Heat flooded Sofia’s cheeks. “Thank you.”
“You look . . .”
“Good enough to eat?” she asked, a smile teasing her lips.
Ethan grinned at her. “That’s exactly what I said when Holly sent me your photo.”
“You did not!”
“I did. And it’s still true. Are you ready?”
“Ready.” Grabbing her purse, she closed the door and followed him down the steps. A turquoise Dodge Viper with black racing stripes waited at the curb. “Wow. Is that yours?”
“It’s the car Saintcrow left in the garage.”
“Really?” As much as she loved her Mustang, she had always wanted to own a Viper.
Ethan held the door open for her. “It’s a beaut.”
Sofia nodded as she slid into the seat and sank into the embrace of butter-soft black leather.
Ethan climbed behind the wheel and switched on the ignition. He whistled with appreciation as the engine purred to life. “Hang on,” he said, and hit the gas.
The car roared down the street, across the bridge, and onto the highway.
Sofia laughed as they flew down the road. “Where are we going?”
“There’s a town not far from here.”
Sofia nodded, remembering that Saintcrow had once mentioned the place.
A short time later, she spied lights in the distance. Ethan eased off the gas as they approached the town. It was Friday night and the sidewalks were teeming with couples and families.
He parked the car and they joined the crowd. Being surrounded by so many people made it easy for Sofia to pretend they were just a man and a woman like any other as they strolled toward the theater. She slid a glance at Ethan, wondering for the first time if it was difficult for him to be in the midst of so many people.
He bought their tickets and they went into the lobby.
“Do you want anything?” he asked.
She glanced at the long line at the concession counter and shook her head. “I’ve got candy in my bag.” At his amused look, she said, “Never leave home without it.”
Women and chocolate. He had never understood it.
They found two seats in the center section. Even though he was surrounded by hundreds of people, his whole being was focused on the woman beside him. Her scent engulfed him, the beat of her heart thundered in his ears, her nearness aroused his desire. It had been a long time since he’d had a woman. As the theater went dark, he glanced at Sofia, imagining her in bed beside him, caressing him. What would it be like, making love to a woman now that he was a vampire? Would he be able to control his lust? His hunger? Or would he sink his fangs into her tender flesh and rip her to pieces? Vampire sex was something his sire had neglected to mention in How to Be a Vampire 101.
With an effort, he forced himself to block everything from his mind but the action on the screen.
Sofia slid a look at Ethan. He sat stiffly beside her, his jaw clenched. Was he sorry he had asked her out? She had expected him to put his arm around her, maybe hold her hand, but he seemed oblivious to her presence. Which was too bad, because she was acutely conscious of him beside her. She didn’t know if it was his cologne or just his own masculine scent, but it was driving her crazy.
She was glad when the movie was over.
Outside, she avoided his gaze.
“It’s still early,” he said. “Would you like to go get a drink?”
“Would you?”
He frowned at her. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing. I could use a drink.”
“There’s a nightclub just down the street. I think you might like it.”
“All right.” Maybe she was overreacting, Sofia mused, as they made their way to the club. Maybe he hadn’t been ignoring her; maybe he’d just been caught up in the movie.
The Fandango was your usual, run-of-the-mill nightspot—dimly lit, a small dance floor surrounded by booths and tables. Standing at the bar, Ethan ordered a glass of cabernet; Sofia asked the bartender for a tequila sunrise.
“Did you enjoy the show?” he asked as they waited for their drinks to arrive.
“Not really.”
“No? I thought it was pretty good.”
“You must have.”
He frowned at her. “What do you mean?”
“You watched it like there was going to be a test later. I felt like . . . never mind.”
“Like what?”
“Like I was alone.”
Damn. “I’m sorry, Sofie.” He picked up their drinks. “Come on; let’s go sit over there.” He led the way to a booth in the back, slid in beside her. “Sitting there in the dark, I couldn’t think of anything but you. Holding you. Making love to you.”
“And that’s a problem?”
“Isn’t it?”
“I’m not sure of anything except that I’m not ready to go there just yet.”
“Me either, but not for the reason you’re thinking.”
“I’m not thinking anything.”
“No? You haven’t wondered what it would be like, making love to a vampire?”
She made a vague gesture. “Not really. I mean, we’ve just met.”
“Well, I’ve thought about it. I haven’t had a woman since Saintcrow turned me.”
“Oh. Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t know . . .”
“Wait! I don’t mean I can’t. I just don’t know what it’s like, or if I can control myself so that I don’t hurt you. Or worse.”
Sofia picked up her glass and took a long drink. She hadn’t thought that making love to Ethan might put her life in danger, but now that he mentioned it, she was surprised it hadn’t occurred to her. He was a hunter, after all, and she was prey.
“Would you like to try dancing again?” he asked as the band broke into something soft and slow.
“Only if you promise not to bolt out the door.”
“Not sure I can promise that. So, are you game?” He swore under his breath as Sofia burst out laughing. “Sorry,” he muttered. “Wrong choice of words.”
“I would love to dance with you, Mr. Parrish,” she said, partly because she wanted to be in his arms, partly out of a bizarre sense of curiosity to see what would happen.
The lights dimmed as he led her onto the floor. As always, there was something magical about being in Ethan’s arms. Even knowing what he was, she wanted nothing more than to be close to him, to inhale his musky scent, to feel his lips moving in her hair.
He drew her closer, so that his body brushed hers with every movement. Desire sparked between them, the same desire she saw when she looked up and met his gaze.
Lowering his head, he kissed her, his tongue sweeping over her lower lip. It sent a shaft of heat sizzling through her, quickened her senses, made her even more aware of his body touching hers. She tensed when his fangs touched her throat, relaxed as a wave of sensual pleasure swept over her. He was drinking from her, here, on the dance floor.
And she didn’t mind at all.
He took only a little, as always, and murmured, “I’m sorry,” when he lifted his head.
“Don’t be,” she said, with a crooked grin. “It kept you from running away.”
“Sofia.”
“Hmm?”
His arm tightened around her waist. “I think I’m falling in love with you.” His words were met with stunned silence. Dammit, he should have kept his mouth shut. “Sofie, say something.”
“I think I might be in love with you, too.”
They were, he thought, the sweetest words he had ever heard. Oblivious to the fact that the music had stopped, or that people were staring, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, silently thanking fate or Cupid or whoever was in charge of such things that she hadn’t run screaming from his presence.
Sofia’s cheeks grew hot as the sounds of cheers and applause rippled through the room. Taking Ethan’s hand, she tugged him off the dance floor and into the relative privacy of their booth.
As soon as they were
seated, he took her in his arms again. She snuggled against him, her head resting on his shoulder. For the first time, she had an inkling of why Holly and Kadie had risked everything for the men they loved.
* * *
It was close to midnight when they returned to Morgan Creek. Ethan parked the Viper in front of the garage, then opened Sofia’s door and handed her out of the car. “I guess I’d better get you home.”
“I decided to spend the night here, in Morgan Creek.”
“Oh?”
She nodded. A curl of pleasure unfurled in the pit of her stomach when he took her hand as they walked toward the house that was now her office. “I thought maybe you’d stay the night with me.”
He lifted one brow.
“I didn’t mean that! I just thought you’d keep me company for a while, and then we could spend tomorrow night together. If you want to.”
Giving her hand a squeeze, he said, “Believe me, I want to.”
“It’s settled, then.”
She hadn’t bothered to lock the door, figuring only the workers and the mailman knew Morgan Creek even existed. As soon as she switched on the lights, she knew she should have turned the dead bolt.
Ethan thrust Sofia behind him when a man stepped out of the shadows. “Who the hell are you?”
“Who the hell are you?”
Ethan took a deep breath. Vampire. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m looking for someone.”
“Yeah? Well, there’s no one here but us.”
“You’re lying, fledgling,” the other vampire said. “I want to know what’s going on here. And what you’ve done with Saintcrow.”
“What are you talking about?” Ethan asked.
“This used to be his town.”
Ethan nodded. “It still is. We’re just doing a little renovation.”
The other vampire snorted. “And I suppose you’re part of we?”
“As a matter of fact, I am. Now who the hell are you?”
“Nolan Browning. I lived in Morgan Creek for over half a century.” He prowled around the room as if he had, indeed, been there before. “Good times, they were.” He glanced at Sofia. “Always something good to eat.”
“She’s mine,” Ethan said, his voice little more than a growl of warning.
“No problem,” Browning said with a shrug. “Now that you know who I am, I’ll ask you again. Who are you?”
“Name’s Parrish. Saintcrow’s my sire.”
As Ethan had earlier, Browning took a deep breath. And all the tension drained out of him. “So, where is he?”
“I don’t know. He doesn’t answer to me.”
“Or anyone else,” Browning muttered.
Sofia clutched Ethan’s arm as a faint ripple stirred the air.
“Actually, I answer to Kadie,” Saintcrow said, materializing behind Browning. “What brings you here?”
Browning spun around. “I ran afoul of a master vampire and I need a place to hole up. I thought maybe I could hide behind the wards on the bridge, but . . . I guess times have changed.”
Saintcrow shrugged. “Some things, perhaps. One thing that hasn’t changed is that the people in my town are under my protection. Human or vampire. You know what I’m saying?”
Browning glanced over his shoulder at Sofia.
She cringed as his hungry gaze moved over her.
A snarl rose in Ethan’s throat. There was nothing human about it.
“Nolan!”
Browning looked back at Saintcrow. “I understand.”
“Ethan, why don’t you spend the night at my place as long as Browning is here? Nolan, you can stay up at Blair House for a few days, and then I want you gone.”
“Are you kicking me out?”
“If you want to think of it that way, yes.”
Browning nodded. “It’s your town,” he muttered. “Mind if I have a look around?”
“Help yourself.” Eyes narrowed, Saintcrow watched Browning leave the house.
Ethan followed his sire’s gaze. “My gut tells me you don’t believe a word he said.”
“I don’t know what game he’s playing, but I can smell a lie a mile away and he’s not hiding from anybody.” Saintcrow looked thoughtful a moment, then said, “Take Sofia with you when you go up to my place. She’ll be safer there.”
“You don’t trust him,” Ethan said flatly. It wasn’t a question.
Saintcrow smiled, showing a hint of fang. “Like he said, times change. Sometimes old friends become new enemies. It pays to be prepared until we find out which way the wind blows. I’ll see you later.”
Sofia was shaking inside when Saintcrow left the house. She wasn’t stupid. She had caught the underlying currents of distrust in the conversation between Saintcrow and Browning. The fact that Saintcrow thought she would be safer spending the night in his lair proved something was going on, something she didn’t quite understand.
Ethan pulled her into his arms. “Hey, don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I want to go home.”
“Didn’t you hear Saintcrow? He thinks you should stay here tonight.”
“I’ll be safe in my own house. Browning can’t cross the threshold. And why would he want to come after me anyway?” Even as she asked the question, she remembered the feral look in the vampire’s eyes.
“Browning might not be able to cross the threshold,” Ethan said quietly. “But any vampire worthy of the name can compel humans to do his bidding.”
Her eyes widened as she realized what he meant. A stranger in Browning’s thrall could break into her house and drag her outside. It had happened before, with Mateo.
“I’m sorry, Sofie. I never should have gotten you tangled up in my life. But I swear, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“I know.” Resting her cheek against his chest, she prayed it was a promise he could keep.
Chapter Eighteen
Heeding Saintcrow’s advice, Ethan transported Sofia to the master vampire’s house. Made of weathered gray stone, it had turrets at all four corners, which made her think of an ancient English castle, though she had never seen one with thick iron bars covering the front door and all the windows. She couldn’t help thinking the place looked like something out of an old, scary movie.
Muttering, “Home sweet home,” Ethan opened the door for her.
Sofia shivered as she stepped into the lion’s den. She didn’t know what she had expected—tapestries and antique furniture, perhaps—but the interior was lovely. Dropping her handbag on a small table in the foyer, she turned in a slow circle. The sofa and love seat were modern and obviously expensive. Only the fireplace seemed to be as old as the house. Large enough to hold a horse and rider, it dominated the room. But it was the suit of armor in the corner that captured her attention. Saintcrow was ancient. Had that armor been his? Had he worn it in the Crusades? The thought that it was possible was mind-boggling.
“This is quite a place,” she remarked.
“Yeah.” Ethan had known Saintcrow was rich, but seeing this made it real. He had seen that sofa in a magazine. It hadn’t been cheap. It made him wonder just how much money his sire had, and how he’d acquired it. “Do you feel like exploring?”
“Haven’t you been here before?”
“No.” Taking her hand, he said, “Come on. Let’s go upstairs and find you a room for the night.”
Sofia got a quick look at the kitchen as they passed by. She was somewhat surprised to find it outfitted with modern appliances, including a microwave and a toaster. “Do you think Saintcrow bought all this stuff for Kadie before he turned her?”
“It’s the only explanation that makes sense,” Ethan said, although that wasn’t necessarily true. Some vampires stored bagged blood in refrigerators and warmed it in microwaves, but he doubted Saintcrow was one of them.
With some trepidation, Sofia followed Ethan up the wide stairway to the second floor.
She opened the first door on the
left at the top of the stairs. It was a nice-enough room, she thought. The walls were off-white, the rug a deep forest green. Matching drapes hung at the single barred window. The four-poster bed looked like an antique.
Curious, she walked down the hallway, peeking into each room. All were decorated much the same as the first one. Only the colors were different.
“Did he keep a harem?” she wondered aloud.
“Beats me.”
“I’ll take the first room,” Sofia decided. “Where are you going to sleep?”
“I’ll take the one next to yours.”
A narrow stairway led to the third floor. “The turret rooms must be up there,” Sofia said. “Come on; I’ve always wanted to see one.”
Ethan followed her up the winding stone staircase.
She felt a twinge of disappointment as she looked in the first room. It was round and empty, as was the second one. Apparently, Kadie hadn’t been interested in remodeling up here. The third room contained a narrow cot and an old wooden chair that looked like it would break if anyone sat on it.
Sofia paused to stare at the black iron cross on the wall across from the bed. Had Saintcrow once been a religious man? Or was it merely a decoration that held no meaning?
The last room held a bed, a table, and another rickety chair. A floor-to-ceiling tapestry that looked hundreds of years old covered the far wall. The colors were faded, the edges frayed.
“It’s still beautiful, isn’t it?” she murmured.
“Yeah.” Ethan took a step forward, his eyes narrowing. The tapestry depicted a knight in chain mail mounted on a rearing black stallion. He held a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. “Am I imagining things or is that Saintcrow?”
Sofia moved up beside him. “I think it is.” Reaching out, she ran her fingers over the red cross emblazoned on the knight’s surcoat, took a quick step back when a peculiar grinding noise came from behind the tapestry. “What was that?”
“I don’t know.” Moving to the edge of the drapery, Ethan pulled it away from the wall.
Sofia’s eyes widened when she saw a narrow doorway. “Where do you think it goes?”
Ethan shrugged. “Only one way to find out.”
She held her breath as Ethan opened the door. In the dim light from the window, she saw a long, winding staircase.
Twilight Desires Page 11
