To quell the public’spanic, Stark had then announced that their kind had enacted new laws prohibiting killing humans, which brought me to my now ranty truth…
Stark feared I’d kill someone and didn’t want me to face the consequences. Death. And him being a very powerful vampire—maybe even the most powerful in the world—he’d likely be the one to put me down. Killing me would be the last thing he’d want.
See, Masie. This all makes perfect sense.He loved me, and I had to stop doubting him.
There was a knock on the door, and I went to answer it.
Standing outside on the walkway, Stark’s six-foot-three frame came into view. He wore an elegant black tuxedo, his long dark hair neatly pulled back, exposing his angular jawline and refined cheekbones.
My girly parts purred like a cat looking for scratch. “Wowy, wow. Don’t you look handsome.” Somehow he seemed even taller in the suit—something about those sleek, tailored lines.
He looked me over and came inside, placing a kiss on my hand. “Andyoulook so divine I could eat you.”
“I’m not gonna say no to that.” He was a masterful lover, and that included licking the bean.
He released my hand. “Are you ready for that tour now?”
“Did you tell all your guards to make themselvesscarce? That’s why you ran off earlier, isn’t it? You didn’t want me to find out that I’m right. I am not free to leave.”
His ice-blue eyes turned to a dark green. “I do not know what you mean, Masie.”
I always said his eyes were like a mood ring. In this case, I deduced he was lying, which I let slide. I’d already decided I had to trust his reasons for bringing me here.
“I’m starvin’. Think we could eat before the tour?” I placed my hand over my growling stomach. I wasn’t sure what would be on the menu tonight, but I was hoping for more of that moonshine. A huge pile of carne asada tacos would be even better, but giving up human food had been the price for staying alive.
“Ah. Yes,” Stark said. “I anticipated you might require nourishment to tide you over before dinner.” He pulled a flask from his coat pocket.
I snatched it with my greedy hands, unscrewed the silver top, and gave it a whiff.Moonshine. Thank God.I slugged down the chilled, strawberry-sweet liquid and then gave the container a little suck until nothing more came out.
With a sigh, I handed back the flask. “I’m still hungry.”
“I know, my love. I know. However, you must learn to battle your hunger, to dominate it. Your survival depends on absolute discipline ofyour desire for blood.”
Screw that. I needed food! “If I could just have some more—get my head straight—”
“No.” He tucked the flask inside his coat and cupped my cheek. “Masie,” he said tenderly, “I have been through the change myself. I have watched countless others try and fail. Only those who have a firm handle on their urges survive. And if anything happened to you…” He bent his head and pressed his mouth to mine. His tongue swept over my lips, and I opened up to him, allowing the moment to pull me in. His kisses were the complete package. Toe tingles, heart racing, nipples pearling.
He pulled away.
“How do you do that?” I said, needing to catch my breath.
“Practice.”
I narrowed my eyes, once again hating the thought of his mouth on someone else’s. “You mean with your pillow or the back of your hand. Right?”
He chuckled. “Of course.”
“Thought so.”
“Now, are you ready to see your home for the next several months?”
My jaw dropped. “You said we’d be here for a month.”
“No. I said the most difficult part of your transformation will be the first month.”
He had not said that. Who did he think he was fooling? “You said that after a month you wanted to get married—”
“I said that if you survive, I would like us to marry; however, that does not mean the work stops after four weeks or that we would marry immediately.”
