Free Charleston Past Midnight by Christine Edwards

everyone he drinks from? A wave of jealously washes over me at the thought of him pressing his gorgeous body into another woman as he did with me. I cross my arms and turn away, hoping that he isn’t perceptive enough to detect my roller coaster of emotions.
    * * *
    The wide electronic gate has just swung closed behind us and he cautiously makes his way up the uneven, narrow dirt lane. The thirty-five minute ride out of town was driven in heavy silence. I’m starting to have second thoughts about having a sleepover with a den of vampires. I flip my black clutch over and over nervously in my lap, wanting to ask if he brings ‘company’ way out here often, but then I stop, because at this tense point, I don’t particularly want to know.
    He parks my battered Saab in front of the white shed and gets out. Nerves are getting the best of me and I start to shake, not so much because he frightens me, but because of the unknown—the certain danger that is coming my way. I’m like a hanging target at a busy shooting range. At least work provided the ultimate distraction where I’m nearly able to block out the web that I’ve somehow become entangled in.
    My door creaks open and his seductive voice floats down to me. “Come, Calla, we have a lot to discuss.”
    Suddenly the funky ringtone of my cell begins echoing out from inside my small clutch, demanding my attention. Quickly unzipping it, I reach in and see the name on the illuminated screen: Kiana.
    I glance up and say quickly, “I need to take this. Please give me a moment.”
    Touching the screen I barely have the speaker up against my ear before she starts in. “You’d better have stopped at the Kangaroo for a Lifewater or some shit girlfriend because I’ve been watching out this window for the last thirty minutes for your sassy butt. You all right?”
    I need to tell her who I’m with.
    I’m just about to answer when she cuts in, “Hold up, someone’s knocking on the door.”
    I clutch the phone tight and yell into the speaker, “Kiana, don’t open it!”
    There’s a hesitation before I hear her say in a stern, no nonsense voice, “Who’s there?”
    Though muffled, I can still make out the low bass of a male voice. “Case. Open up.”
    I catch the groan of our decrepit door as it opens. Kiana murmurs, “Come in.”
    “Hey, I’m back. So, I take it you’re with that Severin guy?”
    “Yeah. I don’t want you to worry but I’ll be staying with him for a few days … minimum.”
    Wariness enters her voice as she asks slowly, “Everything cool? I can come get you. Not a problem. Just give me the address and I’m there.”
    “No, it’s nothing bad, I just … want to spend some alone time with him.”
    I can hear her suck in a deep breath. “Well, be careful, and when you’re alone, call me. We need to talk. There are some things that need serious explaining, things that are beyond messed up. Know what I’m saying?”
    She knows.
    “We’ll touch base soon. Please be safe. Case will look out for you.”
    “Oh, you got that right. It’s all good this way. You just enjoy your few days off from the taco chaos and call me back when you can. Something tells me that we’ll both be occupied tonight.”
    My breath hitches with the potent thought.
    “Night, Kiana.”
    “You too, Calla. Bye.”
    I disconnect and feel better knowing that he’s with her tonight. I shift and glance up at Severin. He’s standing patiently with his fingers extended toward me. I pull in a deep breath, slip my hand into his and allow him to help me out of the car and up the stairs of the elegantly decrepit plantation house. The shadows play against every surface, lending an odd air of life to the space.
    His fingers thread softly through mine as the elevator door slides closed. My breathing is irregular and choppy from arousal and I’m mortified that he most likely knows.
    Thankfully the doors open into the illuminated lower level hallway, and as we make our way across