Everlasting Kiss (Everlasting 1)

Her heartbeat kicked up a notch at the thought of sitting beside him in a dark theater. "All right."

They left the club hand in hand. Erik paused at the curb. "We can take my car," he said. "Or we can walk."

"It's such a beautiful night," Daisy said. "Why don't we walk?"

"As you wish."

His gaze rested lightly on her face, his expression clearly saying exactly what she was thinking--that she didn't feel comfortable getting into a car with a man she hardly knew. And yet it seemed right to be walking down the street by his side.

"Do you have family here in town?" They were stopped at a corner, waiting for the light to change.

"No." Or anywhere else on earth, he thought.

"Have you lived in California very long?"

"Three or four years."

"Where did you live before that?"

Erik chuckled. Technically, he hadn't "lived" anywhere for over three hundred years. "I move around a lot. I've lived in New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Atlanta, Nashville." And Rome, Paris, Transylvania, and just about every other city in the world.

She looked up at him as they crossed the street. "Got itchy feet, do you?"

"You could say that." It didn't pay for a vampire to stay in one place too long. People got curious, and then suspicious, about neighbors who were never seen during the day, and who never got any older. "What about you?" he asked. "Are you a California girl?"

"I am now, but I was born in Oregon. We lived there until I was six, and then we moved to Boston."

"Why did you leave home?"

"I like the West Coast. And I wanted to be on my own."

They were at the theater now. Erik bought two tickets and they went inside.

"Do you want anything to eat?" he asked as they neared the snack bar.

"Just a Coke."

They entered the theater just as the lights went down. Moments later, they were sitting side by side in the dark while movie trailers flashed across the screen. Daisy knew a little thrill of excitement when Erik reached for her hand. Just a simple touch, his fingers curling lightly around hers, and yet it made her feel safe, protected. Which was odd, she thought, since she wasn't in any danger.

She glanced at Erik. His profile was sharp and clean. He was easily the most handsome man she had ever met. And the sexiest. Just looking at him aroused a longing deep within her. A longing to feel his body against hers, to run her hands over his shoulders, to wrap her fingers around his biceps, to run her tongue over his skin, to touch him and taste him...all of him.

A rush of heat warmed her cheeks when she realized he was watching her. Thank goodness he couldn't read her mind!

Dragging her gaze from his, she turned her attention to the screen, surprised to see that the movie had started. How much had she missed? How long had she been staring at Erik like some lovesick calf?

Leaning toward her, he whispered, "I like the way you look, too."

Startled, Daisy drew back. Lordy, maybe he could read her mind.

She met Erik at the Crypt the following night. As always, just seeing him made her heart skip a beat. Tonight, he wore a pair of snug black jeans that hugged his long legs, a navy blue striped shirt unbuttoned over a white tee, and a pair of scuffed black boots. Just looking at him made her mouth water. If she had created him, he couldn't have been more perfect.

He smiled when he saw her. "You're early."

Daisy glanced at her watch. "So are you."

He closed the distance between them. She could see the heat in his eyes now, feel it as his gaze moved over her. Her stomach quivered in response. "I guess I was anxious to see you again." His voice poured over her like honey.

"You guess?" She had intended to sound flippant and worldly wise; instead, her voice came out in a breathy whisper.

"All right, I admit it. I couldn't wait. So, what would you like to do this evening?"

"I don't know." His nearness, the warmth in his eyes, made it hard to think of anything but her yearning to be in his arms. "Anything you want to do is fine with me."

He smiled, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. "How about a moonlight swim?"

"I didn't bring a bathing suit."

"It's dark." His gaze moved over her from head to foot. "No one will know."

The words "but me" hovered in the air between them.

For once in her life, she decided to be daring, spontaneous. Foolish, maybe. Throwing caution to the wind, she said, "Let's go!"

"That's my girl." Taking her by the hand, Erik led her outside to his car.

He drove a sleek black Trans Am convertible with black leather interior. Daisy grinned inwardly as she settled into the front seat. Everything about the man was dark and sexy, including his car.

She watched him slide behind the wheel. He moved with a grace and economy of motion she had rarely seen in a man of his size.

He slid the key into the ignition and the engine turned over, purring like a contented cat. "Ready?"

"Ready."

Daisy's heart skipped a beat as he peeled away from the curb. Minutes later, they were on the 101 freeway headed toward the beach. Daisy stared out the window as Van Morrison crooned "Someone Like You." It was one of her favorite songs.

She slid a sideways glance at Erik. Why had she agreed to this? Last night, she had been reluctant to get in a car with him; tonight, she had done it without a qualm.

She was trying to figure out what had changed since last night when he said, "You're very quiet."

"Just listening to the music. It's one of my favorites."

"Yeah, Morrison's got a great sound."

Daisy nodded. What was she doing, driving off to the beach at night with a man she hardly knew? What was it about him that made her good sense fly right out the window whenever he was around? If she told him she had changed her mind, would he take her back to the club?

Her stomach was in knots when Erik pulled off the freeway forty minutes later. There were no other cars parked off the road, and no other people on the beach, as far as Daisy could see. Once again, she asked herself what she was doing there.

She looked up when Erik opened her door and there, in his eyes, she saw the answer to her question. Right or wrong, for better or worse, for reasons she didn't pretend to understand, she knew her fate was somehow tied to his.

Daisy took off her sandals; Erik removed his boots and socks, and they walked hand in hand along the shore, the damp sand squishing between their toes.