BloodGifted (24 page)

The smile disappeared and he
rose. I had to angle my head to look up at him. ’You’re the one who let me go that far. I was wondering when you’d tell me to stop.’

‘That’s not fair! You came onto me so quickly I was overwhelmed.’

‘You’re a grown woman, Laura. You knew exactly what I was doing!’

I hated to admit he
was right—I did let him go too far. Angry, I bit my lip and glared back. ‘Don’t ever touch me again!’

‘That’s going to be a bit hard, darling
, seeing as we’ll be in close proximity for the next fifty years!’

I baulked at the way he facetiously called me “darling.”
I clenched my fists and said, ‘From now on, Matt’s going to be with me every time you feed from me. So when that rotten bloodlust hits, he’ll be there to satisfy it. Not you!’

We sto
od facing each other. Judy’s voice from the other end of the garden startled us both.

‘Laura! Matt’s here. He’s i
n the reception room with Luc.’

Crap! Crap! Crap!
I turned away from Alec, berating myself for listening to my stupid heart!
It was lust, silly woman! Pure lust! Or was it?
I wiped tears of anger with the back of my hand.

‘Laura? What’s wrong, dear?’ Judy asked as I met her halfway.

‘Nothing! I’m… just tired, that’s all. I’d better go to Matt,’ I said and kept walking, my heart pounding in my ears like an amplified drum.

‘Dear,’ she said a little breathlessly
, as she caught up to me. ‘Before you go in, you must know that your father and I had a chat with him.’

I stopped.
‘What did you tell him?’

I must have looked panicky, for she patted my sho
ulder and said, ‘It’s all right. We thought you might find it difficult to tell him about… everything, you know.’

She was right. Where would I even begin? ‘How did he take it?’

‘He’s very quiet, dear.’

I groaned inwardly and l
eaving her there, re-traced my steps using the same path that led from the dining room, through the wood panelled hall to the front reception room.

Luc waited outside.
‘Would you like me to go in with you,
ma petite
?’

I was grateful for his offer, but I needed to see Matt alone. ‘N
o, I think it’s best I speak to him alone.’

He
nodded and gave me a hug. I tried not to remember what had happened with Alec as I opened the door, walked in and closed it firmly behind me.

Chapter 18

Mess Up

ALEC

Damn!
I seriously miscalculated Laura’s attachment to Sommers and now it appeared as if I only succeeded in driving her further into his arms. But her sweet, little body didn’t lie, despite her protests.
And
if little Miss Ingenii thinks I’m going to tolerate her boyfriend being present while I feed from her, then she’s in for a surprise!

I paced the scented garden, reliving every word and expression of that la
st hour. She had been so responsive in my arms I even dared to run my hand down her lovely body and it was an effort to stop. In fact, if she hadn’t… Damn, but I wanted her! That had been no lie, and it had nothing to do with Luc’s infernal ultimatum, either.

‘Alec?’ Judith came
back into the garden and gave me an intent look. ‘What happened? Laura was upset.’

I wondered how much she knew of Luc’s Machiavellian plans. ‘Misunderstanding on my part, that’s all.’

‘I see.’ Judith was regarding me poignantly. ‘Is everything all right between you?’

‘Yes, yes, it’s fine,’ I lied and
I let out a tense breath. ‘Luc spoken to the boyfriend yet?’

‘
We both did. Luc’s still with him.’

‘What did you tell him
?’

‘Laura’s
bloodline, possible lifespan and the fact she’ll outlive him by centuries.’

That would have been interesting.
‘How did he take it?’

‘Hard to tell.’
She frowned and bit her lip the way Laura did. I tried not to smile. ‘Any chance he might be scared off?’

‘That’s what we’re hoping,’ she paused. ‘Pity he hasn’t any Pictish blood. I quite like him.’

For some reason her remark bothered me, but there was no time to pursue it. ‘Did you mention the danger she could be in?’

‘I left that to Luc
.’ She gazed at me a moment longer and appeared as if she was about to say something, when she shook her head and went into the house, leaving me to my thoughts and the clicking of night crickets.

The sun had long set and I sensed the rising of the others. Two were already in the kitchen pouring small bags of blood into glasses—snacks. I decided to join them, at least for a while, to keep my mind off Laura.

‘What’s been happening?’ Cal asked when I walked in. He’d just placed some blood in a shaker and was in the process of creating his own cocktail with some of Luc’s fine Irish whisky and ice cubes.

Jake shook his head and laughed. ‘There’s no accounting for taste!’

Cal ignored him and gulped his concoction down with relish.

I sat on the lower steps that led up
to the hallway. ‘Laura’s human is here to take her home.’

‘
You mean the one’s who’s been coming and going from her place? The cop?’

‘Yes.’

‘Seen him a few times when I was on guard. Possessive type. Tried not to listen in sometimes, but you know.’ Cal shrugged.

His remark
interested me. ‘Possessive? In what way?’

He gazed at me over the
rim of the shaker as he swallowed down the last drop. ‘Likes to know where she is, what she’s up to. That kind of thing.’

From the expression on Cal’s face I’d say he didn’t like Matt Sommers.

I thought back to my meeting with the man the other day and knew Cal’s comment to be true. Laura would have a hard time breaking up with him—when the time came—if our observations were correct.

‘Does he know about… us?’ Jake queried.

‘He knows.’

He and Cal exchanged a quick look. I wasn’t in the mood to explain as I tuned in to what was happening above stairs. Laura had just left the house with Judith, which meant Luc was alone with Sommers. I wanted to be there.

Chapter 19

Safe and Familiar

LAURA

The room Luc used to receive guests opened directly
from the wood-panelled hallway and was composed of warm browns and tan tones giving it a cosy and welcoming feel. Three large bay windows allowed the last of the fading light to flood the room and bounce off the stuccoed ceiling. A hefty circular, glass and metal table, with a small bronze bust of Voltaire sat at its centre, and scattered around were various-sized leather and fabric armchairs. The floor was covered in a soft beige carpet, except for the area near the handsome marble fireplace, which had jade and cream Victorian flagstones on the hearth.

Matt
stood by one of the large bay windows, looking out and turned as I entered. He’d just finished a long shift. He looked tired, but the circles under his eyes reflected more than that. The look on his face made my heart sink. There was a sadness I’d never seen before. We looked at each other for a long moment, then Matt opened his arms and I rushed to him.

H
e leaned down and kissed me. Even that felt sad. There was no teasing in it, like last time, and I wanted to cry. Matt must have sensed that, for his hand moved to the back of my head and he pressed me closer, parting my lips, his tongue entwining with mine. I clung to him, almost willing myself to tremble at his touch—but nothing came.

He lifted his head to look at me, th
en bent down to kiss me again—deeper and longer this time.

My body remained calm, as always.

Matt was familiar and it felt good to be in his arms again. I tried to put Alec, and had what occurred between us less than a few minutes ago, from my mind. But things
had
changed and I couldn’t deny that. My own wretched blood-inheritance was the cause and there was not a thing I could do about it.

I buried my head in his chest and
he stroked my hair.

‘Who would’ve thought
,’ he said after a while, ‘you’re Dracula’s daughter!’

‘Oh, Matt don’t,’ I looked up at him. ‘
Luc’s my biological father and Judy’s not really my aunt. She’s my mother.’

He
gave a deep sigh. ‘They told me everything, including your possible lifespan. How do you feel about that?’

‘What can I do? I have to accept it.’

Matt’s gaze roamed my face while his hand gently traced the curves of my jaw and chin. I had the distinct impression he was memorising my face. His brow furrowed when his hand slid to my neck. ‘I don’t recall seeing these two freckles before.’

My heart stopped—
Alec’s bite. Matt suddenly held me out at arm’s length and his eyes turned glacial. ‘He bit you. The bastard!’

‘Matt! It was
part of the ceremony. He had to—’

‘Brand you a
s his possession!’ His voice became as cold as his eyes.

‘Please understand,’ I pleaded and gripped his arms. ‘If he hadn’t they would all come after me. It’s my protection. And he was very gentle. It didn’t hurt,’ I lied and prayed I wouldn’t hiccup.

Matt was breathing hard. ‘I want to kill him!’

My stomach clenched as I visualised Matt and Alec literally at eac
h other’s throats. I couldn’t let that happen. ‘You now know what I am, Matt. I need him. Compared to the many others I saw last night, I couldn’t have a better guardian. Could you protect me against them?’

He thought for a while. ‘No,’ he finally admitted. ‘It’s not easy for me to accept something I’ve always believed to be a myth. And it’s right here on my own patch and involving the one person in the world I care the most about.’

‘I’m so sorry.’

There was a long silence between us as Matt grappled with this news. A muscle ticked in the side of his jaw.
‘So, what were they like, these—vampires?’ he said in a resigned tone.

‘Beautiful and very powerful.’ I remembered Douglas’
s strength as he squeezed my hand.

Matt
looked at me for a second and then drew me into his arms again. ‘Oh Babe, why did it have to be you?’

Coldness crept over me and I couldn’t answer him. Matt lifted my chin to meet his gaze. A determined look was etched on his face.
‘Laura, I know how different we are.’ That was an understatement! ‘But we can make this work. Your parents have. Judith is human and Lebrettan is… you know, yet nothing has stopped them being together, even if for only a little while. They understand that every day is precious and they’re making the most of it—before Judith dies. Tell me we’ve got the same chance.’

For a moment I was stunned. ‘Is this a proposal?’

‘Yes, I suppose it is.’

It was so unexpected, I was
unsure what to say. Could I do it? Could I risk the future and create another generation of cursed Dantonvilles, or Sommers’ if I married him? As I mulled this over, the spectre of my parents sacrifice appeared in my mind’s eye and I saw history repeating itself, only this time it would be my child.

‘Oh Matt.’ I pulled out of his embrace.
‘What about children?’

‘They told me about that. If you and I have any kids they’ll inherit that blasted gene.’  He was silent a moment. ‘They think I should do the noble thing and break up with you.’

My stomach went for a dive.
How dare they!

‘They’re right, you know.
I should—’ he paused when I vigorously shook my head ‘—but I can’t do that, Laura.’ He took me by the shoulders again. ‘We can work around this.  I can have a… vasectomy.’

I stared at him for a second—
unbelieving. Matt was willing to do that for me and he made it sound as if it was such a simple thing. It was crazy!

‘No! No way, the vasectomy thing. I’m not letting you do that. Forget it.’ I threw my hands in the air. It was all becoming too much and I desperat
ely needed to get away. ‘I can’t discuss this now… I, need some time, Matt, to think a whole lot of things through for both of us. Can we just go home?’

‘I don’t want to lose you, Laura.’

He kissed me again before taking my hand and together we left the front room and entered the corridor.

Luc and Judy were talking, heads locked together, at the other end of the hallway. They must have been waiting there the whole time.

‘Laura, do you mind if I have another brief word with Matthew before he takes you home?’ Luc asked.

I looked at him curiously then glanced up at Matt.

‘It’s okay. Wait for me at the car, Babe.’

My mother came toward me and linked her arm through mine. ‘Let’s wait outside, dear. It’s a lovely evening.’

I couldn’t begin to guess what else they wanted Matt to know, but I had reached overload. Judy and I left the house and stood by Matt’s car.

In an aggrieved tone, I said,
‘How could you have told Matt to break up with me?’

‘Laura dear, we don’t want you to suffer what we went through. If you marry him and have chil
dren, you know the consequences.’

‘But the choice should be mine!’

She nodded. ‘You’ll make the right decision, dear. I’m sure.’

‘Mother, if you think…
!’ I stopped as a wide smile lit her face.

‘Oh, Laura, do you know how long I’ve waited for you
to call me that?’ She threw her arms around my neck and anything further I wanted to say just seemed pointless. I gave up and hugged her back.

‘Can I ask you something?’ I ventured.

‘Of course, dear.’

‘It’s a bit personal.
’

‘I’m your mother, you can ask my anything.’

I took a deep breath. ‘Did you ever, um, tremble after being bitten by Luc or even when he wasn’t biting you, when he, for instance… kissed you?’

‘
Always!’ she laughed. A look of understanding crossed her face. ‘Ah, that explains what I saw between you and Alec in the garden! Did he try to kiss you?’

‘Uh huh, and the awful thing is, I kissed him back and my b
ody began to shake.’

‘Why is kissing Alec so awful?’
She quietly asked.

‘Well, because of
… Matt!’

‘Does the same thing happen when he kisses you?’

I shook my head.

‘Interesting!’

Just then Matt walked out and she whispered, ‘Like mother, like daughter. Remember, dear.’

If that were true, then I would have to keep my distance from Alec Munro. Although how, as he’d be feeding from me for the next half-century, was anyone’s guess!