My Vampire Cover Model Read Free

placing a brief kiss on her knuckles. A collective sigh could be heard in the staff room.
    “I am honored to meet you, Deanna.”
    Burney held her hand in his as long as he dared and with a soft, deliberate slowness, stroked it with his thumb. The heat and flame passing between them caused his heart to beat in double time. My mate, after all this time . A raw yearning gripped his soul. Hiding his churning emotions became a struggle.
    Dean pulled her hand from his as if she’d been scalded. He mourned the loss of her potent and searing touch.
    “He’s an Irish charmer.” Carol smiled. “Your friend Janice told me you were driving back to Bedford tonight. I can’t allow that, Deanna. Your father would never forgive me. You and Janice are staying with me as my guests at the Greenwood Inn. I have a good-sized suite with two bedrooms.”
    “Aunt, it’s only an hour and a half drive—”
    Carol held up her hand. “I won’t hear any argument, and I won’t have you driving on the interstate in your condition. Burney and I have about forty minutes left. Do you want to wait here or come out into the store? Maybe you should lie down.”
    Dean laughed. The mirthful sound had a light, feminine tinkle that sent sparks of lustful electricity down Burney’s spine. He held out his hand to Carol and assisted her to her feet.
    “Really, I’m much better. Janice and I will be out soon. Go and greet your public, both of you.”
    Carol reached down and touched Dean’s cheek affectionately. “All right, dear.”
     
     
    Deanna watched as her aunt and the model hunk walked back into the store. What in hell had happened? He wasn’t wearing any cologne? Were they pulling her leg? Even now, his spicy, woodsy man-scent covered her like a heavy cloak. She couldn’t quite pinpoint the odor. A forest after a spring rain perhaps? The scent didn’t seem gross. In fact, the aroma was enticing. There was just too much of it. At least she could breathe again. Janice handed her a glass of water procured from the staff room kitchen. It tasted like cold, crisp ambrosia. Deanna gulped deeply and then passed the empty glass to her good friend. Actually, driving from New York City back to her small town seemed daunting. She pulled out her cell phone and made a quick call to her store supervisor, explained the situation, played up her medical condition a tad, and offered to stay later on her next shift to make up the time. She clicked off, then slumped back on the leather bench. Never had an allergic reaction in my life. What else could it be ? She hoped to hell Burn the Model wasn’t staying at the Greenwood Inn, too.
     
    ***
     
    Burney paced in his motel suite like a caged and hungry tiger. His mate of the soul was down the hall. It took all of his fraying self-control not to kick the door in and ravish her where she stood. The endeavor would be tasteless, as her aunt and friend shared the same suite. At this moment, though, he hardly cared.
    Centuries had passed. Never once had he felt the intensity of this pull. The experience astounded him. He’d assumed it would never happen. The intensity of the soul-mate connection varied with every vampire, and scent played an enormous part in the process. It wasn’t only the odor. His little-used emotions were sparking and alive as never before. His heart beat against his rib cage with decided force.
    He wondered if he was capable of any serious relationship. Burney had grown fond of some of the many women who’d passed through his long life like wisps of smoke. The rather astonishing thing was that Dean Brooks felt the connection, too. She’d been overwhelmed by his mate scent. Most humans, when first exposed, reacted much the way Dean did. The potency lessened the more they were in the vampire’s presence, or so he’d been told. Inevitably, Dean would begin to feel the soul connection, and thus the complications would begin. Why now, after all this bloody time ?
    Burney slumped into the plush