by V. Vaughn
"Any time." I grab my bag full of books and smile as we say goodbye.
Summer sun is hot on my shoulders as I walk to the car, and I tap on the driver's-side door of the limo. Adly cracks the window. "Pop the trunk for me, please," I say. "I went shopping."
He chuckles as the window hums shut, and I go to the back to load my books. When I hoist the heavy bag up, a sharp pain slices through my heart, and I gasp and drop my books onto the ground with a loud thud before I double over in pain. "Oh god." Sweat coats my skin as I pant, and I quickly upend my purse so that the contents clatter on the pavement. An amber bottle of medication rolls a bit before I latch onto it so I can get a pill.
"Margaret!"
I glance up in shock at Sebastian out in the bright sunlight. I dry swallow my pill and say, "Get back in the car! You'll—" He scoops me up and places me inside the limo with vampire speed. After he scrambles in too, I inspect his face and notice it's pink with what I think is an instant sunburn. "Are you okay?"
"Are you?"
I nod. My pills work quickly, and I do feel better now. "I told you. Sometimes that happens." He shakes his head at me and moves toward the open door. "No!" I yell, but it doesn't stop him, and as I move to follow Sebastian, I hear the trunk slam. Before I can get out of the car, he pushes his way back in with my purse. He hands it to me, and I notice the angry red skin on his fingers. I reach out but don't touch his hand. "Sebastian! What were you thinking?"
"The question is what are you thinking? How long have you been sick?"
"I'm not sick. I'm—" I recall fainting earlier and how I felt off when I woke up. Added to the pain in my heart from a strenuous act, these are warning signs I shouldn't ignore. I sigh. "I have been overdoing things."
Sebastian grimaces as he retrieves his phone from his pocket, and I imagine the pain of his sunburn scraping against the fabric of his slacks. I say, "I don't need an ambulance."
He cocks an eyebrow at me as he holds his cell to his ear. "Hello. This is Sebastian Hart, and I'm afraid we're going to have to cancel Kitty Kane's signing tonight. She has fallen ill." He turns his gaze to me, and I expect anger or disappointment, but I see concern as he listens to the person on the other end of his call. "Yes. I'm very sorry. I'll call to reschedule when I know more. Thank you." His phone clicks as he turns it off.
"Boss?" asks Adly from the front.
I fear we're going to the hospital, so I quickly say, "All I need is a proper meal and a nap."
Sebastian says, "The hotel, please." As we start moving, he glances down at my chest. "I'd like you to drink some of my blood, please."
"That's not—"
His voice is stern as he says, "Let me rephrase that. Drink some. Now."
He raises my hackles with his demand and I cross my arms. "No. I told you I'm run down. That is all. By tomorrow morning, I'll be good as new." I notice his face is bright red now, and Elizabeth sends a wave of sympathy through me. I say, "Besides, I'm more concerned about you. Does it hurt?" I see blisters on his hand when he reaches up to touch his cheek. "Oh my god! Sebastian."
He lowers his hand and looks at it. "I'll be fine."
I think about his vampire healing abilities and wonder how his sunburn seems to be getting worse when it should be getting better. "How long is your skin going to be like that?"
As he speaks, I stare at his face in shock, because more blisters are forming before my eyes. "Unfortunately, my healing abilities seem to be nonexistent for sun exposure. Hideous, aren't I?"
I shake my head. "That is not what I'm thinking. Is it going to keep getting worse?"
He holds up his hand and inspects it. "No. The damage has stopped, but it's going to heal at the rate it would if I were human."
I think about the time I spent the day at my friend Kim's pool. Her mother was a nurse, and my mom thought I'd be safe. But Kim and I spent the day in the water, and even though her mom reapplied sunscreen more than once, I still managed to get a bad sunburn that blistered. "We need to get you some aloe vera." I turn to the front of the car. "Adly, take us to a Walmart or Target on the way, please."
"Margaret."
I turn back to Sebastian. "This isn't up for discussion." I open the cooler and pull out a bottle of water before I grab one of the cloth napkins that reside in a wine glass in the mini bar. "You need to cool down the burn." Water is damp on my fingers as I soak the napkin and hand it to him. "Dab gently." The button on the air control panel clicks as I turn the temperature down and set the fan to blow and adjust the stream toward Sebastian.
"I wish I could remember the name of the burn cream my mother used so I wouldn't scar." I frown and then grab my purse to find my phone. I realize I haven't called my mother in days, and guilt tugs at me as I send her a text asking for the name of the ointment. I quickly add that I'll try to call her in the next hour when I can speak.
"This isn't necessary. I've had many sunburns."
"Maybe not." I reach forward and put my hand on his knee. "But I know how to make you feel a little better. Let me."
Sebastian smiles. "Thank you, Margaret. That's very kind."
"You're welcome."
He tilts his head at me with a sly twinkle in his eye. "What would really help is if you drank some of my blood so that I’d know you won't pass out in the superstore while shopping for me." I squint at him with a touch of annoyance at the fact he might be right. "It's that, or I send Adly out into the sun to go shopping."
A vision of my blond friend covered in blisters flashes in my mind, and I let out a huff. I suppose a quick swig of the magic elixir would make me feel better. A tiny shudder runs through me, because it's still blood. I swallow down my disgust. "You drive a hard bargain."
He points a blistered finger toward my chest where the vial lies. I roll my eyes at him as I pull my necklace over my head, and I twist off the top. There can't be more than an ounce of blood in the tiny bottle, but I tilt my head back and open my throat as I would for a bitter-tasting medicine in an effort to get it down as quickly as possible.
The metallic flavor hits my tongue, and I gulp the liquid down. I grab the water bottle and take a big swig to clear my palate. I realize I'm being a bit dramatic and let out a dry chuckle. "Whoa." Warmth radiates from my stomach, and I hold up my arm as if I can see the sensation travel through my veins down to my fingers. "That's freaky."
Sebastian smiles. "I thought you might like it. Elizabeth said it was like having your insides wrapped in a warm blanket of l—"
Elizabeth and I finish his sentence together. "Love."
"Yes."
Elizabeth's emotions overwhelm me as if the blood was for her, and it's like taking the way I feel about Alexander and turning up the volume. Gazing at Sebastian, I don't see the blistering sunburn. I'm seeing what Elizabeth did, and I'm looking into his heart. I blink to refocus, because I'm afraid of throwing myself at him and starting something I have no intention of finishing.
The blinker of the limo ticks, and I glance out the window and discover we're at a shopping plaza. I grab my purse and say, "This won't take me long."
"Thank you, Margaret."
My heels click over the pavement as I walk toward the entrance, and I think about how vulnerable Sebastian is at this moment. I'm used to a strong man in control of everything. He’s a man who rushes to my side when my heart is failing me and protects me from the evils of the vampire world. Right now, he's in pain, and I'm the one doing what I can to help him. It feels good. Not only because I'm able to help him for a change, but because he's letting me.
When I step through the door, the temperature is drastically colder, offering me relief from the hot day, and it occurs to me my relationship with the older Hart brother has shifted to something better. I smile as I head toward the garden department.
8
Maggie
Drinking Sebastian's blood made me feel so good I wonder how long I've been off without noticing it. I wander through rows of plants, and the odor of basil catches my
attention as I search for the succulents. My life has been a whirlwind of activity I'm not used to since I arrived at the Hart mansion less than two months ago, and I'm aware that I replaced paying attention to every detail of my health with more exciting things. While it's good my life is now full of adventure, I need to remember I'm a vulnerable human who should be listening to her body's cues.
I spot a large aloe vera plant and grab it. As I begin to walk away, my phone buzzes with a text, and I see it's from my mother. I hit Call.
"Maggie! My gosh, it's so great to hear from you."
I adore my mother, because she'd be well within her rights to chide me for being so distant, but the joy in her voice is genuine. "Hi, Mom. I'm sorry I've been so lax at keeping in touch. My new job is crazy busy."
"I can imagine. Are you having fun?"
Happiness fills me as I smile. "I am. I wish I could share all the details, but I can tell you I ride around in a limo, wearing nice clothes and eating in fancy restaurants. It's pretty amazing."
"Wow. Color me jealous. Let me know if your boss needs another employee. It sounds like heaven to me."
As much as I'd love to have my mother by my side, I can't help the twinge of panic I feel thinking about pulling her into the vampire world full of danger. "I certainly will. I miss you."
Mom switches to her nurse tone and says, "Tell me why you need burn ointment."
"It's not for me. Mr. Hart got a bad sunburn, and I remembered what you did when I got mine."
She proceeds to give me instructions on how to care for Sebastian's sunburn and warns me that he needs to keep the blisters clean so they won't get infected. I soak in my mother's voice, and sadness makes my chest tighten with the urge to cry. Joan's hug today made me realize how much I miss my mom, and I have to swallow down the lump in my throat when it's my turn to talk.
I want to tell her I'm afraid I might be sick and have her take my temperature by kissing my forehead and then reassure me everything is fine. Or have her know it's not and be there with me when I have to go to the hospital.
Boxes rattle on the shelf as I pull down the burn remedy my mother recommended, and I ask her, "How's work?"
I let her amuse me with funny stories until I've paid. I step out of the store and say, "Mom, I have to go. It was really great to hear your voice."
"It was nice to talk to you too, Maggie. Don't be a stranger. I love you."
The urge to cry comes over me again and I croak out, "I love you too, Mom. Bye."
Adly must have been waiting close by with the car running, because he pulls up to the entrance as I hang up. I blink back my tears before I get inside.
Sebastian says, "My dear, you look so sad. What is it?" He hands me a cloth handkerchief from his pocket.
I take it from him and wipe my nose as I sniff. "Just a touch of homesickness. I'm fine." I take a deep breath as I set my shopping bag down and pull out the aloe plant. I snap off a section, and using my fingernail, I slice it open to reveal the gooey contents. I set it in my lap and find the hand sanitizer in one of the console compartments to clean up before I stick my finger in the aloe. "I'm going to rub this on your burn. Come closer."
Sebastian scoots forward, and I gently dab goo onto the back of his hands. "My goodness," I say. “This has got to hurt."
"Not at all. You're very gentle."
I glance up to Sebastian's gaze, and my heart flutters as if I have a crush on him. I dart my eyes back to the aloe and get some more to put on his face. This time when I look at him, I try to focus on my task. I dab a bit on his nose. "I sure hope this isn't going to scar."
Sebastian chuckles. "It might make me look more menacing if it did."
I find myself drawn to his mouth as he speaks, and I stroke his cheek slowly, as a lover might, as I apply more aloe. Elizabeth is working me hard, because the urge to kiss him is strong as my heart rate increases. I flash to the night he fed on my friends for a distraction. "I don't know. You've got that evil grin that's pretty scary when your fangs come out." The section of my neck that meets my right shoulder tingles as if it's begging to be bitten, and I jerk back at the sensation.
"Margaret?"
I shake my head. "Sorry. I thought I pressed too hard." His brow knits, and I know Sebastian didn't buy my excuse. I force a big smile as I finish applying the goo. "There. It's going to dry up and feel tight, but think of it as a beauty mask restoring you to your handsome self."
He reaches out and takes my hand, and a zing of desire flies through me. "Thank you."
When I look into his eyes, I see the love he has for me, and Elizabeth makes my heart skip a beat as she fills me with the same emotions for him. They're powerful, and I lean in toward Sebastian a bit before I slam the door shut on my heart. I pull my hand out of his grasp as I move back on my seat. "You're very welcome." The shopping bag rustles as I reach in it to avoid looking at him, and I pull out the ointment. "Once we get back to the hotel, you should wash the aloe off and put on some of this."
"I will," he says as I try to block out the pleasant sound of his voice. It's as if Elizabeth is taking over all my emotions, and I force up a vision of Alexander. I picture his face as he leans in to kiss me, and I recall the way Alexander's touch in sensitive places gives me pleasure. But it's not enough, and I sneak a glance at Sebastian as my mind wanders to what his fingers would feel like on my—Stop it! I scream at Elizabeth and myself. I don't know what's gotten into me, and I close my eyes again as I lean my head back on the seat.
"Margaret, what is it?"
"Nothing. I'm tired."
"I'm afraid I don't believe you, my dear. Please. I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong."
I sit up and gaze at him. What's wrong is I've begun to care too much for the brother of the man I'm in love with, and I think Elizabeth is why. "I need a healthy meal and plenty of rest." I don't say that I also need to find a way to control Elizabeth for my emotional well-being, and a swig of vampire blood isn't the cure for that.
Oh my god. Sebastian's blood. While it probably helped heal whatever was wrong with my heart, what if it strengthened Elizabeth's ability to affect my feelings too? Did Sebastian know that would happen and that's why he was so insistent I drink it? I shake my head at myself. He couldn't have known, and I believe he's more concerned with keeping me alive. Even so, there's no way I can let Sebastian give me more. If I'm still feeling drained tomorrow, I'm going to insist on going to the hospital instead.
The limo slows, and I open my eyes as Adly drives into the hotel parking garage. I gladly take his hand as I climb out of the car. My feet are swollen, and it hurts to stand on them.
I grimace, and when Adly notices, he says, "Will you let me carry you to the room?" I nod. He turns his attention to Sebastian. "I've got her so you can watch those hands."
Sebastian's eyes get hard for a moment, but he nods in agreement, and I relax a bit with my relief. I'm not sure if I'd be strong enough to resist Elizabeth's desires. Adly gets me into my bedroom and onto my bed. He removes my shoes and grabs a pillow. It's cool under my feet as he props them up and says, "You've got what my grandmother called cankles."
"Cankles?" I chuckle. "I like that word."
"It's a real one. Her feet would swell up like this at the end of a hot day. Does this happen because of your heart?"
I nod, but I don't tell him it's another warning sign that my health is in danger. "Thank you, Adly. I feel like a delicate flower hanging out with you vampires."
He grins. "That's because you are."
Sebastian comes into my room, and when he glances at my feet on the pillow, he's says, "You are most certainly not well, and I'm going to cancel tomorrow's signing."
"I think that's a good idea."
Adly asks, "Do you think more blood would help?"
"No," I say a little too loudly. "I'm sorry. I'm sure vampire blood is great in a pinch, but I'd rather see a doctor. Let me see how I feel in the morning, but if I'm not much better, I think it's time to go t
o the hospital."
"Not tonight?"
I shake my head. "Please. I've been doing this all my life."
"Of course," says Sebastian.
Adly says, "What can I get you to eat?"
I don't trust myself around Sebastian, so I say, "What I'd really like is if you'd order me plain fish and steamed vegetables and then sit and watch cartoons with me until I fall asleep."
Adly smiles. "I'd love to. Let me go change, and I'll be back by the time your food arrives."
"Thank you."
After he leaves, Sebastian sits on the end of my bed to face me. "Are you sure we don't need to go tonight?"
I nod. "Thank you for your concern, but I know my body pretty well, and what I need most is rest." I nod toward my feet. "While these are warning signs I can't ignore, I'm not going to die overnight. Tomorrow is just fine."
"Then I'll leave you alone."
As he stands, I ask, "How does your sunburn feel?"
"It's nothing. I'm going to go wash my face and put on my ointment like the doctor ordered, though."
I grin. "Good." I'm afraid there could be tension between us because I asked Adly to stay tonight, so I ask, "Would you like to watch cartoons with us?"
He shakes his head, and his smile appears to be sad. As he walks away, Elizabeth makes every cell of my body want to call after him to come back. But I manage to keep quiet, and I wonder how I'm going to keep her at bay.
9
Lyndsey
There is something a bit strange about reading a book in the same room as the author. Especially when it comes to the sex scenes. Even more odd is having that author ask you what you think. I squirm a bit on the couch as I consider how to answer Alexander's question about whether or not the anal sex scene I just read is a turn-on. I decide to blurt out what I'm thinking. "Here's the thing. The women I know who have had anal sex only did it to please their boyfriends. I don't know any who love it."
"Hmmm. So the scene wasn't titillating for you?"
My cheeks flush with my embarrassment, because what I read was hot. "The scene is definitely a turn-on because that's not all that happens. You've got a lot of steaminess leading up to it. It helps that you made the girl like it too. But I'm just saying, I don't know any woman who does in real life." I scrunch up my face. "There's the whole poop factor to consider."
