All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire

by Kerrelyn Sparks

  Ian raised his arms, spreading his cape wide. “You doona believe in the existence of the Undead?”

  Toni bit her lip to keep from laughing. Ian’s fake Transylvanian accent still had a touch of Scottish in it.

  “Im-impossible,” Proctor breathed.

  Ian zoomed toward the desk at vampire speed. Proctor stumbled back and knocked against the bookcase.

  “Ye will believe.” Ian levitated into the air.

  Toni winced as his head almost bumped the ceiling. At least Proctor looked truly terrified as he cowered behind his desk. She just thought Ian looked incredibly cute.

  He dropped onto the desk, and with a flash, his eyes glowed a brighter blue and his fangs sprang out. Toni flinched. That wasn’t very cute.

  Proctor huddled on the floor, lifting his arms in a defensive posture. “Don’t hurt me. Please.”

  With a hiss, Ian flipped his cape back over his broad shoulders. Toni wobbled as her knees grew weak. Good grief, he was in full monster mode, and all she could think of was Bite me. How strange that the Malcontent attack had left her terrified and disgusted, while the thought of Ian biting her made her skin tingle with anticipation.

  Her face heated up, and she flushed all over, feeling the rush of blood through her veins. Rushing faster and faster as if it needed to escape, as if it were calling to him.

  Ian turned to look at her, and a surge of lust nearly knocked her off her feet. She gasped as the blue glow of his eyes turned red hot. Oh God, he knew she was turned on.

  She stepped back, lifting a hand to her throat. Her heart beat wildly. Her thighs squeezed together with sudden, hot need. Good grief, no wonder women had offered him blood over the centuries.

  Ian turned back to the trembling doctor, huddled on the floor. He reached out his right arm, and Proctor flinched as if an invisible force had struck him.

  “Ye are under my control.” Ian’s eyes glowed an intense blue, and Toni realized he was using mind control. “Ye are lowly, and I am yer master.”

  “You are lowly, and I am your master,” Proctor whispered, his eyes wide and glazed.

  Ian grimaced. “Nay. I am the master.”

  “You are the master,” Proctor said.

  Toni stifled a grin. Ian wasn’t very good at being an evil monster. No wonder she adored him.

  “Listen and obey,” Ian ordered. “Ye’ll never steal from Sabrina again. Ye’ll never interfere in her life. Ye’ll be an honorable uncle to her. Do ye understand?”

  “Yes, Master.”

  Ian turned to Toni. “Anything else?”

  “Call off the police,” she whispered.

  Ian extended his arm again. “Ye’ll cease yer search for Sabrina and Teddy. Ye’ll tell the police it was all a mistake. Ye’ll fill out the proper release forms. Ye’ll never gamble again. And ye’ll pay off yer debts, using yer own resources.”

  Proctor nodded. “Yes, Master.”

  Ian jumped down from the desk to stand beside the doctor. “Ye’ll tell no one about this night. I know how to find you, Joseph Proctor.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  “Are you done?” Carlos asked at the entrance, his arms full of Bri’s belongings.

  The maid looked curiously at Ian.

  “One more thing.” Ian turned to Proctor. “Ye will treat yer maid with respect.” He laid his hand on Proctor’s head, and the doctor slumped into a deep sleep.

  “Thank you, señor.” Maria crossed herself, then led them to the back door. “Is Sabrina okay?”

  “Yes,” Toni told her. “Thank you for your help.”

  “Gracias.” Carlos kissed the maid’s cheek.

  Maria giggled as she shut the door.

  “You were wonderful!” Toni hugged Ian. “Thank you.”

  He smiled and kissed her brow.

  “Get a room,” Carlos muttered as he strode to his car. He dumped Bri’s stuff in the trunk.

  Ian held Toni’s hand as they walked back to Carlos’s car. “Zoltan and Jack will be arriving before dawn. There’s no’ enough room for everyone at Romatech, so we’ll go back to the townhouse for our death-sleep.”

  “Are you sure it’ll be safe there?” Toni asked.

  “It’ll be safe during the day,” Ian answered. “The Malcontents will be as dead as we are. And Howard will spend the day there. Carlos, too.”

  “All right.” Toni stopped next to Carlos’s Jaguar. “Coming with us, Dracula?”

  “I’ll see you later, sweetheart.” He vanished.

  But she didn’t see him later. After Carlos drove her back to Romatech, and they told Sabrina and Teddy the good news, Bri immediately wanted to go home and see Vanderkitty. Then, with everyone at Toni’s and Bri’s apartment, they ordered in Chinese food and celebrated.

  Howard had asked Carlos to start his security job right away, so Carlos packed some clothes to take to the townhouse. Toni packed some more of hers. She was nervous about leaving Bri alone, so Teddy offered to stay overnight at the apartment.

  It was ten P.M. by the time Carlos and Toni arrived at Roman Draganesti’s townhouse on the Upper East Side, and it took thirty more minutes for Carlos to inspect and admire each room. He chose the bedroom next to Toni’s for his own.

  “This is perfect for me, menina.” He ran his hand appreciatively over the bed’s wood and wrought-iron footboard. “I love this Spanish decor.”

  “I believe the room belonged to a medieval Spanish lady named Maria Consuela,” Toni said.

  “What happened to her?” Carlos hefted his suitcase onto the red velvet bedspread.

  Toni tried to remember what Dougal had told her about the former harem when she’d moved in more than a week ago. She’d been so insulted by the idea of a harem that she’d tuned out half of what he’d said. “My room belonged to some medieval chick called Princess Joanna. She and Maria Consuela weren’t too thrilled about being co-owners of the Horny Devils, so they sold their shares to Vanda and moved back to Europe. London, I think.”

  Carlos unzipped his suitcase and began removing clothes. “I have to thank you, girlfriend. This is the best possible job for me. Howard said they’ll work around my remaining classes so I can finish my master’s.”

  “That’s great.” Toni eyed the pile of bikini underwear Carlos had piled up. One was spotted like a leopard, and another was striped like a tiger.

  “And they’ll work around my research trips, too. I would never find another employer that understanding.”

  “Well, the Vamps know how much they need mortals they can trust.” Not that Carlos was entirely mortal. Carlos Panterra. Toni mentally slapped herself on the brow. She should have known. She winced when he set another item on the bed. Good grief. Those were the biggest nail clippers she’d ever seen.

  “It’s just so wonderful, menina. I’ve always had to keep my secret…well, secret, you know. But with this job, I am free to be myself. In fact, being a shape shifter actually adds to my value. And I’ve found a home for my orphans.”

  Toni smiled. “I’m very happy for them. And you.”

  Carlos skirted the bed and hugged her. “Thank you so much.”

  “Thank you, Carlos. You’ve always been a great friend.” She resisted the urge to pet him behind the ears. The guy was practically purring. “I’ll let you settle in. We have to be up before sunrise, you know.” She moved toward the door.

  He grabbed a stack of clothes and headed for the dark, ornately carved wooden dresser. “What are you going to do, menina? Will you stay with Ian or go back to Sabrina?”

  That was the question of the day. Toni fingered the heart pendant on her chest. “I’m hoping that it won’t be an either/or situation. That Sabrina will come around in time.”

  Carlos nodded. “Sometimes you must dare to believe.”

  Toni went to her bedroom, repeating those words to herself. Dare to believe. She loved Bri, and she loved Ian. She had to believe it would all work out.

  She overslept in the morning, and didn’t wake until sh
e heard Carlos banging on her door.

  “I’ll be right down,” she called out. Damn, damn, damn. She hated these early mornings. She rushed through her shower and threw on her uniform. She was hurrying down the stairs, pulling her damp ponytail through a scrunchie, when she spotted Zoltan Czakvar and Giacomo di Venezia, aka Jack, coming up the stairs.

  “Bellissima, you are as lovely as ever.” Jack bowed.

  Boy was he full of it. Toni appreciated the compliment, but she knew her male uniform was baggy and ugly, and she was wearing very little makeup. “You guys retiring for the night—I mean, day?”

  “Yes. We’ll be in guest rooms on the fourth floor,” Zoltan said. Between his yawn and his Hungarian accent, he was hard to understand.

  “Bellissima, will you check on me personally?” Jack’s brown eyes twinkled.

  “If you like. Sure.”

  “Molto bene. Ciao, bellissima.” Jack started up another flight of stairs.

  Zoltan trudged behind him. “You’re planning to sleep in the nude, aren’t you?”

  Jack chuckled.

  Toni rolled her eyes, then ran down the stairs. Hopefully, Ian was still awake. In the foyer, she met Dougal and Phineas heading down to the basement.

  Phineas yawned. “Good night, sweetness.”

  “Good night. Or morning.” These guys were confusing her. “Have you seen Ian?”

  “Already gone to bed.” Dougal shut the cellar door behind him.

  Too late. Dammit. It was hard having a boyfriend on the graveyard shift. She trudged into the kitchen.

  “Good morning.” Howard sat smiling at the kitchen table, munching on a bear claw.

  Doughnuts, again? If she kept eating those, she’d be as big as a bear. She noticed Carlos was spooning something from a bowl into his mouth. It looked a bit healthier. “What are you eating? Meow Mix?”

  Howard snorted with laughter, while Carlos gave her a bland look.

  Toni smiled sweetly. “I hear they have a new anti-hairball formula.”

  “It’s cereal.” Carlos showed her the box.

  “Hmm, Special K for kitties? Can I have some?” She fetched a bowl.

  “If you’ll stop being catty,” Carlos grumbled.

  “Sorry.” She patted him on the head. She knew she was being ornery. She was just so disappointed about not seeing Ian. It would be a long, long time till sundown.

  After breakfast, she offered to go check on him. “Is he on the fifth floor?”

  “Yes.” Howard finished his cup of tea. With extra honey, no doubt. “What do you say, Carlos? Are you up to a martial arts session? I want to see how well you can fight.”

  “You’re on.” Carlos and Howard headed down the basement stairs, while Toni started the long climb to the fifth floor.

  She was breathing a bit heavily by the time she reached the fifth-floor office. The room was dark, the aluminum shutters closed. An empty blood bottle sat in the sink at the wet bar. Ian must have had a snack before going to bed.

  She opened the double doors leading into the bedroom. Light spilled from the partially closed bathroom.

  “You left the light on. Shame on you.” She approached the left side of the bed.

  Ian was lying there in his white T-shirt and plaid flannel pajama bottoms. He’d folded back the tan suede comforter to lie on the cool cotton sheets. His black hair was loose from its leather thong and made a dramatic contrast to the white pillowcase.

  He was in the usual position he assumed for his death-sleep. Flat on his back, big feet pointed to the ceiling, hands clasped neatly over his flat stomach. He’d probably learned this position from centuries of sleeping in a coffin.

  Toni did a double take to the area below his clasped hands. There was a definite bulge in his pajama bottoms. She leaned over for a closer look. Good grief, he’d fallen into his death-sleep with a hard-on. Was it possible for a stiff to be that stiff?

  She straightened with a deep breath. “Naughty boy,” she whispered and glanced at his handsome face. A shadow of dark whiskers lined his strong jaw. His black eyelashes were so thick. She would hate him if she didn’t love him so much. She reached out to touch the cute dimple in his chin.

  His eyes suddenly opened. She jumped. A hand locked around her wrist in a tight grip. She gasped.

  “Surprise.” He seized her by the arms and rolled her onto the bed.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  He’d certainly surprised her. She lay on the bed, her bonnie mouth dropped open. He rolled onto his side to face her and propped himself up on an elbow.

  “You—you’re not dead,” she whispered.

  He smiled. “No’ at the moment.”

  “How? You took that drug? The Stay-Awake drug?”

  “Aye. I know where it’s hidden.”

  She sat up. “But Ian, it makes you grow older.”

  “One year for each day.” He shrugged one shoulder. “So I’ll look twenty-eight instead of twenty-seven.”

  Her mouth fell open again. “You were willing to age a year?”

  “To spend a day with you, aye.”

  “That’s so sweet.” She stretched out, facing him. “But are you sure you should be sweet? I mean, you’re awake, and the bad guys are asleep.”

  His smile widened. She was as much a warrior as he was. “So ye want to slaughter them while they’re unable to defend themselves?”

  She winced. “I realize it’s not a very honorable thing to do, but they would do it to you in a second.”

  “Aye, they would, so we’ll have to make sure they never get that drug.” He reached out to brush a tendril of damp hair off her cheek. “Actually, I would be tempted to kill them all and be done with this mess, but they have about twenty Russian mafia guys guarding them with high-powered assault rifles.”

  “Oh.” She made a face. “That would be nasty.”

  “Aye, verra nasty. Ever since Roman visited them during the day, they’ve been extra vigilant.” He trailed a finger along the line of her jaw. “And then there’s the problem of me burning to a crisp if I go out in the sun.”

  “I guess we’ll have to stay inside.”

  “Aye.” He skimmed his finger over her ear.

  “I guess we could think of something to pass the time.” Her eyes twinkled as she glanced at his pajama bottoms. “It looks like you’ve been thinking ahead of me.”

  He smiled wryly. “A man should never be unprepared.”

  It was true that while he lay in bed, waiting for her to arrive, he’d grown aroused just thinking about making love to her. He knew his eyes were turning red now. A red tint shaded the room, making Toni’s skin look pink and ripe with blood. It would be a challenge to keep control. He’d purposely filled up with synthetic blood to make it easier.

  The way she’d looked at him when he’d unleashed all his Vamp power in Dr. Proctor’s library—that had stretched his control to the max. He’d heard her heart racing. He’d smelled the scent of her arousal. He’d wanted to leap on her and sink his fangs into her neck.

  His gums tingled, and he collapsed on his back, squeezing his eyes shut. Control. He didn’t dare make love to her if he couldn’t control himself.

  “Are you all right?” she whispered.

  “I doona want to influence you in any way. If ye stay in my bed, it should be yer decision. But know that I will make love to you.”

  “Well, I was sorta counting on that.” Her voice sounded muffled, then something soft fell on his face.

  He brushed it aside and opened his eyes. There was a navy polo shirt in his hand. Her shirt. She sat beside him, sliding her bra straps off her shoulders. The heart pendant he’d given her was nestled between her breasts.

  “Are ye certain?”

  “Do I look uncertain?” She flung her bra on the floor.

  He pounced, pushing her onto her back. “I love a decisive woman.”

  She smiled. “I love an aggressive man.”

  He splayed a hand around her rib cage. “I know ye havena k
nown me for verra long.”

  “But I’ve waited for you for years.”

  “For centuries. I think my heart recognized you the verra first night we met. It just took a few more nights for my brain to catch up.”

  She touched his face. “I was the same way.”

  He skimmed his hand up to cover her breast. “I want ye to know that I’ll be faithful. I love ye dearly. That will never change.”

  “Oh, Ian.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, too.”

  He leaned down to kiss her lips. They were soft and moist, and they opened sweetly. He swirled his tongue inside, exploring and tasting. She quivered beneath him, so fragile in her mortality but so strong with passion. She was everything he wasn’t. Everything he craved. Life and light. Pure and good.

  Her tongue skimmed along his teeth, then swirled bravely around the sharp point of one of his fangs. He groaned. Did she know how badly she was flirting with danger? She pressed her tongue against the point.

  With a sharp breath, he broke the kiss. Her skin, her neck, her breasts—they all looked pink and delicious through his red-tinted eyes.

  “By all the saints, I want you.” He trailed kisses down her throat to her breasts. Her pounding heart echoed in his ears, pounding faster and accelerating the flames of his passion. He scooped a hand behind her back and lifted her rib cage in the air. Her back arched, pressing her breasts against his mouth. With a moan, she flung her arms to the side, as if surrendering her body to his needs.

  And he needed her. Every inch of her. He nibbled and suckled on her plump nipples till the tips grew hard in his mouth. He sucked on one and pinched the other one lightly. When he tugged on both, she gasped.

  “Oh, please.” She grasped his T-shirt and pulled.

  He yanked his T-shirt over his head and threw it. Then he unbuckled the belt around her hips and attacked the waistband and zipper of her khaki trousers. “Bloody hell, I never thought I’d be removing a pair of men’s pants.”

  She laughed and tried to help him by lifting her hips in the air. He groaned at the sight. He tugged her pants down to her ankles, but was halted by her athletic shoes. With a quick flick of his wrists, they went flying into the air. Her socks and trousers followed.