Midnight Thirsts Read online

  Midnight Thirsts

  Anthology

  by Megan Hussey

  Imari Jade

  Tori L. Ridgewood

  Sara R. Feldman

  Olivia Ritch

  Published by

  Melange Books, LLC

  White Bear Lake, MN 55110

  www.melange-books.com

  Vampgasm: It Was a Dark and Horny Night by Megan Hussey, Copyright © 2011

  Bite Me by Imari Jade, Copyright © 2011

  Mist and Midnight by Tori L. Ridgewood, Copyright © 2011

  Lahaina Noon by Sara R. Feldman, Copyright © 2011

  Mine Tonight by Olivia Ritch, Copyright © 2011

  ISBN: 978-1-61235-626-6

  Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Published in the United States of America.

  Cover Art by Caroline Andrus

  Midnight Thirsts

  Vampgasm: It Was a Dark and Horny Night by Megan Hussey

  Kat is a horror author with writer's block; that is until her hunky best friend provides some sexy inspiration. Could he be the vamp of her dreams?

  Bite Me by Imari Jade

  Beck Griffin had no idea what he was getting into when he accepted the offer to move into a stately New Orleans’ mansion with three gorgeously pale men. But all it took was one kiss from Tristan Armont to make him forget all the spooky stuff he saw.

  Mist and Midnight by Tori L. Ridgewood

  Stalked by a cruel and relentless vampire, Charlotte is on the run. Fleeing the city, the powers of magick her only protection, she couldn't afford to fall for the hot modern prospector Pike Mahonen. Can she avoid temptation in a small town, to keep them both safe?

  Lahaina Noon by Sara R. Feldman

  Hawaii is paradise if you're just a tourist. For those who call O'ahu home, that gorgeous view is just another commute. Even if they're vampires...on Lahaina Noon.

  Mine Tonight by Olivia Ritch

  Cara was so cold. And she could not stop the blood running down her legs. Baby Evan was shivering and whimpering and the cold was taking her mind and pulling her away, down into the dark of the alley.

  Table of Contents

  Vampgasm: It Was a Dark and Horny Night by Megan Hussey

  About the Author

  Bite Me by Imari Jade

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  About the Author

  Mist and Midnight by Tori L. Ridgewood

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  About the Author

  Lahaina Noon by Sara R. Feldman

  About the Author

  Mine Tonight by Olivia Ritch

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  About the Author

  Previews

  Vampgasm:

  It Was a Dark and Horny Night

  by Megan Hussey

  Dedicated to my readers and friends

  Kat is a horror author with writer's block; that is until her hunky best friend provides some sexy inspiration. Could he be the vamp of her dreams?

  Vampgasm:

  It Was a Dark and Horny Night

  by Megan Hussey

  “It was a dark and stormy night....”

  Kat Maise sat before her computer screen, contemplating what just may be the lamest first line in the history of her literary career; mayhap in the entire history of the written word.

  “To use yet another tired cliché, I might as well just throw in the proverbial towel and go back to writing my master’s thesis.” With a heavy sigh she leaned back, settling her rubenesque form in the cushions of her crotchety desk chair. “I just wasn’t cut out to write the Great American Bloodsucking Erotic Vampire Novel.”

  Although an honors journalism student at Bennett College in Tampa, Florida, Kat always harbored a secret dream to become a paranormal romance novelist.

  “Kind of like the dream I once had of morphing into a fluorescent pink unicorn with roller skates for feet.” The 22-year-old tugged with self-conscious fingers at her short dark pony tails. “And the one I entertained of becoming a back- up singer and backstage towel girl for Duran Duran.”

  Heaving a second resigned sigh, she rose to her feet and crossed the length of her modest apartment, headed straight for the comforting confines of her basic camp bed.

  “Maybe I can dream a good story,” she yawned, stretching her arms high above her head.

  Her troubled meditation was disrupted by a knock at her front door; one that froze her in her footsteps.

  “Who could it be at this hour?” she groaned, adding more loudly, “Who is it? If you’re not in possession of a pizza, some chocolate, or a hot novel idea, enter at your own risk.”

  An answering chuckle resounded from the opposite side of the door, warming her with its deep, honeyed tones, and with its familiarity.

  “It’s just me, Princess.” She immediately recognized the signature greeting of Vince Tobin, her best friend and frequent study buddy. “May I come in, or is it too late?”

  “I repeat.” Kat flung open her door to reveal a tall blond man in a button down shirt and prim black slacks. “Got pizza? Got chocolate? Got an earth-shattering but oddly relatable concept for the next paranormal best seller?”

  She grinned as her dear friend swept her up in his arms, pulling her to him in a big warm bear hug.

  “Sorry dear.” He chucked her chin. “All I have is a coupon for Nella’s Burgers.” He arched his eyebrows, charming her with the twinkle of his azure eyes. “Care to join me for a midnight snack?”

  “Top notch idea!”Kat engaged him in a playful high five. “A Double Heartburn Inducer Burger—with extra ketchup, of course—should give me all the inspiration I need.”

  * * * *

  How could a man make the singular act of munching down on a quarter pound side of beef look so darned sexy?

  Kat sat in a corner booth at Nella’s Burgers, her favorite campus hangout, staring in sheer wonder at her late night dinner date. His gem blue eyes penetrated her as he bit into his sandwich; his full, moist lips flexing with every bite.

  Yep, the dude even looks hot when he’s eating, she mused. A mighty feat when one considers his choice of menu items. Namely a bloody red hamburger that makes an Angus steak look suspiciously like a veggie burger.

  Aloud she asked, “Did you get my phone message this morning, Vince?” She shrugged. “I was going to invite you to do an early lunch, maybe throw around some ideas for my book.”

  Vince covered his hand with hers, charming her with a boyish grin.

  “Sorry babe, I’m a late sleeper. Those night classes are killing me.” He cringed, adding more softly, “Anyway, you don’t need my help. You’re a great writer, and you have quite the imagination.” He leaned across the table, erasing all distance between them. “Sometimes I’d like to know just what goes on in that mind of yours.” His voice lowered to a whisper as he squeezed her fingers. “All the dreams, all the fantasies....I want to know it all.”
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  Seized by a sudden wave of raw, bare heat, Kat shut her eyes tight, her heart pounding in response to his words. An unbidden image seized her mind, a moving picture of her handsome friend naked and in bed with her; his hard, sweaty body grinding against hers as he filled her to the core, kissing her senseless as she moaned her delight.

  “Kat?” His deep, honeyed tones penetrated her psyche, disrupting her heated sex trance.

  Suddenly she bolted upright in her seat, her eyes flying open as she cleared her throat loudly.

  “Sorry, I must have drifted off.” Heat flushed her cheeks as she checked her watch. “Wow, look at the time, I really should be getting home....”

  A sighing Vincent sat back in his seat, regarding her with blazing eyes and a pouty mouth.

  “We’ve been friends since freshman year, Kat,” he reminded her, running a frustrated hand through his golden mass of heather blond hair. “We have so much in common, and...oh hell, I’m just going to say it. I want you.”

  Kat shook her head. “Vincent, this makes no sense.” Her voice was raspy with desire. “Look at you.” She gestured down the length of his tall, flawless form. “You could make the cover of Playgirl.” She gritted her teeth. “On a good day I could muster the cover of Cuddly Emo Goth Girl Monthly.”

  Vince chuckled, cupping her cheek in a strong but gentle hand.

  “Babe, with me as your lover you’d never have to be ‘emo.’” He winked. “Whenever you were sad, tired or frustrated, I’d do something extra special to cheer you.”

  Kat grinned, warming in spite of herself. “Like the time I had the flu and you made me chicken soup?” She graced his palm with a chaste kiss.

  Vince shrugged. “Sure, I could do that.” He nodded, adding in a lowered tone, “I’d also be pleased to do a striptease for you, give you a hot oil massage, and/or treat to multiple G spot orgasms.”

  Kat bit her lip, her cheek flushing red hot in his hand. She had fantasized about him doing all of those things for her....And in the exact order he just mentioned them. She arched her eyebrows. How does he do that?! Friggin' uncanny, if ya asked me....

  Suddenly she sprang to her feet, reaching into her pocket and withdrawing a $5 bill that would cover the cost of her meal.

  “Look, all this erotic sex chat just seems out of place in an atmosphere also marked by gut buster burgers, 2-for-one smoothies and a 64-year-old bald fry cook who’s singing selections from the Celine Dion songbook at a deafening volume.” She turned for the door. “I need some fresh air.”

  Ignoring his words of protest, Kat walked with quick steps toward the front door. Soon she found herself standing on the sidewalk that lead away from Nella’s Burgers.

  The cool night breeze served to soothe her senses, cooling the rampant, red hot desire that seized her body and soul. Finally her head cleared, allowing her to take a deep breath and consider the events of the last few moments.

  Make that the events of the last few years. She released a sharp breath. Vince and I are good friends, we like the same books, we make each laugh...but we just don’t go together, it’d never work. Why is he always trying to tease me? It’s frustrating...damned hot, as well, but in a very frustrating way.

  Her troubled meditation was disrupted by the appearance of another good friend; this one, however, failed to arouse the same level of raw sexual frustration.

  “Mrs. Clements!” she called out, recognizing the grey-haired retiree who lived two doors away from her at Nightingale Apartments.

  The short, slight woman turned to face her, meeting her greeting with a broad smile.

  “Hello my dear!” She waved. “How are you this evening?”

  Sexually frustrated and as horny as all proverbial get out! Kat wanted to respond. Instead she played nice and said, “I’m great, Mrs. Clements. Are you headed back to Nightingale?”

  Mrs. Clements opened her mouth to respond—closing it just as quickly as a dark, hooded figure bounded from a nearby alley, rushing at her with frantic steps.

  “Stop!” Kat rushed forward, watching with wide eyes as the unwelcome stranger grabbed Mrs. Clements’ purse and pushed her down on the sidewalk.

  Within seconds Kat was upon him, grabbing his arms and pinning them behind his back.

  “Why don’t you pick on someone your own size, asshole?” she growled, ducking her free hand to grab for the stolen purse.

  Silently the man struggled against her, clutching the purse to his side as he kicked his legs behind him. Looking backward, he pinned Kat with a wide-eyed, savage glare; then his face went blank as he focused on a point just beyond her shoulder.

  “What the...” he muttered, shaking his head in what seemed to be a show of sheer disbelief.

  Maintaining her stronghold on the stunned attacker, Kat turned slowly to face the source of his shock: a tall, muscled being with blood red eyes and fangs.

  Nice accents for a preppy boy shirt and cover model do, she thought vaguely, freezing as she identified the growling creature. “I’m pretty sure that’s Vince.” She shook her head. “To quote the rather scummy gentleman in my arms right now, what the...”

  She froze as her transformed best friend charged them on the sidewalk, fangs bared. Ripping Mrs. Clements’ attacker from her arms, he threw the screaming man onto the sidewalk and knelt beside him, pinning him to the ground with two strong, corded hands and opening his mouth wide; revealing in full the set of long, sharp teeth that drew a gasp from the man beneath him.

  “Drop the purse,” Vince howled, his voice deep and animalistic.

  “Yeah, sure thing.” His eyes wide with terror, the mugger dropped the purse on the sidewalk beside him. “Just don’t hurt me, um, Sir?” He finished awkwardly, tilting his head upward.

  “Your guess is as good as mine.” Finally finding her voice, Kat reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone, dialing 9-1-1. “One thing I do know is that you’re going to jail.”

  * * * *

  Three hours later Kat stood in the bedroom of Deidre Clements, wrapping a blanket around the trembling shoulders of the frowning older woman.

  “I doubt that I’ll be able to sleep a wink all night,” Mrs. Clements’ voice shook with the weight of her fear.

  Biting her lip, Kat bent over to envelop the woman in a warm, maternal hug.

  “You’ll be just fine, Mrs. Clements,” she reassured her. “Just remember how brave you were, reporting that scumbag to the police—who, it turns out, have been looking for him for months.”

  Deidre smiled.

  “It’s you and your friend who are the true heroes, my dear.” She squeezed her hand. “Please thank him for me, in any way you like.” She waggled her eyebrows. “He’s quite the cutie.”

  Releasing a stunned laugh, Kat kissed her cheek and walked toward the door with tentative steps. “Ring me if you need anything,” she said over her shoulder. “Sleep well.”

  The sense of daughterly warmth she felt in the presence of Mrs. Clements abated the minute she cleared her doorway; stepping into the hall she came face to face with the subject of their conversation.

  Vincent looked the part of an ethereal angel in the waning light of the hallway; his golden hair and bronzed features casting him in a radiant glow.

  “Only that was no angel I saw tonight,” she muttered with a shudder in spite of herself.

  Her eyes flew wide as Vincent enveloped her in a warm, tight embrace; pulling her closer than close.

  For a moment she savored his warmth, his touch, the feel of his hard muscled body against hers; but the feeling was fleeting.

  Stepping away from him, she fixed her hands on her hips and graced him with a brief nod.

  “Mrs. Clements passes along her thanks, as do I.” She avoided his gaze. “It’s getting very late, though, and I know we both have class tomorrow....”

  “You think I’m a monster.”

  The words, spoken in a soft, sad tone, tore at Kat’s heart; as did the sad expression that filled Vincent’s eyes.


  With a sigh she said, “No, Vince, I don’t think you’re a monster. You’re my best friend.” She managed a small smile for his benefit. “You’re also the man who may have saved the life of a very dear woman tonight.” Her smile dissolved. “I know who you are. The only problem is I don’t know quite what you are.”

  Vincent shook his head. “You know what I am, Kat,” he said and heaved a deep sigh. “Surely you recognize the creature that you’ve read and written about for so long.”

  Kat froze, a bead of cold sweat coursing her spine.

  “You’re telling me you’re a...” she paused a moment, finishing on a whisper, “a vampire?”

  She jumped at the sound of his unexpected laughter, and the rolling of his azure eyes.

  “Come now, Kat, you couldn’t have missed the growling, the timeless classic ‘tortured soul’ expression, and—the piece de resistance—the good ol’ reliable fangs.” He smacked her back. “Yep, Girly, I’m a VAMPIRE! Duh!”

  Kat didn’t join in Vincent’s laughter. Instead she backed away from him, edging toward her apartment door.

  “Sure I know vampires from my stories, but they’re just that....stories.” She threw her arms up between them. “They don’t exist.” She pinned her friend with a concerned stare. “Either this is some sort of sick joke, Vince, or you need help.”

  His laughter dying on his lips, Vince took a few steps backward; approaching a full-length mirror that bordered the main hallway of Kat’s apartment building.

  “Ever wonder why I tend to avoid mirrors in your presence, Kat?” He arched a quizzical eyebrow.

  Kat shrugged. “With everyone going out of their way to tell you how blasted hot you are, why would you need to verify that rather obvious fact by gawking into a mirror?” she reasoned.