My Vampire Lover Read Free Page B

stupid face.
"I must. I have an appointment I cannot avoid."
"But, we're just getting started," I protested, getting to my feet. "I want to know you better ... sit and talk ... that kind of thing," I finished lamely. "Another time, Ron."
"When? Tomorrow night? I have the night off."
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My Vampire Lover
by J. P. Bowie
"Perhaps."
"Perhaps?" I frowned. "Are you giving me the brush off?"
"No, I am not." He touched my face with his fingertips.
"We will be together again—tomorrow night, if you wish it."
"I do wish it. Very much."
He kissed my lips lightly. "Tomorrow night, then. I will call on you at seven, if that is convenient."
"I'll be here," I said, happily. "I'll make us dinner."
"I will have already eaten, but a glass of wine perhaps..."
"Okay." I walked him to the door. He turned and put his arms around me, nuzzling my neck again—and again I shivered with a feeling of something that I couldn't quite understand ... a longing maybe, to feel his teeth pressed into my skin—
    Whoa, where did that come from?
He pulled back his head and looked into my eyes. I felt as though I might drown in those blue-black depths as he stared at me. "Goodnight," he whispered, close to my lips.
"G'night," I gulped, unable to move.
Then he moved away, and I heard the door close behind him. I stood in the hall for a long moment, just staring at the closed door. What had happened? I wondered. What had that feeling been? Why had I wanted him to bite me? I hated hickeys!
     
For a moment, I hesitated outside after I had closed the door behind me. The scent of his blood had almost overpowered me. I had heard it coursing through his jugular vein as I had pressed my lips to his neck. It was as though he 23
    My Vampire Lover
by J. P. Bowie
sensed my need, for within him, he had anticipated the move I did not allowmyself to make.
    The bloodlust—that ever present threat to any mortal I hold in my arms—had never felt as strong as when I had inhaled the sweetness of his blood beneath his skin. I shivered as I walked quickly away from his apartment door, eager to place as much distance between myself and the temptation he had invoked within me.
    Strange that I had not drunk from him...
I could have and blotted all memory of it from his mind.
Yet, I had baulked at it. Why? Was it my attraction towards him that had stayed my instincts? Was it that I did not want to steal the precious gift, but to have him bestowit upon me willingly, fully conscious of what he was giving?
    I knew, instinctively, that this man was special. I had known that since the first day I had seen him, since I had reached into his mind, felt his loneliness, and the undiscovered depths of love and desire he kept in check I shook my head free of these thoughts—for the hunt, one must have a clear mind at all times.
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24
My Vampire Lover
by J. P. Bowie

Chapter Two
    The following day, I thought of nothing and no one else but Jean-Claude. I couldn't wait for the moment when he would show up at my door. It was my day off, and after my morning run, I set to making my apartment look as charming as I possibly could.
I'm a bit anal about cleanliness, sometimes to the detriment of cosiness, as my bro's boyfriend, Ted, has told me on more than a couple of occasions.
     
So, I picked up a copy of Your Apartment magazine on my way home and, after surfing through its very colourful pages, went out again to buy a couple of houseplants, some flowers and a variety of scatter pillows.
    At six o'clock, I spent twenty minutes in the shower, making sure every nook and cranny was exceptionally clean and fragrant. Raking through my limited wardrobe, I finally settled on a white cotton polo and khaki cargo shorts. When the doorbell rang at seven, I had to stop myself from charging to the door and knocking over everything in my path. I flung the door open, my face split in two by the biggest welcoming smile I could muster.
    "Well, hi—what a welcome!" My brother, Jonas, beamed