"The Dark Stranger"
© VeGirl 2014

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Hello my beautiful readers,
It is time for a little heads on; this chapter has a little wicked something, something... so if you're sensitive; beware...
Now, on with the story:

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I get back on the freeway after visiting my parents, north of Phoenix. They looked a bit uncomfortable when I asked the dreaded question of being adopted, but they admitted it instantly. Apparently both my brother and I was adopted; him when he was just a baby, but me when I was ten years old.

I am sitting here behind the steering-wheel with a million questions spinning. I ponder how Vincent will explain how I could be ten when my parents found me and how I could have been a grown-up and married before that. There is several things wrong in this theory.

Mom and Dad told me the story of how they had found me in a home for abandoned children, and how poorly the conditions had been there. I had been dirty and hungry and they had taken me in even if I had barely been able to speak or anything. It was a gamble, but it had turned out good, they said and I could only agree.

It is late and I have another hour of driving ahead of me when I turn off highway 17 and continue on the smaller road with trees on both sides. Mount Union on my left signals that I'm on my way home and I'm anxious to get back. There is a lot going on in my mind, it is weird to suddenly have my life totally turned upside down, and that is before I get a gorgeous lunatic neighbor, filling my head with fantasy-stories.

I like trees surrounding my car and once again I am glad my granny left me her house in the small town for me to live in. Suddenly some animal runs across the road and I turn the steering wheel to avoid running it over. Everything happens so fast, and before I know it, my car is going off the road and into a tree.

A deafening crash turns my world silent and black.

* * *

I have no idea how long I've been out, but it is still dark when I finally open my eyes again. I am confused, and can't understand where I am or what has happened. The surroundings is too hard to make out, until I understand that the car is laying on its side.

I do a check of how badly damaged I am, and find that I am bleeding from a cut on my head, and my arm hurts like hell. Luckily I had my seatbelt on, but now it feels like an impossible task to get out of the car. I manage to get the seatbelt off and I can stand up to reach across the car to the passenger door, but it is too heavy to open and I am too weak to put any real effort to it.

There I stand inside my crashed car with tears falling and no idea of how to get out.

After a while I realize that the front window is shattered and I try to kick it out. It takes some effort, but finally the frame lets go of its hold and I am able to get an opening wide enough to crawl out of. I slump down on the side of the road and pad my pockets to find my cell phone. I realize it must have fallen out and is nowhere to be found. I am too exhausted to get back into the car to search for it at this moment.

In these wee hours this road is not well trafficked I note as no-one had passed me and found my car laying there with the headlights still on. Not sure if it is the chilly night air or if it is the post-crash-chock, which makes my body start to shake and tears flow freely down my cheeks.

I am just about to make the hard decision to crawl back into the car to find my phone, when I hear a car coming through the close curve. Quickly I scurry on my feet and limp up on the road where I wave my uninjured arm to get through to the driver. The car slows down and with a cold shill along my spine I realize that it is the sleek black Rolls-Royce that I have caught a glimpse of outside Vincent's house. I swallow hard and my pulse starts to beat like crazy as Vincent's warning runs through my head; don't mistake him for a cuddly bear.

The car stops by my side, the door opens and a black haired gorgeous guy steps out of the car. "Are you okay?" he asks as he steps forward. "What happened?"

I just point to my car. "There was an animal," is all I get out and this guy is immediately by my side as I sway; totally startling me.

"It's okay, I've got you," he says supportive and I am lost in the most beautiful pale blue eyes I have ever seen, well except for Vincent's. "Have you called for anyone to come pick you up?"

I know instinctively that I'm not supposed to say this, but I point to my car. "My phone is..."

"Oh... Luckily I came by right now," he says and the tone in his voice seems suddenly malicious, despite the perfect alluring smile.

"Yeah lucky me," I press out my best feign smile, but am terrified inside. According to Vincent, I am standing here face to face with a real live vampire... and I am bleeding...

"You're hurt," he says at that moment.

No shit, Sherlock!

"Yes, it's just a little scratch," I say, but he has already lifted my hair to examine my oozing temple.

"It's not that small," he inform me and I imagine his voice to be a little huskier than before. "Let's get you in my car," he says and before I know it, he has lifted me swiftly in his arms as if I don't weigh more than a little girl.

"Oh, I just wanted to borrow your phone," I object quickly, starting to panic as he carries me towards that amazing looking car. "You don't have to... I mean, I don't want to be a burden."

He smiles down at me. "Oh, you're no burden." Isn't that smile a little too sweet, alluring and compelling? "Haven't I seen you before?" he asks and I am just about to tell him that I'm a friend of Vincent's, when something holds me back.

"No, I am sure I would remember that." I flash a shy smile at him. "But If I could only borrow your phone, I could get somebody to pick me up; I mean you're on your way..."

"This is a perfect kind of distraction, believe me."

...oh crap...

Oh Crap!

He is just on his way to open the passenger door, when I hear another car cut the corner in high speed from the other direction. I see this guy look up with a slightly disappointed face, when the other car swerves to a halt in front of us and the door swings open.

"Sam!" I recognize Vincent's voice.

"Yes!" I yell as he hurries up to us and wrap me in his arms instead. Tears fall once again as I feel safe in his arms.

"Vincent," the guy sighs.

"Back off, this one is mine!" Vincent growls and the other guy holds his hands up in surrender, with a snicker.

"No need to be so territorial," he chuckles. "There's plenty for us both."

Vincent actually growls loud. "Not this one Damian," he says before he carries me to his car, where he closes the door firmly around me.

Tears fall down my face when he is by my side and steers the car home, both from the accident, the potentiously dangerous guy and the stress from the whole day. "You were right, my parents adopted me," I sob.

"I know honey and that was good; you had a fine upbringing with them," he says supportive. "That was a good childhood."

"Yes, but I'm an orphan."

He turns to give me a smile. "No, you're not; you just got old enough and moved out."

"My parents are alive?" I can't believe it.

"Yeah, I haven't seen them in a long time, but I'm sure they're fine," he assures me and something shadows his face. "They didn't really approve of me dating you, but they trusted me enough to find you and bring you back."

I don't know what to say, my whole life has been though some strange turn-around. Isn't it weird that Vincent knows all these details of my life? He knows my real parents! I start to wonder what they are like, if I look like them and what would happen with the people I've seen as my parents my whole life. There are so many aspects to contemplate, that I end up staring unseeingly out the window while thoughts swirl around in my head.

About half an hour later Vincent parks his car on his driveway and I am led to my house with his arm around my shoulders. The pain in my arm has numbed a bit, but it is obvious that something is wrong.

"I want to take a look at that cut on your forehead, and your arm," Vin' says and leads me to the kitchen, where he turns the lights on, blazingly bright.

I direct him to my medicine cabinet and wince as he washes my cut and put a band-aid on it, before he carefully examine my arm. There is a massive pain when he finds the right, or perhaps the wrong spot.

"Yeah, sorry about that, it looks like it is broken," Vincent explains.

"Oh no, I don't want to go to the hospital," I whine again, making the fear and despair re-enter my consciousness, and tears fill my eyes.

He studies me intense. "We have two options," he claims. "Either we take you to a hospital, or you'll have to do with me."

"I hate hospitals!" I keep whining, not really sure what my options are since the post-traumatic-shock sets in. "But what can you do?"

It looks like he needs me to be absolutely sure about that, but when my tears have start to fall I'm a little incoherent. "Okay, I'll help you." He close his eyes for a moment, and then puts his hands on my arm and wrist, pulling with so much force, that I nearly pass out from the pain.

"I'm sorry, my angel, it'll be over soon," he tries to comfort me. "The bones are in right position, now I just have to fix them for you."

I notice that the pain is lesser now and he has my full attention. With wide eyes I follow his every move. He rubs his hands tight together as if he is cold, and then he places them both on the fracture in my arm. There is a heat building up inside my arm, and a feeling that is impossible to describe; it feels like light and peace. When he removes his hands the pain is completely gone.

"You fixed me?" I ask baffled and move my arm. "What are you; a doctor?"

"I'm your husband," he jokes.

"Where were you when I was twelve, fell with my bike and broke my leg?"

He chuckle darkly. "Searching for you..."

I study him intense for a while, and then I take my hands, cradling his face and press my lips on his. He wraps me in his arms and passion flares up; I'm on fire instantly. "I need you," I mumble against his lips. "Please Vincent, don't leave me tonight."

He studies me close up. "I won't do that again," he promise slowly, without any trace of teasing humor. "...unless you ask me to."

All fear and devastation gets mixed with the tingling attraction I have felt for this guy. Everything melts into a hunger that is lifeconsuming, and I know I want this man.

I have to have him.

Already wrapped in his arms, I slide my hands around his muscular, sinewy back and feel how he inhales and pulls me even closer. The trembling humming feeling I have experienced around Vincent is now hitting the roof. My lower stomach ache and my breasts tingle expectantly. Vincent's hands slide down to the roundness of my behind and I moan into his mouth. The pulse is beating wild and affects my hearing badly.

'Please Vincent.' I think and his response reveals that the message is received. His hands on my bum lift me, and I wrap my legs around his hips.

"Are you sure about this?" he murmur against my lips and when he moves his lips to the base of my neck I'm already anxious.

"Definitely."

It doesn't take more than that for him to walk up the stairs and into my bedroom, still carrying me. He lays me carefully down on the bed and we are tearing each other's clothes. Here I am lying on my back with the man I was terrified for, hovering above me. I want him; I crave and need him as much as he needs me.

His eyes are smoldering pits of desire and for some reason I can't explain, they feel like home. "You are so beautiful," he breathes, exhilarating my body and mind. "I've missed you so much."

His lips leaves fiery trails on my skin and I urge for him to enter me. I need this unity and the feeling when he does is not only physical, but spiritual as well.

From time to time I am anxious for him to pick up the speed, but he is thorough and soft in bed and very attentive. He gives me an outlet that I have never experienced before, it feels as if all the stars are aligned and the moon is in the seventh house. This lovemaking is like a high that just goes on and on, and it feels like it would take a lifetime to come down from a trip like this.

Finally we fall asleep in each other's arms and I feel like I belong with him.

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Next morning, I have a feeling that I am just wakening from a fabulous dream, and I want to go back to sleep to continue that dream. I sigh and there is even a little moaning as I sweep hair off my face, turn and stretch my sleepy body.

"Good morning, gorgeous."

I snap my eyes open to find the most beautiful face resting on the pillow right next to mine. "Vin..."

"Who did you expect it to be?" he snicker and pulls me closer to him. "I hope you didn't dream about that ex boyfriend of yours." His tone of voice is ominous but the gesture sweet as he strikes hair from my face in a gentle caress. "It sounded like a good dream."

I smile at him. "Nothing could top reality," I snuggle into his arms and have a hard time to believe that we're really here together in my bed.

"Why thank you, pretty lady."

I laugh. "Last night was amazing."

"I know!"

"Cocky much?"

He simply smiles, but then his face gets tender again. "It is even better than I remembered."

A sudden pang hits me. "Do you remember you and me together?" I ask silently.

It takes a few seconds before he says; "Yes."

Even after having spent the night together, that determent look of his is breathtaking. "Tell me something," I beg, shivering.

He takes a deep breath. "I didn't know very much about you when I was sent here to find you," he admits with a weak smile. "But the minute I laid eyes on you I knew I would never be able to let you go. You were the most gorgeous girl I had ever seen."

I exhale sharply feeling overwhelmed by his story and truth be told, almost jealous by the love he felt for that girl. It is too hard to fathom, that girl was me.

"I had to work hard to get your attention, you didn't budge an inch," he laughs. "A prude, uptight princess that always had to have it her way."

"You must have mixed us up; that doesn't sound like me at all."

"I'm glad you have changed." His smile makes that wickedness glisten again. "When I finally got you, it almost felt like a notch on my belt," he snickers. "But I knew that second, that I would do anything for you."

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I want to take the opportunity to thank all of you that takes time to vote and comment; I truly appreciate it!
Love, Veronica.

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