Since B.E. and Liza asked nicely, I’m sharing FIFTY SHADES OF BLOOD with y’all. It’s just for fun. There will be no book or novella to follow. Consider it a silly Halloween Treat…or Trick, depending on whether or not you like it.

Fifty Shades of Blood

“Mr. Tepes will see you now.”

Mina glanced up from her notebook. The impeccably dressed receptionist looked disdainful. Standing, she tugged her ill-fitting cardigan into place. Snagging this interview with Vlad Tepes, the reclusive billionaire his enemies called Dracula behind his back, was a real coup. She stepped through the open door into the man’s inner sanctum. The door closed behind her. She was alone. Curiosity batted her with kitten paws but she refused to do more than glance around.

“Sit.”

The command whispered across the back of her neck and Mina stumbled forward. Gaining balance, she pivoted. The man she’d come to see stood inches from her. Wetting her bottom lip, his eyes followed the movement of her tongue as she assessed him. Hair like a raven’s wing, too long to be fashionable, yet fitting the hard planes of his features. Compelling eyes, of the same color and glitter as a handful of sapphires, fringed in black lashes almost too beautiful for a man. She raised her chin, refusing to be cowed, and extended her hand.

“Mr. Tepes, I’m—”

“Mina Harker. Yes. I know. Sit. I won’t tell you again.” He stepped away, only to lean his very sexy butt against the desk, long, muscular legs crossed at the ankles, arms loose at his sides.

She sat. What else was there to do, really?

“I want to—”

“What? What do you want, Mina? To question me? To thank me? To fuck me?”

Her lungs froze, trapping her breath. The sardonic lift of his lips parodied a smile, but his eyes remained remote. She found her voice. “I’m hardly your type.”

Leaning forward, he inhaled deeply. “O negative. The universal donor. Just my type.”

“Eww. That’s just creepy.”

A laugh erupted from deep within his chest and rolled across her like an avalanche of all things sexy.

“You will learn, Mina Harker. And soon.”

“Uhm. No.”

“A challenge. Before you leave me, I will teach you many things, the first among them will be your submission.”

“Well, alrighty then. I think we’re done here.” Mina pushed out of the chair but her knees wouldn’t hold her. Totally freaked, she wanted only to escape. Long fingers curled around her biceps, holding her in place.

“I think not. I’m not done with you.”

She squeaked and stammered. “Why me?”

“You fascinate me. An unprepossessing human female on the surface, but I sense great…passion. I wish to explore that side of your nature.”

He drew her closer, tilting her chin up and to the side so her neck was bared to him. His lips—and something sharp—grazed her skin. “I will strip you of your fears, sweet Mina, and then I will teach you to become the woman you are meant to be.”

She shivered and whimpered. Breathless, she murmured, “Will it hurt?”

“Exquisitely.” His lips brushed her forehead. “Come for me, Mina.”

She did, shuddering. A climax from a kiss. And she couldn’t stop, couldn’t say no.

****

We had a word count limit and this is what I came up with. I hope you enjoyed. Tomorrow…words/snippets from THE DEVIL’S CUT!