Date with a Vampire (8 page)

A fin broke the surface of the water and headed her way.

Guystof’s heart thundered against his chest and a cold sweat broke out along his forehead. “Shark! Melody, swim.”

The professor and two other bachelors, farther from the predator and closer to the back of the boat, swam wildly for the stairs. Melody, though, just treaded water and stared, her eyes wide with fear.

“Quick! Give me your hand.” He hung over the side of the motorboat, stretching out to her as far as he could. Still she didn’t move. And the shark rapidly approached.

“Look at me,” he yelled. Her eyes shifted from the shark to his face, and his gaze locked with hers. “Listen to me. Reach out and give me your hand. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. But you have to do as I ask. Now!”

Maybe it was his tone of voice or the way he’d pleaded with her to listen that caused her to break from her shock and reach out to him. Guystof grabbed her wrist, and with every ounce of strength he possessed, hoisted her up. Just as her feet dangled over the side of the boat, the shark swam past and disappeared under the water.

He pulled her close against him, wrapping his arms around her trembling body. “You’re safe now,” he whispered against her wet hair. Water dripped from everywhere and pooled around his feet.

She clung to him as if he was still her lifeline. “You saved me. I don’t know how to thank you.”

He could think of any number of ways, but now was not the time to mention them. He inhaled deeply to savor this closeness with her. And smelled blood. To his horror, his mouth began to water and his fangs cut through his gums.

How could this be happening? He’d taken the potion first thing this morning. Blakesley had told him to take it only once a day. Yet, it appeared to be not enough, for he was becoming a monster.

With her neck just inches from him, he could almost taste her sweetness. He moved his mouth along the velvet skin of her throat. His pulse throbbed in his temple, and his desire to sink his teeth into her flesh was almost too much to bear. Oh, why was this happening? He wasn’t supposed to have these urgings. Not when he appeared human. And why in hell did he smell blood?

A growl started deep in his belly and threatened to escape his mouth. He gritted his teeth and pressed his lips firmly shut, then took Melody by the elbows and held her out at arms’ length. Blood trickled from a cut on her shoulder.

He swallowed hard, the saliva building up in his throat. This couldn’t be happening. Not now. Not here. He sensed they had an audience, and from the corner of his eye, he spotted the other bachelors along with the boat’s captain staring at him and Melody.

The crowd’s noise and the sound of her voice jarred him back to reason. “Guy? What’s wrong? You look awful.”

He kept his mouth clamped shut and waited for his fangs to recede, before speaking, then focused his gaze on her injured shoulder. “You’re hurt.”

She looked at her cut. “Oh, that’s nothing. I must have gotten it while climbing into the boat. Could have been a whole lot worse.” Her cornflower-blue eyes sparkled with gratitude.

“I guess the sight of blood made me realize just how close a call that really was,” Guystof said, trying to make an excuse for his bizarre behavior.

“Well, thanks to you, I’m okay.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek with lips warm and petal soft.

A burning desire to take her back in his arms raged through him. Before he could make a move, though, the professor came over and clapped him on the back.

“Hey, hero. Guess what? That shark was a dolphin.” A round of laughter and applause followed Johnny’s announcement.

Guystof’s back stiffened as he watched a playful dolphin trail their boat. When his gaze shifted back to Melody, her face had turned a vivid scarlet. It seemed he wasn’t the only one humiliated.

“I guess I’d better go clean this cut up and put some dry clothes on. With that kind of scare, I don’t think I’ll be going back in the water anytime soon.” She glowered at him and walked away.

— : : —

Melody held tight to the railing as she went below deck. The dim lighting of the cabin was a sharp contract to the bright sunshine and it took a minute for her eyes to adjust. She sank onto a sofa and buried her face in her hands.

She’d never been so frightened in her life. Just thinking she might have been eaten by a shark sent prickles of fear up her spine. And it hadn’t even been true. What a fool she was! She’d known Guy was melodramatic and would do anything to gain her attention, but she’d never imagined he’d stoop so low as to scare her with a phony shark attack. Yet, he seemed as shocked as she when Johnny pointed out the dolphin. Maybe he hadn’t been acting… Oh, she was so confused. She didn’t know what to think. But she knew she didn’t belong here. She wasn’t sophisticated, or worldly, or even brave. She was a meek little mouse who belonged back home in Hope.

A gentle touch to the top of her head startled her, and then she was enveloped in a comforting embrace. She buried her face against Guy’s chest. A mix of emotions ran through her. Should she be angry or grateful? If he’d made an honest mistake…

Oh Lord, she did want to give him the benefit of the doubt. Could she be falling for him? But she barely knew him? And he was a count. He could have any woman he wanted. Why her? Could it be that he just wanted to win the game?

He held her closer, her eyes squeezed shut against his strong, muscular chest, then he tilted her chin up and pressed his mouth to hers. Melody’s eyes opened wide in horror. This kiss was different. Much different from the one she’d shared with Guy on the beach. And there was good reason for that. The man who held her was not Guy but Johnny Evans.

She pressed her hands firmly against him and tried to push him away but was no match for his strength. His kiss deepened despite her protests. And to make matters worse, Guy stood poised at the top of the stairs. She wanted to cry out to him, “It’s not what you think,” but by the time she disentangled herself from Johnny, it was too late. Guy was gone.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she cried.

Johnny wore a confused look. “Consoling you? You seemed upset.”

“I’d call it a little more than consoling.” What was it with these men? Why did they think they could kiss her whenever they pleased? Hadn’t they ever heard of asking first?

“I’m sorry, Mel.”

“—ody. My name is Melody.” She grabbed a cushion from the arm of the sofa and hugged it against her chest.

“I was just trying to help, that’s all. I guess I got carried away. You’re a very attractive woman, Melody.”

Johnny looked like a sad puppy that she’d just kicked to the curb. But she didn’t care. What concerned her was the image Guy must have of her. After attempting to save her life, not to mention being embarrassed in front of the other bachelors, he finds her locked in another man’s arms. Lord, what must he think of her? But what made her even more angry is why she cared so darn much what he thought. If she wanted to kiss every bachelor here, it was her business and no one else’s.

She offered Johnny a weak smile. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I’m sorry. I guess I’m just hormonal.”

He squeezed her hand. “Sure. I understand.”

Melody watched Johnny leave the cabin. He was the kind of man she should be interested in. She had a lot more in common with a professor than she had with a count. Yet, her heart didn’t flutter when Johnny kissed her the way it did with Guy. Men! She was better off without them.
Just let me get through Dream Girl, and then I can go home.

— : : —

Theo stared into the large silver goblet. Inside, the image of Melody’s lovely face faded into the thick red blood. He’d watched the events unfold in Fiji as a wizard would through his crystal ball and was pleased with what he’d seen.

His brother’s humiliation after rescuing Melody from a dolphin had Theo dancing for joy. And then to have Guystof find Melody in the professor’s arms was brilliant. Theo couldn’t have devised a better plan himself. If that didn’t knock his brother down a peg or two, he didn’t know what would.

He twirled around the room, his black cape billowing like wings. Theo stopped long enough to drink the entire contents of the goblet, wipe the blood from his mouth with his hand, then lick his fingers. It wouldn’t be long until Dragesa was his. He would rule the kingdom as never before. His father and his before that had been weak. They’d listened to their wives, taking care to spare a woman whenever possible. Well, he cared for women too. Cared that they heeded his desires. There wasn’t a city or town across the globe that didn’t hold a vampire or two that belonged to him. Soon, he could bring them all here, to Dragesa, so that they could service him whenever he pleased. The thought of those lovely, slender necks his for the piercing, made him quiver with desire.

He’d keep a close watch on Melody. There was no way he was going to lose this battle. Theo slammed the goblet on the thick wooden table and didn’t hear the door open behind him. It wasn’t until Blakesley was beside him that he noticed the butler. The old man had been with the LeBreques for centuries but mainly served Guystof.

“How many times have I told you not to sneak up on me like that?” Theo snapped.

“I’m sorry, sir. I did knock. And as I’m not light footed to be sure, I felt certain you’d hear me approach.”

“Well, I did not. Now what do you want?”

“Your father asked me to call upon you, sir. Shall you be dining with him tonight?”

Theo’s gaze settled on the goblet, the side rimmed with blood. “No, tell him I’ve already eaten.”

Blakesley followed his gaze. “Will that be enough, sir? I must say it appears to be no more than an appetizer. There’s plenty of meat in the banquet hall. The animals were just freshly slaughtered.”

Theo bit back his harsh words. The old man was just doing his job. Or was he? Theo narrowed his eyes and studied Blakesley intently. Perhaps he was spying for Guystof. If that were true, Blakesley would be sorry indeed.

He smiled wickedly. “Thank you, but I’m fine for now. And if I get hungry, I can find someone to satisfy me.” Blakesley hated to be fed upon, but if he continued to bother Theo, he would not hesitate to teach him a lesson.

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” The old man backed out of the room, not taking his eyes off Theo. It seemed his threat had not gone unnoticed.

After Blakesley closed the door, Theo let out a roar of laughter. He would not be coming around anytime soon.

C
HAPTER
F
IVE

G
uystof lay in bed, on top of the sheets, wearing only his boxers. The air was thick and humid. A lone candle on the bedside table gave off the only light. The flame flickered and danced over the wall like a ghost. What was he doing wrong? He’d been so sure Melody liked him. He’d felt the connection when he’d kissed her and again when he held her after pulling her from the water. She’d trembled not just out of fear, but from desire too. Yet, not more than ten minutes later, she was in the professor’s arms. The very man who’d embarrassed them in front of the other bachelors.

Not only did Guystof feel like a fool, but he felt betrayed. Although why he should care whom Melody kissed, he couldn’t quite figure. Melody was simply a means to an end. He needed a rich wife. She fit the bill. Hadn’t he learned from his father the mistakes of the heart? Twice married, both times for love, and both ended tragically. Well, that would not happen to him.

Guystof closed his eyes and was drifting off to sleep when he heard a knock on his door. Had Melody come to apologize? Well, he would give her a piece of his mind, then kiss her like she’d never been kissed before. If that didn’t make her forget the professor, Guystof wasn’t the contender he thought he was.

He rose slowly. Let her wait. Better to appear nonchalant than too eager. He started to put on his jeans but kicked them off. He glanced down at his white boxers and smiled. Melody’s shock when he greeted her in his underwear would be payback.

Casually, he strolled over to the door with an “Oh, it’s you” look pasted on his face. To his surprise, though, the dark-skinned beauty whose family owned the island stood before him. In her arms she held a stack of terry-cloth towels that she nearly dumped at his feet.

“The towels you ordered, Mr. Guy.” Her lips, full and red like overripe strawberries, quivered. Her face, warmed by embarrassment, turned a deep rose.

He’d called for towels earlier and had completely forgotten, as his thoughts were focused on Melody and the professor. “Thank you, Serenie.”

She gazed at the floor, making a noticeable point not to look at him. “Where would you like these, sir?”

“The dresser is fine.” He stepped aside so that she could enter his
bure
and watched her cross the room. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I thought Tommy had forgotten his key,” he fibbed, “or I would have dressed more appropriately.”

She giggled. The sound was musical, just like her voice. “That’s all right, Mr. Guy. I won’t look. Much.”

Now it was his turn to laugh. “I’m surprised at you, married lady, to have snuck a peek at all.”

She placed the towels in the top drawer of the rattan dresser. “Oh, I’m no longer married. My Joe was killed last year in a fishing accident.”

“I’m sorry, Serenie.”

“Thank you, Mr. Guy. We had many good years together and three wonderful children. I’m content with my memories.”

“You’re a fine woman.”

She turned to face him, the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile, her stare locked on his, still careful not to look at his physique. “You, sir, are a gentleman.” And with that she bowed and left.

He watched her gracefully walk toward the beach, the soft cloth of her sarong hugging her hips, and he couldn’t help but admire her. She was indeed a lovely woman. If it weren’t for Melody and the fact that he
was
a gentleman…

Tommy entered his line of vision just as Serenie disappeared into the night. Guystof’s roommate had been in the last group date with Melody and had gone on a sunset cruise. “How was it?”