“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” Barnet said.
“Same here.” She offered her hand, but John took it instead.
“Why don’t we go upstairs where it’s more private?” He kept her hand and led the way to the stairs, where he indicated Barnet go up first. All during the jostling inside his apartment, he seemed to make a great effort to stay between her and Barnet.
John offered the chair to Barnet then sat beside her on the couch. Not once had he let go of her hand.
“You know, John, I was hoping I could talk to Sarah in private for a minute.”
John shook his head and stared at the carpet. “I’m sorry, sir, but there’s something you should know before I can do that.”
Barnet leaned forward. “What’s the matter?”
“You can’t read her mind.”
“Is that what this is about?” Barnet leaned back and smiled graciously at Sarah before returning his attention to John. “You know I won’t hurt her, but it’s common practice when a mortal has knowledge about our race. I promise not to get too personal.”
“Not what I mean. I mean you can’t. Physically. Can’t.”
Barnet raised his eyebrows and stared at Sarah. He seemed to inhale slowly, as if trying to capture her scent, unlike the sniffing way Perry had always done it. Was he trying to control her, too? After a moment, he looked away in thought. “Has she offered you her blood?”
John furrowed his brow. “Yes, and I’ve fed from her. Why does that matter?”
“How long ago.”
“About seven hours. Again, why—”
Barnet snapped his head up. “Has Perry met her? Before you took—”
“Yes,” John growled. “And he’s lucky he’s still alive.”
For biting her? Or for something else? Anger flashed from John to her through their clasped hands. She needed to calm him, but how? “I’m afraid they’ve had a falling out because of me.”
“Not because of you. Because of Perry.” John turned toward Barnet. “He assaulted her and I sent him away. Am I going to have to send you away, too?”
“Assaulted?” Barnet’s eyes widened and he seemed to examine her from his chair. “How?”
“He bit her.”
“He nipped me on the mouth,” she said.
“He kissed you and bit you and he, well… He’s lucky I didn’t kill him.” John’s anger hit her so hard, she might have attacked Perry if he stood in the room. She breathed deep and pushed serene thoughts John’s way. Like the way he touched her after making love and the way he took care of her after her accident.
Barnet raised his hands in a placating manner, but sadness filled his eyes. “It’s okay, John. I understand.”
John’s breathing slowed. “How is that possible when I don’t even understand it?”
“Then let me try to explain. Do you know Katarina Koenig? She’s one of Victoria’s friends.”
“Maybe. I think so. Why?”
“Right after Christmas she introduced me to a young man. She was just as protective of him as you are of Sarah and no one could read or control him.”
“I’m not an abnormality?” she asked.
Barnet smiled. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. You’re an abnormality. In all my years as a vampire, I’ve never seen your kind. I always thought it was a story, a myth. The Perfect Mate.”
“I’ve never heard of that story,” John said.
“If you had stayed at Headquarters for longer than the meetings and got to know your fellow vampires, you might have. I’m surprised Perry didn’t say anything, though.” Barnet glanced at Sarah and grimaced. “Or maybe I’m not. That man never thinks before acting.”
“My kind? You make me sound like an alien.”
“Not alien. Just different. But since John has fed from you recently, I’m not sensing anything unusual. And I’m sure if John allowed it, your touch wouldn’t feel all that different, either. After a day, though, maybe I would. Justin created quite a stir.”
John squeezed her hand and fear flowed into her at the mention of Barnet touching her. So that’s why he’d kept her from Barnet. The idiot was still afraid she’d pick some other vampire over him? She gave him a reassuring squeeze back. “Who’s Justin?”
“Katarina’s…mate, for lack of a better word. When she arrived in Atlanta, it had been several days since she fed from him and his signal, draw, or whatever had returned. I didn’t feel anything, and neither did any of the other males who were there, but Victoria and Hilde, two of our Committee members, did. They only wanted to be near the young man, but Katarina went into attack mode. That’s when we, the Committee, decided to sequester Justin until we could figure out how to handle him.”
“You put him in jail?”
Barnet laughed. “Not really. More like a hotel room. It kept him safe, but by then Victoria and Hilde couldn’t stay away from the room. Katarina refused to leave him alone, didn’t trust anyone near him, which forced her to feed from him again, not that he minded. He practically begged her to. Once she did, Victoria and Hilde lost interest.”
John relaxed considerably at this information. “What did Hilde’s husband think?”
“Not good thoughts, I’m sure, which was another reason for the lock up. Hilde was only curious, I believe that. I think she finally convinced Rolf, too. But Victoria is unattached and hasn’t been with anyone since her husband’s passing. I’m afraid Justin’s allure hit her hard. It didn’t help that the effects of Katarina’s feeding were only temporary. A few days later, Victoria felt the allure again. Luckily, Hilde had already left with Rolf.”
“What happened with Justin?” she asked.
“Katarina originally brought him to get permission to turn him. In light of the circumstances, and the fact no one could coerce him into it, we granted it.”
“Did that stop the draw?” John asked.
Forget the draw. Would it stop their connection to one another? But Barnet might not even know that part. Of course, if it meant being with John forever, she could give it up. She’d miss it, though.
“I’m sorry. So, so sorry.” Barnet lowered his head. “The process didn’t take. He can’t be turned.”
“What?” She bolted off the couch. “Are you saying I can’t be a vampire?” Did this mean her time with John was only temporary? Would he leave her when she got too old? Pain radiated from her chest and the room darkened as if some black hole swallowed it up.
Chapter 30
John couldn’t have heard Barnet correctly. To find someone like Sarah and then not be able to keep her? It was some kind of sick joke. Or maybe it was the curse of being a vampire.
“John.”
Barnet’s worried tone caused John to look up. Barnet stood and moved toward Sarah, who was wavering in her stance.
“Sarah.” John grabbed her around the waist before she fell.
Tears streamed down her face and she gripped his arm. “Tell me it’s not true.”
He helped her back onto the couch and held her close while she cried. If he could, he’d be crying right along with her. Barnet might as well have ripped his heart from his chest.
“I’m sorry. I can only imagine how hard this information is to take, but I thought it was better to be blunt. If it’s any consolation, Katarina and Justin are just as upset. The Committee is currently searching for similar cases in other countries, although, I think if there were any, we would have heard about them. There has to be something we’re missing because if the story is true, and it’s beginning to seem that way, I find it hard to believe a Perfect Mate cannot become immortal.”
John held her and stroked her hair, calming himself as much as soothing her. “So what now? Do I feed from her every day to keep the vampires away? I’d end up killing her.”
“Katarina believed the same thing, but so far Justin isn’t showing any ill effects. I’d guess you wouldn’t have to go to that extreme since there aren’t any other vam
pires around here.”
“Are you forgetting the vampire controlling Steven and possibly Ray?”
“That I did. But from what you told me, it has to be a female because I believe a male would have taken Sarah by now.”
“And you’ve had no luck?”
Barnet shook his head. “No. I wish I had better news.” He rose. “I’ll leave you two alone. But one more thing. I’m trying to keep a lid on this Perfect Mate business. Until we have more information, I don’t need every unattached vampire going out half-cocked looking for the impossible. We’re liable to have ourselves one big mess then.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” John said.
“I suppose you’re right. Guess I should be having this conversation with Perry.” Barnet groaned and shook his head. “I’ll see myself out.”
After Barnet left, Sarah broke down again.
“Hey.” He held her face and wiped the tears away. “I’m not giving up hope and you shouldn’t either. That’s just one case, it might be different with you. Besides, you agreed to wait a year anyway. A lot can happen.”
Her voice hitched. “But what if I’m not different. What if there isn’t anything. I’ll get old and you won’t.”
“You don’t worry about that. I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me. You hear?”
He kissed her deeply, tasting her tears. She possessed him body and soul and no amount of time would ever change that. If it came down to it, he’d prove it, but hoped he’d never have to. For now he would make her forget and show her how much she meant to him.
* * * *
Something brushed across Sarah’s lips. Opening her eyes meant waking up and since she didn’t want to do that, she swiped at her mouth, but nothing was there. Must have been a dream. Then it happened again. She opened her eyes to a darkened room. John smiled as he gave her another light kiss on the lips.
“Mmm, good morning,” she murmured.
She was determined to make it one, too, especially since John had spent all last night doing whatever he could to help her forget Barnet’s words. Live in the now and enjoy it. Why fret over stuff she couldn’t control?
Kissing a trail from her mouth to her neck, he said, “Good morning to you, too, sleepyhead. It’s almost six-thirty. I hope you don’t mind me waking you a little early.”
Hell, with a wake-up call like that, he could wake her early every morning. Who needed sleep? Oh wait, she did.
He pulled the sheet away and exposed her naked body. The coolness of the room gave her a slight chill and a few goose bumps. He kissed his way to her breast and lightly licked her nipple, opening the floodgates to her sex and heating her up. She gasped. How had he managed to turn her on so quickly? After kissing his way down her stomach, he lingered at her belly button before he slowly worked his way back up to her other breast and suckled that one. She arched into him, wanting more.
“What are you doing?” Well, she knew what he was doing, just not why and she was almost not caring either way, it felt so good.
He spread her legs and positioned himself between them—“I’m having breakfast”—then kissed his way back down her belly.
Having breakfast? Since when did he—oh hell. She pulled away and tried to close her thighs, but he held her tight.
“Relax, will you? God, you smell wonderful.” He ran his tongue over her folds. “Taste good, too.”
Not hard to believe since his experiences transferred to her, but relax? He was kidding, right? His ministrations were sending her over the edge of that huge cliff called orgasm. Didn’t hurt that he knew exactly where to lick and suck. Why wouldn’t he if he could experience what she felt? He flicked her clit with his tongue while fingering her insides, rubbing the perfect spot. The man was too good. She tensed every muscle, her nerve endings on fire. Before her world exploded, she grabbed her pillow and put it over her face.
The climax ripped through her and she screamed with ecstasy. Even John moaned.
He removed the pillow from her face and said, panting, “Damn. It’s like waking from a wet dream.” He grabbed some tissues from her nightstand and cleaned himself. “I might have problems taking your blood, but I certainly love the side effects.”
“Tell me about it,” she said and laughed. “How am I supposed to get ready for work now when I don’t even want to get out of bed?”
John tossed the tissues in the trash before snuggling in beside her. After brushing the hair from her face, he leaned over and gave her a proper good morning kiss, making her tingle all the way to her toes. How could her body be craving him again? Was it never satisfied?
Moving his lips to her neck, he said, “I’m sure you’ll manage. At least you don’t have to run back home.”
She was sure he was only joking, but it didn’t stop the guilt from forming. “You know, you could drive home and I could take the bus to work.”
John lifted his head and frowned. “Sarah…I was only teasing. I told you, I don’t need the car. Quit feeling guilty.” He glanced at the clock, sat up and scooted toward the edge of the bed, but stopped and gave her another kiss. “God, you taste good, but I do need to get going.”
She rose up on her elbows and ogled him while he slipped on his jeans. Too bad he wasn’t undressing, though. Then again, she’d get to see that after work, which reminded her… “By the way, I’ll be late tonight.”
He picked up a shoe. “You got a meeting?”
“With a client at six-thirty, at the coffee shop around the corner.”
He spun around, frowning. “It’s not at your work? Don’t you usually meet your clients there?”
Now he was giving her the willies. “It’s not uncommon for me to meet at an owner’s establishment and it was the only time she could meet. Should I be worried?”
His face softened. “I’m sorry. I’m being overprotective. Again. But if you don’t mind, I’d like to be at that coffee shop waiting for you.”
“Okay, but I really have no idea how long I’ll be.”
“Doesn’t matter. Okay? It’ll make me feel better.”
“Well…as long as it makes you feel better.”
“Was that sass? Were you sassing me?” He bent down and tickled her in the ribs.
Laughter burst out of her and she couldn’t stop. The guy was relentless. “I give. Please. Just stop.”
But his tickles turned more sensuous and the next thing she knew, his jeans were off and he was in her. Ah yes, the perfect way to start a day.
Chapter 31
After packing her briefcase and dressing for the weather, Sarah headed toward the elevators. Thank goodness the shop was around the corner. She could avoid the garage altogether. That place always seemed creepier after work than it did in the morning. Someday she’d be able to walk through it without her heart hammering away. A day after Ray and Steven were captured, most likely.
She stepped outside and the frigid air attacked her with a vengeance. Good old February. One day the weather would be warm, teasing of things to come. The next day, cold and hard, saying, “Fooled you!” At least it wasn’t snowing. Hugging the briefcase, she used it as a shield to block the wind. Light shone through the coffee shop window. Thank goodness. If forced to wait outside, she’d freeze for sure.
Before Sarah could reach for the knob, a middle-aged woman with long, auburn hair opened the door and offered her hand. “Ms. Daugherty, I presume?”
Sarah took her hat off and shoved it in her pocket before shaking the outstretched hand. “Yes, I am. Are you Ms. Delany?”
“Yes, good to meet you.”
The handshake seemed unusually long. Her grip was strong and either she liked holding hands or she was a vampire trying to get information. Crap. But wait, if she were a vampire…
Neither a sparkle nor glimmer shone in her eyes. Just plain old brown. Sarah relaxed. John’s paranoia was starting to rub off, not that it would take much.
“Come in and hav
e a seat. Kind of nippy out there, isn’t it?” Ms. Delany closed the door and rubbed her arms.
“I’ll be glad when spring arrives.” Sarah placed her purse and bag on the floor and hung her scarf and coat on the back of the chair before settling in.
A tray of muffins and a coffee carafe, along with some plates and cups, sat on the counter. Were they the only two in the shop? If anyone worked in the back, they were quiet.
“Oh I do love the spring.” Ms. Delany carried the tray to their table. “Sorry for not meeting at your office, but I didn’t think it was an appropriate place to approach you regarding a job.”
This was about a job? “I’m sorry, but I don’t do the hiring—”
“Oh, not for me. I want to hire you.”
The woman couldn’t be serious. If this was an interview, it was the strangest one she’d ever had. She hadn’t even sent out any resumes. She looked around the shop. “A job? Here?”
Ms. Delany laughed as she sat, but it sounded strained and fake. “Oh no, not here. My friend owns this place and is letting me use it and with it being close to your office, I thought it would be more convenient for you. I run my own business. I heard great things about you during your job up in Lima and it intrigued me.” After passing the plates out, she placed a muffin on each and then poured coffee in the cups.
Goosebumps formed on Sarah’s arms and she fingered her necklace. Maybe she should leave. Ms. Delany kept staring as if she wanted to kiss and after that handshake, well, it was downright creepy. Sarah had never been hit on by a woman before, but there was always a first time. “While I’m flattered, I’m not really looking for another job. I enjoy working at Miller and Thomason.”
“Ah, but you can stay and hear me out, can’t you? Here, have a muffin. They really are quite delicious.” Ms. Delany took a bite and smiled.
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