Chapter 1 - Too Many

Luci slowly opened her eyes and looked around. She groaned because she couldn't remember where she was or who she went home with. She remembered going to a club and drinking a lot. Not that nasty human stuff, but grade-A vampire liquor.

She glanced around the room and saw a large window that looked out at the ocean. The room had minimal furniture besides a bed, dresser, and nightstand. There were clothes thrown on the floor. Among them was the short blue mini dress she wore last night.

Luci sat up and looked at the man lying next to her. He was handsome for a human. From what she could see, he had thick curly black hair and was extremely muscular. She had no idea what his name was.

She saw the marks on his neck where she had bitten him. That was her telltale sign that she had a good orgasm. Luci knew how to bite her lovers just enough to make both of their orgasms intense without releasing her venom to kill or change them. The men didn't understand why it was so good because they couldn't feel her bite.

Luci quietly got out of bed and put her dress on. She didn't even bother to look for her panties. There was a good chance those were gone before she got to his place. She looked around to ensure there was no evidence of her being there, and then she slipped out the door.

This was a typical morning for Luci. She would party all night and go home with the most handsome men. She didn't care who they were, their names, or their species. As long as they took care of her needs, she was happy.

Luci walked out of the building and looked around. She recognized some landmarks and realized she wasn't far from her condo. She started walking home along the coast.

It was still early, but people were already out trying to get the best spot on the beach to spend the day. Several people stopped what they were doing to stare at Luci, but she didn't pay them any attention.

She was tall at 5'10" with long blonde hair, dark brown eyes, sun-kissed skin, and a curvy figure. Men wanted her, and women wanted to be her. None of them would have guessed that she was a vampire.

She carried her heels in her hand as she made her way across the white sand. The smell of the sea washed over her as the breeze caressed her skin. The sky was getting brighter as the sun came up behind the mountains to blaze over the blue water.

It was breathtaking if you were into sunrises; Luci couldn't care less. She was almost two hundred years old and had seen too many sunrises and sunsets to count all over the world. She was only a few buildings away from her condo when a man came running up to her.

"Hey honey, you look lost. Why don't you come home with me, and I can help you find your way." He had the nerve to rub his hand down her hip to her thigh, where her short dress ended. As he rubbed his hand on the bare skin of her leg, Luci rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand.

"Touch me again, and you will lose this hand." She squeezed hard, causing the man's face to turn white from the pain. She pushed him to the ground and continued toward her home.

Luci may sleep with a different man every night, but that didn't mean she liked people touching her whenever they wanted. She wasn't picky about her men but preferred humans because their blood was more of an aphrodisiac than a shifter's.

She had finally made it home and went through the back door and up the four flights of stairs to her top-floor condo. Out of all the houses she had throughout the world, this was one of her favorites.

Her condo was done in different shades of pastels. The furniture was white with pastel blue accent pillows and throws. A multi-pastel-colored rug was on the white-tiled floor. Her bedroom continued with the theme of white and pastel.

Luci's home was her safe place where she allowed few visitors. She always went to her lover's houses; they never came to hers. She didn't want anyone to try and find her after their one night together.

She made her way into her bathroom so she could shower, and she saw she had a text on her phone. It was from her friend Janie asking what had happened to her because she'd found a nice human to go home with. She was a vampire as well, but much younger than Luci.

Janie hoped to find her mate among all the men they met, but Luci was the opposite. She didn't need a mate to treat her like an object he owned for the next millennium. She preferred doing whatever she wanted and sleeping with whoever she wanted.

If she had a mate, it would cramp her style. Luci's parents were hopeful she would settle down with her fated mate or one of the elder's sons in their community. She had no desire for either.

Luci liked vampire men the least of all. They were too stuffy and had no sense of fun. At least the shifters she had been with could enjoy themselves and were good in bed.

She stripped off her dress and turned on the shower. Whoever said that vampires don't get tired didn't know what they were talking about; Luci was exhausted.

After her shower, she got into bed, slipped under the covers naked, and went to sleep. She didn't think clothes were necessary when she lived alone. Besides, she liked the feel of the soft sheets on her skin.

Luci woke a few hours later to the sound of someone banging on her door. She knew it had to be Janie, so she threw on her bathrobe and went to the door. Janie came skipping in as soon as the door was open. She was tall like Luci but had short chestnut brown hair and green eyes.

"What happened to you last night? You were dancing with that sexy dark-haired man one minute, and the next, you were gone." Janie flopped down on the couch in the living room while Luci glared at her.

"You know what happened. I went home with him so he could fuck my brains out. Just like every other night, why were you looking for me? I thought you said you found a human to go home with too." Luci walked over and sat at the other end of the couch.

"I did, but then I changed my mind because I met my mate. He's a vampire named Sam, and he's over three hundred years old. I took him home with me, and we talked all night. I haven't even slept yet."

Luci smiled at her. Even though she didn't want a mate, she was glad for Janie, although she would miss her friend going out with her.

"Congratulations. Does he live around here?" Luci asked.

"No, he was in San Diego on business. He makes vampire wine and travels worldwide, selling it to vampire hot spots. That's what he was doing in the club last night. I was getting ready to leave with my human when he came in the door, and we bumped into each other. I felt the sparks right away, and so did he. He's waiting for me, but I had to see you before we left." Luci looked at Janie, confused.

"What do you mean before you leave? Where are you going?" She asked.

"I'm going to live with him at his home in Italy. You know I'm not like you. I wanted to find my mate and knew I would be bound to him forever as soon as I did. Having sex with different men every night was fun, but it's not a lifestyle I want to continue. I want to have children and know what it's like to be loved. Don't you want any of that?" Janie felt terrible about leaving her friend, but she had no choice. She knew why Luci was the way she was, and she understood, but Janie wanted to be with her mate.

"I don't need love or children. For what? To bring them into a world full of disappointments and heartache. No mate can ever fulfill my needs." Luci didn't care what anyone said. She would rather be with many nameless men than give her heart to a mate for him to trample on.

"Alright, have it your way. I have to go home so I can pack. We're leaving in a few hours to head to Italy. I promise when Sam returns to California, I'll come with him to visit. You can come and visit us too." Luci walked over to Janie and hugged her.

"I'm going to miss you. If Sam hurts you, let me know, and I'll kill him myself." Luci said while fighting her tears. Janie was her only real friend.

"I'll miss you too. If you find your mate, please give him a chance. All men aren't jerks, I promise." Janie said, but Luci wouldn't promise anything because she had no intention of accepting a mate.

After Janie left, Luci walked onto her balcony and looked at the people on the beach below her. She knew she could go down there right now and have any number of men take care of her needs. That was more satisfying to her than having any emotional attachments. Over the past century, she had been with many men, too many to count.