Chapter Seven

B linking his tired, gritty eyes open, Key winced when he moved his head, pain pounding inside. “Fuck,” he mumbled, then coughed. His throat was dry and sore, his voice rough.

“Here.”

Key’s eyes snapped toward the voice and he saw the man from the previous night holding out a glass of water. “You.”

“Yeah. Me.”

Trying to remember the events of the previous night had Key wincing again. He knew something had happened, something had been said, but it was like smoke in the air. Every time he tried to reach for it, it disappeared.

Taking the glass, Key sniffed it, which earned an arched eyebrow from the man who had handed it to him. He sipped it and closed his eyes as the water cooled his throat. He swallowed, ignoring the pain, and watched the other person.

This was his watcher, stalker, whatever. He knew by the way he reacted to him. This man had told him something, and Key couldn’t remember what it was, but he knew it had been something important. Taking another mouthful of water, Key watched the man watch him.

“Who are you?”

The man snorted and gave him a quick smile. “You took a hard knock to your head, so I’m not surprised you can’t remember. I’m Kelvin.”

“You watch me.”

“We are going to have this conversation again,” Kelvin murmured. In a louder voice, he added, “I do.”

“Why?” Key didn’t take his eyes off Kelvin, if that was his real name. What Key was aware of was the fact that this man was in his apartment.

“You are special to me.”

Key continued to stare as he thought about what Kelvin had said. “How?”

“You just are.” Kelvin moved over to the window and stared outside. It was dark now. How long had he slept for? He asked, and Kelvin responded, “Almost twenty-four hours.”

“Shit. Work.”

“Dealt with. They know you’re ill.”

“Ill? I was attacked! I need to call the police.”

“And tell them what, exactly?” Kelvin turned away from the window and watched Key.

“That I was attacked outside my apartment. We have cameras, so it will be on them.”

“No, it won’t.”

“What?” Key’s eyes widened, and he glanced at the front door. Something was going on here and he didn’t like it at all. “Why not? Are the cameras out of action?”

“No, but the footage has been removed for our security.”

Swallowing, Key carefully placed the glass on the floor and swung his legs down off the sofa. “Who needs security?”

“We do.”

Kelvin’s face remained blank, and Key tried to figure out if he could beat him to the front door. “And who is we?”

“Me and my kind.”

There was a flash of something that crossed Kelvin’s face, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. “Your kind?” What the fuck was going on? This guy had a screw loose or something?

“Yeah. I’ve been thinking of ways to tell you, but maybe I should just rip the bandaid off.”

“Huh? What?” This conversation made no sense to Key, but he knew he had to find a way out.

“I’m a vampire and you’re my mate.”

Okay. Dude was not right in the head, and Key was all alone with him in his apartment, and he needed to get the fuck out of there. “Vampire, you say. That’s… interesting.”

Kelvin shook his head, a small smile on his face. “Interesting.”

“Show me your fangs.”

Now Kelvin laughed and one second he was by the window and the next he was crouched next to Key, hissing in his face and yes, there were fangs. Key screamed. Literally screamed and pushed Kelvin away. Kelvin fell back as Key jumped up, ignoring the way his head pounded, and ran to the front door.

He vaguely heard, ‘not this again,’ behind him, but didn’t care. He was leaving captain fruitcake and his whatever the fuck was going on with his mouth behind. Only he didn’t. He actually ran straight into him and screamed again.

“How the fuck… How? You were there…” He screamed again and again until Kelvin’s hand slammed over his mouth and his eyes glowed red. He hissed again, white gleaming fangs on show and Key somehow managed to not piss himself.

Pushing away, Key stumbled, then righted himself. He stared at Kelvin, who appeared far too relaxed for Key’s liking. Who did shit like that and stood there acting like it was nothing? This guy wasn’t just screwed in the head. He was so far over the fucking edge that Key was scared. Kelvin stood slightly taller than Key’s own six feet but was broader across the shoulders and clearly more powerful. Yep, Key was scared.

“Don’t be.”

“Huh?” Had he spoken out loud?

“No, but we’re mates, and even though we haven’t mated, some of your thoughts are loud and I can hear them. Strange.”

“Loud,” Key mumbled. Holy shit. What the fuck had he gotten himself into, and how the hell did he get himself out of whatever it was? He placed a shaky hand on his chest, feeling his heart beating a million miles an hour.

“You need to calm down.”

“You don’t say.” Key swallowed and glanced around the living area, searching for his phone or a weapon. A weapon would be nice. How the fuck did this guy know what he was thinking and feeling? Did that mean he knew about the knife thoughts?

Key looked at Kelvin, who nodded once. Key stumbled back, then ran to his bathroom, locking the door behind him. He leaned against it, dropping his forehead so it rested on the cold wood.

“Nice bathroom.”

Key screamed and spun around, seeing Kelvin standing behind him. Spinning around again, he scrambled to open the door, then shot out of the room and ran straight to the front door, skidding to a halt when Kelvin just appeared in front of him. Just popped there out of nowhere.

Key dropped to his knees and bent over, spots appearing in front of his eyes, his arms and legs tingling, his heart beating so fast he thought he might pass out. He couldn’t breathe, and when a hand gripped the back of his neck, Key fell back so he was laying on the ground, staring up at Kelvin who was leaning over him.

“I will never hurt you, Key. You are my mate. I would rather die than do anything to cause you pain.”

“I really need to wake the fuck up.” That was it. This was a nightmare, and he needed to wake up. Now. This shit wasn’t real. You read about it in books and comics or watched movies with hissing vamps in it. It didn’t happen in your own fucking home.

“You are awake.”

“Nope. Seriously not awake and you aren’t talking to me.” Key closed his eyes and pinched himself. Hard. He heard the sigh and pinched again, then snuck a quick look, then slammed his eyelids down tight. “Not real. I hit my head, and I suffered a concussion and now I’m hallucinating.”

His eyes snapped open when a hand gripped his jaw and lips slid over his. He stared into Kelvin’s eyes, seeing the pupils expand, then shuffled back away from him. “Not a concussion. Not a hallucination.”

Key wiped his lips and sneered when Kelvin chuckled. “Get the fuck out of here.”

“I can’t. The man who attacked you is also a vampire.”

That was… great. Just great. “Don’t I have to invite you in or some shit? Do I need to throw rice at you or holy water or… or eat garlic?”

“I like garlic. Holy water will only get me wet, and rice?” Kelvin appeared confused when he said the word rice.

“I read that if you throw rice, then it makes a vampire stop to count it or something.”

“Huh.” Kelvin squatted and rubbed his beard. “That is a new one.”

Key licked his lips, then furrowed his brow. Why did he think that was sexy? No, no thoughts about the sexy but deranged pretend vampire man? He stood and pointed to his door. “Leave before I call the police and report a lunatic is on the loose.”

“They’ll only arrest you.” Kelvin also stood. “Vampires don’t exist.”

Key ground his teeth together, closing his eyes and counted to ten. He heard Kelvin chuckle again and growled. “Get out.”

“You didn’t reach ten.”

Standing, Key stormed over to Kelvin and jabbed a finger into his chest. “How the fuck do you know what I’m thinking?”

“Now that I’m not too sure about. When a vampire finds his or her mate, they don’t normally have this ability, so I don’t know. Maybe it’s because you’re human. I am curious to know if you can hear mine. Close your eyes and concentrate.”

“No fucking chance. You want to bite me.” Key gritted his teeth. Was he really believing this shit?

“Seems like it to me.”

“Stay out of my head,” he snapped, then growled.

“Once. Try it once.”

“Fine. Will you leave if I do?”

Kelvin snorted. “Not with Maxim hanging around, and not until you have improved security.”

“And I guess you know someone who can do security,” Key sneered.

“Why yes, I do.” Kelvin grinned.

“I’m gonna smack that smile off your face,” Key muttered.

“I’m not sure I’m into BDSM, but we can give it a go.”

“I want to die. Once, then you go.”

Shrugging, Kelvin grinned. “I’ll think super hard now.”

Key exhaled heavily and closed his eyes. Nothing, there was absolutely nothing except that he wanted to lick his neck and bite and taste… “No fucking chance.” He stepped back, rubbing his neck. “You’re fucked in the head.”

“I’m a vampire who has found his mate, and I want to fuck and bite and make you mine.” Kelvin’s eyes glowed again and Key whimpered turned on the spot and ran. “Where are you going?”

“Away from you, loony tunes!” Key screamed and ran straight into Kelvin, who grabbed him by the arms, steadying him.

“I won’t do anything unless you give me permission, but I am a vampire and you are my mate, I can’t walk away from you.” The words were spoken quietly and made Key pause.

“Why?”

“We only get one. I guess the paranormal shit got that right. One mate. One chance of true happiness. One person who makes you feel complete, who you know you can rely on, who has your back. The one person you will love and adore for as long as you both live. That’s you, Key. You’re that one person meant for me, and I can’t walk away, even though I should.”

“You’re scaring me,” Key murmured.

“I know, and I’m sorry. I never wanted to scare you or hurt you, but it isn’t something that you bring up in everyday conversation, is it? Oh, by the way, I’m a vampire. It goes over so well.”

Key smiled briefly, then wiped it away. He was not ready to smile with a nut job here who was doing a good job of convincing Key he was in fact, a vampire. “Show me.”

Kelvin stared at him, then opened his mouth, revealing fangs. Key moved closer, trying to see if they were fake, but if they were, they were some of the best fakes he’d ever seen. Kelvin closed his mouth and watched Key, making him squirm.

Stepping back, he ran a hand over his head and slowly rocked. He honestly didn’t know what to do. “Trust your instincts.” Key glanced at Kelvin, who had spoken, and then looked away. He stopped moving and closed his eyes and listened to what his body was telling him, but it seemed quiet. Nothing was racing.

“Your body knows what I am and who I am.”

Key opened his eyes and walked over to his bed, sitting on the end. “I don’t know…”

“I know and I’m sorry.”

“Are you?” Key watched Kelvin, seeing the way he dropped his head.

“I am, because there is more I need to tell you, and it’s worse than the fact I’m a vampire and you’re my mate.”

“How can there be worse than that?”

“We have a law that forbids matings between vampires and humans and if one is found out, then they both usually suffer.”

“That’s just great. Peachy even. Please do tell me more. Now my life is fucked. Why not tell me everything so I can have the meltdown in one go?”

“The man who attacked you will come after you again.”

“I lied. I don’t need to know more and you can go.” Yep. He’d had enough. Fruit loop had to go, or he was leaving and he didn’t care that it was his apartment, either.