It was over an hour later before Connor was able to teleport Marielle back to the cabin. Shanna insisted on fixing her a meal in the cafeteria, which turned into a cooking lesson. Meanwhile, Angus and Emma returned from Nebraska, along with Robby and Olivia.
Connor spent some time in the MacKay security office, describing the progress he was making with Marielle. Angus was eager for a final showdown with the Malcontents. The dead bodies in Nebraska had indeed been Casimir’s victims. Shanna’s father, Sean Whelan, had given them the tip about the bodies, and now, in return, he was demanding to be included in their battle.
“The man is crazy if he thinks he can fight a vampire,” Robby muttered.
Angus shrugged. “I told him as much, but he insists. He claims he can weaken them with silver bullets before they ever get close to him.”
Connor snorted. “All it takes is one Malcontent to teleport behind his back and snap his neck. He’d never see it coming.” He glanced at Robby’s wife. As a former FBI psychologist, she’d received some training in self-defense, but he didn’t think it was enough. As far as he was concerned, no mortal who was susceptible to mind control should ever attempt to fight a vampire. “I hope ye’re no’ allowing the mortal women to take part in the battle.”
“I’m discouraging it,” Angus said. “Ian’s wife can defend herself well, but now that she’s expecting, she’s agreed to stay out of it.”
Emma smiled. “Lots of babies on the way. Caitlyn’s twins are due in June. Toni’s baby in September. And Darcy’s having her second one in October.”
Connor sat back. He hadn’t known Darcy was pregnant again. He stayed out of her life now that she was married to Austin Erickson. In truth, she had never welcomed his interference, but at least he knew now that she no longer hated him. She and Austin had named their son Matthew Connor. After the baby’s birth, nearly two years ago, she’d sent him a note saying she’d never be alive to have a child if he hadn’t saved her.
Olivia reached over to take her husband’s hand. “Shall we break the news?”
Robby grinned. “Sure. Go ahead.”
She grinned back. “We’re expecting.”
“What?” Angus jumped to his feet.
Emma leaped to her feet with a squeal. “You’re pregnant?”
After Olivia nodded, Emma squealed again and lunged toward her for a big hug.
“Hot damn!” Phineas gave Robby a high five, then slapped him on the back. “You da man!”
Emma bounced over to Angus and threw her arms around him. “We’re going to have a grand-baby!”
Angus patted her on the back with a stunned expression. “I’m going to be a great-great grandfather?”
Connor suspected he was missing a few greats. “Congratulations.” He shook hands with Angus and Robby, then sat down and waited for the celebration to end.
The laughter and hugging went on for a good five minutes, then the questioning began. How was Olivia feeling? When was the baby due?
Connor shifted in his seat. First all the Vamp men were getting married. Now they were having children. It was damned depressing.
“Can we get back to business?” he grumbled. “We were discussing the upcoming battle and Sean Whelan’s foolish desire to fight. Do ye think he’ll try to make the mortals on his team fight, too?”
Emma gave him a wry look. “Funny you should ask. Sean has been especially pissed with you lately. Turns out Alyssa has a crush on you.”
Connor blinked. “Who?”
“The woman on the Stake-Out team,” Emma explained. “Apparently, you told her she was pretty.”
Connor thought back, trying to remember, then became aware that everyone in the room was watching him with expressions of amusement.
“Whoa, Connor.” Phineas waggled his eyebrows. “I didn’t know you were such a ladies’ man.”
“I doona remember her,” he muttered.
“It was a few years ago,” Emma said. “Austin told me about it. He and Alyssa were holding Shanna prisoner in a hotel room when you teleported in to rescue her. That’s when you told Alyssa she was pretty.”
Connor shrugged. “Then it was merely a strategic maneuver aimed to distract them while I escaped with Shanna.” His face grew warm. Had such an offhand remark really caused a woman to develop a crush on him?
“Hot damn, bro.” Phineas gave him a thumbs-up. “You’ve got a fan club.”
Connor stood. “ ’Twas no’ my intent.” He headed to the door. “I need to take Marielle home—I mean, back to the cabin.” His face grew hotter, and he exited quickly.
Bugger. He needed to be more careful. If one silly remark had caused a woman to develop a crush, what would happen to Marielle if he kept touching her? And kissing her? The poor lass wanted to go back to heaven. That was her home. Not the cabin. If he somehow made her feel too much affection for him, it would only be harder for her to leave.
The problem was he wanted her affection. Hell, he wanted her, period. What kind of fool was he to think he could compete with heaven? He was setting himself up for severe heartache. And worse, he could end up causing Marielle heartache, too.
He had to back off, put distance between them. And yet, he had to keep training her and slipping into her mind to know where to teleport.
Damn. What a tangled mess.
He found Marielle in the cafeteria discussing theology with Roman and Father Andrew. Shanna had gone outside to play with the children.
As he approached, Marielle glanced up and smiled. His heart constricted as usual. “I’m ready to take you back to the cabin, whenever ye wish.”
“I’m ready.” She stood and gathered up her dishes. “I enjoyed talking to you again, Father. And meeting you, Roman.”
He stood. “Thank you . . . for saving my life.”
Father Andrew moved out of her way. “I look forward to seeing you again, my dear.”
Connor picked up her glass and salad bowl. “I’ll help you.”
“Connor.” Roman paused with an uncomfortable look. “I judged you too harshly.”
“ ’Tis my job to protect you and yer family. Ye had every right to be angry.”
“I’m convinced now that we need Marielle,” Roman said. “Please take good care of her.”
“I will.” He accompanied her into the kitchen where they set her dishes in the sink. “Ready to go?” He took her gently by the arms.
“Don’t you need to hold on tighter?” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I don’t want you to lose me on the way.”
He would have to lose her eventually. He enveloped her in his arms. “I have you.” For now.
The black void sucked them in, then they materialized in the cabin next to the couch. As soon as she was steady on her feet, he released her.
She gave him a shy smile. “It’s been another long night.”
“Aye.”
She sat on the couch. “Now that we’re alone, I’d like to talk.” She motioned to the space beside her.
He didn’t sit. He knew where she was headed. “I have some errands to run before the sun rises.”
“You’re going to leave me here unprotected? Darafer might show up.”
Connor winced. She had him there.
She patted the sofa cushion. “I want to talk.”
“There’s no point.”
“Yes, there is. You’re suffering from too much pain and remorse—”
“ ’Tis none of yer business.”
“You said I was healing you. How can I if you won’t let me?”
He shifted his weight. “I’ve done fine for centuries. I doona need yer help.”
“But I want to help. I can’t stand the thought of you suffering all alone—”
“I doona want yer pity!”
She stood. “Then take pity on me. Because I will be miserable in heaven if I know you’re here suffering and feeling lonely.”
He took a deep breath to ease his frustration. “Once ye’re back in heaven, ye’ll forget about�
�”
“Don’t tell me that!” Her eyes flashed with anger. “I will always remember tonight, and I will always treasure it.”
But ye’ll still leave me. He turned away and rubbed a hand against his brow. “I doona think it is a good idea for us to get any closer. It would make it . . . harder to say good-bye.”
“If I have to leave you knowing I didn’t help you, that would be the hardest blow to endure. I told you, Connor Buchanan, that I care deeply for you.”
He looked at her, and the tears in her eyes ripped at his heart.
“I told you about my mistakes,” she continued. “It was my fault that a serial killer was let loose on Earth. Those women died because of me. Doesn’t it make you angry? Do you want to hate me because—”
“Nay! I doona think ill of you. Ye took mercy on a dying child.”
She lifted her chin. “So you didn’t judge me. Give me credit for being as understanding as you are. Tell me about yourself. I won’t think poorly of you.”
She would, if she knew everything he’d done. She had erred out of mercy, believing she was doing the right thing. He had acted out of rage, knowing full well it was wrong.
She sat on the couch.
He waited for her to say something, but she simply waited, watching him with a hopeful look.
He sat stiffly beside her.
Still she said nothing. Why couldn’t she nag him? It would be easier to refuse her then.
He sighed. What good could come of this? “I was born in 1512.”
“So young,” she murmured, her eyes glinting with humor. “Practically a baby.”
He frowned at her. “I thought ye wouldna judge.”
She smiled. “How old were you when you were transformed?”
“Thirty.” He slanted a nervous glance her way. “Ye couldna guess? Do I look much older?”
She looked indignant. “I wouldn’t presume to judge.”
His jaw shifted. He was sorely tempted to poke her or tickle her. Then kiss her senseless. Actually, he could skip the tickling and go straight to the kissing.
“Were you always this handsome?”
His eyebrows shot up. “Aye.”
She laughed.
His mouth twitched. “Of course ye might think that was immodest of me, but thankfully, ye’re no’ judging me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Her eyes grew tender. “So how did it happen? Roman was the one who changed you?”
“Yes. Ian MacPhie and I were fighting in the Battle of Solway Moss, just south of the Scottish border. The lands there were always under dispute, the English and Scottish kings snarling at each other, and puir sods like Ian and me paying the price.” He sighed. “ ’Twas a humiliating defeat, even more humiliating when I realized I was going to die.”
She touched his arm. “I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged. “That night, Roman and Angus found us and asked if we wanted to keep on living and fighting for a just cause. We both said yes, no’ quite realizing what lay in store for us, but neither of us wanting to die.”
“Of course not.”
“Roman changed me, and Angus changed Ian. The puir lad was only fifteen.”
“He looks older now.”
Connor nodded. “Roman invented a drug that can keep a Vamp awake during the day, but it also ages him a year for each day. Ian took the drug so he could look older.”
“How interesting. And now he’s married, and they’re expecting their first child.” Marielle smiled. “I’m glad it worked out so well for him.”
“Aye.”
“Why did Phineas say you were in a mid-life crisis?”
He scoffed. “ ’Tis a ridiculous theory that a vampire will develop some . . . emotional issues after he’s lived half a millennium.”
She tilted her head, considering. “Five hundred years doesn’t seem long to me. But I would agree that you are overly burdened with remorse.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve lived with it for centuries. I’m used to it.”
“And who is Darcy Newhart?”
He winced. “A mistake.”
“She was on the fringe of your remorse, not well hidden.”
“Aye, I suppose that’s true. Things have worked out well for her, so I doona feel as bad as I once did.”
“What happened?”
“Gregori dragged me to a bar where mortal youngsters like to pretend they’re vampires. Darcy was a television reporter, doing a feature on the place, and when she tried to interview us as make-believe vampires, we thought it was great fun. But then she was attacked in the alley by some Malcontents, and by the time we found her, she was close to death.”
“How terrible.”
“I couldna bear to see her die like that, so I transformed her.” Connor sighed. “I thought I was giving her life, but I was actually taking her life away. She lost everything that was important to her. Her job, her family and friends.”
“She didn’t like being a vampire?”
“Nay. She hated me for changing her and no’ giving her any choice in the matter.”
Marielle nodded. “And that’s why you feel guilt and remorse. But you said everything worked out for her?”
“Aye. Roman discovered a way to make her mortal again, and now she’s happily married to another mortal. They have a wee bairn and another one on the way. She and Austin work for MacKay S and I, too.”
Marielle smiled. “That’s wonderful. I love happy endings.” She lounged back against the sofa. “Thank you for telling me. It wasn’t too painful, was it?”
“I may be traumatized for a few centuries.”
She scoffed. “I let you off easy. I know there’s a lot more you’re hiding in there.” She touched his chest.
He squeezed her hand, grateful that she wasn’t going to push any further. It was surprising, though, how easy she had been to talk to.
She scooted closer to him on the couch and leaned her head against his shoulder. When he glanced at her, his chin rubbed against her hair, so silky and soft. The scent of her shampoo filled his nostrils.
He looked away. “We should be careful no’ to get too close.”
“But I consider you a close friend, Connor. Surely two friends can embrace without it causing problems.” She wrapped an arm around his torso and rested her head on his chest.
He swallowed hard. “I suppose an occasional hug would be all right.” He extended his arm around her shoulders.
She snuggled closer. “I do like being able to touch you. For so long I couldn’t touch anyone without making them shrivel up and die.”
He certainly didn’t shrivel up when she touched him.
She skimmed her fingers along his jaw. “I like the way your whiskers feel. A little ticklish.”
A vision popped into his head of him tickling her bare breasts with his whiskers.
“Thank you for a wonderful evening.” She kissed his cheek.
“Lass.” He touched her face. “We shouldna kiss.”
“It was just a tiny one on your cheek.”
He pressed his lips against her brow. “Then we willna kiss . . . on the mouth.” He kissed her temple.
“That’s probably wise.” Her hand slipped around his neck.
He trailed kisses down her jaw. “We shouldna get too involved.”
“Exactly.” She tilted her head so he could more easily nuzzle her neck. “Did you mean what you said earlier about my breasts?”
“That I wanted to touch and kiss them?”
“Yes.”
“Aye, I do,” he whispered in her ear. “But we should be careful.” He planted kisses across her cheek.
With a moan, she leaned closer.
“We should practice . . . restraint.” He kissed the corner of her mouth.
“Yes.”
He paused, his mouth only a fraction away from hers. Her lips were open, full and moist. Her breath stirred gently against his lips.
Stop it, ye fool! Before it was too late
, he turned his head and kissed the other corner of her mouth.
Someone cleared a throat across the room, and he jumped back. Bugger.
Vanda, Marta, and Brynley were back, and by the looks on their faces, they were enjoying the show.
Chapter Fifteen
Marielle gasped. Heat rushed to her face. She didn’t know which was worse—the way the women looked amused or the way Connor looked appalled. Mortified, even.
She rose to her feet. Connor did the same, standing stiffly a few feet away from her.
“Hi, guys,” Vanda greeted them, her eyes twinkling. “How’s the training going?”
“All right,” Marielle mumbled at the same time that Connor grumbled, “Good.”
“Looked real good to me,” Brynley said with a smirk.
Marta shook her head, smiling, as she deposited two tote bags on the kitchen counter. “We didn’t realize we were going to interrupt your . . . workout.”
“Well, it could have been worse.” Vanda’s mouth twitched. “They were practicing restraint, you know.”
Marielle winced. Just how long had the women watched?
Connor muttered something in Gaelic that sounded like a curse. “I would appreciate it if ye would use some restraint yerselves and no’ repeat what ye saw.”
“I didn’t see anything.” Vanda turned to Brynley. “Did you see anything?”
“Nope, but I have a strange craving for raw oysters.”
While the women laughed, Marielle stole a glance at Connor. Anger simmered in his smoky blue eyes when he met her gaze.
“I apologize for the . . . embarrassment.” His jaw shifted. “It willna happen again.”
A pang jabbed at her heart. Did he mean he would never kiss her again?
“I have a few errands to run.” He raised his voice. “I’ll return shortly before dawn.”
“Connor, you don’t have to . . .” Vanda paused when he teleported away. “Sheesh, we didn’t mean to chase him away.”
“Party pooper,” Brynley muttered.
Marielle frowned at the empty spot where Connor had stood. He hadn’t said good-bye.
“Are you all right?” Marta asked from the kitchen as she unloaded the tote bags.
Marielle nodded. “Yes.”
Vanda perched on the back of the couch. “I don’t mean to be nosy, but what the heck is going on? I thought you wanted to go back to heaven.”
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