Terry Spear - Vampire

by Killing The Bloodlust (Triskelion) (lit)

  She turned to glower at him. “Well, what about you, Robert?”

  He smiled. “What about me?”

  “I’ve told you about me. Who’s Susan?”

  A woman who got straight to the point. He laughed. “Ah, Susan.” Was Crystal jealous? He noted a bit of envy in her voice. “She’s a captain. Just wants my body is all.”

  Crystal’s cheeks grew flushed. “Oh.”

  He laughed again. Then he grew serious. “I can’t have a relationship with any woman. Not with the kind of work I do.”

  “I guess it’s good that all of our kind don’t feel the way we do or there wouldn’t be any of us left to fight vampires.”

  “Suppose so.” He grabbed his tray. “I’ll get a refill for our wine glasses.”

  She lifted her tray and followed him down the hall.

  He glanced back at her. “I think it best if you stay here with me for the time being.”

  She twisted her mouth, then nodded. “All right.”

  “Guess we’ll have to run by your place and get your clothes tomorrow.”

  “You don’t have to work this weekend?”

  “Well, there’s work and there’s work.” He stuck their dishes in the dishwasher.

  “True. So what’s Nicolai’s cousin’s name?”

  “Yorovitch. He killed my sister in Oklahoma City last month. The whole community became pretty incensed over it.” Robert leaned against his island counter. The pain still clutched at his heart. “Yorovitch fled down here to avoid being killed--every hunter in the area had targeted him. I finagled a special temporary duty assignment from Fort Sill to Fort Hood as I’d tracked him to Dimitri’s house. But he wasn’t there when I arrived.” His voice took on the determination of a man who wouldn’t be dissuaded. “I’ll get him soon.”

  “How did you get in without them being aware you weren’t part of the vampire family?”

  “Followed two men who looked like twins, through an upper floor window.”

  “Boniface and Victor.”

  He raised his brows.

  “My brothers.”

  “Oh.”

  “You walked out through the front door, though. I thought you’d been invited.”

  “No. I’ve done it often enough. If you’re already in the house, they don’t seem to think anything of it if you walk out through the front door.” He grabbed the bottle of wine and motioned toward the bedroom.

  “Your family doesn’t mind you working another job?”

  “Not in the least bit.”

  She sighed. “Wish my family felt that way.”

  “If you were with my family, they wouldn’t allow you to hunt.”

  Smiling, she nodded. “Would work for me. Thank you for taking me in like this.”

  “I won’t be here for very long. A month at the most. You’ll have to make some other arrangements before then.”

  She nodded to his relief. Maybe she’d come to her senses and leave after all. “You know Nicolai and his followers are going to be after you now with a vengeance. You shouldn’t have been stalking me.”

  “That’s why I have to kill Yorovitch and leave.”

  They walked into the bedroom. He filled her glass, then his own.

  When she sat on the bed, he rummaged through a drawer. He pulled out a navy t-shirt, and tossed it to her. “It’s all I have that could serve as a nightshirt.”

  “Thanks, it’ll do.” The scratching continued at the window. “He’s going to be pretty incensed I stayed with you tonight.”

  “Yeah. That means we’ll need to be back here before dark falls every night.”

  Crystal sipped her wine, then grabbed the t-shirt. “I’m going to change...get more comfortable.”

  “By all means.” Getting comfortable with the huntress totally appealed. The tension in his muscles relaxed. The concept she was a huntress and not a blood bond relieved him in part, but the fact she could carry a vampire’s child distressed him.

  Crystal crossed the floor, entered the bathroom, then shut the door.

  Her fatigue-clad body looked sexier than hell, despite the slightly baggy appearance of the uniform. The image of her wearing only his t-shirt next sparked an incredible cavemen urge to have her. Man, his brother was right. He should never have touched the temptress. Molten desire burned in his veins. The awareness that a vampire would ravage her...well, her body was meant only for a hunter’s seed...to continue the hunter species. She wasn’t meant to be a vessel for some damned vampire/hunter super being.

  He jumped up from the bed and paced across the floor. “Stay away from her,” his brother had warned. Well, slay her if he could. Strike her down before she got him killed.

  Robert stalked out of the bedroom. He’d always considered himself one of the good guys. Not this time. This time, the situation wasn’t quite so black and white.

  This time, the choice wasn’t so clear.

  * * *

  After taking a shower, Crystal tugged the shirt over her head. When she couldn’t find a hair dryer, she stepped into the bedroom. Robert was gone. Her heart beat rapidly. Now what was he up to?

  While slipping down the hallway, worry gnawed at her insides. Robert’s conversation with his brother didn’t make her feel totally safe with him. If Robert got the impression Nicolai had successfully turned her, Robert would undoubtedly kill her. Come to think of it, if she turned into one of those creatures, she’d want him to end her life.

  She neared his office. No sign of him there. She came face to face with him in the living room.

  He smiled. The dimples denting his cheeks gave him an impish, cherub-like quality. “You look pretty great in my shirt.”

  She tugged at the bottom edge. “A little short.”

  “I thought it was too long.” He wiggled his brows, and she smiled. He held up two bowls filled with vanilla ice cream. Hot fudge dripped over them, topped with a cloud of whipped cream, and a cherry. “Hot fudge sundaes for dessert.”

  “Hmm.” She relieved him of one of the dishes. “If I had my doubts about staying with you, they’re all gone.”

  He chuckled, the kind of deep, sensuous sound that made her whole body thrill.

  When they reached the bedroom, she sat on the mattress and poked her spoon into the hot fudge. “You don’t steal covers, do you?”

  His gaze shifted to her bare legs stretched out on his comforter. He cleared his throat. “I don’t usually have any complaints.”

  “From Susan.”

  He grinned.

  She considered the smattering of dark hair that formed a sexy trail down his well-muscled chest to the waistband of his boxers. A definite bulge hidden by the satiny material brought an instant roll of heat to her cheeks. Her gaze shifted to his face, the smile still plastered there. “What about the blonde lieutenant who came out of your office earlier?”

  “Lt. Eisley? Strictly business.” Amusement dripped from his voice.

  “So what did you tell that redheaded captain who worked in your building about me?”

  “You had the wrong office.”

  Crystal choked on her ice cream as she laughed. “Did he believe you?”

  “Just as much as the private did when he saw all those golden curls of yours about your shoulders. I’d say by Monday the whole company will know about it.”

  Crystal sighed deeply. “Too bad we aren’t like normal people.”

  He considered her as if he’d never thought she’d say something like that. “If we were, we wouldn’t have had those tactical maneuvers earlier.”

  “Suppose not. We’d just have a boring meal of burgers and fries on a date sometime.”

  He studied her for a moment more, then reached across the bed and squeezed her hand. “You don’t wish you were human, do you?”

  “Wouldn’t it be easier?”

  “No. Then a vampire that targeted you could control your mind. You wouldn’t stand a chance against their will. At least we can fight back.”

  “If we wanted
to.”

  “Yes, well, I don’t think I could ever understand your way of thinking, Crystal.”

  “Doesn’t matter. We are what we are, right?”

  “To a certain extent. There’s always room for improvement.”

  “Yes.” She set her dish aside. When she climbed off the bed, he turned to watch her.

  “Going to get comfortable. I’m cold.” She lifted the covers and slid under them.

  He finished his ice cream, then joined her under the comforter.

  “Did you get cold too?”

  He smiled. “I’m sure it was the ice cream.”

  She returned his smile. “Right.”

  They both watched the thriller on television for several minutes. Then Robert turned to Crystal. “Still cold?”

  She raised a brow at him.

  “Guess not.”

  He faced the television again. What was percolating in that mind of his?

  After a few more minutes, he cleared his throat. “I have a better view of the television over here. You could slide over this way and...”

  She folded her arms.

  “Or not.”

  “I thought you didn’t get involved with women...because of your job.”

  “I have no intention of getting involved with anyone. Only, since we’re together like this... Never mind.”

  “Listen, normally I wouldn’t have anything to do with you, Robert, because I’d be afraid Nicolai would come after you. He will anyway now. But no way do I want to become attached to you. I have a difficult enough time sorting out my own feelings when it comes to who my enemy is or isn’t.”

  She continued to watch the television. He tapped his fingers on the bed. She glanced at him. “What?”

  “Want some more wine?”

  “You’re not trying to get me drunk, are you?”

  His lips turned up seductively. “I thought you might relax a bit. You seem rather...uptight.”

  “I’m not uptight.” She ignored him and watched the heroine scrambling for her life as she attempted to shut the elevator door before the killer got to her.

  Robert reached over and touched Crystal’s arm, making her jump. “Movie too scary for you?”

  “Jeez, Robert, you’re the one who made me jump!” She frowned at him, then chuckled when he grinned at her. “What do you want?”

  “I...well, I feel terrible about deserting you near Nicolai’s home. I want to make it up to you.”

  “You have, by allowing me to stay here. Nicolai would have gotten into my new hotel room before long. You’ve given me a place of refuge for the time being. Besides, you couldn’t help it that you thought I was one of them.”

  “Yeah, you’re right about that. Not only did you visit him and his brother, you...” He paused.

  He looked down at the comforter.

  “I what?”

  He faced her. “You stirred up the same kind of electricity in me as a vampire or blood bond would.”

  “Yes, well, that’s what confused me about you.”

  “So you do feel the same way about me when we touch.”

  She turned back to the television. Hell, physically, her body screamed for his touch. But no way did she want to discuss her attraction to him. Though shutting out the feelings was like damming out a hard charging river, it was better for both of them to pretend they didn’t feel anything for each other.

  He touched her hand. The sensation set a surge of interest sparking through her blood. When she ignored him, he pulled her over to his side of the bed.

  “This is a mistake, Robert.” She knew it was with all her heart. But she couldn’t push him away...she was weak willed, dammit.

  “I just want to hold you close.”

  Crystal nestled her head against his chest. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. He was delectably warm, smelled like sin, and oh so hard. Her naked legs drew into his, while his fingers caressed the bare skin of her arm, heating her body to feverish levels.

  “Robert, we shouldn’t--”

  “Shh. I know we can’t do more than this. But I couldn’t stand not holding you in my arms to chase away the nightmares you might have from watching the movie.”

  She chuckled. “Ahh. It’s not that you want me to chase your bad dreams away?”

  His deep throaty laugh stirred her juices all over again. Fighting her attraction to him was a losing battle. With Robert, no revulsion mixed with the longing that would help to keep him at bay. And yet in her heart she knew a relationship with him or any other man could never be possible. Her aversion to killing put him at too much risk.

  She ran her fingers over his lightly haired chest. His breathing rate increased. She whipped up longings in him with a simple touch making her realize that, for the moment, she had all the power at her fingertips. Smiling, she cuddled against him with deep satisfaction. She loved the control she wielded. But could she keep her feelings for him in check?

  He took a ragged breath. “My brother says you can’t join the family. I believe he anticipated an emotional attachment might develop between us, despite my saying I’d never settle down with a woman.”

  “Shh, Robert. You don’t have to explain anything to me. You’re just keeping my nightmares away.”

  He kissed her head again and squeezed her tightly against his hard body. Her own body thirsted for his as she snuggled deeper.

  “He believes my Uncle Walter, the head of our family, would forbid it, Crystal.”

  She tried to separate her longing to enjoy the physical contact between them with the need to maintain her distance emotionally. “Because I’d put your whole family at risk. I know. I’m not looking for a commitment from you or any other man.”

  His stomach muscles tightened underneath her fingertips. “I’m not talking about any other man being with you, Crystal. I’m talking about us.”

  Was he jealous of Nicolai? “There is no us.”

  He ground his teeth. “You’re right of course.”

  “Damn right. You have a mission here. Kill Yorovitch and return to your family.”

  “And you?”

  Already he hungered for something more of her. She knew he wanted her to say she had to kill Nicolai. But she couldn’t. Deep inside, she realized if she were to be free from the nightmare, she had to. But when Nicolai had her in his clutches, her willpower took on shades of gray, dissolving her resolve to keep her own identity.

  When she didn’t answer him, he spoke again. “All right.” Disappointment threaded his voice. “Tom said you’d feel this way. That you can’t help yourself.”

  “No one can truly know what I feel. Not unless you switched mindsets with me and faced the turmoil I encounter when I’m with him, or others like him.” She couldn’t help the edge to her voice. She couldn’t help what she felt about the vampires either. It was the way she was...the abnormal gene had made her that way.

  Robert’s grip on her loosened. She was losing him. But she knew for both of them, it had to be that way, despite her wishing it otherwise. She kissed his chest, not sure why she had done so, except maybe to prove to herself that neither of them wished to get involved.

  Instantly, he pushed her away from him and forced her back against the mattress. He was severing their connection and her heart ached with the rejection. But only for a second. To her surprise, he rolled partway over her. His leg wedged between hers. His fingers combed through her hair. But then he waited...for what? She parted her lips to speak, to discourage him. But the words refused to spill off her tongue.

  He slid his hand underneath her t-shirt, and rested it on her abdomen. Would he touch her breasts? They tightened in hopeful anticipation. Instead, he pulled his hand away as if he’d been burned. What was wrong now?

  He kissed her lips with the faintest touch. “You need someone to keep you safe, Crystal Anderson. But it can’t be me.”

  When her own family cast her out, it had cut deeper than any wound. And now, she was being rejected
again. But somehow the hurt was more profound as her heart ached with the dismissal. He pulled away from her. The separation sliced her from his lifeline. Instantly, she sank into a gloomy pit of despair. But she desperately tried to sequester the emotions into a back room. Feelings like these could easily get her killed. She wasn’t one to give up...but this kind of emotion could undo her.

  “I’ll sleep on the couch tonight, Crystal. If you need anything, let me know.”

  “Thank you.” She choked on the words. His gaze shifted from her to the floor as if her emotion disturbed him.

  “Done with the television?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was pitifully soft. She didn’t want him to know how much his rejection hurt her. She didn’t want anyone to know how much she craved someone to love her.

  He turned the television off, and padded away into the darkness. She squashed the urge to dissolve into tears. He meant nothing to her. He could mean nothing to her...or his life was forfeit.

  * * *

  Sometime later in the night, scratching at the window woke Crystal. For a moment, it didn’t register. Then she realized it had to be Nicolai.

  She crawled out of bed and turned on the side table lamp. Her gaze shifted to the curtained window. Black velvet drapes hid the creature from her.

  Without another moment’s hesitation, she crossed the floor to the window. After pulling the curtains aside, she clutched the wand to the blinds in her grasp. She paused, her heartbeat quickening.

  She wasn’t sure why she had to see him. Was it because Robert didn’t want her? And neither did her family. She wasn’t a mountain man who could live alone for years without companionship. But it wasn’t until Nicolai and now Robert had come into her life that she realized how much she missed human...well, when she really got right down to it...male companionship.

  With resolve, she twisted the plastic handle to the blinds. Darkness still painted the night sky. But Nicolai was nowhere in sight.

  Then suddenly he appeared. She gasped at his startling action. Shivers racked her body. He placed his hands on the glass, willing her to let him in. His ebony eyes drew her closer. He drank in her appearance like a dehydrated man crossing the desert viewed an oasis.