What surprised her the most was that she’d ever attracted a man like him in the first place. And he did seem to be genuinely attracted to her. That in itself had been a gift she’d never expected to experience, and for that, she would always be grateful. The sex they’d shared had been totally beyond anything she could have ever imagined and she’d never regret it. Neither of them had even mentioned using protection of any kind, but that didn’t bother Laurel Rose. The thought of a dark-haired baby filled her with joy. She wouldn’t mind if he left a part of himself behind. It would give her someone to love, a family.

  Stefan sighed and dragged his fingers through his hair. Sitting on the side of the bed, he twisted around, bending one knee onto the mattress and turning his body so he was facing her fully. Lifting her hand in his, he brought it to his lips and lightly kissed each knuckle before lowering it again. But he didn’t release it. Instead, his grip tightened as he spoke the words she’d been expecting. “We have to talk.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “All right.” She kept her voice calm as she tried to tug her hand from his. Finally, she gave up when it became apparent that he wasn’t going to relinquish his hold on her.

  “I am a Dalakis.” His voice was a low, sexy rumble that wrapped itself around her. “We have always been different.”

  Laurel Rose knew what it felt like to be different. Empathy welled up inside her as she imagined the challenges he had faced in his life. She knew them well, having had to deal with them herself. His choice of words, however, struck her as odd. “We?” she questioned.

  He relaxed slightly and one of the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. “I have two brothers. My parents have been gone a long time, but my brothers and I have always been close.”

  It boggled the mind to think of two more men like Stefan running around the world, wreaking havoc on the female population. “Younger or older?” Her curiosity got the better of her, and even though she knew he’d be leaving her soon, she wanted to learn everything she could about him.

  An actual smile formed on his lips, and once again she was struck by just how ruggedly handsome he was. “Both older.” She could hear the obvious affection in his voice as he spoke of them. “Cristofor is the eldest and Lucian is the middle son.”

  She hoped he’d tell her more about his family, but he sighed and shook his head slowly, as if to clear his thoughts before returning to the point. “As I said, we are different.” His green eyes seemed to glow. She knew it had to be a trick of the light, but it was still unnerving.

  “You’re different,” she prompted when he stopped once again. “I understand that.”

  “No. You don’t understand.” All signs of a smile vanished and his face once again was hard and set. “You have no idea just how different I am.” The muscles in his jaw worked as he seemed to struggle for control.

  Laurel Rose didn’t know what to do or say, so she just sat patiently and waited. His fingers tightened around hers. She thought she was ready for anything.

  She was wrong.

  “I am a vampire.” His words, stark and blunt, lay between them. She waited for him to smile or laugh, but his eyes darkened and there was no humor to be found anywhere in him.

  “You’re joking, right?” He had to be. Vampires weren’t real. They were creatures of imagination, from books and movies.

  “I come from a long line of vampires. My family is an ancient one that has existed for century upon century since the dawn of man. Cristofor still lives in the family castle in Transylvania. But in spite of all our powers, we are a dying breed.” He watched her intently, as if trying to gauge her reaction.

  Laurel Rose kept her feelings hidden. She wasn’t afraid of Stefan, but she was starting to be concerned about him. If he really thought he was a vampire, that his brother was a vampire who lived in Transylvania—and how clichéd was that—he obviously needed help.

  The corner of his mouth quirked up again. “I’m not delusional, Laurel Rose.”

  Tugging her hand from his, she shrank back against the pillows. Had he read her mind or had he guessed her thoughts?

  “You’re very good at blocking your thoughts and feelings from others. But we are connected now, and although you could probably still do so, you will find it much harder to hide them from me. And truly, you are not trying to block your thoughts.” He stroked his fingers lightly down the side of her neck where it was still a little tender, although that was rapidly fading. “I would normally respect your privacy and not use my powers to invade your mind, but right now the connection is too new to ignore. And I have also come to know you well. I do not always have to read your thoughts to know what it is you are thinking.”

  Memory suddenly flooded back, bombarding her with unbelievable images. She remembered telling Stefan to take what he needed. The sexual connection between them had been explosive and then he’d taken it even further. Her entire body jerked as she remembered the sharp pinch of something sinking into her neck. Had he drunk her blood?

  Her stomach roiled at the thought and her skin suddenly felt cold and clammy. A large hand on the back of her head pushed it down toward her knees. “Breathe, Laurel Rose,” his deep voice commanded.

  She focused all her energy on taking one breath at a time, on the slow rise and fall of her chest, on the steady beat of her heart. She suddenly became very aware of Stefan’s hand cupping her head and his thumb wiping away a bead of sweat that trickled down her temple.

  Fighting her raging emotions and her growing fear, she desperately tried to assemble her thoughts in a way that made sense. She recalled the growing weakness in her body. The strength of Stefan’s desire for her had swamped her, and she’d had no thought of denying him anything. She had yearned to give him everything he wanted. Everything he needed. As inconceivable as it seemed, he had actually drunk her blood. Just the thought made her shiver.

  Her head jerked up when she felt the covers being tucked more tightly around her. Stefan sat back and waited patiently for her to speak. But she really didn’t have to say anything, did she? He could read her thoughts if he chose.

  He looked quickly away, but not before she caught a glimpse of the sadness in his eyes. When he turned back to her it was gone, replaced by a hard green glare. She recognized it as a protective measure. Just the thought that she could hurt him gave her pause. Surely she didn’t have that kind of power or effect on him. Why would what she thought even matter to him?

  She licked her dry lips and tasted a slight tang of something metallic. Blood. “Oh, my God. What did you do?” Accusation rang in her voice.

  “What I had to do.” There was no apology, no softening in his tone.

  “I drank your blood, didn’t I?” She could hardly put her fears into words. Her entire body started to shake. Stefan reached for her, but she shrank back from him, pulling her legs up tight into her body and huddling against the headboard.

  He emitted a low growl and jumped to his feet, towering over her. “Yes. You drank my blood. I took too much from you. I had to replenished you with mine.”

  “Am I a vampire now?” She barely managed to voice her dread.

  “No,” he spat back. “It does not work that way.”

  Another thought occurred to her. “Karen, the waitress at the diner. You took her blood just like you took mine. I’m no different than her.” Laurel Rose wanted to yell and scream. She’d thought she was special, but she was no different than any other woman. When it all boiled down, she was no better than a snack to him.

  A roar erupted from him, shaking the very foundations of the house. The glass in the window rattled and a long crack spread in the plaster from the corner of the doorway and up the wall. She cringed back against the headboard, not knowing what to expect next. Fury was written in every line of his body. He prowled back and forth beside the bed, his eyes watching her every move, cataloguing her every reaction. She’d almost swear that she saw fangs flash in the corners of his mouth before they vanished.

  “Yes, I took her blood. It is how I survive.” His words were clipped, his tone curt. “I hurt no one and they have no memory of my having done so.”

  Well, that certainly explained why she sensed Stefan around Karen but could get no sense of recognition in return.

  “But you are different. You. Are. Mine.” He spaced each word carefully, enunciating them so she was left with no doubt.

  “Your what?”

  “My woman.” He stopped by the bed, crossed his arms across his massive chest, and glared down at her. This time there was no doubting the reddish glow that filled his eyes. “The men of my family are cursed or blessed to love only one woman in all our existence. I have waited for you for over five hundred years.”

  Laurel Rose shook her head in denial.

  “I am immortal, but I can be killed,” he continued, ignoring her mute protest. “Direct and prolonged exposure to sunshine will kill me. A stake through the heart will kill me. Beheading will kill me.”

  Her hands flew to her chest, clutching her heart. The thought of Stefan dying was unbearable and unthinkable. “No,” she whispered, unable to imagine him being hurt.

  “The only other thing that can kill me is love,” he continued ruthlessly. “Many of my ancestors have given up in despair and faced the dawn when rejected by their only love. Others have given up the hope of finding their woman, and after hundreds of years of loneliness they have chosen death.”

  He lowered his gaze from hers and rubbed the back of his neck. The gesture was filled with such utter frustration that it touched her heart. But he wasn’t finished yet. “Some men live one human lifetime with their woman and choose death when their mate dies.” When he raised his eyes, she thought that he looked tired. Tired and incredibly sad.

  “But some Dalakis men are blessed and their chosen woman decides to take a chance and remain with them forever.”

  “I don’t understand. How is that even possible?” she whispered. Laurel Rose didn’t know what to believe at this point. What he was telling her was almost too fantastic to believe. Yet her own psychic powers were beyond the belief of many people. She was totally confused. A throbbing began in her temples as a headache threatened.

  “For now, all you need to know is that it is possible. For hundreds of years I scoured the world for you until I finally stopped searching. But you are the chosen woman for me. I will never find another.”

  “What happens now?” Although she knew in her heart Stefan would never hurt her, there was still a small part of her that feared him. If he was what he said he was, then his power was staggering. He could do whatever he chose and no one would be able to stop him, especially not her.

  His lips tightened into a grim line. “I will not leave you. What happens next is your choice. If you try to send me away, I will not go. I will not force you to do anything or to accept me.” His mouth relaxed and a slow, sensual smile crossed his face. “I will, however, do everything within my power to convince you to be a part of my life.”

  Her entire body clenched in reaction to his potent smile. It just wasn’t fair the way her body responded to him. A dark thought intruded. Maybe he is using mind control to make me want him. But a more rational part of her mind reminded her that if he were manipulating her thoughts, she wouldn’t be aware of it, let alone worried.

  The circular arguments went around and around until she thought her head might burst. She was tired, her throat and head ached, and she just didn’t want to think any more. Burying her face in her hands, she tried to take a deep breath to settle herself.

  This time, when she felt him sit beside her, she didn’t draw away from him. He’d had plenty of time and opportunity to hurt her if that was his aim. At this point she didn’t know what she did or didn’t believe. But what she did know was that she trusted Stefan. Deep in her heart, she knew he would do nothing to harm her, but even more disturbing to her peace of mind was the fact that she wanted to be with him, wanted to be part of his life.

  He lifted her carefully, easing her down into the bed and tucking the covers around her once again. “I know it is a lot to take in. And for that I am sorry. But I promised I would not lie to you and I will not.” He flicked off the bedside lamp but the room was no longer as dark as it had been. Dawn was fast approaching. “I must go. But I will be back tonight and we will talk more then.”

  There were so many things she wanted to say to him. So many things she wanted to ask. But exhaustion was overtaking her body and her eyelids were suddenly too heavy for her to keep them open.

  “Sleep.” She felt the brief touch of his fingers against her forehead. She wanted to reach out, grab his hand, and keep him with her, but it was too late. Stefan was gone, vanished into the dawn as sleep claimed her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sunlight was streaming in through the window when Laurel Rose finally awoke. Groaning, she rolled over and buried her face in her pillow. Big mistake. The pillowcase smelled like Stefan—hot, potent, and very arousing. She’d already taken a deep breath, inhaling his scent into her lungs before she realized what she was doing.

  Giving a snort, she rolled over and stared at the ceiling, assessing her physical state. Her temples still throbbed, but her neck and throat no longer felt tender. Stretching slowly, she gave another groan as various minor aches and pains made their presence known. A hot bath was definitely the first order of the day.

  She tossed back the covers and pushed herself up before sliding her legs over the side of the bed. Laurel Rose rested her head in her hands and sat there until the pounding subsided to a dull throb.

  Her mental state was something else entirely. On the surface, her life was the same as it had been yesterday morning. But in reality, everything had changed. Her whole concept of what was real and what was fantasy had been challenged.

  Vampire!

  Laurel Rose had grown up in the mountains of North Carolina surrounded by superstition and folktales. Many folks believed in shapeshifters and thought that unusual creatures roamed the hills at night. Some still consulted with the elders of the area, seeking advice on everything from the proper time to plant crops to the best home remedies.

  A good portion of the population believed she was a witch. And as many folks who feared her, there was always one or two brave souls a year who sought her counsel, hoping she could tell them the future or make them a love potion. They always went away disappointed.

  But could she really believe in vampires? Raising her head, she stared through blurry eyes. After last night, could she afford not to believe? So many jumbled thoughts and no easy answers.

  Taking a deep, fortifying breath, she launched herself from the bed. She was naked, but she didn’t even bother trying to find her dressing gown. What was the point? She was only going to crawl straight into the bathtub.

  She dragged herself from her bedroom and stumbled down the hallway to the bathroom. The sight that met her in the mirror was frightening. Her hair looked like a rat’s nest, with a good portion of it straggling out of her braid. Her face was pale and drawn and her eyes were bloodshot.

  Whirling away from the less than inspiring image, she twisted the taps of the bathtub to start the water running. She slowly pulled the ponytail holder from the end of her hair and began to unwind her braid. When that was done, she knelt by the side of the tub and stuck her head under the taps, wetting her hair before grabbing the shampoo bottle. Lathering the shampoo into her hair, she massaged her aching scalp before ducking back beneath the running water. When she was satisfied that her hair was soap-free, she wrung the water from the wet locks and wrapped a towel around her head.

  Sighing, she rested her forehead against the cool white porcelain. Weary all the way to her bones, it would have been so easy just to stay seated on the floor. She forced herself to sit back up and put the stopper in the tub.

  With the tub filling, she levered herself off the floor and scrounged in the bathroom cabinets in search of her homemade bath salts. She poured a generous amount into the water. The familiar and comforting scent of lavender drifted on the steam. Clutching a towel rack with one hand and resting the other against the wall, she carefully stepped into the bathtub and eased herself down into its waiting warmth.

  The heat seeped into her body, past her stiff muscles, and into the very marrow of her bones. When there was enough water, Laurel Rose turned off the taps and leaned back against the curved foot of the tub. Silence surrounded her and she allowed herself to drift, enveloped in the warmth and the quiet. Pushing all thoughts from her mind, she soaked her aching body and eased her sore muscles. When the water finally began to cool, she pulled herself up and stepped out onto the bathmat.

  She pulled the plug so the tub could drain. Shivering, she plucked a fluffy towel off a hook and dried the water from her body. She didn’t hurry, but took her time, smoothing lotion onto her legs and arms and over her stomach and breasts. When she was done, she unwound the towel from around her head and used a wide-tooth comb to remove the tangles from her hair before blowing it dry. She braided her long black hair, comforted by the familiar routine while keeping her mind as blank as possible.

  She hung the damp towels to dry and rinsed out the tub before laying the bathmat over the side. Once she’d brushed her teeth, she made her way back to her bedroom to dress. Thankfully she didn’t have a lot of choices in her wardrobe. It was basic all the way. White cotton panties and a matching bra came first. Then she donned a pair of faded, well-worn jeans. She topped it with a deep blue long-sleeved cotton shirt before sitting on the side of the bed and tugging on a pair of socks and her comfortable brown boots.

  As much as she just wanted to walk out of the room, her own sense of order wouldn’t allow her to leave the bed a mess. She knew she should change the sheets, but for now she settled on just making the bed. When that was done, she headed downstairs to the kitchen.