My Vampire and I by J. P. Bowie

grieve for Thomas. I stopped mourning a long time ago." He shrugged his wide shoulders expressively. "Life, or a semblance of it, goes on."
    "Will ... will I see you again?"
"Of course."
"When?"
He sat on the edge of the bed and took my hand.
    "Roger." His eyes held mine with an intensity that made me shiver. "I want you to be very sure of what will be needed of you. I want you to understand the enormity of what spending your life with me will entail. I don't want you to make that decision out of emotion or compassion for what I have just told you. I did not tell you about Thomas to evoke sympathy. Go home and think of all of this carefully. Very carefully. When you want to see me again, I will know, and I will come for you."
    I pressed his hand to my lips. "I love you, Marcus," I said.
"I believe you."
Effortlessly, he lifted me from the bed, and I noticed for the first time that I was fully clothed. He held me in his arms then kissed me long and hard. I closed my eyes and when I opened them, I was back in my apartment—and he was gone.
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My Vampire and I
by J. P. Bowie

Chapter Six
    The following day, Monday, was hell on wheels at work. By five o'clock, I was so exhausted, all I could think of was going home, mixing a martini, and vegging in front of the TV. I had decided, when I'd had time to put two thoughts together during the day, that I would leave Marcus alone for a couple of days. I didn't want to appear too pushy or needy, whichever word you think is more apt. In the back of my mind, I figured maybe, just maybe he'd miss me enough to come flying through my window, and whisk me off to his hideaway in the Hollywood Hills. Quite the dreamer, ain't I?
    My friend Mark called around seven. "So, how was the date last night?" he asked
"Dreamy," I told him.
"Ohmigod. That's terrific."
"Yeah, terrific ... except he's got some hang ups."
"Don't they all? Are you seeing him again?"
"Hope so. Don't know, really."
"Roger, you really need to be more assertive. Aggressive.
That kind of butch thing."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that if you want this to go somewhere, you should take control of the situation and call him."
"Call him what?"
"Call him on the phone and tell him you want to see him again."
"He already knows that, Mark."
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My Vampire and I
by J. P. Bowie
"Honey, you just have to make more of an effort that you usually do."
I hung up on him.
Kevin called a few minutes after I'd talked to Mark. "So how was the date with the vampire?"
My mouth went dry. How the hell did he know?
"What?" I managed to whisper.
"The guy that came to the party dressed as a vampire.
Wasn't he the one you had the date with?"
"Oh, yeah ... right." I laughed, a little shakily.
"So, how was it?"
"Incredible," I told him.
"Did you do it?"
"None of your business."
"That means you did. How many times? Wow, Roger.
You're usually so slow off the mark. What'd he do? Tie you to the bed?"
"No, of course not, dummy."
But he could, anytime he wanted, I thought, letting my imagination take wing. Tied down on that wonderful bed, silk scarves wrapped round my wrists and ankles, keeping me spread-eagled on my back while Marcus hovered over me, showering me with his hot kisses. Mmm-mmm...
    "You still there?" Kevin's voice dragged me back from my daydream.
"Yeah."
"So you seein' him again?"
"Hope so."
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My Vampire and I
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"Jeez, Roger. You need to take control, be more assertive—" I hung up on him.
* * * *
    That night I lay in bed, mulling over things in my mind, time and time again. Of one thing, I was certain. I was in love with Marcus, and if he would allow it, I would give up everything for him. Crazy as it may sound, I could really see my life inexorably intertwined with his. Somehow, it just felt right, as if I had been waiting all my life for this one man to make me complete. The fact that he was a vampire should have given me pause. More than pause really. It should have made me run like hell, yet I