The gremlins watched in silence. She turned to them. “How did you know it was me when you were in town?”
Snark looked impish. “Come with us.”
They led her to a dark study upstairs, switched on an overhead light. A massive mahogany desk and matching credenza dominated the room. On the desk sat an LCD computer screen.
“Adrian’s computer. He keeps tabs on all his businesses from here,” Short told her.
Grimace slid into the black leather chair, pushed a button on a slim tower sitting beneath the desk. The gremlin shot his brother an accusing look. “404, have you been playing games on the computer again?” He pointed to the blue screen.
“Oops,” came the reply.
Snark sniffed. “Short, nothing more.”
Short went beneath the desk, fiddled with cables. “This may take a few minutes.”
The clock indicated it was nearly sunset. Adrian would soon rise and be hungry. While the gremlins worked on the computer, Sarah fetched a bottle of blood. She warmed it in the kitchen and placed it on the counter for Adrian.
When she returned to the study, the computer was finally powering up. Grimace tapped a few keys. “This is how we knew who you were,” he told her as the computer kicked into screen-saver mode.
Breath fled her lungs.
A face stared at her from the screen. A face she barely recognized, molded into a laugh, eyes sparkling with life, the dark hair shining in the sun’s setting rays. Beneath the photo was a caption: Sarah Roberts, sunset on the beach.
Adrian put her photo on the computer.
Sarah’s finger traced the digitized cheek. Had she been that happy? She’d for got ten.
Adrian had not.
404 peered at the screen. “Where is this?”
“North Carolina. We were walking on the shore. Adrian insisted on testing his new camera. He said I was more photogenic than…”
“The prettiest sunset.”
The deep velvet voice came from the doorway. She turned. Fascination stole over her as she realized Adrian wore only black silk pajama bottoms. Never before had he exposed to her so much luscious, tanned skin. Broad, sculpted shoulders rippled with muscles. Muscles ridged his flat abdomen. She stared in fascination at his smooth chest, wondering what it would feel like beneath her exploring finger tips.
Her gaze flicked up, saw him studying her with dark intensity. She turned away, feeling heat flare on her cheeks.
“Your dinner, or break fast, is in the kitchen,” she mumbled.
But he went to her, gently snagged her wrist. “Come with me. I hate to eat alone.”
She followed him to the kitchen. Adrian grabbed the bottle of blood, poured a glass and drank. Sarah watched in fascination as his throat muscles worked.
Suddenly he spewed out the contents. “Warm, unsweetened cherry Kool-Aid!” He gagged.
“I filled the bottle with blood just as you asked!” Sarah tensed, expecting him to yell.
Stunned, she watched him wipe his mouth with the back of his hand, throw back his head and laugh. Her appreciative gaze hungrily drank in his powerfully muscled body, the smooth firmness of his chest, the black satin pajama bottoms clinging to his long, athletic limbs.
Filled with amusement, those sunny blue eyes glanced at her. “The gremlins. I should have known. They’ve done this before, and I told them they would never pull this one on me again. They can’t resist a challenge.”
“Put a lock on the refrigerator,” she suggested.
“Tried that. They ate the lock. Said it was delicious.”
Together they burst into laughter. When they finally ceased, Sarah felt wistful for the emotional connection they’d shared—the vampire and the werewolf who liked to watch old movies and discuss books and theater.
When she asked if he worried about the gremlins, he grew serious.
“I took their blood, so I could track them. If one of them were dying, I’d instantly know it. I do it for everyone I care for, including my father, except I was required to take his blood. If my father dies, I instantly sense it and know I must assume leadership to keep the order.”
“Why didn’t you ever take my blood?” she asked.
He gave her an intent look. “I honored you too much, Sarah. If I took your blood, it would lead…to other things.”
He’d never touched her. Adrian’s sense of honor had guarded her chaste ness.
To hell with honor, she thought suddenly. Does he want me?
The same funny flip of her heart happened again, this time combined with a powerful erotic tingling. Her gaze roved over the firm muscle and sinew of his body, the carved planes of his face, the sensuality of his full mouth. His dark brown hair was rumpled. Sarah started to lift her hands to run them through the soft strands.
Clenching her fists, she gritted her teeth. Survival and desire were not good com pan ions.
But she wanted to push him downward, climb over him, run her tongue over that firm, smooth skin, taste him…
An intent look replaced his amused one. Adrian closed the distance between them. His long, tapered fingers slid around her neck, caressing the bare skin beneath the fall of her hair. Sarah’s body tightened with each slow stroke.
He pulled her toward him, his mouth lowering on hers. Sarah slid her arms around his neck, closing her eyes. Feelings surged through her at the languid way he kissed her. He deepened the kiss, coaxing her mouth to open beneath the in sis tent pressure of his.
His hand went to her breast, cupping the heavy weight, his thumb stroking over her hardening nipple. Sarah whispered encouragement as he touched her, each flick of his thumb making her blood run hotter, her body ache with cease less yearning.
When she reached behind him and cupped his taut buttocks, he shuddered with pleasure and broke the kiss.
Adrian nuzzled her neck, his hot breath feathering over her skin. He cupped her bottom, lifted her up against the cold steel of the refrigerator. He nudged her legs open, and stepped between them as she wrapped her thighs around his hips. Sarah arched against him, feeling the steely length in his groin. He lifted her so the opened juncture between her legs was centered against his hardness. Sarah dug her nails into his shoulders, tasted the tangy saltiness of his collarbone as she licked his flesh. She rubbed herself against him, gasping with pleasure, hearing him softly encouraging her to let go, surrender to it….
The feelings built to a crescendo, and with a tiny cry she let go. Her head hung back limply, sweat dampening her temples as she gasped for air.
Slowly he lowered her trembling body to the floor, his gaze burning into hers. Sarah ran a hand down his front, gliding over his flat abdomen, down to the silkiness of his pajama bottoms and his thick erection. She stroked through the thin covering, watching his heavy-lidded gaze darken.
Adrian growled deep in his throat, lowering his head to the vulnerable curve of her neck. She felt the erotic brush of his lips nuzzling her tender flesh, then the intriguing, sharp rasp of his fangs gently scraping her skin.
Ready to pierce, take her blood, marking her as his exclusively.
Reason returned like a hard slap to her cheek. Sarah jerked away, startling him. The dark intent in his eyes flared again as he regarded her.
“This is crazy,” she muttered, holding her hands out as if to stop him. As if she could stop him, this powerful vampire accustomed to getting anything he wanted. In her weakened state, he could topple her with the flick of a finger. He could take her blood, those long fangs sliding into her flesh, and she couldn’t stop him, wouldn’t have the strength.
Or the will.
“I can’t do this. I’m still un touched, under stand, Adrian? I’m a virgin because I need a mate of my own kind willing to take me in and that’s all I have to offer. I can’t go to another male marked by the scent of a vampire who took me and my blood.”
“Sarah, look at me,” he said quietly.
She didn’t want the enthrallment in his eyes to spell bind her. But the command
in his tone made her lift her helpless gaze.
Hands clenched into trembling fists at his sides, he studied her. The haunted look on his face twisted her heart. She wanted to wrap her arms about him and never let go and give in to the passion they both shared.
It wasn’t possible.
“I will never, ever, do anything to hurt you. Do you under stand? Even to the extent that it might hurt me. I will never do anything you don’t want me to.”
Slowly she relaxed, but his body tensed even more. He jammed a hand through his mussed hair. Something she couldn’t read flickered in his eyes.
“Have dinner with me. Tomorrow night.” His mouth twisted up in a mocking smile. “I promise I won’t bite. Please.”
Sarah nodded, leaving the room. Won’t bite. She could trust he wouldn’t.
But never trust herself not to want it.
CHAPTER SIX
THE GREMLINS WERE having trouble with the Christmas tree.
All six struggled to straighten the seven-foot balsam pine delivered that afternoon. Fresh pine tickled her senses. Sarah smiled as she unpacked the boxes of decorations. She’d seen little of Adrian last night, as he had a meeting in town. Now she enjoyed watching the little green monsters try to best the tree. The tree was winning.
“It’s crooked,” she teased them.
“We’s know that,” Wedgie said. “We’s just trying to decide what to use to anchor it to the wall so it’s straight.”
“Some times whatever you have on hand works best,” she replied, and went upstairs to change for dinner.
An elegant, floor-length red dress was laid out on the bed. Sarah picked up the garment, stroking the red velvet designer dress. Two diamond clasps were at the shoulders, the bodice was a deep V. She spotted a note in Adrian’s firm, bold handwriting.
“Please indulge me and wear this tonight. The shoes are in the closet.”
Clutching the treasure, Sarah padded over to the room-size closet.
On the floor were red Jimmy Choo shoes. They fit perfectly. A smile touched her mouth as she headed into the shower.
Her cell chirped softly. Sarah’s heart sank when she saw the number. Terrence. Probably questioning her hasty departure. She answered it.
The startling conversation that followed filled her with joy and hope. When she closed the phone, she studied the bracelet holding her captive.
“Distant cousins or not, you and your father are family,” the alpha male had told her. “Cameron admitted what happened. He’s ashamed and wants to apologize. My mate and I would be honored if you and your father would join our pack. We’ll help you defeat your enemies, honey. Draicon must stick together.”
Draicon needed to stick together. Not Draicon and vampires. She could finally bring her father to a pack that wanted them.
Sarah fiddled with the silver binding on her left wrist. It was looser. The gremlins had made one mistake in fashioning the magick handcuff. They’d failed to take into account that the metal shrank in the cold outdoors, but would expand inside the warm house.
She tugged harder, succeeding in inching it a quarter of the way down her hand. Sarah stared at the bracelet. She was strong enough to yank it off now, if she risked the pain. Escape was in her grasp.
With trembling hands, she stroked the soft red velvet. One dinner with Adrian surely could not hurt. She had tonight. Tonight must be enough.
Even though in her heart she knew it could never be enough.
Sarah dressed care fully, pulling white silk stockings over her long legs, enjoying the swish of heavy velvet as it cascaded to her ankles.
The image staring at her in the mirror was stunning. Sarah touched the glass, hardly able to believe it was her. “I look pretty,” she murmured.
Jazz played softly in the back ground as she went down stairs. In the dining room a polished walnut table was set with china, sparkling crystal and heavy silver. A setting of red poinsettias and fresh holly adorned the center. But it was Adrian, clad in a black designer dinner suit with a white starched tie and pearl-buttoned shirt, who made her breath catch.
She murmured a compliment, gratified at the admiration in his own eyes. “You’re so beautiful,” he said in a husky voice.
Her hand lovingly caressed the red velvet. “Your favorite color.”
A roguish grin touched his full mouth. “The color of passion.”
The same color tinted her cheeks. Adrian’s smile deepened. He held out her chair, but instead of pushing it in, easily lifted the chair with her in it to the table. Sarah turned with a teasing look.
“Show-off.”
“Always,” he murmured, and they laughed.
He expertly uncorked a bottle of wine and sampled it. He poured her a glass. They sipped the vintage. Sarah sighed with pleasure.
“You always did appreciate the finer things in life,” he noted.
More so now than before, since I have no money, she thought. But she wouldn’t let even that gloomy thought ruin the splendid evening. She raised her glass.
“To Rick,” she offered.
His dark, heavy brows knitted together until comprehension dawned on his handsome face. “Ah yes, Casablanca.” He looked boyish suddenly as they clinked glasses. “We’ll always have Paris.”
Sarah drank and set her glass down. “I always wonder whatever became of him. Did he ever find hap pi ness after the war, after letting go of his one true love?”
A mask dropped over Adrian’s face. He toyed with the stem of his glass. “Maybe he couldn’t let go emotion ally, but kept her guarded in his heart, like a secret never shared with the world.”
She didn’t know how to respond to that.
Dinner was rare prime rib. Sarah ate heartily as Adrian drank from a crystal goblet filled with dark crimson liquid. She gestured to it.
“Did you put a new lock on the fridge?”
“No, I simply warned them if they tampered with my food supply anymore, no more Friday night DVDs.”
“The gremlins like to watch DVDs?”
“Not watch. Eat,” he replied.
They laughed again.
He leaned forward, reaching out for her hand. “I’ve missed your smile, Sarah.”
Her hand trembled in his. Adrian stroked a thumb slowly over her wrist, the burning intensity of his gaze filled with sexual promise. Her nostrils flared as she caught his delicious, woodsy scent. She studied the hardness of his body, wondering what his muscled weight would feel like lying atop her as he pushed inside her. Moisture trickled between her legs, preparing her flesh for him. She wanted him with a hot, insane need.
Sarah withdrew her hand.
“I need to tell you. The pack I visited, the alpha called and they want to take in my father and me. When I leave here, I’ll have a family again.”
His expression quickly shuttered. “I’m pleased for you.”
But he sounded distant, as if her news was an unwelcome reminder of the barriers sharply dividing their worlds.
They finished eating. Adrian led her into the living room. A window was cracked open, allowing in the cold ocean breeze. Glittering with gold garland, colored lights and brightly colored balls, the Christmas tree stood in a corner. Sarah walked over to it, murmuring with pleasure.
“I wonder how they got it to stay upright.”
A small, teasing smile touched the corners of Adrian’s mouth. “Look in the back.”
She did. Sarah stared at the white, rust-stained garment tied to the tree and nailed to the wall. Her bra.
“They needed something rather large and supportive.” This time he chuckled openly and she went to mock-punch him.
He caught her wrists as the music system began playing a sultry jazz tune. His playful expression turned serious. “Dance with me, Sarah.”
So few indulgences she’d enjoyed. For once, she threw caution to the wind. One dance. All she had was tonight, and Adrian’s own special brand of magick.
She went into his arms. He held her tight as she rested
her head against his broad shoulder. Adrian guided her around the room, humming into her ear. Each shift of his body pressed his hard muscles against her softness. It felt good, so right, as if she belonged here. He rocked against her, eradicating everything but the thought of him. If only the night were endless, and the hours would never cease.
All too soon, they would. And soon she would leave him once more.
“The night I fled the beach, I whispered a promise to you.” Sarah’s throat tightened with the admission. “You were my only friend, Adrian, and it broke my heart to never see you again. So as I ran away, I promised I’d come back to you someday.”
He stilled, his expression filled with tender ness. “I never stopped looking for you. Needing to lure in your enemies was an excuse. It was you I searched for all these years, Sarah.”
When his lips captured hers, she sighed into his mouth. It was here and right, this moment, living only for the passion of his kiss. Adrian cupped the back of her head, tunneling his fingers through her silky hair. He kissed her with an urgent desperation, as if he never wanted to let her go.
As she kissed him back, she remembered he would have to release her. Their people despised each other. Adrian was needed as his clan’s future leader. A Draicon like her, especially a crippled one that no man wanted, could never fit into his world.
All too soon he broke the kiss. Torment filled his gaze as Adrian solemnly regarded her. She put a finger to his warm, wet mouth. “Don’t say a word. Just dance with me, for every moment we have left.”
They resumed dancing, Sarah resting her head against him. She breathed deeply, taking in his delicious masculine scent of pine and forest, mixing with a faint, odd fragrance of…fruity cologne.
A familiar tingling ran down her spine. She only experienced it when a certain Morph was present. Sarah wrenched away and ran to the French doors.
He was right behind her. “What is it?”
“They’re out there.”
Adrian frowned. “I can’t scent them.”
“They’ve learned to disguise their scent. I’ve discovered how to detect it. The Morphs last night were sent in to assess weak nesses and find their prey. Now that they know I’m here…”
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