“We’ll take care of it back at the house,” Mortimer assured him, and then added, “Speaking of which, I suppose we should get him in the SUV and take him there. We have a nice cell waiting for him next to Ambrose. The two can be neighbors until the council decides what to do with them.”
Anders nodded. “I’ll walk Valerie inside and tell Lucian you’re here. He may want to talk to you.”
He didn’t wait for Mortimer’s response to that, but caught Valerie’s arm and urged her toward the front door. Roxy had lain down in a bit of shade nearby to watch them, but now got up and followed.
Valerie allowed Anders to lead her toward the house, but her mind was racing. He planned to walk her in, tell Lucian about the men being there and then leave her and head back to his own home . . . and she didn’t want that. She wanted—actually, Valerie wasn’t sure what she wanted. She knew what she didn’t want though, and that was to be left here alone without him. But she didn’t know what to do about it. He was determined to give her time to think and make her decision, and—the front door opening distracted her, and Valerie glanced toward it as Lucian stepped out.
“Mortimer and Bricker got some information out of Ambrose,” Anders announced, slowing as the man pulled the door closed. “But I’ll let them tell you about it. They’d be disappointed if I stole their thunder.”
Lucian nodded as he approached, but his eyes slid from Anders to her as he neared. Slowing as he came abreast of them, he scowled at Valerie. “You still haven’t asked?”
He didn’t wait for a response, but simply shook his head and continued on toward the driveway.
“Asked me what?” Anders asked, glancing to her curiously.
Valerie hesitated and then simply spat it out. “Do you love me?”
Anders stilled, his breath leaving him in a long exhale. Then he just stood there staring at her until Valerie began to worry that the answer was no and he didn’t want to admit it.
“If you don’t, just say—” she began anxiously, but never finished because his mouth was suddenly on hers and he was kissing her.
Valerie quickly forgot about Igor, or whether Anders loved her and just about everything else. When he broke the kiss and lifted his head a moment later, she moaned in protest, and then blinked her eyes open when he said, “I love you.”
“You do?” she asked with wonder, a smile curving her lips.
“Of course, I do. You’re perfect. How could I not love you?”
“I’m not perfect,” she said at once.
“You’re perfect for me,” he assured her. “You’re beautiful, sexy, smart, brave . . .” He shook his head. “You’re all I could have wanted and more, Valerie. I’m happy when I’m with you. I love you.”
“Oh,” she sighed and rested her head on his chest, admitting, “Lucian thinks I love you too.”
“Great,” Anders said dryly. “But what do
you
think?”
Pulling back, she met his gaze and said solemnly, “I think he’s right. I love you too, Anders.”
He closed his eyes briefly, as if savoring the words, then opened them again and asked cautiously, “So you’ll agree to be my life mate?”
“Apparently I already am your life mate,” she said wryly. “But if you mean will I agree to be turned, and marry you, and spend the rest of our very long lives together, than yes. I agree.”
She caught a glimpse of the grin that claimed his face, but then gasped when he scooped her up and started to walk, saying, “Come on, Roxy.”
“Wait! What are you doing?” Valerie cried, clutching at his shoulders.
“I’m taking you to my—
our
house,” he corrected himself and then reminded her, “I promised that if you said yes, I’d rip your clothes off and make love to you until you couldn’t stand and I intend to keep my promise. But not here.”
“No, definitely not here,” Valerie agreed, flushing. She wasn’t exactly quiet when he made love to her. Besides, she liked the idea of having him all to herself.
When Anders paused beside his SUV, Valerie grabbed the door handle and opened it for him.
“See, you’re perfect,” Anders said with a grin as he set her on the passenger seat. “I didn’t even have to ask. We’re a good team.”
Valerie just shook her head and laughed.
Smiling, Anders stepped back, and glanced down, saying, “In, Roxy.”
The dog jumped up at once, settling on the floor between Valerie’s legs as she had when they’d brought her back from Cambridge. She was smiling at the dog when Anders’s face suddenly appeared before her as he leaned in. His lips brushed hers, then he whispered, “Seat belt,” before closing the door.
Valerie did up her seat belt and watched him walk around to get in beside her to do up his own seat belt and start the SUV.
Anders reached for the gearshift, but paused when he saw that she was simply sitting there smiling at him. Tilting his head he asked, “What?”
“You know this is madness, right?” Valerie asked cheerfully. “We’ve only known each other a handful of days.”
Anders pulled his door closed, and eyed her uncertainly. “Scared?”
“A little,” she admitted.
“Second thoughts?”
“Oh, no, definitely not,” she assured him with a laugh.
Relaxing, he leaned across the open space between them to give her a quick peck, but when he started to straighten again, she caught his face in her hands and whispered, “I do love you.”
“And I love you,” he assured her, and then kissed her again, this time a slow, soft, sweet kiss that left them both hungry for more. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “Home?”
“Home,” she agreed.
Anders shifted the SUV into gear and Valerie turned to peer out the front window and toward their future . . . together.
Keep reading for a peek into the Argeneau world . . .
from the very beginning!
All available from Avon Books
A Quick Bite
That hot guy tied to Lissianna Argeneau’s bed? He’s Gregory Hewitt, the doctor her mother hopes will help cure her phobia of blood . . . because that’s an especially annoying quirk for a vampire. But is Greg the answer to her troubles, or will he be just a good meal?
“Let’s get this off you,” she suggested as she worked at the bow around his neck.
He sighed as it was removed, relaxing on the bed a bit, and Lissianna decided to discard his tie as well.
“There, isn’t that better?” she asked, sliding the silk cloth from around his neck.
The man started to nod, then caught himself and scowled instead as she undid the top three buttons of his shirt. “It would be better still if you untied me.”
Lissianna smiled with amusement at the way he was struggling with himself, then tried to distract him by running her fingers lightly over the bit of chest she’d revealed. Much to her satisfaction, a shiver went through him as her long nails grazed gently across his naked skin. This education business was turning out to be easier than she’d feared.
“Untie me.” He was trying to be firm, but it was obvious his heart was no longer wholly behind the desire to be free.
Smiling knowingly, Lissianna scraped her fingers lightly down to run along the cloth just above his belt. The provocative action sent his stomach muscles galloping and his breath came out on a little hiss of air.
“What the hell,” he breathed. “There are worse things than being a sex slave.”
Love Bites
Etienne Argeneau’s three hundred years of bachelorhood comes to an end when, to save the woman who saved him, he turns her into an immortal. But all Rachel had really wanted was just to get off the night shift in the morgue. Now this man says she’s a vampire? At least the look in his bright silver eyes said they’d be spending a lot of time together.
“Why you won’t come to me?”
Rachel glanced back at the corpse. He wasn’t making much sense, but then who said hallucinations had to? She tried to reason with him. “Why would I come to you? You aren’t real. You aren’t even sitting up.”
“I’m not?”
“No, I just think you are. In reality, you’re still really lying there dead. I’m just imagining you sitting up and talking.”
“Hmm.” He grinned suddenly. It was a nice grin. “How do you know?”
“Because dead men don’t sit up and talk,” she explained patiently. “Please lie back down now. My head is starting to spin.”
“But what if I’m not dead?”
Single White Vampire
Editor Kate Leever was adamant that her newest vampire romance author Lucern Argeneau will attend a romance convention to meet his fans. Despite his reclusive nature, odd sleep schedule and avoidance of the sun, the handsome Luc was going to be recognized by the public. But soon Kate would learn that his novels were more biographies than bodice rippers, and it’d be her neck on the line.
In a pale blue business suit, Kate C. Leever resembled a cool glass of ice water. The image was pleasing on this unseasonably warm September evening.
The image shattered when the woman dragged her luggage up the porch steps, paused before him, offered him a bright cheerful smile that lifted her lips and sparkled in her eyes, then blurted, “Hi. I’m Kate Leever. I hope you got my letter. The mail was so slow, and you kept forgetting to send me your phone number, so I thought I’d come visit personally and talk to you about all the publicity possibilities that are opening up for us. I know you’re not really interested in partaking of any of them, but I feel sure once I explain the benefits you’ll reconsider.”
Lucern stared at her wide, smiling lips for one mesmerized moment; then he gave himself a shake. Reconsider? Was that what she wanted? Well, that was easy enough. He reconsidered. It was a quick task.
“No.” He closed the door.
Tall, Dark & Hungry
Terri had flown from England to help plan her cousin’s wedding, but paying for a New York hotel room was like giving blood! She had an alternative: the new in-laws were offering lodging. Of course, the Argeneaus were a certifiably odd family, but then there was Bastien, the tallest, darkest and hungriest of the bunch—and his effect on Terri was decidedly delicious.
It was then Bastien had realized he’d forgotten the blood. He could not believe that he had been so remiss. He was an idiot! And that idiocy was about to see him ruin the day. He could not continue to walk around in this heat with the sun killing him.
Perhaps it would help if he bought a big floppy hat and a long-sleeved shirt from one of the booths or something. Bastien grimaced. He might as well buy a clown nose and floppy shoes, too. This day wasn’t going at all as he’d hoped.
“Bastien?” Terri was suddenly at his side, concern on her face. “You look a bit . . . ill. Are you feeling all right?”
“Yes, I— It’s just the heat and sun,” he said finally. He wasn’t surprised he looked sick. They had been outside for two hours, and he was really starting to feel it.
“I think I could use a break,” he admitted, and sighed inwardly at the concern on her face. Now she’d think he was some pitifully weak guy who couldn’t handle a little walking.
“If you like.” She frowned. “You really aren’t feeling well, are you?”
“No, I just—“ He sighed. “I forgot about the sun. I have a bit of an allergy to it.”
A Bite to Remember
Once bitten, twice shy, and sexy PI Jackie Morrisey wasn’t going there again. Vincent Argeneau may be the hottest guy she’s ever met, living or dead, but she’s here to stop a killer from turning this vampire into dust, not to jump into bed with him. Okay, so Vincent does look rather tempting shirtless. He’s also charming, protective. Still, Jackie needs to be on her guard, lest this little fling be . . . a bite to remember.
Vincent pulled the front door open.
“Vincent Argeneau?” the woman asked.
When he nodded, she stuck out her hand. “I’m Jackie Morrisey and this is Tiny McGraw. I believe Bastien called you about us?”
Vincent stared at her hand but—rather than take it—pushed the door closed and lifted the phone back to his ear as he turned away. “Bastien, she’s
mortal
!”
“Did you just slam the door in Jackie’s face?” Bastien asked with amazement. “I heard the slam, Vincent. Don’t be so damned rude.”
“
Hello!
” he said impatiently. “She’s
mortal
. Bad enough she’s female, but I need someone who knows about our ‘special situation’ to deal with this problem. She—”
“Jackie
does
know,” Bastien said dryly. “Do you think I’d send you an uninitiated mortal? Have a little faith.” A sigh traveled down the phone line. “She has a bit of an attitude when it comes to our kind, but is the best in the business. Now open the door for the woman.”
“But she’s mortal and . . . a girl!”
Bite Me If You Can
One minute Leigh is walking home, and the next a vampire is sinking his teeth into her neck. Turns out it was a rogue vampire marked for termination, but it does Leigh little good because the damage’s already been done. She’s become one of them. Lucian Argeneau has been alive for over two thousand years, and little excites him anymore. Then Leigh drops into his life. Suddenly he finds himself imagining the sassy brunette in his nice big bed . . .
“Am I really a vampire?”
Lucian’s hands froze on the mop and he glanced at her with surprise. “You doubt it? You haven’t noticed anything different?”
Understanding struck him when Leigh looked away, and he said, “It’s tempting to deny it to yourself, but it won’t change anything. It just delays your coming to grips—and learning to live—with it.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Leigh acknowledged unhappily as he went back to mopping. He glimpsed her sitting up, straightening her shoulders, and raising her head, then she said, “Okay, so I’m a vampire.”
“Yes,” Lucian said solemnly, and added, “But we dislike that name.”
She shrugged that asked with a little movement of her shoulders. “I gather this means I’ll now live forever and never age?”