He fingers paused in their strumming. “A werewolf?” I nodded slowly. He exhaled then shrugged. “Alright,” he said like it was an insignificant detail, and then continued strumming his finger against my skin, like nothing that was said was out of the ordinary. I think Grayson was slowly realizing that there was a lot more to the world we lived in than he originally knew, and he seemed to take it all in stride without missing a step.

  ***

  Monday came all too quickly. My time with Grayson Sunday had been cut short. I had to excuse myself Sunday afternoon to be at the nest for the weekly delivery. A short while later, the vampires awoke, and I could find no excuse to leave, at least not one that would work.

  I was putting my bag in my desk drawer when Rachel came around the corner.

  “So, how was your weekend?” She asked with a knowing grin.

  “Good...” I drew out, not sure why she looked so chipper for a Monday.

  A huge smile spread across her face. “It must have been, what with that display of flowers you got this time.”

  “What?” I asked confused.

  “Break room.” She pointed over her shoulder to the break room. “Lucky,” she muttered. “I wish a man sent me flowers after he got a free ride on the magic carpet.” I looked at her, my eyes bulging out of my head. Rachel saw the look and elaborated. “The card.” She spoke like it was obvious.

  I rushed out of my chair to the break room. On the table sat a beautiful vase full of white calla lilies. I read the card attached.

  Gaby,

  Thank you for sharing this weekend with me.

  I look forward to many more Firsts.

  Grayson

  “Did I mention, I read between the lines,” Rachel said standing in the doorway. I turned glaring at her. I could not fathom why she thought she had the right to read my card. Of course, I knew Rachel was nosy and couldn’t stop herself from intruding in on other people’s lives, especially when I was dating a big name like Grayson Alexander.

  I picked up my flowers, striding past Rachel, and headed to my desk. “Oh come on, Gaby. I’m only poking at you.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “Fine! I guess right now isn’t the best time to ask how ‘The Grayson Alexander’ is in the sack.” She used her finger to make imaginary quotes. I couldn’t hide the rush on heat to my cheeks. “That good, huh?” she giggled. If looks could kill, the one I shot at Rachel would have vaporized her. Throwing her hands up in surrender, she made her way back to her desk. I knew she wouldn’t let it go that easy, but I was thankful for the break from her questions. We worked silently thereafter the flowers forgotten, for now.

  ***

  Right before lunchtime, my desk phone rang. “Gates and Summers. This is Gaby speaking, how can I help you?” I spouted off from memory as I continued sorting through papers that were piled on my desk.

  “How’s work today?” I felt my insides quiver at the sound of his velvety deep voice. He sounded so seductive over the phone.

  “Good,” I sighed as I paused in my work. “I had an amazing display of flowers when I arrived this morning. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?” I asked as innocently as possible.

  I heard a soft chuckle from Grayson that slid down my spine, shooting straight to my groin. “Not at all. If I was a different man, I might be jealous of my girlfriend receiving flowers from some random admirer.” My heart stopped for a moment at the word girlfriend. We had never really defined the parameters of our relationship except to say that neither of us was dating anyone else. Never once had he referred to me as his girlfriend. But hearing that word come out of his mouth, so casually, made me realize how much I truly did want that. Silence fell over the line. “Gaby? You still there?” I nodded, then realized he couldn’t see me. Clearing my throat, I uttered a quiet “yeah” that didn’t sound a thing like me. “Was that a wrong assumption for me to make?” his voice now lacking his earlier humor. “I know we haven’t discussed...”

  “No.” I cut him off. “I like the sound of it. I do. You just...caught me by surprise.” I heard him exhale the breath he’d been holding.

  “Good, because I see you that way, Gaby, even before... this weekend.” he whispered the last part.

  I smiled. “Say it again, Grayson. Call me it again.”

  He chuckled lightly. “You, Gabriella Carmichael, are my girlfriend.” A large smile almost split my face in half. “Is that better?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  “Did you enjoy the flowers, Gaby?” he hushed his voice.

  “They are beautiful, Grayson. Thank you.”

  He let out a long breath. “It was a special thing you gave to me. The least I could do was send you flowers, even though it’s not enough to show you how much it meant to me.” Rachel came around the corner tapping her imaginary watch. We had a business lunch with our boss and one of his clients to discuss options for their fancy business party.

  “Hey, sweetheart, I gotta go.”

  “Real quick, Gaby. You mentioned yesterday about me meeting Shawn?”

  “Yes?” I held up a finger to Rachel who was getting anxious waiting for me to get off the phone.

  “Well, I have lunch for tomorrow open if you wanted to get together then.” I smiled at the fact the Grayson was making an attempt to get to know the people in my life. What people he could, anyways.

  “Okay. Let me talk to Shawn and I’ll get back to you, but I really do have to go.”

  “Alright. Bye, baby.”

  I grinned at his endearment. “Bye.” I was biting my lip as I hung up my phone. Rachel rolled her eyes at my grin. “If you two were any more adorable, I’d puke.”

  I shook my head. “Come on, Rach. We’re going to be late.”

  ***

  The meeting went great. The clients wanted their party to be an A list event, as A list as a bunch of suits could get. Rachel’s and my boss, Ralph, convinced them that we were just the group to get the job done. I sat there and handed papers out or agreed when needed.

  When we got back to the office, I picked up the phone and called Shawn. “Hey, baby girl. What’s up?”

  “I wanted to see what you were up to tomorrow for lunch,” I asked.

  “I’m guessing hanging with you. Am I right?”

  I giggled, “You are.”

  “You wanna do the Italian cafe two blocks from your work? I can make the rez.”

  “Sure. But make it for three.”

  The line went quiet for a minute, then Shawn spoke, “Alright. Three. I’ll see you tomorrow then at 12:30?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Bye, baby girl.”

  “Bye, Shawn.” I hung up feeling a little bit accomplished. Two of the most important people in my life were going to meet. The thought suddenly made me feel queasy.

  ***

  I was sitting at my favorite lunch place with Shawn waiting for Grayson and I was a nervous mess. My best friend was meeting my boyfriend. God I still wasn’t used to that word. I wanted nothing more than for them to get along.

  “Check out the hottie.” I turned in the direction Shawn’s eyes were pointing. I watched Grayson make his way to us. He was wearing a light tan suit that hugged him in all the right places.

  I turned back to Shawn, “My hottie.” I pointed a finger at him that said more than words.

  “That’s your...” He voice trailed off when Grayson made it to our table. I stood, wrapping my arms around his neck, he leaned in and kissed me, not chastely, but not too passionately that we might get carried away.

  “Hey, beautiful,” he whispered pulling back.

  I beamed at him. “Grayson, I want you to meet my best friend Shawn. Shawn, this is Grayson.”

  Shawn stood, shaking Grayson’s hand. “Heard a lot of things about you.” I glared at Shawn’s emphasis.

  “Good things, I hope.” Grayson glanced at me.

  “Great things,” Shawn winked at me. My face flushed a deep crimson red. They both chuckled at me. Grayson unbuttoned his jacket before taking the seat next to me, holding my hand in his resting them on his thigh.

  The waitress came and took our drink order. Her eyes widened at the delicious set of man candy I had at my table. She seemed a little flustered, but managed to bring our order without messing it up.

  “So, Shawn, Gaby tells me you’re a werewolf.” The sip I just took of my drink lodged in my throat. I started coughing profusely.

  “You okay, Gaby?” Shawn asked with a huge grin plastered on his face while Grayson rubbed circles on my back. I nodded and they both laughed.

  “She also tell you she’s a half breed vampire?”

  “Shawn!” I shrieked.

  “What Gaby? It’s not a big deal. You drink blood and I turn furry once a month.”

  “So you do turn?” Grayson asked with genuine curiosity.

  “Yup. Every month at the peak of the full moon.”

  “So, not at random like in the movies?”

  “Grayson!” I shouted. This was not going the way I had thought. Grayson shot me a look of confusion. He didn’t seem to understand how his question was inappropriate.

  “No, Gabs. It’s ok.” Shawn turned back to Grayson. “No I can turn, but only if I’m really, really pissed. It has to be a strong emotion to set me off. That’s actually how me and Gabs met.”

  Grayson turned to me. “Really? Did you piss him off?”

  “No,” Shawn answered for me. “We were at a club and some guy I was interested in gave me the brush off.” Shawn shrugged then turned to me as we both remember that night. “Gaby saved my ass, from turning in front of the entire club.” He reached across the table squeezing my free hand. I smiled at him.

  “What’d you do?” Grayson asked.

  “I got him out of there, calmed him down, then we went and got breakfast. Shawn knew that I knew what he was and he could smell what I was and we’ve been best friends ever since.”

  Lunch came. We had pleasant normal conversation while enjoying our food.

  “There is a new club opening on the Upper East Side next Saturday. A buddy of mine owns it. I’m sure I could get us on the list if you both wanna go?”

  “Hell yeah!” Shawn interjected. I shot a glare at him. “What? Come on, Gabs. It’s been awhile since we’ve been to an opening. Please...”

  I sighed, “I go to openings all the time. It’s part of my job.” Then he did it. He gave me the pitiful puppy dog look.

  Rolling my eyes, I groaned in frustration. “Ugh, fine. But I have to work Saturday,” I spat.

  “That’s fine. These things don’t get going until later anyways,” Grayson explained. “As I’m sure you know.”

  Shawn clapped his hands with excitement. “Thanks, Gaby. Love you and your hottie boyfriend, too.” Grayson leaned into me. His breath was warm against my ear, sending goose bumps up my neck, when he whispered, “So does this mean I got the seal of approval.” I faced him. Just as I was opening my mouth, Shawn cut it.

  “Definitely!” Grayson’s eyebrows furrowed at me, making me giggle.

  “Pesky werewolves. Their hearing only gets better the closer to the full moon.” Then I leaned in to Grayson, placing a light kiss on his lips.

  ***

  Grayson invited me back to his apartment after work that day. After dinner, we found ourselves a tangle of limbs and sheets. We laid there panting, sweaty and satisfied. Grayson put his arm around me pulling me close. “Will you tell me how you became a vampire?” I sat up on my elbow, studying him. I wasn’t sure where this conversation was going and I certainly wasn’t sure if I was ready for where it could lead. “No Gaby, it’s not what you’re thinking,” he started, reading my expression. Grayson ran the pad of his thumb down my cheek settling my uneasiness. “I really just want to know more about you.”

  I sighed. “It was different for me. I’m not sired. I was born this way.”

  “Tell me the process?”

  “To create a vampire?” I asked, he nodded. “The human must first be drained of all their blood,” I traced the contours of his chest. “Then it must all be replaced with their sire’s blood. The heart stops then they have to feed from a human to complete the transition. The sire bond can be something horrible. You’re connected to your creator until they release you.”

  “So what if they never release you?”

  “Well,” I let out a long breath, “it all depends on the creator. But normally in that case, you can end up being a slave and with the blood tie telling you that you’re happy, and for all intents and purposes you are.”

  “Blood tie?”

  “Yeah. It’s the link between a sire and his fledgling. Basically it’s a failsafe to keep the newbie safe. It’s almost impossible to break.”

  “I don’t understand. Why not just kill the sire and get your life back?”

  “That’s just it,” I explained. “You can’t. You don’t want to. Your blood tie to your sire is almost to the point of love. I’ve heard of some vampires that once they were released were so overcome with grief as if someone had died, they staked themselves.”

  “And for you?”

  “I have no sire, therefore no blood tie. When I turned twenty, my heart briefly stopped beating until I fed. And from a lifetime of having a beating heart it was a bit of a change.”

  He sat up adjusting to look at me. “I don’t understand. I hear your heart beating all the time.”

  I nodded. “Yeah because I keep myself fed. As long as I stay well fed, my heart will beat like normal.”

  “Have you ever turned anyone?”

  I shook my head. “No. There has never been anyone that I wanted to be bonded to like that, and in addition being half-human there’s a chance my blood wouldn’t be strong enough to force the transition. I could just end up killing the person instead.”

  He seemed to be absorbing everything I said. “What about other half-humans? Have they successfully pulled off converting a human to a vampire?”

  Again, I nodded. “I’ve met several and even half breeds who have successfully pulled off a conversion have tried again, only to fail.”

  “So these other, half-breeds?” I nodded at his correct use of term. “Are they just like you?”

  I shook my head, my brow furrowing together, “No actually. Ninety-five percent could pass for vampires. They are somewhat weaker but have all the same characteristics of normal vampires. The others five percent are the worse. They have all the weaknesses of both classes. No sun, no silver, no strength. Need blood. But the age like humans.”

  “Where do you fit in?” he asked, genuinely curious.

  “I’m the only one like me. From what research the nest has done, I am the only day walker ever in existence.”

  The topic ended as abruptly as it had begun and we didn’t revisit it again. We settled in for the day and just enjoyed our brief window of time before I was forced to leave.

  ***

  A week and a half passed in a blink of an eye. I had been keeping myself extremely busy. I didn’t get to see Grayson the day before the opening, but we still found time to talk and text. He was working on a big buyout of a small software company. They had a certain program that his company was wanting. We had been seeing each other as often as possible. We had dinner dates, and less frequently some lunch dates where he would join Shawn and me. They both seemed to be getting along great. I also couldn’t seem to keep my hands off of Grayson. If sex was like this for the rest of the world, I have no idea how people got anything done.

  My mother’s insistent attempts with Anton only got more and more obvious. On Friday, before the opening, Anton was going out hunting, which my mother is completely against. He doesn’t kill humans he just feeds and wipes their minds, a gift I hadn’t quite mastered, but was working on. She shoved me at him, saying, “You need to learn how a real vampire does it.” Then blurred away, giving me no one to argue with.

  We went out and found a couple of college girls that had too much to drink. It wasn’t that I had never fed from a human before. I had. It was one of the lessons I had been taught when I was little. ‘How to feed without killing 101.’ I just didn’t enjoy it. Why do it when I had a blood bag back at the house that I didn’t have to find, force to cooperate or listen to scream in my ear? Anton, like my mother, wouldn’t take no for an answer. He compelled both girls to stay still. After he fed off of his girl, a young brunette with a form fitting dress, and wiped her mind, he came to give me a little one-on-one training, which I didn’t need and found entirely unnecessary.

  “The vein that runs here,” he spoke, running his finger down the girl’s neck. She was blond and looked to be younger than the other, but her outfit was much more provocative with her low cut blouse and short mini skirt. I wanted to roll my eyes at Anton because he was talking to me like this really was my first time. The girl was so out of it, with alcohol and the compulsion, she didn’t even shiver from his cool touch. “You want to sink your teeth here.” He pointed to a section close to the base of her neck, with two fingers, symbolizing fangs. “If you do it just right,” he turned to face me, “you can control how much flows and not waste.” I wasn’t going to argue. I just wanted to bite the girl and be on my way. The sooner I could get away from Anton the better.

  I stepped into her. Cupping her face in my hand, I tilted it away giving me the best angle. I relaxed my fangs letting them drop. Like a cobra, I sunk into her neck. I felt her pulse in my mouth as the blood flowed into me. It was sweet, definitely tasted better than the bag. I felt Anton lean into me, almost as if he was smelling me. I tried to ignore him and pay attention to beat of her heart so I wouldn’t take too much and hurt her or worse. Just when I felt her pulse starting to slow I pulled back. I licked my lips clean then stepped back for Anton to clean her memory. Apparently some frat boy got a little to handsy and bit her, which she realized she liked, but not as hard as he had done it. I laughed at Anton’s choice of stories.