Pigalle Palace Read online

  Dear Reader:

  What is a Strebor Quickiez? Years ago, I decided that I wanted to create a series of short, erotic books that would be designed to be read in the span of one day. Thus, the Strebor Quickiez collection was born. Whether a reader takes in the excitement on the way to and from work on public transportation, or during their lunch break and before bed-time, they can get a “quick fix” in the form of a stimulating read.

  Strebor Quickiez will be enticing to those who steer away from larger novels and those who do not have the time to commit to spend a longer while taking in a good read.

  It is my hope and desire that booksellers embrace Strebor Quickiez and promote them to their consumer base. I am convinced that these books can do a heavy volume in sales and, as always, I appreciate the support shown to all of my efforts throughout the years.

  Blessings,

  Publisher

  Strebor Books

  www.simonandschuster.com

  Thank you for downloading this Strebor Books eBook.

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  Dedicated to Londyn Lashaye Bosley

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  First and foremost, I want to thank God because without him, I wouldn’t be blessed with the talents that he has given me. I know that within an instant, it can be taken away. His love for me goes beyond any measure. To my future husband, Malcolm, thank you for loving me. You are an amazing man and don’t you forget that. To my kids, Ciera, Cameron, and my angel in heaven, Londyn, I love you guys. My parents, sisters, and brother—I love you guys. To my enormous family of aunts, uncles, and cousins—I love you guys, too. To all my friends, thank you for being there when I needed you.

  I want to send a special shout-out to my literary family: Zane, N’Tyse, Karen E. Quinones Miller, Shakir Rashaan, David Weaver, Carla Pennington, Porscha Sterling, Royalty Publishing House as a whole, and SBR Publications. I’m so glad that I have connected with you all. I love everyone that crosses my path, but you all have a special place in my heart.

  I want to thank all the reviewers and all of the readers that have taken the time to let me know that you are out there reading my work. Without your feedback, I wouldn’t be able to grow as an artist. I’m very passionate about my writing and I’m glad that you enjoy it.

  Thank you ALL from the bottom of my heart.

  CHAPTER 1

  LEGEND

  She clutched my back, digging her nails into me every time I thrust into her. I loved giving every woman I chose the ultimate pleasure and I couldn’t stop from thinking about how good she felt as her sticky walls hugged me. Sinking my teeth into her skin was the other thing that came to my mind, but I didn’t want to suck her blood…not yet anyway. I actually hadn’t made up my mind if I wanted to feed off her. Her sex seemed satisfying enough not to, and my vampire instincts weren’t pulling me in that direction.

  After a few more deep long pumps from me, she drew in deep shallow breaths, let go of the death grip she had on my back, and thanked God aloud for one hell of an orgasm.

  “Are you okay?” I asked her after I watched her mild trembles subside.

  “I’m fine,” she exasperated with her eyes wide in amazement.

  “Would you like anything else tonight?”

  She played in my dreads as she admired my body with her free hand. “Can you make me another Lemon Drop?”

  At the bar, earlier that evening, she and her best friend had indulged in the drinks I served them. As a bartender, I met beautiful women by the dozens every night. Most of the faces were familiar, and on occasion, tourists showed up.

  “Your Lemon Drop is coming right up.” I eased off her.

  When she smiled at me, I thought she was stunning, too cute for words. I thought that about her all night long. Before I brought her home from Club Vaisseau, I admired her honey-colored skin, medium-brown, doe-like eyes, and long dark hair from the other side of the bar.

  I recognized any type of freak, regardless of what type of clothing she wore. This one was so freaky that she allowed me to sex her before even knowing her name. Typical for me, though. One-night stands weren’t a rare event on my calendar. I needed many women to quench my desire for sex the way quarts of blood satisfied my hunger.

  I draped my bare body in a bathrobe. “Mademoiselle, pardon me, but what’s your name?”

  She giggled sexily, yet I could tell that she, too, felt embarrassed about not exchanging that information earlier. “Chantal.”

  “You’re really beautiful, Chantal. It’s been a pleasure having your company tonight.”

  She blushed and stammered, “T-t-t-hanks.”

  “Don’t move, and um, keep those clothes off.” Holding up my index finger, I signaled for her to wait while I went downstairs to make her another Lemon Drop.

  Chantal giggled again, the way a schoolchild did when told a dirty joke. She didn’t have to play the shy role anymore. I had already gotten what I needed from her, but my mere presence had her still feeling shy. Hell, it made all women act that way whenever they were around me. That was my gift and my curse—to capture a woman effortlessly.

  I swiftly made her sweet lemon concoction, and was back upstairs in a flash.

  “You move fast,” she said with a bright smile.

  All vampires moved fast. However, she hadn’t noticed my fangs because I hid them well around humans. I only revealed them when I was ready to drink. By then, the hypnotic state masked my intentions.

  I handed her the Lemon Drop while my eyes peered down at her curvy body.

  “Thank you, Mr. …?”

  I hadn’t told her my name, either.

  “Please, call me Legend.”

  “Legend? Is that your real name?”

  “It’s the only name I know.”

  She stared at me oddly, as she took a few sips from the glass. “I have to pee.” As she got up from the bed, her thick hips grazed against me.

  I grunted lowly, while falling back on the bed, feeling happy with having her over for the night.

  When she finished relieving her bladder, she asked, “Legend?”

  “What’s up, Chantal?”

  “How come your skin is so cold?” She stood in front of the bed with a look of bewilderment.

  “My skin is cold?” I repeated as if I didn’t know that I wasn’t warm-blooded.

  Warm blood hadn’t run through me for over a century.

  She hesitated as her eyes glanced over me nervously. I could tell her mind was trying to put the pieces together and recollect if she’d noticed any other strange things throughout the evening.

  Chantal had come to the bar with her friend, and whether or not they were aware, it was no accident how they’d ended up in Pigalle Palace or even in the Red Light District, for that matter. The Red Light District was devoted to prostitution and other illegal, immoral behavior. The Red Light District was heavy in sexual acts.

  Therefore, our meeting was no accident.

  Whether pussy was bought, sold, or given freely, it was our haven nonetheless.

  Our popular thriving nightclub, Vaisseau, was one of the many notorious hotspots. Pigalle Palace was an epicenter of sizzling sex shops, erotic peep shows, and dazzling strip clubs. It was an adults- only, X-rated pleasurable adventure for the more risqué crowd and home to one of Paris’ most famous cabarets, Moulin Rouge.

  This was our playground and Chantal was having a ball. In the back of her mind, she had already known what I was and that excited her.

  Speechless for a second,
she finally replied, “Now that I’m thinking about it, from the moment your lips touched mine at the club, I noticed. I noticed something different about you all night. I’ve heard many things about Pigalle Palace. Let me say that you were the one that catapulted my curiosity further. I finally got to touch one up close and very personal.”

  “One of what?”

  A quick frown appeared on her face, yet she continued, “Are you going to bite me now?”

  What had me confused was that she looked as if she were disappointed that I hadn’t taken a bite out of her yet. “You want me to bite you?”

  Chantal straddled me and ran her feather-feeling hands across my chest. “Am I not worthy enough?”

  “Are you not worthy enough to be killed?”

  Her eyes widened with fear. “Oh no, no, no. I don’t want you to kill me. Are you going to kill me? I hope you don’t kill me…”

  “What do you want from me, Chantal?”

  “I want you to turn me into what it is that you are.”

  The way her eyes sparkled when she suggested such a ridiculous thing made me stare deeply into her eyes. I wasn’t going to hypnotize or compel her. I simply didn’t know many humans that wanted to become what we were. Hell, we didn’t want to either, but we had no other choice.

  “I’m very careful and we don’t change anyone unless it’s discussed amongst the family first.”

  “Have you ever changed anyone behind their backs?”

  I got very serious on her. “Legend follows all rules.”

  “Is that the only reason why you haven’t taken my blood, Legend?”

  Instantly, I wanted to kill her. When she mentioned blood, it triggered my hunter instincts, and I wanted to suck her until she became lifeless.

  I dismissed the urge. “You don’t want me to answer that.”

  She gasped with fascination. “Can I see your fangs?”

  I tilted my head back a bit so she could see what she was begging for.

  “Wow. Legend, you are truly a vampire. My assumption was correct all along.”

  “And now that you’ve proven your theory to be correct, what do you want to do?”

  I could feel the heat pulsating from her moist center that greeted me so pleasantly. She was excited by her discovery and was ready to open up her body for me again. To be honest, I was turned on as well, but I had to see where she wanted to go with this.

  “I want you to have me.”

  “I’ve already had you, Chantal.”

  “Drink from me.” She put her wrist up to my nose.

  Though she smelled so delicious, I gently lowered her arm and explained, “I’ve been a vampire for a very long time. This is my destiny, not yours. You should enjoy the fact that you’re still alive.”

  She swallowed hard and thought about that for a moment, but then she was right back to trying to pressure me. “You sure you don’t want to bite me?” She tossed her hair over her shoulder to reveal her neck. I spotted a luscious thick vein that I could have devoured if I’d truly wanted to.

  “I’m sure.”

  The urge to bite her surged through me the same way my adrenaline had my blood rushing, but I had self-control.

  “Why not?” She began plastering kisses on the side of my face.

  “Stop it,” I said in a demanding tone.

  She backed away with a look of confusion, pushing her hair out of her face with one hand.

  My family didn’t have a choice. We were born with this curse.

  My right eye pulsated as it fluttered. A painful migraine formed. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Chantal staring at me before sauntering over to the window to look down at the city of Montmartre.

  “Oh my... This is a sight to see. I’ve never seen this side of Paris before...”

  I had an excellent panoramic view of the city and it was breathtaking.

  “We’re on a hill, north of Paris, one hundred thirty metres high.”

  “The city is so beautiful, Legend.”

  I got up from the bed and wrapped my arms around her waist. The thought of slipping back inside of her came to mind. Without any distractions, I would be able to enjoy her for a little while longer before the sun would come up. She would then go on her merry little way and her fantasy of spending a complete night with a vampire would be fulfilled.

  She twirled around to face me. Her eyes shifted down while sadness seemed to consume her. She was curious about becoming something she didn’t understand. Our world was dark and confusing to most, yet she was so ready.

  “I’ve read plenty of vampires’ tales and stories.”

  “That’s fiction. I’m real and trust me when I say that you’re better off.”

  “Maybe I should leave.”

  I stopped her with my voice—smooth, gentle, and reassuring. “Chantal, I’m not done with you, yet. Unless, you’re afraid of me now.”

  “I’m not afraid… Do you always have your way?”

  “Always,” I stated into the thickened air.

  “You sure you don’t want to sink your teeth into me? I think I might taste very good.”

  Her hands moved over my muscles as if she were trying to memorize everything about me.

  My hands then moved to her lower back. She closed her eyes as her breathing became heavier. I listened intently, pulling her back to rest up against me while my hands felt around her firm ass. Her breathing grew even heavier with a hint of arousal as my fingertips traveled between her legs to rub her clit. I turned her around, face to face, to inhale her sweet-smelling breath as I inched toward her. I grabbed her firmly, pulled her up against me, and kissed her.

  I sucked her neck and then her collarbone, making a suction trail as I led her back to the bed. I pushed her onto her back. She didn’t object as I went down to please her. My lips met her warm wetness. She moaned as I sucked her hungrily.

  Her low moan began to rise each time I licked her juicy clit. I picked up my slow pace to a moderate rate, feeling her juices squirt and then ooze down between her thighs. I lapped every drop because she tasted that good. By then, she had both fists full of my dreads.

  I palmed her ass and squeezed her while her eyes closed tightly. Suddenly her moans stopped and she said, “Ahhhh… Ouch.”

  As I tasted her blood, I realized I had pierced her inner lips.

  “Shit.” I tried to get up, but she palmed the back of my head with both of her hands.

  “Don’t stop… Keep going… Do it.”

  Without thinking about anything else, I returned my face between her thighs and sucked her blood. Biting her wasn’t my intention, but she had aroused me in a way that had me feeling as if I had no control over myself.

  Transforming her was something she wanted anyway, so I released my venom and wiped my bloody mouth.

  As she had another orgasm, the transformation began. Once her body was done with twisting and writhing in a frantic manner, her sweaty body slid away from me. She didn’t cuddle next to me or whisper sweet things as if she loved me for what she’d asked of me all along. Instead, she turned away from me.

  I watched her back rise and fall gently as she breathed acutely. I ran my fingers over my dreads as regret washed over me. What had I done?

  Chantal asked, “How come you couldn’t just bite my neck the way I’ve seen in movies?”

  “I wasn’t trying to bite you.”

  “What happens now?”

  “The sun will rise. If you decide to walk outside, the sun will touch your skin and you will burn.”

  She glimpsed over at the window and panicked. “Are you going to close the curtains? I don’t want to burn.”

  “My windows are actually UV protected. You are safe in my home.”

  A series of electrifying chills shot straight up my spine, creating goose bumps all over my body. I shook the snake-like feeling, heaved a heavy sigh, and closed myself in the bathroom.

  My family didn’t care about how many women I let into my bed, but the rules were made
out to be simple: one was that I could only change one and one only. That one would be my wife for eternity. Those were actually the rules of the covenant. My parents didn’t make up those rules. The covenant was made up of laws set by the Préfet—the vampire government of Pigalle Palace.

  Before I could gather my thoughts, my phone rang from the countertop of the bathroom. I forgot that I had left it there when I showered. It was my sister, Azura, calling.

  My whole family had the gift of premonition. Azura’s was the strongest. I knew why she was calling.

  “Hello,” I answered.

  “What are you up to?” Azura asked.

  “Nothing much,” I tried to elude her.

  “Are you planning on leaving home anytime soon?”

  “No. The sun will be coming up in a few hours, so I’m in for the night.”

  “Mother and Father want to see you.”

  I closed my eyes as I knew exactly why they wanted to see me. “When?”

  “Right now.”

  “Right now?”

  “Yes, Legend, right now! Onyx and Rain are already here.”

  My brothers were already there, so they were aware of what I had done. I was going to have to face them, but I didn’t think it would be this soon.

  “I’ll be there in a moment.”

  “Hurry,” she answered quickly. “Oh, and bring her with you.”

  CHAPTER 2

  LEGEND

  Our father studied me for a moment as if he couldn’t think of anything to say once we arrived at my parents’ home. He shifted slightly in the chair in front of the fireplace. I was nervous about what he was going to say. The last thing I wanted to hear was that I was going to have to kill Chantal because I’d broken a rule. Nevertheless, I stood there calmly while Chantal was sprawled out on the couch, completely incoherent to what was going on. The transition of going through the change had that effect.

  The whole room was silent. Usually, our father was relaxed and cozy in front of the crackling fire, but his body language as he was sitting up straight, staring me in the eyes without blinking, made me nervous.