The trip to Urbana was shorter than Sarah expected. Forty miles should have taken nearly an hour, since the route was comprised mostly of minor thoroughfares. Instead, John arrived in under thirty minutes. Talk about a lead foot. And keen eyesight. And maybe that controlling bit. Geez, no wonder vampires had never been discovered.
He turned onto a driveway and she squinted through the window. She’d assumed he lived in a normal neighborhood, but driveways this long didn’t exist in normal neighborhoods. How big was his place? It certainly was secluded enough. Trees lined both sides of the driveway for what seemed like forever, but lights up ahead told her they were almost there. Anticipation nearly caused her to jump up and down in her seat. When he drove into a clearing, her jaw dropped.
What kind of trick had he played? How was this place just a house with a yard and a garage? She had pictured the kind she grew up in—a one-story ranch—not a castle, and how could that not be a castle what with a two-story turret out front?
“John, you’ve been holding out on me,” she said as she unbuckled the seatbelt. “This place is huge. It’s beautiful. How could you not live here all the time?”
He shrugged as he undid his belt. “I got lonely out here by myself.”
Well, the place was isolated, probably a perfect vampire hideaway, but without any family… Maybe someday she could be his family. She wouldn’t mind living here.
She’d hopped out of the Bumblebee and headed toward the home when she spotted the covered porch. She stopped and clutched her chest. How many times had she dreamed of having such a place to sit outside and read? She ran, anticipating all the wonderful things she would discover, but halfway there she remembered their luggage, and her manners. She pulled a one-eighty and plowed into John.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. He grabbed her shoulders and held her upright. “Sorry,” she said. “I came back to help with the luggage.”
“It’ll wait,” he said, grinning. He turned her toward the house. “Come on. You’re anxious to see it, so let’s go see it.”
Sarah stepped up to the porch. “It has a swing?” Those afternoon reading sessions were looking like a strong possibility. Except John wouldn’t be able to join her. Her jubilation deflated a bit. “Maybe when it’s warmer we can sit out here at night?”
He hugged her from behind. “I’d like that. And you could always come out and enjoy the sun, too.” He placed a kiss atop her head and then opened the front door. She walked inside, but after he shut the door, she became blind. She put her hands out to keep from hitting anything.
“Sorry,” he said. “I keep forgetting.”
A light came on and the brightness caused her to shield her eyes for a moment. She stood and stared at the curving staircase. The mahogany handrail gleamed. “Bet you slid down the banister when you were a boy, huh?”
“Not if I wanted to keep my hide.”
Hmm, she didn’t believe he hadn’t attempted it at least once.
“Over to the right is the dining room,” he said as he pointed. Curtains covered the curved windows of the empty room, but not a speck of dust could be seen. “As you can probably guess, it doesn’t get much use.”
She found him grinning at her. “I’m sure there are lots of rooms you don’t use. The kitchen? The bedrooms?”
He nodded. “Yep, don’t really have a need for them anymore.”
No wonder he didn’t live here, too big and empty for one person.
“What’s over here?” she asked, indicating the room to the left. She gravitated to the huge stone fireplace and pictured a roaring fire and maybe a bearskin rug lying in front. Did they even make those anymore? She’d find something soft and furry.
“The living room.”
One lone couch occupied the wall across from the fireplace and thick drapes covered the windows. She pulled back a panel and discovered plywood. “Are all the windows like this?”
“They are down here. I have foil covering the upstairs windows. I hope all this darkness doesn’t depress you.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.” As long as she was with him, she didn’t think anything could. “What else you got?”
He led her toward the back. On the right, she passed the largest kitchen she’d ever seen. What a waste. The little breakfast nook would have looked cute with a round country table and chairs filling the spot; instead it stood barren. The room on the left contained another turret.
Definitely a castle.
“I can see where you spend your time,” she said. The family room contained a huge selection of electronics. The TV, which she swore was larger than the one he owned in his apartment, rested inside the turret. In the cabinet underneath, he’d stored every conceivable game console, and maybe a DVD player for good measure.
“Yeah, well, what can I say?”
“Do you use the upstairs at all?” Did he even have any beds?
“The shower is upstairs, but don’t worry, a bedroom is clean and ready for you. Come on.” He took her hand and pulled her along up the stairs.
At the top, he stopped in front of the door across the hall, to the right of the landing. He placed his hand on the knob. “This was my parents’ room. I thought you might enjoy using this one.”
He swung the door open and she stepped inside. A large four-poster bed greeted her first and when she bounced on the mattress, she spotted the fireplace situated between the closet and bathroom. Hello, God. She was in heaven. “Oh, John! It’s lovely.”
More curtains covered the turreted windows in the far corner. Even without the view or light, the area would make a great sitting room. She entered the bathroom. Damn thing was larger than the kitchen in her apartment. And the tub? Big enough for two people.
He came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her. “I remodeled this room a few years ago. You don’t think I overdid it, do you?”
She leaned against his chest and reveled in his closeness. Something she’d been missing since…forever. Now it was just the two of them, alone, and she was healthy. Her poor, excited heart was probably giving everything away and if he didn’t know what she had planned next, he was an idiot.
Her idiot, though.
She turned in his arms and gazed into his glimmering blue eyes. A strand of hair partially covered one eye and as she brushed it away she continued running her hand to the back of his head. His silky hair slipped through her fingers and she nearly fisted it. Instead, she pulled him toward her. He didn’t resist.
A sensuous charge raced through her the moment their lips touched. She grasped his shoulder, afraid she might swoon, but he compensated just fine. With one hand, he grabbed her butt and pulled her close, pressing up against her and driving her crazy with need, while he held the back of her head with his other hand. He sought entrance with his tongue and she obliged. God, he tasted good.
Time to get him naked.
* * * *
John had been afraid Sarah would reject him. Instead, he held a wildcat in his arms.
Her blouse had disappeared somewhere and she tugged on his shirt. He pulled away enough so he could remove it. With his shirt sailing through the air, she slid her fingers over his chest and played with his nipples. He nearly popped out of his jeans.
This was happening now. Was she ready? Was he? She kissed him again, wiping the questions away. All he’d wanted was her, under him, since the first night he saw her. He broke the kiss and before she could say anything, scooped her up and carried her to the bed. After kicking off his shoes, he climbed in and lay beside her. He traced the contours of her face and stared into her beautiful green eyes before he leaned in to taste her sweet mouth again. He couldn’t get enough. When she unbuttoned his jeans and brushed against his burgeoning erection, his cock jerked and he hissed in a breath. Sweet Jesus. He held her hands and stopped her. If she touched him… Damn, he wanted this to last.
“Me first, please,” John said. Sarah nodded and let him continue.
Slowly, he ran his hand down her taut stomach, discovering the huge bruise across her chest and tiny, older scars scattered over her belly. Gently touching the bruise he asked, “Does it hurt?”
She shook her head and said, “No, not anymore.”
“What are these from?” One larger, jagged scar started from under her slacks and ended at her belly button.
She brought her hands over her stomach. “I fell and took a mirror with me.”
Fell? No, pushed. Damn, she could have easily died along with her baby. His heart ached all over again for her loss. He bent down and, after pushing her hands away, slowly kissed the bruise and each scar, her warmth spreading throughout his body. She arched up to meet him. When he finished, he looked up, smiling. “Remind me to kiss that seat belt, too.”
She laughed, but when he removed her bra and fondled her breasts, her laughter died with a gasp. He sucked on one perfect nipple, flicking it with his tongue. Moaning, she ran her fingers through his hair, leaving trails of heat. God, he wanted her now. He quickly removed her slacks and panties and then paused as another scent intoxicated him: her arousal. His fangs emerged.
Damn it. He shucked his own pants while he willed his teeth to retract. Maybe one day he could bite her, but not their first time and certainly not without her permission.
Once his fangs retreated, he climbed on the bed and admired her. How had he gotten so damn lucky? She was beautiful. And all his. He ran his hands up her calves, so soft, so warm. When he reached the apex of her thighs and stared at her sex, she tensed. He bent down for a taste but his fangs returned. Damn it all to hell! Maybe next time he could take his time with her. That’s if he could ever control the stupid things.
He kissed his way up and hovered over one lovely breast. Unwilling to risk another fang appearance, he settled for licking one nub while he massaged the other between his finger and thumb. As he lay over her, the luxurious heat returned, especially when she ran her hands down his back. He moved up and nuzzled her neck. Her artery thumped as if in anticipation. Hell, so did his heart.
He positioned himself to enter and paused. What if he was too big? What if she was too small? Or worse yet, what if he lost control?
“What is it?” she asked.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
She caressed his face. “You won’t. I’m ready for you.”
As if to prove it, she arched up. That little touch set off a spark and propelled him forward. He thrust inside her. Heat. Moisture. Tightness. She encased him in pleasure. He’d never felt anything so mind-blowing. So perfect.
She licked his nipple and grabbed his ass, getting him hotter. He drove into her as she opened wider for him.
She gripped him harder and tensed beneath him. Her breaths came in short puffs. He kissed her just as she came, her moans filling his mouth, her body trembling in release, milking him for all he was worth.
An explosion of erotic proportions ripped through him. He cried out as he spilled into her. His home. His everything.
Once he recovered, he lifted up and found her crying. His heart clenched as his worst fears were confirmed. “Sarah? Oh God, I hurt you.”
He moved to slide off her, but she held him close. Wiping her eyes, she shook her head, but more tears flowed.
“What is it, then? Why are you crying?” He brushed her tears away.
“I never knew it could be like this, John. I never realized.” She put her arms around his neck and held onto him. “I love you so much.”
Relief flowed through him. Happy tears. He could handle happy tears. After wrapping his arms around her, he flipped over so he was on bottom. He nuzzled her neck. “I know what you mean. It’s like you were meant for me. I love you, too, Sarah. Forever and with all my heart.”
* * * *
Sarah rested her head on John’s chest, enjoying the sound of his beating heart while she recovered from the best sex ever.
John was perfect. She’d thought he might feel cold, but he’d matched her temperature almost immediately. In fact, he kept her warm. How that was possible when he didn’t generate any heat she didn’t know, but she wouldn’t complain.
She stared at his nipple. It teased her. Heck, he teased her. She could go for another round, but he probably needed recharging or something. Didn’t all men? She ran her hand over his smooth chest and his nipple hardened at the touch. Ah, couldn’t let the other one feel left out, so she flicked her tongue over the nub next to her mouth. A hardening under her thigh brought her head up.
Then again, he wasn’t like all men. His beautiful blue eyes practically glowed at her.
Boldly, she ran her hand down his stomach and grasped his growing penis. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. She’d known he was big, but goodness.
“Unless you’re prepared for another round, I’d stop if I were you.”
She smiled. “You don’t need to recover?”
He opened his eyes and stared at her. “Apparently not.”
Life couldn’t get any better. Well, it could if he turned her, but she wouldn’t bring that up. Not yet. She kissed him instead. “Well, then, get ready for round two.”
“As you wish.” He held her tight and sat up.
With ease, he lifted her by her hips and placed her over his erection, filling her. She nearly came right then and there.
Love, vampire style. Oh yeah.