Note: Adult Content

I don?t know how to even being to tell you all that has happened to me. In some ways it seems like a dream; in others, like a nightmare. I?m sitting in Count Longden?s study as I write this down, a place I never imagined I would see let alone be sitting. But I?m getting ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning. It was a week ago, a week after the Count?s wife had left him.

- - -

Working at S.E.C.T.O.R. had been hell since the Count?s wife took off with their child and left the Count at home alone. People were walking on eggshells after Longden killed two men for joking about his wife leaving him. I?ve never seen him this way in the time I?ve worked at S.E.C.T.O.R. as his personal secretary. Others who have known him longer have said he has gone back to the way he was before he met Tara Rynieyn. Still others say he?s even worse.

He called me into his office to give me instructions on a communiqu? to the Ares II S.E.C.T.O.R. Headquarters. He looked so very miserable as I stood before his desk. I had to go and open my big mouth, ?Have you heard anything more from your wife, sir??

?No.?

?I?m sure she will be home soon. I can?t imagine anyone leaving you for long.? I meant it in the best of ways, but as soon as I said it I regretted my words.

?For long? You mean that you can understand leaving me for awhile, but not for long.? It was a statement.

?I?m sorry, sir. I didn?t mean it that way.?

?Just how did you mean it??

?I just meant that any woman would love your company.? That didn?t come out right either. I was getting flustered and I?m sure my face was a brilliant red.

He stood up behind his desk. ?To be frank, Gaida, I don?t see why she?d EVER return to me. She?s right! I?m a piss poor husband!?

He was raising his voice and I knew I was in trouble. ?I?m sorry, sir. I better get back to my desk.? I moved to the door and grabbed the handle, but it was locked. I turned toward his desk but he was not there. There was a touch upon my shoulder. I jumped and dropped my pen and pad. Incredibly strong hands grabbed my shoulders and turned me around to face him.

I backed away from him until my back was to the wall. Talomar slowly moved forward against me. I tried to move away but he had a hand on each side of my shoulders. He brought his lips to my ear, and I laid my hands on his chest to push, but it was like trying to press away a mountain.

God, but he smelled good. I?ve had more daydreams than I care to admit about being this close to Count Longden, but now that it was happening I was so afraid I could barely breathe. My heart was beating out of my chest.

?I?m going to promote you, Gaida,? he said against my ear. I kept my palms against his upper chest. ?With my wife gone I once again need to have the position of my personal valet filled. I?m placing you in that position, Gaida. In that position you will be closer to me than anyone else but my wife. What do you think of that??

I could barely speak. I lowered my gaze and my forehead was against his chest, his arms surrounded me. I was so caught up in his scent and strength I could barely speak. ?I?m sure I?m not qualified for such a position,? I finally managed to say.

?I think you are,? he whispered as his touched my face with the back of his fingers. I felt his other hand touch my breast.

?Please,? I gasped. ?No, please don?t do this, sir.? His hand grasped my breast and I slipped my hands down between us to grab his hand, but he took my wrists in his hands and raised my arms over my head, pinning them there with one on his hands. He began to graze my cheek is his lips as his other hand undid the buttons on my white silk blouse.

?Please, sir?don?t.? My heart was beating so hard and I confess I could not tell if it was out of fear or want. I don?t know how he did it, but in seconds my blouse and lace bra were on the floor. If I resisted, would he kill me? Should I just let him have his way? When his hand lifted my chin and his lips brushed my lips I could no longer think. I didn?t fight the kiss. He released my hands and they fell to resting upon his shoulders. I was tingling all over. Thoughts raced through my mind but none stayed long enough for me to remember what they were.

His lips moved to my neck and at the same time I felt his hand on my skirt, and then my skirt and thong fell to my ankles and was standing naked before him. ?Please, sir?no. Please. . .please.? The words were hardly out of my mouth and I wondered if my begging was more to take me than to let me go. I felt his hand between my legs and at that moment I knew that he knew the answer to that question.

I moaned and leaned my face into his neck. Oh, he smelled so good. My hands moved to the back of his neck; and his long, black hair was alike a veil about us, feeling so soft upon my face and smelling as good as the rest of him.

Talomar?s mouth found that place on my neck that dove me crazy, and I grasped his hair as he entered me, lifting me up against the wall, my stilettos fell to the floor. I was moaning and gasping for breath when my head went back and I caught a glimpse of his eyes ? red eyes; and his mouth opened to reveal fangs.

I didn?t have time to scream. His mouth came down on my neck and I felt the sharp entry of those fangs into me. I shivered and grabbed at his head, but at once the pain turned to pleasure and drove me into an orgasm that had me seeing flashes of light. My body shook. I couldn?t stop the shaking. It was not a shaking of fear or pain, but of nerves saturated with pleasure.

He drank from me, and I was fully submitted to him. Whether he killed me or not, I no longer cared. He could take what he wanted from me ? even my life. My hands lost their strength and my arms fell limp at my sides, and I was lost in space and time, in a pleasure that shook my body and seemed to go on forever.

I don?t remember him pulling his mouth from my neck, but I do recall being lifted into his arms and carried to the couch in his office, where he laid me down and covered me with a blanket.

The ashtray was overflowing with foul-smelling butts, and smoke still circled the table where the three S.E.C.T.O.R. employees sat. Two of the men were wide-eyed at the man who was telling the story.

?No shit?? one wide-eyed, stale-breathed, stubble-bearded man whispered in amazement.

The one telling the story just smiled and nodded in the affirmative.

The other listener raised a finger as a revelation came to him, ?No wonder I saw that Ali girl where Gaida usually sits! And come to think of it, I haven?t seen Jake Green in days.?

The one who told the story put his finger to his lips. ?Just remember, you didn?t hear this from me. Oh, and watch out for Gaida.?

?Why is that??

?She?s not the same woman.?

?In what way??

?Haven?t you seen her? She protects the Count like a mother bear protecting her cubs. Don?t say anything against him in her presence. If you do, you?ll be sitting next to Jake Green before you can say ?S.E.C.T.O.R. sucks the big one?. And don?t say I didn?t warn you?.

?Thanks for the warning. Guess we better get back to work.?

They all nodded, put out their cigarettes and picked up their lunch trays. After a moment?s stop at the dish room to drop off their trays, they left the lunch room and went back to work.

I really didn?t know what to expect upon arrival at Longden Castle. We rode there in his carriage sitting across from each other. He gazed out of the window and I gaze upon him and tried to make conversation. It was clear to me that his mind was elsewhere, and I knew where it was.

The castle staff was polite and obedient, but I knew I was in a place I had no right being. This was Countess Tara Longden?s domain, and there was no doubt in my mind that she should be here and I shouldn?t. Nevertheless, this was the position given to me, and I would do my best.

The first few days I felt completely lost and in far over my head. I wanted to please the Count so much, and he was so patient with me.

The second night in the castle I was longing for him to take me again. I wore my most seductive clothes and entered his private chambers. Talomar was sitting in his black leather chair, in a robe and black silk pajamas. I kept my gaze to the floor and handed his drink to him with a ?Brandy, m?lord. I hope it pleases you.? Then sat myself on the floor at his feet.

?What are you doing?? he said, looking at me most curiously.

?I am waiting for you, Master. I?m waiting for your command.? I wanted him to command me. Anything he would request, I would do. To be truthful, I wanted him to tell me to stand and strip for him.

?Get up!? he shouted. ?You are my valet. You are not my slave and I am not your master. Is that clear?? The look of anger upon his face surprised me.

?I . . . I thought this would please you,? I said near tears as I stood up. ?I just wanted to be near you. I didn?t mean to upset you.?

?I?m NOT upset!? he shouted, clearly upset with me. ?You please me when you do your job, and I believe your job is completed for this day. Unless you have some other business here, you are on your own time and can go to your suite if you like.?

?Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,? I said and turned for the door. I held back the tears until I closed his door behind me. I could restrain the tears no longer, and I ran to my room and locked myself away in my solitude. I felt like such a fool, but I wanted him so much.

The following day I stayed professional and emotionally distant. I did my work as his valet, both at SECTOR and in his castle with a determination to strive for perfection. He seemed very pleased when he dismissed me that night.

I went to my room, undressed in the moonlight and put on a black, silk nightgown. I read a little and then turned out the light. I had been asleep for about and hour when I was awakened by a touch to my shoulder.

?I need you,? he whispered to me. ?I must feed.?

My heart began to immediately pound in my chest. I was completely unprepared for this. I could barely see him in the dark, but I knew he could see me very well. I turned from my side to my back and sat halfway up. I tried to speak, but words seem to stick in my throat.

He simply laid me back down, his arm around my shoulders. I felt I was moving in slow motion, staring into his eyes as my head went all the way back to the pillow. His mouth came down upon mine and I heard a moan and realized it was my own. His amazing fragrance surrounded me. I wrapped my arms around him and ran my fingers up into his hair, and we kissed like I?ve never been kissed before.

When his mouth left mine I know it would be only moments before I?d feel his fangs pierce my flesh. My fingers grasped his hair and I held his head, pulling him against my bare neck.

Then I felt it.

His fangs felt like two needles piercing me; the initial pain quickly giving way to amazing pleasure. ?Oh yes, I moaned,? against his ear. ?Take me. Please. Please.?

But he didn?t.

He came to feed.

As he fed I could feel myself grow weaker. My hands dropped from his hair to the bed. My breathing slowed, and I was in the midst of the most wonderful dream, just floating there in my bed.

Then . . . he was gone.

I fell asleep and dreamed wonderful dreams of the Count and myself.