“What is it?” Sofia asked. “Where does it go?”
“I think Saintcrow’s lair is down there.”
She backed away as visions of the vampire asleep in his coffin filled her mind. Turning on her heel, she hurried down the stairs to the living room.
Ethan closed the door, then followed her.
He found Sofia sitting on the sofa, face pale, her arms folded over her breasts. “Every time I think I’ve got a handle on the whole vampire thing, something new comes along and spooks me. I never thought of myself as a coward, but then, I never knew vampires were real.”
“And now that you know, everything’s changed?”
She nodded. “I guess once you’ve seen the wizard behind the curtain, you can’t pretend he isn’t there.” Reaching for Ethan’s hand, she pulled him down beside her. “In spite of everything, I’m glad Holly brought us together.”
Ethan nodded, then kissed her lightly, hoping she would always feel that way.
* * *
“Browning can’t walk in the daylight, can he?” Sofia glanced at the bed, thinking she should have brought a nightgown with her. But then, spending the night had been a spur-of-the-moment decision.
“I don’t know,” he said, “but I don’t think so. I’m sure Saintcrow would have mentioned it.”
Sofia looked around the room. She told herself there was nothing to fear. No one could get into the house.
“Are you all right?”
“I don’t want to sleep in here alone.”
Ethan nodded slowly. “Okay.”
“Do you have a problem with that?”
“I don’t, but you might.”
“Why?” Comprehension dawned as she watched him search for an answer. “Oh!” she exclaimed. “Are you gross during the day?”
“Nothing like cutting right to the chase,” he muttered. “But to answer your question, I don’t know. The subject never came up. And I’ve never seen a vampire at rest.”
“Oh.” She worried her lower lip with her teeth. What if he looked really dead, all pale and shriveled? Did he stop breathing?
Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. Then, shoving his hands in his pants’ pockets, he sent a mental question to Saintcrow. What do vampires look like at rest?
He immediately heard his sire’s amused laughter echo in his mind. Don’t worry, you won’t look like a corpse. Your skin will look a little paler, your breathing stops, but other than that, you just look like you’re asleep. Nothing will wake you, unless you’re in danger.
Sending Saintcrow his thanks—and hoping he could believe him—Ethan said, “Mostly, I’ll look like I’m asleep.”
Sofia smiled, obviously relieved. “Then you’ll stay?”
He nodded. Dawn was hours away, but she was ready for bed now. How was he going to lie beside her and not take her in his arms? “I’ll wait downstairs. Call me when you’re ready to turn in.”
She closed the door after him, then went into the bathroom. There was no shower, only a tub. But what a tub. It was round and blue and deep. She found a bottle of bubble bath in the cupboard. Minutes later, she was submerged in bubbles. Resting her head on the back of the tub, she closed her eyes. Life had certainly taken an unexpected turn. Who’d have thought, when she’d agreed to go out with Holly’s cousin, that she would find herself falling in love with him? Or staying in the home of an ancient vampire?
When the water cooled, she stepped out of the tub, dried herself with a thick terry towel, and got dressed, wishing again that she’d brought a nightgown. But then, maybe it was just as well that she hadn’t, since Ethan would be resting beside her. The thought sent a little thrill of excitement down her spine.
Although it was quite late, she was suddenly wide awake. Barefooted, she tiptoed down the stairs, then thought how foolish it was. Ethan would know she was coming long before she got there.
She found him stretched out on the sofa, his arms folded behind his head. He had taken off his boots, laid a fire in the enormous hearth. “Cozy,” she murmured.
Sitting up, he patted the place beside him.
Sofia bit down on her lower lip. She had been alone with him before, but this was different somehow. She had nowhere to run, no one to call for help if he suddenly lost control.
He lifted one brow, as though amused by her sudden trepidation.
And her fears dissolved. This was Ethan. He would never hurt her. She sank down on the sofa, a little frisson of heat spiraling through her when her thigh brushed his. “I’ve never seen a fireplace that big.”
“Me either.” He slid his arm around her shoulders. “You smell good,” he murmured. “Like roses.”
“Oh. I thought . . . it’s the bubble bath.”
Laughter rumbled in his throat. “You thought I meant your blood, didn’t you?”
She nodded as a flush warmed her cheeks. “Sorry.”
“That smells good, too,” he said, nuzzling the side of her neck.
“Have you fed lately?”
“Earlier tonight. Why? Are you worried?”
“Maybe. A little.”
His laugh turned wicked. “Beautiful young maiden, pure and untouched, all alone in the wicked vampire’s lair.”
She jammed her elbow into his side. “Stop that!”
“Okay. Geez, I was just kidding.”
“Yeah, well, it’s a little too close to the truth, don’t you think?”
“Especially the beautiful part.”
“I didn’t mean that.”
“I know. But you are beautiful, Sofia. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. And the sweetest . . . make that the nicest, so you don’t mistake my meaning again,” he said with a wry grin.
She stared up at him, pleased by his words. Her heart skipped a beat when he captured her lips with his. Leaning back, he turned slightly as he drew her into his arms, his mouth moving slowly over hers in a long, lazy kiss that warmed every fiber of her being. His fingers played in her hair. She moaned low in her throat when his tongue swept over her lips.
She didn’t remember moving, but somehow, they were lying side by side on the floor in front of the fire. She closed her eyes as Ethan rained kisses on her cheeks, her forehead, lingering on her lips, the pulse beating rapidly in her throat.
Caught up in the heat of the moment, she slid her hands under his shirt, reveling in the touch of his bare skin. When he rose over her, his eyes burning hotter than the flames, she realized, too late, that she had inadvertently sent him the wrong signal.
“Ethan . . .” She shook her head. It was too soon. She wasn’t ready to take their relationship to the next level.
He drew back, a groan erupting from his throat.
“I’m sorry . . . I . . . I can’t. Not yet.”
Eyes closed, he rested his forehead against hers. “I thought . . .” He sucked in a deep breath. “It’s all right.”
He sounded like he was in pain. “Are you . . . okay?”
His answer was a wordless grunt. And then he rolled onto his side, carrying her with him, his arm draped over her waist.
“Are you mad?”
He opened one eye. “No. Just . . . no.” With a shake of his head, he sat up. He didn’t know which was worse—his hunger for her blood or his need to bury himself deep within her. He kissed the tip of her nose, then rose to his feet in a single fluid movement. “I need some fresh air,” he said, his voice thick. “Good night.”
“’Night.” She stared after him as he left the room, wishing she had the nerve to follow her heart, but she couldn’t ignore the little voice in the back of her mind warning that once she surrendered her virginity, there was no way to get it back.
* * *
Kadie curled up against Saintcrow, her hand resting on his chest, her head on his shoulder. A cozy fire burned low in the living room hearth of their New Orleans place. It was the only light in the room. “What do you think Browning really wants? I mean, why did he come back after all this time?”
&nbs
p; “I don’t know. But that story about running afoul of a master vampire is a load of crap.”
“Do you think he went there just to find you?”
He shrugged. “Doesn’t make much sense.”
“Maybe he thought he’d defeat you and take over the town.”
“I’d like to see him try it.”
“My hero.”
He brushed a kiss across the top of her head. “I can see why he’d want to go back. They had it pretty easy there back then.” He let out a mock groan when she punched him in the arm. “Yeah, yeah, I know, my bad. But, morality aside, life was good for the vampires.” He caught her hand before she could hit him again. “And I met you there, Kadie Andrews Saintcrow, love of my life.”
“And such a long life.”
“It didn’t really start until I met you.”
“Rylan.” She melted against him, her heart swelling with love.
“No regrets?” It was a question he asked from time to time.
“Not one.” Looking up, she met his gaze. “I have a bad feeling about his being there.”
“Not to worry, Kadie, my sweet.”
She nodded. He was the oldest vampire in the world. Powerful. Virtually indestructible. So why was she still so apprehensive?
Chapter Nineteen
Nolan Browning strolled through the town, pausing to investigate the changes being made in the hotel, the tavern. He was surprised Saintcrow had decided to renovate the place. To what end, he had no idea. Saintcrow didn’t strike him as the type of man to take up innkeeping as a hobby—unless he intended to turn Morgan Creek back into the vampire haven it had once been. Ah, those were the days. A secure lair to rest in. Always a good meal. No hunters breathing down their necks.
He shook his head. Kadie would never allow Saintcrow to resume that lifestyle, but he thought it was an excellent idea. Had, in fact, come here hoping to find the town abandoned so he could start his own hideaway with prey of his own choosing. He licked his lips as he thought of that pretty little human female. Sofia. Young and innocent, she would provide nourishment to a hungry vampire for a good long time. And satisfy other needs, as well.
If he could find a way to defeat Saintcrow, the town would be his. He dismissed Parrish out of hand. The fledgling was too young and inexperienced to cause him any trouble.
Browning strolled through the park, thinking about the past. There were few of the original Morgan Creek vampires left. Lilith was gone. Saintcrow had dispatched Kiel years ago for attacking Kadie. Trent Lambert had been destroyed by Leticia Braga. That left Quinn, Darrick, Felix, and Wes.
Nolan shook his head ruefully. The five of them together didn’t have enough power to take down a master vampire. Saintcrow had existed far longer than all of them put together. With age came added strength and increased power. The master vampire could crush them all with a glance.
Browning looked up at the house on the hill, reluctant to give up his plan to take over the town. He was tired of living among humans, tired of worrying about some hunter taking his head while he rested. He had been happy in Morgan Creek, but if he was determined to take the town away from Saintcrow, he needed backup. But where to find a vampire old enough, strong enough, to defeat the master of Morgan Creek?
Chapter Twenty
Saturday morning, Sofia woke with a start. She had been dreaming, but she couldn’t remember what it had been about. And for a moment, she couldn’t remember where she was either. Jackknifing to a sitting position, she glanced around. She was in a room in Saintcrow’s house. But where was Ethan? He had been beside her last night. She remembered waking up several times and finding him there.
Frowning, she slipped out of bed, put on her shoes, and went downstairs. When her stomach growled, she blew out a sigh. There was no food here, which meant a fairly long, hungry walk to the office, but there was no help for it.
She murmured, “Bless you, Ethan,” when she saw the Viper parked in front of the mansion.
Sliding behind the wheel, she rolled down the windows and started the engine. She let it idle a minute, listening to the engine’s low growl.
And then she flew down the hill. It took only moments to reach the outskirts of the town. As she drew nearer, she heard the distant sound of hammering. Unlike many construction companies, the Advantage Construction crew didn’t take weekends off, although she normally did.
With regret, she pulled the car into the driveway and cut the engine. She didn’t know where Saintcrow was, although she assumed he must be here on weekends. Someone had to be available in case one of the workers needed something.
She shut off the engine, thinking that one of these afternoons, she was going to get behind the wheel and take a long drive.
Going into the house they now called the office, she double-locked the front door, then went into the bathroom. She had taken to leaving a few changes of clothes in the bedroom closet. After her morning ablutions, she slipped on a loose-fitting shirt and a pair of yoga pants, then went into the kitchen to make breakfast. After pouring herself a second cup of coffee, she went out to sit on the porch stairs.
It was a beautiful morning, the sky a bold, clear blue decorated with a few scattered white clouds. Darker clouds loomed above the mountains, making her wonder if it would rain later.
It was so peaceful here, she mused. Hard to believe men and women had once been kept in this place to feed a coven of vampires. Looking around, it was easy to visualize children playing in the park while their mothers looked on. She imagined families going to the movie theater on a Friday night, walking to church on Sunday morning . . .
Reality wiped away her bucolic vision. There was no church in Morgan Creek. Had the people prayed in their homes, or had they given up all hope, all faith, when their prayers to be rescued went unanswered year after year? Had they wanted a church and been denied one? What was it like to have your liberty stolen? There had been no freedom of choice here—only slavery for the helpless men and women who had sought shelter and found bondage instead. How had they survived? How would she have survived if she had been unfortunate enough to be one of them? Would she have fought against the vampires? Tried to escape? Or just given up?
“You would have learned to cope. Mortals have an amazing capacity to adapt to their circumstances.”
Startled by Saintcrow’s abrupt appearance, Sofia almost tumbled down the stairs. “What are you doing here?”
“Kadie’s at rest,” he said with a shrug. “I was bored.”
Sofia shook her head. She didn’t believe that for a minute. From what Micah had told her, the vampire and his wife were practically joined at the hip. “Why are you really here?”
“You won’t like it.”
“I’m sure of that!”
He gave her an arch look. “I don’t want you going back to your place for a while.”
“What? Why not?”
“Browning is up to something. Until I know what it is, you’re safer here.”
She thought about arguing, but then she remembered what Ethan had said about vampires being able to compel humans to do their bidding. “What do you think Browning wants?”
“I’m not sure. Like I told Kadie last night, I think he wants to take over the town. But he’d have to defeat me to do that.”
“Could he? Defeat you?”
“You tell me.” He unleashed his power for the space of a heartbeat.
It was a frightful feeling, like being weighed down by an unseen force. For that brief moment of time, she was completely at his mercy, her will subject to his. Fear washed through her, and with it a fleeting sense of imminent destruction. And then it was gone.
Sofia stared at him as the last ripples of power faded, certain that no creature on earth could defeat him.
Saintcrow grinned inwardly. She was right. No single vampire could conquer him. But more than a dozen or so, working together, might be able to accomplish it. But he saw no reason to tell her that.
* * *
The rest of the day passed in spurts. Sometimes she was very busy—answering the phone, straightening out a discrepancy in the plumber’s bill, writing checks—leaving her to wonder if every Saturday was as hectic. Sometimes she sat at her desk, staring out the window, wishing away the hours until she could see Ethan again.
Saintcrow came and went a couple of times, making her wonder how he had spent his days before Ethan decided to renovate the town. Until she met Saintcrow, she had never known vampires could be awake during the day. Micah had told her that only ancient vampires could walk in the sun. How long did it take to become ancient? Fifty years? A hundred years? A thousand? If so, the master vampire had a long time to wait until Kadie could share the day with him. And Ethan . . . he hadn’t even been a vampire for a year yet.
Sighing, she propped her elbows on the desk and rested her chin on her folded hands. She was falling hard for Ethan. If she decided to continue seeing him, she would have to make a lot of adjustments in her life. So, she guessed the big question was, would it be worth it?
The answer that immediately came to mind was, Yes. Yes. Definitely yes!
And that settled that.
* * *
Ethan rose with the setting of the sun. He closed his eyes and opened his senses, smiled when he realized Sofia was still in the office. He’d wondered, in spite of Saintcrow’s admonition that she should stay in town, whether she had convinced him to take her home.
Rising, he took a quick shower, pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and willed himself to the office.
He found Sofia at her desk, straightening a pile of papers. He whistled softly. “You even look good from behind.”
She glanced at him over her shoulder, one brow arched. “I’ll bet you say that to all the girls.”
“No way.”
Like magnets inexplicably drawn together, they moved into each other’s arms.
“You were gone when I woke up,” Sofia said, a note of censure in her tone.
“I know. I’m sorry. I stayed as long as I could.”
Her brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”
“You’re a hell of a temptation, you know. Lying there beside you all night . . .” He shook his head. “I’m not made of stone.”
Twilight Desires Page 12
