Love Me Forever. Rosemary Laurey

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СКАЧАТЬ to pick up a bottle from the bag at his feet. “You gonna stop me, white man?”

      “Yes.” It was ludicrously easy. Their minds had the substance of sawdust. The older one lowered his arm to let the bottle dangle. The younger stood up and blinked.

      They were children. Wreaking havoc. He relaxed his hold on their minds, just a little. “Why aren’t you at school?”

      The older one shrugged. “Sid got suspended. I ain’t gonna go if he ain’t there to look out for me.”

      Familial solidarity was admirable enough but vandalism didn’t seem quite the way to nurture it. “I see.” It was a lie, he didn’t. Any more than he’d ever understood the innumerable acts of vandalism he’d witnessed over the centuries. He’d never had an answer before and didn’t expect one now. He held both boys in his thrall. “You’ve a free day. Good. You’ll spend it picking up every shard of glass here, and when you’re finished, clear the rest of the rubbish from the alley.”

      The both nodded mutely and at his signal, repeated his directions. “When you pick up,” Justin went on, “put everything in that bin over there.” He directed their attention to a wheelie bin leaning crookedly against the fence. “And you will never bother this house again. Is that understood?”

      They nodded. “Yes.” The younger one surprised Justin by adding, “sir.”

      “Good.” He left them bending and retrieving what looked like several months’ worth of smashed bottles and rusted tin cans and turned back towards the house. Stella was standing halfway down the patch of yellowed grass, staring openmouthed. He was struck simultaneously by her beauty and his own stupidity. What was wrong with his reasoning? He’d raced out of her house and leapt the fence without thinking. He never flaunted his strength before mortals. Well, he had now! “Ms. Schwartz,” he called, “don’t worry! They won’t annoy you anymore.”

      She looked as if she wanted to believe, but hesitated. “Those boys are nothing but trouble!”

      “Not anymore. Do you have any bin liners? They’ve a lot to pick up.”

      That distracted her…a little. “Bin liners?” Her brows creased. “You mean trash bags?” She went back to the house and returned with a couple of heavy, green plastic bags. “Think this will do?”

      They did beautifully, and with Justin giving their sullen brains a nudge, the two miscreants accepted them with thanks and offered abject apologies and assurances they’d never offend again. The youngest even added a hesitant “Ma’am.” Perhaps there was hope for him after all.

      It was back in the house that Stella turned to Justin. “Who are you? Superman or an Olympic athlete, the way you jumped over that fence.”

      Better make her forget. “Stella,” he whispered and pulled her will to his. This was one strong-minded woman! It took power to enter her thoughts. He glimpsed more anxieties and worries than a woman should bear. He needed to do something about them. Later. He skimmed off the memory of his race down the garden and leap over the gate. “Not to worry,” he said as he released her mind and she blinked up at him.

      The unexpected vulnerability in her eyes undid him. That and the heady scent of her lifeblood racing thorough her veins. Lust rose like a wild force, and without thinking he threw a full power glamour over her.

      She was soft, warm and alive and he pulled her compliant body into his arms. He resisted the urge to caress her breasts and the lush warmth of her woman’s curves. Not now! Not ever! He’d taste her blood and thus slake his need and the raging desire he barely kept in rein. Taste her—no more! He brushed her honey-colored hair off her face and lifted her shoulders so her head hung back, offering her soft white throat. He pulled down the neck of her sweatshirt and gently lapped her skin, savoring her living taste. When she was utterly relaxed and let out a little whimper of pleasure, he nipped.

      Never in all his born—or dead—days had he tasted such richness. Her sweet thick blood flowed through his lips, warming his mouth and a heart long hurt. He sucked, knowing he should stop soon, but needing the solace and comfort of her warmth and life. It was her nipples hardening under the loose sweatshirt that brought him back to reason. That, and the scent of her arousal.

      He forced his lips off her and slowly licked the wound to seal it. The mark was hidden by her sweatshirt and in a few hours would fade completely. He smoothed her hair forward and sat her in a chair. Only then did he remove the glamour.

      “Whee!” Stella shook her head and ran her hands through her hair. She looked around, frowning as it registered she was sitting down. “What…?” she began.

      “You got a bit woozy,” Justin lied, despising himself but knowing the truth was impossible. And she probably was woozy after all he’d taken. “The last few minutes were a bit stressful.”

      “I’ve never gone giddy over the Day boys before,” she said and looked at Justin as if remembering. “I owe you for that.”

      “You don’t owe me anything.” Heck, he now owed her!

      “Want me to make you a cup of coffee? It might make you feel better.” And moving might well help him get a hold of himself.

      She shook her head. “I’m fine.”

      He wasn’t the only one lying. They were even. No! They’d never be. He’d darn well better get out of here while his resolve held. “Hope the costume works for Sam.”

      “It will.”

      He nearly ran a massive, hexagonal, red stop sign, and that gave him the jolt he needed. He had to get his mind straight. He parked, making sure he wasn’t in one of the complicated parking zones, and strode down to the park. Gathering a handful of pebbles, he sat down by the pond and skimmed them across the water, but stopped when he realized that was no way to stay unobtrusive. The first two skipped several times and embedded themselves deep in the opposite bank.

      He dropped the rest of his stones and looked up at the clear October sky. He was burning with need. Feeding should have eased his appetite; instead it woke yearnings. Dangerous yearnings for far more than a taste of her sweet blood. He was a fool! Feeding in daylight! What vampire in his right mind did that? If one of those hobbledehoys in the alley had seen! He’d endangered Kit and Dixie with his mindless lust and taken unpardonable advantage of a defenseless woman.

      He had to get himself in hand. Tonight he’d ask Kit to take him hunting. He had to have blood, and plenty of it, before he saw Stella again.

      Justin closed his eyes, trying to fathom what had happened. He needed, wanted Stella—had from the minute she walked into that little shop two days ago. Two days! He was going bonkers! No other explanation. Maybe his need for native earth was deeper than he anticipated. Maybe the time change played merry hell with his reason. Maybe he needed a woman!

      Why not? He’d enjoyed plenty of liaisons over the centuries, exchanging sexual rapture for their blood. He’d always been discreet, careful. Not one of them had ever guessed his true nature. If they ever got close, he ended the affair. But he didn’t want a brief fling with Stella. He wanted what Kit and Dixie shared. A union of souls and spirits.

      He had rocks for brains as well as balls!

      Impossible! To join their blood union, she’d have to die. As if he’d wish that on any mortal. As if he could. Stella was as unobtainable as her namesakes in the night СКАЧАТЬ