Roman Draganesti woke up with no memory of how he had returned to his bed. He was lying on top of the suede comforter with his clothes and shoes still on. He ran his tongue along the inside of his mouth. The wire splint was still there. He felt the fang with his fingers. Solid. Of course, he wasn't sure if the fang could still extend and retract, and it would be impossible to put it to test as long as the tooth was wired in place. He'd have to convince Shanna to remove the splint.
After a quick shower, he threw on a bathrobe and padded into his office to check for messages. Radinka's spidery handwriting caught his eye. She'd completed the shopping for Shanna. Good. She was going to Romatech early to make sure everything was ready for the Gala Opening Ball. Since she was now working night and day, she felt she deserved another raise. Another one? Fine.
Jean-Luc Echarpe and Angus MacKay, French and British coven masters, were due to arrive at five in the morning. Good. The guest rooms on the third floor were ready for them. Roman was planning to introduce two new taste sensations from his line of Fusion Cuisine at the Opening Ball. Five hundred bottles had been prepared for the event. Everything was looking great.
Then he read the last paragraph. Upon waking, Shanna Whelan had discovered him in her bed. Oh no. She had decided he was dead and became terribly upset. Oh shit. Of course she would think he was dead. During the day, he had no pulse. But on the bright side, this could mean that she actually cared about him.
Radinka had tried to convince Shanna that his heavy sleep was due to the anesthesia he had received at the dental clinic. Unfortunately, that theory only drove her to the conclusion that she'd killed him. Great. She was upset not because she felt any affection for him, but because she felt guilty. He could just imagine the scenario¡ªShanna running about the bedroom, upset, while he lay there like a dumb log. Shit.
Roman crushed the paper in his fist and tossed it into the trash. This was the last straw. He had to finish the formula that would allow him to stay awake during the day. He couldn't lie around helpless when Shanna needed him.
He punched a button on his intercom phone.
"Kitchen," a nasal voice answered.
"Howard, is that you?"
"Yes, sir! I'm glad to hear you're up and about. There was a little bit of excitement here while you were sleeping."
Roman could hear stifled laughter in the background. God's blood. You would think being master of the largest coven in North America would entitle him to a little respect.
"Not that we're complaining," Howard continued. "It's usually so boring around here. Oh, Connor just walked in."
"Howard, we have important guests coming in tonight. Your employer, Mr. MacKay, will be here. I expect heightened security during the day and absolute discretion."
"I understand, sir. We'll take good care of everyone. The Highlanders are coming in now, so I'll be going. Good night."
"Good night. Connor, are you there?"
There was a pause, then a beeping noise. "Aye, I'm here."
"Escort Miss Whelan to my office in ten minutes."
"Aye, sir."
Roman strode toward the wet bar, grabbed a bottle of synthetic blood from the mini-fridge, and popped it into the microwave. He headed back to his bedroom. There he pulled on a pair of black slacks and a gray dress shirt¡ªan effort to look a little more formal since he had important guests arriving that night. Angus and his entourage would be dressed to the hilt in their Scottish finery. Jean-Luc would be accompanied by his beautiful vampire models, all wearing his famous haute couture evening wear.
Stuffed in the back of his closet, Roman spotted the black tuxedo and matching cape that Jean-Luc had given him three years ago. Roman groaned. He'd have to wear the damned thing again. Maybe Jean-Luc enjoyed dressing like the Hollywood version of Dracula, but Roman preferred the more relaxed dress code of modern times. He removed the tuxedo from the closet. He'd have to get it pressed before the Gala Opening Ball.
The microwave dinged. His first meal for the evening was ready. He tossed the tuxedo onto his bed. Just then, the outer door to the office slammed open.
"Roman?" Shanna yelled. "Are you there?" There was a definite edge to her voice. Nervous, breathless, near panic.
No way had that been ten minutes. She must have run the entire way. Damn. There went his breakfast.
"I'm in here," he answered and heard a responding gasp as he strode barefoot to the bedroom door.
She was standing close to his desk, her face flushed from running, her pretty mouth agape. Her eyes widened as he moved into the office. "Oh my God," she whispered. Moisture shimmered in her eyes. She covered her mouth with trembling fingers.
God's blood, she'd been through hell. He looked down, embarrassed by the ordeal he'd put her through. Oh, great, he was a sight. His shirt was hanging open. His trousers were unbuttoned and low enough on his hips that his black boxer shorts were showing. He pushed his damp hair back from his face and cleared his throat. "I heard what happened."
She just stood there, staring at him.
Connor rushed through the door. "Sorry, sir. I tried to slow her down, but¡ª" He noted Roman's state of dress. "Och, we should have knocked."
"You're alive." Shanna inched toward him.
The microwave dinged, a reminder bell that his breakfast was still waiting. And would have to wait until Shanna left.
Connor winced. He knew a vampire was always the hungriest when he first awoke. "We should come back later," he suggested to Shanna, "when Mr. Draganesti has finished dressing."
She didn't seem to hear Connor. She moved slowly toward Roman. He inhaled deeply, taking in her scent. She smelled delicious, and that pale orange top made her look as juicy as a ripe peach. What little blood was left in his body surged toward his groin, leaving him doubly starved¡ªfor her flesh, and blood.
The intensity of his hunger must have been noticeable. Connor backed toward the door. "I'll be leaving you two alone, then." He eased out, shutting the door behind him.
Shanna was close enough to grab now. He curled his hands into fists, fighting the temptation. "I've been told that I frightened you. I'm sorry."
A tear escaped, but before it could reach her cheek, she brushed it away. "I'm just happy you're all right."
Did she really care that much? Roman watched her closely. Her gaze traveled the length of him, pausing at his bare chest, slipping lower to his stomach. Damn, he wanted her. He hoped his eyes weren't starting to glow.
"You're really all right." She touched his chest, a light touch with her fingertips, but it jolted him like a lightning bolt. He reacted swiftly, pulling her to him in a tight embrace.
She stiffened at first in surprise, then relaxed, nestling her cheek against the mat of curls on his chest. Her hands rested lightly on his shirt. "I was afraid I had lost you."
"I'm rather hard to get rid of, actually." God's blood, he was hungry. Control, stay in control.
"Radinka said I worked on your teeth last night."
"Yes."
"Let me see." She reached up to his mouth and examined the splint. "The tooth looks fine, a little more pointed than usual. It seems to have healed very quickly."
"Yes. You can remove the splint."
"What? No, I can't. These things take time." The microwave dinged again, drawing her attention. "Did you need to get that?"
He took her hand and kissed her fingers. "I just need you."
She snorted softly and removed her hand from his grip. "Is it true, then, that you actually hypnotized me?"
"Yes." It was close to the truth.
She frowned at him. "I didn't do anything strange, did I? I mean, it's awfully disconcerting to know I did stuff and have no memory of it."
"You were very professional." He recaptured her hand and kissed her palm. If only she would suggest oral sex again.
"I didn't freak out at the sight of blood?"
"No." He kissed the inside of her wrist. Type A Positive was pulsing through the vein. "You were very brave."
Her eyes lit up. "You know what this means? My career isn't over. This is great!" She flung her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Thank you, Roman."
His arms tightened around her. His heart expanded with a glimpse of hope. Then he recalled his suggestion to her at the dental clinic. Bloody hell! This was his doing. She was merely following orders. He wrenched himself out of her embrace.
She gasped, clearly surprised. Then her face seemed to crumble, but only for a second before it settled into a stony, shuttered look. She stepped back. Damn, she must think he had rejected her. And she was trying hard to mask the pain. She really did care about him, and he was fumbling about like an idiot, frightening her during the day, and now hurting her feelings. He had so damned little experience with mortal females.
The microwave dinged once more. He strode toward the machine and yanked the plug from the socket. There, it would stop tempting him with warm blood. Unfortunately, Shanna presented a temptation much harder to resist. She was fresh.
"I'd better be going now." She retreated to the office door. "I.. I'm happy you're alive, and that your tooth is fine. And I appreciate your protection and all the nice.. gifts, which I really can't keep."
"Shanna."
She reached for the doorknob. "You're a busy man, so I'll stay out of your way. In fact, I'll be leaving¡ª"
"Shanna, wait." He moved toward her. "I need to explain."
She refused to look at him. "There's no need."
"Yes, there is. Last night, while you were.. hypnotized, I planted an idea in your mind. I shouldn't have done it, but I made the suggestion that you would throw your arms around me and give me a passionate kiss. And when you did, just now, I realized what I¡ª"
"Wait a minute." She gave him an incredulous look. "You think I was programmed to kiss you?"
"Yes. It was wrong of me, but¡ª"
"That's crazy! First of all, I am not under your control. Sheesh, I'm barely under my own."
"Perhaps, but¡ª"
"And secondly, I bet I'm a lot harder to control than you think."
He kept his mouth shut. She was correct, but he didn't want to confirm it.
"And finally, that was not a passionate kiss. It was a dinky peck on the cheek. A man your age should know the difference."
He raised his brows. "Should I?" He could hardly explain he'd spent most of his mortal years in a monastery.
"Of course. There's a huge difference between a peck on the cheek and a passionate kiss."
"And you are angry with me for failing to discriminate between the two?"
"I'm not angry! Well, maybe a little." She glared at him. "You pulled away from me like I was some kind of leper."
He stepped toward her. "It won't happen again."
She snorted softly. "You can say that again."
He shrugged one shoulder. "I'm a scientist, Shanna. I can hardly make a comparative analysis of the different types of kisses if I cannot acquire the necessary data."
Her eyes narrowed. "I know what you're up to. You're trying to weasel a free sample out of me."
"You mean they're not normally free?" He smiled. "How much will a passionate kiss cost me?"
"I give them freely when I'm in the mood, which I am not." She glowered at him. "It'll be a cold day in hell before I feel like giving you a passionate kiss."
Ouch. He figured that was payback for hurting her feelings earlier. "I actually thought the little peck was very exciting."
"Oh, please. I'm talking real passion here. Hot, sweaty, jungle-fever type stuff. Believe me, if for some strange reason, hell freezes over, and I decide to give you a passionate kiss"¡ªshe leaned against the door and crossed her arms¡ª "believe me, you would have no problem recognizing the difference."
"As a scientist, I can't deal with beliefs." He moved closer. "I need proof."
"You won't be getting it from me."
He stopped in front of her. "Maybe you can't deliver."
"Ha! Maybe you can't handle it."
He rested a palm against the door, close to her head. "Is that a challenge?"
"It's a concern. Given the questionable condition of your health, I'm not sure your heart could take it."
"I survived the last kiss."
"That was nothing! A real passionate kiss would have to be on the mouth."
"Are you sure? That definition seems a bit narrow." He planted a palm on the other side of her head, trapping her between his arms. Slowly, he looked her over. "I can think of some other areas I would love to kiss with passion."
Her face turned pink. "Well, I should be going now. I was worried about you being dead and all, but you certainly seem to be¡ª"
"Up?" He leaned toward her. "I certainly am."
She turned, fumbling for the doorknob. "I'll let you finish dressing."
"I am sorry, Shanna. I didn't mean to frighten or hurt you."
She looked at him. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Oh, Roman, you silly man. I thought I had lost you."
Silly? In his total of five hundred and forty-four years, he'd never been called that. "I'll always be here."
She jumped at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Surprised by the sudden force of her attack, Roman stumbled back a step. The room reeled for a few seconds. He widened his stance to keep from tipping over. Maybe it was hunger that was causing this dizziness. Maybe it was the shock of receiving affection. After all, he was a monster. When was the last time anyone had wanted to hug him?
He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of her shampoo, her soap, her arteries pumping with blood. Hunger pounded inside him. He kissed the top of her head and then her smooth brow. Blood pulsed at her temples, drawing him there. He kissed her, breathing in the rich aroma. She tilted her face up to look at him, but afraid that his eyes would be glowing, he dove for her neck. He nibbled up to her ear, then nipped at the earlobe.
She moaned, sliding her hands into his hair. "I was afraid I'd never get to kiss you."
"I've wanted to since I first met you." He brushed his lips across her jaw, headed toward her mouth.
Their lips met briefly, then separated. Her breath was warm against his face. Her eyes were closed. Good. He could stop worrying about his own eyes.
He brought his hands up to cradle her face. She looked so innocent and trusting. God's blood, she had no idea what he was capable of. He only hoped he was capable of resisting. Gently, he kissed her. She tightened her grip on his head, pulling him closer. He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and flicked it with the tip of his tongue. Her body shuddered. Her mouth opened, begging for him.
He invaded. Explored. She matched each move, stroking his tongue with her own. She was so alive, so hot that all his senses burned. He could see her clinging to him, growing more feverish. He could hear her blood pounding. Feel her nerves quivering, the heat simmering. Smell her juices flowing.
That left only taste.
He wrapped his arms around her. With one hand against her back, he flattened her chest against his. She was breathing quickly, her breasts moving against his skin. His other hand slid down, down and around her rump. God's blood, she was heaven. Firm and round. And she hadn't been kidding about her ability to show passion.
She pressed against his erection. Good God, she was rocking against him. Squirming. Reveling in the glory of being alive and her overriding instinct to create more life.
So sad. His overriding instinct was to destroy life.
He went for her neck. The left fang sprang forth. The right one started to, but jammed against the wire splint. Ouch! He pulled away, clamping his lips together. It hurt like hell, but at least the pain had knocked some sense into him.
He couldn't bite Shanna. God's blood, he had sworn never to bite a mortal again. He released her and backed away.
"What's wrong?" she sounded breathless.
He slapped a hand over his mouth. He couldn't even answer her with one of his fangs extended.
"Oh my gosh. Is it the splint? Or your tooth? Did we knock it loose?" She rushed toward him. "Let me see."
He shook his head. His eyes watered from the strain of trying to retract the fangs while he was still so hungry.
"You look like you're in pain." She touched his shoulder. "Please, let me see."
"Mmm." He shook his head, retreating another step. Damn, this was embarrassing. But he probably deserved it, as close as he had come to biting her.
"I shouldn't have kissed you with the splint in your mouth." She grimaced. "Jeez, I shouldn't have kissed you at all."
The left fang finally obeyed and slid back into its hole. He spoke with his hand in front of his mouth. "I'm all right."
"But I broke a very important rule¡ªnever, ever date a client. I shouldn't be involved with you at all."
He lowered his hand. "In that case, you're fired."
"You can't fire me. You still have my splint in your mouth." She moved close to him. "Now open your mouth and let me see."
He did as he was told.
She nudged the splint with her fingers. He tickled her fingers with his tongue.
"Stop that." She jerked her hand from his mouth. "I can't believe this. The splint's loose."
"Well, you're one hell of a kisser."
She blushed. "I don't see how I managed to.. Don't worry. I won't kiss you again. As your dentist, I'm responsible first and foremost for your dental health¡ª"
"I fired you."
"You can't. Not as long as the splint¡ª"
"I'll rip the thing out myself."
"Don't you dare!"
"I'm not losing you, Shanna."
"You won't lose me. We'll only have to wait a week or so."
"I'm not waiting." He'd waited more than five hundred years to experience something like this. He wasn't waiting another damned week. And he wasn't taking any more chances with his questionable amount of control. He strode toward his bedroom. Black dots swirled around his head. He ignored them, ignored the hunger raging inside him.
"Roman!" She ran after him. "You can't take out the splint."
"I'm not." He yanked open a dresser drawer and dug beneath a pile of underwear. There, on the bottom, was a pouch of red felt. He pulled it out. Even through the felt, he could feel the warmth of the silver inside. Without the felt, his hand would now be covered with burning welts.
He held it out to her. She didn't notice since she was pivoting in a circle, checking out his bedroom. Her gaze lingered on his king-sized bed.
"Shanna?"
She looked at him, then noticed the pouch in his hand.
"I want you to have this." He swayed on his feet. He had to eat soon, one way or another.
"I can't accept more presents."
"Take it!"
She winced. "You should work on your bedside manner."
He leaned on the dresser. "I want you to wear it around your neck. It will protect you."
"Sounds a little superstitious." She took the pouch, loosened the drawstring, and let the contents fall into her hand.
It looked much the same as it had in 1479 when he'd first taken vows. The silver chain was plain but good quality. The crucifix displayed medieval craftsmanship at its best.
"Wow. This is beautiful." Shanna examined it closely. "It looks really old."
"Put it on. It will protect you."
"Protect me from what?"
"I hope you never find out." He eyed the crucifix sadly. He had been so proud when Father Constantine placed it around his neck. Pride. That had been his downfall.
"Help me put it on?" Shanna turned halfway, gathering her hair into a ponytail. She offered the necklace to him.
He stumbled back before the silver could burn him. "I cannot. If you will excuse me, I need to go to work. I have a lot to do tonight."
She eyed him warily. "Fine." She released the ponytail, and her brown hair settled onto her shoulders. "Are you sorry you kissed me?"
"No, not at all." He grabbed the edge of the dresser for support. 'The crucifix. Put it on."
She continued to study him.
"Please."
Her eyes widened. "I didn't think that word was in your vocabulary."
"I reserve it for emergencies."
She smiled. "In that case.." She looped the crucifix around her neck and flipped her hair over the chain. The cross rested on her breasts like a shield of armor.
"Thank you." He gathered up his strength and escorted her to the door.
"I'll see you again?"
"Yes. Later tonight. When I get back from Romatech." He closed and locked the door. Then he stumbled into the office, grabbed the bottle from the microwave, and chugged it down cold. God's blood, his life had been turned upside down by Shanna. He couldn't wait to kiss her again. He was a demon getting a taste of heaven.
Hell was definitely freezing over.