My Vampire Cover Model (6 page)

“In all these years, you mean to say there hasn’t been a woman in your life? Have you ever been in love? Are you capable of love?”

Burn shrugged. “As I mentioned in my letter, there’ve been women. The longest affair lasted eleven years. I’ve never been in love. I cared for the women in my life, stayed faithful to them while we were together, but love? No.”

How terrible, to live for hundreds of years and not know love?

“Can you define what you feel here? Besides this pull you keep mentioning and your soul-mate stuff.”

Burn took another drink of wine then lowered the glass to the table.

“You wish me to bear my soul? Am I falling in love with you? I think, perhaps—yes.”

Deanna dropped her fork on the floor. Burn reached down and retrieved it. He waved over the waiter and instructed he bring another.
Did he just say he was falling in love with me
?

“It’s not possible. We don’t know each other. What you feel is lust,” she whispered.

Burn’s lips quirked slightly. “Oh yes, lust. There’s that. Vampires have an active libido. Our stamina and strength ensure we can go all night, multiple sessions and positions.”

Deanna’s mouth went dry.
All night. Oh, wow
.

Burn leaned closer, his eyes the color of polished silver. “When I make love to you, Dean, I will make you scream with passion. You will beg for me to go deeper, faster. I want to feel your luscious lips on my cock—”

“Your fork, sir.”

Deanna’s cheeks flushed hot with embarrassment. Had the waiter heard? Burn pointed to her and the waiter laid it next to her plate and walked away. Burn took a sip of his wine and smiled sexily over the rim of his glass.

Oh. My. God
.

Burney had seen
Casablanca
many times through the decades, first on the big screen, and then late-night showings on television. Later, as the decades passed, he collected the film on VHS, laser disc, and DVD. The dialogue was seared into his brain. He could recite entire scenes. Even with multiple viewings, he never grew tired of it.

He didn’t need to look at the screen. He watched Dean instead and relived the movie through her eyes. She was enthralled and utterly captivated. Her gaze glistened with emotion and her face flushed with expressive excitement. Halfway through the film, Burney put his arm around her and she snuggled in close. Her wildflower scent caressed his senses and his heart stuttered in his chest. Her hand rested near his heart. His skin sizzled from her touch. When Bogart gave his “hill of beans” speech, Burney heard the soft sniffles as Dean watched Rick and Ilsa part.

By the time Rick walked off into the fog with Captain Renault and stated “it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” Dean came to her feet and applauded enthusiastically along with the rest of the audience.

God, she is gorgeous
. Overwhelming emotions washed through him. Regardless of the mate-of-the-soul pull, his feelings encompassed much more. He
was
falling in love with her.

Walking out of the theater, Dean put her arm through his.

“I loved it, Burn. It had everything, suspense, adventure, drama, and oh, the romance!” She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you for insisting! What’ve I been missing out on? Are all old movies this good?”

He laughed. “No, not all. But a lot of them are called classic for a reason. You really liked the movie, love?” Burney basked in her enthusiasm. Her joy was his.

Her feminine laugh caused a bolt of electric desire to snake down his spine, straight to his already hardening cock.

“I really did. Who knew Humphrey Bogart could be a romantic hero?”

Dean squeezed his arm and her breast brushed by the crook of his elbow. A husky moan escaped his lips.

“Under the right circumstances, any man can be a romantic hero, Dean,” he said.

He pulled her into a darkened alcove. Backing her up against the wall, he cupped her face and stared into her expressive and beautiful eyes.

“Here’s looking at you, kid,” he whispered softly.

“Oh, Burn.” Her voice quivered with emotion.

Burney leaned down and softly nibbled on her bottom lip, encouraging her to respond. Dean opened and her tongue darted out and touched his. A ragged groan tore from him as he plunged in and kissed her with everything he had. The hunger and the need overtook him. He was a starving man.

He brushed his hips and his rock-hard erection against her and Dean gasped. She became the aggressor in their kiss. Dean cradled his face and matched his hunger, her lips nibbling, sucking, and tasting. The kiss was more intense than the one in the hotel room.

Burney backed away. His hands still clasped her face. His thumbs stroked her swollen, well-kissed lips.

“I had better take you home, darlin’.”

Reluctantly, he let go. The mate bond screamed for him to claim her.
Mark her. Mine
.

Not tonight. Not yet. Taking her hand, he led her out of the alcove and toward the Lincoln. Soon. Very soon.

***

At four o’clock the next day, Deanna smiled as she walked out of the front entrance of the store. The black Lincoln Town Car sat by the curb, waiting for her. The anticipation at seeing him surprised her. Hell, she had been looking forward to this all day.
Wonder what he has planned today
? Deanna opened the passenger door and climbed into the familiar cool darkness of the Lincoln. Without thinking, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. Burn’s smile was glorious.

He handed her a gift bag.

“I got this for you.”

Deanna reached in and pulled out a DVD box set. The seventieth anniversary Blu-ray edition of
Casablanca
. Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks.

“This is wonderful, Burn, but I don’t have a Blu-ray player.”

Burn reached behind him in the backseat and handed her a box.

“I picked one up in case you didn’t have one.”

“I can’t accept all this….”

Burn waved her off. “Pocket change. These players aren’t expensive. Enjoy. And think of the classic movies you will be able to collect now.” His finger stroked her cheek and his eyes softened. “I can make a few suggestions, if you like.”

Burn was an appropriate name for this man because her skin flamed and sizzled wherever his finger touched and stroked. Concentrating on replying became difficult.

“I would like that. Where are we going today?”

Burn started the engine, put the car in drive, and pulled away from the curb.

“To Saratoga National Historical Park. It’s not far.”

Disappointment crushed her. They were going on a damned field trip? She’d hated those in school. However, she wouldn’t show her displeasure.

“If you’re thirsty, there are a couple of bottles of soda in the bag in back,” he said.

Deanna reached behind her and lifted a heavy bag into her lap. She laughed. There had to be ten or eleven bottles in there.

“Wasn’t sure what your preference was, there is water as well. Take your pick.”

Deanna pulled out a bottle of Coke Zero and placed the soda in the cup holder between them.

“Can you drink? I mean, I’ve seen you drink alcohol. Can you drink other beverages?”

“I can. Fish me out a bottle of water, my sweet.”

Deanna unscrewed the top and handed the bottle to Burn. He tilted his head back and took a long swig, his throat working sexily with each swallow. Even watching him drink got her hot. Turning away, she looked straight ahead at the highway and trees beyond. Last night she’d had an intense, erotic dream with Burn the Cover God, the star. During the hot, wild sex, he’d quoted lines from
Casablanca
, which served to stoke her desire off the charts. After this dull, boring hike through the state park, would he take her to his hotel room? His sexy lilt, his heated words in the restaurant last night…
oh, yikes
.

“Anything you want to ask me?”

His voice jarred her from her daydreams.

“How long are you staying here?”

“Until you’re mine.”

She blew out a frustrated breath. “That’s not an answer. Don’t you have model things to do?”

“No, I haven’t any photo shoots coming up, so I am free to stay here and woo you."

Deanna glanced at him; he smiled. “Woo? Who says woo anymore? Seriously, Burn. I don’t see how this can work.”

He frowned and his lips curled. “I will make it work.”

Stubborn man
. Deanna crossed her arms and looked out the passenger window. The strange thing of it was the “wooing” was working. Big time.

***

Walking hand in hand through the park for close to an hour, Burney could not feel any more contented than he did in that moment. They had toured Schuyler House, and now were walking through Victory Woods.

“I served in the French Army, and in 1781 I was part of the seven-hundred-mile march of French and Continental soldiers to Virginia to serve under Washington. We besieged Cornwallis that September and defeated the British.”

“Really? French Army? Aren’t you Irish?”

“After I was turned, I did not return to Ireland. I joined the French Army instead.”

Dean remained quiet for several minutes. A cool, late-afternoon breeze rustled the branches of the birch trees lining the path. Squirrels chattered nearby, joined in song by a few finches.

“How could you serve in the army? What about the sunlight? You said in your letter it affects you. How can you be out this afternoon?”

“Ah, first, the sky today is overcast so I am able to tolerate the daylight, to a point. Also, when a vampire is first turned, he does not immediately feel the effects of the sun. As a vampire ages, his tolerance for bright light and sun diminishes. Mine is sporadic. I feel the effects more some days than others. I need extra sleep and blood on those days. The nausea can be debilitating.”

Burn raised their clasped hands and he laid an affectionate kiss on hers.

“What did you do after the war was over?”

“I stayed in America for a few decades, in Philadelphia. I witnessed the birth of this nation. It always amazes me that Americans think they are the only nation that is truly free. That is not the case. But, I admired their dogged devotion to their cause.”

“I can’t imagine it. To have witnessed history. I’m in awe.” Her voice was soft and full of wonderment and admiration.

“That is why I brought you here, so you could see how I lived when I first began my existence as a vampire. Rustic and primitive to be sure, but the future was full of such hope and promise.”

“Did you meet anyone famous?”

Burn smiled. “Besides George Washington? Yes, I knew Benjamin Franklin quite well. A fascinating and eccentric man. He enjoyed a good game of chess. He died in 1790. I missed our discussions on republicanism.”

“Thank you for bringing me here, Burn. Did you live in a house similar to Schuyler’s?”

“Yes, very similar. Second-story Colonials were the house of choice back then,” he teased.

“Did you live there—with a woman?”

Burn sighed. “I did. She was my housekeeper. We had an affair, as most men did during that era, with their housekeepers. It lasted for three years.”

“I’m almost afraid to ask how many women there’ve been. Don’t tell me. Knowing I’m just one in a long line….”

Burn clasped her about the waist and pulled her into the woods. His blood roared through his veins, and his heart pounded in his throat. Well off the beaten path, he lowered them both to their knees and cupped her cheeks.

“Look at me, love. You are far from just one in a long line. Know that.”

Burney kissed her. His tongue danced with hers. It wasn’t enough. He sank to the ground, bringing her with him, and began to unbutton her shirt as his tongue laved and tasted every inch of her hot, succulent mouth.

He lifted her bra toward her chin, and her glorious breasts popped free of their confines. They were as beautiful as he knew they would be. Without hesitating, he lowered his head, laid passionate kisses down her neck and along her collarbone. Dean moaned and her fingers laced through his hair, urging him on. Burney’s lips clamped onto a golden-brown nipple and he pulled it gently with his teeth and began to suck and tease with his tongue until it hardened to a nub. Her back arched off the ground.

“Oh yes, more—” Dean groaned.

He would make her come, right here in the woods. His hands clasped her breast and he fed from her, sucked and pulled. His cock throbbed painfully, but he ignored it. He wanted to bring her pleasure.

Dean’s breath hitched in her throat as she panted and moaned his name.

So close, come darlin’. Cry out. Come for me
.

The sound that tore from her was high-pitched, and birds in the trees above squawked and flew away. Burney pulled her close to his heart and rode out the tremors of the orgasm with her. He kissed her forehead, and then smoothed back her sweat-dampened hair. A look of wonderment spread over her flushed face.

“Burn, wow. I never—not like that. Ever.”

A surge of masculine pride rolled through him. Burn helped right her clothes, stood, then held out his hand to assist her.

“The park is about to close. I’ll take you home. When do you get off work tomorrow, love?”

Dean still seemed dazed. She glanced up at him. “I work until six o’clock.”

His fingers brushed her cheek affectionately. “Excellent. I will need the extra sleep.”

Dusk had already settled over the horizon when Deanna walked out of the store a little after six. Burn had parked his Lincoln across the lot. He leaned against the car, his arms and ankles crossed. Tonight he wasn’t dressed in black, but wore sexy, tight button-fly jeans and a torso-hugging white cotton shirt. His sunglasses were pushed up on top of his head. As soon as he spotted her, his handsome face broke into a knee-buckling smile.

Burn had never left her thoughts. Concentrating on the tasks at hand during her workday became impossible, this on top of the previous night’s lack of sleep. What she did manage was filled with erotic, heated images. Her nipples hardened as she relived him sucking her breasts in the woods. He pushed from the car and met her halfway. In front of everyone, including a few of her giggling co-workers, he laid a devastating, heated kiss on her lips.