My Vampire and I Read Online Free PDF
Author: J. P. Bowie
death?"
"Oh no, not then, at least, not right away. I was young, strong, arrogant—sure of myself and my will to survive. I had been a soldier, as I said. I knew how to respond to danger.
What I did not know was what I discovered in the most painful ways imaginable.
36
My Vampire and I
by J. P. Bowie
"It was winter when I was made. The days were short and overcast, the nights long and inviting. I found I needed to sleep during the day and come alive at night. Then, I would frequent the taverns and meeting places of the poets and philosophers. I accepted the invitations of the rich and the indolent to dine in their fine houses. It took me some time to realise I was not like other men. Eventually, the food they presented me made me nauseated, the wine turned my stomach—"
"But you're drinking it now," I interrupted, as is my way.
He nodded. "I have had many years to accustom myself—
and my body—to the ways of other men. This would prove to be why I have survived for so long. You can be a stranger, but not strange.
"But Roger, imagine my horror when I discovered that what I craved was not the fine food laid before me but the blood that coursed through the veins of those who dined with me."
"Yeah, that must have been a moment."
"Indeed," he said with a chuckle. "It was a moment I have never forgotten."
"So, you do need blood to survive?"
"Of course. I am a vampire. That has not changed and never shall. Believe me, I have sought the supposed cure all my life. It does not exist. In that," he added with a rueful smile, "Ann Rice was right."
I think it was at that moment, when his eyes took on a distant look, when he looked so vulnerable and just a little lost, that I fell in love with him. The realisation made me gasp 37
My Vampire and I
by J. P. Bowie
with shock. He looked at me, a question in those dark green eyes. It was the measure of the man that he chose not to read my very private thoughts at that moment.
"Have I said something to upset you?" he asked, touching my cheek with his fingertips.
"No, of course not," I said. "I was just caught up in what you've been telling me."
"I'm glad I'm not boring you."
" Boring me?" I looked at him with wide eyes. "This is the most incredible night of my entire life, Marcus."
I took his hand and kissed the palm. He pulled me into his arms.
"Has anyone ever told you that you are a very beautiful young man?" he asked, his lips on my hair.
"Uh..." I thought for a moment. The words cute, cuddlesome, came to mind, but beautiful? Uh-uh ... "I don't think so," I said, finally.
"Well, let me be the first—although I find it amazing that no one else has." His hands stroked and caressed my body as he spoke, sending visceral thrills through me. "You have the most wonderful blue eyes," he said softly. "Hair like gold spun silk—"
"Wait a minute..." I couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled up inside me. "You're getting a little carried away, aren't you?" I lifted my head to look at him. He was frowning. "I mean..." I faltered for a moment. "Hair like silk ... mine ?"
"You underestimate yourself, Roger. In my eyes, you are beautiful. I hope that does not make you uncomfortable."
38
My Vampire and I
by J. P. Bowie
"No, no ... it doesn't." I sat up and knelt in front of him, gazing at him earnestly. "It's just that I can't quite believe all of this. You ... me ... here in this ... this amazing place. I'm just ordinary, Marcus. You are the extraordinary one.
Beautiful, alluring, mesmerising ... I could go on and on about your attributes, but I'm sure you've been told this hundreds of times before. I don't have enough words ... there aren't enough words to describe you, or what I feel for you."
I stopped yammering, not because I'd run out of things to say, believe me, but because of tears had suddenly sprung to his eyes. Vampires cry real tears?
"Marcus?" I reached out and touched his face, wiping away the tear that fell slowly down his cheek. "What did I say? I'm so sorry.
"Oh no, not then, at least, not right away. I was young, strong, arrogant—sure of myself and my will to survive. I had been a soldier, as I said. I knew how to respond to danger.
What I did not know was what I discovered in the most painful ways imaginable.
36
My Vampire and I
by J. P. Bowie
"It was winter when I was made. The days were short and overcast, the nights long and inviting. I found I needed to sleep during the day and come alive at night. Then, I would frequent the taverns and meeting places of the poets and philosophers. I accepted the invitations of the rich and the indolent to dine in their fine houses. It took me some time to realise I was not like other men. Eventually, the food they presented me made me nauseated, the wine turned my stomach—"
"But you're drinking it now," I interrupted, as is my way.
He nodded. "I have had many years to accustom myself—
and my body—to the ways of other men. This would prove to be why I have survived for so long. You can be a stranger, but not strange.
"But Roger, imagine my horror when I discovered that what I craved was not the fine food laid before me but the blood that coursed through the veins of those who dined with me."
"Yeah, that must have been a moment."
"Indeed," he said with a chuckle. "It was a moment I have never forgotten."
"So, you do need blood to survive?"
"Of course. I am a vampire. That has not changed and never shall. Believe me, I have sought the supposed cure all my life. It does not exist. In that," he added with a rueful smile, "Ann Rice was right."
I think it was at that moment, when his eyes took on a distant look, when he looked so vulnerable and just a little lost, that I fell in love with him. The realisation made me gasp 37
My Vampire and I
by J. P. Bowie
with shock. He looked at me, a question in those dark green eyes. It was the measure of the man that he chose not to read my very private thoughts at that moment.
"Have I said something to upset you?" he asked, touching my cheek with his fingertips.
"No, of course not," I said. "I was just caught up in what you've been telling me."
"I'm glad I'm not boring you."
" Boring me?" I looked at him with wide eyes. "This is the most incredible night of my entire life, Marcus."
I took his hand and kissed the palm. He pulled me into his arms.
"Has anyone ever told you that you are a very beautiful young man?" he asked, his lips on my hair.
"Uh..." I thought for a moment. The words cute, cuddlesome, came to mind, but beautiful? Uh-uh ... "I don't think so," I said, finally.
"Well, let me be the first—although I find it amazing that no one else has." His hands stroked and caressed my body as he spoke, sending visceral thrills through me. "You have the most wonderful blue eyes," he said softly. "Hair like gold spun silk—"
"Wait a minute..." I couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled up inside me. "You're getting a little carried away, aren't you?" I lifted my head to look at him. He was frowning. "I mean..." I faltered for a moment. "Hair like silk ... mine ?"
"You underestimate yourself, Roger. In my eyes, you are beautiful. I hope that does not make you uncomfortable."
38
My Vampire and I
by J. P. Bowie
"No, no ... it doesn't." I sat up and knelt in front of him, gazing at him earnestly. "It's just that I can't quite believe all of this. You ... me ... here in this ... this amazing place. I'm just ordinary, Marcus. You are the extraordinary one.
Beautiful, alluring, mesmerising ... I could go on and on about your attributes, but I'm sure you've been told this hundreds of times before. I don't have enough words ... there aren't enough words to describe you, or what I feel for you."
I stopped yammering, not because I'd run out of things to say, believe me, but because of tears had suddenly sprung to his eyes. Vampires cry real tears?
"Marcus?" I reached out and touched his face, wiping away the tear that fell slowly down his cheek. "What did I say? I'm so sorry.