First Thirst (Craving 1)
“No, no point in trying. Didn’t get much…too many things to think about, you know?”
“I do,” he answered. “I know all too well. What have ye planned then for yer morning?”
“Shower, then I’ll head downstairs, get some hot black coffee, and call Jeremy. I mean to get him over here pronto.”
“Why? Do ye mean to berate him then?” He chuckled softly and hot damn, his voice traveled through me.
“He deserves it, but no, I don’t see the point in that. I have a plan.”
“Do ye?”
“I do, and it is helpful that he is an immortal.”
“Is it?” he said.
I stared at the divider, wishing I could see past it and talk face to face with him. “Well, yeah. As an immortal, he knows things that Auntie Elle didn’t and I’m going to ask him to help me develop my powers.”
“Right ye are. Pick his brain and learn as much as ye can, but the one thing he cannae teach ye is the spell yer grandmother used to put me here,” he said gravely.
“Not necessarily so. Only my grandmother or someone of her bloodline can free you, but the spell is probably known to an immortal warlock, don’t you think? Even if he tried to free you in the past with various spells, it wouldn’t work, not because it wasn’t the right enchantment, but because he wasn’t the right bloodline.”
“Aye, I think ye are onto something. Smart lass,” he said. “Beauty and brains, a catch for any man. Why aren’t ye taken?”
“No one,” I wiggled my brows, “has done more than catch my eye.”
“And ye want someone to catch…what then?”
“My heart. Simple. Not saying I haven’t come close. I did once…but he proved himself all for himself.” I shrugged as I recalled the one man I had ever slept with. My Naomi had warned me about him. She said he was a player. She said he was shallow. She said she absolutely despised him, but did I listen? No. I was infatuated. That was when I was a junior in college. After that…after him, I never let anyone else get close.
“Ah, did he break yer heart then?”
“No, but he bruised it and my pride. Didn’t like the feeling. More careful after that,” I answered. “What about you? Was Sarah your first love?”
“She was m’first serious love. Before her…I dinnae think I was meant to be with anyone. I dinnae think I deserved to be with anyone decent. I’m a vampire…ye see…” his voice trailed off.
“Sarah saw past that and didn’t care,” I said, curious about the man that went with the sexy voice.
“Aye, she saw past it, and I let her down…”
“No, you didn’t.” I put my hands up and waved in the direction of his voice. “Now, off you go so I can get up and shower.”
“Do ye always sleep in the nude, lass?”
I narrowed my eyes. “How do you know I’m nude?”
“I was here when ye threw off yer top…” he answered, and I swear I could feel his grin.
Even though I couldn’t see him, I gave him the evil eye and
said, “Go on…get.”
He laughed and said, “As m’lady wishes.”
~ Eight ~
SHOWERED AND DRESSED IN my usual uniform of jeans and tank top—this one a pale shade of blue. I picked up my denim jacket and headed for the kitchen, made coffee and consumed almost three cups, with the oversized scones lathered in butter and jam, and silently thanked Mrs. Tunny for her baking skills.
I took my last bite, wondering what the frigging hell I was doing playing with dangerous ancient vampires.