“What are you doing?”
“We’re going to sleep, right?”
“I thought you slept during the day.”
“I do.” He wrapped his arms around her.
She rested her head against his chest. “You’re just going to lie there? Sounds kind of boring.”
“Not at all.” He stroked her hair. “I get to hold you. Listen to you breathe. Think.”
She yawned. “About what?” She closed her eyes.
“Keeping you warm.” He tucked the comforter around her. “Keeping you safe.” Her breaths deepened, and her body relaxed against him.
He kissed the top of her head. “Keeping you mine.”
Half asleep, Abigail reached for Gregori. She couldn’t remember ever sleeping so well. She’d loved the feel of his arms around her and the way he’d stroked her hair. She’d felt safe and loved, and now that she wasn’t so tired, she was remembering other things. Like how broad and muscular his chest was. How gentle and sweet his hands were. How he made her laugh. Made her hot.
“Gregori,” she mumbled and stretched her hand out to feel his hard abs.
Nothing.
She jerked awake and sat up. She was alone. And good Lord, it was almost noon!
Gregori must have teleported away hours ago. She glanced at his pillow. It was still indented where his head had rested. She touched it. How sad that she had to wait till sunset to see him again.
She picked up the pillow and nestled her cheek in the valley. His scent filled her nostrils, and she hugged the pillow against her chest. She was falling fast. She’d been falling for some time, but things were a little different now. Before, she had hoped to somehow stop the feelings before they grew any stronger.
Now she knew there was no stopping it. She wanted him. She wanted years of laughter with him. And all those scream-filled nights he had promised her.
But there were always consequences. Could she actually live with a vampire? How could her parents accept him? What kind of future could she have with him?
With a groan, she tossed the pillow aside. She was tired of always approaching life like a scientist. Why couldn’t she just enjoy herself for once?
She dressed and went to see her mom in the clinic. The doctor and Nurse Debra were getting her ready to take to the hospital.
She pulled Debra to the side and whispered, “Is she worse?”
Debra shook her head. “The same, but Doc wants to run some tests.”
Abigail sighed. “I’ll pack her a bag.”
That afternoon, an ambulance took her mother to the hospital. The media was swarming the streets around the White House. Abigail covered her face as she dashed from the South Portico to the waiting limo. Her sister and father joined her, and they followed the ambulance. Her brother, Lincoln, had already been notified, but Dad told him to stay at Harvard since he had final exams coming up. His mom was just having a few routine tests done.
After a few hours of pacing at the hospital and drinking coffee, which only made her more edgy, she was told the first test was done. No results yet, but they could see the first lady.
Abigail’s heart stuttered when she saw her mother, looking so pale and worn in the hospital bed. Her father sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand.
He loved her so much. Abigail could see it in his eyes.
“We’ll leave you alone a minute.” She dragged her sister into the hall.
Madison frowned at her. “Why’d you do that?”
“I didn’t want to cry in front of Mom.” Tears stung her eyes. “She and Dad still love each other.”
“Well, duh.”
Abigail sniffed. “It’s so beautiful.”
“Yeah.” Madison gave her a curious look. “When did you turn into such a mushy romantic?”
Abigail sighed and thought about Gregori holding her in his arms while she slept.
“Oh my God,” Madison whispered, her eyes growing wide. “You’re in love!”
Abigail started to object, then reconsidered. “You’re not going to tell, are you? Dad might refuse to let me go on the trip, and—”
“I won’t say anything.” Madison grinned. “Has he tried to bite you?”
“No, of course not.”
“Oh.” Madison looked disappointed. “I’d let a vampire bite me.”
Abigail smiled. “I’m going to go the lab for a few hours. This sitting around being useless doesn’t work for me.”
“You’re lucky,” Madison said with a wry look. “It works for me.”
An hour later, Abigail was in her lab, printing out photos of the three plants they would search for in Yunnan. The one that looked most promising was in the eastern part of the province. It went by a name roughly translated as the Demon Herb. Ominous-sounding, but it was rumored to have a powerful effect on a person’s ability to heal.
As the sun set, her thoughts returned to Gregori. Where had he slept? Was he getting up now? Was he thinking about her?
She turned on the desk lamp, then closed the blinds on the window. Back at her desk, she opened the clear plastic container she’d bought downstairs in the commissary. She took a bite of the turkey sandwich. Tasted like every other sandwich she’d bought at the commissary. She opened her Diet Coke and took a drink.
“Good evening, sweetheart.”
She choked and spewed soda onto her lab coat. “Good Lord.” She grabbed a napkin to wipe her face and coat. “You should give me a warning when you’re about to come.”
“Are you referring to sex?” Gregori asked, his eyes twinkling. “I’ll remember to do that.”
With a smile, she shook her head. “I missed you when I woke up alone.” She strode to the door to make sure it was locked.
“I woke up alone, too. It was very sad.” He gave her a droopy puppy-dog look.
She was so tempted to kiss him. “It was a dreary day. My mom went to the hospital to have some tests done.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
She nodded. “I don’t like feeling useless. I’ll be glad when our trip gets under way.”
“The guys reported in. They’ve already set up one base. I think we should start teleporting west tomorrow night.”
“Oh.” Her heart raced. It was actually happening. She was going to travel to China. With no Black Suits.
Freedom. She pressed a hand against her chest. “It’s been years since I went anywhere without a Secret Service agent following me.” Her lab coat was sticky, so she took it off and draped it over the back of her chair.
Gregori yanked his T-shirt over his head and dropped it on the floor.
Her mouth dropped open. “What are you doing?” Her gaze drifted to his bare chest.
“I thought we were undressing.”
“I just took off the coat because it was stained.” Her mouth grew dry. What a chest. Broad, muscular, well-defined abs. She grabbed her soda and drank some more.
“There’s a stain on your T-shirt, too.”
She glanced down at herself, and sure enough, she’d spewed cola on her shirt, too. She set her drink down. If she had the nerve, she’d take off her shirt, too. She looked up to find Gregori watching her intently. His eyes began to darken.
Goose bumps shimmered down her arms. A fluttering sensation started in her belly, then eased down to her womb, where it settled, growing hotter and more tense with desire.
“I want you,” he whispered. He held out his hand.
Her heart pounding, she walked toward him, then placed her hand on his.
He gripped her hand and retreated toward the black-topped lab table. When he grasped her around the waist and lifted her, she grabbed on to his shoulders.
He sat her on the table, then planted his hands on the table on either side of her and watched her closely.
Her cheeks grew warm as she smoothed her hands over his shoulders and chest. There was a light sprinkling of curly brown hair above his nipples. Soft and springy. She continued down to the ridges of his abdominal muscl
es, and she heard him suck in a deep breath.
She glanced up to find his eyes red and glowing. The aching sensation in her womb intensified, and she squeezed her thighs together.
“I’m in love with you,” he whispered.
Her heart stuttered, and tears misted her eyes. “Gregori.” She cradled his face with her hands. God help her, she loved him, too. She was in love with a vampire.
He grasped her knees and opened her legs. A shudder swept over her, and moisture pooled between her thighs.
He eased between her legs, his hands skimming up her thighs to her hips. “I want you.”
“I want you, too.”
He yanked her T-shirt off and tossed it aside. Then he pulled her tight and kissed her. Passion broke loose, and she was swept into a whirlwind of sensation. His lips, his tongue, his hands. She tried to keep up, stroking his tongue with hers and raking her hands into his soft hair.
He was delicious, sweet, and desperately hungry for her. Her heart pounded, her skin felt feverishly hot, and she ached with desire. All this—just from kissing him? She might die if he did more.
She might die if he didn’t. She groaned and nearly fainted at the raw, husky sound of his answering growl. Her body responded, causing her back to arch and more moisture to slicken her legs.
Before she knew it, her bra was off, and he was lifting her higher so he could kiss her breasts. She wrapped her legs around his waist and moaned as he suckled hard. With his palms on her rump, he pulled her groin tight against him. More moisture seeped from her. More desperation.
“Gregori, please.”
He set her on the table. “Lie back.”
She stretched out on the black slab as he fumbled with the button and zipper of her jeans. He pulled off her shoes, then whisked off her jeans and underwear.
Her heart thundered as he looked her over with his red glowing eyes.
“You look like a feast.” He rested a hand on her tummy, then skimmed it up to cup her breast.
She reached for him. “Gregori.”
He smiled and kissed her. “My beautiful Scholar.” He trailed kisses down her neck to her breast.
She arched when he drew her nipple into his mouth. She raked her hands into his hair and gasped when he rested a hand on the curls between her legs.
“Oh God.” She’d never felt such a desperate level of need before. All modesty fled, and she opened her legs.
He glanced up at her. “No screaming, remember?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never felt so . . .” She moaned when he parted the folds.
“You’re dripping wet.”
That made even more moisture seep out. “Please.” She planted her feet on the table and pressed against him.
He gently stroked her clitoris. She gasped, struggling to breathe.
He rubbed her faster and faster till she knew he’d gone beyond what was humanly possible. And he was taking her with him, higher and higher.
Her climax ripped through her with such astonishing force, she didn’t realize she’d screamed till his hand clapped over her mouth. Dots danced before her eyes, and her body throbbed.
Slowly her heart returned to a steady thud.
“Sorry about that.” He took his hand off her mouth and grinned. “You came faster than I expected.”
“Huh?” She managed to say.
“You’re a screamer.” He gathered her up in his arms. “We need to go somewhere private.”
“Huh?”
He chuckled. “Trust me.”
Everything went black, then she found herself in a strange place. “Huh?”
“This is my condo. Upper West Side.”
She looked around the dim apartment as he carried her into a bedroom. “This is your home?”
“Yes.” He dropped her onto his bed.
She sat up and gazed around the room. King-sized bed. Moonlight filtering through a window. Gregori kicking off his shoes while he unzipped his jeans.
“This is the infamous bachelor pad?”
He paused and looked at her. “I’ve never brought a woman here before. You’re the one I want, Abby.”
Her heart squeezed, and she smiled. “That’s good, considering I’m in love with you.”
He stared at her a moment, then his eyes glowed red. He dropped his jeans and his underwear.
She scooted back to make room for him. He moved onto the bed, crawling toward her, his red eyes coming closer. Her heart pounded faster. He had to be the sexiest man alive. Or Undead. She no longer cared which. As long as he was hers.
He lifted one of her legs and nipped at her toes. Then he nibbled a trail up her leg to her thigh. “You smell good.”
He kissed her swollen and aching folds. “You taste good.”
She whimpered as his tongue gently teased her clitoris.
He glanced up and his smile flashed white in the dark. “You can scream all you want here.” He dove between her legs, and soon, she did scream.
“Gregori,” she panted, reaching for him.
He stretched out over her, then eased his penis just inside. She gasped at the size. And hardness.
Slowly he stretched her out and filled her up.
“Oh God.” She wrapped her arms and legs around him.
He rested his brow against hers. “You’re the one, Abby. You’re mine.”
He pulled slowly out, then pushed back in. Again and again. Faster and harder.
He kissed her hard. “You wanted a warning. I’m about to come.”
She laughed. “I love you.” Her heart expanded till she thought it would burst. So much joy. So much love. And a trace of fear.
For she now believed in the impossible.
Chapter Twenty-one
“I’m still not happy about this trip of yours,” Belinda said the next evening.
“I’ll be fine, Mom,” Abigail assured her. “I should be away for only a few days.”
Madison perched on the end of the hospital bed in their mother’s private room. “It sounds exciting to me. Like super spy stuff with superheroes. I wish I could go.”
“We’ll be camping inside caves,” Abigail muttered.
“You won’t have a bathroom?” Madison’s eyes widened in horror. “Or a television? How on earth will you survive?”
“I’ll be fine.” Abigail rolled her eyes over to their mom.
Madison looked confused for a second, then nodded enthusiastically. “Oh! That’s right. She’ll be perfectly fine, Mom. I’ll TiVo all the good shows for her. And the Chinese will never catch her.”
Belinda groaned and pressed a hand to her mouth.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart.” Dad patted his wife’s shoulder. “Abby will be with the most powerful guards on the planet. And Gregori promised to keep her safe.”
“Where is this Gregori?” Belinda motioned to the window. “It went dark an hour ago.”
“I’m sure he’ll call soon,” Abigail said, even though she was wondering the same thing.
After a few hours of lovemaking at his condo, he’d teleported her back to the lab so she could put her clothes back on. She’d checked out at work, letting a Secret Service agent drive her home so everything would appear normal. Then he’d teleported to her bedroom at the White House and they’d had more fun in the shower.
Before leaving, he’d warned her to be packed and ready to go the next evening. Her backpack was now sitting next to the dresser in her mother’s hospital room, and she was saying her good-byes.
“Be sure to wear layers,” Belinda warned her. “And don’t drink the water. Even when you brush your teeth.”
“Yes, Mom.” Abigail’s phone rang. “That must be him.” She stepped over to the corner of the room and answered the phone.
“Ready to go?” Gregori asked.
“Yes. What took so long?”
“We went through all the reports from the guys. The messages come in during the day and pile up. Besides, there’s no need to hurry. We can’t start teleporting til
l the sun sets in California.”
“Oh.”
His voice softened. “Are you all right, Scholar?”
She turned to face the wall as heat invaded her cheeks. “Yes.”
“Are you in your bedroom?”
“I’m at the hospital. My mom wants to meet you before we go. Is that all right?”
“Sure.”
“You can teleport straight here. I’m in my mother’s private room. My dad and Madison are here, too.”
Gregori appeared beside her.
Belinda gasped.
Madison grinned. “So cool.”
Her father stepped forward, his hand outstretched. “Good evening, Gregori.”
“Sir.” Gregori shook his hand, then inclined his head toward Belinda. “How do you do, Mrs. Tucker?”
Her eyes widened. “So you’re really a vampire?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She looked him over. He was wearing khaki pants, a khaki shirt, and a brown bomber jacket. “You don’t look very vampirish.”
“He’s doing the Indiana Jones look,” Madison told her mother, then frowned at him. “You forgot the hat and the whip. You know, accessories really make an outfit.”
Belinda held out her hand. “Would you come here, please?”
Gregori walked forward and took her hand in his.
She searched his face. “My husband believes you can be trusted, that you’ll take good care of our Abby. Is that true?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Abigail’s heart warmed at the sincerity in his voice. She eased closer so she could see his face.
“Abby tells me you’re a young vampire, and you’ve never bitten a human for food,” Belinda continued.
“Yes, ma’am, that’s true.”
Belinda smiled. “You seem well mannered for a vampire.”
He smiled back. “My mother will be pleased to hear that.”
“Your mother is still alive?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ve met her,” Abigail told her mother. “She’s mortal. And a big fan of yours.”
Belinda shook Gregori’s hand, then released it. “Very well. Have a good trip. And please bring my Abby home safe and sound.”
“I will.” He looked at Abigail. “Ready to go?”
She nodded. After a round of tearful hugs and good-byes, she swung her backpack over her shoulder. “Let’s go.”
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