Darkness Chapter 9: Evening

**Nelly**

As we pile back into the car, I make a beeline for Tara, much to my surprise, Vincent doesn't put up a fight. "Tara, are you holding up okay, sweetie?"

Tara responds, "I'm fine. He just caught me off guard. I'm kicking myself for letting him get the drop on me. I should know better."

Alec chimes in, "Tara, once we're back, I'm taking you to get checked out."

Tara retorts, "I'll be fine. It's not my first rodeo."

Alec gives her a stern look. "I wasn't asking. If you're under our protection and something happens, we take care of you." Who knew Alec had a soft side for Tara? Maybe we've misjudged each other.

Brandon pipes up, "I'd like to go with her, if that's alright."

Alec nods, "Fine."

I rest my head on Tara's shoulder and doze off. When I wake up, the room is pitch black. I try to get up to use the bathroom. "Where do you think you're going?" Vincent questions.

"Uhhh...bathroom. Where am I?" I inquire.

Vincent smirks, "My room." Looks like I've stumbled into the lion's den.

Oh..." I stumble my way to the bathroom, only to realize I'm in my underwear. It seems he changed me. When I return, he's lounging against the headboard.

"I suppose you want..." I bite my lip.

Vincent interrupts, "No, not now. I was hoping we could have a chat. Maybe you could shed some light on a few things."

"Alright...um, could I borrow a shirt?" I inquire.

He stands up, revealing he's only in his boxers. Damn, his physique is flawless. Broad shoulders, a firm chest, and abs that could do laundry. His V-line points the way to paradise. And those tattoos? They just enhance his charm. His ass isn't too shabby either.

I snap out of my trance to find him standing in front of me, clearing his throat. "Oh...um...thanks."

He hands me a shirt, I slip it on, and ditch my bra. I usually prefer to sleep topless, but it's tough when you're always on the go, and right now, I don't entirely trust myself.

"No worries," he replies as he settles back into bed, waiting for me to get comfortable.

"So..." I prompt.

"What would you be doing if this hadn't happened?" he inquires with a hint of humor.

"Truth be told, I'm not entirely sure. The war kicked off when I was just 16. It didn't hit home until my folks got snatched. Then, when I was 18, Kade bit the dust, and that's when I officially signed up with the Resistance. If this whole war thing hadn't gone down, I would've been out of school early and off to college, and graduated by now."

Vincent inquires, "Any idea what happened to them?"

"Nah, couldn't care less. They ditched Kade and me in the dark, and he had to step up and look after me when they vanished. They're the ones who sparked this whole war, so screw 'em!"

Vincent drops a bombshell, "Your old man is still kickin'."

"Oh...Mom?"

"She passed away a few weeks back," he responds.

"I never wanted to be a fighter. But when Kade bit the dust, it lit a fire under me. He was the only family I had who never fed me a line of bullshit."

"Sorry to hear that," he offers.

"Why do you keep calling me 'pet'?" I inquire.

"I heard it tossed around in the lab. So when we started snatching up humans for our own amusement, we started calling them pets," he clarifies.

"Did you have someone special before all this madness?" I probe.

Vincent nods confidently, "Yes, I did."

"Did they...did they?" I inquire eagerly.

Vincent shakes his head solemnly, "No. She was killed by another vampire 20 years ago. Then I had a human companion, but she betrayed me by introducing me to your parents. After I broke free, I never found anyone else."

"Will you?" I press, curious.

"I hope so...one day," he responds with a hint of longing.

"I'm not one to easily give myself to another..." I admit.

Vincent raises an eyebrow skeptically, "No way are you a virgin."

"I'm not, but I've only had two partners," I confess.

"Do I know them?" he asks, smirking at me.

"You know both, if you must know," I reply.

"I figured Brad was one of them by the way he looked at you," Vincent remarks.

"It's Brandon. And I would almost say you were jealous if I didn't know any better," I tease.

He scoffs, "I'm not..."

I giggle, "Yeah...sure. The other is that asswipe Dylan."

"Wait, is that why you made that comment?" Vincent inquires.

"Yeah. He was my first. We were in school together before things went haywire, and I had a silly crush on him. After I slept with him, I caught him with a girl who was one of my best friends," I explain.

He whistles, “Damn. So I have to ask…” I laugh because I know what he's about to ask. “Does he have Smurf dick?”

“He has a tiny cock and talks a big game. Let's just say I didn't do much damage since there wasn't much to damage.” I look at Vincent. “You are nicer than I expected.”

“Shhh...don't tell anyone,” he says with a smirk.

I chuckle. “Shall I go to the other room?”

Vincent shakes his head. “No, l'd like to keep up the appearance we…”

“Won't they know from...ya know?”

“I usually just use the pets for blowjobs,” he says bluntly.

“Oh...Will you let me go?”

“No.”

“Why?” I ask.

He smirks, “You, my dear, are dangerous and all the rebels want you.”

“I can't help that. I had to fend for myself. What do you expect?” I grin. “Night Vincent.”

“Night Nelly,” he replies.

I gracefully lower myself and turn away from him. As my eyelids grow heavy, I feel Vincent's cool body curling around mine, providing an oddly comforting sensation. The last thing I recall before drifting off to sleep is him gently placing a kiss on my head.