His Phoenix Read online

  “Do you have beer here?” I asked.

  Shaun smiled. “Of course. The list of brews is on the back of the menu if you’d like some more time to decide, I can come back in a few minutes.”

  “Why don’t you surprise me. I’m sure I’ll like whatever you choose.”

  “We aren’t supposed to choose for customers, so-”

  “The young lady asked to be surprised, so I suggest you do just that. I’ll have whatever you bring her as well.” Ben’s voice was demanding. Something in his tone sent out a ripple of power.

  It was the same thing that had scared me off the day before.

  “Yes, sir. I will bring your drinks right away.” With that, Shaun turned and hurried away.

  I leaned forward so I didn’t have to talk too loudly. “What are you?”

  Ben leaned forward, pinning me with his stare. “Whatever do you mean, Ms. James?”

  I arched a brow at him. “Oh, so we’re back to being formal after you’ve been calling me a pet name all night?”

  “Does it bother you to be called pet names, Charlotte?”

  Ben leaned as far as the table would allow him and I found myself doing the same. “Not at all, Benjamin. Would it bother you if I did the same?”

  That damn smile was back. “Not a bit. Does this mean you’re agreeing to be my roommate?”

  We were interrupted by Shaun bringing our drinks. We sat back in our seats so he could place them on the table.

  “Are you ready to order your meals?” Shaun sat a breadbasket in the middle of the table.

  I skimmed over the menu, my eyes landing on the word steak. “I’ll have the steak.” I looked at Ben to see what he was having.

  He looked a little nervous.

  “I won’t be eating tonight, just the beer for me.”

  Shaun asked me what I wanted with my steak and I told him. “I’ll be back shortly with your order.” He said before walking away.

  “Why aren’t you eating? And don’t think I didn’t notice you avoiding my question earlier.” I took a drink of my beer while I waited for Ben to answer.

  “I wasn’t avoiding the question; I just chose not to answer it. And to answer the second question, I ate before I picked you up.”

  “Why would you invite me to dinner and then eat beforehand? Are you a shy eater?” I couldn’t stop all the questions pouring from my mouth. I was suddenly so very curious about my future roommate.

  “So, you have decided to sign the lease?”

  I must have thought out loud. I did that sometimes. “It’s either your stunning house or my childhood bedroom at my dad’s place. I already gave my landlord two weeks’ notice.”

  “I'll make sure there are fresh sheets on your bed by tomorrow unless you’d like to come home tonight.”

  There was a hidden question in Ben’s words.

  I grinned. “Nice try, Mr. Valtor, but no thank you. I am a lady after all.”

  Ben chuckled. “I can see that, Ms. James, and I respect you all the more for it.”

  “Good.” My stomach chose that moment to growl, making us both laugh. “My stomach, however, is not a lady and has no problem demanding food.”

  “As she should.” Ben stood from the table. “I’m going to go make sure they get your food here before that thing turns on us.”

  I laughed and reached out to stop him. He was already out of reach. Talk about speed walking.

  I drank my beer and went to my happy place while I waited for him to return.

  I was going through wall colors for my new room when the biggest juiciest medium rare steak was set down in front of me. I almost drooled at the smell.

  “Thank you,” I said, looking up to see Ben smiling at me.

  “You are most welcome, my sweet. Eat up.”

  I didn’t need to be told twice. I tried my best to eat with as much etiquette as possible, but I was so hungry that the first half of the steak was devoured quickly. I probably looked like an animal wolfing it down. All the while, Ben just sat and talked to me about his business and how he was glad he wouldn’t be coming home to an empty house anymore.

  The man didn’t look a day over thirty, but he had the mannerisms of someone much older. He must have grown up rich and spent time at one of those fancy boarding schools overseas or something. I didn't feel it was my place to ask about his upbringing. He did however, still need to tell me what he was.

  “Thank you for dinner, Ben,” I said when we pulled to a stop in front of my apartment later that evening. “That was the best steak I’ve ever had.”

  “I’m glad you enjoyed your meal, my sweet.”

  I turned to Ben before opening the car door. “Why do you call me that?”

  He gave me that predatory smile. “Because you smell so sweet.”

  “Okay…” It was such an odd answer. Definitely not human. Pushing the passenger door open, I got out. “I’ll see you-” I paused when I saw the driver’s seat was empty.

  “Let me walk you to your door.” I jumped at the sound of Ben’s voice beside me. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He apologized.

  I turned and took a calming breath. "It's okay. How about that escort to my front door you offered?"

  “Right this way, Ms. James.” Ben took my hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow and walked me to my front door.

  Once we reached it, I took my key from my pocket and unlocked the door. “I’d invite you in, but I’m afraid it’s a mess in there.” I opened the door and stepped inside.

  “That’s okay. I will send the movers early tomorrow morning for your stuff. Hopefully, I’ll see you when I get home from work tomorrow evening.”

  I nodded. “I have class at eight in the morning. I should be back here by nine-thirty if you want to send them around then. I have my second class at eleven.”

  “Nine thirty it is then. Have a good night, Charlotte.” Ben turned and started to walk away.

  “Wait!” The word burst out of me as I stepped out in the hallway.

  Ben turned and was standing in front of me so fast it caused me to gasp. “Yes, my sweet?”

  Goddess, something about this man was drawing me in. Like an extra-strong magnet pulling my heart straight to it. I stood and kissed his cheek, letting it linger a second longer than I should have.

  “Goodnight, Benjamin,” I whispered, stepping back into my apartment.

  Ben smiled and touched his cheek where I’d kissed it. “Goodnight, Charlotte.”

  In the blink of an eye, he was at the building entrance, walking out the front door and I was left standing there wondering what the fuck had just happened. I was just looking for a room to rent, and now I was being drawn in slowly by this mysterious man who I’d agreed to live with.

  I shut my door and walked over to the counter where the lease Ben had made for me lay. It was quite clear we were going to be more than roommates. I could feel it in my gut.

  Everything was moving so quickly and for some strange reason, I didn’t want to slow it down. It terrified me, but the more time I spent with Ben, the more I was drawn to him. I couldn’t say no. I couldn’t stay away. I had to see where this journey would take us and hope that I didn’t get left behind again by someone I loved. Loved? I’d clearly had too many beers with my steak and needed to sleep off this nonsensical thinking.

  I took a shower and brushed my teeth before climbing into bed naked. There was no better way to sleep and sleep I did. Only to dream of the one and only, Mr. Benjamin Valtor.

  Chapter Four

  Benjamin

  I went straight home and called my brother Cidrick once I was seated behind my desk. I was afraid if I didn’t stay seated, I would lose control and rush back to Charlotte’s house and claim her for my own. Every dead fiber of my being wanted to. I would never do that without her full permission and understanding of what she was agreeing to.

  Being undead wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns. She would be giving up normal human abilities like eating food and the ability
to procreate, for vampire ones like immortality and strength. Maybe she wanted to be a mother someday. Who was I to take that from her?

  “Earth to Benjamin!” My brother called loudly into my ear causing me to pull the phone away briefly.

  “Sorry, Cid. I was thinking.”

  Cid chuckled. “Well, that’s never a good thing. What’s on your mind, big brother?”

  I was older by a few years, but Cid was an inch taller than me, standing at 6’2. He shared my dark black hair and blue eyes, something we had inherited from our mother.

  Our father always told us that her haunting blue eyes were what drew him in and made him promise her forever. The old man was a romantic. Rest his soul. I hoped my parents were enjoying the afterlife together.

  “I think I’ve found my bloodmate.” Like shifters, vampires had mates, though ours were called bloodmates.

  “That’s awesome, Benny! When do I get to meet her? It is a her, right? Not that I would care either way, but you know.”

  I laughed at my brother’s ramblings. “Her name is Charlotte, and she is everything right in the world.”

  Cid chuckled again. “Oh yea, you’ve found your bloodmate for sure. ‘everything that’s right in the world’” He mocked.

  “When next we meet, I’m challenging you to a duel.”

  Cid scoffed. “Be careful, Benny, your age is showing. Does this bloodmate of yours know what you are?”

  “She suspects I’m not human, I just need to find the right way to tell her and hope I don't scare her away.” I sighed.

  As far as the supernatural world went, shifters had it easy because the humans knew about them. For the rest of us still hiding in the shadows, it was harder to reveal our true selves to our mates when we found them. No one knew that vampires existed outside of books and movies. I’m glad I wasn’t the least believable like the fairies. There were also gods and goddesses. Pretty much all the fairy tale creatures were real. Accept leprechauns, there were none of those. At least not that I'd ever heard.

  “If you can sense your bond, Benny, then I’m sure Charlotte can as well. Just ask her if she feels abnormally drawn to you and then if she says yes, you say ‘Hey, it’s because I’m a vampire and you’re my bloodmate and we are meant to spend eternity together after we share a mating bite. How do you feel about becoming undead?’”

  I laughed again. “I wish it could be that simple, little brother. There’s a chance she doesn’t believe me and thinks I’m a crazy psychopath and gets a restraining order.”

  “Nah, I think if she really is your bloodmate, she will believe you easily because you do share that bond. You said she suspects you’re not human, so maybe it won’t be that big of a shock to her.”

  Sometimes it was like Cid was the older brother. “I suppose you’re right. I'll talk to her tomorrow after she gets her things settled in her room.”

  “Wait. She’s moving in with you?” I could hear the amusement in Cid's voice.

  “She answered my roommate wanted ad in the paper. That’s how we met.” I went on to explain Charlotte’s situation and why she needed to move in.

  I could see Cid shaking his head in my mind. “You really know how to dive in headfirst, don’t you, big brother.”

  “I suppose I do.” I looked at the clock and saw it was almost time to feed again. “I hate to cut this call short, but I need to feed before I head to bed.”

  “Sounds like a good idea. Speaking of feeding, maybe I can come for dinner soon and meet your Charlotte.”

  “I’ll talk to her about it tomorrow night and let you know.”

  “Until then, Benny.”

  “Until then, Cidrick.” It was our way of saying I love you without having to say the words.

  After hanging up, I called one of my feeders over to feed me.

  Vampires always had a small group of humans that they compelled to let them feed on them. I hated using my ‘Jedi mind tricks’ as Cidrick called them, on people. I only used that ability when I absolutely needed to or apparently when my mate needed me to as I'd discovered tonight at the restaurant. It hadn’t worked on Charlotte yesterday I realized, cementing further that she was my bloodmate. Mates can’t compel each other. It would be too easy to go against the universe and compel someone to be your mate. You don’t get to choose, that’s fate’s job.

  Twenty minutes later the doorbell ring. Dinner was here. Feeding for me wasn’t sexual in any sense, though it had been in my early days when my brother and I were first turned. The young lady I had invited for dinner was very pretty, but I only saw her as a way to survive. A way to have another day with my sweet Charlotte.

  The neck was a common place to feed, but to me, it was too visible even if my saliva would heal it completely in an hour or so. I didn’t like chancing someone asking questions, so my prime drinking spot was the femoral artery. It was located in the thigh and was a little inconvenient to get a good angle on, but once you did… Mmm, so much blood so fast. It always gave me a head rush when I fed from it.

  I won’t lie and say I wasn’t a little addicted to the feeling it gave. Most vampires were. You just had to be careful not to get carried away and drink your human dry. You stopped when the flow slowed, that’s when you knew you’d taken enough for both of you to survive. Yes, your human would be extremely weak for a few days. As long as they took proper care of themselves, their bodies would replenish the blood you’d taken and in four or five days you could drink from them again.

  That’s why you need to have at least four feeders so that you could cycle them out. It does start to take a toll on their hearts after a while at which point, you’ll need to find a new one.

  I finished my meal and had my driver take the girl home and then went to bed myself.

  Tomorrow my mate would be moving in and I had to figure out how to break the news of our bond to her. I hope it was as easy as Cid said it would be.

  Chapter Five

  Charlotte

  It was moving day and I was nervous as fuck. Not even gonna lie. I woke up to piranhas eating away at my stomach lining, making it impossible to even consider eating breakfast before class.

  I found it difficult to focus on what my professor was saying and spent most of the class thinking about the night before. Ben was so strange and made me extremely curious to know more about him. Why were his eyes so bright sometimes? How did he sometimes move so quickly? Why did his tone sometimes send a ripple of energy through my body, scaring and exciting me at the same time? So many questions running through my head about a man I had just met. A man I was about to be sleeping under the same roof with.

  I knew I should probably talk to Alisa about this. Maybe she could talk some sense into me. She was probably more likely to convince me to stay and dig as deep into Benjamin’s brain as he’d allow me to without kicking me out on my ass.

  After class, I dragged myself back to the apartment to find a moving truck sitting in front of my building.

  “Charlotte James?” A man asked, getting out of the driver’s side of the truck.

  I gave him a tired smile. “That’s me. You guys bring boxes? I haven’t had time to get any to pack anything.”

  “Yes, ma’am. We were instructed to help you pack everything but your clothes.”

  Odd, but I wasn’t gonna worry about it. I only had an hour to pack all my stuff and get it loaded on the truck. “My furniture is going to storage. Can you guys help me with that as well?”

  The man nodded as a second man hopped out of the passenger side. “Yep. We were paid for the whole day and told to do whatever you asked.

  “Cool. Let’s grab some boxes and I’ll start packing the small stuff while you guys do the heavy lifting.”

  The second man smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “Don’t call me ma’am. Charlie is fine.”

  “Max.” The driver held his hand out to me and I shook it. He released my hand and pointed to the passenger. “This knucklehead over here is St
an.”

  “Nice to meet you both. Shall we get started? I have a small window to do this before my next class.”

  They both nodded.

  Opening the back of the truck, they grabbed a stack of boxes and carried them inside, setting a few in each room. I doubted I would need that many since I didn’t have that much stuff to begin with. I let my old roommate take pretty much half of what we had.

  I could hear the movers struggling with the couch as I packed my underthings. I had a couple matching sets of sexy bras and panties. I never wore them because they weren't comfortable. I usually rocked comfortable cotton panties and a simple unpadded bra. My boobs were big enough they didn’t need to be padded or pushed to my chin. A simple supportive bra was hard to find and had cost me a pretty penny. I had four and the rest of the time I either wasn’t wearing a bra, or I was going complete commando. Sometimes a girl just wants to lounge about in nothing but a long t-shirt. It's me. I'm that girl.

  “You ready for us to get the bedroom furniture loaded?” Max asked, poking his head into my room.

  “Yes. This is the last box for this room, just let me tape it shut and the dresser is good to go.” I grabbed the packing tape from my bed and taped the box shut. “I’m gonna stack these in the corner and move on to packing the bathroom so I won’t be in your way.”

  Max nodded and helped me stack the boxes out of the way in the corner of the room. “Alright, I’m gonna go get Stan. He’s taking a smoke break.”

  “I’ll be in the bathroom and then on to the kitchen. Neither should take very long.” I looked at the time on my phone. I had thirty-five minutes to get the rest of my stuff packed and moved to Ben’s house. I didn’t think I was gonna make it. “Let’s put a rush on this.”

  “Yes, ma- I mean, Charlie.”

  I laughed at Max’s slip up and headed to the bathroom.

  ∞∞∞

  I'd just barely managed to drop my boxes off at Ben’s before needing to head off to class. If Max and Stan hadn’t offered to drop me off, I would have been late. They'd agreed to take my furniture to my storage unit me even. I liked my mover guys.