Blood and Lust in New York City

By Taryn Rose

The eyes of a rising Broadway starlet are opened to a world she never knew existed, and a passion she never knew burned inside her...
After an opening night party, Emma Jones naively accepts a ride home from her lecherous producer and finds herself in a desperate struggle. But when a beautiful, mysterious stranger rescues her, Emma realizes that the real danger may have just begun.
Her savior, Skarlet, is an agent of the Vampire Commission, a secret organization with an intense interest in Emma - - or more specifically, her blood. Skarlet’s mission is clear: deliver Emma into the clutches of the Commission. But as they near their destination, Skarlet cannot deny the intense attraction she feels toward her breath-taking captive. Emma is drawn to her magnetic heroine as well and a fateful decision sets the two on a path of extreme danger and forbidden love. As the Commission closes in, a startling discovery raises the stakes and both women must choose - - between all they’ve ever known and a passion they’ve never known before.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Riverdale Avenue Books
• Release date: Oct 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781626010536

Book preview

Riverdale Avenue Books LLC

5676 Riverdale Avenue, Suite 101

Riverdale, New York 10471

www.riverdaleavebooks.com

Blood and Lust in New York City

Copyright © 2013 by Taryn Rose

Digital ISBN: 978-1-62601-053-6

Cover by Emalyn Feitshans

Formatting by www.formatting4U.com

Smashwords Edition, License Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the Publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

First Riverdale Avenue Books LLC e-book publication: October 2013

Chapter One: Emma

Emma, wait.

She felt a hand on her arm. Hank Sherman, one of the show’s producers, had followed her out of the bar. The cast party was still going strong, but Emma decided to leave early to get a good night’s sleep. She was wise enough, at the ripe old age of 24, to cut off her partying before it ate into the next day, or worse, the next performance. And the stakes were higher now that she had her first role in a Broadway show.

I need to rest my voice, Hank. But you go ahead and have fun. It was a fantastic opening night.

You were magical, Hank said, and stumbled over himself.

Emma had been told her whole life that she lit up the stage. That she had classic ingénue features—lustrous blonde hair, big blue eyes, delicate bone structure—and a soaring soprano voice. But what the people back home in Ohio didn’t understand was how competitive the New York theater scene was. After two years of auditioning, Emma finally landed her first big break as a chorus girl.

She pecked the producer’s cheek to be polite. Goodnight, Hank. She turned her attention back to the rush of cars streaming down Broadway. Taxi!

Let my driver take you home. Please. Hank motioned to a stretch limousine that was parked a few feet from the famed Fiorello’s restaurant and bar, where the cast and crew were celebrating. She glanced over and headlights popped on, the car slowly making its way over to them. Even though a ride was unnecessary—her apartment was not far from the restaurant, the last thing Emma wanted to do was piss off a producer. He opened the back passenger door and grinned.

Emma slid inside and to her surprise, Hank followed, closing the door after him. He reached into a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of Cristal.

Champagne? he said, holding up the bottle, and Emma declined.

You didn’t have to leave on my account. It’s your big night too, she said, nervously.

It’s no fun if you’re not there, he said and loosened his tie. His gut spilled over his sides as he leaned back. He downed a glass of champagne like it was water and inched closer to Emma. She smelled tobacco on his breath and politely slid away. He smiled creepily, and the glass divider separating the passengers from the driver started buzzing up. Emma caught a knowing glance between the driver and Hank through the rearview mirror.

Please tell your driver to take me to Christopher Street, she said.

Douglas, she lives on Christopher Street, he repeated to the walled-off driver. Emma doubted the driver could hear anything behind the partition.

Emma continued to shift her position until she was against the car door. Hank slithered closer to her, unbuttoning his shirt. She felt the tiny hairs on her arms stand up. Hank, what are you doing?

I lobbied for you, Emma. I said you had that certain something. He threw off his shirt, revealing a bushel of white chest hairs that didn’t match the greasy dyed-black ones on his head. Emma knew she owed this man nothing. She earned the part on her merits as a singer, an actress and a dancer.

Relax. Hank pulled a joint out of his pocket and she watched him light it and take a long drag. Smoke? he offered as he exhaled a cloudy white stream.

I…I just want to go home. Her heart was pounding and her mind raced—was she strong enough to fight this man off if she had to?

Actresses. You all think you’re so special. He slapped her thigh and started pushing his moist palm up her leg.

Please…don’t.

He smirked and started undoing his pants.

I have a boyfriend, she lied, gently pushing him off of her. Please. But he wouldn’t budge and she struggled against his hold. Stop!

He pressed his hand over her lips. No one can hear you so you might as well relax.

With every ounce of strength she could muster, she resisted him as he mashed his blubbery body against hers. She gagged at the smell of his aftershave mixed with sweat and clawed at him, shocked at how he was able to pry her legs apart against her will. He yanked her camisole, ripping it down the middle and revealing her breasts. He growled and pawed at them.

Get off of me! she yelled, and slapped his face. Her eyes began to water as she fought with him. Be strong, she told herself.

Suddenly the car jolted to a stop and shook violently. Hank rolled off of Emma onto the floor. Then a sinking sensation filled her stomach. Not unlike