Her eyes popped open to see a fierce look on his face. His grip tightened for a split-second before it loosened and her feet hit the floor.
The next few moments passed in a dizzying blur. One minute they were pressed against each other, and the next she was standing alone as Garret threw open a small storage unit on the opposite side of the room.
A heartbeat later, he was back. He tossed a Skull Creek Choppers T-shirt around her shoulders. Large hands tugged her wet skirt down around her hips just as the outer doorway opened and two couples filed into the adjoining office.
They were laughing and talking and then bam, four pairs of eyes stared through the wall of windows and fixated on her. Everyone went silent.
Viv gathered the extra large tee around her and tried to control her frantic heartbeat.
But Garret was still too close, his hard body just to her right. In her peripheral vision she could see him wipe his drenched face with a second T-shirt before scrubbing at his hair. Her skin still burned where his fingers had rubbed her thighs as he’d tugged the skirt down to a respectable level.
The hunger raged, urging her to turn and reach for him. To beg for his touch all over her body and finish what they’d started regardless of the audience.
But it was too late.
While he stood only inches away physically, emotionally he’d already traveled a few hundred miles.
Gone was the desire that had brightened his eyes. Ice blue chips glittered back at her when she chanced a glance at him. Regret glimmered in the translucent depths and her chest tightened.
She blinked against the sudden burning in her own eyes. “I—I really should be going.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll finish up tomorrow night after everything dries out.” She snatched up her soaked camera bag. “I’ll need to pick up some new lighting equipment. Is it all right if I leave all the wet stuff here for now?”
Without waiting for a reply, she sailed past him and pushed through the nearest side door marked Exit. She didn’t slow down until she reached the opposite side of the small parking lot where her car was parked.
She stalled for a few seconds and drank in a heavy draft of air.
As if that would help.
She climbed behind the wheel, keyed the ignition and revved the engine.
The roar did little to drown out the sound of his heartbeat that echoed in her ears and followed her as she turned out onto Main Street. Along with the voice that whispered in her ear.
“It’s not happening between us.”
She knew then that while she’d won the battle tonight, she wasn’t even close to winning the war. He had no intention of having sex with her no matter how much he wanted her.
Or how much she wanted him.
“Never, ever again.”
His deep voice followed, whispering in her ear, stirring her insecurity and her doubt.
She shouldn’t have come here.
She wouldn’t have if she could just forget.
The feel of his arms, his hands, his lips…
Her body tingled, and heat spiraled through her. No, she couldn’t forget. And while he might regret what had just happened, the point was, it had happened.
Which meant that it could happen again.
Garret would lose control, they would go all the way, and she would get one more chance to experience the earth-shattering orgasm that had eluded her since she’d walked away from him all those years ago.
That’s all she wanted from him, she reminded herself. She certainly didn’t want him to need her. To like her.
This was all about sex.
Breath-stealing, toe-curling, bone-melting sex.
At least that’s what she told herself as she headed back to the motel.
11
“YOU’VE BEEN HOLDING out on us.” Jake stared at the Exit door where Viv had just disappeared.
Garret shook his head. “It’s not like that, man.”
“Isn’t it?” Jake arched an eyebrow and gave Garret a knowing look. Not because he’d actually witnessed the wet and wild bump and grind.
He hadn’t.
Garret had felt his fellow vampires long before they’d keyed in the security code and opened the outer doorway.
No, Jake knew because of Garret.
Because he was staring at him right now, and he could see the brightness that lingered in his gaze. The tension in his body. The hunger that radiated from him, along with a shimmer of heat. He wasn’t anywhere close to starting another fire thanks to the douse of water and the arrival of his friends, but he was still worked up.
“Who is she?” Jake asked.
“A freelance reporter.” When Jake didn’t look the least bit satisfied, Garret shrugged. “Just somebody I used to know. A long, long time ago.”
“Vampire?” The question came from Nikki. Her lips hinted at a grin and curiosity danced in her excited expression. Garret nodded and she added, “No wonder you’re not interested in a fix-up. Donna Sue’s got a pretty big dose of sex appeal and can give the hotties in this town a run for their money, but she doesn’t have anything close to vamp charisma.”
“So you like this woman?” It was Meg’s turn.
“No.” Like didn’t begin to touch what he felt for Viv Darland.
Disappointment? Definitely.
Resentment? Ditto.
Fear? A little.
Lust? A shitload.
But that was it.
Nothing else. Nothing powerful.
He ignored the small voice that insisted otherwise and shifted his attention to Dillon.
The younger vampire stared at the Exit door before his gaze slid back to Garret. You are so busted gleamed loud and clear. The younger vamp opened his mouth for confirmation, but Garret spoke first.
“Don’t ask.”
Dillon shrugged. “Hey, your sex life is your own business.”
“They didn’t have sex.” Meg nudged him. Excitement lit her face and her eyes swiveled to Nikki. “Did they?”
Nikki looked at Jake. “Honey?”
“Garret?” Jake arched an eyebrow.
“I’m out of here.” Garret turned and reached for his keys.
“We’ll take that as a yes,” Nikki’s amused voice followed him to the doorway.
“A big fat yes,” Meg added.
If only.
Garret shook off a pang of disappointment. He wasn’t having sex with Viv Darland. He wasn’t.
His head knew that, but his damned body didn’t seem to be getting the message.
His groin throbbed, and his muscles ached. Hunger twisted at his insides, fighting and clawing for sustenance.
He tamped down on the urge to find the nearest woman and end the torment eating away at him. He could, but that would mean breaking his vow, and he wasn’t about to do that.
He’d held out this long, and he wasn’t caving now. No sex. Not with Viv. Not with any woman.
Not until he’d reclaimed his humanity.
In the meantime, Garret did what he’d been doing for the past few months when the need grew too great. He headed home to chug a few bags of blood and climb into an ice-cold shower.
“DO YOU ALWAYS wear a suit and tie when you deliver extra towels?” Viv asked when she arrived at the motel to find Eldin waiting on her doorstep.
He wore a pin-striped navy suit, a red dress shirt, red tennis shoes and a wide smile. “It’s part of our firstclass treatment here at the Skull Creek Inn.” He handed her a fluffy stack of folded white cotton and stepped back while she slid her key card into the slot and unlocked the door. “That, and I like to be ready for any late night dating opportunities.” The door opened, and he followed her inside. “You can quote me on that.”
“Will do.” Viv set the towels on a nearby table and moved to close the door.
Eldin didn’t budge. Instead, he stood rooted just inside the doorway, an expectant look on his face.
Realization dawned and she shrugged. “I can’t take
any pictures tonight. I lost most of my film in a freak fire over at the chopper shop.” Okay, so that wasn’t the complete truth. While she had, indeed, lost the rolls she’d had with her, she kept an extra stash in the trunk of her car, along with two back-up digital cameras. But the last thing she wanted was to spend the next fifteen minutes taking pics of Eldin. She was too worked up—too hot—and she needed a cold shower in the worst way. “The inside sprinklers came on and ruined everything.” She indicated her damp clothes.
As if noticing them for the first time, he nodded. “You’re all wet.”
“And so is my film. I’ll have to pick more up at the pharmacy tomorrow.”
“Just write down what you need, and I’ll fetch it for you first thing in the morning.”
“I couldn’t put you to so much trouble.”
“No trouble at all. Just part of our VIP Ultra-Deluxe vacation package which also includes free muffins, a Buy-One-Get-One-Free entrée coupon for Little Pigs Barbecue just a spit and holler down the road and an unlimited supply of Tums. You’ll need it after eating the ribs.” He pulled a folded sheet of paper from his pocket. “This outlines all the different packages we offer, and it also includes the itinerary for the vacation I’m taking this summer.”
Viv scanned the page. “You’re taking a couples cruise? I thought you were single?”
“At the moment, but I’m hoping your article can hook me up before I sail. I prefer a blonde, but at this point I’m willing to look at most anyone who might be interested. You can quote me on that, too.”
“Um, yeah.” Viv grabbed the door. “I’d really like to get out of these wet clothes.”
Eldin still didn’t budge. “How you doin’ on ice? You need another bucketful before bedtime?”
“I’m good.” She stepped forward, urging him back a few inches.
“Complimentary soap?”
“I’m still working on the six extra bars you left yesterday.” She took another step, but he stalled in the threshold and she added, “They really work up a good lather.”
“They should for what I’m paying Marvin over at the pharmacy. He says I ought to order the stuff in gross if I want a discount.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Shower cap? I’d be happy to fetch you another.”
“The one I have is still working like a champ.” She stared deep into his eyes and sent a silent message. Go. He backed up, and she moved to close the door. The minute their gazes disconnected, however, his hand shot through the crack to grip the doorjamb.
“If you need anything else, you know who to call. Me. Eldin. That’s E-L-D-I-N. Some folks spell it with two Es, but my parents wanted something unique.”
“I’ll make a note of that.”
The hand loosened from the doorjamb only to tighten again. “Oh, I almost forgot. You had a couple of phone calls.”
Viv opened the door a few inches. “Who?”
“One was a Cindy Marsfield with Southern Travel. She said her assistant lost your cell number. Since we’re not set up for voicemail here, she asked if I could relay a message. She said they moved up your deadline. It’s two weeks from today.”
Viv nodded. She’d planned on turning it in to Cindy sooner anyway because she knew the odds were that Cruz and Molly would find her before then, and she didn’t want any loose ends left hanging. Cindy had given her the job that had led her back to Garret. She owed the woman.
Article? Check.
Orgasm? Check, check.
At least that had been the plan.
“Never, ever again.”
Garret’s deep voice echoed in her ears, and she focused her attention on Eldin. Anything to ignore the doubt that gripped her.
“What about the other calls?”
“There was just one.” He shrugged. “Don’t know who it was. The man didn’t leave a message. He just asked if I had a Viviana Darland registered here and what room she was in.” He must have noticed the sudden stiffening of Viv’s body, because he rushed on, “But don’t worry. I didn’t give you up. If there’s one thing we pride ourselves on here at the Skull Creek, it’s protecting the privacy of each and every celebrity guest. Why, we had Norm Shannon here last year, and not so much as one groupie wiggled past yours truly.”
“Norm Shannon?”
“He hosts a local AM radio show. He does cow impersonations,” he added, as if that explained it all. “The FFA kids over at the high school just love him. He was in town to speak at their annual banquet, and he was really worried that he wouldn’t be able to get a decent night’s rest on account of his ratings recently tripled—he started doing chickens in addition to the cows. But I sat in the parking lot with my BB gun and made sure none of them youngsters got within twenty feet of him. I didn’t have to shoot anybody, mind you. The darned thing wasn’t even loaded. It was more of a bluff than anything else, but it worked like a charm. So don’t you worry a bit. If anyone tries to bother you while you’re here, I’ll deal with them. I know you famous writer types like to keep a low profile.”
Writing articles for a sleazy tabloid hardly qualified her for celebrity status, but she appreciated Eldin’s protective instincts all the same.
Not that a BB gun would be of any use against Cruz and Molly. They wanted their humanity back, and they wouldn’t stop until Viv was dead for good this time.
Time.
The word lingered in her mind as she closed and locked the door behind Eldin and tried to shake the tingling awareness that gripped every inch of her.
The same awareness she’d felt walking down that mountain, away from the site of the Butcher’s latest bloodbath, with Sheriff Matt Keller.
She’d known then that Cruz and Molly were close.
Just as she knew now.
The truth closed in on her, and she trembled.
While they were just calling around right now, checking facts, it wouldn’t be long before they got enough confirmation to draw them here in person. It would be just a matter of days—if that long—before they finally showed up for a repeat of the Washington ambush.
She turned on the cold water and peeled off her shirt. Anxiety gripped her body, along with frustration.
Her gut clenched, and hunger gnawed at her. Her hands trembled, and her nipples throbbed.
She ignored the doubt that nibbled away at her determination and focused on analyzing the evening and what had driven Garret over the edge.
He’d managed to resist her while they were in different rooms, but when the fire started he’d come to her rescue. Face-to-face, with the heat burning between them, he’d been unable to hold back.
Close.
That was the key. All she had to do was stick to him like glue, and they would be doing the nasty in no time.
She clung to the hope, shimmied off her skirt and stepped beneath the icy spray.
12
DISTANCE.
That was the key to resisting Viv and keeping his fire insurance coverage from going through the friggin’ roof.
Garret tossed another hay bale from the bed of the 4 x 4 Chevy pick-up. It landed in a pile near the three others he’d already unloaded. He jumped down off the tailgate. One hand dove into his back pocket and retrieved a pair of wire cutters.
He snipped the tie on each bale before climbing back into the cab. He gunned the engine and headed for the adjacent pasture to drop off the last bale for the handful of broncing bucks he’d purchased last week.
He’d yet to turn them out with the rest of his herd. He wouldn’t until they were broken.
If they were broken.
When he’d been just a man, he’d been able to tame the wildest horse. But now…Now he couldn’t get within fifty feet. The horses saw his true nature, and they feared it.
He didn’t blame them. He would have pissed himself if he’d known who—what—Viviana really was when he’d first met her. And he sure as hell wouldn’t have put his trust in her.
Her image popped into his head, and he s
aw her the way she’d looked on that first night. Her luscious body clad in white cotton bloomers, her cleavage pushing up from an ultra-tight corset, her long dark hair flowing down around her shoulders. She’d been beautiful. Mesmerizing. Irresistible.
Then and now.
Only the circumstances were different now. He didn’t want her because of what she was. He wanted her because of what he was. Because he’d been mainly bagging it since he’d come to Skull Creek, and he was desperate for the real thing.
Blood and sex.
His muscles tightened, and his gut clenched as he snipped the wire on the last bale. He’d been cold turkey for so long, and he was starting to feel it. That was the reason for his temporary loss of control tonight. A loss that wouldn’t have occurred if he hadn’t been in a confined space with her.
He ignored the tiny voice that whispered there was nothing confining about a massive fabrication shop with three spacious bays and twenty-foot ceilings.
He needed distance. Space.
His nerves twitched, and his gaze shifted to the faint orange line outlining the distant trees.
Forget space. What he needed at the moment was to get the hell out of here before sunup. Already he could feel the heat creeping toward him and smell the sunshine hiding just behind the cluster of oak trees.
His skin tingled, and his hands clinched.
As anxious as he was, there was a small part of him that refused to hurry. He couldn’t help but wonder if the sun still felt as warm, as honest as it once had so long ago.
It did. He knew it. It was a certainty that grew stronger with each day that passed since he’d moved to Skull Creek, Texas.
Moved, but not settled.
No, Garret Sawyer was still very much unsettled. Still restless. Still waiting.
For the chance to breathe again, to feel, to live.
He shifted his attention back to the cutters in his hand. A quick snip, and the wires popped. He lifted the bale and scattered it for several feet.
He could have easily paid someone to do the work for him. Or even bought one of those state-of-the-art balers that could cut and drop in a fifth the time it took him to load his truck and do the job himself.
Love at First Bite Bundle Page 47