Page 2 of Thirsty for the Bartender

EMRIS

I stare out the window of my office, taking in the setting sun over the tops of the city buildings. The view is stunning; it both calms me and reminds me of the endless empire that is New Bria. So many opportunities and possibilities lie here.

Opportunities, possibilities, and people. Specifically, the blonde from the bar, Mallorie. She was wickedly attractive, with eyes as icy as a frozen lake, and very much rejecting any advance I made. That is, until the end, but I think her boss had something to do with that.

It’s been a week since I was at that bar for the launch of Bloodka, and she’s been on my mind ever since. I never intended to spend the entire night at The Lair. I had other bars where I was supposed to make appearances, but once her eyes connected with mine, I was trapped.

How am I supposed to make this stubborn woman fall for me if my money and good looks aren’t doing it? Be vulnerable and show my personality? That’s never worked before—it’s not what women want from me. They all want one thing, so that’s what I give them: a good time. Why would Mallorie be any different?

That’s the question, the answer unknown. She is different for some reason, clearly, since my charm didn’t work. I’ve never dealt with a woman who is after more than a superficial connection. It’s unfamiliar, but for her, it might be worth a try.

The murmur behind me reminds me that my COO is trying to pitch me some new ideas our marketing department has come up with. I swivel my chair, trying to hide my distant thoughts, as I give my attention back to Davian.

“Have you been listening to a word I’ve said?” he questions, his tail flicking wildly behind him.

Nodding, I lie, “Of course I have.”

Davian sees right through me, challenging me immediately. “What did I just suggest then?”

“Flavored Bloodka?” I guess, running a hand through my hair.

“Not even close.” Davian sighs, moving to sit in a chair across the desk from me. “Are you still thinking about that human bartender girl?”

He knows me too well, and I hate it. Davian has always had the ability to see right through me, which is why I’ve made him the COO of Bloodka. He’s got a keen eye for business, keeps me on track, and doesn’t let me falter. His mind is always in the game.

“There’s just something about her, she—” I start to ramble, but he cuts me off.

“Yes, I know, she didn’t even know who you were. She didn’t fall to your flirting. She different,” Davian recites all the things I’ve already said to him back to me. “We’re going back to that bar.”

I sit up in my seat, shaking my head at him. “No, we don’t have time for that.”

Davian cocks a brow up. “Well, we certainly don’t have time for work when you’re unfocused.”

“I’m serious. As much as I’d like to go back, we have so much work to do. We must act fast with the successful launch of Bloodka.” I attempt to sound serious and put my foot down, only earning a chuckle from Davian.

“How about this, boss,” Davian says in a mocking tone before continuing on. “I will handle the marketing department and their ideas for the time being. You take a break and go to this human girl.”

I’m hesitant to accept his offer, but I know that Davian wants success for this company just as much as I do. He wouldn’t do anything that could risk our company’s future. It has been well over a year since I’ve had a vacation, so a little step back wouldn’t be too bad.

“Fine…but it’s not a full vacation, just a short break.” I let my shoulders fall slightly as I agree. “I’m going to head over to the bar shortly then. Is there anything you need from me before I leave?”

Davian shakes his head, and I leap up from my chair, collecting my things before making my way to the elevator across the room. I press the button for the main floor and wait, turning to face Davian in the meantime.

He sits in the chair, staring at me, with his head resting on a few of his fingers. His head is shaking slightly and tail whipping at his side, hitting the chair rhythmically.

I furrow my brows, waiting for him to say whatever it is that’s on his mind.

“I just don’t get it. A human? What do they have to offer other than sex?” Davian exasperates. “They are all the same, lacking any unique features or traits. Most of them are weak, or unimpressive.”

The ding of the elevator arriving sounds, so I spin around and walk into it. I turn and press the button for the main floor, looking over to where Davian sits. A mischievous grin crawls onto my face, and I can’t help myself but taunt him.

“I can’t wait for the day you fall for a human,” I call out as the elevator begins to close.

“Oh, fuck off, it’s never gonna happen…” Davian’s shout is muffled as the doors shut.

The descent feels like it’s taking longer than usual. I flick my wrist out and check my watch, tapping my foot impatiently. Almost nine. It may be a little early to arrive to a bar, but that means it shouldn’t be as busy. Hopefully she’s working tonight.

Ding . The elevator doors open and I rush out, saying polite hellos to my employees as I pass through the lobby. A few people try to stop me for conversation, but I just tap my watch and continue on. Surely, they understand I’m a busy man.

As I exit onto the sidewalk, my driver is waiting; Davian must’ve alerted him for me. I’ll have to thank him for that later, or maybe just taunt him about humans some more. We’ll see how I’m feeling.

I practically throw myself into the back of the car, telling Jeremy, “To The Lair, please.”

“Right away, boss,” he responds happily.

He pulls out into the road, starting our drive. Once we’re at the bar, he knows he’s welcome to come in and socialize as long as he doesn’t drink. I’m not going to stop him from mingling and having a good time; just not so good of a time that we get stranded.

We ride in silence, my eyes locked on the world as it passes by outside the window. The sidewalks in this part of town are bustling with life, everyone different from one another. My office’s location also has busy streets, but they carry a different feeling. Here, everything is a bit looser, with a dangerous vibe.

Jeremy slows the car down, pulling over right in front of the bar. I run my palms down my legs, wiping away the bit of sweat forming. I do not sweat over women, yet here I am, sweating over a woman. Davian would be so disappointed and would never let me live it down if he knew.

Mallorie is different, I meant it all the times I’ve said it to Davian. I could tell from the moment I spotted her. I feel it inside of me when I look at her, even when I just think of her. The way she glided across the bar, the smile she gave people as she took their orders. I want that smile to be mine, for the rest of time.

I exit the car quickly, standing only for a moment while Jeremy pulls away to find a proper parking spot. I run my hands down my shirt and adjust my collar, making sure everything is perfect. Flaws don’t go unnoticed by those around you, and I certainly don’t want Mallorie to notice any.

As I enter the bar, the noise level increases drastically, and my ability to see decreases slightly. It’s darker in here, with the lights low and the windows blacked out. It sets a tone while also hiding the time and blocking the sky. Smart decision on the owner’s part; not all vampires can walk in the sun. Fortunately for me, I am one of the lucky ones.

Slowly, I weave through the tables and groups of people and monsters, heading toward the bar. Peeking through the crowd, I see her warm blonde hair, making me increase the speed of my steps. Anything in my path is pushed aside. Nothing will stop me from reaching her.

Once I’m only a few steps away from the bar, I catch her gaze, those fierce eyes widening as they connect with mine. A smile creeps onto my lips as I continue my approach. She seems surprised to see me, even though she told me to come back—well, essentially, she did.

“You’re back,” she says breathily, the slight sweet rasp in her voice like music to my ears.

I slide onto a stool and lean against the bar toward her. “You seem surprised.”

This close, the faint scent of her blood fills my nose, making me crave her in every way possible. My eyes quickly travel over her, reminding me of her utter perfection in every way. Just looking at her makes me feral.

I’ve seen and been with countless women in my 176 years, but the spark Mallorie ignites in me is unlike any other, and she doesn’t even try to impress me. Her resistance to my charm makes me want her more. Something about her existence, her aura, draws me to her. It’s as if she was made just for me.

“Well, a bar like this isn’t usually a place frequented by people like you.” She brings my attention back from my thoughts, her dark-red lips curling into a small smile.

“This is a vampire bar, is it not?” I counter, raising a brow at her.

She tilts her head slightly, her eyebrows crawling up her forehead. “That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”

Enjoying the banter, I tease her, innocently asking, “What do you mean then?”

Mallorie pauses for a moment, her eyes darting over me before returning to meet my gaze. “Do you want a drink, or are you just here to interrupt my work?”

I laugh, watching as a faint pink hue rises in her cheeks. “I’ll take a drink while I interrupt your work. Same as last time, please.”

She spins around, getting to work on my drink. I can’t keep my eyes off of her as she floats around behind the bar. The way her hips swivel with each step, her hair bouncing slightly and flowing down past her shoulders—she’s completely mesmerizing.

The other bartender girl with cherry-red hair slides in next to Mallorie, glancing over her shoulder and looking right at me. When she realizes I’ve caught her, she quickly turns her attention forward, leaning close to Mallorie’s ear.

I’d kill to know what they’re saying. If only my hearing was as good as my sense of smell.

Within an instant, someone reaches across the bar and slaps the redhead’s ass. The assailant isn’t fast enough to fall back in their seat unnoticed. Mallorie spins around with her hand gripping the collar of their shirt before even I have the chance to react.

For a human to be this aggressive with a monster of any kind is rather rare. For it to be a young woman is even rarer. She’s practically snarling in his face, holding the squirming vampire in his place, and boy, is it ever hot.

The noise around the bar falters slightly, people starting to notice the commotion and wanting to hear what’s going on. I never would’ve guessed that Mallorie would be so fearless—it makes her that much enticing. Being able to hear what she says to this guy would be the cherry on top.

“You want to touch her, then she gets to touch you.”

I can finally hear Mallorie’s voice, but the words surprise me. A blatant threat.

The redhead steps up next to Mallorie, and it almost feels like a rehearsed scene with how seamlessly they move together. The redhead raises an arm, and as she swings it toward the man’s face, Mallorie releases his collar and moves out of the way.

A sharp smack can be heard down the bar, as the man didn’t have time to avoid the slap. He stumbles into the person next to him, gripping his face.

Now that’s what I’d call a slap.

As the vampire recovers, I notice his fangs poking past his lips. This time, I move faster than Mallorie, shoving him back as he goes to lunge over the bar. A vampire is probably five times stronger than a human; a drunk, angry vampire is closer to ten times, and just sloppy. He must’ve been so surprised by Mallorie catching him originally, that it affected his speed.

“I think that’s enough,” I command, keeping a straight face as I stare down the vampire.

He is clearly new, likely only having become a vampire in recent years. When you’re a vampire, almost everything is heightened. Every emotion, feeling, desire. It can become very overwhelming, and without guidance, you can lose control. He likely hasn’t had much help, or maybe he simply doesn’t respect others.

He opens his mouth, baring his fangs at me. I very slowly tilt my head to the side, raising my brows to challenge him. He falters, closing his mouth and shrugging my hand off of him, then stalking away from the bar. A smirk begs to crawl onto my face. I’ve still got it. It’s been so long since I’ve had anything close to a fight. It’s good to know I can still be intimidating, even while dressed for business.

I straighten my suit and return to my seat, Mallorie standing across from me with my drink. Her cheeks are rosy and her chest rises and falls faster than normal. Is she flustered or furious? Either way, I like that I have an effect on her.

“I had it under control,” she states, her voice softening as she slides my drink across to me. “But thank you.”

I pull my card from my jacket and hand it to her. “I know you did. It was quite the sight, but you shouldn’t have to deal with that.”

“We have bouncers, but weekends are always so busy, they can’t be on top of everything that happens,” she explains, as if trying to defend her workplace to me.

Nodding, I lock eyes with her. “Understandable.”

I mentally kick myself for not responding with something more to continue the conversation. Understandable? How boring of me. She watches me for a moment, and I take a sip of my drink, which makes her squirm slightly where she stands.

As Mallorie begins to walk away, I rack my brain for anything that will keep her here a moment longer, blurting out, “So, where did your fearlessness come from?”

She freezes in place for a second before turning to face me, leaning on the bar. “Fear is something that holds people back, so I’ve worked to overcome it.”

“Everyone is afraid of something.” I lean a bit closer, lowering my voice. “What are you afraid of?”

Her eyes travel from mine to my lips, to my suit, before slowly making their way back up to meet my stare. The look sends something through me, and it takes everything in me to maintain my composure. I want her. I need her.

A small smile creeps onto her lips, as if she can tell she’s infiltrated my mind, before she confidently and breathily says, “Nothing.”

My suit feels stiflingly tight. Her voice, her face, her presence. She has complete control over me and she doesn’t even know it. All I want to do right now is take her home and hear her scream my name through those perfect lips.

“Can I get your number this time?” I ask calmly, taking another sip of my drink.

She pushes off the bar and taps her chin a few times dramatically, side-eyeing me before finally answering. “I’ll think about it.”

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes as she walks away, earning a glance over her shoulder. I can’t tell if she’s playing hard to get, or is genuinely uninterested. Either way, it makes me want her more.

Most women throw themselves at me, even before Bloodka took off. I came from a wealthy family and have been very, very smart with my money. Since I’m going to be around forever, I don’t ever want to struggle.

Women see this and want whatever piece they can get from me. No one has ever walked away from me with anything more than memories of amazing sex, though. Mallorie, however, I would love to spoil, if she would let me.

As she works, I watch her every move while enjoying my drink. She’s graceful and sexy with a mysterious and borderline cold aura. I’ve never met a human like her. Hell, I’ve never met any creature like her. It’s intoxicating just to watch her.

Every smile she gives to others makes me envious, wishing I were on the receiving end of it. Somehow, I will make her fall for me. All I need is to convince her to go on a date with me, spend time with me. I can be everything she’s ever wanted. I just need to figure out what that is.

Mallorie turns her head in my direction, eyeing my nearly empty glass. As she struts over to me, I toss back the remaining liquid. She stops in front of me, one hand on her hip and the other on the edge of the bar.

“Another drink, Emris?” The sound of my name rolling off her tongue is like music to my ears, sweeter than anything I’ve heard before.

I stare for a moment before answering. “What is it you want in life?”

She blinks at me, dumbfounded by my abrupt question. There’s a moment of silence, and I can see the cogs turning in her mind as she thinks of her answer. After last time, I’m guessing I’ll be paying for the answer, or denied it entirely.

“Well, right now I want you to decide if you want another drink or not.” She avoids my question, much to my disappointment.

I sigh but smile. “Yes, I would like another drink please.”

She nods but doesn’t walk away. Instead, the rising and falling of her chest falters briefly.

I raise a brow, not pushing for whatever it is that is clearly going through her head. I don’t mind the longer she stands here in front of me.

“I want stability and excitement, but also my independence. A career that I’ve earned through hard work. I want respect and love without ever second-guessing it. I want it all, but with no price,” she quietly answers, her lower tone practically making me drool. “That answer costs a lot more than just my name, by the way.”

My eyes travel over her, my smirk turning into a grin. “Darling, I could give you it all.”

“But for what price?” She narrows her eyes at me, leaning slightly closer.

“You.” I lower my voice, leaning against the bar to bring my face closer to hers.

She matches my stare, slightly shaking her head. “You see, I told you I want it all for no price. That is a price.”

“Well, I am a businessman, I know how to do business.” I chuckle, enjoying this more than I probably should.

Just as she opens her mouth to say something else, the redheaded bartender pops up beside her, grabbing her attention with a hand on her arm.

Disappointed by the interruption, my smile falters.

“So sorry to break up this clearly intense moment,” the redhead teases, her voice much higher than Mallorie’s. “But it’s a good time for your break, Mal.”

Mallorie pushes off the bar, the delicious scent of her lingering in the air where she just stood as she starts to walk away. “I’ll be back in twenty minutes, if you’re still around.”

“I’ll wait for you,” I purr, unable to take my eyes off her as she disappears into the back of the building.

I turn my attention to the redhead, lingering here, staring at me. She’s pretty, but not my type. I raise a brow at her, wondering what she’s waiting for. I don’t need anything else, and I only want service from Mallorie.

“I’m Cerise, Mal’s best friend,” she introduces herself, a shit-eating grin plastered on her face.

Ah, so she knows everything I need to know about Mallorie. I understand her game now. She probably wants to figure out what my intentions are, in classic best friend style, and maybe if I’m lucky, she’ll even give me a few tips. Two can play this game.

“Emris.” I give her a slight head nod.

Cerise squirms where she stands, and I can’t tell if she’s uncomfortable, anxious, or something else. I can’t help my smile fading from my lips as my concern and confusion grows. What’s going on with this chick?

“Listen, I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but,” Cerise blurts out quietly, her words quick. “A candlelit dinner on a rooftop overlooking the city.”

I raise an eyebrow at her. “Are you telling me what I should do for a first date with Mallorie?”

Cerise nods eagerly, glancing back toward where Mallorie exited before turning back to me. “Your money won’t get you to her heart. She can’t be bought, but you can make it work for you in some ways. She wants to be spoiled without having to ask for it, and without feeling like she owes anything for it.”

“And how do I get to her heart then?” I ask, seeing how much I can get from Mallorie’s best friend.

She shakes her head with a smile. “I can’t reveal all, now, can I? You’ll have to figure that part out yourself. All I will say is, be yourself. Don’t put on some stupid act. She hates that.”

“Why are you helping me?” I question, leaning back.

“I want to see Mal happy. Like, genuinely happy. She deserves it.” Cerise’s answer is sweet. It’s obvious she genuinely cares. “Mal doesn’t open up to many people. She doesn’t want to get hurt. I see the way you look at her, and hell, you came back, so you must want her for more than sex. At least, I hope.”

I nod in confirmation, not wanting to interrupt her. I’ll take whatever information I can get. Anything that helps me get closer to Mallorie. Every moment I spend looking at or interacting with her makes her more and more perfect. She’s one in a million—no, more than that—and I won’t let her slip through my fingers.

“If you do hurt her, I’ll have my boyfriend hurt you ,” Cerise threatens, earning a laugh from me before she continues on in a serious tone. “He’s seven feet tall and made of muscle, so I’m not kidding around right now.”

I choke on my laughter, the threat becoming real. This little woman is dating a monster? Of that size? I’m not sure if I’m more surprised or impressed. Either way, I need to make sure I don’t do anything that offends or hurts Mallorie. Not that I would ever dream of it.

I reassure Cerise quickly, noticing her gaze hardening. “I don’t want to hurt Mallorie. I’m drawn to her in ways I’ve never experienced with anyone before.”

Cerise smiles again before walking away, seeming satisfied with our conversation and my response. I know that what I told her will likely be repeated back to Mallorie; that’s why I said it. I’m not new to the way that women work, especially their close friendships.

As I wait for Mallorie to return from her break, I eye up the crowd, examining everyone inside. It’s mainly vampires, but there are a decent number of demons, other monsters, and surprisingly, a few humans.

The Lair isn’t a bad bar by any means, it’s well-kept and actually quite nice inside. The two times I’ve been here it’s been busy, so business is steady. The only negative is its location. It has the potential for so much more.

Watching each type of person interact with one another, enjoying the company regardless of species, is refreshing. It wasn’t always this way in the world, but I’m glad things have changed. The world has moved forward, and us monsters don’t have to hide anymore.

I turn away from the crowd, my lips curving upward as I see Mallorie making her way back to the bar. No, making her way back to me. Her gaze is locked on me as she approaches, and I am captivated by her eyes.

She stops in front of me, hesitating for a moment. Her icy gaze travels over me slowly before she slides a small piece of paper toward me. She keeps her hand on the paper for a few seconds before pulling it away, as if deciding something.

“Just because I’m giving you this doesn’t mean I’m going to fuck you,” she bluntly says, her cheeks rosy.

I raise a brow and pick up the paper, opening it to see ten digits scribbled across it. Her phone number. My lips curve even more. I try to hide my smile by taking a sip of my drink.

Mallorie doesn’t wait for me to respond before walking off, hiding her own reaction. I know I get to her; I see the slight hesitation here and there. The way her cheeks burn up when we’re focused on each other.

I see the hunger in her eyes. I wonder if she can see it in mine.