Roman (The Clutch 1)

“But they could compel me. And I don’t want that. I want to know everything I’m doing. I don’t want to be controlled.” She seems scared, like she’s going to run.

I take her face in my hands and look deeply into her eyes. “Fiona, listen to me. You’re mine. I wouldn’t compel you with or without the cross, and I won’t let anyone else. This is important if you want to understand my culture. I need you to comply. Willingly.” I take a step back, hoping she makes the right decision and to my surprise, she does.

Slowly, she reaches around the back of her neck and unhooks the chain reluctantly. She drops the cross in her small purse, then looks back up at me with a smile. I can see her resolve now, and it fills me with pleasure. I lean in to kiss her softly, her lips tasting sweeter than ever, then I take her hand and smirk at Corban, who’s now opened the door for us to enter Clutch.

16

Fiona

Unlike at Hoover Dam, Roman doesn’t tell me to close my eyes when we step into his hangout, his lair full of blood sucking, human killing friends who are passing by us in a blur. My grip on Roman’s hand tightens, but I don’t feel secure. It’s not enough. I need him to shield me from his brotherhood.

We’re not three or four steps in when Roman pauses. I don’t know if this is for dramatic effect or what, but color me underwhelmed. I’ve seen enough. I don’t belong here, especially without my cross. My hand reaches for my neck, and I close my eyes, wishing I hadn’t agreed to this.

Nevertheless, I’m here, as promised so I can try to understand who Roman is when we’re not together. I need to keep an open mind because I truly like Roman, although, after his mishap with my father, I don’t know if we’ll be able to be together. I know my father well enough to know he’s going to make me choose, Roman or him, and by him, my father means my trust fund.

The club is dark with red and black accents everywhere. It’s exactly what I would expect a vampire den to look like. Clearly, whoever owns this place didn’t branch out from their known color palette. It wouldn’t hurt the vampire community to add a little cream or yellow to their lives. Although, I supposed red and black mean you don’t see any blood stains.

Roman takes my hand and leads us to the bar. It seems like it’s a mile long and completely out of place.

“I thought you don’t drink.”

“I don’t… we don’t.”

“Yet, you have a fully stocked bar, and people have drinks in their hands.”

“Those are humans.”

I look down the bar at the men and women saddled up to it. Each person has a different expression on his or her face. The man next to us looks sad, almost as if he’s lost his job, and the woman three seats down is surveying the room, possibly looking for a man? It’s hard to tell. “Why are they here?”

“Mostly, because they prefer this lifestyle.”

“You mean being bitten?”

“It’s not always about biting, Fiona.”

“Then what’s it about, Roman?”

“It’s about having a deeper connection with another being. It’s about helping someone survive. It’s about finding your place in the world.”

I take his words to heart; especially what he said first, the deeper connection. I know I feel something for Roman that isn’t forced or a result of him biting me. I genuinely like being with him.

“What would the human like to drink?” I suck in a breath at the sight of the woman in front of me. Everything about her is flawless from her long dark hair, perfectly curved figure, sharp green eyes and her boobs… yes, I’m marveling at her chest and the way her breasts are cupped flawlessly in her red (no less) corset. And her fangs. Her tongue runs over them as she looks at me. I swallow hard, and my body goes on high alert.

“Selene, this is my Fiona. Fiona, this is Selene, she owns the Las Vegas Clutch.”

I extend my hand, but she doesn’t shake it. Instead, she’s throwing the proverbial dagger at Roman, which is something I’ll have to ask him about later.

“May I have water, please?” My throat’s dry and I’ve had enough liquor for the evening. I need to keep my wits about myself, especially in here.

“Water?’ Selene nods and places a glass in front of me so fast I don’t even see her move to fill it up. Tentatively, I take a sip, not sure what to expect.

“Thank you.” I’m still alive, at least for the moment. For all I know, this is a trap, and I’m here to be turned… wait, can vampires do that, turn humans into vampires without their permission? I don’t remember in any of my readings, and the thought literally has me shaking in my seat.

“Hey, are you okay?” Roman’s hand is on my back. I nod, but I can see he doesn’t believe me. “What’s going on?”

“Did you bring me here so you can turn me into a vampire?” I whisper. Suddenly the room goes eerily quiet, and the only thing I can hear is my own heartbeat. I’m afraid to look anywhere except at Roman, out of fear there’s an entire coven of undead being

s approaching me. Do they all take turns? Will they strap me down and drain my blood? God, I should’ve read more before I ever agreed to go on a date with Roman.