“Ah Megan. I never meant to make you cry.” Nick placed his hand under her chin to tilt her face up to his. “You haven’t a clue as to what you do to me, how you make me feel.”
“How can I when all you do is push me away.” Megan sniffed.
Nick sighed. “I do that for your own safety, cara mia. You don’t understand what would happen if we were to . . .” His voice trailed off as he closed his eyes to block out the thought.
Megan pushed away from him angrily, “Of course I don’t understand, because you don’t bother to tell me anything. You just clam up. The only reaction I ever get out of you is when Valerian has made you jealous. So why would I understand anything?”
Nick sighed softly. She was right; he hadn’t even bothered to try and explain. Right now he wanted her too badly to sit with her and explain everything anyways, but he could tell her about the sex. About what would happen if he did made love to her. He could tell her that and see if she still wanted him in return.
Taking a deep breath, he nearly shouted, “If I made love to you, Megan, I would take your blood.” There, it was out. No more dancing around it, no more avoiding the issue.
Megan’s head whipped around and she looked at him in surprise. She stared at him for a long moment, and then asked, “How much blood?”
“Just a small amount, less than what you would donate at a blood drive.” Nick answered truthfully.
“So, then what’s the problem?” Megan frowned. She knew it wouldn’t turn her into a vampire, because Valerian had already explained that procedure.
Nick hesitated. He had expected Megan to be turned off by that. He had expected her to look at him in horror just as Marianne had 1300-years ago. “The problem is that I will bite you at the height of our lovemaking.” He answered slowly, cautiously.
Megan shook her head and sighed. He just didn’t get it. “Nick, I thought you said you’ve read my books.”
Nick frowned at the change of subject. “What has that got to do with anything?”
“Well, if you’d paid attention, you would remember that the love scene’s I created between my characters happened just as you described would happen between us. So if I created that in my own books, what makes you think I would have a problem with experiencing it myself?” Megan answered a little frustrated. She didn’t want to be standing here talking, she wanted to be stripping his clothes off. She wanted to be touching him all over, tasting every inch of him and then taking him deep within her. Megan made a mental picture of what she wanted and wondered if Nick could read her mind. She didn’t have long to wait for the answer to that question.
Desire slammed through Nick’s body as he sucked in his breath sharply. He knew that Megan was projecting the image that was flashing in his mind. Heat raced through his groin, as his black jeans were suddenly too tight across the crotch.
Megan smiled mischievously. “So you can read my mind.” She giggled. “I had wondered about that.”
Before she could blink, Nick had her in his arms and he was kissing her. It only took her a half second before she responded. Her hands tangled in his hair, dislodging a final stray black feather. Nick traced her bottom lip with the tip of his tongue, before plunging into the depths of her mouth. Megan moaned as her knee’s weakened. She clung to him, returning his kiss with as much passion as he was giving her. His arms wrapped around her waist, his hands flat against her back, pulling her more fully against the hard length of him. One hand wandered down across the small of her back and over buttocks. He squeezed the soft flesh, and pushed her fully against his arousal. His mouth and tongue continued to explore hers, enjoying the feel and taste of her sweetness. She smelled of honeysuckle and Nick breathed deeply the scent, committing it to memory as he trailed wet kisses to her neck.
Megan’s head rolled back exposing her neck more fully to him. Nick nipped at the sensitive skin and heard Megan gasp her pleasure as she pressed her neck against his lips. He growled softly as he flicked his tongue across the pulse in her throat. She had a long slender neck and Nick couldn’t get enough of it. He brought his lips up to her ear and took the lobe between his teeth and tugged it gently, before releasing it. The tip of his tongue darted into the hollow of her ear for a brief moment, before making it’s way back down her neck. He felt Megan shiver as her hands clenched in his hair.
Megan giggled softly as the hairs from his beard tickled her neck. It kind of snapped her out of her glazed over euphoria and her hands came alive. They moved down the front of his shirt and she grabbed at it tugging it out of the waistband of his jeans. Her hands ducked under the material and met smooth skin. Megan felt Nick’s muscles clench as her fingers felt there way across his stomach. She heard his sharp intake of breath as her seeking fingers found both nipples and they stopped to investigate the hard nubs. Taking a quick step back, Nick grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head and sent it carelessly flying across the room. Megan’s eyes widened at the beauty of his chest. Except for the bit of hair that began just below his bellybutton and disappeared below his waistband, there was not a speck of hair on his chest. Megan stepped forward and placed her hands flat on his chest. His skin was smooth his muscles rock hard. The contrast of it turned her on so much she thought she would have an orgasm right then and there. She leaned in and breathed in his scent. He smelled of the air, fresh and clean with his unique musky scent that reminded her of ginger.
Megan raised her eyes to meet his. They were still brown, albeit a much darker shade of it. He still had the beast under control for now, but she wasn’t worried about that anyways. She trusted Nick. Trusted him more than any man she’d ever known. She wanted him, vampire and all. He raised his hands to begin unbuttoning the front of her blouse; his hands were shaking so badly with the intensity of his desire for her that it was making it hard for him to complete such a simple task as pushing a button through a buttonhole. He growled his frustration and before Megan could reach her hands up to help, he ripped the blouse open causing the buttons to pop off and scatter across the floor.
Megan raised an eyebrow at him and he gave her an embarrassed, sheepish smile, “Sorry.” He grumbled and pushed the blouse off her shoulders, letting it float to the ground.
Nick’s dark eyes dropped down to her chest and his knees nearly gave out. She had full, well-rounded breasts barely hidden behind a scrap of black lacy material he assumed was a bra. Megan felt her breasts swell and her nipples harden at the intensity of his gaze. Nick reached out his hand and with a flick of his fingers, he unsnapped the bra’s front fastener and watched in fascination as the bit of lace flipped away from her breasts and they spilled out in all their loveliness. Megan let the lacy bra fall to the floor as she watched Nick reach for her. His hands covered her breasts; he could feel the hard nipples brush against his palms. Megan moaned softly, her eyes closed as her head rolled back on her neck. Nick slid one arm around her waist to hold her up, while he bent to take a nipple into his mouth. He flicked his tongue across it several times causing Megan to suck in her breath sharply. Her fingers made their way back into his hair as she clutched him to her. Nick drew the nipple deep into his mouth, suckling it, curling his tongue around it to the point that Megan was no longer standing under her own strength. Nick shifted and took the other nipple into his mouth and did the same.
Dropping to his knees, Nick lowered Megan to the carpet. Somewhere in the back of his mind he told himself not to take Megan on the floor, but to carry her up to the bedroom. His hands slid across her stomach to the waistband of her pants and he unbuttoned them and slid the zipper down. He leaned forward and placed a kiss on the exposed skin between the “v” of her zipper. His tongue traced across the black lacy material that was exposed under her pants. Megan raised her hips as he pushed the material over her hips and down her legs. Removing her shoes and socks, he finished removing her pants and underwear and shoved them away. Rising up, he placed his hands on her ankles and slowly ran his hands up the smooth skin of her legs. His eyes burned a trail across her skin causing her to burn inside for him.
“You are breath taking, cara.” He whispered gruffly. Moving until he settled himself between her legs, he parted her thighs and leaned forward to place butterfly kisses along the inside of her thighs. As he moved from one thigh to the other, he blew softly across her hidden chamber causing Megan to gasp loudly. Nick chuckled softly and continued his kisses on the other thigh.
Bringing a hand forward, his fingers brushed through the tangle of tight curls until he found her wet opening. Parting the twin petals, he dipped a finger into her wetness. Megan’s hips came off the ground as she thrust them towards him. Nick smiled; she was so ready for him, that it wouldn’t take much to send her over the edge. He felt himself harden more as he thought about replacing his finger with his hard shaft. Nick’s mouth moved up the inside of her thigh. He could smell her arousal, her feminine scent. The heady scent brought the beast roaring forward. Nick’s eyes snapped open. They were glowing as he removed his finger and his mouth closed the distance to her moist opening. A deep growl emitted from his throat as he speared her with his tongue. Megan cried out as she began to thrash about. Nick slid his arms under her thighs and lifted her hips up as he rose almost to his knees. Megan looked up at him from her position on the floor and gasped softly at the red glowing eyes that stared back at her from between her legs. She took a deep breath and smiled at him, letting him know that it was okay.
Reaching out her arms to him, Nick’s eyes flickered back and forth from a glowing red to finally his natural deep brown color. Nick lowered her bottom to the floor and stood up. Moving to her side, he knelt down and scooped her up into his arms. Moving swiftly, he carried her out of the library and up the stairs to her bedroom. Kicking the door shut with his foot, his long strides quickly took them to the bed and he laid her down on the soft bed. Stepping back briefly, he removed what was left of his clothing, and then he stepped forward and stretched out on the bed next to her. Pulling her into his arms, he pulled her on top of him. Megan’s leg’s straddled his waist and she rose up over him. Her hands flattened on his chest and she began to move them in a circular motion. Leaning down, she flicked her tongue across his nipple, much like he had her earlier. Nick’s hands tightened their grip on her thighs as he sucked air in through his clenched teeth. Megan moved to the other nipple and raked her teeth across it, and then circled her tongue around it.
Moving down lower, she spread her hands out across his stomach and up over his ribs. She felt his hard length pressed against her inner thigh as she moved lower dragging her breasts across his sensitized flesh. Nick moved his hands to the bed and clutched the sheets in his fists. He was afraid he would hurt Megan if he continued to rest his hands on her thighs. He groaned when he felt her hard nipples rake across his stomach as she moved lower down his body. Her breasts brushed against his erection and he nearly came off the bed. He started to sit up and grab at her, his eyes glowing, his fangs bared, but Megan only laughed softly at him and placed her hand against his chest and pushed him back down.
“Not yet, handsome.” She smiled and turned her attention to his hard shaft.
“Saucy wench!” He growled playfully.
She laughed as she settled herself between his legs. She leaned down and ran the tip of her tongue up the length of him and watched in amusement as it twitched. Megan then took the soft velvety tip into her mouth and circled her tongue around it several times before she final ever so slowly lowered her mouth down the length of him. A string of Italian curses filled the bedroom as Nick clutched the sheets tightly in his fists and thrust his hips up involuntarily. Megan tightened her lips around him to give more friction as she continued to move up and down. She could hear Nick’s harsh breathing as his hips moved with her. She knew he was almost to the brink of loosing it, when he suddenly sat up again.
“Enough!” He commanded gruffly, grasping her shoulders and flipping her onto her back. He rose over her, parting her legs with his knee and settled himself between her thighs. He probed her wet entrance with his velvety tip then with a quick move of his hips, he thrust deep inside her. Megan gasped at the sudden intrusion, but welcomed it by wrapping her legs around his waist.
Nick was aware of nothing but the feel of Megan beneath him. The beast was in full control now as he thrust his hips wildly, trying to bury himself deeper inside her warmth. His lips moved across her neck, his tongue finding the pulse that beat in her neck and stroking it over and over as he continued to move in and out of her tight sheath. Touching his mind briefly with hers, he knew that she was close to her release. He continued to grind his hips into her rubbing his hard length against her sensitive jewel until she finally cried out. Her body began to convulse underneath him as her wet sheath tightened more around him sucking him in until he could no longer breath.
Megan felt his fangs sink deep into her neck. There was a quick pain, then nothing but erotic sensation. Her climax, which had begun to fade, suddenly intensified as he pumped himself into her. She cried out again holding on to him tightly as he continued to drink from her neck. Finally, ever so gently, Nick removed his fangs from her neck and ran his tongue across the wounds he’d made. The healing agent in his saliva would quicken the healing process so that by morning, the marks would be gone.
Rolling off her, Nick pulled her against him and held her close. Her hand came to rest across his chest and he picked it up and pressed the palm of her hand to his lips.
“Wow.” Megan breathed softly as she pressed her lips to his chest.
Nick chuckled, his voice still husky from their lovemaking. “Go to sleep, cara mia. You need your rest.”
Megan snuggled closer, not really wanting to go to sleep. She would much rather make love again. Reading her mind, Nick laughed, “Not tonight, my little sex goddess. I’m afraid in my enthusiasm I took a bit more blood than I meant too. I do not want to risk doing that again tonight.” Nick stroked his hand up and down the length of her arm. “Go to sleep love, I will remain with you until sunrise.”
Megan nodded and settled herself comfortably against him. She didn’t think she would be able to sleep, but sure enough within a few minutes she was sound asleep.
Chapter 7
She heard a soft, deep chuckle within her mind. You should be careful of what you think about, cara mia, for I can not resist making them come true.
“Nick?” Megan looked around, trying to find where the voice was coming from.
Hmmm? came the weak, sleepy reply.
“Where are you? Why can I hear you, but you’re not here?”
I am resting, cara. It takes much out of me to speak to you like this when the sun is high overhead. Enjoy your afternoon; we will speak more of this tonight after I have risen. Megan could hear the weakness in his voice, the energy he was expending in order to talk to her.
“Sleep well, Nick. See you tonight.” Megan felt a whisper of a kiss across her cheek and wondered how he could do that. Pushing back the covers, she climbed out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
She emerged from her bedroom 45 minutes later, refreshed by a shower and wearing clean clothes. She wandered down the stairs in search of Stevens. She was starving! As if he had read her mind, Stevens appeared at the bottom of the stairs and waited for her to descend to the first floor.
“Good afternoon, Miss Taylor. I have a wonderful meal prepared for you if you are ready to eat.”
“Good afternoon, Stevens. You must have been reading my mind, because I am starving,” Megan smiled.
“If you will follow me to the dining hall, I will serve you now.” Stevens turned to lead the way, but Megan stopped him.
“If it would be alright, Stevens, may I eat in Nicolae’s library?”
“Of course, Miss. Wherever you are most comfortable is quite alright with me.” Stevens changed directions and led her to the library, opening the door for her. “I will bring you your lunch momentarily.”
“Thank you, Stevens,” Megan answered and entered the library. Sunshine bathed the large room, shining in from the open balcony doors. Stevens closed the door behind her and left to retrieve her lunch.
Megan took a long look around the library. She loved books, and Nicolae must have collected every book imaginable to line the walls as they did. She decided to take a quick look at what he had while waiting for Stevens to return with her lunch. There was no way on this earth that she would ever have the time to look at every single book here, but she could browse the lower shelves. Megan had worked her way around half the room when she found them. Her books. Nicolae had the entire collection of her vampire romance series, and they looked well used, as if he had read them many times. Megan smiled, “Why the little sneak!”
The library door opened, bringing her out of her thoughts. Stevens entered, carrying a tray loaded with food. Megan smelled the delicious aroma that wafted over to her as he sat the tray down at the bar. Her mouth watering, she sat down on a bar stool and looked at the bounty of food. “Goodness, Stevens, I will never be able to eat all of this.”
“Eat your fill, Miss, I promise you, nothing goes wasted here,” Stevens answered as he turned and left the library, shutting the door behind him.
Megan ate as much as she could of the salad, the fruits and vegetables, and the delicious chicken that Stevens had prepared for her. When she was finished, Stevens appeared and took the tray away, informing her that she was free to wonder about, but not to leave the protection of the house. Thinking she would like to do that, she first wanted to call Richard, her editor, and let him know she was all right. Picking up the phone, she dialed the number, talked to his secretary briefly, then was patched through to his office.
“Megan? My god, I’ve been worried sick about you!” Richard exclaimed into the phone. “Where the hell have you been? Are you alright?”
Megan began laughing. “Rich, I’m fine. Settle down, will you?”
Richard took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Okay, I’m fine. Now, where are you? Why haven’t you called me?”
“Why don’t I start at the beginning, okay?” she suggested.
“Okay.”
“I went to see Nicolae Kristof as you suggested. He refused to take the case; he was very vague about his reasons. So I went to Romania myself. I was able to retrieve Tamara’s belongings and found the name and address for the last contact she had before she disappeared. The address was up in the Carpathian Mountains, so I drove up there to check it out.” Megan knew she would have to improvise what had really happened. She knew that Richard would never accept that there were real vampires. He’d think she had gone off the deep end. “Anyway, I get up there and meet up with this guy, Rovenski. Rich, I think he’s the one who killed Tamara.”
Megan could feel her throat closing up on a sob. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard, the memory of what had happened still fresh in her mind. “My god, Meg! What did you do? Did he try to hurt you?”
“Yes, he attacked me,” Megan answered shakily. “He’s an evil man, Rich.”
“How did you get away from him, Meg? Did you contact the authorities?”
“Nicolae and a friend of his showed up and saved me,” Megan answered after a moment.
“I thought you said he didn’t want the case?” Richard asked, confused.
“He didn’t, but he changed his mind. He said he tried to catch me before I left, but was too late.” Megan cringed guiltily at her lie. “So he caught the next flight and followed my trail.”
“Well, it’s a damn good thing he did, Meg. I told you he was good. If he hadn’t have shown up when he did, you would most likely be dead now too.” Richard took another deep breath. “I’m sorry about Tamara, Megan. I know you loved your sister dearly.”
Megan felt her bottom lip tremble as tears filled her eyes and threatened to spill over. “Thank you, Richard.”
“So, what happened after that? Did you contact the authorities?” Richard asked.
“No. Nicolae said that he knew of this man, and that he had great power in Romania,” Megan answered, getting her emotions back under control. “He said that a lot of politics would be involved, and that the authorities over there would never prosecute him, so he’s going to look into it and see what he can find out.”
“Hell!” Richard exhaled. “Yeah, things are always so complicated in other countries. Well, where are you now?”
Megan hesitated a moment. She wasn’t sure if she should tell Richard where she was, but she’d known him for years and was a trusted friend as well as her editor. “I’m staying at Nicolae’s home. He’s afraid that Rovenski will try to come after me, and he wants to keep me where he can protect me.”
“Good thinking. Did he say how long it would take him to investigate this? How long are you going to be stuck at his house?”
Megan laughed as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “If you’re worried about the book, Richard, then stop. I can have Nicolae bring my computer over here so I can work on it while he is looking into Rovenski.”
“Sorry, Meg,” Richard answered sheepishly. “You know me, forever the editor.”
“Yeah,” Megan answered with fondness. “Listen, I need to go for now. I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”
“Okay, Megan. Take care of yourself, and I’ll talk to you again soon.”
Megan hung up the phone and headed out onto the balcony. The sunshine warmed her skin as she glanced about. Megan sucked in her breath sharply at what she saw. For miles around she saw nothing but lush green rolling hills and large trees. She had naturally assumed that Nicolae’s home was in L.A., but there was no place in L.A. like this that she knew of. It was breathtaking! Where was she? Were they still in the United States? She must be, because she had just made a call to Richard. If she were out of the country, she would have gotten an overseas operator. She made a mental note to ask Nick about it later. Turning, she headed back inside and went to investigate the rest of the house.
Much later as the sky was turning dark, Megan found herself curled up on the couch in the library, reading through a book she had found on the history of the medieval era. It was a fascinating time that had always intrigued her. She never heard Nicolae enter the room, but she became aware of his presence nonetheless. She continued to read the book, ignoring his presence until she felt his warm lips on her neck as he leaned over the back of the couch.
“Do you think to ignore me, cara?” His breath whispered softly across her ear as he gently nipped at the lobe. Megan sighed softly as a shiver raced up her spine. She tilted her head to the side to expose more of her neck to him as he continued to lean over the back of the couch and place kisses along her sensitive skin.
“I would think it would be hard to ignore anything about you, Nicolae,” Megan answered, letting the book fall unnoticed to the floor. She gasped softly when she felt the scrape of his fangs against her throat. She let her head fall completely to one side, fully exposing her throat to him in silent invitation. Her hand came up to tangle in his thick hair as she heard a low growl, then a quick, sharp prick as his fangs sank into her skin, then her body was filled with sensations she could not even begin to describe.
Nicolae savored the taste of her sweet blood. That she offered it so freely only made it that much sweeter. He could easily lose himself in her, so after only a few small sips, he withdrew his fangs and lovingly caressed the puncture wounds with his tongue. Straightening up, he circled around the couch and came to stand in front of her. Megan craned her head up to look at him. “Is that all you want?”
Nicolae smiled, showing straight white teeth. She could not see a trace of her blood anywhere on his lips or teeth. “No, cara mia, that is not all I want, but it is all I can take.” He held out his hand to her, and she took it as he helped her to stand up. “I have not fed yet, so to take anymore than a sip or two from you would put your life in danger.”
“Oh,” Megan answered as his lips brushed feather light against hers. His arms slid around her waist, and he drew her against his hard body. He deepened the kiss, his tongue parting her lips and twirling around her tongue in a sexual dance. Megan sighed her contentment as her arms circled around his neck. She rose on her tiptoes to press her self more fully against him, and he responded by tightening his arms.
“Dio, amico mio! If this is what I have to deal with every evening upon rising, I may have to find another place to rest.”
Nicolae released Megan on a string of curses and turned to face his old friend. “Please feel free to do so at any time, Valerian. I certainly will not stop you!”
Valerian grinned. “What? And miss out on all this fun?” He winked playfully at Megan as she tried to hide a smile. “Good evening, belleza. Did you rest well?”
“Yes I did, Valerian. And you?”
“Wonderfully,” he answered. “And what did you do with yourself today? Surely you didn’t sleep the entire day away?”
“Actually no, I did not.” Megan moved away from Nicolae and picked up the book she had dropped earlier. She walked over to the book shelves near Valerian and replaced the book where she had gotten it. Valerian noticed the twin puncture marks on her neck and raised an eyebrow at Nick.
“Hitting the sauce a little early, aren’t we, Nick?”
Nicolae gave Valerian a dark warning look. “That is none of your business, Valerian.”
Valerian ignored Nicolae’s warning and turned his attention back to Megan. “So tell me, what did you do with your day, Megan?”
“Well, I got up a little after two, had a wonderful lunch, discovered that Nick has been hiding the fact that he has read all my books…” Megan flashed Nick a smile, in which he gave her an embarrassed look. She turned her attention back to Valerian and continued. “I called my editor and found this neat book on the medieval era.”
“You did what?” Nicolae asked. His voice was soft and controlled, but for the intense look of anger in his dark eyes, he might as well have yelled it. Both Megan and Valerian shifted their attention to Nicolae, who stood stiff, his hands clenched at his sides. “You called your editor?”
“Uh, yes.” Megan looked over at Valerian, who just shrugged at her. Looking back at Nicolae, she asked, “Was I not suppose to?”
Nicolae took a menacing step towards her. His eyes had a slight glow to them, reflecting his anger that he barely held in check. “How in the hell do you expect me to protect you, Megan, if you are calling everyone on this planet and telling them where you are?”
“Calling everyone on this planet?” Megan gaped, her own anger rushing to the forefront. “I did NOT call everyone on this planet, damn it! Richard is more than my editor, he is a good friend, and I knew he would be worried about me!”
Nicolae moved forward until he came to a stop directly in front of Megan. “Just how good of a friend is he?” he asked, jealousy raging through him. “Does he know how to touch you, Megan? Does he know about all your secret places that make you moan in pleasure?”
“Ah, Nick?” Valerian tried to step in, but was silenced when Megan slapped Nick hard across the cheek.
Nicolae’s head snapped to one side. He looked back down at Megan with a hard glare. “You bastard, how dare you say that to me! How dare you say that after last night!”
“Yes, last night,” Nicolae grinned without a trace of humor in his face. “Did you get your kicks out of bedding a vampire, Megan? Was it everything you thought it would be?”
Megan stood there, stunned. Where was this anger coming from? Why was he doing this to her? Tears formed in her eyes as she felt her heart wrenching in two.
“Nick!” Valerian said harshly. He placed a hand on Nicolae’s chest and pushed him back away from Megan. “That is enough!” He had never seen Nick like this. What the hell are you doing, Nick?
Nicolae turned his angry gaze on Valerian. “Stay out of this, Valerian!”
Valerian shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Nick. You can do whatever you want to me, but I cannot allow you to talk to Megan like that. She doesn’t deserve it and you know it.”
Talk to me, amico mio! Why are you acting like this? Nick shook his head and backed away. He turned around and headed towards the open balcony. As he walked he began to shape shift, his body contorting and shrinking until there was nothing but a huge black hawk. The hawk flapped its wings furiously and screeched loudly as it lifted off the balcony and soared high in the air. Even in her hurt and anger, Megan couldn’t help but stand there in awe as she watched him change.
When he was gone, Valerian turned to Megan. “Are you alright, belleza?” He lifted his hand and caressed her cheek gently.
“Why, Valerian? Why would he behave like that?” Tears streamed down her cheek as the pain of her breaking heart nearly overwhelmed her.
Valerian sighed. “He wouldn’t tell me, Megan, but I suspect it was his jealousy talking.”
“Jealousy? Of what?”
Valerian smiled; she really didn’t know. “Of your editor, belleza. Vampires are very possessive and jealous creatures. He will not tolerate any other males in your life, Megan, I warn you now.”
Megan was dumbfounded. Nick was jealous of Richard? It was almost laughable. Richard was handsome in his own way, but had never meant anything to her but maybe a brother. He was her editor and friend, period. “But Richard is just a friend. He’s my editor. I can’t just cut out all male acquaintances in my life just because Nick has a hang up about it.”
“Then you will not have Nicolae, Megan.” Megan stared at Valerian for a moment, weighing his words and knowing they were true. If vampires were jealous by nature, then Nick would never change. He would always be jealous, and the only way to prevent these kinds of reactions would be for her to cut all male ties off completely, and that included Richard.
“But what about you, Valerian? He accepts you around me.”
“No, he does not. He is just as jealous of me, and he barely tolerates me near you.” Valerian smiled with a shrug. “But of course, my open flirting with you doesn’t help matters either.”
“So then why do you do it?”
Valerian flashed a grin at her. “To get a rise out of him.” Megan laughed despite her aching heart. “Besides, I was tired of him dancing around his feelings for you. By flirting with you, it brings out the jealousy, by bringing out the jealousy, it makes him realize he cares for you.”
“That’s really sick, you know.” Megan smiled.
“Yeah, well, we are sick creatures,” Valerian answered.
“So what do I do now?”
“Just wait,” Valerian replied. “Nick will return when he’s cooled off, and the two of you can talk. Just never forget who he is, Megan. He is a vampire, which will never change. We are creatures of intense passion. Everything we feel is magnified by the beast within us. Do you understand?”
Megan nodded. “I think I am beginning to.”
“Good. Always keep that in mind when Nick does something stupid like what just happened.” Valerian grinned.
“Thanks Valerian, I’ll remember that.”