John couldn’t have heard Barnet correctly. To find someone like Sarah and then not be able to keep her? It was some kind of sick joke. Or maybe it was the curse of being a vampire.
“John.”
Barnet’s worried tone caused John to look up. Barnet stood and moved toward Sarah, who was wavering in her stance.
“Sarah.” John grabbed her around the waist before she fell.
Tears streamed down her face and she gripped his arm. “Tell me it’s not true.”
He helped her back onto the couch and held her close while she cried. If he could, he’d be crying right along with her. Barnet might as well have ripped his heart from his chest.
“I’m sorry. I can only imagine how hard this information is to take, but I thought it was better to be blunt. If it’s any consolation, Katarina and Justin are just as upset. The Committee is currently searching for similar cases in other countries, although, I think if there were any, we would have heard about them. There has to be something we’re missing because if the story is true, and it’s beginning to seem that way, I find it hard to believe a Perfect Mate cannot become immortal.”
John held her and stroked her hair, calming himself as much as soothing her. “So what now? Do I feed from her every day to keep the vampires away? I’d end up killing her.”
“Katarina believed the same thing, but so far Justin isn’t showing any ill effects. I’d guess you wouldn’t have to go to that extreme since there aren’t any other vampires around here.”
“Are you forgetting the vampire controlling Steven and possibly Ray?”
“That I did. But from what you told me, it has to be a female because I believe a male would have taken Sarah by now.”
“And you’ve had no luck?”
Barnet shook his head. “No. I wish I had better news.” He rose. “I’ll leave you two alone. But one more thing. I’m trying to keep a lid on this Perfect Mate business. Until we have more information, I don’t need every unattached vampire going out half-cocked looking for the impossible. We’re liable to have ourselves one big mess then.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” John said.
“I suppose you’re right. Guess I should be having this conversation with Perry.” Barnet groaned and shook his head. “I’ll see myself out.”
After Barnet left, Sarah broke down again.
“Hey.” He held her face and wiped the tears away. “I’m not giving up hope and you shouldn’t either. That’s just one case, it might be different with you. Besides, you agreed to wait a year anyway. A lot can happen.”
Her voice hitched. “But what if I’m not different. What if there isn’t anything. I’ll get old and you won’t.”
“You don’t worry about that. I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me. You hear?”
He kissed her deeply, tasting her tears. She possessed him body and soul and no amount of time would ever change that. If it came down to it, he’d prove it, but hoped he’d never have to. For now he would make her forget and show her how much she meant to him.
* * * *
Something brushed across Sarah’s lips. Opening her eyes meant waking up and since she didn’t want to do that, she swiped at her mouth, but nothing was there. Must have been a dream. Then it happened again. She opened her eyes to a darkened room. John smiled as he gave her another light kiss on the lips.
“Mmm, good morning,” she murmured.
She was determined to make it one, too, especially since John had spent all last night doing whatever he could to help her forget Barnet’s words. Live in the now and enjoy it. Why fret over stuff she couldn’t control?
Kissing a trail from her mouth to her neck, he said, “Good morning to you, too, sleepyhead. It’s almost six-thirty. I hope you don’t mind me waking you a little early.”
Hell, with a wake-up call like that, he could wake her early every morning. Who needed sleep? Oh wait, she did.
He pulled the sheet away and exposed her naked body. The coolness of the room gave her a slight chill and a few goose bumps. He kissed his way to her breast and lightly licked her nipple, opening the floodgates to her sex and heating her up. She gasped. How had he managed to turn her on so quickly? After kissing his way down her stomach, he lingered at her belly button before he slowly worked his way back up to her other breast and suckled that one. She arched into him, wanting more.
“What are you doing?” Well, she knew what he was doing, just not why and she was almost not caring either way, it felt so good.
He spread her legs and positioned himself between them—“I’m having breakfast”—then kissed his way back down her belly.
Having breakfast? Since when did he—oh hell. She pulled away and tried to close her thighs, but he held her tight.
“Relax, will you? God, you smell wonderful.” He ran his tongue over her folds. “Taste good, too.”
Not hard to believe since his experiences transferred to her, but relax? He was kidding, right? His ministrations were sending her over the edge of that huge cliff called orgasm. Didn’t hurt that he knew exactly where to lick and suck. Why wouldn’t he if he could experience what she felt? He flicked her clit with his tongue while fingering her insides, rubbing the perfect spot. The man was too good. She tensed every muscle, her nerve endings on fire. Before her world exploded, she grabbed her pillow and put it over her face.
The climax ripped through her and she screamed with ecstasy. Even John moaned.
He removed the pillow from her face and said, panting, “Damn. It’s like waking from a wet dream.” He grabbed some tissues from her nightstand and cleaned himself. “I might have problems taking your blood, but I certainly love the side effects.”
“Tell me about it,” she said and laughed. “How am I supposed to get ready for work now when I don’t even want to get out of bed?”
John tossed the tissues in the trash before snuggling in beside her. After brushing the hair from her face, he leaned over and gave her a proper good morning kiss, making her tingle all the way to her toes. How could her body be craving him again? Was it never satisfied?
Moving his lips to her neck, he said, “I’m sure you’ll manage. At least you don’t have to run back home.”
She was sure he was only joking, but it didn’t stop the guilt from forming. “You know, you could drive home and I could take the bus to work.”
John lifted his head and frowned. “Sarah…I was only teasing. I told you, I don’t need the car. Quit feeling guilty.” He glanced at the clock, sat up and scooted toward the edge of the bed, but stopped and gave her another kiss. “God, you taste good, but I do need to get going.”
She rose up on her elbows and ogled him while he slipped on his jeans. Too bad he wasn’t undressing, though. Then again, she’d get to see that after work, which reminded her… “By the way, I’ll be late tonight.”
He picked up a shoe. “You got a meeting?”
“With a client at six-thirty, at the coffee shop around the corner.”
He spun around, frowning. “It’s not at your work? Don’t you usually meet your clients there?”
Now he was giving her the willies. “It’s not uncommon for me to meet at an owner’s establishment and it was the only time she could meet. Should I be worried?”
His face softened. “I’m sorry. I’m being overprotective. Again. But if you don’t mind, I’d like to be at that coffee shop waiting for you.”
“Okay, but I really have no idea how long I’ll be.”
“Doesn’t matter. Okay? It’ll make me feel better.”
“Well…as long as it makes you feel better.”
“Was that sass? Were you sassing me?” He bent down and tickled her in the ribs.
Laughter burst out of her and she couldn’t stop. The guy was relentless. “I give. Please. Just stop.”
But his tickles turned more sensuous and the next thing she knew, his jeans were off and he was in her. Ah yes, the perfect way to start a day.