Rogue the Redeemer Read online

  The locker room was empty. Kaitlyn made her way to the restroom area at the back of the locker room. She entered and threw her hand up to shield her eyes from the glare of the fluorescent lights reflecting from the surface of the white tiled walls. She felt for the switch and turned it off. Bright lights bothered her, but since her trip to New York, sunlight was painful.

  Hunger gnawed at her stomach; one pint of blood was not enough, but she had to be cautious now. She could ignore the craving for blood, but the heat that curled smokily between her legs would not be denied. Every night it got stronger and every night Kaitlyn became even more worried. What had she gotten herself into when she was in New York? All she had wanted to do was get a little wild someplace where no one knew her. That way it wouldn’t come back to haunt her if she did something deemed not “proper.” Well, she had her one night of being wild and now it was haunting her with a vengeance. The need for blood, the abhorrence of the sun, the way she slept like the dead during the day and was unable to wake before the sun went down.

  Kaitlyn slipped off her lab coat and threw it over the partition between the two stalls in the restroom. She entered one, closing the door. The insane heat began to crawl from her nether regions up her body. She leaned her head back against the door and undid her pants.

  All of her symptoms added up to something out of a horror movie. As the days wore on, they got stronger. Kaitlyn had thought at first she’d picked up some sort of bug. But then she’d cut her finger, and in tasting her own blood, she knew.

  The dark man, so sexy and smooth, she had met that wild night in a club called “Chained” had been a vampire.

  Kaitlyn stepped out of her slacks and tossed them on top of her lab coat. The thoughts about her new addictions began to blur in her mind as the most powerful one of all assaulted her.

  She ripped off her thong panties and cast them aside, unmindful of the welts on her hips from the straining fabric. Her strength had also increased with the power of this new yearning. Her panties lay in tattered shreds on the floor beside the commode.

  Moaning, Kaitlyn propped one foot on the rim of the commode and slid two fingers into her vagina, wetting them. She breathed in deep and closed her eyes. Rogue’s face floated behind her eyelids. His silky blond hair and large ocean-blue eyes. She felt an odd connection to him, as if fate had put him in her path.

  Kaitlyn’s fingers stroked in and out, her state of passion burning them with her juices. She began to pant, knowing the only way she could stop this new hunger was to come.

  She had satisfied this hunger herself since it had begun, but the contact she had felt with Rogue had caused it to rage. She slid her hand beneath her blouse. Her breasts were swollen with the need to be touched. Moving one cup of her bra aside, she pinched her nipple. Shards of pleasure shot through her. Picturing Rogue’s mouth at her breast, suckling, she flicked her nipple with a fingernail. Her other hand danced at her pussy, using three fingers now, stretching its tightness. She rocked against her own hand, settling the fleshy part of the base of her thumb into her cleft, rubbing her swollen clit as she began to spasm.

  Kaitlyn bit her own lip, caging the cry as she finally came. Visions of Rogue flashed behind her eyes like pictures as her juices coated her hand.

  As the orgasm subsided, Kaitlyn dropped her foot back on the floor. She hung her head, bracing her hands on the sides of the stall.

  Gulping in huge breaths, she felt the lust for passion dissipate.

  What have I become she thought, wondering just how long it would be before they locked her up and threw away the key. She knew she couldn’t keep this up forever. She’d be caught stealing blood or worse—drinking it and they would put her in either jail or the psych ward. Or—someone would end up catching her pleasuring herself like some nymphomaniac and the embarrassment alone would kill her.

  Anger began to seep into her. If she ever found that guy again—Nicholas had been his name—she would rip him apart with her bare hands for doing this to her. For turning her into a nocturnal, blood-drinking, sex-crazed demon. She stood, straightening her shoulders.

  She burst out of the stall, going directly to the sink and using paper towels and soap, began to clean herself up. Donning her slacks, sans panties, she shrugged on her lab coat. Catching a glimpse of the remains of her thong, she gingerly picked them up and shoved them deep into the trash receptacle.

  “You are something else,” she mumbled, washing her hands again. Catching her reflection in the mirror above the sink, she noticed a small cut on her bottom lip. Leaning closer, she examined it. There was no blood. Then she remembered biting her lip to keep from screaming when she had brought herself to orgasm. Kaitlyn lifted her upper lip in a snarl. Tears stung her eyes. Her teeth, the canines sharp, were still changing. They were growing longer. As a tear rolled down her cheek, she inspected her bottom teeth. Sure enough, her lower canines were also getting longer. Kaitlyn placed her hand over her mouth and looked in the mirror. They were still not terribly noticeable, but if her teeth kept lengthening, people were going to notice.

  Her tears shone, making the silver rings around her pupils look as if they were liquid silver. She squinted, causing another tear to slip down her face. Dropping her hand from her mouth, she studied her reflection with a sense of awe.

  “Since when can you see so clearly in the dark?” she whispered to her reflection.

  Chapter Two

  Rogue jingled his car keys in his hand as he headed toward John’s car. He had parked in the back of the lot, not wanting to get near another car for fear of someone scratching the sleek black body of the Corvette. Rogue smiled widely as he approached it, loving the low macho look of the beast.

  It was five in the morning and his shift was over. The sun was just beginning to tinge the sky, the horizon lightening slightly from its deep midnight blue to a gauzy sort of navy. The air was warm, a bit humid. Rogue looked up at the sky. No pinpricks of light from the stars. Cloudy. He drew in a deep breath. Smells like rain, he thought, unlocking the car door.

  As he swung it open, he heard the familiar “click, click, click” of someone trying to turn over a dead battery. It sounded like it had come from a small white car two rows over. Rogue hesitated, a hand resting on the tinted glass of the ‘Vette’s roof.

  Click, click—

  “That car is not gonna start,” he said. He slid into the ‘Vette and turned over the engine. It growled to life, then settled into the rumbling purr. Rogue kicked it into gear and drove over to the white car.

  Pulling up beside it, driver-side to driver-side, he was intrigued to see that it was Kaitlyn, the red-haired vixen, sitting behind the wheel, looking very frustrated. Rogue powered down the window. “Sounds like you need some help.”

  She eyed him warily. “It won’t start.”

  Rogue nodded. “I heard. Need a jump?” There’s more than one kind of “jump” I’d like to give her, Rogue thought.

  Her strange blue eyes flashed, then she looked away for a second. When she turned back, Rogue thought he caught the sparkle of a tear in her eye. “I need to get home. How long would it take for you to,” she flapped her hand toward the hood of her car, “get this thing running?”

  “Not long. Do you have jumper cables?”

  She blinked. “No.”

  “I don’t either.” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “I’ll run back inside and see if someone has some that we can borrow.”

  “No!”

  Rogue frowned. That was a pretty commanding “no.” “We can’t jump it without cables.”

  She sighed heavily. “I don’t have time to wait. I really have to get home.” She leaned toward the passenger seat, picked up something, then got out of the car.

  Before Rogue could ask her what she was doing, she had rounded the ‘Vette and opened the passenger door. She ducked her head inside, her hair falling down over her shoulders. “You’ll give me a ride, won’t you?”

  Rogue patted the passenger seat. �
�Any time. Anywhere.” What he wanted to add was the fact that there was more than one kid of ride and he could give her any kind she set her pretty mind on, but he kept his mouth shut for once. Instead, he watched her slide gracefully into the passenger seat, her long legs tucking into the car as if it was made for her. Rogue felt a tightening in his pants, remembering their first encounter. He wondered what those long legs would feel like wrapped around him.

  She closed the door, dropping her purse at her feet. Then she met his eyes.

  “Hey,” Rogue said, noticing the redness around her eyes now that she was so close she was almost in his lap. “You don’t have to cry about a dead battery.”

  She smiled thinly, wiping a hand across her forehead. “I’m not. I’ve just had a really stressful night. Can we go now?”

  “Sure.” He dropped the car into drive. “Where to?”

  “Diamond Street.”

  “O-kay, but you’ll have to show me how to get there. I haven’t been here in Garville for very long.”

  She pointed an elegant finger. “Go to the exit and turn right, then when you get to the stop sign, turn right again.”

  “Buckle up.” Then he punched it. He swung out of the parking lot and onto the street.

  “So, your name is Kaitlyn,” he said.

  “Yes. Kaitlyn Gale.”

  “I’m Rogue Shanley.” He put out his hand. “Nice to meet you.” Then he gave her a wink.

  She let out a chuckle and shook his hand. “Sorry about that, um, ordeal when I fell on you.”

  Rogue turned at the stop sign as she had directed. “I’m not.” He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “Are you cold?” Her hand felt like she’d had it in a bucket of ice water.

  “My hands are always like that,” she said, slipping her hand out of his grasp.

  “Cold hands, warm heart, my Aunt Grace always says.” He put his hand back on the steering wheel. “Tell me—where would our ‘first meeting’ had led if Rachel hadn’t shown up?”

  “Um, yeah,” she said. “You really caught me off guard. I didn’t mean to be so forward.” She winced, looking a bit embarrassed.

  The corners of Rogue’s mouth quirked up. He gave her a look out of the corner of his eye. “I sorta like ‘forward’ women. I seem to attract them.”

  “Oh, really.” She pointed ahead. “Go to the second stop light and make another right.”

  “Why in such a hurry to get home? Husband or boyfriend waiting maybe?”

  “Neither. I’m just really tired.”

  She did look a bit pale, even for a redhead, he thought. He slowed, turning where she’d indicated. “So you’re free then?”

  Kaitlyn rested her elbow on the door and stroked her forehead with her long, slender fingers. “Not exactly ‘free.’”

  Rogue took her cue and changed the subject, not wanting to be so pushy that he scared her away. He liked this girl. There was just something about her that called to him. He wasn’t quite sure what it was but he wanted the chance to find out. “You know, it’s really weird that someone is stealing blood from the hospital.”

  Kaitlyn seemed to stiffen. “That’s all everyone seems to talk about. I’m really tired of the subject myself.”

  This town doesn’t strike me as being weird like that.

  “No. Garville is just a small town with good people. That’s why the whole thing is getting so much attention. It’s the most exciting thing to happen around here since they opened up the new carwash.”

  “Have you heard if they have an idea of who is doing it?

  She shook her head. “No.” She pointed yet again. “Two blocks, then left.”

  “Gotcha.” The conversation about the thefts was going nowhere. Rogue didn’t understand it. Everyone he’d talked to so far hadn’t even said they suspected someone at the hospital. Every theft had been discovered first thing in the morning when the day shift did their inventory. That told Rogue and John the thefts were occurring sometime on the graveyard shift. It didn’t make sense that everyone who worked there talked about getting questioned, yet no one was even hinting at a suspect.

  “Kaitlyn,” he said, turning left, “want me to pick you up tonight for work? You not having a ride and all.” He looked over at her.

  She chewed a fingernail, her eyes wide with indecision. She looked like a little girl. “Um, yes. I’d appreciate it. I’m not going to have time today to deal with getting my car fixed.”

  “No problem. What time?”

  “My shift starts at ten. Nine-thirty all right with you? I like to get there a little early.” Her dainty eyebrows rose, questioning.

  “Sure. Fine with me.”

  Kaitlyn nodded. “It’s that white two-story house on the left. The one with the porch light on.”

  Rogue slowed the ‘Vette, easing it into the driveway. He put it in park and turned toward her, one wrist draped over the steering wheel. “Here you go, then. You’re home.”

  Her eyes were bright in the dash light. “You know, you drive an awfully expensive car for a janitor.”

  “It’s not mine. It’s a friend’s,” he admitted, shocking himself. Any other time, he would have lied and said it was his. For some reason though, he didn’t want to lie to her. It was bad enough that he couldn’t tell her what he really was—a vampire hunter. He hated that she thought he was nothing more than a janitor.

  “Well,” she said, reaching for the door. “I guess I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Wait. I’ll walk you to the door.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I insist. What well-bred southern gentleman would allow a beautiful young lady like yourself to walk to her front door alone before the sun has come up.”

  “Well, thank you, sir,” she said, sounding like Scarlet O’Hara.

  Rogue got out and moved to her side of the car. He opened the door and held out his hand.

  Kaitlyn took it and rose gracefully out of the car. Rogue swung the door closed and stepped back.

  His heel caught on something solid. He stumbled. Kaitlyn’s grip tightened on his hand and jerked, stopping him from falling. Their bodies came together, forcing Kaitlyn back against the car.

  Rogue was amazed at Kaitlyn’s strength but the feeling of his body pressing against hers was more than amazing—it was absolutely incredible. She shifted, her breasts full and firm beneath his chest.

  “We keep meeting like this,” he said, “and something is going to happen.” He looked deep into her eyes, lost in the swirl of deep dark blue and liquid silver.

  “Just what do you think will happen, Rogue?” Her voice was a velvet caress.

  “This.” Then he kissed her. Her lips parted instantly in invitation while her arms snaked around his neck. Rogue devoured her, his body pulsing, pressing her against the car. Her tongue played into his mouth, causing him to groan. He pulled back before she took note of his fangs, resting his forehead against hers. “That—and more,” he said, his throat tight. Damn, he thought, please ask me inside.

  Kaitlyn ran her tongue over her lips. “Is that a promise?”

  “It’s a guarantee.”

  She pursed her mouth prettily and cocked her head. “Well, I may just take you up on that but…” she slid her arms from around his neck and placed her palms on his chest, “—right now I must go inside.”

  Rogue straightened, giving her some space. “Want company?”

  Kaitlyn breathed in deep, her eyes locked on him. “I can’t. Not now.”

  Rogue felt like howling. What the hell was he going to do with this hard-on of the century? He took a step back, watching his footing this time and bowed his head. “As you wish,” he said. He lifted his arm offering his elbow. “I’ll still walk you to the door.”

  Kaitlyn took his arm and brushing against each other as they walked, they headed for her front door.

  She put her key in the lock. The lock clicked. “Thank you for the ride home, Rogue.”

  He smiled. “You’re welco
me. I’ll pick you up at nine-thirty.”

  She walked inside, closing the door behind her. The porch light flicked off.

  Rogue shoved his hands in his front pockets and went down the steps. He felt like he was walking away and leaving something behind with her.

  He shook his head, trying to clear it and got in the car. “Straighten up, boy. John’s gonna be waiting on your report.” Shoving the gearshift into reverse, he backed out of Kaitlyn’s driveway and headed in the direction of the motel where he and John each had a room.

  *

  Kaitlyn peeked through the front window and watched Rogue pull away. She turned and started for her bedroom, taking deep breaths to try to still the hunger that Rogue’s kiss had rekindled. As she climbed the stairs, Kaitlyn wished that she had an answer to her problem.

  You might as well face it, she told herself as she entered her bedroom. You’re a vampire. The damn things are real and you spent one wild, uncontrollable night with one and now you are what he is.

  Kaitlyn sighed. Looking around what was once a beautiful, romantic room, she felt disheartened. Her bedroom was now a fortress against the light. The two windows that faced the street and a southern exposure used to be framed by lace curtains with lush hanging plants basking in the sunlight. Now the plants were withering in the corner of the room. The lace draperies had been replaced with heavy woolen blankets, their edges tacked to the wall. Behind the heavy blankets, Kaitlyn had secured aluminum foil to the glass panes, reflecting the searing sunlight away from the only true sanctuary she could now claim. The bed was nothing but a jumble of tangled sheets. Clothes littered the floor.

  Nothing was as it should be.

  Kaitlyn pressed her lips together. This was ridiculous. There was no way she was going to solve this problem if she didn’t get herself together. And she was going to start right now. Damn her hunger. Kaitlyn turned into a whirlwind of activity, battling against her cravings and the drowsiness that the rising sun was bringing on. She raced the sunrise as she gathered up her discarded clothes and carried them down to the basement to the laundry. She could feel the strange prickling of her skin that occurred if she wasn’t asleep by the time the sun rose above the horizon. She had to hurry. Kaitlyn had tried to brave the sunrise twice in the past week. It had taught her a lesson. Her skin had felt like it was being flayed from her body and her stomach had rebelled with a vengeance. It had taken her hours to recover and she wasn’t willing to risk it again.