Chapter 21

Jasper crosses the line.



"Thank you," I said, not knowing what else to say. My face was probably scarlet, and my body was still shivering.
“I’m sorry about your knickers, but I was caught up in the moment." He smirked. I put my skirt back on, feeling that something had changed between us. The tension I was carrying the past few days vanished; the stress I had gone through in the office faded away. I didn’t feel any pressure of energy accumulated inside me.
"It’s all right. I didn’t like them anyway," I said, wondering how the hell he was able to control himself. When he kissed me for the first time, his fangs extended.
"How are you getting back to the office?"
"Taxi."
“I’ll call Roberto. I’m not having you wandering around London in a taxi." He tucked my blond hair behind my ear.
"Fine, Nathaniel," I said, not wanting to fight with him. I didn’t know how to take this uncomfortable silence that was growing between us.
"Julia, I know that you’re apprehensive about me being close to you, but don’t think about it too much."
"I have to leave now." I grabbed all my paperwork, then left without saying another word.
Emily lifted her head and looked at me, raising her left eyebrow like she was judging me.
"Goodbye." I called the lift, trying to ignore her smirk.
"Have a good evening, Miss Taylor," Emily said.
When I was in the lift, my legs were still weak. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and took a deep breath. My mind was intoxicated by his scent and the way he’d pleasured me. The past few times, he’d told me only what he wanted me to hear, but today, he’d pleased me.
Roberto smiled when he saw me outside. On the way back to the office, I was calmer than usual, but the world around me had gone crazy. It was only the beginning of January and it would be a long time before I was going to see Nathaniel again. I gave the papers to my vampire colleagues and asked Roberto to drop me home after that.
I dragged myself to Pilates after seven in the evening, then called Nicky and Ella to join me. It was time for them to hear what had happened today in Nathaniel’s office.
"I have wine at home and I think we’ll need it after what I’m about to tell you both," I said when we got into Nicky’s car. Her husband was looking after her kids tonight.
"Does this have something to do with Mr. La Caz?" Nicky asked, giggling.
"Who is La Caz?" Ella asked.
“I’ll fill you in at home,” I answered. “Please, I need a drink first."
My apartment was nicely warm when we arrived and once I started explaining everything to Ella from the beginning, she looked angry. When I got to everything that went on in Kent and in his office, both my friends’ jaws dropped.
Ella was staring at me like someone had just slapped her. Nicky was laughing so hard that she couldn’t breathe. I gulped down the first glass of wine.
"After all this talk, he called you to his office and then went down on you?” she repeated. I wasn’t embarrassed, not in front of my friends I’d known for years.
"Yes, he wasn’t trying anything else. He just did it and then I left."
"I can’t believe you haven’t even said anything about him. What the hell?" Ella jumped up like she was ready to leave.
"I didn’t tell you because after that dinner, I was never going to see him again. He told me he didn’t want a relationship," I said, getting irritated.
"What are you going to do about him?” Nicky asked, arching her eyebrows. “There is obviously something going on between you two, and now you’re going to this posh dinner with him."
"Nothing. I’m not going to contact him—he can call me if he wants anything more than a fuck buddy. If not, then I’ll go to this stupid dinner and that’s it." I shuddered, pouring more wine into my glass.
Ella was marching up and down through my living room, then she stopped and knelt beside me. "This is it, Julia. He’s the one. Can’t you see the fates are putting both of you together? You have to call him."
"Oh, please, Ella, he wants to have sex with her. He’s seducing her, giving all the right signals, and then he’s going to leave her." Nicky was saying what I was trying not to think: stay away from vampires; it had all gone too far.
"Nicky’s right. He doesn’t want to date me; he wants to sleep with me. He always gets what he wants, Ella. He isn’t husband material."
"Maybe you’re wrong. He took you out on a proper date, introduced you to his father, and then today, he gave you an orgasm. He’s into you."
I was shaking my head, but the tiny voice in my head wanted to agree with Ella. Nathaniel mentioned he wouldn’t just leave me, but he couldn’t give me what I wanted.
"So, how was it?" Nicky eyes were gleaming.
"How was what?"
"The bloody orgasm!" she shouted. I went scarlet. I knew she wanted to know the juicy details.
"The best of my life,” I whispered. Ella was staring at me, shocked, and after a moment, they burst out laughing.
“Well, then, you have to introduce him to your parents over dinner. I’m telling you, he’s the one for you.” Ella was certain Nathaniel was my Prince Charming come to life.
I looked at Nicky; she wasn’t laughing anymore.
They left me just after ten o’clock. I curled in my bed, thinking about this odd day. I fell asleep, not knowing whether I would ever be able to get away from Nathaniel La Caz.
The next few days dragged by. Since the mind-blowing orgasm, Nathaniel didn’t try to contact me. This whole situation was confusing and still remained unresolved.
This week, I was working late shifts with Monica and Adele, my vampire co-workers. Rufus was sorting out the office in Bristol and we hadn’t heard from him for about a week or so. Dad called me midday to find out whether I had noticed anything suspicious. There had been two more kidnappings in the city, and I was pulling my hair out with frustration when he said that he still didn’t have anything new on Claudia’s case. I was going to mention Ella’s mysterious bites, but he had to hang up because Mum came home. Sometimes, it was frustrating that he had to marry a human. It was hard not telling her about our magic and other paranormal creatures that were around. And there were times, I really wanted to confide in my mum.
Nicky called me during the week, asking whether I’d heard any more from my half vampire. She was equally disappointed when I told her that I hadn’t.
"If he tastes your blood, then it will be over between you. If you want to avoid a broken heart, end this sooner rather than later." I took her advice to heart. He hadn’t called or texted me since our unexpected evening in his office.
I tried to stay busy at work because I didn’t want to think about him.
After placing an advert for the Wand Maker, I shortlisted two great candidates. The employer emailed me, expressing interest in seeing both of them. So, on Friday evening, I was making a few phone calls to try to stay on top of everything. I became restless thinking more and more about Nathaniel. I mean, was it that hard to pick up a damn phone? His mixed signals really threw me off and constantly made me second guess myself.
Monica had started using the Lucrative Shot produced by La Caz Pharmaceutical and I was curious to know how she was feeling.
"I no longer need blood. The shot helps me to control my thirst, but if a nice human were to come along and offer himself to me, I wouldn’t say no," she explained while we were finishing work. It was close to four in the morning and I was looking forward to the weekend. I wasn’t sure why, but I was angry that I let La Caz get to me so easily.
"Yes, I get that. This is supposed to stop vampires from feeding on humans, but it’s all about personal taste," Adele said, licking her lower lips.
"Can you guys close down? I’m going to leave now." I stood from my desk, grabbing my things. I didn’t want to listen to them. They were talking about him, not intentionally, but still, I was already in a bad mood today.
"You’re going early?" Adele asked with disbelief, narrowing her eyes. "You never leave early. Do you have a date or something?"
"No, I just need to go home. See you guys later." I gave her a faint smile. When I was outside, I took fresh air deep into my lungs. The streets were deserted and dark heavy clouds were hanging above me. I only had thin tights on and it was freezing cold. Roberto didn’t know that I’d finished early, so I knew he wouldn’t be waiting for me. I hated that I had to rely on a male to get home safely. I hated that these fairy and elf kidnappers were out there somewhere, and my father couldn’t catch them.
I started walking towards town, hoping to get a taxi. My feet were heavy, and I wondered if I should just sleep at my parents’ house. Mum was probably cooking something delicious and I was fed up with beans on toast.
"Julia, wait! I’ll walk with you."
I turned around to face Jasper who was approaching me. He was wearing a suit with his best coat that I’d bought him for his birthday when we were still together. I felt myself shaking, staring at my stalker ex-boyfriend who wasn’t even supposed to be here.
"What the fuck, Jasper! How many times have I told you I don’t want to see you? What are you, deaf?" I yelled, remembering what he’d done to that poor troll a few months ago. It felt like magic was creeping up my spine.
“I’m still responsible for your safety, Julia, and this vampire that you’re dating now—"
"Don’t you dare, Jasper. Don’t you even fucking dare go there. I’m a free woman and I can date whomever I want."
A blue flame escaped through my hair. I didn’t see it, but I felt it. He laughed, not taking me seriously at all. He was holding his magic wand.
“C’mon Julia, he isn’t for you. I’m the one who will make you happy. I’ve seen you with him, the way he looks at you; it’s like he’s imagining a big, fat juicy steak."
This was enough to make me mad. I screamed, and then all my pores opened. A burst of energy shot through my body and knocked Jasper off his feet. He wasn’t ready for this, so he landed around a hundred metres away from me.
I walked up to him while he sat there coughing and spitting. He was fine, though, maybe overwhelmed by my unexpected power. He’d always underestimated me, purely by the fact that I was just an elf who didn’t know how to control her magic. Tonight, I showed him that he should have never started up with me.
“Stay away from me, Jasper. My father will be after you sooner or later," I said through gritted teeth. "And next time, you won’t be so lucky."
I started walking away when an unknown power tangled my feet and I crashed to the ground. I had the metallic taste of blood in my mouth and heard Jasper stomp towards me. He knelt beside me while I lay motionless on the ground.
"You won’t get away with this. I use dark magic, and can crush your little leech boyfriend with one finger." I heard Jasper’s voice spinning in my head. But I wasn’t sure what happened, or how I wound up on the ground; the only thought going through my head was the extent of his power. I’d misjudged him because I was always convinced he would never hurt me.
"You left me, but trust me; you will never get rid of me. I’m the only one for you."
He stood up, and then he was gone. I was lying on the wet street. My lip was cut. When I managed to lift myself up, I started shaking.
"Miss Taylor, are you all right?"
It was Roberto; he rushed over and helped me to my feet. I looked around, but Jasper was nowhere to be seen. I sucked my bruised lip and cursed. I should have expected that. He’d seen me with Nathaniel, so I should’ve known it would only be a matter of time before he’d show up.
“I’m okay, just a little bruised." I inhaled air that was still filled with dying magic. My clothes were damp. I told him where to take me and on the way to my parents’ house, I called my dad. I had to be careful because I didn’t want my mum to know what had happened to me. Jasper had years of experience with dark magic, and he was still stalking me.
Roberto kept glancing at me in the mirror, but I sank down in my seat and wondered about my next step. It was nearly half past four in the morning when my dad got into Nathaniel’s car.
"Julia, are you all right, hon? What are you doing in this car?" I didn’t let him finish because I hugged him tightly.
"It was Jasper, Dad. He made me angry and I blew up," I said. "He’s been following me. We broke up ages ago, but I don’t think he’s ever moved on. You need to have a word with him to leave me alone."
In the darkness, my dad’s blue eyes contracted with anger, and the air around me thickened with his energy. I didn’t want to get my father involved, but Jasper was powerful, and he was still obsessed with me.
"How long has this been going on?" He asked. His eyes were fixated on Roberto, who was sitting in front.
"I don’t know. He’s been following me for months, but I didn’t want to worry you."
"There was another case like this that was brought to my attention a short while ago, but I dismissed it. I will take care of this, Julia. By the way, why are you in this limo?"
I exhaled and looked away. I couldn’t tell him about Nathaniel. He wouldn’t understand, and officially we weren’t in a relationship. I didn’t even know what we were doing together.
"A friend is doing me a favour, that’s all. He just wants to be sure that I get home safely."
That was a lame excuse and we both knew it, but Nathaniel La Caz was a man who wanted me and couldn’t commit.
"Whatever, Julia. I guess you’ll tell me when you’re ready. Just be careful because creatures who can afford cars like this are more dangerous than you can imagine."
"I know, Dad, I know."
When I got home, I went straight to the shower. My lips were swollen, but I just applied some cream and went to bed. I wasn’t upset because of what happened between me and Jasper. I was upset because I hadn’t heard from Nathaniel. He obviously cared about me, so I didn’t understand why he wasn’t here with me.