A Vampire for Christmas

by Laurie London

  “Eagan! You can’t!”

  “Yes, I can.”

  He wasn’t sure if she was protesting or approving, but he loved the huskiness in her voice as she repeated his name a second time. Smiling up at her, he slowly dragged the scrap of blue lace down the length of her legs. She held on to his shoulders to steady herself as she lifted each foot in turn.

  This time he cupped the round curves of her backside to hold her still while he used his tongue to slowly tear down the last bit of her control. He was pretty sure her nails were going to leave marks in his skin, but the little nips of pain only added to the intensity of the moment.

  He drove her hard, not stopping until her whole body went rigid and then slowly folded down to straddle his thighs as she shuddered in release.

  Finally, she lifted her head to smile at him, her eyes at half-mast. “Wow. That was amazing.”

  He thrust upward, pressing hard against her core. “Glad you liked it, but that was just the appetizer.”

  “What if I want dessert first?”

  Her question was accompanied by a lingering kiss and wandering hands. If she kept that up, it would all be over before the party really got started. He picked her up and laid her back down on the bed, capturing those talented hands with one of his, holding them prisoner over her head.

  As he looked his fill at her curvaceous body stretched out for his enjoyment, she blushed. He loved that hint of innocence mixed in with the siren. He nuzzled the lower curve of her breasts, deliberately taking a circuitous route to finally capture her pert nipple with his lips. So sweet. He worked it hard, enjoying the way her entire body undulated on the mattress in response.

  “Eagan, you’re driving me crazy.”

  “That’s the whole idea,” he murmured as he moved on to pay homage to her other breast.

  As he learned what she liked and what she craved, her pulse called to him. He vowed not to take her vein. That didn’t mean resisting the urge was easy. He pressed a kiss against the pulse point in her wrist, loving the soft throb just under the skin. Even that distant connection with her life’s blood ramped up his need for her to a whole new height.

  He needed to claim her. Now. With everything he had.

  He closed his eyes, knowing they were more black than blue, not wanting to remind Della that her lover was something other than human. Then she opened her arms, her legs, her body to him. Her touch was so welcoming that he had to look, had to watch her pretty face as he took her.

  “Hold on, sweetheart. I’ll try to go slow. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  They both knew he was talking about far more than just the joining of their bodies. There was a world of womanly understanding in those dark eyes gazing up him. She eased her hand between them, wrapping it around his shaft and guiding him right to where they both wanted him to be. With a series of sharp thrusts, he seated himself firmly in her welcoming heat.

  He let out a slow breath, for the moment content to savor the profound connection. But then she stroked her hands down the length of his back to dig her fingernails into his ass, making a few demands of her own.

  “Now, Eagan. Fast and hard.”

  Her demand flipped a switch, sending him right into overdrive. His hips flexed sharply, seating him even more deeply. He withdrew almost completely, only to immediately plunge deeper yet.

  And again, over and over, until he was no longer conscious of himself or Della as individuals. There was only pounding sensation and burning desire coupled with a craving to claim her in every way he could as a man—and as a vampire.

  Just as she keened out her second release, he buried his face at the juncture of her neck and shoulder. Before he realized what was happening, his fangs pierced her soft skin, and he took a long sweet pull directly from her vein.

  Her legs clamped down around his thighs as she rode out her climax with a scream. That combined with the coppery beauty of her blood flooding down his throat was enough to throw Eagan plummeting over the edge with her. With a shout, he retracted his fangs and shuddered in her arms, pouring out his own release deep within her.

  When the last wave of triumph crashed over them both, he briefly collapsed in the sanctuary of her arms before rolling onto his back. He tucked Della in at his side although right then he really needed to put some space between them. If he did that, she might interpret it as rejection, and he wouldn’t risk hurting her that way.

  But as he thought about what he’d just done, his lungs refused to fill with air even as his fangs throbbed with the need for more blood. Her blood. As much as she’d let him take. To stake his claim on Della, to make her his permanently.

  What a damn fool he was. His rational mind argued that this was a fling, a momentary escape from a life spent alone hunting in the cold shadows. It had to be.

  But the truth was that he’d inadvertently completed the circle of connections that could link his life with Della’s in the way vampires did when claiming a mate. In a very short time, he’d tasted her blood while treating her wound, and then she’d taken his blood even if it was without her knowledge. Those two things alone wouldn’t have caused her lasting any harm.

  But in a moment of weakness, he’d lost control and taken her blood a second time while they’d made love. All of it within the time frame needed to seal the connection.

  The only thing that would save them was if the amount of blood he’d given her had been too small. The hand she had on his chest was the one that had been lacerated. He turned it over.

  No cut. No scab. No scar.

  Son of a bitch, he’d given her enough of his blood to complete the bond. As a human, she might be able to walk away with little or no effect. Normally, a vampire seeking to take a human mate would continue to feed her small amounts of his blood, slowly building up both her tolerance and her need for it.

  But through their newly forged connection, he’d always know where she was and what she was feeling. There would be an empty ache in his chest and his heart that nothing would ever completely assuage. His fault. His problem.

  He needed to leave, to put some distance between them so he could get his head around what he’d done.

  “Eagan?” His name came out on a yawn. “Is everything all right.”

  No.

  “Yes,” he lied as he sat up on the edge of the bed. “I just realized what time it was. I need to get back to my place before dawn.”

  She rose up to look at him. “So the reflection and garlic are myths, but not the whole sun allergy thing?”

  “Yeah, unless you like your vampire well-done.”

  His clothes were scattered across the room. When he retrieved his boxers and pants, he realized that they’d never gotten around to getting under the covers. She’d be cold as soon as he moved away.

  He left the jeans unzipped and started to turn down the quilt she used as a comforter. “Let me help you get between the sheets.”

  She smiled up at him. “I’ve been putting myself to bed for years, Eagan.”

  Della did so much for everyone around her, and as far as he could tell she asked for very little in return. It seemed important to do this one last insignificant thing for her. He got her tucked in, fighting hard not to crawl right back in beside her. To take her again, further cementing their connection.

  He picked up his shirt and shoes before tiptoeing toward the door. Before he made it, she spoke one last time.

  “Thank you, Eagan. For my hand, and well, everything.”

  What could he say to that? Certainly not “anytime,” not when he already knew he wouldn’t be coming back. He settled for a simple, “You’re welcome. Now get some sleep while you can. My blood might have given you a boost, but healing that fast will still have taken a lot out of you.”

  “Nag,” she teased. “See you later.”

  No, in fact she wouldn’t, not if he were careful. He still had a case to solve, but then he’d move on to the next assignment. Maybe he’d even consider a transfer to Portland or even somewh
ere in California, any place that would keep him too busy to think about what he might have held in his arms only to lose it minutes later.

  CHAPTER NINE

  THE MORNING CAME WAY TOO EARLY, but somewhere between slumber and awake, it hit Della that she’d left the kitchen a total wreck last night. What had her staff thought about walking into a room splattered with flour and blood? How could she explain it when her hand no longer had even a hint of a scar? She couldn’t very well tell them that her lover had magically healed her wound. Heck, she hadn’t come to terms with Eagan being a vampire herself.

  She bolted upright and charged for the bathroom. A quick shower and clean clothes did little to disguise the effects of a night spent…well, spent the way she’d spent hers.

  Flexing her wounded hand, she couldn’t detect even the smallest amount of stiffness or pain, all thanks to Eagan and the gift of his trust. She poked and prodded, trying to figure out how she felt about the knowledge that she owed the use of her hand to the ingestion of his blood.

  Definitely grateful, even if a bit queasy if she thought about it too much.

  She also checked the side of her neck, looking to see if he’d given her a love bite. She had vague memories of a brief pain right before he exploded deep inside her. Nope, no mark, but the memory of how spectacular the sex had been left her smiling. It might have been a long time since she’d last had a man in her bed, but no one else had ever made her feel the way Eagan did.

  Which left only one question unanswered: would he disappear from her life as quickly as he’d appeared?

  She very much feared the answer was yes. Obviously he’d never meant for her to know the truth about what he was. That she’d want him in her arms and in her bed had clearly come as a shock to the man. She’d been a bit surprised, too, but couldn’t regret her decision.

  His reluctance to share the secret of his people’s existence was understandable. After all, he wasn’t just outing himself to her. Who else hid their secret nature right in plain sight? Were there only vampires or did some of the other ancient myths actually walk the streets of Seattle?

  Now wasn’t the time. She really needed to get downstairs and do damage control on the mess she’d left behind. Explaining the flour was one thing; the blood would definitely be harder.

  Bracing herself for the inquisition, she paused at the bottom of the steps for a calming breath. Turning the corner, she stared in amazement. Everyone was calm—well, as calm as a diner kitchen ever was at the height of the breakfast hour.

  Skillets sizzled; pots banged; and dishes rattled. Orders were shouted, and the cook was complaining that his assistant wasn’t keeping up and where the hell was the dishwasher? All normal. All the usual. “Good morning!”

  Tennessee glowered at her. “Not now, Della. You know how I hate when you’re bright and chipper in the morning. Either pitch in or get out of the way. Daniel didn’t show up again.”

  Okay, that was worrisome, but right now she didn’t have time to hunt the boy down. He was out of school for the next two weeks, which is why he was scheduled on a morning shift. Daniel always wanted more hours when he had a break from school.

  “I’ll fill in for him.”

  She ignored Tenn’s glare and gave him a quick pat on the cheek as she passed by. He pretended to hate it, but she didn’t miss the way his lips twitched in a brief smile before he could hide it. The man had showed up six months before looking for a job. He had an interesting past; she was sure of it. Maybe even a questionable one, but hiring him had been the smartest thing she’d ever done.

  As she tied on an apron, Tenn poured her cup of coffee and plated up a couple of eggs and toast for her. “Eat first. By the way, thanks for cleaning the grill, Della. I meant to do it yesterday, but ran out of time.”

  She’d done no such thing, but she could guess who had—Eagan. When he’d found the time, she had no idea, but bless him for doing so.

  “It was nothing.”

  Literally. She made quick work of her meal. The two of them worked side by side, falling into a familiar rhythm until the backlog of orders was under control.

  During a brief lull, she called Daniel’s home number but got no answer. Maybe his mother had taken the kids to her sister’s house. She sometimes did that when school was out. A phone call would’ve been nice, but Daniel was getting more and more unpredictable.

  She’d try again later but for now she had paperwork to do. Anything to pass the time to see if Eagan returned at nightfall. The pragmatic part of her was betting not. The man obviously had some serious trust issues. All things considered, perhaps he had good cause.

  But this was the season of miracles, so she wouldn’t give up hope. Not yet.

  When the last bill was paid, she looked around for something else to keep her mind occupied. Cookies. She’d never gotten back to making those chocolate-dipped ones she’d been working on last night. Tenn wouldn’t begrudge her a small corner of the kitchen, would he?

  Yeah, he would. The man was nothing if not territorial. Too bad. She needed some way to pass the time until sunset, which was still too many hours away.

  Tenn gave her a puzzled look when she started pulling out the ingredients for the cookies. He said nothing at all when she encroached on his normal area. Maybe he sensed something was bothering her, but it wasn’t like him to poke his nose into her business.

  As she rolled out the dough, he cocked a hip against the counter and watched her. “I’m figuring it must be man trouble.”

  She kept right on working, trying to decide if she’d heard him right. When she looked around to see where she left the cookie cutters, he calmly pointed six inches to the left of where she’d just set down the rolling pin. “Thanks.”

  “So, you want to talk about it?”

  “Talk about what?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “Maybe whatever had you up cleaning the kitchen at all hours or whoever put that smile on your face this morning.”

  Okay, now she was blushing. “Tenn, in the six months I’ve known you, you’ve never asked me one personal question. Why start now?”

  “Because I’ve never seen you screw up a recipe like you just did that batch of dough you’re working to death. That was cake flour you used, not all-purpose, and you added salt twice.”

  Seriously? She tasted the dough. Rats, she had. No wonder it was acting strange.

  “You could’ve said something sooner, you big jerk.” She scraped it up and tossed it in the trash.

  Tenn laughed. “I figured it was therapeutic. Now, what’s up?”

  She’d never expected a guy who looked more like a biker than a fry cook would double as a therapist. It was the real concern in his caramel-brown eyes that got her talking.

  “I’m worried about Daniel. Something is up with him, and he won’t let me in.”

  Tenn’s expression turned grim. “You can’t save everyone, Della, no matter how hard you try.”

  “I know, especially if they don’t want to be saved.” She started measuring out the correct ingredients into the mixer. “And there’s Eagan. You haven’t met him because he only comes in during the evenings.”

  Tenn was already nodding. “Must be the one Lupe was complaining about.”

  “No doubt. She took an immediate dislike to him even though she’s never said more than five words to him.”

  Tenn looked away. “She has her reasons, but it’s nothing he’s done.”

  It was pretty clear that was all he was going to say on the subject. Did Lupe’s reaction to Eagan have something to do with his vampire nature? If so, how did Lupe recognize what he was? Did she even want to know? Rather than press for answers, Della concentrated on finishing the cookies before the lunchtime rush started.

  SLEEP WAS SHORT-LIVED. By midafternoon Eagan was up and pacing the floor of his condo. He swore the clock had quit moving at all. Finally, he couldn’t stand being cooped up any longer. He’d be better off working than beating himself up over
the events of the previous night.

  He headed to the garage. His car had windows which blocked the sun’s most lethal wavelengths. If he drove straight to the precinct, he’d be all right since the day was gray and overcast.

  At least at the office he’d be able to do something useful. Hell, maybe he’d dazzle his boss by getting caught up on his files. Anything at all to keep from thinking about Della. About how right she’d felt in his arms, how perfectly they’d fit together.

  Her easy acceptance of his truth had been a real shocker, but then that’s what Della did. She opened her door and her heart to those who didn’t quite fit anywhere else. He had no right to take advantage of her generous nature, not when it meant dragging her into the darkness with him.

  But damn, he wanted to do exactly that. The thought of coming home to her every morning had him having to adjust the fit of his jeans. God, he had it bad.

  The squad room was empty when he got there and so he tackled a stack of papers. An hour later, he finished the last report and tossed it on the pile. Now what? Might as well spread the joy. He picked up the folders and headed for the boss’s office. The lieutenant looked up at Eagan’s knock on the door and waved him in. His eyes widened at the stack of files in Eagan’s hand. He immediately grabbed a newspaper off the corner of his desk and started flipping through it like a madman.

  “Okay, what are you looking for?”

  Hughes tossed the paper aside. “To see when hell had frozen over. That’s when I figured you’d get around to doing those reports. Good thing I don’t have a bad heart because the shock could’ve killed me.”