Everlasting Kiss (Everlasting 1)

"Erik." She stroked his cheek with her fingertips. "We need to go."

He stared at the love shining brightly in the depths of her eyes and then, with a murmured curse, he released her and staggered out of the cell. "We need to hurry," he said, his voice tight with pain. "Rhys is coming."

Muttering, "I've got a bad feeling about this," Alex grabbed Erik, slung him over his shoulder, and headed for the door with Daisy hot on his heels.

She blinked against the sunlight when they emerged. "Wait! The sun!" Tugging off her sweater, she threw it over Erik's head. "The door! Shouldn't we lock the door?"

"It won't slow him down," Erik said, his voice muffled by her sweater.

Daisy followed Alex up the stairs to the street, her heart pounding. She dared not look behind her for fear she would see Rhys. If she lived to be a hundred, she would never forget how it had felt to drive a stake into his back. Never forget the way he had looked at her, his eyes red and wild, his fangs dripping with Alex's blood.

When they reached the car, Alex shoved Erik none too gently into the backseat and slammed the door. Daisy scrambled into the passenger seat while Alex slid behind the wheel, jammed the key in the ignition, and peeled away from the curb, leaving a wide swath of rubber behind.

"Go to my place," Erik said.

Alex shook his head. "No. I don't like that idea at all."

"It's closer," Daisy said. "We don't have time to argue."

"Daisy, maybe he's right for once," Erik said. "Rhys has never been to your house. The threshold should keep him out."

"Should?" Alex careened around a corner on two wheels. "Will it or won't it?"

"I don't know." Erik closed his eyes in an effort to shut out the beating of mortal hearts, but it was no use. The sound of their rapidly beating hearts, the scent of their blood, was overpowering. The heat of the sun coming through the back window made his skin tingle, rivaling the burning pain in his hands and legs where the chains had burned his skin. Damn, he couldn't remember when he'd felt this bad.

Twenty minutes later, Alex pulled into Daisy's garage. Erik breathed a sigh of relief as the garage door came down, shutting out the sun.

For a moment, the three of them sat there, then Alex got out of the car, a stake in one hand.

"What are you doing?" Daisy asked, getting out of the car.

"Look at him and then ask me that. You've brought a monster home with you, and a damn hungry one from the looks of him."

"He's right, Daisy." Erik clenched his hands at his side. "You're in more danger from me than from Rhys."

"I'm not afraid."

"Dammit, you should be!"

"Let's go inside."

"Are you out of your mind?" Alex asked.

"Erik needs to feed," Daisy said with a calmness she was far from feeling. "So, this is what we'll do. I'll let him drink from me, and you..."

"No way!" Alex said.

"And you," Daisy continued, "will stand behind me to make sure he doesn't take too much. And then he's going to drink from you."

"Like hell!"

Daisy glanced at Erik. She had never truly been afraid of him before, never believed she was in any danger from him, until now. "Alex, we don't have time to argue."

"Dammit, Daisy, this is the dumbest idea you've ever had!"

Daisy didn't reply. Sweeping past her brother, she unlocked the door that connected the garage to the kitchen and went inside.

After a moment, Erik exited the car and followed her.

Alex glared at the vampire's back. Muttering an oath, he slammed the car door, then stomped into the house. He found Daisy and Erik facing each other in the living room. Erik looked like death warmed over. Alex looked at his sister, wondering if she was as relaxed as she appeared.

"All right, let's get this over with." Daisy turned toward Erik. After taking a deep breath, she held her hair away from her neck. "Go on. If Rhys shows up, you'll need to be strong."

Erik stared at her. He wanted to refuse, but her blood called to him, screamed to him. "Don't let me feed for more than a few minutes," he told Alex, and then, uttering a vile oath, he wrapped his arms around her.

Alex stood close behind Erik, his gaze fixed on the vampire. He had hunted vampires since he turned seventeen. He had staked them. He had beheaded them. But he had never actually seen one feed. It was totally revolting and yet he had to admit that watching Erik drink from Daisy held a certain morbid fascination.

A glance at Daisy showed that she didn't find it the least bit revolting. Her eyes were closed, her expression was one of a woman in the throes of ecstasy.

With a shake of his head, Alex glanced at this watch. Erik had said not to let him feed for more than a few minutes. How many minutes in a few? Two? Three? Five? How the hell was he supposed to know how long was too long?

He looked at Erik. The vampire's eyes were also closed. Grimacing, Alex shook his head. If he didn't know better, he would have sworn Erik and Daisy were making love. Hell, maybe they were. What did he know about vampire lovemaking?

Another minute ticked past, and then another.

Taking a deep breath, Alex poked Erik in the back with the point of the stake. "That's enough!"

With a low hiss, Erik lifted his head from Daisy's neck.

Alex recoiled a step, then held his ground, the stake held high. "You said not to let you feed too long."

Erik nodded. "You were right to stop me." A swipe of his tongue closed the two tiny puncture wounds in her throat.

Daisy's eyelids fluttered open. For a moment, she stared up at Erik, a half smile on her lips. And then she looked at her brother. "Your turn."

Alex stared at Erik.

Unblinking, Erik looked back at Alex, an unspoken challenge in his eyes.

Alex thrust out his arm, his expression defiant. "Go ahead, bloodsucker, take what you need."

"How very gracious of you to offer," Erik said dryly.

"Yeah, well, don't get carried away." Alex held up the wooden stake clutched tightly in his hand. "I've still got this."

Murmuring, "I'm terrified," Erik took hold of Alex's arm.

Alex swore softly as Erik sank his fangs, none too gently, into the vein in his wrist.

Daisy sighed as she glanced from one man to the other. She loved them both, but she didn't have much hope that they would ever be friends. Time seemed to slow to a stop as she watched Erik feed. She glanced at her watch, then back at Erik. She could see him growing stronger right before her eyes.