Midnight (7 page)

She raised her chin, exposing her neck like an offering. As
much as he’d like to sink his teeth back into her, he couldn’t. Not yet, when
he’d so recently fed from her. And definitely not when he was so short on
willpower. He’d never intentionally hurt her, but accidents had been known to
happen in these situations.

She apparently sensed his reservations. “Let go, Marco.
Please. I need everything from you.”

She arched her back and dug her nails into his sides,
shattering the last of his control. With a savage groan he pounded into her,
each stroke harder than the last, no longer caring about anything but being
inside her and the pleasure her body brought to all of his senses.

He sank his teeth into her neck again, needing just one more
taste of her. It was a very integral part of his climax, and it would also
increase the intensity of Amara’s. He knew she felt the change right away by
the hitch in her breath.

She met him thrust for thrust, arching her back and clawing
at him in a very feline way. She screamed when she came, her nails scratching
him deeply enough to draw blood. He knew she’d left welts in his skin and the
pain was enough to send him over the edge into his own climax, his hot seed
spurting inside her.

He collapsed on top of her, too spent to move. He groaned
against the warm flesh of her neck. Amara wriggled against him and sighed
contentedly. She ran her hand down his back, stopping when she found the
scratches she’d left.

“Did I really cut you that badly?”

He rolled onto his back. “It’s no big deal. I’ve been cut
worse in my lifetime.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“Sometimes a little pain can be a good thing.” Actually, it’d
been more like a lot of pain, but he wasn’t going to tell her that yet.

Her breathing was still a little heavy, which didn’t
surprise him. In fact, she should have been exhausted by now. He certainly was.
“Are you okay?”

She laughed. “Why wouldn’t I be? I just had the best sex of
my life.”

He nodded, in total agreement. Who would have thought he’d
be so compatible with a woman he’d kidnapped? “Are you feeling okay?”

“Sure. I feel like I’m floating somewhere above the bed.”
She laughed a little. “I’ll let you know when I come back down.”

He couldn’t help himself. He smiled at her honest, open
manner. “You should sleep for a while. You’re going to need it.”

“I’m okay.” She yawned. “I guess I am a little tired.”

He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, listening to
her breathing finally slow. In no time, she was asleep. She needed the rest a
lot more than he did. If he was any kind of a man he’d walk away now before
things got even more complicated.

Unfortunately for her, he’d never claimed to be chivalrous.
At his best, he was arrogant, greedy, and self-centered. He made sure he always
got what he wanted, and right now, for some strange reason, he wanted to
cuddle
.
That was another new thing for him, but he was going to go with it while he had
the chance. He’d berate himself for it later, he was sure of it, but he’d enjoy
what he could get for now.

He never stayed the night, or the day if that was the case,
but he could make an exception for Amara since she was in his bed. He wrapped
her in his arms and joined her in sleep.

Amara woke up alone some time later. The side of the bed
where Marco had been was warm. He hadn’t been gone long. She stretched, her
entire body stiff from their lovemaking.

Or was it just sex? It had felt a lot more complicated and
emotional than that, but she didn’t know how Marco felt. She blinked, her
senses slowly returning. She didn’t know Marco at all. She’d just had wild, out
of control, totally uninhibited sex with a complete stranger. Okay, she’d
really lost it now.

Not that it really mattered, the man was a vampire. She had
no future with someone who was a different…well, she still wasn’t sure how to
describe what he was, except that he drank blood.

She was no longer certain about the undead part. He
definitely had a heartbeat. She’d felt it pounding right along with hers. He
breathed—his breath had been hot and erotic against her sensitive neck. Heck,
if the man could procreate then he had to be alive in some form.

Alive or not, it didn’t change the fact that her lover was a
vampire. Believing that was still a stretch, even after he’d drunk her blood.
That
was a feeling she could get used to. She’d never come so hard in her life. Her
clit still ached. Her vulva throbbed. In fact, if he was still in bed with her
she probably would have jumped him without a second thought.

Did he feel what she had? Was his climax as strong as hers,
or was she just another fuck for him? If he’d stayed, she could have asked.
Where had he slunk off to in the middle of the night—day—whatever it was. She’d
spent so much time in this room she’d lost track of
when
she was.

He’d enjoyed himself. He’d probably deny it later like a
typical male, but he’d had just as good a time as she had. Maybe better.
Take
that, Derek
! No more boring Amara in the bedroom. Marco seemed to bring out
her wild side. Maybe she owed it to herself, and her next lover, to fully
explore this new set of possibilities. If Marco was willing, she was definitely
able.

What was it like for him to drink her blood? The thought of
tasting someone’s blood had always turned her off, but now she was a little
curious. Marco had felt so good inside her. Did feeding off of her increase his
pleasure? Would she feel the same if she…

Wait a second. Was she going mental?
Humans did not drink
blood.
Humans didn’t
think
about drinking blood. Well, not unless
they had some serious mental issues. She was human, therefore it was not okay
for her to fantasize about drinking Marco’s blood.

End of discussion.

Where was he, anyway? She got out of bed and rummaged
through the bags he’d left on the floor. Pulling out a pair of jeans and a
sweatshirt, she got dressed. The clothes were a little bit baggy, but it was
better than putting on the dirty stuff she’d stripped out of before her shower.

She was surprised that when she tested the doorknob, the
door swung open. Hmm. He’d left it unlocked. Did that mean she was free to roam
about his house? Or did he just want her to go home? Maybe he’d changed his
mind about keeping her here now that he found out she was so easy.

She groaned. What an impression he must have of her. She
didn’t usually jump into bed with a guy she’d just met. Her only excuse was
that she’d been under a lot of stress lately. She’d finally snapped.

The downstairs of the house was dim, the only source of
light a few wall sconces. The walls were dark beige only a few shades lighter
than the hardwood floors. Antiques made up the majority of the decor, stuff he’d
probably been collecting for years. A lot of it he’d probably bought new.

That was a scary thought.

She wandered into the kitchen and got a glass of water. She
drank it down quickly, but winced at the oddly metallic taste it left in her
mouth. The clock on the stove read eleven o’clock, and the sky was black beyond
the kitchen window. That meant she’d slept through an entire day.

How did that happen? She normally lived on a few hours’
sleep every night. When did she get to be so lazy that she slept for nearly
twenty four hours without blinking an eye?

The back door was cracked open, the sound of crickets
filling the night air. She pulled the door open all the way and stepped
outside. Marco was sitting on a wooden bench on the deck. He glanced up when he
saw her, and for the first time he actually smiled. “Did you sleep well?”

She nodded. “I guess. Why did you let me sleep so long?”

He shrugged. “You needed your rest. I had no right to take
blood from you.”

“If I didn’t want you to, I would have said no.” She sat
down next to him, her leg brushing against his knee. She tried not to let him
see that even the small touch affected her, but she was learning there wasn’t
much she could keep from him.

“You didn’t want to be kidnapped. That didn’t stop me.”

She rolled her eyes. “This is new. The big, bad alpha-vamp
is actually showing remorse.”

“Don’t start.” The warning tone was plain in his voice.

“What are you going to do, bite me?” She raised an eyebrow
in challenge. “I have to warn you, though, I liked it.”

He shook his head and laughed. “You were supposed to.”

“Is it always like that?”

“Pleasurable? Yes, unless I deliberately choose to make it
painful. During sex, the pleasure it brings is incomparable. How else would we
be able to get anyone to agree to it?” He paused. “But like it was between us,
that was unusual. It’s not always so strong.”

“But it is, sometimes?” She was getting worried. What she’d
felt was almost too intense to bear.

“Once in a while.”

“How often?”

Marco sighed. “I don’t remember the last time it was so
good. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

She shook her head. No, it was the exact opposite of what
she wanted to hear. She could deal with good. Hell, she could deal with great.
But earth-shattering was another matter entirely. She didn’t know how to handle
her feelings when she knew nothing could ever come of them. Besides the obvious
differences in lifespans, she knew practically nothing about him. She still
wasn’t sure if she wanted to stay, but the thought of another round of his
particular brand of sex made it tempting.

“I suppose you want to go now.” He didn’t look happy about
it.
Good.
Perhaps it was his turn for a couple of lessons.

“I’ll think about it.”

He looked surprised, but he covered it quickly. Heaven
forbid the man show a little emotion beyond anger or annoyance.

The more she thought about it, the more she considered
staying for a couple of days. Being here with Marco was certainly better than
sitting around in her townhouse, waiting for the bills to pile up while she was
unable to get another job. She’d rather be here for a little while than out
waiting tables at some sleazy restaurant again.

His expression cleared. He’d come to a decision. “There’s
nothing to think about. You’re not going anywhere.”

Well, staying sounded like a good idea until he opened his
big mouth. Who did he think he was, trying to force her into it? If she did
anything, it would be of her own free will. “You left the door unlocked.”

“My bedroom door.
Just
the bedroom door. The outside
doors will remain locked unless I’m with you.”

She shook her head. “Wait a second, after last night you’re
still going to keep me prisoner here?”

He nodded. “That was the whole point of bringing you here.
This isn’t a social excursion.”

She took a deep breath and counted to ten, trying to control
the urge to punch him. Why was it so difficult for him to admit he’d had a good
time? “I explained to you that I’m done with those movies. What more do you
want from me?”

“What would you do if I let you go now? Would you run to
your friends, the tabloids, and tell them about me? I put myself, and a lot of
others, at risk when I told you what I really am. I have to know I can trust
you before I let you go.”

“Please. I live on the outskirts of L.A. Do you know how
many psychos there are running around thinking they’re vampires?” she asked. “Besides,
what makes you think you can’t trust me? You barely even know me.”

“That’s exactly why I need to keep you here for a little
while longer. Trust is a very hard thing to earn, especially when I get the
feeling you’re looking for a way to escape.”

“Can you read minds or something?”

He laughed. “No. I can’t read minds. For some reason,
though, I’m in tune to you.”

She was in tune to him also, but she wasn’t going to share
that knowledge just yet. It might be something she could use later, unless he
decided to stop trying to control her life. “So you’re going to keep me here,
against my will, until you feel you can learn to trust me?”

“Are you really here against your will?”

She had to think about that one. On the one hand, she would
do anything to get free. On the other hand, what would she go back to? She had
no life, no job, and no friends that weren’t interested in her money. What was
left?

Marco. And what a hell of a consolation prize he was.

He continued. “Consider this a vacation in the surreal.
Relax and enjoy yourself. When I send you home, feel free to alert the
authorities. Trust me on this—they will never find me.”

And she’d be all alone. As uncertain as she was about him
and what they had going on, she didn’t like the thought of never seeing him
again. “What would you do if I left?”

“Move on. It’s what I always do, when I’ve been some place
for too long.”

“You’d just leave? Just like that? No goodbyes to anyone?”

“I don’t have many close friends. It’s just not a safe thing
for me to do.” He got up from the table and walked to the deck railing, staring
out into the blackness of the night. “The few friends I have understand my
situation. Ellie, the woman who brought your clothes, is probably the only one
I’d miss. But I never stay away from her for long.”

Ellie? Jealousy rose in her, confusing her. She had no claim
to Marco. She didn’t
want
to claim him in any way. Right? He’d
kidnapped
her. He came into her house and took her, brought her here and locked her in
his bedroom for days on end.

And he was the best lover she’d
ever
had. That had to
count for something. At least it did to her. She didn’t know anything about his
sexual practices. For all she knew, vampires had wild orgies all the time.

“Who is Ellie?” She spoke slowly, not sure if she really
wanted his answer.

Marco laughed. He turned from the railing and walked over to
her. “Are you a little worried?”

She shook her head quickly. “Of course not. I’m
just…curious.”

“Curious.” He took a deep breath. “Ellie is a close friend,
and nothing more. In some ways she’s like a little sister to me. In others, she’s
more like a mother hen. It’s a complicated relationship, one I’ll explain some
other time. You’ve heard enough for a while, I think.”

“So you two never…”

“Ellie and I have never slept together. We never will,
either.”

Maybe she was a hideous beast. She smiled, feeling a little
better. “Oh. Is Ellie a vampire, too?”

He shook his head. “No, Ellie is not a vampire. But she is
the only woman I’ve ever met who understands me.”

That
remark stung. “I understand you.”

He raised a brow. “Do you? I don’t think so.”

She waved a hand in the air. “Please. You’re not that hard
to understand. When you want something, you take it. You don’t ask, because
that would be a sign of weakness. Women have no place in your life, except as
toys. When you get mad, you act first and worry about the consequences later.
You’re impulsive, arrogant, and feel like you’re entitled to whatever you want.
Thinking about the other people involved is secondary.”

She cocked her head to the side and waited for his response.
He said nothing.

“Don’t bother to deny it, because I can see in your eyes how
right I am.” She shook her head. “And believe me, it has nothing to do with you
being a vampire. That just seems to be a group of traits most men have.”

“You paint me in a very bad light, woman.”

She shrugged. “All men are the same. What can I say?”

“Although you’re right about quite a bit, us lowly males do
have some good qualities, too.”

“And what would those be?” She had yet to see them. Even the
ones she thought she could trust, like Robby, turned on her eventually.

She wasn’t even going to get started on Derek. To think, she’d
actually planned on marrying the guy. She was glad that she’d told him he had
to wear a condom for extra protection until after the wedding. Who knows what
kind of diseases she might have picked up, since he’d apparently slept with
just about everyone he’d ever met.

“You’re just going to have to find that out on your own. It
won’t be too hard, if you’re really interested in looking.” He walked back
inside, stopping by the fridge. “Are you hungry?”

“A little.” She followed him. “Why don’t you tell me about
some of your good points? I’m beginning to wonder if you have any.”

“I can cook. What do you want to eat?”

“Marco—”

He held up a hand to stop her. “Let me cook you some
breakfast first. We can talk after.”

“Supper. It’s after eleven. Almost time for a midnight
snack.”

He shrugged. “That all depends on how you look at it. Do you
want eggs? Toast?”

She snorted. “Not at this time of night. I have enough
trouble forcing that stuff down at six in the morning. It’s nighttime. I want a
cheeseburger.”

“A cheeseburger?” He blinked a few times. “Are you sure that’s
what you want?”

“Yes.” If she was going to be on vacation, she was going to
enjoy herself. She no longer had to live on a piece of lettuce and a couple of
carrot sticks a day so she could fit into her skimpy costumes or conform to
Hollywood’s twisted version of beauty. Now she could eat like a human and not
someone’s pet rabbit. “Please?”