Craig's Heart (18 page)

Craig brushed his hand over her head and let it settle at her nape. “What happened?”

“I was there two years.” They’d been the best two years of her short life. “I was beginning to think I was going to stay there, you know?” The dark memories still hurt after all these years. “She found out she was pregnant. They were so happy. My foster father had never paid much attention to me, but that all changed. I was suddenly in the way.”

“Fuck.” There was such anger in Craig’s voice and it was all for her. It made it easier to finish telling her story.

“Yeah, you know what comes next. They fought a lot and finally my foster mom came to me and told me I’d be moving. She’d been crying and felt bad, but she didn’t fight hard enough to keep me there. She gave me up just like everyone else in my life has.”

Craig pulled her down until their faces were only an inch apart. “I’ll never give you up.”

His promise sent a shiver of longing through her even as she struggled not to believe it. He said that now, but if it came down to a choice between her or his family, she didn’t hold out any hope of being the winner. That’s just the way life was.

Craig kissed her, moving his mouth softly against hers. She sighed and gave herself up to the passion that simmered constantly between them. She’d tried to hold herself back from him, but it was impossible. There was just too much passion, too much everything.

He understood her like no one else ever had. He talked to her as though her opinion mattered, made her feel important for the first time in her life. That in itself was seductive. She knew they were on borrowed time, but she’d tossed caution to the wind. She didn’t expect to live for much longer and, for the first time in her life, she felt as though she belonged with someone.

Not that she’d ever admit it to him or anyone else. No, she’d protect her heart as best she could, but that didn’t mean she was going to deny herself the pleasure of being with him. If she was going to have the heartbreak when the time came for them to part, she reasoned she might as well enjoy all the good stuff.

He eased back and studied her. “What is going on in that brain of yours?”

She shook her head. No way was she going there.

“We should get up and talk to Damek.” Because if they stayed in bed much longer, she knew they’d end up making love again. Not that she’d particularly mind. She loved Craig’s body, his broad shoulders, wide chest and six-pack abs. She loved his slightly callused hands on her skin and his hard, hot cock inside her.

But she was particularly vulnerable now because the memories from her past were so close to the surface. She needed to rebuild her walls, reinforce them as much as she could, before they made love again.

And it was making love. She’d had sex with a couple of guys before and there was no comparison between what they’d done and what happened when she and Craig came together.

Craig studied her for a long moment and then released her. “Whatever you want.” He sifted his fingers through her long hair, combing it carefully. “All I want is for you to be happy.”

And all she’d ever wanted was a man who would say these kinds of things to her and mean it. Too bad she’d turned the only one who ever had into a vampire. Not to mention the fact that both their lives were in danger until she killed the creature who’d made her. Yeah, as always, her life sucked.

Although, for the first time in what seemed life forever, she had something good in her life, someone good.

Craig released her and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “We’ll talk more later.” There was a thread of steel beneath his words that sent a shiver down her spine. He might want to talk more later, but there was a limit to what she’d tell him. He already knew more about her than any other living soul.

He rolled out of bed and padded to the adjoining bathroom. Evie simply lay in bed and enjoyed the view of Craig’s naked butt. After about thirty seconds, she sighed and climbed out of bed and followed him.

Damek was waiting for them when they entered the living room a half hour later. Craig’s shower had taken a little longer than he’d planned, but he didn’t mind. Making love to Evie in the shower was becoming his favorite way to start the day. Or rather, night.

He only wished he knew what was on her mind. She seemed pensive. One moment she was right with him, the next she seemed a million miles away. Her revelations from her past weren’t much of a surprise. He’d known she’d been in foster care and had left as soon as she’d turned eighteen. She wouldn’t have done that if she’d been close to the family she’d been living with.

Like him, for good or bad, her past defined her. Craig knew she was a guarded person, a loner. But he wasn’t going to let her stay that way any longer.

It would take some time, but he knew he could convince her to trust him with her love. She already trusted him with her body, but that wasn’t enough. There was something special between them and he wasn’t about to lose it. He’d waited too long to find a woman like Evie—intelligent, giving, honorable and, best of all, she knew all about him and his family.

Evie was one in a million and worth fighting for.

He also knew she was still planning on sacrificing herself if need be. Knew she felt she had to face Vladimir Drake alone and kill him. Evie wasn’t used to anyone having her back, being on her side. But she’d learn or he’d die trying.

She was holding herself slightly away from him and Craig knew she was trying to put some emotional and physical distance between them. He wasn’t having it. He caught her hand and twined their fingers together.

Damek and Sonia were already seated on the sofa waiting for them. Craig nodded to his hosts. “Good evening.”

Damek motioned to the glasses of blood on the coffee table. “Drink and we’ll talk.”

Craig seated Evie next to him, ignoring the dirty look she sent him. As long as she was sitting next to him she could look at him any way she wanted. He almost grinned at the uncharacteristically possessive thought. He’d certainly changed since he’d met Evie. Craig was beginning to understand his friend more and more with each passing day. Damek was certainly possessive when it came to Sonia.

Craig picked up one of the crystal glasses and started to hand it to Evie. She ignored him and took the other one that was still on the table. He shrugged and sipped the ruby liquid. “Did you have a chance to check the properties?”

“Yes.” Damek absently ran his fingers up and down Sonia’s arm. “I checked all the ones you sent me. One was a possibility, but it was empty. The rest were a bust.”

Craig nodded. “I probably need another half hour on my computer and can send you everything else I’ve found. I should have done it last night, but—” He broke off and lifted the glass, drinking deep. No need to rehash last night’s debacle.

“Have you checked your phone messages?” Sonia asked. The compassion in her voice soothed some of the ache in his heart. He still had friends. Good friends in her and Damek. And his family.

“No.”

“You should.” Damek’s crisp words made Craig stop.

“What did you do?”

Damek scowled at him. “I did nothing other than talk to those stubborn wolves.”

Craig reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He’d automatically put it there when he’d dressed but hadn’t bother to check it for messages. There were half a dozen missed calls from Meredith and almost as many from his sister.

The ones from his sister were easy enough to figure out. She probably wanted to tell him what Damek had said. The ones from Meredith weren’t quite as easy to figure out. “If they have to be blackmailed into talking to me, I’m not interested.”

Evie had been keeping her distance but was suddenly plastered alongside him, her hand resting on his leg. He could feel her tensing, ready to jump to his defense if necessary. He covered her hand with his, loving the sense of togetherness it gave him.

Damek raised one eyebrow. “Now why would you think they were blackmailed?”

Craig set his glass down on the table and pointed an accusing finger at his friend. “I know you. I know how you operate.”

Sonia laughed and playfully punched her husband in the side. “He’s got your number.”

“The abuse I take.” Damek caught her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed each of Sonia’s knuckles before turning back to Craig. “I didn’t blackmail them. I didn’t have to. I simply pointed out a few truths to them. But you don’t have to take my word for it, talk to Meredith. Or your siblings for that matter. They were there.”

Damek rose. “I must leave for work.”

Craig jumped to his feet before his friend could leave the room. There was no expression on Damek’s face, but Craig knew his accusation had hurt his friend. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.” Craig raked his fingers through his hair, frustrated with himself and with the situation they all found themselves tangled in.

“I’ve got a lot on my mind right now, but you’ve been nothing but kind and understanding. Hell, I probably wouldn’t be standing here if you hadn’t come to my aid. I don’t doubt that Vladimir would have found us by now if we were still roaming the streets, trying to survive. I owe you my life. Our lives.”

Damek swore in a language Craig didn’t know, but there was no doubt what was coming out of his friend’s mouth was profanity. Some words didn’t need translating. “You owe me nothing. Nothing. You are my one true friend.”

Craig pulled Damek into his arms and hugged him. “And you’re my friend. Now and always.” Damek returned his embrace and then pulled back.

The older vampire stared at him for a long moment, both of them sharing their thoughts before retreating behind their separate walls once again. Damek nodded and Craig knew he’d been forgiven.

Damek glanced at Evie and then back at his wife. “We must plan our next move.”

Chapter Twelve

Evie’s head was still ringing with Damek’s instructions on how to defeat a vampire, especially one as old as Vladimir. Nobody said it was going to be easy, but from what Damek had told them it seemed almost impossible—at least for her.

But she wouldn’t accept defeat.

There was no doubt in her mind that Damek could destroy Vladimir Drake. Whatever Vladimir’s skills, she couldn’t imagine him defeating Damek in a fight. But then, fate didn’t always play fair. She had to be prepared in case her opportunity arose or Damek failed.

Fresh from her shower, she dressed in a pair of new jeans and the sweater she’d
borrowed
from Craig’s closet. It might be juvenile, but she liked wearing his sweater. It made her feel closer to him.

Sonia had thoughtfully shopped for some new clothing for her and Evie now had several underwear sets, some new tops, a pair of jeans and a pair of leggings. She’d pay the other woman back as soon as she could.

She sat on the bed, pulled on her boots and laced them up. Craig walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his lean waist and another one around his neck. A bead of water rolled down his broad chest, making Evie lose her breath. The urge to step up to him and lick that small droplet of water away was almost overwhelming.

They hadn’t had sex last night before they’d fallen asleep or when they’d woken this evening. It was obvious he wanted to, but she’d put him off and then felt guilty when he’d immediately become concerned about her wellbeing.

They’d still slept together, and she’d spent the night with his arm draped across her. She’d lay awake in the daylight hours, soaking up the sensation of being tucked up next to his big body. Safety. Craig represented safety to her on so many levels.

As much as she cared for him and wanted to be with him, she needed some perspective, and that only came with distance. Unfortunately or fortunately, she wasn’t sure which, they were stuck together until the trouble with Vladimir and the bounty hunters was dealt with.

Evie finished with the laces of her boots and leaned back against the headboard and watched Craig drop his towel and pull on a pair of boxer briefs. She almost broke out in a sweat at the sight of his firm butt cheeks. Too soon, he was covered, pulling on a pair of jeans and a dark-brown wool pullover.

He picked up both towels and went back into the bathroom. She knew he was hanging them on the towel rod. He was good about things like that.

Evie closed her eyes and sighed, but the image that filled her imagination was the one of Damek and Craig sparring in the empty apartment beneath Damek’s home. As soon as the sun had set this evening, Damek pounded on their bedroom door, demanding their presence. They’d barely had time to swallow the glasses of blood he’d thrust at them before he was hustling them downstairs to what seemed to be a workout space. He’d handed each of them a sword and demanded they pay attention and learn.

And learn they had.

Damek was a tough task master, exacting and driven. He’d drilled them over and over on different positions and maneuvers. She’d found them difficult, but Craig had taken to them like a duck to water. Before long, she was watching the two men spar. And while it was obvious that Damek was far superior, Craig held his own.

Damek had explained about staking a vampire through the heart. Younger vampires it would probably kill. Older ones might be incapacitated, but not for long. The head needed to come off and the body had to be burned. A grizzly and bloody business.