Once she’d started a pot of coffee brewing, she tossed out her uneaten sandwich from the night before. Then she assembled and wrapped a couple of peanut butter sandwiches and tucked them, an apple, and a granola bar into her knapsack. While she waited for the coffee, she wandered over to her desk in a corner of the kitchen to check her computer. In addition to her work at the farmer’s market, she’d set up a small web-based company that allowed her to sell her hooked rugs and soaps online. Yet another source of income to help her survive the slow winter months.

  Ignoring her e-mail, she began her search. A half hour later, she had a fairly large stack of paper on her desk, all filled with the lore and history of the vampire. She closed her laptop and pushed away from her desk, clutching the printouts in her hand. She carried them back to the counter and stuffed them into the knapsack.

  The coffee was ready, so she filled a large thermal mug with the dark brew before pouring the rest into a thermos bottle that went straight into the sack alongside the food. Slinging the bag over her shoulder, she paused by the back door long enough to grab her rifle and jacket. She closed the door behind her, checking to make sure it was locked before turning to greet the day.

  From the position of the sun, it was almost noon. Laurel Rose wasn’t wearing a watch, but then, she didn’t need one here in the hills. She measured time from sunrise to sunset, and today she had nowhere she needed to be. Right now, she needed to clear her head and think, and there was only one place she could do that.

  The air was crisp, but the sun warmed her shoulders as she stepped off the porch and into the yard. The light breeze whispered through the trees, calling her to come and play. Birds sang as they flew though the air and Laurel Rose could not resist their song. Taking a sip of her coffee, she headed for a slight break in the trees at the end of the yard and to a path that was all but hidden from sight. If you didn’t know it was there, you’d miss it totally. But Laurel Rose knew where she was going. This was her land and there wasn’t a single square inch of it that she hadn’t walked.

  Like countless times before in her life, when she needed to sort out her thoughts and gain strength for the trials ahead of her, she returned to the land. The earth nourished her soul and strengthened her body in a way that most people didn’t understand. Her headache lessened with every step she took and her limp was hardly noticeable as she tramped through the woods toward her destination.

  She’d hiked for more than an hour before she finally stopped. The flat stones jutted out, giving her a spectacular view of her own land and beyond. The tall trees, the mountains in the distance and the sheltered valley below were painted in the breathtaking reds and golds of autumn. She loved this time of year and the sight never failed to move her soul no matter how many times she saw it. Rugged, untamed, and at times unforgiving, it was nevertheless her home.

  Laurel Rose set her bag down and stretched out on the rocks, propping her back against a bolder. She placed her rifle within easy grasp, tugged her knapsack into her lap, and unpacked her lunch.

  Food always tasted better when eaten outside. She attacked the peanut butter sandwiches first. She was starving. When she’d satisfied the worst of her hunger, she hauled out the sheaf of papers she’d copied and began to read. Munching on an apple and sipping her coffee, she read page after page about the history of the vampire. Most of it she scoffed at, but other things . . . Well, some of it was very believable.

  When she finished, she tucked it and the remains of her lunch into her bag and leaned back against the rock to think. She knew Stefan was a strong psychic. The power she’d felt flowing from him indicated that she’d only seen the tip of the iceberg where he was concerned. He’d definitely taken her blood. She had a very vivid memory of that.

  The real question was how did she really feel about that? She forced herself to examine what she felt for Stefan. Even though she’d known him only a short time, she trusted him more than she ever had any other person in her entire life.

  Sexually, he’d rocked her world. She’d never felt so attracted to a man. Her nipples puckered at the mere thought of him and her sex began to throb. She squirmed to try to get more comfortable, and the heavy seam in the crotch of her jeans rubbed against her swollen clit, tormenting her even further.

  But it was even more than that. They’d connected in some deep, elemental way that she couldn’t really explain. It was as if the very cells of her body yearned for him. Biting her lip, she stared blindly at the vista in front of her. If she didn’t know better, she’d say she was in love with him, but that was impossible. Wasn’t it?

  And could she really believe him when he told her she was the only woman for him? It was almost impossible for her to believe that she would be the right woman for a man as powerful and potent and downright gorgeous as Stefan.

  If she did decide to see where their relationship would lead, what would that mean for her? If he was a vampire—and she had to admit that she really was beginning to believe the unbelievable—then what did that entail? How did he survive? What did he do to make a living, if anything? Where was he staying at the moment? What other powers did he possess? And what did he really mean when he said that she could stay with him forever?

  Sighing, Laurel Rose stretched out on top of the large flat rock and propped her head on her knapsack. Just thinking about it was bringing her headache back. The only thing she knew for sure deep down in her gut was that she wanted to spend time with Stefan and see what would develop. She already knew that he’d stormed her defenses and owned part of her heart. If she let him closer, then he could destroy her if things didn’t work out between them. But she didn’t think she’d ever forgive herself if she didn’t try.

  Vampire.

  Such a simple word. One fraught with fear, superstition, and mistrust. But Stefan was also a man. She’d caught a glimpse of his soul in unguarded moments and knew he’d been misunderstood and suffered loneliness just as she had. There was a darkness surrounding him, and she was under no illusion that any relationship with him would be an easy one. He was dominating, powerful and used to getting his own way. A complicated man with many layers, he would try to protect himself emotionally while taking whatever she would give. Sexually demanding, he’d transported her to the heights of desires, pushing her to feel more, to give more, and she had a hunch it was just the beginning.

  Sighing, she closed her eyes and let her thoughts drift. Images from last night tumbled around in her brain, making her uncomfortably aware of a need deep within her. Her panties were damp and her beasts ached. Desperately, she focused her thoughts on what she had learned from her reading. Some of the vampire lore stated that they were able to shapeshift into other forms. A picture of the huge wolf jumped into her mind. Was it possible? Or was she just being fanciful? She’d definitely have to ask him about that.

  She dozed on and off until a shiver skated down her spine. Laurel Rose reluctantly opened her eyes and pushed herself up into a seated position. The sun was low in the west. It was obvious that she’d been there for several hours. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but her body had had other ideas. Climbing to her feet, she grabbed her belongings. In spite of lying on a hard rock for a couple of hours, she felt surprisingly good and much stronger than she had earlier. Her limp wasn’t as pronounced as it normally was. In fact, her right leg felt stronger. As usual, the land had worked its magic, restoring her energy to its usual level.

  The walk home was enjoyable, but she was glad when she finally broke through the trees and into the garden. She came to a sudden stop in the middle of the clearing. Slowly, she turned in a circle, cataloguing every detail. Nothing seemed out of place, but Laurel Rose couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had been there. But whoever they were, she sensed that they were long gone.

  More cautious now, she continued to the back porch and up the three steps. Taking her time, she circled her wraparound porch, ending up once again at her back door. Everything seemed fine. Maybe some neighbor had called on her, looking to buy some of her soap or herbs. She didn’t think it was likely, but it was certainly a more comforting thought than some of the other alternatives she could think of.

  She opened her mind and allowed sensations to flow to her. It didn’t feel the same way it had when Aaron and Clem had been there. In fact, it was hard to get a sense of anyone in particular. There was something unfamiliar in the air, but she couldn’t place what it was. Whatever it was, she couldn’t do anything about it.

  Laurel Rose put it from her mind and opened the back door. She propped up her rifle by the door and strolled into the kitchen. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her. Lord knew she’d certainly been under a lot of stress lately and that had to affect her. She deposited her knapsack onto the counter and opened it so she could clean out the garbage.

  A hissing noise stopped her dead in her tracks. Belatedly, she remembered the door handle turning easily in her hand. Hadn’t she locked the door when she’d left? She hadn’t unlocked it when she’d returned.

  She was used to coming and going with ease. It was only after the recent trouble started that she’d begun to lock up when she wasn’t home. She still wasn’t used to it. Now she was paying for the oversight. Someone had been inside her home. Not moving a muscle, she scanned the kitchen with her eyes.

  A rattle near her feet made sweat break out on her forehead. Ever so slowly, she tilted her head enough so she could look down. Coiled next to her boots, a large rattlesnake stared at her with its black, cold eyes. An eastern diamondback! What the hell was one of those doing in her home? They weren’t even indigenous to this part of the state. But she did know it was considered to be one of the most venomous and dangerous snakes in the country.

  Okay. She was fine. The diamondback was just a tad upset at the moment. All she had to do was stay still until it calmed down and then slowly back away from it. Most snakes didn’t bite unless they were agitated or provoked, she reminded herself. Still, it was hard not to move when every instinct she possessed was screaming at her to run. She’d never been this up close and personal with such a deadly snake before.

  A movement out of the corner of her eye almost made her jerk. It took all her self-control to keep from screaming and running. There, slithering along the counter, was another rattlesnake. It continued right to the edge, where it paused and hissed.

  Breathing was almost impossible, but she forced herself to take one slow breath after another. It wouldn’t do to faint. Any sudden movement could cause them to strike. The nearest hospital was almost an hour’s drive away, but there was a doctor’s office in Salvation. If she got bitten by one of the snakes, she should be able to make it there for treatment. That was, provided she didn’t get hit by both snakes. She wasn’t quite sure what the mixture of venoms would do to her system and she didn’t want to take any chances.

  Opening her mind to the snakes, she tried to reach out to them psychically and calm them. They subsided slightly, but not enough for her to feel safe moving. She didn’t know what to do. Her skin was clammy and she desperately wanted to swipe at the bead of sweat on her temple.

  Stay calm. Just breathe. She repeated her mantra over and over in her head. Control was the key to survival. Panic could mean death. Strength flooded through her body the longer she stood there. Through the kitchen window, she could see the last rays of the sun blaze across the horizon as it sank and gave way to dusk. Stefan would come. All she had to do was hang on until he could get there.

  Concentrating harder than she ever had in her life, she mentally called out to him. Stefan, I need you. She had no idea how far away he was or if he would be able to even hear her. Still she had to try.

  Only a few seconds had passed when the snake on the countertop lifted its head and hissed as if it had heard her mental cry for help. Its needle-like fangs were sharp and deadly. Laurel Rose swallowed hard. Her knees began to weaken and tremble. She tensed her legs, locking them into position. She blinked as a bead of sweat trickled past the corner of her eye, the salt making it sting.

  Please, Stefan. Hurry!

  The snake at her feet began to slither closer.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Stefan’s eyes snapped open the second the sun set behind the mountain. Fury filled him as he burst through the back door of his truck, already a blur of motion. Laurel Rose’s fear had struck him like a knife to the heart, yet he had been unable to move, trapped in the paralyzing day sleep of his kind.

  Rage coursed through his veins, helping him block out the fear that threatened to overwhelm him. Laurel Rose was his. He would protect her with his life and kill anyone who tried to harm her.

  His preternatural speed enabled him to move swiftly through the woods. He made no sound as he raced through the forest. His feet did not disturb the earth beneath him, nor did he brush any of the branches as he passed. But every animal he passed froze where it stood, sensing the danger from the enraged predator that he was. None dared to move until he had passed well beyond them. His fangs lengthened and a growl escaped him. Primal instincts rose within him, goading him to go faster. He must protect his mate at all costs. Nothing else was acceptable.

  Reaching out to her with his mind, he tried to read her thoughts, to see what she was seeing, but it was difficult. Fear was her overriding emotion, blocking all else. Expanding his mental search, he scanned the rest of the house as he ran, but he could detect no other person. Was she injured? His mind conjured visions of her lying in a pool of blood on the floor, dying as her life-giving liquid spilled from her.

  No! He pushed those images away and concentrated. Her life force was strong within her and that was all that mattered.

  He burst into the clearing and was across the yard and on the porch in a blink of an eye. He slammed open the back door and swiftly scanned the room, taking in the entire situation at a glance. Laurel Rose hadn’t so much as moved a muscle when he’d burst into her home. Instead of fright, he could feel waves of relief flowing from her now that he was there.

  Snakes. Someone had put poisonous snakes in her home. Whoever had done such a thing would pay dearly.

  Stefan raised his arms high in the air and focused his power. “Come,” he commanded. The snake resting on the countertop quickly dropped over the side of the counter to join its kindred already on the floor. They gave a long, low hiss and then both reptiles began to slither toward him. Stefan felt Laurel Rose’s surprise and awe as the snakes obeyed him. He bent over and both snakes slowly wrapped themselves around his arms.

  Slumping against the counter, she stared in disbelief. “I knew you’d come.”

  Her simple words caused his chest to expand and an ache to form in his heart. Her belief in him was a balm to his anger. “Are you all right?” He could see for himself that she was, but he needed to hear the words from her.

  “Yes.” She nodded as she spoke, leaning against the counter for support. “I’m fine.” As if her legs could no longer hold her, she slid slowly to the floor. “At least I think I’m fine.” Her voice was shaky but strong.

  “Stay here.” He didn’t wait to see if she obeyed him but quickly strode through the lower level, scanning each room as he went. When he didn’t find any more snakes, he headed upstairs to continue his search, taking the steps two at a time.

  The bathroom and spare rooms were clear. He found nothing until he reached Laurel Rose’s bedroom. Sensing the creature within, Stefan flicked back the bedcovers and stared at the coiled snake hidden beneath. Someone had left nothing to chance. If Laurel Rose hadn’t encountered the other two in the kitchen, then this snake would have been waiting for her when she rolled into bed. Her movements would have definitely caused it to strike. She would have been harmed, possibly even killed.

  The very walls around him and the floor beneath his feet trembled with the force of his fury. He lowered his arm toward the snake and waited while it docilely wound itself around his forearm and settled there. He would find the person responsible for this and he would punish them.

  “Stefan.” Her soft whisper startled him. How had she snuck up behind him without his knowing?

  Whirling toward the door, he stopped when she sucked in her breath, her eyes round with fear and amazement. Stefan was surprised that she didn’t run screaming in terror. Big and dark, he knew he was like an apparition out of someone’s worst nightmare. His long black hair hung down his back and his fangs were razor sharp. He knew his eyes were glowing red, making him appear as if he were some demon from hell. Massive and tall, clad entirely in black, he stood with his legs braced apart and three poisonous snakes wrapped around his muscular forearms.

  He took a deep breath and fought with his anger, subduing it. Control had always been something he’d taken for granted. Years of practice and training had made it part of his personality—indeed, part of his very makeup. That was, until he’d met Laurel Rose. Around her, his self-control seemed to vanish like a puff of smoke. It was disconcerting and troubling, but it was something he was going to have to learn to deal with.

  “Everything is fine.” He kept his voice soft and calm. He sighed with relief as he felt the reddish hue gradually fade from his eyes and his fangs recede, but he still made no move toward her. “You’re safe now. They will not harm you.”

  She nodded, her head bobbing up and down. He watched the muscles of her throat ripple as she swallowed and it reminded him of how soft and supple her skin was. Desire exploded within him, swiftly displacing the anger. His cock thickened and hardened when he caught a whiff of her sweet scent. The compulsion to strip her naked and fuck her while he drank from her was almost overwhelming. The snakes coiled tighter around his arms, sensing his changing mood and the tensing of his muscles.

  Now that he knew she was no longer in danger, he wanted to claim her in the most primitive way possible. Her hand trembled as she reached out to support herself against the doorframe. Once again, his heart turned over in his chest. Laurel Rose caused such a mixture of emotions within him, he hardly knew himself. One minute he wanted to fuck her senseless, and the next he wanted to wrap her in his arms and keep her safe for eternity. He wanted to hear her screams of pleasure as he rammed his cock into her sweet, hot depths again and again, but he also longed to hear her laughter of joy and to see her soft smile. There was nothing he didn’t want from her. And he would have it all. But first he had to deal with the trouble at hand.