Read Online The Vengeful Vampire by Marissa Farrar - Free Book Online Page B

Steam filled the room and she inhaled, cleansing her lungs. Serenity picked up the soap and ran the bar over her skin, across her flat stomach, across her pubic bone. A tremor of excitement shuddered deep at her core, in a part she thought long dead. She couldn’t remember any time in her adult life where she had physically wanted a man, yet now she imagined her hand was his, her touch belonged to him. Thoughts of Sebastian consumed her.

    Too aware of time passing, Serenity forced herself from the warm comfort of the water.

    She stepped from the shower, her skin flushed with desire. She wished he was there, taking her in his arms, kissing her, slipping his fingers into her most intimate parts.

    The guilt rushed back, but with it came surprise. Serenity endured sex. Now, she wanted, even anticipated it. She couldn’t remember ever wanting someone, but the thought of Sebastian touching her sent thrills racing through her.

    Forcing thoughts of Sebastian from her mind, Serenity went into her bedroom and dressed in her usual outfit of jeans and a sweater. On top of the dresser, her ‘S’ necklace nestled in a small dish. She picked the chain up between her fingertips and carefully hooked the silver around her throat. The necklace slipped beneath the collar of her sweater. The jewelry against her skin comforted her. The last memento of her old life, the only thing her mother had ever given her, and as much as she wanted to hate the woman, Serenity found it impossible to let go of the past.

     

    Looking up at her old office building, Serenity felt a pang of regret. She had liked her job; had even been good at it, when she’d been there. Her position included taking care of the engineering company’s payroll and overtime. She coordinated who covered should someone call in sick on a major job. Though a predominantly male environment, the situation suited Serenity just fine. She knew all men weren’t like Jackson. If she worked with women, they would want to know about her; ask questions about her life, her husband, the things she liked to do. Invitations for drinks would come, worse, requests for her and Jackson to come to dinner. Instead, Serenity kept herself to herself, and the men allowed her aloof behavior. They thought her standoffish, probably called her a bitch behind her back, but she didn’t care.

    Serenity enjoyed the projects she assisted with, even if she didn’t have much to do with the actual building. She found it interesting to talk to the engineers about the reasons they chose certain materials for certain buildings, why they used a particular joint or strut. There was science and mathematics to the work, a precision. The beauty of a building didn’t draw her; she loved the stability and predictability a great design brought.

    When she allowed herself to dream, she imagined herself an architect in another life.

    Serenity took a breath and walked through the revolving glass door. From the lobby, she rode the elevator twelve floors up to her old department.

    The company secretary, Elise, was talking on the phone as she walked in. Elise glanced up as Serenity passed and gave a tight lipped smile of distant sympathy. Serenity forced herself to smile back, but made no plans to hang around and chat.

    Instead, she headed straight to her old desk. Someone had left a cardboard box on the surface and she put the few items remaining on her desk inside.

    Peter, her old boss, came out of his private office.

    “I didn’t think you’d want to come and say goodbye,” she said without bothering to look up.

    Peter perched himself on the edge of the desk and folded his arms across his chest. Reluctantly, Serenity put down the photograph she held and straightened.

    He sighed. “I know it’s probably not my place but I wanted to ask if I could do anything to help.”

    Genuine concern haunted his eyes, but the words stabbed deep inside of her. She hated the thought of people knowing about her home life, but