Vampire Gemini. Amy Blankenship

better than to get close to his doorway. The last time she had gotten to close, he had invited her in.

      Yohji’s shoulders visibly slumped as his eyes trailed down her again, “That’s good, come on in and I’ll get you a receipt.” He’d hoped she would come up short this month and beg him to let it slide. The corner of his lip lifted in a smirk.

      Kyoko shook her head as she counted to ten. “I can wait out here for it.” She folded her arms in front of her as if she were bored out of her mind waiting on him.

      Yohji shrugged knowing that little game… they’d played it before. He would go get the receipt and she would be gone before he made it back out. “I’ll give it to you later.”

      â€œThat’s fine,” Kyoko turned the key in her lock and opened the door to her apartment trying for a quick getaway.

      â€œHas anyone told you how hot you look in that skirt?” Yohji asked suddenly right behind her.

      Kyoko glanced over her shoulder at him and arched an eyebrow. “Are you flirting with me Yohji?” She’d always wondered what he would look like flat on his back… with a bloody nose.

      â€œDoes it matter?” He asked, running a hand through his spiked hair and grinning, thinking he was finally going to get lucky.

      â€œActually it does,” Kyoko stated. “I don’t think my boyfriend would like it very much.”

      Yohji smirked at her knowing she spent her time inside the apartment alone, “Now we both know you don’t have a boyfriend, Kyoko. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were trying to avoid the inevitable.” He pressed his large hand against Kyoko’s open door so she couldn’t close it. “What’s wrong? Afraid I won’t be man enough for you, or are you saving it for that imaginary special someone?”

      Kyoko glared at him, her emerald eyes turning stormy. If he was tired of being nice… then so was she. “I’m sorry Yohji, but I’m more into guys that don’t dip into a different flavor of sauce every night.”

      Kyoko gasped when Yohji suddenly grabbed the hand she had on the doorknob and pulled the door closed then pressed against her backside, pushing her body into the unforgiving wood.

      â€œYou can’t tell me that you’re not the least bit curious Kyoko,” Yohji whispered in her ear while grinding his arousal against her bottom. “I won’t tell your imaginary boyfriend if you won’t.”

      â€œHe’s not imaginary. In fact, I’m meeting him downstairs in a little while,” Kyoko ground out knowing if she lost her temper with the dumb ass… she would definitely get kicked out and he would leave in an ambulance.

      â€œOh really? Tell me what he looks like,” Yohji demanded as he felt himself strain inside his jeans. He liked the ones that put up a little fight.

      Kyoko took a deep breath. “He’s got long black silky hair, pale skin, very dark eyes and a body to die for.” She described and mentally smirked. ‘Take that you ass!’ “And he’s very possessive.”

      Yohji made a sound that was supposed to be a growl. Kyoko almost busted out laughing… if Yohji only knew what the real thing sounded like. She finally decided she’d had enough and was about to turn on him when a door further down the hall opened.

      Amni stepped out in a pair of tight jeans and black T-shirt that accentuated his athletic body. His sky blue eyes narrowed and the muscles in his jaw jumped as he took in the so-called landlord virtually mauling Kyoko. He watched as Yohji quickly pulled away from Kyoko and the auburn haired woman turned around with a glare.

      â€œLet me know when you want the rent,” she said sweetly. “On second thought… maybe I’ll start mailing it to your brother Hitomi so I won’t bother you anymore… okay?”

      Before Yohji could stop her, Kyoko slipped into her apartment and bolted all the locks behind her. Tossing her jacket onto a nearby chair, Kyoko ripped open the letter from her grandpa and started reading it. She slid down onto the sofa and rolled her eyes at its content.

      â€œOh, this is rich,” Kyoko growled softly. “Not only am I an eighteen year old virgin… but that’s the reason vampires can sense me?” She huffed in disgust just before her eyes widened at the last line in the letter. “You want me to WHAT?” Kyoko screeched.

      Her grandfather had just ordered her to find a boyfriend or he would tell Tasuki where to find her.

      â€œGrandpa…” She seethed as she crumpled the letter in her fist. “YOU PERVERTED JERK, YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME THIS A LONG TIME AGO!”

      Amni had stared Yohji down until the creep went back into his apartment. “I’ll get even with you for touching her later,” he informed the closed door then turned to knock on Kyoko’s. His hand halted in midair wondering who she was yelling at.

      There was a soft knock on her door and Kyoko stormed across the room. She quickly undid all the locks and nearly tore the apartment door off its hinges before glaring at the poor soul on the other side.

      â€œWHAT?” She demanded.

      Amni backed up a step and raised his hands in front of him. “Calm down Kyoko, I was just making sure you were all right.” Although he would admit anger looked very sexy on her, especially when her breast rose and fell like that.

      Kyoko sighed and leaned her temple against the door jam. Amni was the bartender downstairs at the club. They’d struck up a type of friendship not long after she moved in. Amni was very cute with blonde hair that hung in layers around his face and down his back… the longest layers barely touching his upper thighs. His skin was clear of any blemishes and had a silky appearance that Kyoko was sure any girl could get used to.

      He would have been her first choice for what Grandpa Hogo had suggested… too bad he was a vampire. That was an odd, if not disastrous relationship waiting to happen if it ever came to pass… which it wouldn’t. Amni had never made any moves to kill her or bed her for which she was grateful. It was all for the best anyway, because she wouldn’t be caught dead with a vampire as a boyfriend, not in a million years.

      Amni stood patiently outside her door and studied her tired expression. He’d first met Kyoko in this very hallway the same night she moved in. It still made him a little high when he realized the full implications of that very meeting.

      She’d just come out of her room and was locking it when he stepped out of his. They both froze and stared at each other. Her right fist was balled up and he saw the glowing spirit dart clenched tightly within it. After staring at him for a few moments, she turned to face him but stayed next to her door, leaning on it.

      Amni carefully walked down the hall toward the stairs and breathed a sigh of relief when he finally made it down to the club. Later that evening, or early that morning if you will, he’d come upstairs ready to shower off the smells of the bar from his body. Again he saw Kyoko standing outside her door and remembered wondering if she’d stood there all night.

      As he walked by her toward his own door, she finally spoke to him.

      â€œI know what you are,” Kyoko said softly.

      Amni stopped but kept his back to her hoping she would see it as a sign of trust. “I have a pretty good idea what you are as well.”

      â€œThen I purpose a truce,” Kyoko stated.

      Amni finally looked back at her curiously. “Why didn’t you kill me last night?”

      Kyoko crossed her arms over her chest having thought about it off and on all night. The truth was… she simply didn’t want to. “You don’t