Jessie- Excerpt From the Novel

His smile was delicious. The kind of smile that couldn’t be ignored. That’s what Jessie thought when she had first spotted Ian across the floor at Barbosa’s nightclub. He had been laughing with some girl; she was inconsequential. But that smile, it made the eternal dull throb of hunger in her stomach spike sharply, almost catapulting her out of her chair towards him like a beacon. Normally, Jessie stayed away from the ones that glowed, that pulled others like a magnet; people would notice if someone like that went missing. But after Queenie’s dismissal that morning in the kitchen, she needed to conquer; she needed that smile.

It was easy enough to get rid of the girl. One swish of her long red tail and a few threatening promises whispered in her ear had her scurrying away and leaving Jessie face-to-face with Ian. She had been curious what he would do, but he turned that smile on Jessie, and dear gods, he was dangerous. Just not as dangerous as her.

When Ian had leaned in and asked her if she wanted to get out of there and have some fun, Jessie thought she had the evening in the bag. She was already imagining the way he would taste as she devoured him piece by piece. Perhaps he would even satiate her hunger for longer than a few hours. Yet, as they walked the streets of the city, Jessie became acutely aware that they were walking away from her dingy apartment.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

The glow of neon lights lit up the night, cascading glowing filters against her maroon skin and casting rainbows off her glittering silver dress. Even in the crudest light, she knew her allure. The echoing muffles of music struggled to make their way beyond the heavy doors of various bars and nightclubs along the street. Jessie looked around, thinking nothing here was going to offer her a good time.

“When you said that you wanted to have some fun, I didn’t think it would involve walking around the city’s shitty streets in four-inch heels.”

Just then, blaring music accosted Jessie’s ears, accompanied by the stale scent of alcohol as a man drunkenly stumbled out of a nearby door, headed straight for her. She faintly registered Ian’s arm shooting out to wrap around her waist, but before he could pull her away, Jessie’s tail had whipped around, wrapping around the man’s neck and forcefully pushing him to the side. Crashing against the wall, he slid to the floor mumbling incoherent stutterings.

“Ugh, disgusting.” Jessie’s tail recoiled and shook itself as if it could toss the germs from its pristine skin.

Ian’s laughter erupted from him like a bolt of lightning. “I have a feeling you could do anything you wanted, even in four-inch heels.” His mirthful expression shifted as his eyes landed on her sparkling silver stilettos. “Especially in four-inch heels.” His gaze slowly dragged up the length of her bare legs before relocking with Jessie’s golden eyes. Jessie was used to being desired; it was the trap before she snapped her jaws shut around her unsuspecting prey. But not usually after throwing a man against a wall. Something unfamiliar shifted in her mood, and Queenie’s words came back to her from earlier ‘So here I am. Stuck with you as a roommate. Forever taunted with the rotting flesh of your latest victim.’ The word victim stuck in her mind on an unending loop, making her feel uneasy. But he was just the same as the others, leering at her with open desire. Still, she became overtly aware of Ian’s still present hand that held her waist. Had he tried to protect her?

“But if you don’t want my surprise, I can take you home.” Ian’s tone held a note of amusement and excitement, pulling Jessie out of her reverie. Nothing about how he sounded suggested he thought Jessie really wanted to go home. But she did, she needed to get him back to her apartment, and she was starving. Yet, the twinkle of mirth in his eyes and the press of his hand held her curiosity. Ian leaned in a little closer, “But if I’m right, and I think I am, I think you may need my surprise.”

Was that a challenge? Jessie shook off her unease; she could play this game.

“I’m not sure I like your tone.” Her words scolded, but her voice dripped with honey, and her eyes matched his, challenging and alight with mischief. “But now I’m curious as to what you think I need so badly.”

Ian’s face lit up with that damned smile. She knew what she needed, and unfortunately for Ian, she was going to take it.  

“Absolutely not.”

Ian had walked with her a few more blocks, stopping in front of a shiny black motorcycle, grinning like the Cheshire cat. He dangled the keys with obvious delight.

“Have you ever ridden on one before?”

Jessie scoffed, arms crossed over her chest, “No, and I don’t plan on starting today.” Ian’s smile didn’t falter in the slightest. He didn’t believe her. “Do you see what I am wearing?”

Ian’s eyes stayed firmly on hers, “Oh, I see. I think you will be fine. Plus, there’s no other way to get to my surprise.” He leaned in closer, whispering, “And it’s worth it.”

Jessie glared at him for several minutes while he waited, amused, for her to succumb to his demands. Damn this man. This is why she picked the losers; they barely ever put up a fight, too eager to get her home and get between her thighs. This is what she gets for wanting more. She sighed, “Fine. Where are the helmets?”

“There are none.”

“What?! Do you have a death wish?” Jessie’s voice came out in a decidedly unattractive shriek of incredulity. The irony was not lost on Jessie that this beautiful man with his hypnotizing smile seemed to welcome the danger that stalked him, and that she, in fact, was planning on his demise this very evening. So, why was he laughing as he walked over and swung his leg over the bike while she stood there like a cowering kitten? No wonder he welcomed her presence at the bar; the man was a thrill seeker who enjoyed tiptoeing with death. She, on the other hand, did not want to die.

“Come on. What’s the point in experiencing the thrill of riding a motorcycle if you can’t feel the wind on your face? If you want to experience life. Then experience all of it.” He held out his hand to her, waiting for her to get on.

“That’s a load of bullshit, if I ever heard it. I want to experience life, not death.” But something about his words pulled her in. Although her arms were still firmly crossed, she felt the contact with Ian’s skin when her tail coiled around his wrist. She jumped in surprise. She hadn’t meant to do that. Jessie’s mind flittered back to the image of Queenie walking away from her this morning, indifference plastered on her face. Her tail had tried to reach for her then, too. What the hell was going on with her damn tail? Shaking her head, she pushed the image of Queenie’s dismissal out of her head. Ian looked at her expectantly. Somehow, he knew. He knew she would give in and climb behind him. She grumbled under her breath as she walked toward the bike and ungracefully swung herself behind him, her dress hiked up around her hips. “You’re lucky no one is around to see how ridiculous I look trying to straddle a bike in this dress and in these shoes.”

Ian chuckled, “Hold on tight.” Starting the ignition, the engine roared to life, and Jessie quickly grabbed him around his waist, her tail snaking around his thigh. Ian turned his head toward her face. “Don’t let go.”

As Ian took off, Jessie’s heart pounded out of her chest. At first, the sensation of the wind and the blurring buildings flying by her made her want to puke. The lines on the pavement were flashing by at an unreasonable speed and were way too close to her bare flesh. The image of her skin being torn off in the event of a crash had her melding herself against Ian’s back like that could somehow protect her from the imminent danger of the road. But, as the lights from the bars blurred together and eventually fell away, Jessie’s heart began to slow, and she became aware of her hair whipping around them. That was going to be a bitch to untangle later.

The road was becoming darker as she realized they had left the city. It had been years since she had so much as taken a step outside the limits. Soon, a stranger anxiety was taking hold of her.

If she had been a normal female, she might have been concerned with a strange man taking her out of the city to places unknown. But she instinctually knew she was the most dangerous creature on this bike. Well, besides the bike itself, these things were death traps. No, the anxiety came from her arms that were firmly wrapped around Ian, pressing against the breadth of his back. Jessie couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, she had held someone or hugged them.

The sensation was odd. The heat of their bodies was melting together, creating a warm juxtaposition against the rushing wind that cooled her bare skin. The side of her face was pressed against his upper back. Had she ever rested her head against someone before? She couldn’t remember. Fear had overridden all other senses when he first drove off, that she hadn’t realized at first how she clung to him. Now it was too late, and she was stuck in this unfamiliar and anxious position. She suddenly felt self-conscious. That was stupid. She forced herself to close her eyes and focus on the warmth of Ian’s back and the feel of the wind rushing by her. She tried to imagine how it would all be worth it when she got him back to her apartment. How delicious the wait would make her meal. Every few seconds, her hair would whip in a way that it would lash against her leg or arm with a slight sting. She focused on it all and found a calming rhythm that was almost peaceful.

When Ian finally pulled off the road and the roar of wind died down to be replaced by the roar of something else, Jessie immediately knew where they were. He parked the bike next to a stone wall, and she finally unpeeled herself from him, the smell of salt in the air.

Ian chuckled, “You’re going to have to unleash me.”

“I did!” Jessie looked down and saw that her tail was still wrapped around his thigh. She quickly withdrew—stupid tail.

“Not that I mind, I quite like your tail, and I think it likes me too.” As he spoke, he pulled himself off the bike, holding his hand out to help Jessie down. No one really ever mentioned her tail to her, and the blatancy took her by surprise. She realized then that without Ian in front of her, she was still straddled with her dress hiked up around her waist. She quickly grabbed his hand and dismounted. Her legs felt like jelly from squeezing them so tightly for so long.

Jessie cleared her throat as she rearranged her dress and frowned at her tangled mess of hair, “So, this is my surprise? Aren’t you supposed to go to the beach when the sun is out?”

Ian’s damn smile was back, “Some of the best things can only be seen at night.”

Jessie couldn’t help but smile back. Somehow, she felt he was also talking about her. Feeling a little bit more like herself, she slipped off her shoes and left them on the stone wall. It was dark tonight, there was no moon, and without the lights of the city, the sparkles sat there lifeless and flat. Ian hopped over the wall, also disposing of his shoes and socks. He turned back to help Jessie, but she had already jumped over with ease. Even in the darkness, she could see how his eyes were alight with excitement. If he thought they were going to have sex on the beach, he was in for a rude awakening. “Come on, the best is yet to come.”

Something buzzed with excitement in Jessie’s chest. The fresh air, mingled with the crashing of the waves and the feel of sand beneath her feet, was revitalizing. She didn’t need Queenie, she didn’t need Ian- well, she needed to eat Ian. Still, she just needed to break up the monotony, get out and do something new. That’s what was wrong with her, why Queenie had been getting on her nerves so badly. She couldn’t remember the last time she did something different. Something about being here at night, in the darkness, made the act more exhilarating.

As they peaked the top of the hill, and the ocean came into view, its vastness mingling with the dark sky was intoxicating. She couldn’t help but laugh, and as the excitement and energy bubbled up in her, she felt an unexplainable need to run. So she did. She took off, laughing and running at full speed. Ian laughed behind her, quickly catching up as he joined in her ridiculously childlike frolicking. She ran until her lungs were heaving, and she finally collapsed to the sandy ground. Ian, remarkably not out of breath, plopped down beside her.

“You were right. Maybe I did need this.” Jessie felt light in a way that she hadn’t felt for a long time.

“I haven’t even shown you your present yet.” He was laughing and smiling. This man was always so damn smiley. Suddenly, Jessie remembered that she was on the prowl, and that Ian was her prey. Understanding that this present he kept referencing was most likely him, she wished he would go away and not ruin this moment. She sighted. She still needed to get him back to her apartment; she was not going to have her way with him here. She reminded herself that this was no different than any other conquest, and Ian was no different than any other man; he wanted to use her. Still, she wanted to enjoy the beach a little bit longer.

“Oh, really?” Jessie had turned herself back into the seductress she was. She would convince him to walk a little on the beach and then take her back to her apartment for some fun. But before she could work her magic, Ian pointed out towards the ocean.

“Your present is out there.”

Jessie’s brows crinkled in confusion, genuinely taken off guard. “Come again?”

Ian was relishing in her confusion. Instead of replying, he just stood up and started pulling off his clothes. Did he want to have sex in the water? That was not happening. Still, Jessie couldn’t help but follow the length of his torso and notice the way his muscles moved under his skin. The hunger in her stomach was slicing through her like a knife. She considered giving in and taking him here.

“Like what you see?” His cocky tone cured her of her momentary lapse in resolve. No, she would take her time with him. She cocked her eyebrow at him.

“I’m not going in that water.” Ian flashed his brilliant smile at her, but simply shrugged.

“Suit yourself.” And with that ran into the water, whooping like a madman.

Jessie sat there, genuinely confused and equally amused at his display of ridiculousness. What was wrong with this guy? But hadn’t she just been running and laughing like a kid a few minutes ago? She watched as he jumped into the waves, fighting to get past their onslaught. He didn’t look back.

Queenie’s retreating figure flashed again in Jessie’s mind, now playing next to Ian’s nonchalant shrug. She was becoming less and less certain that his “present” involved having his way with her or having much to do with her at all. She didn’t like the feeling. She contemplated leaving him in the ocean and heading back to the city, but it was too late to try to find someone else, and she had no idea how to ride that death trap of a bike.

She heard another whoop of excitement from Ian, and her curiosity got the best of her. She stood and slipped out of her dress. Like Ian, she left her underwear on as she waded into the oncoming waves. He was looking back now, watching her as she made her descent into the ocean. She couldn’t see his face clearly, but she knew his eyes were on her, and she felt the comfort of power and control slip back into her. No, he definitely wanted her.

Fighting past the waves was a rush as she pushed against their powerful crashes. It reminded her of how strong she was, how nothing could bring her to her knees. Not beautiful men with death wishes, not Queenie’s revulsion, not motorcycles, not even the whole damn ocean could bring her down. She saw the last wave before she reached the calmer waters beyond, where Ian waited, and she dove under, feeling the cool water refresh her heated face. She floated suspended for just a moment before she felt the wave pass above her, and she propelled herself toward her goal.

“Glad to see you joined me.” Jessie wiped her face with her hands, looking at Ian. His hair was wet and clung to the sides of his temples. The dark locks curled in perfect waves. Had he always had curly hair? She hadn’t noticed before.

“Well, you were hollering out here like a little kid. I had to see what all the fuss was about. But if some shark comes and tries to eat me, I’m pushing you toward it.”

He laughed, deep and loud, “I have a feeling you’re more dangerous to me than a shark.” His words caused a spike of anxiety to course through her. Did he know what she had planned? Did he really have a death wish? No, looking at him, he was entirely at ease. He was teasing her. “Are you ready for your present?”

“As long as it isn’t a shark.”

“No, not a shark. Let me see your hand.” Jessie rolled her eyes but held out her hand to him, feeling the water lapping gently around the tips of her shoulders. She could still touch here, but barely. She stood on the tips of her toes, lightly bouncing. Ian stood directly in front of her, his upper chest still visible, and she could tell he had no trouble. How tall was he? Maybe she didn’t notice how tall he was before because she was wearing heels.

He took hold of her wrist. Firmly but not harshly, “Now watch closely.” She was staring at him, noticing how his hair continued to curl as the water fell away from him. He looked up at her and smiled, “Not me, the water.” She looked down at where he gripped her wrist. “Spread your fingers out.” Like she was in a trance, Jessie did what she was told and watched as he started to wade her hand back and forth in the water.

At first, she was confused, but then she saw it: the faint glow of light glittering beneath the water. She thought it was the reflection of the moonlight on the water before she realized that there was no moon. She sucked in a breath. With each pass of her hand, the glow grew; she noticed that they also followed the movement of Ian’s arm as he guided her hand back and forth. How had she not noticed before? She looked all around her and back at the waves crashing along the beach. They were aglow with tiny lights.

Ian was whispering now. “They are bioluminescent organisms that can only be seen when the moon is gone. Their light reacts to movement.” His voice was so very quiet. “They’re always here, but can only be seen at the darkest times.” Jessie tore her eyes away from the soft glow in the water to look at Ian. His expression was different from what she had seen all night. He wasn’t looking at the water; he was looking at her. Was that a hint of green in his eyes? His face was soft and almost innocent. He looked at her with awe, and something else she couldn’t quite place.

“It’s beautiful,” Jessie whispered back. She didn’t know why, but she didn’t want to break this magic. This was beautiful, something she would cherish, and he had shared it with her. “Thank you,” she added, swallowing a sudden lump in her throat, “thank you for sharing this with me,” and she meant it. She was actually thankful to him.

Ian inhaled slowly, never breaking eye contact with her, “Can I kiss you?” Heat flooded Jessie in a way that had never happened to her before, something that dulled the ever-present hunger in her stomach. She was aware of his hand still on her wrist. Had anyone ever asked her permission before?

Before she could think, she heard herself saying, “Yes,” and without hesitation, he pulled her to him, and his lips crashed into hers.

Knock, Knock, Knock. “Jessie, are you in there?” Queenie’s voice floated in through her bedroom door with gentle concern. That didn’t seem right. Jessie was floating in a sea of blues, purples, and greens, snuggled into the warmth of her covers, far from the shores of consciousness, and had no desire to leave the warm and inviting ocean of her dreams. Yet, the tone of Queenie’s voice entering her dreams was off. She wasn’t screaming at her.

The sound of Jessie’s bedroom door creaking was followed by the soft padding of someone entering her room. Something was most definitely off. Reluctantly, Jessie opened her eyes to find Queenie staring down at her in disbelief.

“Why are you in my room?” Jessie grumbled through a sleep-induced fog, closing her eyes to the blinding light of the morning sun.

“Are you okay? I thought he might have killed you.”

“What are you talking about? I’m about to kill you if you don’t get out of my room.” Jessie was in no mood for games and wanted nothing more than to slip back into blissful sleep.

“I’m talking about Ian. He just left.”

Ian. Jessie’s eyes snapped back open as she jolted up and out of her sleepy state, adrenaline hitting her system as the memories of last night flooded back into her. She stared wide-eyed at Queenie. “Ian?”

“Yes, Ian. He just left.” Queenie was looking at her like she’d never seen her before. “You didn’t eat him.”