Vampire Mine (22 page)

She looked indignant. “I wouldn‟t presume to judge.”

His jaw shifted. He was sorely tempted to poke her or tickle her. Then kiss her senseless.

Actually, he could skip the tickling and go straight to the kissing.

“Were you always this handsome?”

His eyebrows shot up. “Aye.”

She laughed.

His mouth twitched. “Of course ye might think that was immodest of me, but thankfully, ye‟re no‟ judging me.”

“I wouldn‟t dream of it.” Her eyes grew tender. “So how did it happen? Roman was the one who changed you?”

“Yes. Ian MacPhie and I were fighting in the Battle of Solway Moss, just south of the Scottish border. The lands there were always under dispute, the English and Scottish kings snarling at each other, and puir sods like Ian and me paying the price.” He sighed. “ ‟Twas a humiliating defeat, even more humiliating when I realized I was going to die.”

She touched his arm. “I‟m so sorry.”

He shrugged. “That night, Roman and Angus found us and asked if we wanted to keep on living and fighting for a just cause. We both said yes, no‟ quite realizing what lay in store for us, but neither of us wanting to die.”

“Of course not.”

“Roman changed me, and Angus changed Ian. The puir lad was only fifteen.”

“He looks older now.”

Connor nodded. “Roman invented a drug that can keep a Vamp awake during the day, but it also ages him a year for each day. Ian took the drug so he could look older.”

“How interesting. And now he‟s married, and they‟re expecting their first child.”

Marielle smiled. “I‟m glad it worked out so well for him.”

“Aye.”

“Why did Phineas say you were in a mid-life crisis?”

He scoffed. “ ‟Tis a ridiculous theory that a vampire will develop some . . . emotional issues after he‟s lived half a millennium.”

She tilted her head, considering. “Five hundred years doesn‟t seem long to me. But I would agree that you are overly burdened with remorse.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “I‟ve lived with it for centuries. I‟m used to it.”

“And who is Darcy Newhart?”

He winced. “A mistake.”

“She was on the fringe of your remorse, not well hidden.”

“Aye, I suppose that‟s true. Things have worked out well for her, so I doona feel as bad as I once did.”

“What happened?”

“Gregori dragged me to a bar where mortal youngsters like to pretend they‟re vampires.

Darcy was a television reporter, doing a feature on the place, and when she tried to interview us as make-believe vampires, we thought it was great fun. But then she was attacked in the alley by some Malcontents, and by the time we found her, she was close to death.”

“How terrible.”

“I couldna bear to see her die like that, so I transformed her.” Connor sighed. “I thought I was giving her life, but I was actually taking her life away. She lost everything that was important to her. Her job, her family and friends.”

“She didn‟t like being a vampire?”

“Nay. She hated me for changing her and no‟ giving her any choice in the matter.”

Marielle nodded. “And that‟s why you feel guilt and remorse. But you said everything worked out for her?”

“Aye. Roman discovered a way to make her mortal again, and now she‟s happily married to another mortal. They have a wee bairn and another one on the way. She and Austin work for MacKay S and I, too.”

Marielle smiled. “That‟s wonderful. I love happy endings.” She lounged back against the sofa. “Thank you for telling me. It wasn‟t too painful, was it?”

“I may be traumatized for a few centuries.”

She scoffed. “I let you off easy. I know there‟s a lot more you‟re hiding in there.” She touched his chest.

He squeezed her hand, grateful that she wasn‟t going to push any further. It was surprising, though, how easy she had been to talk to.

She scooted closer to him on the couch and leaned her head against his shoulder. When he glanced at her, his chin rubbed against her hair, so silky and soft. The scent of her shampoo filled his nostrils.

He looked away. “We should be careful no‟ to get too close.”

“But I consider you a close friend, Connor. Surely two friends can embrace without it causing problems.” She wrapped an arm around his torso and rested her head on his chest.

He swallowed hard. “I suppose an occasional hug would be all right.” He extended his arm around her shoulders.

She snuggled closer. “I do like being able to touch you. For so long I couldn‟t touch anyone without making them shrivel up and die.”

He certainly didn‟t shrivel up when she touched him.

She skimmed her fingers along his jaw. “I like the way your whiskers feel. A little ticklish.”

A vision popped into his head of him tickling her bare breasts with his whiskers.

“Thank you for a wonderful evening.” She kissed his cheek.

“Lass.” He touched her face. “We shouldna kiss.”

“It was just a tiny one on your cheek.”

He pressed his lips against her brow. “Then we willna kiss . . . on the mouth.” He kissed her temple.

“That‟s probably wise.” Her hand slipped around his neck.

He trailed kisses down her jaw. “We shouldna get too involved.”

“Exactly.” She tilted her head so he could more easily nuzzle her neck. “Did you mean what you said earlier about my breasts?”

“That I wanted to touch and kiss them?”

“Yes.”

“Aye, I do,” he whispered in her ear. “But we should be careful.” He planted kisses across her cheek.

With a moan, she leaned closer.

“We should practice . . . restraint.” He kissed the corner of her mouth.

“Yes.”

He paused, his mouth only a fraction away from hers. Her lips were open, full and moist.

Her breath stirred gently against his lips.

Stop
it, ye fool!
Before it was too late, he turned his head and kissed the other corner of her mouth.

Someone cleared a throat across the room, and he jumped back.
Bugger.

Vanda, Marta, and Brynley were back, and by the looks on their faces, they were enjoying the show.

M
arielle gasped. Heat rushed to her face. She didn‟t know which was worse—the way the women looked amused or the way Connor looked appalled. Mortified, even.

She rose to her feet. Connor did the same, standing stiffly a few feet away from her.

“Hi, guys,” Vanda greeted them, her eyes twinkling. “How‟s the training going?”

“All right,” Marielle mumbled at the same time that Connor grumbled, “Good.”

“Looked real good to me,” Brynley said with a smirk.

Marta shook her head, smiling, as she deposited two tote bags on the kitchen counter.

“We didn‟t realize we were going to interrupt your . . . workout.”

“Well, it could have been worse.” Vanda‟s mouth twitched. “They were practicing restraint, you know.”

Marielle winced. Just how long had the women watched?

Connor muttered something in Gaelic that sounded like a curse. “I would appreciate it if ye would use some restraint yerselves and no‟ repeat what ye saw.”

“I didn‟t see anything.” Vanda turned to Brynley. “Did you see anything?”

“Nope, but I have a strange craving for raw oysters.”

While the women laughed, Marielle stole a glance at Connor. Anger simmered in his smoky blue eyes when he met her gaze.

“I apologize for the . . . embarrassment.” His jaw shifted. “It willna happen again.”

A pang jabbed at her heart. Did he mean he would never kiss her again?

“I have a few errands to run.” He raised his voice. “I‟ll return shortly before dawn.”

“Connor, you don‟t have to . . .” Vanda paused when he teleported away. “Sheesh, we didn‟t mean to chase him away.”

“Party pooper,” Brynley muttered.

Marielle frowned at the empty spot where Connor had stood. He hadn‟t said good-bye.

“Are you all right?” Marta asked from the kitchen as she unloaded the tote bags.

Marielle nodded. “Yes.”

Vanda perched on the back of the couch. “I don‟t mean to be nosy, but what the heck is going on? I thought you wanted to go back to heaven.”

“I do.” Marielle stuffed her hands into the pockets of her hooded jacket. “Connor‟s helping me.”

“Is that what he calls it?” Vanda‟s eyes narrowed. “He had better not be taking advantage of you.”

“He‟s not,” Marielle protested. “I wanted to—” Her blush returned.

“Holy moley,” Brynley whispered. “Have you fallen for him?”

“I . . .” Marielle hesitated. “I don‟t know. Maybe.”

“You don‟t know?” Brynley planted her fists on her hips. “The guy is legally dead. And he wears a skirt!”

“I like his kilt,” Marielle said quietly. “And he‟s not really dead.”

“He talks weird. And he‟s got red hair!” Brynley wrinkled her nose in disgust. “You can‟t possibly think he‟s good-looking.”

Marielle stiffened. “Connor is very handsome. And I won‟t have you insult him further.”

“Busted!” Brynley pointed a finger at her. “Don‟t tell us you don‟t know. You are seriously into him.”

Marielle swallowed hard.

“Oh, that was clever of you,” Marta said to Brynley. “You made her reveal her true feelings.”

Brynley shrugged. “I‟ve been around the block a few times.”

Marielle fiddled with the zipper on her jacket, recalling how Connor had zipped it up earlier that night. “I believe your Three-Step Rule may also be accurate.”

Brynley chuckled. “I know it is.”

Vanda held up a hand. “I don‟t think this is a laughing matter.” She regarded Marielle with a worried look. “Have you ever been in love before?”

She started to say she loved all mankind, but she knew that wasn‟t what Vanda meant.

She was referring to the way her heart lurched whenever she looked at Connor. And the way desire and longing filled her up to the point she feared she might burst. “I‟ve never felt like this before.”

“And Connor?” Vanda asked. “How does he feel?”

With a sudden pang in her chest, Marielle realized she wanted him to love her.

She winced. How could she be so selfish? Did she really want to leave him brokenhearted when she returned to heaven? He was already burdened with so much pain. How could she add to it? “I don‟t want to hurt him. What should I do?”

Vanda exhaled slowly. “Well, if you‟re really planning to leave . . .”

“You gotta dump him,” Brynley finished.

Marielle flinched. “But . . . he‟s my protector. He guards me at night.”

“We can find someone else to protect you,” Brynley suggested.

Vanda nodded. “I‟m sure Ian would do it. And Phil would help, too. You wouldn‟t have to worry about either of them making a move on you.”

Marielle‟s chest tightened. “Connor‟s training me to protect myself, and he can enter my mind to tell where to teleport to—”

“Any Vamp can do that,” Vanda interrupted. “Look. I know you want to keep Connor around. That‟s natural when you have feelings for him. But the more involved you get with him, the more it‟s going to hurt when you leave.”

“Then it‟s settled,” Brynley announced. “You gotta dump him.”

Marielle nodded as tears filled her eyes. God help her. There was no way to avoid hurting Connor. She could hurt him now . . . or later.

“And the sooner you dump him, the better,” Brynley added.

“That seems harsh,” Marta said as she walked toward the couch.

“Yeah, but that‟s the way it goes.” Brynley slouched in a kitchen chair. “Life sucks and then you die.” Her eyes narrowed on Marielle. “And that‟s when you show up, right?”

A tear rolled down her cheek. “Yes.”

“Don‟t be so rough,” Vanda snapped at Brynley. “This sort of thing is new to her.”

Marta touched Marielle‟s shoulder. “Please don‟t cry.”

Marielle wiped her cheek. “I never knew how difficult it was to be human.”

Brynley sighed and propped her cowboy boots up on the neighboring chair. “I‟m just saying love isn‟t for wimps. If you don‟t have the courage to take it to the end zone, then don‟t get in the game.” She crossed her arms, frowning. “I learned that the hard way.”

“Well, don‟t take your misery out on the rest of us,” Vanda grumbled. She walked over to Marielle and patted her shoulder. “It‟ll be all right. Things have a way of working out in the end.”

Marielle blinked away her tears. “You‟re right. I have to stay strong.” She had to keep believing, no matter what.

Vanda smiled. “We brought a surprise for you tonight.”

Marielle took a deep breath to ease her nerves. “What kind of surprise?”

“Homemade chocolate chip cookies and milk,” Brynley said. “Guaranteed to make you feel better.”

“And I packed a bag of spa stuff,” Vanda added. “Since we can‟t take you to a spa, we brought the spa to you.”

“Spa?” Marielle asked.

Vanda nodded. “It‟ll be fun!”

I
t was torture. At least in the beginning when Vanda showed her how to wax her legs. It did help, though, to take her mind off Connor. But when they left her soaking in the bathtub, her thoughts slipped right back to him.

“Time for your pedicure.” Vanda hustled her out of the tub and wrapped her in a thick robe.

“You‟d better move,” Vanda warned Brynley as she led Marielle back into the main room.

Brynley jumped up from the couch. “I‟ll fix her some milk and cookies.” She headed to the kitchen, steering clear of Marielle.

Vanda set Marielle down on the couch, then perched on the coffee table across from her.

She placed one of Marielle‟s feet in her lap. “You have such new skin, like a baby.”

“Here.” Marta brought over a plastic bin, filled with a variety of nail polish. “Pick a color.”

Marielle chose a luminous pink that reminded her of sunsets, and Vanda started with her toes.

“Is this supposed to make me more attractive?” Marielle asked.

“Mmm-hmm.” Vanda concentrated on her work.

“Is that wise? I mean—you don‟t think Connor and I should—”

“I don‟t know what to think.” Vanda started on her other foot. “But I do know that Connor has been miserable for a long time, and . . . I want him to be happy. You, too.”

Marielle sighed. She wasn‟t sure how to accomplish that, but she did know one thing. She wanted Connor to be happy, too.