Vampire King of New York (9 page)

“Stop,” Max yelled. He turned to her. “You’re hungry.”

“I can wait until we have supper later.”

“Of course, you won’t. What would you like?”

“A hotdog with mustard and an orange soda.”

He hopped down, went over to the vendor with the silver cart and bought two of both. Then Max handed her the food, before stepping back into the carriage. “Drive on.”

The carriage was in motion again. “I thought we’d have a little something to tide us over.” He took a big bite of his hotdog. Evelyn licked the mustard on her hotdog, and noticed she had caught his eyes. He squirmed uncomfortably and she chuckled. How phallic of her, though she didn’t intend it. The hotdog tasted sinfully good. She turned her head and inhaled the intoxicating fragrance of the deep red-purple roses. If only she could dwell in that fragrance forever. Between the stimulating flavor in her mouth and the dizzying scent engulfing her, Evelyn was glad that they were in the middle of a busy city. Otherwise she might rip his clothes off. Evelyn didn’t have any idea why this all translated into wanting Max urgently, but the raw lust inside her was undeniable. She bit into the hotdog again to stave off the urge.

He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “It’s a good thing we’re in the middle of a crowded square, or I’d rip your clothes off, my Evelyn.”

She trembled. Was he reading her mind?

Gulping she turned her face into the roses again. “Max, the roses are amazing. What kind are they?”

“Damask roses. Imported. Nothing but the best for my Goddess.”

The clip-clop of the horse’s hooves unleashed a certain otherworldly excitement in her. She finished her drink, and Max, being prepared, collected the rubbish in a little bag and handed it up to the driver. Then he sat back, and she melted against him.

“You know I’m not dressed for a formal reception.”

“That’s not a problem. I had Laura collect a few things for you, and my driver picked it up and delivered it to my office.”

“We’re getting dressed in your office?”

“In a manner of speaking.”

He kissed her head, working his way down the side of her face with small teasing kisses. Then he captured her lips. Evelyn couldn’t breathe, and then she could—through him. He was her life; their hearts came into synch beat by beat. She didn’t resist. He was wonderful and adorable and a hundred other things that Jack never was. In that moment, she didn’t care that Max was a vampire. No man had ever treated her this well. And it was more than that. Something was growing between them.

Nervous, Evelyn pulled away. “Max, why me?”

“Because you’re unique in the universe. You’re my lifemate.”

“I don’t really get this lifemate stuff, and I know I’m not unique.”

“You are.” His heated lips brushed her half-closed eyelids.

“You could have any woman in the city. Any of them. I’ve seen them watch you, as we go by wishing they were sitting in my place. So many of them. Why me?”

He turned, completely facing her. “It’s apparently going to take time to convince you that I only want you. I’m not going to tell you that I’ve not been with women. But I can say I haven’t been with as many as most of the vampires I know. A woman could be beautiful. She could fascinate me for a while but I waited for the feeling, the knowing that she was mine forever. That feeling wasn’t there.”

“Laura says all male vampires are sluts.”

He sighed and drew her closer in his arms. “I’m going to have to have a talk with your sister.”

“It isn’t true?”

“It is,” he chuckled. “But let’s not spread that around. And it definitely doesn’t apply to me.”

“Why doesn’t it?”

“I gave up on women around two hundred years ago, thinking I would never find the one that would make me feel alive. Then I walked into that restaurant and saw you.”

“I’m supposed to be your one and only?”

“Yes. Evelyn, lifemates can share things that mere companions cannot.”

“Like what?”

The carriage stopped abruptly, and she fell forward. Max caught her. “Sorry, Mr. Vander Meer. I was cut off.” The carriage started again, and the driver turned down a street toward a gray stone and glass building. They stopped in front of the doorman.

Leaning into her ear, he said, “We’ll continue our conversation later, my Evelyn.”

Max helped her down and even remembered the roses. They went through the glass lobby with its four waterfalls and straight to the elevators. No one stopped them. Everyone nodded when Max walked by. The elevator was plush and had its own operator. They entered and immediately the man put a key into the panel. The doors shut and they whooshed to the
twenty-fourth floor. When they got out, the operator followed them carrying the roses.

A young woman with dark hair swept into a tight bun, wearing a Givenchy blue linen suit greeted them. Max kept walking with Evelyn tucked under one arm, and the woman hurried to keep pace with them.

“Good evening, Mr. V.”

“Good evening, Noblesse. Any messages?”

“No, sir.”

“Damn. All right. Keep me abreast of any new developments.” The smartly dressed woman left the office, shutting the door.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m waiting for briefings from the teams. I want to hear that they’ve caught that rogue vampire or vampires.”

“You think there’s more than one?”

“It’s possible.” He walked over to a closet and opened it. A gray garment bag hung in the center next to a clear bag showing a perfect tux. Taking out the bag, he directed her to a bathroom and hung it on the door for her. “Laura said you would have everything you needed.”

It was a bit of a relief to go into the bathroom and close the door between her and Max. He was definitely intense, though she loved their interactions, Evelyn needed a reprieve. She unzipped the bag. Her strapless black evening gown was there with the under bustier she wore with it, along with the long, slit slip in a smaller bag. In the bottom of the bag were her matching shoes.

Getting the slip on was nothing, but the bustier was proving a handful. Last time she wore the gown was to an event at the Arnhem Society, where she accompanied David and Laura. Her sister had helped her with the little hooks in the back.

“Is something wrong, my Evelyn?” He was doing it again.

“No. I’m just having some trouble with some hooks. I’ll be out in a few.”

“I could come in and hook them for you. I’ve already seen your breasts.” His voice through the door carried a hint of amusement that edged on annoying her.

“You saw one breast, Max, and you’re not likely to see anything else if you keep that up.”

“Ah, my dearest, how did you know what’s up?” She could hear him chuckling through the door. “Evelyn, won’t you please, let me help you.”

“Max, if I let you in here, we won’t make it to the exhibit. And I really want to see it.”

He sighed.

Next she heard a soft rapping on the door. “Ma’am, this is Noblesse. May I come in and help you?”

Evelyn opened the door. Within seconds, Noblesse had her in her bustier and gown. They stepped out together.

“Thank you, Noblesse.”

“You’re welcome, Ma’am.” The vampiress moved quickly, she was gone in an instant.

“Is she also an Arnhem Knight?”

Max took her hand and led her to the sofa. “Yes. Noblesse is one of my bodyguards.” He left her seated while he went to his desk. Seconds later, he sat by her side and gave her a Tiffany blue box. Evelyn’s hands were shaking, when she opened the box and found a black velvet box inside. Opening that revealed the black satin interior with Tiffany & Co embossed on the top of the inner satin cover. She couldn’t breathe. It was a diamond necklace. The gems were white, almost blue, like icicles against her fingers.

“Max, this is borrowed to wear to the event tonight?”

“No, this is a gift that I had designed for you.”

Evelyn choked on air. Max embraced her, stoking her back. “Calm down, dearest.”

“Max, I can’t possibly accept …”

“Yes, you can. There are no strings attached.” He paused. “Okay, I do want you, and I would love it if you’d choose to stay with me forever, but …” He leaned away from her. “I won’t impose myself on you. I want you to choose to stay with me because of love, and I’m willing to wait. Regardless of outcome, I want you to have the necklace.”

She nodded.
What the hell?
If things didn’t work out, she could always give it back. Max took the necklace from the box and placed the diamonds around her neck. Evelyn shivered a little from the cold. He drew her into his arms again. This time he kissed her lips. The warm, moist, hungry pressure of his mouth on hers was enough to drive her crazy with lust every which way.

He nibbled down her jaw and neck, his fangs teasingly touching pressure points that drove her wild. Her fingers tangled in his hair and urged him up.

“Max, let’s go to the exhibit.”

When they stood up, they both straightened their evening clothes. She fixed the ascot tie of his tuxedo. He placed a black satin cape around her shoulders.

“Where did this come from?”

“My personal shopper. The weather report said it might be chilly tonight, and I don’t want you catching cold.”

“Another gift?”

“Yes. You have not been properly attired, my Goddess. Now you will be.”

She took her purse from the desk. “This is all going to take getting used to.”

Max smiled that dazzling smile. “I want you to get used to me.”

Before she could answer, he took her hand and led her to the wall. He pressed on a panel in the wall, which slid open. They went up the stairs in the passage and finally reached a door that opened out onto the roof of the building. The cacophony of the city below was muffled from this distance. The stars twinkled faintly in the blue-black sky.

“If we go higher, you’ll be able to see them better.”

“What?”

“Do you trust me, my Evelyn?”

Evelyn didn’t know how to answer. Max was always doing for others, caring, protecting. But for her this was the ultimate question. Could she trust Max? With her life? He had already proven himself. With her love? She still wasn’t sure.

“Yes, I trust you, Max.”

“Put your arms around my neck.”

She did what he asked. Then he hugged her around the waist and walked off the roof.

Chapter 9

They didn’t fall to the ground like Evelyn half expected. With her firmly in his grasp, he hung suspended in the air. In the first few minutes, a rush of fear filled Evelyn’s mind with memories flashing before her eyes. Her small son’s body lay on a metal table, his body mangled, his blond hair sticking every which way. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t cry. Gasped. Then she was small again and watching her mother unwinding a hurricane whose eye pulsated off the coast of New Orleans. The fierce wind died down. The whipping rain became a harmless and refreshing spray. Why in a moment of terror did she remember that?

Then her frantically beating heart slowed and steadied. Her head had been pressed against Max’s chest the entire time. He stroked her hair, flattening it, even though a second later the wind fluttered it around her face again.

“Are you all right? How are you feeling?” he whispered into her ear. With the wind blowing, that was the only way she could hear him.

“Shouldn’t we be moving?”

“Not until I know you are okay?”

Clinging to him for dear life, Evelyn raised her head and looked around. Then she glanced down. A thousand swirling and dashing lights went off in every direction. She clawed his back. “Oh, God.” Her heart rose into her mouth.

He maintained his tight grip on her waist. “Look at me, Evelyn.”

She gazed up into his blue-gray eyes and began feeling better. The sick feeling in her stomach subsided.

“Dance with me.”

He waltzed her slowly through the sky. At first, she put her head back against his chest, closing her eyes tightly. Knowing he was a vampire, she was still amazed that she heard a soft heartbeat.

“Are you feeling better?” Max nuzzled the side of her head.

“Yes. How did you know I felt sick?”

“You looked alarmingly pale for a few minutes. I think you’re getting used to the altitude.”

“I think I’m doing great for someone who has never flown before.” She let go with one arm then clutched him in panic.

“You are.”

Evelyn had never flown before. It hadn’t occurred to her to ask her sister or David. The idea frightened her, yet here in Max’s arms, something was changing. He was suspended forty floors over the city. A wave of serenity rippled through her, calming every body part and easing her mind. He moved higher in the sky, holding her close, waltzing her side to side.

“I will never drop you.”

“I trust you, Max.

Holding her protectively in a very intimate dance across the sky, he felt her terror wash over him before being replaced by a serene calm. When Evelyn relaxed against him, he knew something inside her had changed. “How do you feel now?”

She gazed up at him. Carefully, Evelyn released her panic-grip on his neck, one hand drifting down to his chest to settle over his heart.

“Max, you said we could discuss this lifemate thing.”

The next words spoken had to be perfect. He had to convince Evelyn that she was his lifemate, and how much she meant to him. He held her more tightly and took them higher so that clouds lay like pavement beneath their feet.

“Lifemates are eternally bonded.”

“I’ve seen vampire couples fight and break up, Max. They didn’t look eternally bonded to me.”

“To find your lifemate is a rare gift. It is such a rare event that most vampires have given up on the concept, believing it to be a myth. Even I gave up, until David met Laura and their bond was plain to see. Then some of the Arnhem Knights found their eternal mates, and I had hope.”

“You said before that lifemates are warm to each other’s touch. What else proves they are lifemates?”

“They sense each other’s emotions. They give each other strength, their energy combined makes them stronger when together. Lifemates often share dreams.”

She gazed away from him. “What kind of dreams?”