Amanda Ashley Bundle: Bound By Night & Bound By Blood
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Synopsis
A Vampire's Kiss Is Forever. . . Once featured in a horror movie, the crumbling Wolfram estate is said to be haunted by ghosts, witches, and worse. But Elena doesn't believe a word of it—until she spends the night and wakes up in the arms of a compelling stranger. . . Tall, dark, and disturbingly handsome, Drake is the most beautiful man Elena has ever seen. For centuries, he has lived alone, and Elena is the first woman to enter his lair—and survive. And Drake is the first man to touch her heart and soul. By the time she discovers who he really is—and what he craves—it's too late. Blood lust has turned to love, and Elena is deeply under Drake's spell. But forever comes at a price for each of them. . . In the Texas Panhandle, the winters are long, the storms fierce—and the Yuletide nights are sizzling. New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas along with Linda Broday, Phyliss Miranda and DeWanna Pace, bring you one tempting holiday delight. . . On the eve before Christmas a blizzard arrived, transforming a small Texas town into a night to remember. Four ladies desperately in need of saving, four hard-ridin' cowboys who aim to please. . . When a lone farmer strides to a pretty store owner's rescue, their deepest wishes just might come true. . . A brave heiress can't believe a rugged angel is riding out of the night to save her and her fellow train passengers—until she gets him under the mistletoe. . . A quiet loner wants to help a stranded widow have a holiday to remember. . . And a female saloon owner tired of being scorned by respectable folk gets some very naughty help from a handsome greenhorn. . .
Release date: November 1, 2011
Publisher: Zebra
Print pages: 519
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Amanda Ashley Bundle: Bound By Night & Bound By Blood
Amanda Ashley
Kaitlyn Sherrad rolled down the window of her baby blue Porsche and stared up at the log cabin set alone in the midst of a cluster of tall pines. As usual, her father had outdone himself. Last month, when he had come to the States for her graduation from college, he had asked her what kind of gift she wanted and she had said, facetiously, Oh, nothing much, just a little summer place in the mountains.
After pulling into the driveway and cutting the engine, Kaitlyn grabbed her suitcases from the backseat. Smiling with anticipation, she hurried up the narrow, winding, red brick path that led to the front porch. She quickly skipped up the stairs and unlocked the door.
Knowing her father, she wasn’t the least bit surprised to find the living room already furnished. An off-white sofa with a high, curved back and a matching love seat faced each other in front of a rough-hewn stone fireplace. A deep mauve carpet covered the floor, flowered curtains hung at the windows. The tables were walnut, as was the large bookcase—already filled with books by her favorite authors—that took up most of one wall.
Dropping her suitcases beside the sofa, Kaitlyn explored the rest of the house—two large bedrooms with a connecting bathroom; a den, complete with desk, computer and printer, sofa and big-screen TV; a small kitchen with new appliances and a refrigerator filled with her favorite foods; a service porch equipped with a new washer and dryer.
She shook her head, a sting of tears behind her eyes. Being an only child, she had always been spoiled rotten, but this went far beyond the ballet classes and piano lessons her parents had provided when she was in grade school, the new wardrobe they had given her every year, the Porsche her father had surprised her with for her twenty-first birthday last year.
She had hoped her folks would spend the summer with her, but trouble at the Fortress had drawn them home. It wasn’t always easy, having a father who was the Master of the Carpathian Coven. Sometimes, as now, his duties could not be ignored. Usually, her uncle Andrei handled things at the Fortress, but whatever the emergency had been, it had required her father’s attention, which meant that her mother had gone, as well. To her knowledge, her parents rarely spent more than a few hours apart.
Kaitlyn sighed as she removed her sweater and tossed it over the back of the sofa. Someday, she hoped to find a man who would adore her the way her father adored her mother. A man who would live and die for her. A man she couldn’t live without.
Picking up her suitcases, she carried them into the first bedroom and tossed them on the bed. This room was done in varying shades of green, with billowy white lace curtains. The twin windows looked out over a sparkling blue lake.
Kaitlyn shook her head. How was she ever going to express her gratitude for the love and kindness her parents had showered upon her? She had thanked them on numerous occasions in the past, but words seemed woefully inadequate. She knew they hadn’t been altogether pleased with her decision to remain in California after she graduated from college, but they had accepted it without argument.
Feeling a little homesick, she opened the larger suitcase and began to unpack. Her folks had always treated her like a princess, but then, maybe that was natural, since she had been raised in an old stone castle in the heart of Romania.
She smiled as she hung her clothes in the closet.
All she needed now was a prince.
Zackary Ravenscroft strolled through the main floor of the casino, stopping now and then to chat with one of the customers, pausing to answer a question here, to address a complaint there. He loved owning a nightclub, loved the excitement that filled the air, the rush of adrenaline that fired the blood of the patrons, the fact that no two nights were ever the same.
Zack had built the casino ten years ago, simply because he was bored and thought it would be a nice distraction. It was one of the best decisions he had made in the last six hundred years. Not only did the casino provide a hefty income, but the constant change in customers assured a steady supply of women. And Zack loved women—all women. Old or young, ugly or pretty, smart or not so smart, black, white, red, brown, yellow—it made no difference. He loved them all. And they loved him in every way imaginable.
Leaving the gaming tables behind, he strolled up and down the aisles of slot machines. He stopped a moment to watch an elderly woman playing one of the old dollar slots. From her shabby appearance, she appeared to be down on her luck and most likely using the last of her money in a desperate hope of hitting it big. He had seen it all before. Usually, he had no sympathy for those who plunked down their last five bucks in hopes of winning a fortune on the turn of a card. Sure, it happened from time to time, but no matter what the game, the odds were always with the house.
The old lady was muttering under her breath.
It took Zack a minute to realize she wasn’t cursing but praying.
He frowned as he listened to the urgency of her words, heard the unshed tears in her voice as she sent a desperate plea toward Heaven.
Zack grunted softly. Her husband was sick. He needed an operation, and medication they could no longer afford. She had lost her job. They couldn’t pay the rent.
She needed a miracle.
Murmuring a breathless “Amen,” she shoved her remaining three dollars into the machine, then clasped her hands to her breast.
With a bemused shake of his head, Zack concentrated on the wheels of the slot machine.
One gold bar.
Two.
Three.
Smiling, Zack moved on as the machine lit up and bells and whistles went off, signaling that a player had hit the ten-thousand-dollar jackpot. So, he had lost ten grand, he thought, but it wasn’t much to pay for a miracle.
He was still smiling when he stepped outside. It was a beautiful night. Cool and crisp. A few scattered clouds drifted across the face of the full moon.
Feeling suddenly restless, he wandered away from the casino, crossed the parking lot, and headed for the wooded hillside that began just beyond the blacktop.
He moved soundlessly through the underbrush, his keen senses aware of the tiny night creatures that scented a predator and quickly scurried out of his way. He caught the scent of a skunk and farther on, that of a deer.
Nearing one of the cabins, he came across a black bear scavenging through a trash can. The bear reared up on its hind legs and sniffed the wind. Apparently recognizing Zack as a threat, the animal dropped back down on all fours and lumbered into the trees.
Grinning, Zack continued on until he came to the solitary cabin at the top of the hill. He paused, surprised to see there were lights on in the house. The cabin had been vacant for the last two years. He had, in fact, been thinking of buying the place for a rental.
Ah, well, too late now.
He was turning away when he caught the scent of prey. Glancing back, he saw a young woman looking out the front window. He whistled softly. He had seen a lot of beautiful women in his day, but this one—he shook his head. She was beyond beautiful. Her skin was smooth and unblemished, her eyes a deep dark blue. Hair the color of a raven’s wing tumbled over her shoulders.
He frowned when her gaze found his, and then shook his head. She couldn’t see him, of course. He was hidden by the darkness. And yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that she knew he was there, that she was staring at him, as he was staring at her.
Curious to see her reaction, he stepped out of the darkness into a shaft of bright moonlight.
He had expected her to gasp in surprise, call 911, or hastily move away from the window and close the curtains. Instead, she tilted her head to the side, her gaze moving over him from head to heel, much the way he studied a woman he was considering as prey.
Zack was contemplating what to do next when she moved away from the window. Moments later, she was standing on the front porch, her arms folded under her breasts.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
Her voice was low, soft, and yet he detected a fine layer of steel underneath. He grunted softly. Most women would have been frightened if they looked out their window at midnight and found a stranger standing in the yard. But she wasn’t the least bit afraid.
He had to admire that. Inclining his head, he murmured, “Good evening.”
She lifted one delicate brow. “I repeat, what are you doing here?”
“Merely enjoying the night air,” he replied with a smile. “And I repeat, good evening.” He frowned, mystified by his inability to read her mind. It was a skill that had never failed him before and left him wondering if she was deliberately blocking him, and if so, how?
She huffed a sigh of exasperation. “Same to you.”
“You’re new in the area,” he said.
Kaitlyn nodded. He must be a longtime resident, she thought, else he wouldn’t be aware of that.
“It’s a lovely house,” he remarked. “I had intended to buy it myself.”
“Sorry.”
“No need to be sorry. Our town can always use another pretty face.” He took a step forward, extending his hand. “Zackary Ravenscroft,” he said. “But my friends call me Zack.”
She descended the stairs. “Do you think we’re going to be friends?” she murmured, taking his hand.
“I hope so.”
“I’m Kaitlyn Sherrad.”
He gave her hand a slight squeeze. “Kaitlyn.”
She didn’t know if it was the sound of her name on his lips, or the touch of his hand on hers that sent a shiver of excitement racing down her spine. Startled, she jerked her hand from his and took a step backward. Who was this guy? She had never experienced a reaction like that with any other man. Stranger still was the bewildering fact that she couldn’t divine his thoughts. She supposed there were bound to be a few people whose minds she couldn’t read; still, it was disconcerting. Was there something wrong with him, she wondered, or was the problem hers? She would have to ask her father about it the next time he called.
Needing time to ponder her odd reaction to Zackary Ravenscroft and her failure to read his thoughts, Kaitlyn bid him a quick good night and hurried up the stairs and into the house. She closed and locked the door, then stood there, her back pressed against the wood. Who was that guy?
Zack stared after her for several moments before he turned and headed back down the trail toward the casino.
Kaitlyn Sherrad was a puzzle, he mused, and he hated puzzles.
Zack was still trying to unravel the mystery that was Kaitlyn when she strolled into the casino shortly after dusk the next evening. Clad in a simple pale pink dress that outlined a figure bordering on perfection and a pair of white heels that did wonderful things for her long, shapely legs, she quickly attracted the admiring gaze of every man in the place, and the envy of every woman.
“Miss Sherrad,” Zack murmured, going forward to greet her. “Welcome to my establishment.”
“Thank you, Mr. Ravenscroft.”
He made a broad gesture with his hand, encompassing the gaming portion of the nightclub. “What’s your pleasure?”
“What would you suggest? I’ve never been in a casino before.”
“Well, the slots are the easiest. The craps table is a bit confusing but probably the most exciting. Poker is a game of skill. Roulette is a game of pure chance.”
She looked thoughtful a moment. “Slot machines, I guess.”
He followed her to a bank of slots, stayed her hand when she delved into her handbag. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a fifty-dollar bill.
“First time’s on me,” he said with a wink.
“Really? Is this something you do for all of your customers?”
“No, ma’am, just the pretty ones.”
With a toss of her head, Kaitlyn took the fifty from his hand and slid the bill into the appropriate slot. A credit meter displayed the amount deposited.
“On this machine, you can play one credit or as many as five, or you can hit the button marked PLAY MAX CREDITS,” Zack explained. “After you make your choice, hit the SPIN REELS button. That’s all there is to it.”
Kaitlyn followed his directions, then watched breathlessly as the colorful wheels turned, then slowly came to a stop, showing three cherries across.
“I won!” she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with excitement, as credits were added to her original amount.
Zack smiled, amused by her excitement, content to stand at her shoulder as she continued to play. As with most games of chance, the odds were always in favor of the house. The payout on slots was about ninety-three percent.
A few minutes later, a hostess clad in a ruffled, offthe-shoulder white blouse and short, wine-red skirt came by offering drinks, which were free to players. Kaitlyn ordered orange juice.
“Not a big drinker, are you?” Zack remarked.
“Not really. Aren’t you having anything?”
“Maybe later.” He jerked his chin toward the machine. “You won again.”
Amused by her enthusiasm at winning a few dollars, he was curious to see what her reaction would be if she hit the jackpot. It was easy to manipulate the machine. A single thought, and three sevens lined up on the pay line.
“Oh! Look at that!” she exclaimed as more credits were added to the meter.
He laughed, surprised that her enjoyment pleased him so much.
The waitress arrived with her orange juice only moments later. Kaitlyn couldn’t help wondering if all drink orders were filled as quickly, or if the fact that she was with the boss had anything to do with the speedy service.
She continued to play while she sipped her drink, winning more than she lost, and decided to quit while she was ahead.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Then hit CASH OUT,” he directed.
She frowned when the machine spit out a bar-coded ticket.
“Only the older machines pay out in cash,” Zack explained. “You can cash that in later.”
“Oh, okay.” She slipped the coupon into her purse and glanced around.
“Are you game to try something else?” Zack asked.
“Maybe later. Right now, I think I’d like something to eat. Is there a restaurant in here?”
“This way.” Curious to see if his touch elicited the same reaction as the night before, he took her hand in his. An odd look passed over her face, but she didn’t pull away this time. Pleased, he led her out of the casino and down a long, carpeted hallway. Kaitlyn glanced at the shops that lined both sides of the corridor—gift shop, flower shop, hair salon. But it was the sexy black pants and top in the window of the dress shop next to the hair salon that caught her eye. She’d never worn anything like that in her whole life.
The restaurant was at the end of the corridor. Kaitlyn glanced around. The room was rectangular-shaped, with an open beam ceiling and parquet floors. Booths lined three of the walls; tables covered with deep green cloths were arranged in the center of the floor. The lighting was subdued; soft music filtered through the sound system.
They were seated immediately, but that was no surprise. After all, it was bad form to keep the boss waiting.
“Good evening, Mr. Ravenscroft,” a waitress said, offering Kaitlyn a menu. “Your usual?”
“That’ll be fine, Annie.”
“I’ll be right back,” she said, smiling.
“So,” Kaitlyn said, opening the menu, “what’s good here?”
“Everything,” Zack replied with a grin. “We’ve got the best chef in the state. I’m told the lobster is excellent.”
“You’re told?” Her eyebrows went up in surprise. “Haven’t you ever tried it?”
“No. I’m . . . allergic to seafood.”
The waitress returned bearing a glass of dark red wine, which she placed on a coaster in front of Zack before turning her attention to Kaitlyn. “Do you need more time?”
“No. I’ll have the lobster.”
“Soup or salad?”
“Salad, with ranch.”
“And to drink?”
“Just water, no lemon.” Kaitlyn looked at Zack. “Aren’t you having anything?”
“No. I dined earlier.”
After jotting Kaitlyn’s order down on her pad, the waitress picked up the menu and turned to go, but not before bestowing a dazzling smile on Zack.
“She seems quite smitten with you,” Kaitlyn remarked as the waitress moved to the next table.
“Annie? Yeah, she’s a good kid.” He draped one arm along the back of the booth. “So, are you a working girl?”
“Not yet. I just graduated from college.”
He grunted softly.
“I majored in Comparative Folklore.”
“How’s that workin’ out for ya?” he asked, grinning.
“Not very well, actually,” she admitted, her grin matching his. “Believe it or not, there isn’t a lot of interest in ancient folklore these days, but”—she shrugged—“I receive a substantial allowance from my father.”
Zack nodded. “Must be nice.” He barely remembered his own father.
“Yes, although sometimes I feel guilty for taking it, and for knowing that if I do get into financial trouble, he’s there to bail me out.”
“What’s wrong with that? Isn’t that what fathers are for?”
“I guess so, but I’m a big girl now. Old enough to stand on my own two feet. I shouldn’t be living on an allowance.”
“What does your father do?”
“He’s in business in Romania.” It was the truth. And a lie.
“Romania? Girl, you’re a long way from home.”
Kaitlyn nodded. “I always wanted to see America. I have an uncle here somewhere. Of course, I have no idea where he might be. He left home before I was born.” Her father was still hopeful that Stefan would one day return to the Fortress, but she thought it unlikely. Stefan had been gone for over twenty years. Surely, if he intended to return, he would have done so by now. Then again, maybe not. Twenty years wasn’t such a long time when you lived for centuries.
“It’s going to be hard to find him if you don’t know where to start,” Zack remarked.
“Well, I’m not really looking for him,” Kaitlyn said with a shrug. “Although it’s kind of nice to know that I have family here, somewhere.” All she knew about Stefan was that he looked a lot like her father and that he had once loved a mortal woman. Even her grandmother, Liliana, rarely spoke of him.
The waitress brought Kaitlyn’s dinner a few minutes later, along with another glass of wine for Zack.
“You’re really not going to have anything?” Kaitlyn asked.
“No.” He picked up his glass and sipped his drink. “Enjoy your dinner.”
The lobster was every bit as delicious as he’d said, the rice fluffy and perfectly seasoned, the vegetables the best she’d ever had. Her enjoyment must have shown on her face because Zack grinned as she took another bite of lobster.
“Told you so,” he said.
“It’s wonderful.” She speared another piece with her fork and offered it to him. “Are you sure you don’t want to try a bite?”
“Quite sure.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing.”
That much was true, he thought. He had never tasted lobster. Or hamburgers. Or hot dogs or potato chips or so many other foods that mortals took for granted these days. In his day, the wealthy had dined on pheasant and roast pork and chicken swimming in rich sauces. The poor folk had lived on bread and cheese and an occasional deer poached from the king’s forest—and been glad to get it.
These days, his was strictly a liquid diet.
Kaitlyn laid her napkin on the table and pushed her plate away. “I simply can’t eat another bite.”
Zack’s gaze moved to the pulse throbbing in the hollow of her throat. “A bite,” he murmured. The scent of her blood, the need to taste her, was driving him crazy.
“What?”
“Would you like dessert?” he asked, dragging his gaze from the smooth, slender line of her neck.
“No, thank you,” she said, certain she couldn’t eat anything else. Until she saw the dessert cart. Brownies. Seven-layer chocolate cake with fudge frosting. Deepdish apple pie. Dainty strawberry tarts. Tapioca pudding topped with cherries. Cheesecake.
“Are you sure?” Zack asked with a wry grin. “Your words say no, but your eyes are saying, ‘Oh, yes.’”
Kaitlyn bit down on her lower lip. Her vampire cousins were jealous because she could still eat mortal food. And because, no matter how much she ate, she never gained an ounce. “Maybe a slice of that cake,” she decided. “With a scoop of ice cream.”
Women and chocolate, Zack thought, amused by the nearly ecstatic expression on Kaitlyn’s face as she sampled the cake.
“What?” she asked when she caught him staring.
He shook his head, but he couldn’t help wondering if he could put that same look of sheer pleasure on her face.
“So,” he said when she finished her dessert, “what are you in the mood for now?”
“I don’t know. Did you have something in mind?”
He could think of several things he’d like to do, none of which he thought she would agree to, since they all involved the two of them romping naked in his bed.
“Zack?”
He shook the images of the two of them from his mind. “Do you want to try your luck at craps?”
She considered it a moment, then said, “No, I don’t think so.”
His gaze moved over her, a caress more than a look. “We could go upstairs.”
“What’s up there?” she asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
Zack chuckled, amused by her wary expression. Did she think he had some nefarious scheme in mind, like spiriting her away and ravishing her until dawn? Not that that was such a bad idea. He wondered what she would say if he suggested it, then chided himself for being a fool. She was a nice girl. Way too nice for a guy like him.
“The Skylight Room,” he replied. “Soft music. Good champagne. Dancing under the stars.”
Kaitlyn hesitated. She hadn’t had a lot of experience with men. She sensed that Zack Ravenscroft wasn’t like ordinary men, although she wasn’t sure what there was about him that set him apart. He carried an aura of danger, but that didn’t frighten her. She could take care of herself. Maybe it was the fact that she found him so attractive. Almost irresistibly so. His voice, his roguish smile, both were hard to resist. Still, there wasn’t much future for them. Even though her father had repealed the laws that once forbade her people to marry mortals, she knew her parents would be disappointed if she didn’t marry someone from home. There was no possibility that she could ever marry Zack.
Marry Zack! Good grief, where had that thought come from? She had just met the man.
“Kaitlyn?”
He was watching her intently, making her glad he couldn’t read her mind, although she would have loved to read his. Of course, being able to eavesdrop on people’s private thoughts was a mixed blessing. There had been times in college when she had lowered her guard to steal into someone’s thoughts, and then heard something she wished she hadn’t. Like the time Kaitlyn learned her supposed best friend forever was telling everyone that Kaitlyn was sleeping with her anthropology teacher and that was why she was getting such good grades.
“It’s just a dance,” Zack said in his soft, oh, so sexy voice.
And the perfect excuse to be in his arms, Kaitlyn thought as he took her hand in his and led her to a glass-sided elevator that whisked them to the top floor of the building.
The Skylight Room was lovely. The walls were white, the drapes a soft blue. Small round tables were scattered along the edge of the dance floor. A pianist, two guitarists, and a drummer provided music, which was slow, soft, and sensual. It was easy to see where the room got its name. A huge skylight took up most of the ceiling. A million stars twinkled overhead. Moonlight shimmered through the glass. It was, she thought, like walking among the stars, although it was nothing like the ballroom at the Fortress.
Zack gestured at the dance floor. “Shall we?”
“Isn’t that what we’re here for?” she asked with a playful grin.
He didn’t answer, simply drew her into his arms.
He was a wonderful dancer, light on his feet, easy to follow. She searched her mind for something to say, but small talk eluded her. How could she be expected to think coherently with his body pressed so intimately against hers? They were, she thought, a perfect fit. The scent of his cologne tickled her nostrils, his very nearness was intoxicating, as was the scent of his blood. But that was to be expected. She was half vampire, after all, a fact that had been confirmed on her twentieth birthday.
Her father had been with her when the change occurred. He had told her she could resist it if she desired, but that doing so would make it more difficult later. Taking his advice, she had surrendered to the need that night. He had warned her that undergoing the change might be violent, that she could possibly be overcome with the need to kill, but it hadn’t happened like that. A yearning for blood had been niggling at her for weeks. Surrendering to it had seemed the most natural thing in the world. Her father had taken her hunting. She had not enjoyed the hunt, but her need for blood had been easily satisfied, with little harm done to the young man who had been her chosen prey.
“You must feed often the first year,” her father had told her. “If you don’t, it could be fatal.”
“And after that?” she had asked.
“As often as you feel the need.”
He had frequently gone hunting with her during the first few months to make sure she didn’t have any problems.
“You’re very quiet,” Zack mused, wishing he could read her thoughts. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” She smiled wistfully. “I was just lost in the past.”
“Anything you want to share?”
“I was thinking about my father. You remind me of him.”
He grimaced. “I’m not sure I like that.”
“You should be pleased. He’s a wonderful man.”
“I’m sure he is. He’s got a wonderful daughter.”
“Flatterer.”
“Just callin’ it the way I see it.” He drew her closer, his gaze intent on her face. “Are you feeling what I’m feeling?”
She knew what he meant; she just wasn’t sure she was ready to admit it to herself. Or to him. Things were moving way too fast. She had only known him for a few hours. All she knew for certain was that he was drop-dead gorgeous, danced divinely, and owned a popular casino. Hardly enough on which to base a solid relationship. But somehow, with his arms around her and his devil dark eyes gazing into hers, nothing else seemed to matter.
One song blended into another, and then another, and they continued to dance, making Kaitlyn think he was as reluctant to release her as she was for him to let her go.
They shared several long, lingering glances, though few words were spoken between them.
The other patrons all left the room.
And Zack and Kaitlyn continued to dance, just the two of them, even after the musicians called it a night.
Usually, it made Kaitlyn uncomfortable when men stared at her for too long, but it pleased her that Zack couldn’t stop looking at her, because she couldn’t stop looking at him, either. His eyes were like dark, mysterious pools and she longed to dive in, to swim to the bottom and discover the hidden depths of his soul.
She smiled at her fanciful thoughts.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing you need to know.”
“Is that right?” Zack twirled her around, dipped her once, and drew her into his arms again, his gaze lingering on her lips, sliding down to the pulse throbbing in the hollow of her throat, then back to her delectable lips.
Kaitlyn shivered with anticipation. He was going to kiss her. She could see it in his eyes.
And even then he was lowering his head, claiming her lips with his.
She had never been drunk, never been high on anything, but his kiss made her feel like she was invincible, like she was soaring through rainbow-colored clouds. Like she never wanted to come down.
And it was just one kiss.
She had been right about him, Kaitlyn thought dreamily, one hand pressed to her rapidly beating heart. He was dangerous, in more ways than one.
“Can I see you tomorrow night?” he asked, his voice husky. “Say, around eight?”
Every instinct she possessed warned her that she was treading on shaky ground. As much as she wanted to see him again, she knew she had to refuse. She meant to say no, but the word that emerged from her throat was a breathless “yes.”
Kaitlyn woke feeling bleary-eyed. A glance at the clock showed she had slept later than usual, and it was all Zack Ravenscroft’s fault. Last night, every time she had closed her eyes, his countenance sprang to mind while her vivid imagination painted ever-more erotic scenes of the two of them making mad passionate love in her bed. On the floor. On the kitchen table. In the shower. How was a girl supposed to get any sleep with all those full-color scenarios running rampant in her head?
She would see him again tonight. The thought brought a quick smile to her face and unleashed butterflies of anticipation in the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t remember ever being this excited about a date. She could hardly wait!
After showering, she pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt and went into the kitchen. It was too late for lunch, too early for dinner. She couldn’t help grinning when she poured herself a small glass of AB negative. What would Zack think if he knew she was a vampire? Would he be horrified? Shocked? Disbelieving? Intrigued? Or totally turned off. Not that it ma
After pulling into the driveway and cutting the engine, Kaitlyn grabbed her suitcases from the backseat. Smiling with anticipation, she hurried up the narrow, winding, red brick path that led to the front porch. She quickly skipped up the stairs and unlocked the door.
Knowing her father, she wasn’t the least bit surprised to find the living room already furnished. An off-white sofa with a high, curved back and a matching love seat faced each other in front of a rough-hewn stone fireplace. A deep mauve carpet covered the floor, flowered curtains hung at the windows. The tables were walnut, as was the large bookcase—already filled with books by her favorite authors—that took up most of one wall.
Dropping her suitcases beside the sofa, Kaitlyn explored the rest of the house—two large bedrooms with a connecting bathroom; a den, complete with desk, computer and printer, sofa and big-screen TV; a small kitchen with new appliances and a refrigerator filled with her favorite foods; a service porch equipped with a new washer and dryer.
She shook her head, a sting of tears behind her eyes. Being an only child, she had always been spoiled rotten, but this went far beyond the ballet classes and piano lessons her parents had provided when she was in grade school, the new wardrobe they had given her every year, the Porsche her father had surprised her with for her twenty-first birthday last year.
She had hoped her folks would spend the summer with her, but trouble at the Fortress had drawn them home. It wasn’t always easy, having a father who was the Master of the Carpathian Coven. Sometimes, as now, his duties could not be ignored. Usually, her uncle Andrei handled things at the Fortress, but whatever the emergency had been, it had required her father’s attention, which meant that her mother had gone, as well. To her knowledge, her parents rarely spent more than a few hours apart.
Kaitlyn sighed as she removed her sweater and tossed it over the back of the sofa. Someday, she hoped to find a man who would adore her the way her father adored her mother. A man who would live and die for her. A man she couldn’t live without.
Picking up her suitcases, she carried them into the first bedroom and tossed them on the bed. This room was done in varying shades of green, with billowy white lace curtains. The twin windows looked out over a sparkling blue lake.
Kaitlyn shook her head. How was she ever going to express her gratitude for the love and kindness her parents had showered upon her? She had thanked them on numerous occasions in the past, but words seemed woefully inadequate. She knew they hadn’t been altogether pleased with her decision to remain in California after she graduated from college, but they had accepted it without argument.
Feeling a little homesick, she opened the larger suitcase and began to unpack. Her folks had always treated her like a princess, but then, maybe that was natural, since she had been raised in an old stone castle in the heart of Romania.
She smiled as she hung her clothes in the closet.
All she needed now was a prince.
Zackary Ravenscroft strolled through the main floor of the casino, stopping now and then to chat with one of the customers, pausing to answer a question here, to address a complaint there. He loved owning a nightclub, loved the excitement that filled the air, the rush of adrenaline that fired the blood of the patrons, the fact that no two nights were ever the same.
Zack had built the casino ten years ago, simply because he was bored and thought it would be a nice distraction. It was one of the best decisions he had made in the last six hundred years. Not only did the casino provide a hefty income, but the constant change in customers assured a steady supply of women. And Zack loved women—all women. Old or young, ugly or pretty, smart or not so smart, black, white, red, brown, yellow—it made no difference. He loved them all. And they loved him in every way imaginable.
Leaving the gaming tables behind, he strolled up and down the aisles of slot machines. He stopped a moment to watch an elderly woman playing one of the old dollar slots. From her shabby appearance, she appeared to be down on her luck and most likely using the last of her money in a desperate hope of hitting it big. He had seen it all before. Usually, he had no sympathy for those who plunked down their last five bucks in hopes of winning a fortune on the turn of a card. Sure, it happened from time to time, but no matter what the game, the odds were always with the house.
The old lady was muttering under her breath.
It took Zack a minute to realize she wasn’t cursing but praying.
He frowned as he listened to the urgency of her words, heard the unshed tears in her voice as she sent a desperate plea toward Heaven.
Zack grunted softly. Her husband was sick. He needed an operation, and medication they could no longer afford. She had lost her job. They couldn’t pay the rent.
She needed a miracle.
Murmuring a breathless “Amen,” she shoved her remaining three dollars into the machine, then clasped her hands to her breast.
With a bemused shake of his head, Zack concentrated on the wheels of the slot machine.
One gold bar.
Two.
Three.
Smiling, Zack moved on as the machine lit up and bells and whistles went off, signaling that a player had hit the ten-thousand-dollar jackpot. So, he had lost ten grand, he thought, but it wasn’t much to pay for a miracle.
He was still smiling when he stepped outside. It was a beautiful night. Cool and crisp. A few scattered clouds drifted across the face of the full moon.
Feeling suddenly restless, he wandered away from the casino, crossed the parking lot, and headed for the wooded hillside that began just beyond the blacktop.
He moved soundlessly through the underbrush, his keen senses aware of the tiny night creatures that scented a predator and quickly scurried out of his way. He caught the scent of a skunk and farther on, that of a deer.
Nearing one of the cabins, he came across a black bear scavenging through a trash can. The bear reared up on its hind legs and sniffed the wind. Apparently recognizing Zack as a threat, the animal dropped back down on all fours and lumbered into the trees.
Grinning, Zack continued on until he came to the solitary cabin at the top of the hill. He paused, surprised to see there were lights on in the house. The cabin had been vacant for the last two years. He had, in fact, been thinking of buying the place for a rental.
Ah, well, too late now.
He was turning away when he caught the scent of prey. Glancing back, he saw a young woman looking out the front window. He whistled softly. He had seen a lot of beautiful women in his day, but this one—he shook his head. She was beyond beautiful. Her skin was smooth and unblemished, her eyes a deep dark blue. Hair the color of a raven’s wing tumbled over her shoulders.
He frowned when her gaze found his, and then shook his head. She couldn’t see him, of course. He was hidden by the darkness. And yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that she knew he was there, that she was staring at him, as he was staring at her.
Curious to see her reaction, he stepped out of the darkness into a shaft of bright moonlight.
He had expected her to gasp in surprise, call 911, or hastily move away from the window and close the curtains. Instead, she tilted her head to the side, her gaze moving over him from head to heel, much the way he studied a woman he was considering as prey.
Zack was contemplating what to do next when she moved away from the window. Moments later, she was standing on the front porch, her arms folded under her breasts.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
Her voice was low, soft, and yet he detected a fine layer of steel underneath. He grunted softly. Most women would have been frightened if they looked out their window at midnight and found a stranger standing in the yard. But she wasn’t the least bit afraid.
He had to admire that. Inclining his head, he murmured, “Good evening.”
She lifted one delicate brow. “I repeat, what are you doing here?”
“Merely enjoying the night air,” he replied with a smile. “And I repeat, good evening.” He frowned, mystified by his inability to read her mind. It was a skill that had never failed him before and left him wondering if she was deliberately blocking him, and if so, how?
She huffed a sigh of exasperation. “Same to you.”
“You’re new in the area,” he said.
Kaitlyn nodded. He must be a longtime resident, she thought, else he wouldn’t be aware of that.
“It’s a lovely house,” he remarked. “I had intended to buy it myself.”
“Sorry.”
“No need to be sorry. Our town can always use another pretty face.” He took a step forward, extending his hand. “Zackary Ravenscroft,” he said. “But my friends call me Zack.”
She descended the stairs. “Do you think we’re going to be friends?” she murmured, taking his hand.
“I hope so.”
“I’m Kaitlyn Sherrad.”
He gave her hand a slight squeeze. “Kaitlyn.”
She didn’t know if it was the sound of her name on his lips, or the touch of his hand on hers that sent a shiver of excitement racing down her spine. Startled, she jerked her hand from his and took a step backward. Who was this guy? She had never experienced a reaction like that with any other man. Stranger still was the bewildering fact that she couldn’t divine his thoughts. She supposed there were bound to be a few people whose minds she couldn’t read; still, it was disconcerting. Was there something wrong with him, she wondered, or was the problem hers? She would have to ask her father about it the next time he called.
Needing time to ponder her odd reaction to Zackary Ravenscroft and her failure to read his thoughts, Kaitlyn bid him a quick good night and hurried up the stairs and into the house. She closed and locked the door, then stood there, her back pressed against the wood. Who was that guy?
Zack stared after her for several moments before he turned and headed back down the trail toward the casino.
Kaitlyn Sherrad was a puzzle, he mused, and he hated puzzles.
Zack was still trying to unravel the mystery that was Kaitlyn when she strolled into the casino shortly after dusk the next evening. Clad in a simple pale pink dress that outlined a figure bordering on perfection and a pair of white heels that did wonderful things for her long, shapely legs, she quickly attracted the admiring gaze of every man in the place, and the envy of every woman.
“Miss Sherrad,” Zack murmured, going forward to greet her. “Welcome to my establishment.”
“Thank you, Mr. Ravenscroft.”
He made a broad gesture with his hand, encompassing the gaming portion of the nightclub. “What’s your pleasure?”
“What would you suggest? I’ve never been in a casino before.”
“Well, the slots are the easiest. The craps table is a bit confusing but probably the most exciting. Poker is a game of skill. Roulette is a game of pure chance.”
She looked thoughtful a moment. “Slot machines, I guess.”
He followed her to a bank of slots, stayed her hand when she delved into her handbag. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a fifty-dollar bill.
“First time’s on me,” he said with a wink.
“Really? Is this something you do for all of your customers?”
“No, ma’am, just the pretty ones.”
With a toss of her head, Kaitlyn took the fifty from his hand and slid the bill into the appropriate slot. A credit meter displayed the amount deposited.
“On this machine, you can play one credit or as many as five, or you can hit the button marked PLAY MAX CREDITS,” Zack explained. “After you make your choice, hit the SPIN REELS button. That’s all there is to it.”
Kaitlyn followed his directions, then watched breathlessly as the colorful wheels turned, then slowly came to a stop, showing three cherries across.
“I won!” she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with excitement, as credits were added to her original amount.
Zack smiled, amused by her excitement, content to stand at her shoulder as she continued to play. As with most games of chance, the odds were always in favor of the house. The payout on slots was about ninety-three percent.
A few minutes later, a hostess clad in a ruffled, offthe-shoulder white blouse and short, wine-red skirt came by offering drinks, which were free to players. Kaitlyn ordered orange juice.
“Not a big drinker, are you?” Zack remarked.
“Not really. Aren’t you having anything?”
“Maybe later.” He jerked his chin toward the machine. “You won again.”
Amused by her enthusiasm at winning a few dollars, he was curious to see what her reaction would be if she hit the jackpot. It was easy to manipulate the machine. A single thought, and three sevens lined up on the pay line.
“Oh! Look at that!” she exclaimed as more credits were added to the meter.
He laughed, surprised that her enjoyment pleased him so much.
The waitress arrived with her orange juice only moments later. Kaitlyn couldn’t help wondering if all drink orders were filled as quickly, or if the fact that she was with the boss had anything to do with the speedy service.
She continued to play while she sipped her drink, winning more than she lost, and decided to quit while she was ahead.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Then hit CASH OUT,” he directed.
She frowned when the machine spit out a bar-coded ticket.
“Only the older machines pay out in cash,” Zack explained. “You can cash that in later.”
“Oh, okay.” She slipped the coupon into her purse and glanced around.
“Are you game to try something else?” Zack asked.
“Maybe later. Right now, I think I’d like something to eat. Is there a restaurant in here?”
“This way.” Curious to see if his touch elicited the same reaction as the night before, he took her hand in his. An odd look passed over her face, but she didn’t pull away this time. Pleased, he led her out of the casino and down a long, carpeted hallway. Kaitlyn glanced at the shops that lined both sides of the corridor—gift shop, flower shop, hair salon. But it was the sexy black pants and top in the window of the dress shop next to the hair salon that caught her eye. She’d never worn anything like that in her whole life.
The restaurant was at the end of the corridor. Kaitlyn glanced around. The room was rectangular-shaped, with an open beam ceiling and parquet floors. Booths lined three of the walls; tables covered with deep green cloths were arranged in the center of the floor. The lighting was subdued; soft music filtered through the sound system.
They were seated immediately, but that was no surprise. After all, it was bad form to keep the boss waiting.
“Good evening, Mr. Ravenscroft,” a waitress said, offering Kaitlyn a menu. “Your usual?”
“That’ll be fine, Annie.”
“I’ll be right back,” she said, smiling.
“So,” Kaitlyn said, opening the menu, “what’s good here?”
“Everything,” Zack replied with a grin. “We’ve got the best chef in the state. I’m told the lobster is excellent.”
“You’re told?” Her eyebrows went up in surprise. “Haven’t you ever tried it?”
“No. I’m . . . allergic to seafood.”
The waitress returned bearing a glass of dark red wine, which she placed on a coaster in front of Zack before turning her attention to Kaitlyn. “Do you need more time?”
“No. I’ll have the lobster.”
“Soup or salad?”
“Salad, with ranch.”
“And to drink?”
“Just water, no lemon.” Kaitlyn looked at Zack. “Aren’t you having anything?”
“No. I dined earlier.”
After jotting Kaitlyn’s order down on her pad, the waitress picked up the menu and turned to go, but not before bestowing a dazzling smile on Zack.
“She seems quite smitten with you,” Kaitlyn remarked as the waitress moved to the next table.
“Annie? Yeah, she’s a good kid.” He draped one arm along the back of the booth. “So, are you a working girl?”
“Not yet. I just graduated from college.”
He grunted softly.
“I majored in Comparative Folklore.”
“How’s that workin’ out for ya?” he asked, grinning.
“Not very well, actually,” she admitted, her grin matching his. “Believe it or not, there isn’t a lot of interest in ancient folklore these days, but”—she shrugged—“I receive a substantial allowance from my father.”
Zack nodded. “Must be nice.” He barely remembered his own father.
“Yes, although sometimes I feel guilty for taking it, and for knowing that if I do get into financial trouble, he’s there to bail me out.”
“What’s wrong with that? Isn’t that what fathers are for?”
“I guess so, but I’m a big girl now. Old enough to stand on my own two feet. I shouldn’t be living on an allowance.”
“What does your father do?”
“He’s in business in Romania.” It was the truth. And a lie.
“Romania? Girl, you’re a long way from home.”
Kaitlyn nodded. “I always wanted to see America. I have an uncle here somewhere. Of course, I have no idea where he might be. He left home before I was born.” Her father was still hopeful that Stefan would one day return to the Fortress, but she thought it unlikely. Stefan had been gone for over twenty years. Surely, if he intended to return, he would have done so by now. Then again, maybe not. Twenty years wasn’t such a long time when you lived for centuries.
“It’s going to be hard to find him if you don’t know where to start,” Zack remarked.
“Well, I’m not really looking for him,” Kaitlyn said with a shrug. “Although it’s kind of nice to know that I have family here, somewhere.” All she knew about Stefan was that he looked a lot like her father and that he had once loved a mortal woman. Even her grandmother, Liliana, rarely spoke of him.
The waitress brought Kaitlyn’s dinner a few minutes later, along with another glass of wine for Zack.
“You’re really not going to have anything?” Kaitlyn asked.
“No.” He picked up his glass and sipped his drink. “Enjoy your dinner.”
The lobster was every bit as delicious as he’d said, the rice fluffy and perfectly seasoned, the vegetables the best she’d ever had. Her enjoyment must have shown on her face because Zack grinned as she took another bite of lobster.
“Told you so,” he said.
“It’s wonderful.” She speared another piece with her fork and offered it to him. “Are you sure you don’t want to try a bite?”
“Quite sure.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing.”
That much was true, he thought. He had never tasted lobster. Or hamburgers. Or hot dogs or potato chips or so many other foods that mortals took for granted these days. In his day, the wealthy had dined on pheasant and roast pork and chicken swimming in rich sauces. The poor folk had lived on bread and cheese and an occasional deer poached from the king’s forest—and been glad to get it.
These days, his was strictly a liquid diet.
Kaitlyn laid her napkin on the table and pushed her plate away. “I simply can’t eat another bite.”
Zack’s gaze moved to the pulse throbbing in the hollow of her throat. “A bite,” he murmured. The scent of her blood, the need to taste her, was driving him crazy.
“What?”
“Would you like dessert?” he asked, dragging his gaze from the smooth, slender line of her neck.
“No, thank you,” she said, certain she couldn’t eat anything else. Until she saw the dessert cart. Brownies. Seven-layer chocolate cake with fudge frosting. Deepdish apple pie. Dainty strawberry tarts. Tapioca pudding topped with cherries. Cheesecake.
“Are you sure?” Zack asked with a wry grin. “Your words say no, but your eyes are saying, ‘Oh, yes.’”
Kaitlyn bit down on her lower lip. Her vampire cousins were jealous because she could still eat mortal food. And because, no matter how much she ate, she never gained an ounce. “Maybe a slice of that cake,” she decided. “With a scoop of ice cream.”
Women and chocolate, Zack thought, amused by the nearly ecstatic expression on Kaitlyn’s face as she sampled the cake.
“What?” she asked when she caught him staring.
He shook his head, but he couldn’t help wondering if he could put that same look of sheer pleasure on her face.
“So,” he said when she finished her dessert, “what are you in the mood for now?”
“I don’t know. Did you have something in mind?”
He could think of several things he’d like to do, none of which he thought she would agree to, since they all involved the two of them romping naked in his bed.
“Zack?”
He shook the images of the two of them from his mind. “Do you want to try your luck at craps?”
She considered it a moment, then said, “No, I don’t think so.”
His gaze moved over her, a caress more than a look. “We could go upstairs.”
“What’s up there?” she asked, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
Zack chuckled, amused by her wary expression. Did she think he had some nefarious scheme in mind, like spiriting her away and ravishing her until dawn? Not that that was such a bad idea. He wondered what she would say if he suggested it, then chided himself for being a fool. She was a nice girl. Way too nice for a guy like him.
“The Skylight Room,” he replied. “Soft music. Good champagne. Dancing under the stars.”
Kaitlyn hesitated. She hadn’t had a lot of experience with men. She sensed that Zack Ravenscroft wasn’t like ordinary men, although she wasn’t sure what there was about him that set him apart. He carried an aura of danger, but that didn’t frighten her. She could take care of herself. Maybe it was the fact that she found him so attractive. Almost irresistibly so. His voice, his roguish smile, both were hard to resist. Still, there wasn’t much future for them. Even though her father had repealed the laws that once forbade her people to marry mortals, she knew her parents would be disappointed if she didn’t marry someone from home. There was no possibility that she could ever marry Zack.
Marry Zack! Good grief, where had that thought come from? She had just met the man.
“Kaitlyn?”
He was watching her intently, making her glad he couldn’t read her mind, although she would have loved to read his. Of course, being able to eavesdrop on people’s private thoughts was a mixed blessing. There had been times in college when she had lowered her guard to steal into someone’s thoughts, and then heard something she wished she hadn’t. Like the time Kaitlyn learned her supposed best friend forever was telling everyone that Kaitlyn was sleeping with her anthropology teacher and that was why she was getting such good grades.
“It’s just a dance,” Zack said in his soft, oh, so sexy voice.
And the perfect excuse to be in his arms, Kaitlyn thought as he took her hand in his and led her to a glass-sided elevator that whisked them to the top floor of the building.
The Skylight Room was lovely. The walls were white, the drapes a soft blue. Small round tables were scattered along the edge of the dance floor. A pianist, two guitarists, and a drummer provided music, which was slow, soft, and sensual. It was easy to see where the room got its name. A huge skylight took up most of the ceiling. A million stars twinkled overhead. Moonlight shimmered through the glass. It was, she thought, like walking among the stars, although it was nothing like the ballroom at the Fortress.
Zack gestured at the dance floor. “Shall we?”
“Isn’t that what we’re here for?” she asked with a playful grin.
He didn’t answer, simply drew her into his arms.
He was a wonderful dancer, light on his feet, easy to follow. She searched her mind for something to say, but small talk eluded her. How could she be expected to think coherently with his body pressed so intimately against hers? They were, she thought, a perfect fit. The scent of his cologne tickled her nostrils, his very nearness was intoxicating, as was the scent of his blood. But that was to be expected. She was half vampire, after all, a fact that had been confirmed on her twentieth birthday.
Her father had been with her when the change occurred. He had told her she could resist it if she desired, but that doing so would make it more difficult later. Taking his advice, she had surrendered to the need that night. He had warned her that undergoing the change might be violent, that she could possibly be overcome with the need to kill, but it hadn’t happened like that. A yearning for blood had been niggling at her for weeks. Surrendering to it had seemed the most natural thing in the world. Her father had taken her hunting. She had not enjoyed the hunt, but her need for blood had been easily satisfied, with little harm done to the young man who had been her chosen prey.
“You must feed often the first year,” her father had told her. “If you don’t, it could be fatal.”
“And after that?” she had asked.
“As often as you feel the need.”
He had frequently gone hunting with her during the first few months to make sure she didn’t have any problems.
“You’re very quiet,” Zack mused, wishing he could read her thoughts. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” She smiled wistfully. “I was just lost in the past.”
“Anything you want to share?”
“I was thinking about my father. You remind me of him.”
He grimaced. “I’m not sure I like that.”
“You should be pleased. He’s a wonderful man.”
“I’m sure he is. He’s got a wonderful daughter.”
“Flatterer.”
“Just callin’ it the way I see it.” He drew her closer, his gaze intent on her face. “Are you feeling what I’m feeling?”
She knew what he meant; she just wasn’t sure she was ready to admit it to herself. Or to him. Things were moving way too fast. She had only known him for a few hours. All she knew for certain was that he was drop-dead gorgeous, danced divinely, and owned a popular casino. Hardly enough on which to base a solid relationship. But somehow, with his arms around her and his devil dark eyes gazing into hers, nothing else seemed to matter.
One song blended into another, and then another, and they continued to dance, making Kaitlyn think he was as reluctant to release her as she was for him to let her go.
They shared several long, lingering glances, though few words were spoken between them.
The other patrons all left the room.
And Zack and Kaitlyn continued to dance, just the two of them, even after the musicians called it a night.
Usually, it made Kaitlyn uncomfortable when men stared at her for too long, but it pleased her that Zack couldn’t stop looking at her, because she couldn’t stop looking at him, either. His eyes were like dark, mysterious pools and she longed to dive in, to swim to the bottom and discover the hidden depths of his soul.
She smiled at her fanciful thoughts.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing you need to know.”
“Is that right?” Zack twirled her around, dipped her once, and drew her into his arms again, his gaze lingering on her lips, sliding down to the pulse throbbing in the hollow of her throat, then back to her delectable lips.
Kaitlyn shivered with anticipation. He was going to kiss her. She could see it in his eyes.
And even then he was lowering his head, claiming her lips with his.
She had never been drunk, never been high on anything, but his kiss made her feel like she was invincible, like she was soaring through rainbow-colored clouds. Like she never wanted to come down.
And it was just one kiss.
She had been right about him, Kaitlyn thought dreamily, one hand pressed to her rapidly beating heart. He was dangerous, in more ways than one.
“Can I see you tomorrow night?” he asked, his voice husky. “Say, around eight?”
Every instinct she possessed warned her that she was treading on shaky ground. As much as she wanted to see him again, she knew she had to refuse. She meant to say no, but the word that emerged from her throat was a breathless “yes.”
Kaitlyn woke feeling bleary-eyed. A glance at the clock showed she had slept later than usual, and it was all Zack Ravenscroft’s fault. Last night, every time she had closed her eyes, his countenance sprang to mind while her vivid imagination painted ever-more erotic scenes of the two of them making mad passionate love in her bed. On the floor. On the kitchen table. In the shower. How was a girl supposed to get any sleep with all those full-color scenarios running rampant in her head?
She would see him again tonight. The thought brought a quick smile to her face and unleashed butterflies of anticipation in the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t remember ever being this excited about a date. She could hardly wait!
After showering, she pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt and went into the kitchen. It was too late for lunch, too early for dinner. She couldn’t help grinning when she poured herself a small glass of AB negative. What would Zack think if he knew she was a vampire? Would he be horrified? Shocked? Disbelieving? Intrigued? Or totally turned off. Not that it ma
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