Part 16 (1/2)

After a few minutes, I was lost in music. My mind raced. The music beat so fast I began feeling disoriented. I thought of Pallo's body. I wanted it next to mine. I was actually jealous of the pink frizz getting all of his attention. I wanted him to myself--she could find her own vampire. I called to him in my mind.

Cool hands slid onto my waist from behind. He had come out after all. I had secretly hoped that he would. He moved his large hands around me so that the front of his body rubbed the back of mine. We moved together with the music. The rhythm got faster and faster and his hips rocked with mine.

His large hands slid up and under my s.h.i.+rt. I s.h.i.+fted my arms and his hands moved around to my stomach and slid upwards. I reached around and grabbed a handful of leather pants and pulled him tighter against my body. I could feel something long and hard hiding in those pants, rubbing against my lower back. I didn't remember Pallo wearing leather. It didn't matter what he had on, I wanted him. As the music got faster so did we.

My breathing sounded more like panting now, and my face grew hot. He slid hands slid up and around my neck. He pulled my hair aside and started kissing me with his cool lips. I felt the tiniest bit of pressure and his teeth sink into my skin. There was no pain. He was so gentle.

I opened my eyes and tried to focus. Men and women were dancing all around me. They hung on each other. Some were going at each other's mouths with fury. Tongues were caressing tongues. I thought I saw a man sliding himself into the back of a woman, but my head got cloudy. I couldn't be sure.

Lips ran over my neck again. I moaned. I pulled at the back of his pants. I wanted Pallo now. I wanted our bodies to become one. I needed to have him. I'd wanted him all along. He unzipped the back of my skirt. The dance floor was so crowded I was sure that no one would notice the two of us.

”Pallo,” I whispered, softly.

He said nothing. He only moved his body with mine. He let his hands continue to feel around and explore my body. My eyes opened and closed as I kept my back pushed tightly against the front of his body. I could hear him groaning in my ear. My thighs tightened with an antic.i.p.ated o.r.g.a.s.m. My G.o.d, the guy was going to bring me by just dancing with me. He was a rare find indeed.

”Pallo,” I whispered again, lightheaded. He gripped me tighter, kissing my neck. I let my eyes look sleepily ahead of me. The sea of dancing bodies had parted, and I saw Pallo coming for me.

”Pallo?” I tried to keep my head up. He pulled something behind him. I steadied myself and looked harder. A man clung tight to Pallo as he walked, bear-hugging him, trying to keep him from coming to me.

I turned around quickly. The room spun. I managed to catch a glimpse of a pair of dark, black eyes and straight, long, silky black hair. I staggered in an attempt to be free, but he held me tight to him.

”Grazie, beautiful one.” I heard the sweet words as I drifted in and out.

I called for Pallo. I wasn't sure if I yelled aloud or just in my head. My eyes opened to a room full of ravenous vampires crouched around us, fangs flaring, snarling in my direction. I screamed and tried to lift my head to find Pallo, but it was too heavy.

”They are my children, they will not harm you, Bella,” the man said, his accent thick--thicker than Pallo's.

”Pallo?” The name slid over my lips.

My eyes closed briefly. When I opened them, some of the circling vampires were being tossed into the air. The dull sensation of a powerful energy came towards me. Pallo's energy hit me with such a force that I felt sick to my stomach. I pushed a thought out to him. I didn't ask for his help, I asked for his forgiveness.

”Be still now,” Pallo said softly in my head. I let my body go limp in the man's arms.

”It is pointless. She is mine!” The man holding me shouted out into the room. ” Oh, Pallo, you should've known I would sense her presence once she was near you.”

A gunshot went off. People screamed and ran in all directions. Pallo stood a few feet from me now. I couldn't get my body to move. I wanted to raise my head and look at him. I wanted to reach out my hand to him, but I couldn't.

”Giovanni!” Pallo's voice boomed. ”Give her to me.”

”Ah, it has been awhile.” The man holding me said. He spoke low and clear, but his Italian accent was heavy. He slid his hand over my throat and let it come to a rest.

”Do not come any closer Pallo. I would hate to have to put a mark on such a beautiful face,” he said, caressing my neck and chin slowly. ”She is just as beautiful the second time around, wouldn't you agree?”

Pallo took a step towards us and Giovanni squeezed my chin. I raised my face up enough to look at his. He was amazing. He looked like he had just walked off the cover of GQ. His jaw was not too wide and not too narrow. His lips were a pale cherry color. He wore a dark, short sleeved mesh top that showed off his body. He was not as muscular as Pallo, but he was toned.

Giovanni met my gaze. I feared him. I started to sweat. I wanted to get away from him. I knew he was evil, but his eyes, they called to me, pulled me.

He didn't want to hurt me. I sensed the struggle within him. I could feel how much he cared for me, and his desperation not to let me go. He looked down at me. I begged him to stop with my eyes, tears running down my cheeks.

Two more gunshots rang out. The remainder of the crowd opened wide, and I could see Ken pointing his gun at the ceiling. He held his right arm close to his body.

Pallo moved closer to me. Fingers squeezed my throat, and I moaned in pain. Giovanni bent and kissed my lips before letting go. ”I shall see you soon, Bella,” he said, and threw me high into the air.

My body was limp and I couldn't get it to respond to my commands. I tumbled down, and prepared to crash into the floor. Two strong arms caught me and pulled me close. I smelled vanilla and Hugo Boss and knew it was Pallo. I concentrated on his face and pushed my thoughts into his head. I wanted him to know that I was sorry, that I thought it was him, and that I knew that was no excuse for my behavior. I wanted him to know so much. I pushed it all at him as he carried me past the remaining vampires.

I heard Angela's voice next to me. ”Now you are back where you belong.”

Pallo growled at her and she backed away, smiling at me. I knew she had something to do with this. I also knew I wanted her dead.

Ken came beside me. He clutched his arm to his body. Blood soaked the front of his s.h.i.+rt.

Pallo and Ken loaded me into the back of the limo. Pallo sat and lifted my head onto his lap. Ken sat on the seat facing us, still holding his arm. I wanted to ask if he was okay, but I couldn't seem to speak.

”She wants to know if you are all right,” Pallo said, watching Ken and stroking the hair from my face.

Ken's eyes widened. ”She hasn't said a word. Look at her, she's practically catatonic.”

I knew Pallo had read my mind, and for once I was okay with it. He said nothing, but continued to pull my hair back from my face, away from my neck. He gasped.

Ken looked up. ”s.h.i.+t, he bit her. We need to get her to the hospital.”

”No!” Pallo interjected. ”No, she will not be safe at a hospital.”

”I'll get her police protection. She needs to go. Look at her, something's wrong with her.”

”The police cannot protect her from Giovanni and his people. He will come for her.” Pallo continued to run his fingers through my hair.

”Then we'll take her somewhere far away from here. Somewhere this Giovanni, p.r.i.c.k can't find her.” Ken leaned towards me and I thought I saw tears I his big brown eyes.

”He has put his teeth into her skin during pa.s.sion. He can find her anywhere. He will be able to pull her to him. She will not be able to stop herself.”

”Bulls.h.i.+t! I can't accept that,” Ken said.

”It took her many years to break his hold on her. I do not know if she is strong enough to do it twice.”

Ken looked at Pallo. ”What the h.e.l.l are you talking about? Gwen doesn't know that guy.”

”Yes, she does. Her mind may not remember him, but her body does.” There was a bitter sound to Pallo's voice.

”In English, please,” Ken said.

”Do you love her?” Pallo asked.

Ken sat there and looked at him. The thought of Ken loving anyone was so funny. He looked at Pallo and answered him. ”Yes, I love her.”

”I will do my best to protect her from him, but you will have to trust my judgment. Do you understand?” Pallo said.