to us, and I held Martha’s door as she slid in. I went around and climbed in, then asked my driver to take the long way back to the house.
“The long way?” Martha said. “Why?”
“I want to show you more of Buenos Aires. Remember I love my city. And I love to show it off. Relax and enjoy the champagne and the view.”
We sipped champagne and I looked out the window with Martha, trying to imagine seeing the now familiar sights for the first time. Martha did not disappoint me with her reaction. It was obvious she was in awe.
A half hour later, my driver pulled up to the front door. I thanked her, then hurried around to open Martha’s door.
“You’re so chivalrous,” she said.
“I like to think I know how to treat a lady.”
“That you do.”
I smiled broadly. If I had my way, I would indeed show her how a lady should be treated. In several meanings of the word. Once inside, I treated Martha to a tour of the house. She was duly impressed. The tour ended in the kitchen where I opened a bottle of champagne and filled two flutes.
“Where to now?” said Martha.
“Let’s go up to the terrace. I love my rooftop oasis.”
We took the stairs up and she gasped when she saw the luscious greenery that adorned the space.
“This is gorgeous,” she said.
“You should see it in the daylight when everything is in bloom.” Of course I had never seen anything in bloom, but I wasn’t about to tell her that.
“Oh, wow. I bet it’s breathtaking.”
“That it is. Now come. Sit with me.”
I led her to a white wrought iron table and chairs that overlooked the city. I moved my chair so I could sit next to her. I draped an arm across her shoulders, and she snuggled against me. I discreetly checked my watch. I had about four hours until the sun came up. I’d have to try to move things along.
