The Art of Loving a Vampire

by Jaye Wells

  She decided to cover her unease by digging into her meal. Logan took her cue and began eating as well. The next few moments passed quietly. She scrambled for something to say to break the tension hanging over the table like a dense fog.

  “So—” she began.

  “My mother—” he said at the same time. They both laughed uncomfortably.

  “You first,” Syd said because she had no idea what to say.

  “Okay. My mother went by your apartment and brought back some clothes for you. We thought you’d be more comfortable with your own things.”

  “That was nice of her, but honestly, I’d prefer to just go home after breakfast. Did she get my car too?”

  Logan suddenly became engrossed with his eggs.

  “Logan?”

  He glanced up at her and then quickly reached for his own mug.

  “Actually, we thought you should have a couple of days to adjust to things before you went home,” he said and then took a sip.

  “What?”

  “Syd, you’ve had a major shock. You need time to adjust before you go back to your life,” he explained calmly, as if explaining something to a child.

  Her eyes narrowed. “Where is my car?”

  “We haven’t picked it up yet.”

  She set down her fork with deliberate slowness. “Are you telling me I am a prisoner here?”

  “You are not a prisoner. It’s for your own safety.”

  “Are you trying to convince me I am safer in a house full of vampires than in my own apartment?”

  “Well . . . yes. Look,” he said quickly when she started to rise. “Raven is still a threat. If she finds out you are helping us, she might decide to come after you. If that happens, you are safer here with us than on your own.”

  “Raven. You mean the head of the mysterious extremist group?”

  Logan sighed. “I am sorry I sent you on that wild goose chase. But at the time I thought it best to limit your involvement.”

  “And now?”

  He ran his hands through his hair. “And now, unfortunately, you are smack in the middle of a vampire feud.”

  Syd took a moment to digest this newest development. “I think you better start talking.”

  “Raven is the head of a sect of rogue vampires called the Sanguinarians. Most of her activities have been more of a nuisance than a threat, but for some reason she’s targeted my family and me. I don’t know what she has planned, but stealing the painting was a bold move on her part.”

  “Sanguinarians?”

  “It means ‘blood thirsty,’” he explained. “Raven believes that vampires should adhere to the old ways. If it were up to her, we would all feed off humans and pretend we’re some sort of gods to rule over humans. She doesn’t want us trying to fit into the mortal world. Other rogue groups exist, but the Raven is organized. She even has mortal helpers who assist her.”

  “But why is she targeting you?”

  “I developed many of the drugs we use to make us more like mortals. With Lifeblood, our dependence on human sources will be gone. I think she wants to prevent me from succeeding. I don’t know what her plan is, but Syd, I can’t risk her involving you.”

  “But how would she know?”

  “She has to sleep during daylight because she refuses to use the sun allergy remedies. However, her minions spy for her during the day. We have no idea how much she knows at this point.”

  “So basically I am trapped here until you figure out what she has planned? What about my job. Logan?”

  “We called Stiggler earlier and told him we sent you to our Asheville estate for more research.”

  Syd couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “So now not only can I not leave, but you’re lying to my boss. Logan you had no right!”

  He held his hands up in a placating motion. “We were just trying to help. It’s not every day a person finds out vampires really exist. We thought you could use a break from your work to get used to everything.”

  Syd stood, unable to talk to him anymore without shouting.

  “Syd? Where are you going?” he asked as she turned to leave the room. She stopped halfway to the door and turned slowly around.

  “I am going to go shower and dress. Then I am going to find my cell phone and have Jorge come pick me up.”

  Logan was out of his chair and in front of her before she could blink. She took a step back, shocked by his display of power.

  “I can’t let you call Jorge. Syd, no one can know about us. Please, just give it a couple of days.”

  “What would you do in my shoes? Would you just meekly accept that a group of people seem bent on controlling your life?”

  He sighed. “We aren’t trying to control you.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “At least give it the rest of the day. You are overworked, and on top of that you’ve had some major shocks over the last couple of days. Your job can wait.”

  “Logan, that job is all I have left. I won’t have you blowing it off because it doesn’t serve your purposes.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I know your job is important. But please don’t pretend it’s the real reason you want to leave.”

  She stared at him for a moment. Then she said, “What do you mean?”

  “Look, we have to talk about last night. You can’t run away from what happened.”

  She crossed her arms defensively. “I can’t talk about that right now.”

  “I know you’ve been through a lot, but I think we both know until you found out I am a vampire things were getting . . . intense between us.”

  “Logan, it’s not like I found out you had an annoying habit or something. You drink blood. You’re immortal. Those are pretty big issues for me!”

  He ran his fingers through his hair. “I know it’s big. But tell me this: if I wasn’t a vampire, would you want to be with me?”

  She cringed at the vulnerability in his eyes. She didn’t want to hurt him. Vampirism aside, he really had gotten to her heart. But telling him that wouldn’t change anything.

  “I don’t know,” she whispered.

  He nodded slowly. “At least admit last night was more than just sex to you.”

  Syd looked away. They both knew it was more than sex. A lot more. Syd had never felt that kind of connection physically or emotionally with any man. What she didn’t know was if it mattered now.

  “Syd?”

  She took a deep breath and looked up. “Logan, I can’t do this now. You have to give me some time.”

  “Fine.”

  She flinched at the edge of steel in his tone. “Can I go shower now?”

  He closed his eyes for a second as if praying for patience. “Will you promise me you won’t call Jorge?”

  She thought about it for a moment. Maybe she did need some time. After all, this was a big house. Surely she could find something to occupy her time so she could avoid Logan. Being around him was close to physical pain as she battled with the disappointment of what could have been.

  “Yes, I promise I won’t call Jorge.” He let out a relieved breath, but she held up a hand. “I won’t call him today. But I suggest you have someone get my car because I can’t promise I won’t leave tomorrow.”

  She turned again to go, leaving him staring after her. Only this time she had run out of the burst of adrenaline her earlier outrage had provided. Her feet felt heavier with each step she took away from Logan. She knew their relationship discussion wasn’t over. But for now, she would pretend the big pink elephant wasn’t hanging around in the house, dodging her every move.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Logan shook his head as he watched Sydney leave the kitchen. All he’d ever wanted was to work in his lab and help make life easier for his kind. Then he had let his mother talk him into going to the museum. Now everything had gone to hell.

  What he wouldn’t give to be able to handle his personal problems like he approached science—with logic and reason. But those skills were waste
d in the current quagmire that was his life. For too long he had avoided social interaction, and his personal skills were beyond rusty. Again he wished for a glimpse into Sydney’s mind. Then he could quit saying things to make her angry.

  He sighed and gathered the breakfast dishes. As he straightened the kitchen, he tried to make sense of his conflicting emotions. He realized he could no longer deny his feelings for Sydney, but their recent conversation underscored his original concerns about getting involved with her to begin with. Once again, he found himself ready to admit feelings to a woman who wasn’t interested. Maybe he had blamed his vampirism too long. Perhaps the truth was no woman—mortal or vampire—could love him.

  While there had been plenty of lovers over the years, few stood out as meaningful relationships. Before Brenna, he had gone through a string of vampire mistresses—sowing his youthful oats. And after Brenna, he had approached his lovers with cynical detachment. An arrangement that suited his female vampire companions just fine.

  Now an auburn-haired spitfire had him tied up in knots. He knew she needed time, but his impatience made him edgy. Her reaction to their lovemaking had been genuine. A man wasn’t sexually active for three centuries without learning to read a woman’s response in bed. But for some reason, he suspected that her reservations stemmed from more than him being a vampire. She had not acted scared of him this morning. Hell, she’d even yelled at him. How many mortals would have the courage to yell at a vampire? He would have smiled at her audacity if he didn’t find it so damned frustrating.

  But what other reasons could she have to fight her attraction? He knew she was worried about her job, but he couldn’t see how pursuing their relationship would hurt her career. No, she was using it as a shield to cover something else. He just had to figure out what.

  The phone rang as he loaded the last cup in the dishwasher.

  “Logan, darling.”

  “Hello, Mother,” he said, not bothering to hide his lack of enthusiasm.

  “I take it from your tone things aren’t going well.”

  “Well she hasn’t run away. Yet. But she isn’t too thrilled with the situation.”

  “That’s to be expected. Give her some time. I was calling to suggest the three of us have dinner tonight.”

  “Might be a good idea. After our last conversation we could probably use a referee around here.”

  “Oh dear, what did you do?”

  “Nothing! She just got irrational,” he said defensively.

  “Logan, please tell me you didn’t dictate to the poor girl.”

  He grimaced. “I suppose I could have been a tad more sensitive, but give me a break. I am doing the best I can here.”

  “I know you are. At least you didn’t try to have a relationship talk with her too,” Kira said with a small chuckle.

  He flinched but didn’t respond.

  “Logan, you didn’t!” Kira exclaimed. “Didn’t I teach you anything about women? Bringing up that subject when she’s already feeling confused and overwhelmed is guaranteed to push her away.”

  “And when exactly did you give me this lesson, oh great relationship master?”

  “Don’t get sarcastic with me, young man. What did you expect so soon after dropping the vampire bomb on her? The girl has to learn to trust you again before she’ll give you her heart.”

  “You’re wrong. She said she wasn’t interested in a relationship before she found out I drink blood.”

  Kira mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like “idiot man.”

  “You are both so confused right now neither of you knows what you really want. Now promise me you won’t broach the relationship issue again until after everything has settled down.”

  “No problem,” Logan said adamantly. He certainly wasn’t eager to go through that again.

  “Good. I’ll be by around seven. I’ll bring pizza. It’s Syd’s favorite.”

  Logan frowned as he hung up the phone. He didn’t know pizza was Syd’s favorite food. How could he not know that? Or her favorite color. Or about her family, other than she didn’t speak to them. Perhaps he should take advantage of their proximity over the next couple of days to learn about her past. Maybe then he could get to the bottom of her resistance to admitting her feelings.

  He smiled. He would give her some space this afternoon, and then he’d subtly work some questions into their conversation after dinner. It seemed fair that she talk about her past after he had to delve into his the night before.

  He walked out of the kitchen, on his way to the lab, when the doorbell rang.

  “This place is Vampire Central Station,” he muttered to himself as he went to answer it.

  When he opened the door, Alaric stood on the porch with a grin almost as bright as the afternoon sunshine.

  “You’re in a good mood,” Logan said.

  “You’re about to be, too, my friend. I finished the clinical tests.”

  “That’s great!” He held up his hand to the high five he knew was coming. Alaric might be a hundred years old, but he acted like a college kid half the time.

  “I figured you could use a break and might want to go over the results with me.”

  He started to nod, but narrowed his eyes instead. “My mother sent you here, didn’t she?”

  Alaric’s smile faded. He quickly held up his hands. “Dude, I promise I was already on my way over when she called on my cell. But she did say you might need a distraction.”

  Logan eyed his friend suspiciously, knowing he wasn’t getting the full story. Alaric lasted five seconds before he caved.

  “All right, she also said I needed to keep you out of Sydney’s hair for a few hours. Something about giving her time to think,” he admitted.

  Logan started to respond defensively but stopped himself. It wasn’t Alaric’s fault his mother was a seven-hundred-year-old busybody. Besides, they did need to discuss the formula.

  “Okay, come on in,” he said. Alaric let out a relieved breath.

  “Man, I thought you were going to let me have it there for a second.”

  “I would have, but I need an ally around here. I am surrounded by women out to make me crazy.”

  “Dude,” Alaric said, nodding sympathetically.

  “Let’s get to work,” Logan said, suddenly feeling optimistic now that something seemed to be going right.

  Syd heard the doorbell ring as she stepped out of the shower. Wrapping a plush towel around her body, she went to the bedroom door to listen. She recognized Alaric’s voice echoing in the foyer. Hopeful the two men would lock themselves in Logan’s lab for the rest of the afternoon, she returned to the bathroom.

  As she towel dried her hair, she thought back on the events of the last few days. She would bet money no other museum curator in the history of the profession had ever spied on a client, then made love to him, and then found out he was a vampire all in one night. Hell, she probably was the only woman in the history of women to accomplish all that in one evening.

  Leave it to me to fall for the dead guy.

  She reminded herself Logan wasn’t dead. In fact, according to him, unless someone chopped off his head or stabbed him in the heart, he couldn’t die. She giggled, suddenly feeling a little hysterical.

  She sat on the toilet lid and began combing her hair. The rhythmic motion calmed her a bit, but her mind still raced.

  Logan was immortal. For some reason that fact bothered her more than the blood drinking. Perhaps the fact he was creating a synthetic blood made it less icky. But the immortality? How was a woman supposed to wrap her mind around that one? Even if they could work through everything else, she couldn’t accept the idea of growing old while he remained gorgeous. She could just picture him looking hot and strong and young as he helped her maneuver a walker across a street.

  She remembered Logan mentioning mortals could be turned into vampires. Her mind screeched to a halt before she would allow herself to entertain the notion. It was one thing for a woman to daydream abo
ut marrying a guy. It was something completely different to think about becoming a vampire, not to mention committing herself for eternity to a guy. Even if she felt more connected to Logan than to any other person on earth. Even if touching him felt like coming home.

  Lord, next she’d be picking out crystal patterns to use on special occasions. Except while most couples toasted with champagne, they would use blood. Eeeeew!

  Okay, maybe she wasn’t totally over the blood thing—synthetic or real.

  Determined to shake off her crazy thoughts, she went to the bedroom. She rummaged through the bag Kira had packed for her. She thanked her lucky stars Kira went to her apartment instead of one of the men. The woman remembered every essential Syd could possibly need—underwear, matching outfits, hand lotion, makeup, a hair dryer, condoms . . .

  Syd held up the box of condoms for inspection. She had bought a small box of condoms earlier in the week—four of which she had used the night before. However, the box in her hand was an economy-size assortment pack. Her eyes widened at the variety contained therein: glow in the dark, flavored, ribbed for her pleasure, lubricated, nonlubricated . . . even the spectrum of colors was mind-boggling.

  It appeared Kira’s errands had extended beyond going to Syd’s apartment. Syd’s shock gave way to chuckles. The woman was something else. Obviously, Kira supported the idea of Sydney and Logan being . . . intimate. But how many mothers went so far as to buy enough condoms for an entire army? Sydney was still new to the whole concept of vampire families, but surely even a seven-hundred-year-old vampire would know some boundaries.

  Syd guessed she should be shocked or offended, but honestly, the comedic value of the situation was a welcome distraction. She collapsed onto the bed and allowed herself a good laugh. After a few moments, she realized tears of mirth had given way to real sobs. The thought she’d never be able to make a dent in the ridiculously large box with Logan depressed her.

  She swiped at the tears on her cheeks, chalking her wild mood swings to hormones. Sure, hormones, her mind scoffed. She stood and grabbed the box and stuffed it at the bottom of her bag. No use leaving it around for Logan to find. She grabbed some clothes from the pile on her bed and went back to the bathroom to change. While she dressed, she lectured herself to forget about what could have been and focus on getting through the next few days with her sanity intact.