Vampire Most Wanted: An Argeneau Novel (Argeneau Vampire)

by Lynsay Sands

  “Untie me.” He was trying to be firm, but it was obvious his heart was no longer wholly behind the desire to be free.

  Smiling knowingly, Lissianna scraped her fingers lightly down to run along the cloth just above his belt. The provocative action sent his stomach muscles galloping and his breath came out on a little hiss of air.

  “What the hell,” he breathed. “There are worse things than being a sex slave.”

  Love Bites

  Etienne Argeneau’s three hundred years of bachelorhood comes to an end when, to save the woman who saved him, he turns her into an immortal. But all Rachel had really wanted was just to get off the night shift in the morgue. Now this man says she’s a vampire? At least the look in his bright silver eyes said they’d be spending a lot of time together.

  “Why you won’t come to me?”

  Rachel glanced back at the corpse. He wasn’t making much sense, but then who said hallucinations had to? She tried to reason with him. “Why would I come to you? You aren’t real. You aren’t even sitting up.”

  “I’m not?”

  “No, I just think you are. In reality, you’re still really lying there dead. I’m just imagining you sitting up and talking.”

  “Hmm.” He grinned suddenly. It was a nice grin. “How do you know?”

  “Because dead men don’t sit up and talk,” she explained patiently. “Please lie back down now. My head is starting to spin.”

  “But what if I’m not dead?”

  Single White Vampire

  Editor Kate Leever was adamant that her newest vampire romance author Lucern Argeneau will attend a romance convention to meet his fans. Despite his reclusive nature, odd sleep schedule and avoidance of the sun, the handsome Luc was going to be recognized by the public. But soon Kate would learn that his novels were more biographies than bodice rippers, and it’d be her neck on the line.

  In a pale blue business suit, Kate C. Leever resembled a cool glass of ice water. The image was pleasing on this unseasonably warm September evening.

  The image shattered when the woman dragged her luggage up the porch steps, paused before him, offered him a bright cheerful smile that lifted her lips and sparkled in her eyes, then blurted, “Hi. I’m Kate Leever. I hope you got my letter. The mail was so slow, and you kept forgetting to send me your phone number, so I thought I’d come visit personally and talk to you about all the publicity possibilities that are opening up for us. I know you’re not really interested in partaking of any of them, but I feel sure once I explain the benefits you’ll reconsider.”

  Lucern stared at her wide, smiling lips for one mesmerized moment; then he gave himself a shake. Reconsider? Was that what she wanted? Well, that was easy enough. He reconsidered. It was a quick task.

  “No.” He closed the door.

  Tall, Dark & Hungry

  Terri had flown from England to help plan her cousin’s wedding, but paying for a New York hotel room was like giving blood! She had an alternative: the new in-laws were offering lodging. Of course, the Argeneaus were a certifiably odd family, but then there was Bastien, the tallest, darkest and hungriest of the bunch—and his effect on Terri was decidedly delicious.

  It was then Bastien had realized he’d forgotten the blood. He could not believe that he had been so remiss. He was an idiot! And that idiocy was about to see him ruin the day. He could not continue to walk around in this heat with the sun killing him.

  Perhaps it would help if he bought a big floppy hat and a long-sleeved shirt from one of the booths or something. Bastien grimaced. He might as well buy a clown nose and floppy shoes, too. This day wasn’t going at all as he’d hoped.

  “Bastien?” Terri was suddenly at his side, concern on her face. “You look a bit . . . ill. Are you feeling all right?”

  “Yes, I— It’s just the heat and sun,” he said finally. He wasn’t surprised he looked sick. They had been outside for two hours, and he was really starting to feel it.

  “I think I could use a break,” he admitted, and sighed inwardly at the concern on her face. Now she’d think he was some pitifully weak guy who couldn’t handle a little walking.

  “If you like.” She frowned. “You really aren’t feeling well, are you?”

  “No, I just—“ He sighed. “I forgot about the sun. I have a bit of an allergy to it.”

  A Bite to Remember

  Once bitten, twice shy, and sexy PI Jackie Morrisey wasn’t going there again. Vincent Argeneau may be the hottest guy she’s ever met, living or dead, but she’s here to stop a killer from turning this vampire into dust, not to jump into bed with him. Okay, so Vincent does look rather tempting shirtless. He’s also charming, protective. Still, Jackie needs to be on her guard, lest this little fling be . . . a bite to remember.

  Vincent pulled the front door open.

  “Vincent Argeneau?” the woman asked.

  When he nodded, she stuck out her hand. “I’m Jackie Morrisey and this is Tiny McGraw. I believe Bastien called you about us?”

  Vincent stared at her hand but—rather than take it—pushed the door closed and lifted the phone back to his ear as he turned away. “Bastien, she’s mortal!”

  “Did you just slam the door in Jackie’s face?” Bastien asked with amazement. “I heard the slam, Vincent. Don’t be so damned rude.”

  “Hello!” he said impatiently. “She’s mortal. Bad enough she’s female, but I need someone who knows about our ‘special situation’ to deal with this problem. She—”

  “Jackie does know,” Bastien said dryly. “Do you think I’d send you an uninitiated mortal? Have a little faith.” A sigh traveled down the phone line. “She has a bit of an attitude when it comes to our kind, but is the best in the business. Now open the door for the woman.”

  “But she’s mortal and . . . a girl!”

  Bite Me If You Can

  One minute Leigh is walking home, and the next a vampire is sinking his teeth into her neck. Turns out it was a rogue vampire marked for termination, but it does Leigh little good because the damage’s already been done. She’s become one of them. Lucian Argeneau has been alive for over two thousand years, and little excites him anymore. Then Leigh drops into his life. Suddenly he finds himself imagining the sassy brunette in his nice big bed . . .

  “Am I really a vampire?”

  Lucian’s hands froze on the mop and he glanced at her with surprise. “You doubt it? You haven’t noticed anything different?”

  Understanding struck him when Leigh looked away, and he said, “It’s tempting to deny it to yourself, but it won’t change anything. It just delays your coming to grips—and learning to live—with it.”

  “I suppose you’re right,” Leigh acknowledged unhappily as he went back to mopping. He glimpsed her sitting up, straightening her shoulders, and raising her head, then she said, “Okay, so I’m a vampire.”

  “Yes,” Lucian said solemnly, and added, “But we dislike that name.”

  She shrugged, then asked with a little movement of her shoulders, “I gather this means I’ll now live forever and never age?”

  Lucian rung out the mop again as he considered how to answer her question.

  “Probably not forever,” he said finally, as he slapped the mop to the floor. “But so long as you aren’t decapitated or trapped in a fire, your life has been greatly prolonged and you won’t age, or get sick, or even get cavities.”

  “Yeah?” she asked with interest. “No cavities?”

  The Accidental Vampire

  Ever since an accident turned her into a knockout vamp, Elvi Black knows there’s more to being undead than what she saw in Dracula. And Victor’s the perfect man for a novice neck-biter like Elvi. He’s willing to teach her everything he knows, but he’ll have to do it fast. Someone’s out to put a stake through her new vamp life, and only Victor can keep her safe—and satisfied—for all eternity.

  “So you have to give them your blood,” Elvi said. “I must have missed that part of the movie.”

 
“What movie?” Victor asked.

  “Dracula. I don’t remember seeing that.”

  “What? You researched by watching the movie rather than reading the damned book?”

  “I wanted to learn as fast as I could. Movies are faster than books.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Definitely a child of your times.”

  “God! Sometimes you’re such a . . . a . . . man.”

  “Good of you to notice.”

  Several moments passed. Elvi’s tongue slipped out to glide along her lips. Victor’s gaze shifted there. She had the most incredible mouth. Full, red lips that begged to be caressed and kissed . . .

  Vampires Are Forever

  Vampires don’t exist . . . do they? Inez Urso is beginning to have her doubts. Her business associate Thomas Argeneau has some interesting vampire-like traits. Not to mention, he just tried to bite her neck . . . but maybe that was a sign of passion?

  There was no way she was going anywhere with this man.

  “Inez? You were here all day and perfectly safe. If I’d wanted to harm you, I could have done so first thing in the morning. Instead, I drew you a bath and ordered you breakfast—”

  “And then you bit me.” Inez had luxuriated in that bubble bath, thinking what a wonderful, sweet man Thomas Argeneau was. She’d looked down at his sleeping face and pondered how wonderful it would be to have a handsome, thoughtful man for a mate.

  She’d imagined him greeting her at the door with a kiss, the smells of scrumptious cooking drifted to her as he kissed her hello, his hands moving over her body, stripping away her clothes one at a time . . .

  Right up until he woke up and bit her.

  Vampire, Interrupted

  After seven hundred years of life, Marguerite Argeneau finally has a career as a private investigator. It seemed a simple enough assignment, until she finds herself at the wrong end of a sword. Julius Notte wants to protect Marguerite, and not because someone just tried to take her head off. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s his life mate and he’s determined to woo her. Now if only he can keep her alive—so to speak—so they can have that happily-ever-after.

  “We are life mates.”

  Marguerite choked, spitting wine out as she coughed and sputtered.

  “Are you all right?” Julius asked.

  She nodded.

  “Not the most delicate approach, was it?”

  They stared at each other, his expression assessing, hers wary.

  “What are we going to do about it?”

  She swallowed. “Do we have to do anything about it for now? I mean, there is no need to really do anything at all. We are immortals and appear to be life mates.”

  “We are life mates, Marguerite. There is no ‘appear’ about it,” he growled.

  His eyes were blazing, the silver consuming the black of his eyes.

  She licked her lips nervously and paused when his gaze followed the action. The air in the room was suddenly electric. Her heart rate sped up, blood moving swiftly through her veins as her breathing became shallow.

  The Rogue Hunter

  Samantha Willan is a workaholic. She’s grateful for some rest and relaxation in cottage country . . . until she meets her irresistible new neighbor. Garrett Mortimer is a rogue hunter here to track down a reported rogue, but fun in the sun is every bloodsucker’s nightmare. Worse, he can’t seem to get his mind off Samantha . . . After eight hundred years as a bachelor, is he ready to turn a volatile attraction into a lasting love affair?

  “Do you need help finding a candle?” he asked as they mounted the steps.

  Sam hesitated, tempted to say yes, invite him inside, and see if he might try to kiss her, or . . .

  She caught herself. She wasn’t ready for that.

  “No, that’s okay. We keep the flashlights on a shelf just inside the door. But thank you,” she added, pausing by the door.

  Turning back, she opened her mouth to say something.

  What it would have been she didn’t know, because it slipped from her mind the moment she saw the way his eyes were shining in the darkness.

  It was as if they were soaking up the moonlight and reflecting it back at her.

  Like a night predator, she thought, and felt a shiver run up her back under her T-shirt.

  The Immortal Hunter

  Danielle McGill doesn’t know if she can trust the man who just rescued her . . . from vampires? But, with her sister in the hands of these dangerous men, she doesn’t have much choice. Decker Argeneau is also awakening a passion beyond anything Dani’s ever known. Being undead may not be half-bad . . . especially if it means spending forever with a man who would love her with his mind, body, and immortal soul.

  “I’m two-hundred-and-fifty-nine, Dani.”

  “You’re pulling my leg, right?”

  “No,” Decker said solemnly. “Does the age difference bother you?”

  She gave a disbelieving laugh. “Decker, you’ve told me about life mates, and I know you think I’m yours, but—”

  “I don’t think, I know.”

  She started to slide off the bale of hay, but he caught her arm.

  She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to kiss him back. She wanted— Giving her head a shake, she pulled her arm free and started walking toward the door.

  He caught her arm and spun her around. “Don’t run from me, Dani. I’ll just follow.”

  “I’m not running,” she whispered, her eyes on his mouth.

  “Yes,” he growled, “you are.” And he did exactly what she wanted and kissed her.

  The Renegade Hunter

  The Argeneau family has a secret—one of their own is a rogue vampire! But Nicholas Argeneau was once a hunter himself, and when he sees a woman being attacked by one of his own, he comes to her rescue. Josephine Willan never expected a gorgeous stranger to save her life . . . and gets locked up for his troubles. Now she’s determined to prove that this renegade hunter is worth fighting for.

  “I want you,” Nicholas admitted, his eyes glowing silver.

  Jo suspected that was a tell with him: molten silver meant hot and horny. Which was fine with her, as she was feeling rather hot and bothered herself.

  “But I can’t claim you,” he added.

  “Claim me?” she echoed, then gave a laugh. “You make me sound like lost luggage. No one can claim me. I have free will.” She moved around the table and dropped into his lap. She slid her arms around his shoulders. “Fortunately for you, I’m free and willing.”

  “Jo,” he said, but she didn’t want to hear it and covered his mouth with her own.

  She smiled, slid her lips to his ears, and nibbled briefly before whispering, “I ache for you.”

  He sucked in a harsh breath, then something snapped. Suddenly his head jerked around so his lips could claim hers.

  “Vampire Valentine” in

  Bitten By Cupid

  Mirabeau LaRouche knew she had a job to do, but she never expected her assignment to take her through New York City’s dark, dank underground—in her bridesmaid gown, no less! And when her partner turns out to be mortal private investigator Tiny McGraw, Mirabeau knows it’s no ordinary Cupid’s arrow that has struck her heart this Valentine’s Day.

  “You’ll meet her soon enough, and when you do . . .” Marguerite hesitated, then sighed, and said, “Our Mirabeau is prickly. She has a lot of defenses. She lost her entire family to the greed and betrayal of a favorite uncle back during the Massacres of St. Bartholomew and finds it hard to trust and love. She’s erected a lot of protective walls. You will need to be patient.”

  Tiny stared at Marguerite blankly. She seriously believed he would be a life mate to this Mirabeau. The idea was both exciting and scary as hell. His life would change forever. God. A life mater. It would mean his days as a bachelor were over . . . and he’d probably have to turn, become an immortal like Jackie had. He’d have to drink blood and . . .

  Born to Bite

  Legend has it that Armand Argeneau is a
killer in the bedroom . . . But with all three of his late wives meeting untimely ends, is this sexy immortal a lover or a murderer? As an enforcer, it’s Eshe d’Aureus’s job to find out and bring rogue vampires to justice, even if the rogue in question makes her heart race.

  “I’m going to kill her.”

  “Who?” Armand asked with confusion, and then turned to glance in the direction that Lucian’s gaze now seemed fixated. He was staring past him at the dark road outside. Armand peered at the long stretch of dark highway for a minute, slow to recognize the fiery vision approaching for what it was, a motorcycle with red, yellow, and orange LED lights around the tires and across the body that made it look like the bike was roaring up the road aflame. It was one hell of a magnificent sight.

  “Eshe,” Lucian snapped, finally answering her question. “That’s her.”

  Hungry For You

  Alexandra Willan’s restaurant is due to open in two weeks, but her chef just walked out. Then a highly recommended replacement arrives, a culinary genius who sends electric tingles racing through her body . . . Except Cale Valens can’t cook. In fact, as one of the most ancient of the Argeneau clan, Cale hasn’t eaten real food in two thousand years. Yet he’s determined to prove to Alex his prowess in the kitchen . . . and elsewhere.

  He was going to kiss her, some part of her mind yelled in warning, and Alex knew she should turn her head away, or kick her legs to be set down, but found she was unwilling to. She wanted him to kiss her, wanted to know if it would be as wonderful as it had been in her dream.

  Surely nothing could be that good, Alex thought faintly, and then his mouth drifted softly over hers, brushing across them as lightly as a butterfly’s wings, once, then twice before settling so that his tongue could slide out to urge her lips apart. Alex wasn’t aware of giving her brain the order to do it, but her mouth parted willingly enough, allowing his tongue in, and she had to revise her belief that no real kiss could compare with those from her dream. This was definitely as good or better, she decided, as his tongue swept in to tangle with hers.