She nestled deeper on his chest. “I’m glad, too.”
“You are?”
“Yes.”
“Do you now believe you are the reincarnation of Seraphina?”
Cat stared at the dark, glistening water. “I’m not as opposed to the idea.” She was still afraid to admit it aloud.
“Does that mean you will stay with me?”
She sighed, struggling to make sense of her emotions. “I’m scared, Tobias. I’m a vampire now, and you’re the only person on earth who can help me get accustomed to my new life.”
“I see.”
She felt him tense beneath and she regretted her words. She knew she’d disappointed him, hurt him. He had expected her to tell him she wanted to stay with him because she loved him, but she couldn’t—not yet. She was petrified of opening her heart to him. She’d opened her heart before and it shattered.
“I will never hurt you, Cat.”
She tensed. “Did you just read my mind?”
“I wanted to, but I didn’t. I know you’re afraid of love. I know that other man hurt you, but you must realize I’m not that man. I’m a man who’s loved you for three hundred years.”
She felt the back of her eyes sting. “I know.” She wondered how he’d lived, how he’d survived for three hundred years, alone. She stared at the city lights and thought about all the lives going on around her, oblivious of the two vampires sitting atop the Stature of Liberty.
“Tobias, how did you survive all these centuries? I mean, what did you do?”
“For a living?”
She turned her head slightly and nodded, interested in his response.
He sighed heavily. “Well, in my case, it would be livings. Plural. At first it was tough. I had to find jobs where I could work evenings or make my own schedule and work during the day when it was overcast or raining. I stayed in London for a long time, and then I moved to the States and settled in places like Seattle where sunshine isn’t prone to long stretches. At the beginning, I worked as a carpenter and then a blacksmith. With the turn of the industrial revolution, I had more resources at my hands. I worked evening shifts as a foreman in numerous plants and eventually fell into managing them. By this time, I had accumulated enough wealth to go to school. I went to night school, so it took me quite a long time to complete my studies. I have four degrees. Engineering, a BA in Computer Science, a PhD in History, and an MBA—”
She snapped around and gaped at him. “You went to University four times?”
He shrugged casually. “When you realize you will live forever, you view life very differently. Those thirty years I spent in Universities is nothing compared to the four hundred years I’ve already lived.”
“I see your point.”
“After I completed my studies I went back to work. I invested in stocks and bonds, owned a nightclub at the turn of the century and later, in the fifties, I opened a drive-in. I took a break in the eighties and nineties, and a couple of years ago I opened a nightclub.”
She whistled in awe. “Tobias, you’re a fascinating man.”
“Thank you. You’re a fascinating woman.”
“Hardly. What have I done compared to your long list of accomplishments?”
The wind wrestled with her hair and he tucked a loose tendril behind her ear. “Well, let’s see. From what I know so far, you made your dream of becoming a writer come true. You’re a best selling novelist. That’s a big accomplishment, Cat. It’s brought you security, wealth, freedom.”
A memory dimmed any appreciation she would have felt at what he said. “I…I gave my grandmother a copy of my first book, thinking she would be proud of me, but she gave it back to me without even reading it.”
“You never made amends with her?”
“No. She always hated me because I looked a lot like my mother and I was a constant reminder to her that her son died senselessly. My mom and dad died in a car accident. Mom was driving and my grandmother always blamed her for their deaths.”
“I’m sorry, Cat.”
“Don’t be. It took me a long time to realize I couldn’t change how my grandmother felt. I couldn’t make her love me.”
There was a long silence and she wondered if he heard her. She turned her head to look up at him and noted his dark, brooding expression. “So all the people you’ve ever loved,” he began, “left you or rejected you in some way. Your parents, your grandmother, the man who broke your heart. It’s no wonder you’re afraid to love me.”
Cat didn’t know what to say. She tore her gaze away from his and stared out into the city’s skyline. She felt his hand on her cheek as he turned her face back to his.
“Don’t be afraid to love me, Cat.” He lowered his head.
The moment their lips met, she melted and twisted her body around to face him, bringing her arms around his shoulders. She sighed against his mouth and he slipped his hands around her waist and lifted her so she ended up straddling him. She could tell he was aroused and she moaned, feeling a stab of longing in her belly.
He deepened his kiss, groaning as she kissed him back passionately. His hand moved between them and he found her breast, caressing it. He groaned again, but this time he dragged his mouth away and gave her a dark, heated look.
“Somehow I feel making love here would be defacing a national monument.” He looked up. “It’s going to be dawn soon. We should get going.” She avoided his gaze, embarrassed by the sudden passion she’d displayed. “Cat,” he said. “I want to take you home to make love to you in bed, not on the arm of the Statue of Liberty.”
Her embarrassment fled and excitement replaced it. He brushed his lips quickly over hers and grabbed her around her waist. She gasped once she realized they were going to sail through the air again. Her arms went around his waist and she clung to him for dear life.
By the time they arrived back at his place, she was breathless. She was also breathless for another reason. Tobias kissed her soundly before he led her into the bedroom. Before she could catch her breath, their clothes were on the floor, and he proceeded to make love to her with a passion that made her cry out.
After they were spent, he gathered her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “We should get some sleep. We rise when the sun sets.”
She nodded and let the steady rise and fall of his chest lull her to sleep.
Chapter Ten
When she rose at sunset, she saw the glass Tobias had left for her on the nightstand. She heard the shower running in the adjoining bathroom as she gulped the blood.
She thought about real food such as pizza or hamburgers, wondering if she could still eat them—just for the taste. She’d have to ask Tobias about that, but something told her he’d say that was yet another thing she would have to give up.
He walked into the bedroom, a huge, white bath towel wrapped around his middle, and smiled at her. “I’d say good morning, but in this case it’s good evening.”
His smile warmed her. “I was just thinking, do you ever eat real food?”
“No. The few times I tried at the beginning, it didn’t go down well.”
“So no more coffee and toast for breakfast, or ice cream on a hot, summer day, or pizza with double pepperoni and cheese.”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Don’t apologize. The funny thing is, I haven’t once craved food since I turned. My appetite is kind of shot.”
He dropped the towel and Cat ran an appreciative gaze over his naked body. She thought of another appetite she had that never seemed to run out as she stared at his taut abdomen and lower. Even in his un-aroused state, he still managed to exude a male energy that made the blood rush to her cheeks.
He dressed in black trousers and a black silk shirt. “Cat, I have to go to my bar for a meeting. I want you to come with me.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I was hoping to get some writing done and I wanted to call Mel.”
“I will only be gone an hour.”
&nb
sp; “I’ll be fine.”
He strode to the bed and bent down. “All right. I’ll see you in an hour.” He kissed her firmly on the mouth.
A tug of familiarity hung in the air, as if his kissing her goodbye was something he’d done a thousand times before. Were Seraphina’s memories resurfacing?
“Stay indoors. Don’t step foot outside. I have a private entrance I use,” he said and then left.
She leaned back on the bed and closed her eyes. First, she would take a shower, then she would call Mel. She got out of bed and went into the bathroom. She paused before the mirror and gasped softly. Was that really her? She didn’t even have bed hair. Her skin was glowing, her teeth were chalk-white, and her lips were blood-red. She ran a shaky hand through her lustrous, blonde hair, whispering, “Unbelievable.” She’d never looked this good. Not a bad trade off for never touching pizza again, she thought with a smile. Her hand automatically went to her belly and she thought of her baby growing inside her, the best trade off of all.
She showered quickly and after she dressed in her jeans and T-shirt, she picked up the phone.
She heard Mel answer it on the second ring. “Hello.”
“It’s Cat. How are you?”
“I’m great. How is everything down there?”
“Er, fine. I just wanted to say…hello.”
There was a slight pause. “Cat, I know you. You don’t sound fine. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just tired.”
“Start the fire, lie on the couch, and relax with a good book.”
“Mel, I’m not at the cabin. I…I met someone and we drove to his place in Manhattan. I’m going to stay here for a few days.”
There was a pause on the other end. “Is he a nice guy?”
“Yes,” Cat replied automatically. With the exception of being a vampire and turning her life completely upside down, he was a nice guy. “You’d like him.”
“When can I meet him?”
“I’m not sure. Soon. I’m going to talk to him about his schedule. He owns a nightclub and he’s pretty busy these days.”
“Maybe I can come down for a few days. I’m long overdue for time off.”
“No. Er…I mean, not yet. I’m still getting to know him and when I’m sure where this is leading I’ll…I’ll call you.”
“Okay. Cat, if you need anything give me a call.”
Cat braced herself. “Actually, there’s something I have to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“It’s the cabin. I…I came home after shopping for wood, and the front door was busted in and the Hummer’s windshield was smashed. I looked around your place, but couldn’t tell if they took anything of value.” She squeezed her eyes, hating that she lied.
Mel gasped. “Oh, my God. Are you okay?”
“Yes, but I was so scared the robbers would come back, I called Tobias, the guy I was telling you about, and he told me to pack and said he’d take me to his place here.”
“Did you call the cops?”
“No. I wasn’t thinking straight, but Tobias sealed the door as best he could before we left.”
“No problem. I’ll call the cops right away. They may want to talk to you. Can I give them your cell number?”
“Of course. I’m sorry, Mel.”
“Nonsense. It wasn’t your fault. Besides, I have insurance, so don’t worry about anything. As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.”
As long as Mel was okay, Cat thought after they got off the phone, and that was all that mattered. It would take time to cut the ties with her, but Cat had to do it. She didn’t want to be the one responsible for putting her best friend’s life in danger.
She leaned her head back on the couch and closed her eyes trying to get rid of the guilt burdening her. She had never lied to Mel. Ever.
She didn’t have time to think more on the subject because the front door burst open. She gasped and vaulted off the couch staring at the handsome man strolling into the penthouse. He was tall, with blonde, longish hair, and wore a long black coat. He eyed her with distaste and Cat’s heart stopped.
He looked too familiar.
“It was easy going past security,” he said in a deep voice. “He’ll be out for a few hours. Plenty of time to kill you before Tobias returns.”
“Who are you?” She already knew. Somehow, she knew deep in her heart the familiarity she felt with him ran deep.
“Come now, Seraphina,” he drawled. “Don’t you recognize your own brother? I recognize you. You haven’t changed a bit in three hundred years.”
“Quinn Granger,” she whispered.
“At your service.”
She didn’t understand why she wasn’t afraid. She felt other emotions whirling in her heart. Sadness, disappointment, regret, but no fear.
“What do you want?”
“I already told you—I’m going to kill you, and when I’m done, I’ll wait for your demon lover and kill him, too.”
“I won’t let you.”
He looked impressed. “You are much more confident today than you were three hundred years ago. Remember how you begged and pleaded with father to spare you and Tobias?”
Now, Cat felt rage—white, hot rage that made her choke. “And you just stood there and let father drive that stake through my heart.” She froze. Where did that come from? Where did all the feelings of anger and betrayal come from? Was her past resurfacing? Was she remembering it all?
“Yes, and if you hadn’t been resurrected from the dead, I would be home relaxing.”
Her anger slowly melted away. “Father was disillusioned, Quinn. He was ill, and he mentally abused you since you were a child. Everything he believed in, he drilled into your head.” She paused, feeling sick. “He turned you into what you are today. A monster.”
Quinn’s face darkened in anger. “I’m a monster because I was careless on my last raid three hundred years ago and allowed one of your kind to capture me. I begged him to kill me, but he thought turning me would be punishment enough. That bastard was right.”
“So, when you disappeared all those centuries ago, you went into hiding because you turned into a vampire.”
“Yes, and I’ve been returning every few decades and re-establishing myself at the helm of the Granger empire, ridding the world of demons like you.”
She shook her head. “How can you say that? We’re just like humans. There’s good and bad in every race,” she said vehemently, using the same words Tobias had used.
“There are no good vampires.”
She paused, remembering something else. “I think you’re good. At least, there’s some good left in you.”
He laughed harshly. “I’m just doing what I was meant to do.”
She frowned. “What are you meant to do? Kill your sister?” She sighed, saddened. “Father brainwashed you. He abused you. I…I remember one night I begged you to play with me and you did. Father woke up from his drunken stupor and beat you. You never played with me again. On another night, I was sent to bed without dinner and you slipped me a piece of bread. When father found out, he forbade you to eat for three days. And once you—”
“Enough!” He pulled out a strange looking stick from his back pocket. He flicked a button and it snapped open into a wooden stake. “I didn’t ask for a trip down memory lane.”
Cat braced herself. She wasn’t certain of her vampire capabilities. Quinn was almost as old as Tobias and probably just as powerful. Did she, a fledgling vampire, stand a chance in battle with him? Cat was afraid to find out.
She tried to buy time. “Can’t we talk about this?”
“Enough talking!” He vaulted through the air, his stake raised.
Cat didn’t have time to scream as she watched him spring toward her. She saw her life flash before her eyes as terror numbed her. A sound jarred her and she saw Tobias lunge toward Quinn and grab him by the collar. He hurled him through the air and she watched her brother crumble against a wall.
“So, this is how Seraphina’s family found out about Cat. Quinn Granger,” Tobias growled. “It’s been a long time.”
Quinn spun around, but not before Cat saw him bare two long fangs. “Tobias Knight,” he growled back. “You’re just in time to see your beloved die—again.”
“I don’t think so,” Tobias said. “Not this time.”
Cat couldn’t believe how calm Tobias seemed and she drew strength from him.
“Your sister,” Tobias said, “didn’t deserve to die the first time, and she doesn’t deserve to die now.”
“You both belong in Hell,” Quinn spat.
“If that’s the case, then so do you.”
“I thought so, too, for a long time, until I realized being a vampire would serve me well with father’s quest. Call it divine intervention when I was turned.”
“There is nothing divine about killing innocent people.” Tobias remarked dryly.
“Innocent? You two? You’re both Satan worshippers. Your brother defiled my mother and you defiled my sister.”
Cat clenched her fist. “That’s father speaking, not you. You’ve never known anything other than what he taught you, Quinn. The hatred you feel inside is father’s, not yours.”
Tobias gave her a somber look. “Cat, you’re absolutely right,” he began slowly. His gaze locked with hers. “Seraphina was a healer. So are you. Your healing powers can help this situation.”
Quinn exploded. “What the devil are you talking about?”
The light went on in Cat’s head. Of course! She stared at Tobias. “What…what do I do?”
His dark gaze fixed on hers. Touch him, she heard Tobias’s voice say in her head. Touch him and set him free. Do what you’ve always done and heal. Heal his tormented heart and soul.
Cat nodded and tore her gaze away from his. She faced Quinn, feeling more than a little afraid. Slowly, she walked toward him. Yes, she was frightened, but not for her life. She was safe knowing Tobias was just a few feet away. She was afraid for her brother. She wanted to save him and wasn’t sure she could. She remembered Quinn as a young boy, playing with her, looking after her, and she knew somewhere, somehow that sibling love was still alive. She looked past his hatred, his rage, and saw her older brother, a young man who at one point loved his little sister and took beatings for her. Cat swallowed hard. Before Quinn had gone mad, he’d always looked after her, protected her. She didn’t hate her bother. She still loved him.
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