Promise Me

by Tara Fox Hall

  A little after seven, I finally saw him stir. He blinked his eyes, put his fingers to his face, and rubbed his neck and forehead. Then he slowly raised himself up on one arm. He knew I was here and what had happened between us. All the things I expected him to do or say didn’t happen. He merely looked at me, as if taking in all that I was, maybe reading my mind. He didn’t seem in any rush to talk, and I had no idea how to start the conversation. My normally verbose nature went silent. Since he didn’t speak, I simply looked back at him, and noticed that sense of grace again just in the way he held his head. His eyes were the color of rich earth, a brown almost the color of gingerbread. Not what I’d call kind eyes, but they weren’t cold either. Reserved maybe, and a little sad. He wasn’t Indian, as I’d thought last night, but perhaps European. His shoulder-length hair was cut in a simple style. He was still covered in dust. He had a nice chest. I caught myself staring and looked away.

  “Thank you,” he said. His voice was softer than I’d expected, but its tone caressed me.

  My breath stopped in mid-intake, but I made myself finish so I could speak. “You're welcome,” I said, not meaning it. I might be the walking wounded, but I would be polite if it killed me. It just might.

  “Why did you save me?” he asked, puzzled. “I can tell you gave me your blood, and most likely sheltered me during the day. You don’t know me, though you must know what I am. Why would you risk your life?”

  “Let’s come back to that,” I said, “as I’m not sure that I have an answer for you.” I couldn’t very well tell him that I thought he was hot. At least, not so soon. He would think I was some kind of groupie. Good thing I’d lost blood or my face would be scarlet. “What were you doing in the quarry?”

  A look of introspection came over him, and I could see that he remembered the previous night. Something clicked in his mind. Alarm dashed his features. “The truck. Where is my—”

  “It’s stashed in the barn, out of sight. Keys are upstairs.” And sarcastically, I added, “And I turned off the ignition for you, so you have some gas left.”

  He looked at me with something close to curiosity and calculation. “Why would you think to hide my truck?”

  “It seemed like a good idea at the time,” I said, a little defensively.

  “Like taking an unconscious man into your house?” he returned, looking at me. He was looking at me all calm and sincere, but I could feel the mirth just beneath the surface. If he was going to be so blunt, two could play at that game.

  “You wanted to die then?”

  “No,” he said, pausing to give me a thoughtful, yet more calculating, glance. “But something tells me that you didn’t know what I was when you brought me here.”

  “True,” I admitted. “I should have called the cops, but something told me not to, and I trusted my instincts. Then I saw your teeth, and I knew you were . . . something else.”

  He made a wry face, and then the obvious occurred to him. “How exactly did you get me down here, into your home? Does anyone else know I’m here? You must have had help.”

  I smiled. “No, just me.”

  “Pardon me, but although you might be strong for a woman, there’s no way you carried me here.”

  “I had help, but no one else knows you’re here.” I hoped that wouldn’t come back to haunt me.

  He smirked. “What did you do, get a wheelbarrow?”

  “Front-end loader.” I couldn’t help grinning at that myself.

  It took him a minute to register what I’d said, but then he roared with laughter and fell back on the bed. I shivered with the sound of his humor, and that feeling of being caressed came back. I was glad he couldn’t read my mind.

  “Thank you for hiding me.” He again studied me, his dark eyes looking into my green ones. “I was in the quarry accidentally. I was exhausted and injured, and although I’d managed to heal myself, I was losing consciousness. I planned on parking the truck in the back of the quarry and walking into the woods to camp. Even though it wasn’t state land, I didn’t think anyone would be out this time of year. It’s not hunting season, and with just camping the night, I didn’t think anyone would notice. But I didn’t make it.” He paused, and then asked in a soft voice “Please, tell me what happened?”

  I related the story of rescuing him and hiding his truck. He considered me carefully. “What is your name?”

  “Sarelle McGarran, but you can call me Sar. I think we can be on a first name basis here.”

  “I’m Danial, but you can call me Danial.”

  He winked at me. I didn’t know whether to be annoyed or not. In any case, I was tired of sitting in the cellar. “Can I get you to help me with the bed?”

  He looked around and finally noticed that he was lying on a mattress on a cement floor. “Okay.”

  We each took one end and carried it back to the extra bedroom, where we put the bed back together. I folded up the tarp and staggered a bit. His arms were around me before I knew it, catching me. He was a lot warmer than he’d been. If I hadn’t known what I knew, I’d have thought he was human. His arms were strong, and I felt a chill at the memory of the last time I’d been in them.

  “Thanks. I’m tired; it’s the lack of sleep...”

  “It’s the blood loss,” he said matter-of-factly. “You need to eat something and rest.”

  I steadied myself, and he let me go. He followed me upstairs, and I was a little unimpressed at the dog’s reaction. I thought they might attack him, but both sniffed him and wanted to be petted. The cats also liked him. Even Asher, the most skittish, came forward. He seemed to like them back.

  “And what’s that one’s name?”

  “Ash.”

  “Ashes?” he said, looking horrified and rolling his eyes.

  “Short for Asher.” I should be happy that I ended up with a vampire who had a sense of humor, and not some Bela Lugosi or Christopher Lee-type.

  We went into the kitchen, where I heated up soup and made toast. He excused himself to slip out to the truck to bring in some extra clothes and take a quick shower. I devoured my food, thinking Danial was right. I did need to eat, and this tasted like the best food I’d eaten in a year. It was past dinnertime. . .

  Dinnertime. Oiy. I didn’t know how to ask if he was hungry without making it seem like I was offering to feed him. After all the blood he’d taken from me, I couldn’t lose anymore—not if I wanted to wake up tomorrow.

  “Are you feeling better?”

  He stood in the doorway, fully dressed. He seemed to like denim, as he was wearing a denim shirt and jeans. His hair was wet from the shower, and he looked delightful. As in full of delights. I stomped on my desire again.

  “Want to watch TV?”

  “Okay.” He clicked on the remote and selected LIST.

  I was glad I hadn’t saved any old episodes of vampire shows on my TiVo. He’d know for sure I was a vampire groupie who was tickled pink when a real one landed in her lap. Even if that was true to some extent, I didn’t want him to think that.

  “That new reality show on housewives is on,” I said, sliding my eyes to his to gauge his reaction. He made a face, and I said, “Just kidding.” I felt a little bad at this point, as I had only basic cable. But wait... “I have Supernatural, the second season, on DVD. Do you know the series?”

  I was sure he probably didn’t know what the hell I was talking about, but he surprised me. “Sure, I’ve seen some of it… I can identify with Dean.” I tried to cover my surprise while he put the DVD on, and selected play.

  While we watched, I tried to decide what to ask him next. If he knew the show, did he have a house where he sometimes watched this? Was someone waiting for him back at the ranch, so to speak? Was he some kind of demon-hunting vampire? Was that why he had the silencer and other weapons?

  Ten minutes into it, I suddenly felt my eyes grow heavy and told him I was going to bed. I got up too fast, forgetting that I was the walking wounded, and collapsed onto him. He reacted in a second,
catching and easing me onto his lap. I struggled a bit, but he wrapped his arms around me and tilted my head up to look into his eyes. They looked so intent I froze under his gaze.

  “I won’t hurt you like I did before,” he whispered, tracing my jaw. “I promise.”

  “Promise?” My voice was breathy, and I gazed into his eyes, thinking how much I wanted him to kiss me and knowing it was too soon. But I didn’t try to move back either.

  “Yes,” he said seriously, his fingers holding my face.

  “You can’t take any more, I’ll-”

  “I won’t need blood for at least a week,” he said.” If I have to, I can survive on animal blood. That’s what all my gear is for.”

  He was lying to me. No one killed deer with a silenced handgun. Most of that gear was for something darker. But I was caught up in the moment and said nothing.

  “My baser instincts took over to keep me alive. I can’t apologize for my nature, but I’m sorry it had to be so painful for you. It doesn’t have to be painful, if I don’t let it get out of hand.”

  Out of hand? You mean rip open the food instead of just drinking?

  “Please forgive me.”

  I got to my feet, swaying a little, but I was determined to be dignified. “Look, it wasn’t your fault you reacted the way you did. I’m not holding it against you.”

  Though I’d like to—

  Stop thinking like that!

  I tore my eyes away from his. “I’ve got to go to bed. I’ve got work in the morning.”

  “What do you do?”

  “I work at a metal fabrication shop.”

  “What do they do there?”

  “Fabricate metal. Really, just stay here and we’ll talk more tomorrow night.”

  I turned to go, but he reached up and pulled me back into his lap. I thought briefly about struggling, but his lap was where I wanted to be, so what was the point?

  He reached under my legs and shoulders, and in one fluid motion, stood. I had one arm across his shoulders, but he had me securely.

  “I’m taking you to bed.”

  God, yes, please take me to bed.

  Sar, get control of yourself. You barely know this guy. He’s a vampire, for God’s sake And who knows what else.

  He carried me into my bedroom, where he sat me down on the edge of the bed. I was embarrassed that I was breathing hard. At least, I hadn’t nibbled his neck like I’d wanted to.

  “Show me your arm,” he said.

  I unwrapped the bandage. The wound seemed mostly healed, but it ached fiercely.

  “I was afraid of this,” he said with regret.

  “What?” I asked in alarm.

  “Your arm healed on the outside, but the inside is still open.”

  “What?”

  “I hoped I wouldn’t have to do this, but I’m going to have to.” He slipped his hand behind his waist and pulled out a small knife. “Relax, Sar.”

  He’d gotten more than clothes from his truck. I thought for a fleeting second that he’d brought a gun along as well.

  “Ah,” I said, trying to scuttle away from him on the bed. He grabbed me with ease and held me in place. He looked at me as if asking permission.

  “What are you going to—”

  “Save you from being crippled. Please, let me.”

  I took a shuddering breath and said, “Do whatever it is you’re going to do, just make it as fast as possible and don’t tell me about it.”

  I felt him slice my arm open. I recoiled with a hiss, but the pain abruptly faded. His lips were on my arm, but he wasn’t sucking. He was holding his mouth over it. The relief was wonderful. I let out a deep breath I didn’t remember holding and relaxed. He remained as he was for a few seconds, and then gave my arm a final lingering kiss. He released me and showed me the injury. It was completely healed.

  I looked up at him worriedly. “Does this mean I’m a—”

  “No,” he said. “You’re still you, but now you can go to work tomorrow without pain.”

  “How is—”

  “I don’t want to get into it now,” he said tiredly. “Suffice it to say that my kiss heals. You’ll be fine.”

  I saw that it had cost him to heal me. There was a weariness about him that hadn’t been there a few moments ago. “You need blood,” I said.

  “I can get some easily enough. Get some sleep.”

  “You had better not even think about drinking my pets,” I said heatedly.

  He held up his hand to stop my concern. “I’m not going to hurt your animals. Must you be so feisty?” A wry corner of his mouth smiled. “I’ll find some game.”

  “Oh…okay.”

  “I’ll be in the basement after I get back. Call out if you need me.” With those words, he was gone.

  I got up to let the dogs out and went to bed right after. I was exhausted. Now that I wasn’t in pain, I could barely keep my eyes open. I was in dreamland before I could wonder more about why Danial had lied to me.

  Chapter Three

  Morning dawned bright and early. Way too early. I laid there wondering if I should call in sick to work, but my better nature prevailed. I tried never to do a half-assed job, even when the job was only delivering a richly deserved verbal observation. So I got up and fed the dogs and cats, resisting the urge to go downstairs. I told myself to let Danial sleep, that he probably wouldn’t be awake anyway.

  My mind was uncooperative, whispering to me that I could just take a quick look at him. He’d be lying in bed, perhaps the covers pushed back to reveal—

  I slammed the door on my desires. What was I thinking, acting like a high school girl with a crush on the quarterback? I didn’t know him at all. I reminded myself that he’d refrained from telling me anything that I really hadn’t already known or guessed at. Besides, I remembered the lie about his weapons. Together, that was sufficient to cool my lust, at least until I saw him again. In any case, I had real work to do.

  I worked part time at a metal fabrication shop to supplement my small legal settlement. My boss was also my friend, but that just gave me more reason not to let him down. I would probably need to stay late to catch up from yesterday, but that was good; I’d have more time to decide how to approach the matter of the Big Lie. Not that Danial would necessarily be there when I got home...

  Throwing aside that dismal thought, I drove into the parking lot, parked, and went inside. I was immediately engulfed in the comforting odor of burning metal and welding fumes. I scanned my badge in the time-clock computer and glanced through the open steel doorway, into the shop as I headed to the main office. Hard rock blasted at seventy-plus decibels from a huge boom box on top of one of the many Computer Numerically Controlled machines. Under that was the shrill whine of metal edges grinding down and the cracking of acetylene welding torches. The shop had several sections where parts were welded, painted, ground, sawed, or milled. It was eight a.m., and most of the guys were at their stations. I went through the office door, and Mark said hello as he got a sandwich from the vending machine.

  Breakfast, I thought. I greeted him and went in to face the work.

  There was a pile on my desk, so I got to it. As I went from task to task, my mind kept returning to Danial, and not just for his looks. On the surface, I’d made myself act like I’d taken the events over the last two days in stride. But inside, I wondered if I’d done the right thing by involving myself in his problems. In books, any heroine who suddenly got involved in a vampire’s problems was almost always doomed in the end, along with the relationship. Sure, maybe there were romance novels with a happy ending, but that wasn’t reality; it was contrived. My experience saving Danial had been painfully real. I’d had enough heartache from mortal men. I sure as hell didn’t need any from an immortal one.

  * * * *

  All went well at work and I left work only an hour later than usual. As I drove home, I debated what to say to Danial if he was there when I arrived. Should I call him on the lie? Demand he tell me what he’d
been doing in the quarry? Ask him what was for dinner?

  I decided to play it loose and see what he had to say. Hell, maybe he’d bring one of these topics up himself. But if he tried to pass off another lie I was going to call him on it, no matter how he thought to distract me. I wasn’t hurt now, and my will wasn’t completely under my hormones’ control.

  To my disappointment, when I got home, Danial wasn’t there. I felt a pang of sadness at the idea that he’d gone to the trouble to leave before I got home. I went downstairs after calling down, to see that the bed was made and his sleeping bag was gone. I didn’t have to go to the barn to know his truck was gone, too.

  Let down—but also relieved I wouldn’t have to confront him now—I took a shower, ate dinner, watched some non-vampire-related TV, tucked the animals in for the night, and went in to bed to discover a surprise. There on my bed, waiting for me, was the shirt Danial had worn the night before, after showering. There was a tiny speck of blood on the cuff—my blood or his?—and on it was a note.

  Sar,

  I have to leave now to take care of some things. I’ll try to come back and see you before I leave town. I’m leaving you my shirt to let you know I’ll come back, even if it’s not for a while. You helped me when you didn’t have to. I don’t take that lightly.

  Danial

  I was simultaneously aroused and creeped out. A shirt with blood on it? Maybe he didn’t know how to work the washer. Maybe he only had two shirts, and he didn’t want to wear the bloody one out on whatever job he was on? If he was out killing someone, the one with blood might be more appropriate. But it was only a tiny spot, so I didn’t really care. Maybe this was some kind of vampire foreplay?

  I picked up the shirt and got the faintest whiff of something delectable. I brought it closer and inhaled deeply. Cloves? Cedar? Spices mixed with cedar? I couldn’t tell for sure, but it was Good with a capital G. It smelled like lust, good sex, and dessert afterwards, all rolled into one. I realized with the scent lingering in my nose that I wanted Danial. Really wanted him. This was more than a crush. But it was way too soon to be love. It was infatuation and the danger of being intimate with a creature out of legend. I was glad he wasn’t there. I didn’t want to fall into bed with someone I couldn’t trust. But I was alone tonight, so I was free to indulge myself, and I suddenly no longer felt any creepiness about the blood on the shirt. I thought briefly about putting it on my dresser so I could make that wonderful scent last, but I wore it to bed instead. I slipped into sleep quickly, immersed in the delectable scent.