As Twilight Falls

“Very funny.”

“Lighten up, Kadie. Hunting is supposed to be fun.”

“Right.”

“You didn’t enjoy it?”

She had, but she didn’t want to admit it. It didn’t seem right. Saintcrow had called a young man to him, mesmerized him, and offered him to Kadie. She had expected to feel revulsion at what she was doing—after all, she was biting another human being—and hesitation at doing what should have been disgusting. Instead, she had drawn him close and bitten him where Saintcrow instructed. The taste, which should have repulsed her, was warm and sweet and satisfying in a way she had never expected. She had thought to feel guilty, but that hadn’t happened, either. Somehow, her whole view of the world had changed.

“You didn’t hurt him, Kadie. People give more when they’re donating blood than you took. Just think of it this way—you needed blood and he was a donor. All we did was cut out the middle man.”

She stared at him, then burst out laughing.

Saintcrow laughed with her, then took her in his arms and kissed her. She was going to be all right.

“What about my parents?” Kadie asked much later that night. After hunting, they had returned to Saintcrow’s lair. Now, they were lying in his bed, wrapped in each other’s arms.

“What about them?”

“I should let them know I’m all right.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know.” She bit down on her lower lip, her expression troubled. “My dad will hate me now, won’t he?”

Saintcrow blew out a breath. He didn’t know Ralph Andrews well enough to answer Kadie’s question. Was the man fanatic enough to destroy his own daughter? Or did he love her enough to accept her as she was now? Saintcrow was pretty certain that no matter how Andrews felt about his daughter’s transformation, the fact that Saintcrow had turned her would only make the man hate him more.

“Rylan?”

“I don’t know, sweetheart.”

“I’m not human anymore, am I?”

“That depends on you. You can be a monster if you choose, or you can be Kadie who’s on a restricted liquid diet.”

She poked him in the ribs with her elbow. “Very funny. This is no time for jokes.”

“This is the perfect time for jokes. It’s good for relieving tension.” He smiled at her, his eyes hot. “Of course, I can think of another way that’s even better.”

“I’ll just bet you can,” she murmured dryly. But she didn’t object when he rose over her.

One thing about being a vampire. She could make love all night long and never get tired.

Chapter 39

Shirley stared at herself in the mirror. She was over forty, and yet she looked younger and happier than she ever had in her whole life. And it was all because of Micah. Sometimes she felt like a dirty old woman lusting after such a young man, but he was all she could think of. So far, she hadn’t said anything about her feelings for Micah to Rosemary and Donna. She knew they would both think she was insane for wanting to spend time with a vampire, and maybe she was. But he had become the most important thing in her life.

She was pretty sure Rosemary and Donna suspected something was going on. This afternoon, she had caught the two of them staring at her speculatively time and again.

Well, let them think whatever they would, she thought as she brushed her hair, then changed into a white skirt and a frilly pink silk blouse. She was hoping Micah would come by. And maybe, if she was lucky, he would steal more than kisses tonight.

When the doorbell rang, she ran down the stairs, as excited as a teenager going out on her first date.

Micah whistled softly when she opened the door. “Wow, you look beautiful!”

“Thank you.”

“I hope you don’t mind my stopping by. I mean, you look like you’re going out.”

“No, I was just . . .” She hesitated, felt her cheeks grow hot as she blurted, “I was hoping you’d come by.”

He smiled at her. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

She smiled back, the warmth in his eyes making her toes curl in anticipation.

“Do you want to go out?” he asked. “It’s a nice night for a walk.”

“Sure.” When he offered his hand, she took it, excitement curling in the pit of her stomach as his fingers closed over hers.

They walked in silence for a time, then Micah said, “Why do you stay here? This place is like a ghost town.”

“I don’t know. I’ve been here so long, it seems like home.”

“You don’t have any family anywhere?”

“Not really. A few cousins in Maine. How big is your family?”

“I’ve got five younger sisters and four older brothers. I’m right in the middle.”

“You must be Mormon or Catholic.”

Micah laughed. “Staunch Catholics.”

“Have you seen them since you became a vampire?” she asked, and thought how strange it was to be talking about vampires as if it was no different from discussing the weather.

“No. I called my mom shortly after it happened. Told her I wouldn’t be home for a while. She thinks I’m on location, working on a movie.” He shook his head. “Lilith put an end to my career before it ever got started.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shrugged. “No sense crying over what can’t be changed.”

Shirley nodded. She couldn’t argue with that.

She looked down at her hand in his. The movies had lost a good thing, she thought, admiring his profile. He was incredibly handsome. If only she wasn’t so old.

A moment later, he stopped walking. She glanced around, noting they had left the residential area behind and had reached the park. There were no lights here. “Something wrong?” she asked, suddenly nervous at being alone in the dark with a vampire, even one she found undeniably attractive.

“ No.”

“What is it?”

He made a soft sound of amusement. “I want you, too.” “What?” She looked up at him, startled by his words because they so clearly echoed her own thoughts.

“I can read your mind, Shirl. I know you’ve got the hots for me, and that it embarrasses you.”

She turned away from him, her cheeks flaming.

He moved closer, his hands folding over her shoulders, pulling her body back against his. She felt his lips, cool against the side of her neck, the gentle brush of his fangs on her skin.