Who the hell was knocking this early? Mia rolled out of bed and put on her robe. Her balance was still unsteady.
The familiar voice called out from the other side as she approached. “Good Morning, Miss Starr. It’s Detective Gonela. I’m here to watch over you. Are you going anywhere today?”
She opened all the locks, except the chain, and cracked open the door. “Not until later—around six.” The detective looked at her, and his eyes scanned her up and down.
“No work today?” he asked with a grin.
“I’m calling in sick.”
“I thought so. I’ll be here if you need me.” He nodded his head, and she closed the door. She walked over to the phone and called in sick at the gas station. She was glad she wasn’t scheduled at the funeral home.
She shuffled across the floor to the kitchen for some water. Her eyes noticed a piece of paper on the table wrapped around something. She got a glass of water, never taking her eyes off the piece of paper. She sat down and, as she unrolled it, a piece of a red rock fell out and bounced onto the table.
She picked up the rock in one hand and rolled its jagged shape between her fingers, then read the words on the paper. She couldn’t help but drop a couple of tears, staining the paper where they fell. She read it again, trying to file it into memory.
Here is the first piece of brick we chipped from the wall around your heart last night.
Cole.
She gave the rock a closer look and began to smile. The man paid attention to detail. It was an actual piece of red brick. She did feel better. She had told him things she had never told anyone else, and it’d felt good.
Her thoughts returned to his eyes when he was on the balcony. He looked so sad, so empty. She remembered he’d said something about being able to feel her because of the blood she swallowed. Was he feeling me? She didn’t see how it was possible because it wasn’t even a lot of blood.
She decided to jump in the shower and wash the drunk off her skin, then she wanted to do some research about vampires on the computer.
After she scrubbed the alcohol stink from her body, she stood in front of the computer, sipping her coffee. She sat down and Googled “swallowing vampire blood.” She couldn’t believe all the results that appeared. What could she trust to be true?
She read all the information she could, absorbing it, not knowing where reality stopped and role-playing games began. When she looked up from her computer, she noticed hours had passed. Her brain was jumbled with information overload. Some of the stuff was way off the charts with weird sex acts and cults that drank human blood. Mia would have to go to the source for her answers. She knew if she asked Cole questions about himself, he would be honest.
She powered down the computer and readied to leave. She always felt closer to her roots when she went to her mom’s house, so she dressed accordingly—a pair of jeans, a simple dark blue shirt, and a pair of black cowboy boots. It was already going on six when she slid her keys in her pocket and opened the door.
Detective Gonela was waiting on the other side. “My shift is over, Mia. I am leaving now.”
“Okay. Thank you, Detective.” As she reached the iron gate at the bottom of her stairwell, she thought about something she had read on the Internet. It said that vampire blood makes you stronger. She wondered if that was why she opened the gate so easily last night. She put her hand on the gate and pulled, and it flew open once again. It had to be true.
She reached down to unlock the car door, stilled, and took a deep breath. Her heart beat faster. “I can feel you when you’re close. Is it because I swallowed your blood?”
Cole stood behind her. She felt the energy from his body wrap around her.
“Partially. Are you going somewhere?” His voice soothed her.
“I have to go to my mom’s house. Are you following me tonight?” She held still, key poised in front of the lock.
“Yes.” He put his hand on hers and turned her toward him. “Will you let me drive you?”
She stared at his chest. “I guess it would be easier for you that way.”
“What do you want, Mia?” Cole put his hand under her chin and lifted her face to look at him.
“I want to ride with you. And if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you some questions on the way.”
“I would like that. Can I ask you some questions?” He flashed a smile that made the world tip as he nodded toward the car behind hers.
After giving him directions to her mom’s house, she walked to the passenger side. His hand came over hers, opening the door for her.
A man had never opened a door for her before. The slightest touch of his hand sent bites of electricity up her arm. She wondered if he felt it, too. She didn’t know how to act, so she just stood there.
“Is something wrong, Mia?”
“No, I… I’ve never had the door opened for me before.”
“Never?” His brows dipped.
“No.” She realized she was staring as if star-struck and quickly shook her head. He was already behind the steering wheel when she sat and reached for the seat belt. His speed was something she had to get used to—it was freaky.
“Thanks for not fighting me on the seatbelt,” he said, smirking as he turned the key in the ignition.
The memory of last night came back to her. She felt the heat creep into her cheeks, and she lowered her head. “Cole, I’m sorry for my behavior last night. Especially what I did to you in the car—you know, when I showed you my neck and…” She looked at her fidgeting hands in her lap. He made her nervous. She heard his fangs slide out and snapped her gaze to his.
“Sorry. I was thinking about what I could have done to you under different circumstances.”
Her pulse raced. She wiped her hands on her jeans, trying to dry the sweat from her palms. He looked at her and opened his mouth. She watched as his fangs slid back and disappeared.
“Mia, slow your pulse. I can feel your blood rushing through your veins. I can’t help the urges you provoke in me. Please, don’t be nervous around me.” He turned the directional signal on and made a left. “Do you remember what I told you when you were on your bed last night?”
Another embarrassing memory, her face turned bright red, and she felt the heat roll into her ears. “When you undressed me?”
He looked at her, a tiny glow illuminating the back of his eyes. “Now, I’m trying really hard to keep my fangs in for you. Don’t make me visualize it. And, yes, that would be the moment I was referring to.”
“You said you were done with me, so I shouldn’t worry.” She looked at him, and he stared at her, expressionless. “Could you please watch the road?”
He quickly pulled over, placing the car in park. “No, Mia. That is not what I meant. I’m not even close to being done with you. I crave you like I crave blood.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “You’re confused right now, and I’m in the middle of that confusion. I don’t want to cause you any more pain. If you want me, you will give yourself to me.”
Mia’s inner struggle continued—the fight between what her body wanted, what her head told her, and what her heart felt.
“Now”—he drove back onto the road—“what about those questions? Maybe I’ll match you question-for-question.”
She sighed heavily. “Okay, but nothing too personal.” His laughter was music to her ears.
“I will try, my love. You first.”
“Tell me about your blood I swallowed. That’s why I can feel you, right?”
He glanced at her. A sexy grin stretched across his face. “The effects differ depending on how old the vampire is. With older vampires, only a little blood is required to feel the effects. You didn’t swallow much of my blood. It will wear off quickly. The first time you drink blood from a vampire, you’ll be able to feel that vampire’s influence.” He paused and chuckled. “Don’t look so alarmed, you’d have to drink the blood consistently to keep a strong connection, unless you’re the vampire’s chosen mate—his bride. Then the rules are different.” He glanced at Mia. “My turn.” His tone was light. “Do you always research everything?”
“Yes, I love researching things. I wanted to be a cop, once.”
“Really? Why didn’t you?” Cole arched a brow.
“My… abilities made the dream impossible, and there’s too much politics in your line of work. The bad guys have the upper-hand because of all the rules set by the courts and politicians.”
Cole chuckled. “I know what you mean.” He inclined his head indicating it was her turn.
“Did your blood make me stronger?” She slid down in her seat, relaxing more with each word.
“Yes, and it will have your sex drive working overtime.” His eyes scanned her as he spoke.
A burst of laughter flew out of her mouth, and she clamped her hand over it. “I don’t think I need your blood for that. After not getting any for almost five years, it’s been working overtime. And you on top of me in the graveyard was the first time...” Shit. Was she willingly talking about sex with him? Over sharing, she thought and straightened in the seat, staring down at her lap once again.
Cole closed his hand over hers. “I’m sorry for advancing on you like that.”
Mia slid her hand from under his and quickly changed the subject. Cole had a knack for making her lose her concentration. “I read that you have the capability to make people do what you want, or erase their minds when you need them to forget something. Is that true?” Mia pointed. “You have to make a left at the light.” She shifted in her seat toward him. “If it’s true, have you done that to me?”
Cole’s jaw twitched. He studied her as if he knew the direction of her question. His expression held a look of disheartenment. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I have not. When I pressed you against the tree, you responded to me out of your own desire.” A dangerously sexy smile waited for a response.
She quickly looked out the window, away from that look. “Have you tried to control me?” She laced her fingers together in her lap and met his gaze.
“Yes, I have. When I asked you to stare at me, the way you stared at the man at the gas station. And then again inside the funeral home.” He rubbed his palm up and down his bicep. “I saw the pain and fear I caused you. I wanted to take that away and make you forget the night. I didn’t like the way you looked at me, Mia. I was going to tell you I was a vampire. I wanted to ease you into it. I had no control over what happened that night.”
“It didn’t work? Or have you made me do something I don’t know about?”
“No, it didn’t work. This is why I think the man from the gas station wants to kill you. I could get into your mind, but it would take time, and it would make me weak. Your mind is much stronger, more complex than other human’s. It’s easier to kill you, than to be weakened by you. You would leave a younger vampire weak for a day, and a stronger one would be vulnerable for a couple of hours. Hence, you are a danger—a true threat to vampires. The vampire you had a run in with thinks you know something. He knows you saw Art leave with him, and Art is now dead.” He stroked the top of her hand with his thumb. “You have power, Mia, which I don’t think you fully understand, and it leaves you vulnerable. I will not let anything happen to you. I am a man of my word.”
His words were honest and direct, but Mia wondered how Cole could keep her from being killed. If other vampires wanted her dead, he couldn’t possibly protect her from all of them.
“It’s the end house down on the right.” She pointed her finger to where they needed to go. Embarrassment washed over her as they pulled into the drive. She hadn’t been able to help her mom clean up the place since her brother went missing.
Mia grew up around rednecks, and her mom’s yard was a reflection of this culture. Her nephew’s little motorized vehicles were up on cinder blocks next to the racing car half-painted in primer gray, which also sat on blocks. Chickens roamed free in the yard, and the potbelly pig came running toward the car as they pulled in. The tires crackled over the mixture of grease and shell-rock in the driveway. Car parts and trash riddled the yard. At one time, six people lived in the house, and Mia’s mom was the only one who cleaned. That takes its toll on a person. No one had seen Mia’s brother in years, which left her mom out here alone, but her mom liked it that way. It finally gave her some much-needed peace.
Cole was at Mia’s door before the motor fully shut off. She stepped out, and he stared at her with loving eyes.
“You look very nice, today,” he said.
“Oh? I’m not dressed as nice as I was last night, but thank you.”
Cole slid his left arm around her waist, moved her to the side, and shut the door. Even though his skin was a little cool, her flesh burned wherever he touched.
His gaze roamed her eyes. “No, you look much better today. I like you in jeans, and those boots really look nice on you.”
Mia leaned into him, wanting to taste his mouth as the allure of his lips called to her.
“Hey, Mia, come in the back way. I’m cleaning, you can’t get in the front door,” Mia’s mom yelled from the house, breaking the trance she was in.
But she didn’t take her eyes off of Cole. “Did you do that? Make me want to kiss you?”
“No, that was you.” His voice was low with a seductive pull. “I’ll never try to control you. You will give yourself to me.”
Oh, baby, would I. No, Mia, bad. A deadly, vampire relationship will not work. Mia stared into the depths of his brown eyes and searched for the answers to life, the answers to make this thing work between them. She found peace in them—they made her want to let go of her fears, her worries, and the rest of her pain from the past.
She could never fully be with him though, and she knew the reality of that. She’d never been able to be intimate with anyone. She always tensed or imagined she was somewhere else. It was her mind’s defense system, and it kept her from thinking or seeing any unwanted presences. Now, on top of that, she would have to worry about him biting her.
“Cole, I don’t think I can ever—”
“It’s not the time to talk about this. I have other places I need to take you, so let’s finish your visit here. I want to talk about this more later.”
“That sounds good.” Mia turned to walk toward the house. “Come on in.” He didn’t budge. “Aren’t you coming?”
“No, I’ll stay here so it’s not awkward for you.” His eyes held a hint of wariness.
“Nonsense.” Mia jumped at her mom’s approach from behind her. “Mia, you need to learn to relax. I’ve been telling you that for years, and you never listen to me,” she said, looking toward Cole.
“Mom, this is Cole. Cole, this is my mom, Sharon.” Her mom’s head tilted and she stared.
Cole shifted his feet.
“I see you’re an officer. Has my daughter done something wrong?”
Cole cleared his throat. “No, ma’am. I’m protecting her.”
Her eyes widened, and then she tightened her lips and nodded her head in understanding. “Well, I haven’t seen your kind around here in a while...”
“She means the police. When my brother lived here, the police were here a lot,” Mia said, giggling nervously, trying to break the tension that no one else seemed to feel but her.
Sharon turned to walk back to the house, pausing at Mia’s words. She looked back over her shoulder. “No, I don’t, Mia. He has two sets of handcuffs, and that blue pair dangling out of his belt tells me he is something more than a cop, or human for that matter. Geez, you’d think I dropped you on your head when you were young. Cole, you are welcome in my home. Please, come in.”
Cole smiled as he walked past Mia to follow her mom. Mia stood still with her mouth hanging open. This was so like her mother. She loved the element of surprise and used it often. When Mia was ten, her mom stood in her doorway at bedtime, and instead of saying goodnight like a normal mother, she said, “Hey, do you ever feel like you’re being watched when no one is around? Well, if you do, don’t worry. It’s just a ghost. The guy who owned the house before us, died on the couch. He’s harmless. Goodnight, now.” Mia could strangle her sometimes.
“Mia Lynn, don’t stand there with your mouth open—you’re gonna catch flies. Come on, now.”
Mia entered the kitchen, pulled out the chair next to Cole, and sat. She was still stunned, but Cole was amused at the whole situation.
“I’ll get you both something to drink,” Sharon said.
When Mia heard the familiar sound of the refrigerator creaking opened, she glanced at Cole. “Hey, Mom, Cole can’t…”
Sharon came back into the room with a diet soda for Mia and handed Cole a black container.
“Here ya go, Cole. It’s not fresh. It’s about four weeks old, but it’s never been frozen, so it should still have all the good stuff in it. I already twisted it for you so the heat packs have been activated.”
Cole’s smile reached his eyes and lit with a hint of delight. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Now, that is polite, but I’ll have none of that ma’am stuff. It makes me feel old. Please, call me Sharon.”
Cole nodded while Mia sat silently in shock, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Mia, lighten up,” her mom said, sitting back in the chair.
“Where did you get that? Does that have…? It has, blood, in it?”
“Well, what did you think he’d be drinking—apple juice? I got it from a friend. He comes around every once in a while to, ya know, visit.” A grin stretched across her reddened face.
“Mom! Please!”
A big, deep, glorious laugh rumbled out of Cole, his cheeks expanded, and he quickly covered his mouth to keep the liquid from spewing out.
Mia glared at him.
“Oh, Mia, get over it. Just because you don’t have sex doesn’t mean I can’t.”
She wanted to strangle her mother as she twisted her fingers nervously. Next, she fully expected her mom to pull out pictures of her when she was little, naked in the tub or on the toilet.
“Okay, can we stop? I’m going up in the attic to get the box down.” Mia stood. “Is it marked?”
“I’ll come help you.” Cole stood to follow her.
“Thank you, but I got it. Please, stay here.” Mia didn’t know what would be worse—her handing him a box of silver from the attic, or letting him stay behind to talk with her mother. As she reached the attic, she stopped and smiled. She just realized that her mother was actually smiling at a man she brought over. She had hated every person Mia had ever brought to meet her.
She retrieved the box quickly, left it by the back door, and headed into the kitchen. “Cole, can I have the keys to the car? I need to put the box in the trunk.” He turned to her. Their eyes connected, and instantly her insides started to glow.
“I’ll get it for you.” He started to stand, and she quickly placed her hand on his shoulder, holding him in his seat.
“Thank you, again, but I can do it.” His eyes narrowed in suspicion as he handed her the keys.
Mia carried the box to the car. She’d never seen a trunk so immaculate. It was full of police things, but there was more than enough room for the box due to the obsessive organization of the items.
If she took too long, Cole would be by her side in a minute to help, and she couldn’t have him touching the box. She wasn’t sure if the silver would have an effect on him or not, and now wasn’t the time to find out. She’d research it later.
Rushing back into the kitchen with labored breaths, she sat back down beside Cole. His drink sat in front of him. Out of impulse, she reached over and grabbed it, tracing her fingers along the spiral symbol on the front of the black container.
“What does this symbol mean?”
He looked up, his eyes lovingly caressing her face. “No one has ever taken interest in my container, much less touched it.”
“I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer the question.”
“Don’t be sorry. It just… It gives me hope.” He smiled with a shy expression, showing a vulnerability she hadn’t noticed before. “It’s the symbol of life.”
She looked back down, her eyes transfixed on the container.
“You want to know how it works?”
He could already read her very well. She wasn’t sure if she liked that or not. “Yes. There are three parts to it?” She tilted the container sideways as she studied it.
“It looks like it has three separate parts, but the top and the bottom are used to break the heat packs that surround the cylinder holding the blood. You twist the top and the bottom like this, and it breaks the heat packs, and they start warming the blood.” He put a hand on the bottom and the top of the container and twisted it like a waiter with a double-ended pepper grinder.
Mia took the container back out of his hands, “That’s cool. Who came up with something like that?”
Mia looked at him. She’d never seen him breathe like that before. She watched his chest rise and fall a couple times, as if he needed a calming breath. When she met his gaze, the look he gave her was of complete wonder.
“Yep, she’s a rare one, Cole. You thought she’d say ‘Ew, gross!’ and get up and run, didn’t ya?” Sharon asked.
“I was hoping she wouldn’t.” His phone rang. “If you ladies would excuse me, I have to take this call.” He flipped open the phone and walked into the other room.
“Miakoda Starr, he’s the one.”
“Mom, don’t start. Please.” Mia rolled her eyes at her.
“Lower your voice. Vampires have very good hearing.” Her mom stared at her from across the table. “Now, you listen to me, Miakoda. If you think you’re the only one in this world who’s been hurt, you’re wrong. I know your scars are deep because of everything you have seen, and everything that’s happened to you, but you have to cut it loose and live.” Mia’s mom was never the type to beat around the bush. She was blunt and to the point.
“You don’t think I know that? I’m trying! You don’t understand how…” Tears welled as she struggled with her words.
Sharon grabbed her hand, stroking the top for comfort. “Yes, Mia, I do understand. Things happened in my life, too, and if you let those things consume you, they win.”
Mia looked into her mom’s eyes as they filled with tears. “You never told me that before.” Mia’s mind was running. Although she hadn’t told her mom half of what had happened in her life.
“Some things you have to work through on your own and figure them out.”
“Like finding out vampires are real? You think you could have told me that?” Mia’s lips pulled into a smile, her tears receded, and she laughed. Laughter through tears was the best kind of medicine in her opinion, and she let the feeling wash over her.
“Now, would you have believed me if I did. Or would you just think I was crazy like you usually do?” Sharon let go of her hand and leaned back in the chair.
“I would have thought you were crazy because you are.” Laughter rolled out of them as Cole walked back into the room.
He looked at the two of them, concern on his face. “Is everything okay? Do the two of you need privacy?” His expression looked pained, and Mia noted his hand as he moved it toward her, then pulled it back, tucking it into his pocket.
“No, we’re okay. Just hashing through some old wounds,” Sharon said.
The pain in Cole’s eyes stabbed Mia’s heart. When he searched her fixed gaze, she knew he understood what they were talking about. “I’m sorry to break up all the fun, but we have to get going.” Cole smiled at Sharon as he spoke.
“Cole, I suspect you’re protecting my little girl from vampires.” He nodded in agreement. “You keep her safe, you hear? If you can throw a lasso around her and tie her down, make her relax, you might have a chance. Oh, and watch that temper of hers.” Sharon giggled as she watched Mia’s cheeks turn red.
“May I ask you why you think she may be interested?”
Oh, please don’t answer that, Mom. Mia chanted.
Cole stared at Mia while he waited for Sharon’s answer.
“Because you’ve touched her soul. I can see it when she looks at you. She’s just a stubborn ass and won’t let anyone close enough to her. But you mark my words—you are what she’s been waiting for her entire life.” Sharon pointed her finger at him to make her point.
“Okay! Well, it has been fun as usual, Mom. I’ll come back soon—when I’m ready for more embarrassment.” Mia gave her mom a hug before leaving.
Cole walked around to the passenger side to open the door for her. He paused at the trunk, and his eyes narrowed and locked onto hers as he walked up. He leaned forward, pressing his body against hers as he put the key in the door. His lips brushed her ear, and her body tingled in response. “I have to watch you every minute, don’t I?”
“What do you mean?” She found the air thin while he was close to her.
“You filled my trunk with silver. What are you up to, my little rebel?” He pulled his head back and gazed into her eyes, his smile holding her captive as he stroked her jawbone with his thumb.
Sharon yelled at them from her doorway. “Mia, we need to talk some more, about your gifts. They’re growing stronger, and there are some things you need to know before all hell breaks loose. Oh, and about that other thing we talked about—follow the signs, they’ll show you he’s the one.”
Mia blinked and Cole was standing in front of her mom. She watched as the redness crept into her mom’s cheeks as Cole spoke to her, charming his way into her heart, no doubt. He placed a kiss on her hand, and then was back in the car with the engine started before Mia got her seatbelt on.
She felt her own cheeks flush as she marveled at his speed. She wondered what else he could do with that speed. “Where to, my bodyguard?” Mia allowed herself to relax in his presence, leaning back into the seat.
“Our first stop is the funeral home. Can we continue our question game?” He flashed a heart-melting smile.
Mia returned the smile. “Sure, if that will make you happy.”
“You make me happy, Mia,” Cole said, a tiny glow emerging in the back of his eyes.