Roman (The Clutch 1)

“I thought he was different. I guess my daddy was right. Humans and vamps just don’t mix,” I hear her say as I near the entrance. I know she doesn’t believe this, she can’t.

Before I advance, I watch her for a moment. She’s talking to a female bartender, who happens to be a vampire. You can’t see her mark, it’s covered up with a leather cuff, and I wonder if Fiona has any idea that she’s talking about her problems with her vampire boyfriend to another vampire. Yes, boyfriend. That’s what I am in human speak. She’s mine, and I am hers. While I may use different terminology in my culture, it’s the same thing, and it’s time to go reclaim her.

The vampire at the bar is bleached blonde, with a provocatively low cut tank top, and senses me coming before I arrive. As she makes eyes at me, I shift my glance and nod my head away from Fiona, indicating that she is mine and that my Fiona is no human conquest for her tonight. Vampires are territorial and do not go after each other’s consorts, once a relationship has been established. There are plenty of willing humans to choose from, but should we choose just one to be ours, respect for that is expected among our kind. Understanding, she smiles at Fiona and walks to help other patrons at the bar, leaving Fiona alone with her drink.

I know I need to talk to her now. I’m nervous, and quite certain that if I were human, my palms would be sweating. Thank the fates that I don’t sweat or have a heartbeat because it would be thumping right out of my chest. As I approach her, I can smell her perfume, her perfect Fiona scent and it fills me with desire for her.

“Fiona?” I take the seat next to her.

“How did you find me, Roman?” She refuses to make eye contact with me. Before I have a chance to answer, she continues. “Oh, that’s right, with your superhuman senses. Well, what do you want?” She takes a sip of her drink and licks her bottom lip, where a small drop of liquid has remained.

I swallow hard, watching her before I reply. “I want to talk to you. I need to talk to you.”

She turns to face me, and I see immediately that her eyes are red, likely from crying. “I don’t think there’s anything left to talk about, Roman. You threw my dad against a wall. Not only that but with superhuman strength, leaving a humanly sized indent on my wall. You could have killed him!”

It’s impossible to defend my actions, but I try. “Fiona, your father could have killed me with that stake. I was defending my

self. If I wanted him dead, he’d be dead.”

Her mouth drops open in shock at my blunt statement. This is what Selene was talking about. Fiona needs to be reminded that I’m a fucking vampire. Yes, I have super strength; I have predatory tendencies, and that won’t change. It’s what I am, and it’s time to stop hiding it.

“Wow Roman, really?” She shakes her head at me.

“Fiona, listen to me.” I wait for her to look back at me with her full attention. “I am not a human.”

“I know that, Roman.” She looks at me, confused and annoyed.

“Do you? Because I think that you need to understand that I will give you the world, but I am not a regular mortal man. There is a part of my life you need to see for yourself. You need to understand what being a vampire really means.”

“You answer my questions all the time. I know what being a vampire is about. I get it. You didn’t have to handle things that way today. I cared about you,” she says, blowing me off.

Her use of the past tense cared, stings. Taking a chance, I rest my hand on her thigh gently. “Fiona, I don’t think you do. You’ve just barely scratched the surface. Will you come with me?”

“Come with you where?” she asks hesitantly.

“I want you to come to Clutch. I’ve told you about it. I want you to see what my life is about, and what being a part of my life means. Please?” I can see the hesitation on her face. She’s trying to read my expression before she makes a decision, but I can sense her want for me. “Fiona, I care about you. I will fix things with your father. But I need for you to understand what I truly am.”

“You won’t let anything happen to me? Like nobody gets to bite me, right?” Her hand draws up to the cross she’s still wearing.

It’s against the rules to enter the club if you’re not willing to get bitten, although it’s not really enforced. I’ve never seen anyone turned away over it since that’s what most humans go there for anyway. “You are mine, Fiona. No one gets to touch you except me.” My hand slides up her thigh a bit, and I can feel her heart rate increase.

“I want to understand, Roman.” She rests her hand on mine and meets my gaze. “I’ll go, but I’m still upset over today. I’m mad at both you and my father.”

Relief washes over me, and I throw some cash on the bar for her tab and pull her with me as I stand up. She immediately softens into me for a hug, and as I hold her tightly, I realize that I am in love with her. Whatever it takes, I’m going to make this work.

We make our way back to Clutch, and at the door, we’re greeted by Corban, who immediately notices Fiona’s cross around her neck.

“She can’t wear that in here,” he addresses me, and points to her neck.

“She’s with me,” I reply.

“That may be the case, but she can’t wear that.”

I turn to Fiona and hope for the best. “Fiona? I need you to take the cross off.”

“What? No.”

“Listen to me. No one is going to touch you except me.”