The doctor arrived and helped her get Matthias to his bedroom where he examined the bullet wound. Using some sort of forceps, he removed the bullet from Matthias’s chest and bandaged him up. He turned to Miranda. “This is not good. Do you see how pale he still is? He should have started to recover as soon as I removed the bullet, but he’s still unconscious. I’m guessing Matthias hasn’t fed in a while.” He shook his head and huffed out a breath, muttering, “I told the man he needed to feed more often.” Dr. Benson walked to the bathroom, washed his hands and instruments, and came back into the bedroom.
“What can I do to help, Doctor?” Miranda wrung her hands, nervously. She dragged a chair over beside Matthias’s bed, and then reached out to brush a strand of his hair back from his face.
“First, please call me Henry, Miranda. Secondly, you are going to have to let him feed from you. I’d let him feed from me, but my blood wouldn’t nourish him properly.”
She looked up at the doctor. “Oh, boy.” She had known Matthias was a vampire, and she had assumed that he drank blood to survive, but her thoughts never ventured beyond that point. Now, like a huge smack in the face, she was forced to finish the thought. Where did he get blood? Did he drink from people? From animals? Go to the blood bank and order it like a cheeseburger?
Well, one thing was for sure, she wasn’t going to let Matthias die over something as small as giving him a little blood. She just hoped it didn’t hurt a lot. Pain wasn’t on her list of favorite things.
Miranda looked over at Henry, nodding her head. “Okay. How do I do this?”
Henry hesitated for a minute, looking at her sternly. “Be sure about this. This isn’t something you can start and then just give up in the middle.” At her nod, he strode over to the bed. “Come here, Miranda. You’ll have to be well within his reach.” She moved her chair as close to the bed as it would go. “Now, prepare yourself. I’ll make a small incision in your wrist. You will then put your wrist to his mouth.” Henry held up the scalpel in his hand, showing it to Miranda.
Miranda swallowed back her nervousness. “I-I’m ready.”
Henry gently but firmly took her wrist in his hand. “Normally I would tell you to calm yourself, but the faster we get him fed, the better for everyone.” With that last statement, Henry made the cut into Miranda’s wrist and immediately put her wrist over Matthias’ waiting lips.
Matthias made a small sound as the first drop of blood hit his tongue. Miranda wasn’t prepared for the next part. Matthias reached up, gripping Miranda’s wrist, and held it to his lips. He started sucking almost violently with his thirst. Miranda cried out softly, turning startled eyes to Henry. Henry had his lips pressed tight together as he watched closely. He knew of Matthias’s need to feed, but Miranda knew he wouldn’t allow her to come to any harm. “No more than a pint,” he muttered.
When the color started to pink Matthias’ cheeks, Henry pried Miranda’s wrist from Matthias’s mouth, and quickly wrapped it in gauze. Miranda sat back in the chair, raising her arm a little so the bleeding would slow. Matthias fell back on the pillow, unconscious again but breathing normally.
Henry left after he’d made sure that he’d done all he could.
Miranda sat at Matthias’s bedside until her eyelids grew heavy. Not wanting to leave him alone, she shifted in her chair and continued to watch him…
Miranda was dressed in a short skirt. Her white blouse was opened to where her breasts were almost spilling out. She walked to Matthias’ office door, knocked, but didn’t wait for an answer before she walked in. Matthias was sitting at his desk, pouring over the papers in front of him. He looked up when she entered, a wicked grin curving his lips. “What can I do for you, Miranda?”
Miranda smiled as she rounded his desk. Perching herself on the corner, she elegantly crossed her legs, showing off the three-inch heels on her feet. Matthias’ watched the movement, his tongue peeking out to moisten his lips. “I think you’re due for a break, a long break,” Miranda crooned.
Matthias leaned back in his chair, grinning. “Oh, you do, do you?”
Miranda slid off the desk, bending over his chair, her hands on his armrests, giving Matthias as view of her breasts right before his eyes. She smiled as she pushed his chair back from his desk. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
She slid into his lap, causing her skirt to slide up when she straddled his legs. Matthias placed his hands on her hips, pulling her closer. “And what will I be doing on this long break, Miranda?”
Miranda chuckled huskily. “Giving your wife some attention. I’m thinking a little naughty secretary.” Miranda lowered her mouth to his ear, whispering against the shell of it. “Sir, I believe I need to take dictation now.”
Matthias growled low, moving one hand to fist in her hair. He took her mouth, hungrily. With his free hand, he ran his hand up her thigh to slide under her skirt.
Miranda pulled back and smirked at him. She’d left off her panties. His eyes narrowed on her, and then she was sitting on his desk with her legs thrown as far apart as they would go.
Matthias dove between her thighs, licking her swollen, wet folds. He lapped at her, making her whimper and writhe on the desk. Miranda’s legs quivered, her heart racing in her chest. The man had a very talented tongue.
When his lips wrapped around her hard nub, she gasped. He alternated between lashing her with tongue and sucking. She moaned, loudly, lifting her hands to tangle in his hair. She bucked under him. His sucking increased with her bucking. She was racing toward orgasm and he knew it. Just when she started flying over the edge, he thrust his tongue into her dripping channel, prolonging her orgasm.
She started calming and he rose up out of his chair. His pants were already unfastened and down around his thighs. Just when he’d done that, she had no idea. Lifting up on her elbows, she watched as he started working his hard shaft into her. His face was tight with passion and need. His eyes rose to meet hers when he was seated fully inside her. “Please, Matthias…”
Matthias started to move, his strokes long and deep. They groaned together. Miranda lifted her legs to wrap around his waist, locking her ankles at the base of his spine. Her hips rose to meet his thrusts. As their passion rose, his pace increased.
Her fire was rising, rising…she was almost there…
Just as she was about to climax, Miranda’s eyes flew open. Her head was lying on the bed at Matthias’s waist. She sat up, trying to catch her breath. Blinking rapidly, Miranda tried to orient herself. What a dream!
She looked at Matthias, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw his color was still up. She got to her feet, stretching out the kinks in her back from sleeping half in the chair and half on the bed.
Chapter 4
Matthias groaned, slowly opening his eyes. Miranda watched him look around the room before noticing her beside his bed. “How long have I been out?” His voice didn’t sound stressed or painful. He sat up, stretching his arms over his head as if it was a normal morning.
Miranda stammered over the answer to his question. Wow…You wouldn’t even know he’d been close to death last night.
Matthias tilted his head and looked at her. “I couldn’t have been that bad off, if I’m feeling this good today.”
For some reason, Miranda had the feeling that she should hide her wrist from Matthias. She tried to be nonchalant about putting her arm behind her back. Matthias frowned and climbed from the bed. Well, at least the doctor hadn’t stripped him out of his pants.
When Matthias approached her, she fought to not step back. Why she felt so strange around him, she wasn’t sure. It must have been the remnants of her dream. She tried to shake it off.
Matthias noticed Miranda holding her arm behind her back. “What are you hiding there, Miranda?”
“I—Nothing. This is just a comfortable way to stand, Matthias.” Miranda tried to smile, but it wavered. She could feel dread and suspicion but it wasn’t coming from her.
He reached out quickly and grabbed her arm,
raising it so he could see. “What happened to your wrist?” His voice was tight.
“My wrist?” Miranda shook her head. “Nothing much, just a little cut. No big deal, really.”
“Just a little cut, huh? That’s an awful big bandage for a small cut. Let me see, Miranda. I need to be sure it’s not getting infected.” Matthias’s tone was one of authority. It was his “Don’t mess with me” tone.
Miranda took her wrist back, starting to unwrap the bandage. “Really, Matthias. You were the one shot last night. You shouldn’t be worrying about me and my little cut.” She finished unwrapping her wrist and held it up for him to see.
Matthias started to hiss, his face full of horror. The cut on her wrist was closed and starting to heal. Around the cut, though, was a circular bruise. It was the shape of his mouth and dark red, almost purple. “You fed me? You fed me?” His voice rose with every word. Suddenly he turned, dragging his hands through his hair. He paced away from Miranda, muttering under his breath too low for her to catch any of the words.
Watching him pacing and running his hands through his hair had Miranda confused. “It wasn’t any big deal, Matthias. Henry watched to make sure nothing bad happened, and then he left.” She tried to sound calm about the whole thing, but the sharp look he gave her set off her own anger. “Don’t look at me like that! I did what I had to do to save your life, so just get over it. I don’t know why you’re so angry anyway. It wasn’t like it was a secret that you’re a vampire and you need blood.” She started rewrapping her wrist, even though it wasn’t necessary. It gave her something to focus on while she waited for his response.
*
Matthias was painfully conflicted. He was grateful to Miranda for saving his life, he really was, but feeding from her would strengthen their bond and he had no wish to be tied any tighter to her. They had no future with her being a human. He wouldn’t let himself be put in the position of falling in love just to watch her die. He decided to skirt around the reason for his reaction. “I’m not angry, Miranda, but what you did could have been dangerous. You could have gotten hurt!” Matthias sighed, heavily. “I apologize for not seeming grateful. Thank you for doing what you did for me.” He looked at her face, keeping his own blank. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to shower. I have work to do today.”
Miranda stared at him for a minute, then nodded and left without further comment.
Matthias had felt Miranda’s hurt when she had left his room that morning. It had been all he could do to not call her back so he could comfort her. He was attempting to build walls around himself to keep from getting so many of her feelings. He could feel her confusion at his behavior. He could feel her unease, her feeling that she’d done something wrong. She hadn’t, really. She’d saved his life. He should be acting grateful and showering her with gifts.
* * * *
She tried to not let his attitude hurt her. It shouldn’t matter to her. It wasn’t as if they were more than employee/employer. She tried to shut down her emotions as she made her way to her room. She needed to shower too and get started with her day.
The day passed without incident. Matthias was remote with Miranda, but never unkind. She caught him giving her odd looks at times, but didn’t bother to mention it. What was weird were the feelings she felt coming from him. At one point, her body flushed hot just by walking into his office. She’d remembered the dream from that morning, and tried her hardest not to blush. After that, it was almost as if she could feel him withdrawing from her, but that was impossible.
When suppertime rolled around, Miranda knocked on Matthias’s office door and called, “Would you like anything to eat?” She looked at him, hesitantly. Would he bite her head off for interrupting, or would he ignore her as he had all day?
If Matthias heard Miranda’s question, he didn’t bother to answer. With his vampire hearing, it was hard to assume he hadn’t heard her, though. Miranda wasn’t sure why she cared, but his attitude was really starting to make her angry. She waited another second before she came fully into the room. When he still didn’t acknowledge her, her hands went to her hips. “Matthias!” Still no reaction. She growled and stomped her foot. Great, now she was on the verge of a temper tantrum. “Stop ignoring me! I asked you a question, and common courtesy would suggest you answer.”
Matthias closed his eyes and sighed. “You’re always going to do the opposite of what I expect, aren’t you?” He looked up, then.
Miranda’s mouth dropped open. “W-what do you mean? I haven’t done anything! You’re the one who’s been in his own little world today.”
“Nothing. Never mind. No thank you, I don’t want any dinner,” he said, flatly.
As if Miranda was going to just walk away after that. Yeah, right. “No, I want to know what your problem is today. Are you still angry with me for last night?”
“No, Miranda. I’m not angry with you. Why don’t you sit down?”
Miranda frowned, but sat down. “Are you firing me?” She hoped not. She didn’t have anywhere to go. She supposed Beth or Vicki would let her crash with one of them for a while if she needed to, but she didn’t want to have to ask.
Matthias stood and walked around his desk. When he stood before her, he leaned back against his desk, bracing his hands on either side of his hips. “Miranda…” he started. “You know how I can hear you sometimes? And how you can hear me, the same way, sometimes?”
Miranda nodded. “Yes…”
“With you feeding me last night, it will be…more.”
Miranda’s brows drew down. “What do you mean ‘more’?”
“Well, vampires sometimes form bonds with people that they are…close to, or that they interact with on a regular basis.” Why was this so damn difficult to explain? “Feeding a vampire strengthens those bonds. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
“A bond, like when you talk in my head, or when you read my mind?”
“Yes, exactly.” He turned away. “I’m glad you understand.”
He seemed to be dismissing her, but she was far from satisfied with the direction of this conversation. “Wait a minute. Are you saying that we have a bond, and by feeding you last night I’ve strengthened that bond?” Oh, this was bad. This was very bad. If he was more attuned to her, would he find out about the dreams? He would fire her for sure, right after he finished laughing his ass off.
*
He could feel her alarm and turned to gaze at her curiously. He also felt a pang of disappointment. She didn’t want to be tied to him. That was fine, because he didn’t want that either. So where was this anger coming from? “Yes, that’s what I’m saying. But don’t worry. I’m trying to erect shields to keep some of the stronger feelings and thoughts private. I don’t want to be tied to you any more than you do me.” That last sounded harsh to his own ears. He didn’t want this to put a crimp in their working relationship; she was a damn fine assistant, to say the least.
Anxiety was pouring off Miranda in waves. He could feel her struggling to stay calm. “Oh. Well.” Miranda stood up, brushing imaginary lint off her skirt. It seemed she didn’t want to look him in the face. “I’ll just let you get back to working on those shields then.” She made a step for the door. “I’m going to get me some dinner. Beep me if you need me.” She fled from the room.
Matthias slammed his fist down on the desk. That hadn’t gone at all as he’d planned…Actually, he hadn’t planned anything. He’d just improvised, and now saw how well that had worked. Damn it, but that woman made him crazy! Here he was, a two hundred and fifty-year-old vampire, and a little slip of a mortal female had him in knots. That just wouldn’t do. No, not at all.
Matthias found her in the kitchen putting together a salad for her dinner. He stood and stared at her until she noticed him. Miranda threw her hands up in the air before dropping down to start picking everything up. “I thought you weren’t hungry,” she scolded.
“I wasn’t done speaking with you.” Matthias shrugged. He was l
eaning against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest. “As I was saying before you bolted…I’m working on erecting shields that will benefit both of us. It’s not just for me; it’s for your protection as well.”
“Okay. I get it. It’s fine. I don’t want to know what you’re feeling 24/7 either.” Miranda looked at his face as she stood back up. “Don’t worry about it.” She offered him a smile. “Now, have you changed your mind about something to eat?”
He stared at her for a minute. Did she really think she could fool him? She wasn’t. He decided to let it go. “No, thank you. I have a few more things to do, so I’m going back to my office. I’ll let you know if I need anything.” He turned on his heel and marched out of the kitchen.
*
Miranda didn’t hear from Matthias for the rest of the night. After she finished her dinner, she cleaned up her mess in the kitchen and went back to her room. She gathered some clothes and a book and went to take a long, hot bubble bath. She turned on soft music and soaked in the tub until the water turned cool. After drying off and dressing, Miranda went to bed.
Miranda woke with a start, her heart hammering in her chest, a fine sheen of sweat covering her. Sitting up in bed, she turned her head to read the illuminated display on the clock beside her bed: 2:00 a.m. As hard as her heart was pounding, Miranda knew she wouldn’t be getting back to sleep very soon. A nice, warm cup of hot chocolate might calm me down, she hoped. Sliding from her bed, she picked up her satin robe on the way out of her room. She pulled it on and tied it at her waist while she walked toward the kitchen.
Miranda leaned back against the counter, sipping her hot chocolate. Images from the dream were playing like a movie through her mind as she stared off into space. Her body still felt flushed and tight. She shifted her feet, trying to alleviate some of the ache that remained.
Her Christmas Tree Page 3
