Free Sunset Strip: A Tale From The Tome Of Bill by Rick Gualtieri

broke out on my skin. One moment, I was in post-coital bliss. The next, the temperature in the room seemed to drop twenty degrees. There was something overly predatory about the way he looked at me. I didn’t like it one bit. It made me feel like a piece of meat.
    Trying to keep my tone steady, I bunched up the covers around me and slid off the bed. “Listen, this has been fun, but I have a boyfriend. I can’t just up and...”
    “Not anymore you don’t.” As quick as a snake, he was in front of me. I actually jumped back a step. It was almost like magic. I’d never seen anyone move that fast.
    “Did I scare you?”
    “No,” I lied, stepping past him. “Really, Jeff, that was cute and all, but...”
    He grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him. I let out a yelp, but he appeared not to notice.
    “About that name...none of my close friends call me that. They call me Night Razor.”
    “Night...”
    “Yeah, and I think you and I are going to be really close from here on in.”
    His grip tightened. Tears sprang to my eyes as panic began to set in. How could I have missed it before? This guy was fucking crazy.
    “Please let me go,” I said in a small voice.
    He flung me back onto the bed as if I was a rag doll. He tore the sheet off me and climbed atop, pinning my arms above my head. I tried to fight, but his grip was too strong. I couldn’t even budge him.
    “You’re not going anywhere - ever again,” he whispered.
    I opened my mouth to scream, but it died in my throat as Jeff...Night Razor...changed. His eyes turned black as coal and his teeth elongated into cruel fangs, seemingly as sharp as daggers.
    My sanity began to slip as he lowered his mouth toward me. Once he’d thrown me on the bed, I was sure I was about to be raped. I now saw that what he intended to do was far worse.
     

Chapter 14
    Present Day
    Playtime was over. The smile on Tad’s face turned to a look of confusion as I powered my way up and easily flipped us so that I was on top. I grabbed his wrists and pinned him. Confusion gave way to pain as I increased the pressure to the point where his bones cracked under my grasp.
    He cried out - music to my ears.
     “You took everything from me.” I was still caught up in the memory. Oh well, the faux pas wouldn’t matter in a moment.
    Vaguely remembering that there was a method to my madness, I let his screams carry on for a moment longer. I wanted to make sure someone on the floor heard him.
    I extended my fangs, threw Tad a wicked smile and immediately buried my teeth into his neck before he could make another sound.
    * * *
    I’d love to tell you that I took just enough to satisfy myself, that it wasn’t overkill, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. I drank my fill of Tad, and when I was done, continued tearing into him. Experienced vamps can control who they turn. I’ve been doing this for a while and had no intention of making a Tadpire. Even had I not, though, there was no way he would’ve risen again once I was finished with him.
    His head was just barely still connected to the rest of him when the pounding started on the door. It was about fucking time. Either the creatures downstairs had already started whatever shenanigans they were up to, or the hotel staff was really slipping.
    “Open up - security!”
    “Just a minute,” I called back sweetly. I stood and straightened my dress. It was more out of habit than anything. The outfit was completely and utterly soaked through with blood. It was gonna take a lot more than a trip to the dry cleaners to make this one wearable again. Oh well, I could afford another.
    “Open this door immediately or we’ll...”
    I unlatched the lock, pulled it open, and stepped behind it. Two men rushed past into the room. One wore a suit, obviously management, and the other was a grunt. They stopped just inside, no doubt to admire my handiwork. While they gaped, I closed the door behind them.
    The guard never stood a chance. I shattered