I brushed my hands through his hair. The unruly black silk curled around my fingers. "I know. I never thought it would happen for me. And then you stalked me at a Hollywood party….”
His dimpled smile tugged at my heart as the backs of his fingers caressed my cheek. “Is that how you remember things?”
He pressed his lips against mine, his teeth catching my lower lip between them. He’d lifted me in his arms when the sharp knock on his bedroom door interrupted us.
“Mr. Nick. You need to turn on the television.” Julia’s muffled voice sounded through the door. “CNN.”
We hurried out of the bathroom and sat down on the bed. He reached for the remote and turned on the flat screen television, sitting both of us on the bed. A banner with the words “BREAKING NEWS” ran across the bottom of the screen. The screen flashed to a remote area of Los Angeles, police circling around a black BMW. The shot was far away, likely an aerial view from a helicopter.
Nick’s arms went slack as he watched the screen intently. His voice was barely audible. “That’s Isabelle’s car.”
The banner began scrolling across the bottom of the screen: Isabelle Kelley, prominent Hollywood socialite and head of IKR, was found dead this morning in this remote section of Los Angeles. She was last seen four days ago. More details at the top of the hour…
I grabbed the remote from Nick and switched off the television. Both of our phones started ringing at the same time. Nick was frozen in place, either unwilling or unable to move.
Scurrying across the room, I lunged for my phone. I glanced at the caller id and it was blank, no name or number. “Hello?”
There was silence on the line. I was ready to hang up when a keening, sadistic laugh sounded out. “You sound as beautiful as you look, my dear. I assume you received my message earlier. I was afraid it was imperative that I capture your attention. I fear the time has come for us to meet. Is my child with you?” The voice was heavily accented and difficult to understand.
My brows furrowed. “Your child? Who is this? You have the wrong number.”
Again, the cackling laugh rang out loudly. “I assure you, I have the correct number. We have not been formally introduced, even though I took great joy in finding out everything about you. Is Nicholas with you?”
“Theos?” I choked out, my hand trembling as I struggled to hold on to the phone.
Nick was at my side instantly, his face filled with a dread, fear and resolution. “Hand me the phone, Savannah.”
“No!” I screamed into the phone, my knuckles going white as I gripped it. “You can’t have him!”
His merriment at my terror was evident in his words. “Ah, it is not Nicholas I want, my dear. It is you. You are his biggest weakness and you have become my biggest desire. He owes me a debt. We will speak soon, I assure you.”
With those parting words, the line went dead. I dropped the phone from my shaking hands. It hit the carpeted floor with a quiet thump.
“Savannah, look at me.” Nick grasped my arms, shaking me gently. My eyes slowly focused on his face, sobs shaking my shoulders. “He won’t touch you. I promise. I’ll die before I let him near you.”
Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. My knees buckled and I sank to the floor. “Did you know the letters and the break in was Theos?”
He shook his head and knelt at my side. “I was suspicious. I haven’t heard from him in over half a century. Why would he do this now?”
My watery gaze met his. A rueful smile spread across my face. “You’re happy. He wants to destroy your happiness. And if he eliminates me, you’re miserable again. He still thinks you belong to him.”
Nick buried his face in my neck, pulling me into his vice like grip. “I belong to you. We’ll hide…disappear until I can come up with a plan.”
I chuckled bitterly, falling against his chest. “Where are we going to hide that he can’t find us?”
“He has enemies. I’ll find other vampires to help me.” Nick was insistent. He was also completely petrified.
I pulled away from his arms, his face in my hand. “Sweetheart, you know what you need to do. You need to change me.”
###
Appendix
Italian Translations from the seventh chapter
Mi Scusi. Abbiamo prenotazioni per Hart. Abbiamo suite private al piano St Regis. = Excuse me. We have reservations for Hart. We have private suites on the St Regis floor.
Quattro suite, Signor Hart = Four suites, Mr. Hart
Si è verificato un errore. La suite extra per Miss Wood non è necessario. Essa rimarrà nella mia suite. Si prega di apportare le modifiche necessarie. = It is an error. The extra suite for Miss Wood is not necessary. She will remain in my suite. Please make the necessary changes.
Italian Translations from the ninth chapter
Buonanotte, Roma! = Goodnight, Rome!
About The Author
Alexandra Anthony lives in the Midwest. She enjoys a steamy romance, a happy ending and isn’t afraid of things that go bump in the night.
She is the author of two paranormal, erotic series: The Dark Hart Chronicles and The Vampire Destiny Series.
Fated (The Vampire Destiny Series Book #1)
Illusion (The Vampire Destiny Series Book #2)
Awakening (The Vampire Destiny Series Book #3)
To find out more, visit www.alexandra-anthony.com.
Excerpt from Fated (The Vampire Destiny Series Book #1)
Chapter 1
His long fingers twitched against mine as he fought not to touch me. He didn't move as I straddled his hips and let my breasts graze seductively against his cool chest. At any time he could have easily broken away from my tentative hold. He remained still, his jaw tight as my lips brushed against the corner of his mouth.
“Please. I want to do this,” I begged, gently squeezing his hands and slowly nibbling my teeth against the soft skin of his neck.
His low growl of approval vibrated against me as my lips blazed a trail down his throat and across his collarbone. I released his hands and placed them beside his legs, giving him a look that warned him to keep them there. He sat motionless, still watching every move I made with his piercing blue eyes.
Moving to stand between his legs, I leaned over to palm his thighs and whispered quietly against his ear. “Lean back.”
He moved his hands and braced them behind him. I traced my eyes over every inch of his long hard body, sweeping across his sculpted chest, down his finely muscled arms and finally stopping to rest on his toned abdomen.
He was magnificent. And he was completely mine.
Sinking to my knees, I swirled my tongue over his hip and dragged my lips across his stomach, gently kissing the head of his cock.
“Josephine,” he groaned.
My eyes flickered up, watching as his blond head fell back against his shoulders and his fingers dug into the covers behind him. His broad chest was heaving with panting breaths. Drunk with power, I licked my lips and sank my mouth down over his cock, my hands still gripping his thighs.
His hips involuntarily thrust against me as my lips moved over him, pulling him deeper and faster inside of my mouth. I groaned around him as I felt him twitch against my lips.
“Nog! Enough!” He growled deeply through gritted teeth. “Vackra, I do not want to come this way.”
Releasing him with a light pop, I let him fall from my mouth. Pushing lightly against his chest and forcing him back against the bed, I crawled slowly up the length of his body. Every inch of our skin was touching as I pressed against him. “Do you want to be inside of me when you come?”
He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. “Yes.”
“Do you want to make me come too?” I asked, nuzzling my nose against his cheek.
“Josephine....”
“Answer me. Do you want to touch me?” I brushed my lips against his as I spoke. His mouth parted and his tongue flickered out to lick across his lower lip. I knew all too well what that tongue
was capable of and I'd had enough of trying to control him. I wanted to lose myself in him and everything he had to offer.
“More than I can tell you. Jag vill begrava min kuk i dig. Jag vill att du ber för mig att sluta,” He muttered softly as he switched to speak in his native tongue.
Instead of kissing me, he opened his mind to me, revealing exactly what he wanted to do in explicit detail. He wanted to devour every part of me, bury himself inside of me until I screamed his name and begged for him to stop.
“Don't just show me what you want to do to me with your mind. Do it,” I whispered in challenge.
His large hands blurred to cup each side of my face, capturing my mouth in a kiss that was as raw and unapologetic as it was seductive. In a blur, he had flipped me on my back on the bed, his pale body looming over me.
“Josie!” I heard my name being called from a distance. The offending voice wasn't his, it was garbled and distorted. Choosing to ignore it, I focused back on him. My lips sought his again, his smile brief as our lips reconnected, wet and filled with need.
I felt a hand grasp my shoulder, slightly shaking me. He began to disappear around me, fading away before my eyes. I already mourned the loss of his mouth against mine and my skin cried out for him.
“Josie, wake up.” The insistent voice was back and was much clearer this time.
“No, come back. Don't leave me,” I murmured, frantically grasping at his fading form.
“I will see you again soon, vackra.” With those parting words, he completely disappeared.
My eyes flew open and I sat straight up with a strangled gasp and I felt as if my heart was going to pound out of my chest. Running my hands through my hair, my eyes darted around the room in search of him. I was disappointed to see my neighbor sitting on the edge of my bed, her face twisted in concern as she watched me hesitantly.
“Josie, you scared the crap outta me. Are you okay?” Georgia asked quietly. She leaned over to place her hand on my trembling arm.
“Uh, yeah. Give me a sec,” I stammered. I rubbed my face with my hands and tried to sort out my jumbled thoughts. I'd dreamed of him again. He was a beautiful, perfect fragment of my imagination.
When my head cleared, I focused my attention back on Georgia. She was still watching me nervously from her perch at the end of my bed.
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