Chapter Four: Tracy
Lillith proved to be an interesting diversion for Raven for several weeks. But like anything else, his passion cooled and he began to yearn for something different. Fortunately for him, her lust for new blood was just as insatiable, so she did not cling to him like a forsaken lover as he returned back to his favorite haunt to seek out yet another conquest.
As the summer months crept along, the oppressive humidity drove people out later and later at night when it was cooler, which meant he was faced with a lot of new possibilities. Unfortunately so many of them were young college girls on the prowl for their next sexual adventure. Though they were ripe for the picking, he found them boring or worse -- annoying. They were just as willing to pose for a wild girls DVD as they were to offer their neck to a complete stranger.
Was it too much to ask for a woman who understood the true power of her sexuality? They treated their orgasms like spontaneous sneezes; something their body did with little to no thought or control. He wanted a woman who was fully able to savor her lascivious nature. He demanded more sophistication in his sensuality.
Who knew if his redheaded temptress understood this power, but he was willing to go on a little faith. Very rarely did a vision revisit his dreams as she had done. It was slowly morphing from a curiosity to an obsession. Raven decided that even if she didn't know the power of sex, she would when he was done with her.
Of course, Raven felt that of all of his conquests. He had been hard pressed to find an equal, much less someone who could teach him a thing or two.
So he went to the bar every night and he waited, willing her to return. His aura grew so strong in his desire that he drew women to him like a magnet. One in particular found him especially interesting. Her name was Tracy Lynn, and she made sure he was aware of her presence.
Like too many of the other young women who frequented the bar, she was far more annoying than enticing. She stood too close, laughed too loud and invaded his personal space without invitation on more than one occasion.
While he'd been polite, he had not encouraged her behavior in any way. He refused to waste his time with her, and she had no real clue whom she was dealing with despite the fact he could bare his fangs at will in the sanctity of the coven.
She was, for lack of a better word, a groupie. Vampires were not unlike rock stars in that way. Their dangerous, rebellious bad boy nature drew girls to them in droves. While their fascination was a bit of an ego boost, their desperation wore on Raven. Which was why he was so selective, and found himself drawn to those girls who presented more of a challenge.
With Tracy Lynn, there was no challenge. She made sure he understood in no uncertain terms that he could have her in whatever way he wanted her.
Which was why he didn't want her.
That and she was impossibly dull. From her drab, unstyled tresses to her careless wardrobe - everything about her screamed she needed him to even validate her existence.
Unfortunately for Raven, his disinterest fueled her obsession. And this night was no exception. She buzzed around him like an annoying gnat, despite the fact he had taken to communicating her only with curt head nods or placating smiles. She seemed unaware. In fact, she seemed to take whatever sign he gave her as positive reinforcement for her behavior. She was inching closer and closer to him as he turned more the other direction.
Clearly she had not been schooled in the fine art of body language.
He managed to ignore her for the most part as he kept his eye on the door of the club. And almost like a mirage, the shock of bright copper hair appeared from the moonless night.
He was so struck to see her again he forgot about Tracy Lynn. He wasn't sure but he even thought he might have forgotten to breathe.
Her black cloak fell away to reveal the milky white expanse of her ample cleavage, pushed high and proud by a purple and black velvet corset. Her bright green eyes were lined with black eyeliner, while her pale ivory face was illuminated under the lights over the dance floor.
It was her. She had come to him.
Why hadn't he thought about calling to her before?
Just as he pushed away from the bar to go to her, he caught sight of the man who entered the bar just behind her. What he saw stopped him in his tracks.
It was Constantine La Rouge.
The tall, imposing figure commanded attention the moment he entered the room, but it was his devastatingly powerful eyes that would render anyone in his path defenseless to his will. He had a cocky, rock star swagger and a self indulgent pout that would make women practically fall at his feet.
Quite simply he was beautiful.
And he had draped his arm possessively over the shoulders of Raven's dream woman.
"And so I was thinking, maybe you could take me home."
Raven blinked and turned his head toward the voice speaking to him. It was Tracy Lynn. "What?"
"My ride," she repeated and pointed off to another girl making out with a vampire at the end of the bar. "She looks like she's going to be occupied. I was thinking maybe you could take me home."
His instant refusal died on his lips as Constantine and his date passed right in front of him.
When her eyes met Raven's he felt electricity shoot down to his loins, as if she had touched him. Her full lips beckoned him to disregard all protocol and kiss her promptly and without reserve. He was so stricken he had to look away, and that was when he caught a glimpse of Constantine's smug face.
"Raven," he said with a nod of acknowledgment. "It's been a long time."
Raven nodded and then glanced back over at the redhead. Constantine bent to tell her, "This is Raven. My master."
Raven cringed at the term, but extended his hand anyway. "Abigail Mandrake," she responded in a voice so soft he felt it slide all the way down his spine. "It's nice to meet you finally." Raven's eyebrow raised, to which she replied, "Your reputation precedes you."
He smiled, and with great satisfaction he saw her composure crack under its seductive weight. "I hope it's all good," he replied, his voice as soft as hers.
Tracy Lynn decided to make her presence known, threading her arm through his. "It couldn't be anything else," she said with a flirty, but possessive, smile.
"Yes, all good," Constantine replied, his eyes boring through Raven. Whether it was fear, love, respect or hatred, Raven couldn't be sure. Instead he glanced back at Abigail. Her bright red tresses tumbled over her bare shoulder, and in their close proximity he could see the silky expanse of the skin on her neck.
It was completely clean.
Raven wasn't sure but he thought he might have groaned. The sexual tension was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. Constantine responded by pulling Abigail closer into his embrace. For some inexplicable reason Raven wanted to pull her away from him. It was an impulse he reluctantly resisted.
Abigail smiled at Raven. "It was nice to meet you," she said before turning away to follow Constantine onto the dance floor.
Raven watched as Constantine folded her into his arms; she practically disappeared into him. The beat was slow, hypnotic and overtly sexual, and Constantine responded by grinding her against him, his eyes swallowing her whole.
As he watched her respond to his seductive gaze, Raven began to harden. She didn't wilt against Constantine like so many of his conquests. Instead, she gave him a glance of her own. Her hands slipped up into Constantine's long brown hair, clasping a handful as she wielded her sexuality like a sword. Her strength and her power over her own sensuality fueled Raven's obsession. He knew that he had to have her.
He felt Tracy Lynn press herself against him. "So how bout that ride?" she purred.
His eyes were hard as he glanced down at her. She was so wrapped up in her own obsession she couldn't see his clear interest in someone else.
Or maybe she did and felt like she had to turn up the heat.
Either way he found her attention intrusive.
But it was also convenient. He grabbed her arm roughly and pulled her onto the floor.
