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they re just stories invented to scare people. This is more likely about a jilted lover or disgruntled
employee. I mean, seriously. It s just too . . . have you seen a doctor about these . . . fantasies?
His laughter surprised her. Don t you mean delusions?
She bit her lower lip. Well, I was trying to be . . . understanding.
He cocked an eyebrow. Don t upset the freak? He gave her an appraising look. You ll require
proof, I suppose.
Uh yeah.
This was ridiculous! A vampire? She d had such high hopes for this budding relationship. He d
seemed so normal, seemed to genuinely care about her, and the sex was phenomenal.
He reached up and stroked her temple. I m anything but normal, kitten, but I do care about you.
And the sex is phenomenal.
She flinched. You re a telepath?
I can probe your mind, yes, but I m not a telepath. Not in the true definition of the word.
Vampires are able to tap into people s minds, delve into their thoughts.
A mix of disappointment and fear swamped her. The delusion was much stronger than she thought
if he believed his sixth sense made him a vampire. Still, his gaze was steady, lacking the feverish
fanaticism of someone possessed by magical thinking. And it occurred to her that she d never seen
him in the full light of day. His skin was pale from a lack of sun. She drew away from him. I ve
never seen you out during the day.
No. I burn easily and become dangerously dehydrated. I must be completely covered to walk in the
sunlight. That will change as soon as we re bound to one another.
She frowned. Bound together? What the fuck? Yeah, what s that about, exactly?
My species carries an abnormal gene in our DNA. No one knows where it came from, but if we
meet our true mate, and they agree to bond with us, we take on the ability to walk in the light. We
can also reproduce.
God, she almost believed him. He sounded so reasonable. You can t have children? Now, why did
that disappoint her? She d never thought about having children before.
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Not currently, no.
But if
If you transform me, I will be capable of giving you children.
Riiight. And if I did this, speaking hypothetically, what would be required?
You would have to willingly allow me to feed from you.
Drink my blood, you mean.
Yes.
And would that turn me into a vampire?
His face was carefully neutral, and a sense of alarm skittered up her spine. Not necessarily.
Although, I would hope you would choose to do so, after a time.
Why?
So you wouldn t grow old and leave me.
She blew out a breath she hadn t realized she d been holding. Crazy as a bedbug.
Wow.
Quite so.
Olivia sighed. His delusion was so firmly entrenched, he almost had her believing. You can
understand why I might be . . . skeptical.
He laughed at her declaration. What can I do to prove it to you?
Well, you could show me your fangs, I suppose. Although you ve had your mouth all over my body
and I don t recall feeling any extra-sharp teeth.
Noah snorted. I m not a fledgling, Olivia. I can control my urges. Have you not wondered why I
only take you from behind?
Because you know I get the most pleasure that way?
A little growl escaped his throat. No, but I ll certainly keep that in mind. It s so I m less tempted to
feed from you. When my mouth is close to your neck, I can practically hear the blood whispering in
your veins. When I m fucking you, the pleasure is so intense, I fear I ll lose control if I nestle my
face in your neck.
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Okay, she said slowly, stretching the word out.
All right, I can see the only way to convince you is to show you my red eyes and sharp teeth. But I
need a little incentive. When she raised an eyebrow in question, he continued. A kiss, kitten.
Dear God, the man could kiss! His mouth took hers, his lips sliding across hers in a slow, sensuous
glide. He sucked on her bottom lip, then gave it a tug. With one knee on the couch, he tugged her
against him and moved his hands to her ass to raise her up. His tongue plunged into her mouth, and
he leaned back, pulling her on top of him to kiss her.
She lay sprawled on top of him, his hands lifting her dress to caress her ass. And his mouth, his
mouth was doing the most wonderful things, nibbling her jawline, nuzzling her neck, and then he
spoke. Look at me, Olivia.
Shit! She threw herself to the floor, crab-walking backward. What the fuck? He was looking at
her, gray eyes glowing red, fangs fully elongated and ready to feed.
Are you afraid, Olivia? Do you think me a monster?
Her breath came in gulps andshe tried to steady herself. Jesus Christ! He was exactly what he claimed
to be. Vampires were real? When he made no attempt to approach her, the fear subsided somewhat
and she sat tailor-style on the floor, shaky but strangely intrigued. How long have you been this
way?
I was turned in eleven hundred ninety-nine, during Richard the Lionheart s reign.
Holy shit. The crusades?
He smiled, exposing his eyes and teeth, which were back to normal. Yes. I was nearly eviscerated,
dying. The vampire who made me gave me a choice of an agonizing death, or life everlasting. I
chose life.
So, you re over eight hundred years old?
He nodded. I am.
Wow. She sat there for a moment, stunned, unconsciously scooting back until she was leaning
against the wall. So, what about garlic and crosses?
I like garlic, especially when I m eating Italian.
You can eat regular food?
He nodded. And a cross is just a cross.
Stake through the heart?
Will piss me off, but it won t kill me.
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She blew out a breath.
What will kill you?
Fire does the job quite nicely. And, of course, there s beheading.
And the person who broke into my house and left those charming messages for me, any ideas?
Sentinel.
She took a deep breath and blew it out. Sentinel?
She stood and went to sit on the couch beside him. He wouldn t harm her. She knew that now. He d
had every opportunity if that was his intent. He held out his hand, and she took it, settling in beside
him to hear his story.
The Sentinel is a secret society dedicated to the destruction of my race, especially my unique
species.
Because you can reproduce.
He grimaced. Yes. They killed Ian s wife sixty-some years ago. He d just come home from the war.
She was pregnant.
Her hand covered her mouth. So that s the sadness I sometimes see in his eyes. Have you ever
been married?
No. I only just found my mate.
Me. Lord love a duck. Why did those words sound so good to her? She d never been in a real
relationship before, had never really wanted one.
You, kitten.
And this secret society means to kill me?
If you transform me they will try, but I won t let that happen. You must believe me. I won t let that
happen.
But why do they go after the women? Why not throw a Molotov cocktail through your bedroom
window?
As you ve noticed, vampires are capable of great speed, and we re very strong. Getting close
enough to kill one of us is extremely dangerous. It s easier to kill the women.
He stood. I should leave. They mustn t be allowed to believe you re the one.
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