My Guardian Vampire: BBW Paranormal Romance (The Guardians Book 1)

by Roxy Wilson

  My Guardian Vampire

  VOLUME ONE

  The Guardians Series

  By

  Roxy Wilson

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, businesses and incidents are from the author’s imagination or they are used fictitiously and are definitely fictionalized. Any trademarks or pictures herein are not authorized by the trademark owners and do not in any way mean the work is sponsored by or associated with the trademark owners. Any trademarks or pictures used are specifically in a descriptive capacity. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead, is coincidental.

  Cover Art: John Kennedy of Coverotic

  © July, 2015. Roxy Wilson

  Books by Roxy Wilson

  Newest Releases:

  June, 2015:

  Stay With Me: BWWM Interracial Cowboy/Western Romance (Westbury Ranch Book 2)

  May, 2015

  Just Gettin’ Started: BWWM Interracial Cowboy/Western Romance (Westbury Ranch, Book 1)

  Ms. Perfectly Imperfect

  Other Books -

  Baby Wanted (A Bundle of Joy, Book 1)

  The Baby Proposal (A Bundle of Joy, Book 2)

  Baby, You’re Mine (A Bundle of Joy, Book 3)

  Secret Baby Seduction (A Bundle of Joy, Book 4)

  A Christmas Kiss (Holiday Happiness, Book 1)

  Second Chance Christmas (Holiday Happiness, Book 2)

  The Christmas Cupid (Holiday Happiness, Book 3)

  Mistletoe Miracles

  Loving St. Nick

  Work It Out

  The Right Kind of Love

  He’s So Into You

  Love in Black and White (Sam Crescent, Jamallah Bergman, Roxy Wilson, et al)

  BLURB

  If you love The Vampire Diaries, or are Twilighters, or are fans of Milly Taiden and Terry Bolryder, then this paranormal romance serial is perfect for you.

  He knew her from the moment of her birth.

  He watches her every footstep and protects her from the enemies she knows nothing about.

  And he loves her with every fiber of his other-worldly being.

  But the crazy thing is…she doesn’t even know he exists!

  Follow the blood-pumping, heart-throbbing romance between Aric Thornton and the curvy, BBW, Lacey Parker.

  Warning: If you don’t like serials, then this book isn’t for you. But if you love sexy-as-sin, alpha heroes, and I-don’t-give-a-damn heroines, then you can sink your teeth into it. It also contains a bit of suspense, nail-biting action and scenes that are intended for readers 18 years and over.

  This is the first of 5 volumes in a BBW, BWWM Paranormal Romance serial. Each volume is approximately 50 pages and is NOT a standalone.

  Look out for a new release in the serial every 2-4 weeks.

  FREE with Kindle Unlimited.

  Get A FREE Roxy Wilson eBook!

  Hello Reader,

  Because I want to show you how much I appreciate that you supported me by purchasing My Guardian Vampire Volume 1, I’m offering you a FREE copy of my sweet, BWWM romance, A Better Man.

  To receive it via email, all you need to do is Click here.

  Thank you, and I look forward to your continued support.

  Regards,

  Roxy

  Chapter One

  Lacey Parker wasn’t having a good day.

  After working for two consecutive days on a major project, she’d sent it off only to hear back from the client who wanted the whole thing done with different specs just to see if he liked it. He was willing to pay for it, but Lacey didn’t think she could go through the grind. All she wanted to do was to chuck the whole thing in the bin, or actually hit the delete button, but part of being a freelance designer was honing the art of dealing with people who made unreasonable demands that needed to be met…Now! Now! Now!

  Maybe it was time to take a break. Rather than reply to her client in the mood that she was in, she closed her laptop, picked up her purse and took a quick look in the mirror. A cup of hot coffee would cheer her up and give her a fresh perspective on this mess. She would take the job. Lacey had known she would have to jump through a lot of hoops when she started to work as a freelancer, but she loved the freedom of choosing her own hours and picking up work that excited her. And she could travel to her heart’s content. It was a small price to pay for the occasional difficult client.

  Plus, she liked the challenges and the deadlines.

  Lacey strolled out the door, locked it and took the stairs. She was a fit and active woman, and although at five feet four inches she wasn’t terribly tall, she was what some would call voluptuous. Pleasingly plump. Curvy...

  A product of West Indian parents of African descent, she’d inherited her mother’s sapodilla brown complexion and her father’s pointed chin. It was a combination most men found irresistible, not that she gave many of them the time of day. At a mere twenty-three years of age, Lacey didn’t have any intention of tying herself to a guy. She wanted to travel the world and enjoy life. A man certainly didn’t fit into her scheme of things. Sure, work did, but then that was necessary to pay her bills. She was a working, independent woman and hadn’t asked her parents for any support ever since she turned eighteen.

  That was just the way she liked it.

  Lacey knew how to take care of herself, and no man could tell her different. As she marched along, her thoughts veered back to the project and the client’s new demands. Perhaps, it might not be a bad idea to try the design in a different way. It would take several hours to complete it, but it would give her portfolio a boost and she would gain some more experience. Whichever design he rejected, she could add to her growing collection of ready-made features. It wasn’t a bad deal all around.

  Ahead, she saw the neon sign of the coffee shop. It closed at one at night, and right now it was twelve fifty. She picked up her pace.

  Just then Lacey heard someone running behind her, breathing heavily. The hair on the nape of her head lifted. Beads of perspiration gathered on her forehead. And even though her muscles tightened, she forced herself to step aside to let the person pass, rather than run. I’m over-reacting. Criminal Minds and CSI are not real life, only make-believe. But as she neared a darkened alley to her right, an arm snaked around her face and cupped her mouth. Another strong arm wrapped around her waist. The man dragged her inside the alley, as if she was a sack of feathers. It happened so quickly she barely had time to take a breath. Lacey kicked out her legs; at the same time her abductor released her. She stumbled against the wall.

  “Scream and I’ll gut you.”

  The knife that gleaned in the moonlight froze her vocal cords. She whimpered. “Take my purse, my money.”

  “Toss it over here.”

  A part of her wanted to flee the scene. She slipped off the purse and handed it over. Although she’d never experienced something like this, Lacey made it a point not to carry too much cash in her bag. She only had one credit card that she could cancel after she went home, and sure, she would miss her phone but it wasn’t more important than her life. All she wanted was for the guy to leave her alone. He grabbed the purse from her hand. Since he wore a ski mask over his face, she couldn’t see anything except for his dark eyes that glowed with an unholy fire. Maybe he was on drugs or something.

  “Please don’t hurt me,” she begged.

  Why oh why, didn’t she take some self-defense classes? The pepper spray that was nestled inside her purse was all but useless. She couldn’t do anything with it since she didn’t even get the t
ime to take it out. Perhaps she should’ve put up more resistance, but Lacey really didn’t want to take any risks. It was better to give him what he wanted and live to tell the tale.

  The man raised his hand, the one in which the knife was held, and her gaze was drawn to the sharp edge. Shit! He was going to stab her. She could tell what he was going to do. Lacey could almost imagine the blade sinking inside her body, the tearing, agonizing pain that would follow and the scream that would leave her lips. It would be too late by the time help arrived. If he hit any of her major organs and if she wasn’t found in time, she might not be able to make it out of this alley.

  She could die here.

  Even though she wanted to curl up in a ball and pretend that this wasn’t happening, a part of her wasn’t prepared to die yet. She was too young, and there was a lifetime of happiness ahead of her. Giving up wasn’t an option. She wanted to achieve so much, see the world, and just be.

  No.

  She wouldn’t allow this man to steal her life. With a violent leap, she lunged towards the guy. Startled by her actions, he took a step back and she collided with his stomach.

  Lacey didn’t really have a plan. In her mind, there was a vague idea that she would leap away before he had a chance to recover and run out onto the main road; but he was stronger than he looked. He pushed her away and she hit the wall. This time her head collided with the structure and she actually saw stars in front of her eyes. Lacey collapsed onto the ground. She saw him raise his hand as he prepared to strike with the knife. He had her purse. Why wasn’t he going away?

  Suddenly, someone grabbed the man’s arm and twisted it all the way back. The sound of broken bones was unmistakable. The knife fell out of his hand. The loud scream that broke the silence wasn’t hers. Her savior pushed the attacker away and he fled, crying and holding on to his broken arm. Lacey opened her eyes, and then closed them. She wasn’t able to focus.

  It was hard to think, to concentrate.

  Her rescuer lifted her off the ground. She opened her eyes. Her gaze took in the intense cornflower-blue eyes that peered down at her. She sighed. He’s got pretty eyes. I’ve seen them before…A long time ago…Yes, he came to get me.

  Lacey settled into a blissful unconsciousness, knowing that she was safe, that he was here and nothing bad would happen to her.

  When she opened her eyes, he was sitting right opposite her. Lacey struggled to sit up. She looked around, not sure where she was at first. And then she knew. She was in her apartment and her purse was lying on the desk. The man didn’t move as she took stock of her surroundings. Her head throbbed but when she raised her hand to it, there wasn’t any wound. She should’ve been scared that she was all alone with him, but Lacey felt safe. He wouldn’t hurt her.

  “What’s your name?”

  She blinked her eyes. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?”

  His lips lifted in a wry smile. “It’s standard procedure in a concussion. I think you might’ve suffered one. I could’ve taken you to a hospital, but I wasn’t sure if you would be happy if I did.”

  She hated hospitals. Ever since she was a kid, she had an aversion to doctors and nurses. Perhaps it was because she’d nearly died as a baby. Her mother said that they’d given up hope when a miracle saved her life. Maybe it was some subconscious fear that came to life whenever she was in a hospital, and that’s why she avoided them. Of course, the stranger didn’t know that. He was just being nice.

  “I’m fine.”

  “What’s your name?” he repeated.

  “Lacey Parker...”

  He raised two fingers. “How many fingers are these?”

  “Two.”

  “What’s today’s date?”

  She paused for a moment. “28th June, 2015.”

  He stood. “I think you’re fine. I would advise that you take some painkillers before you sleep and avoid going out.”

  Was he leaving? She couldn’t believe that he was in such a hurry. Perhaps she’d interrupted his schedule. Maybe he’d been going to meet his girlfriend when he had to abandon his plans so he could rescue her. A guy like him was bound to have a girlfriend. He was hot. There weren’t any other words to describe him. His face was lean, his cheekbones high and sharp, and his intense, blue eyes held her captive. The caramel colored hair that was cut short suited him. His shoulders were wide and his waist narrow. The man was better-looking than some of the models she saw in magazines. He was older than her, perhaps he was in his late twenties or early thirties, but his eyes were wise beyond years.

  “I don’t plan to go anywhere else tonight.” She shuddered, “Especially after what happened.” He still didn’t make a move towards the door. For some strange reason, she had a feeling that he wanted her to ask him to stay. “Would you like some coffee?”

  Maybe she’d misread the situation, but then he moved towards her kitchenette as if he knew the place intimately. “I’ll make some. You should get some rest.”

  Since her head was still throbbing, she didn’t protest. “The beans are on the top shelf and the cups are on the counter.”

  Rather than lie down, she rested against the headboard. Lacey enjoyed seeing her rescuer as he moved around in her kitchen. He was dressed simply in a black t-shirt and dark jeans. It didn’t look as if he’d been going out, but perhaps he didn’t feel the need to dress flamboyantly for his girlfriend. She pulled her gaze away when he picked up the mugs and brought them to her.

  Her studio apartment suddenly felt too cramped for two people. It was a good thing that she was a neat freak. At least everything was in the right place. “Thanks.”

  “I’ve put in more than your usual sugar. You need the caffeine and the sugar rush.”

  “How do you know my usual?”

  He glanced at her as if she was talking nonsense. “I just made an assumption that you don’t take a lot of sugar. Most girls usually don’t.”

  She nodded her head. “Yeah, I don’t.” She took a sip and shuddered. He’d made it too sweet, but perhaps she needed it right now to get over the shock that she received. The thought made her realize that she hadn’t thanked her savior as yet. “Umm…thank you for saving my life.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “It’s a good thing you were nearby.”

  He took a careful sip. “Yes, it was.”

  How had he known she was in the alley? It was dark and no one would’ve been able to see inside. She hadn’t screamed. Well, whatever happened, she was lucky that he came around when he did. “Did you really break his arm?”

  He shook his head. “No. He got scared and ran off.”

  She had the distinct impression that he was lying. Lacey had heard the snap of bones and her attacker’s blood-curling scream. Why wouldn’t her rescuer simply tell her the truth? Maybe it was because he didn’t want to get into trouble with the police? Of course, that must be the reason. Since she didn’t want to be the one who got him in a mess, she decided to keep her mouth shut. “He would’ve killed me.”

  His gaze locked on hers and a vague sense of unease flitted through her mind. His eyes drew her in, and she sucked in a deep breath of air. “He was trying to mug you.”

  She shook her head. “I’d already handed over my purse. He was going to kill me. Maybe he was a druggie, but whatever it was, he didn’t plan to leave me alive.”

  He sipped his coffee and they both sat in silence. The hot, sweet liquid gave her some energy and she felt a little better. It was nice of him to stay a while to make sure that she was fine. She could sense that he wanted to leave but also he appeared intent on making sure that she was okay. “I’m sure it’s your imagination. Why would someone deliberately try to kill you? These muggers…yeah, well, some of them are on drugs so who knows.” He placed his cup on the table and rose. “I better leave.”

  Lacey placed her mug on the table, but didn’t trust herself to stand. If she did, she would have to look him in the eyes again and frankly, she didn’t think that she had the co
urage to do so. He made her nervous. There was something about him that made her skin prickle. She didn’t know what it was. For God’s sake, the man saved her life. He didn’t intend to cause her any harm, but she still felt as if she needed to walk on eggshells around him.

  “Take care. Thank you for rescuing me.”

  Again.

  Now where had that thought that popped into her head come from?

  “Bye, Lacey.” He strolled towards the door.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Aric Thornton,” he said without looking back. She watched him open the door and then he went out without looking at her. When the door clicked shut, Lacey opened her mouth and then closed it. His name didn’t sound familiar, and she didn’t think she knew him, but she suddenly recalled the last thought that she’d had before she passed out.

  She’d seen this guy before, and he'd saved her life at that time too.

  The memory remained in the back of her mind and she couldn’t fully access it, but she was as sure as she knew that her name was Lacey. Aric Thornton wasn’t a stranger. They had met before. When and how? She couldn’t quite recall—but she would remember. At some point, it would all come back to her.

  Chapter Two

  Aric strolled into the warehouse and saw his team members assembled there. He’d left them a while ago without giving an explanation. Although he knew they weren’t aware of his reasons, even if they suspected them, none of them bothered to ask him anything.

  His bond with Lacey wasn’t something that any of them understood. And to be honest, he didn’t quite understand it himself. He was simply grateful that they didn’t bother to ask him too many questions because he certainly didn’t have any answers.

  Mira and Seth were bent over the computer. From the intense looks on their faces, he could tell that they were on to something. “What’s going on?”