Palm fronds rustled a low moan in the hot wind. His footsteps sounded too loud, attracting attention to himself. Something he didn't wish to do.
Then he smelled it.
His stomach lurched as he sniffed the alluring odor of blood mixed with burned sugar. The hairs on his nape prickled as footsteps whispered behind him. So light a sound, a normal person wouldn't hear it. Along with his heightened sense of smell, his hearing had also become more acute. He had no trouble making out the rhythmic steps following very close behind him. He picked up his pace, his spine tingling with anxiety. Tempted to break into a run, he kept his tempo steady instead. He was vulnerable in open space with no one around.
He veered a sharp left on Tyler Mall, and once he took an immediate right, cutting between several buildings, he began to run. But the footsteps behind him kept pace. Hot air swirled a cloud of the bittersweet odor near his head. Licking his dry lips, he fought down the impulse to turn around and embrace whatever fate offered. As the edges of his vision blurred, his jaw locked in determination. His blood quickened. He focused straight ahead, every fiber of his being on fire from his fear, his desire for blood, his rage at the enemy who had turned him into this half creature of the night.
His body jerked awake as his brain registered a faint tinny bell. Up ahead, a cyclist fast approached on the same path. Hands gripped him by the waist and yanked him away before he could collide with the speeding mass ahead. He yelped, his backpack sliding off his shoulder, his heart lodged in his throat.
“Don't you ever watch where you're going? It must be a habit with you.”
Aric tensed as he recognized the voice. He didn't have to see the face to know Stu held him in a tight embrace. The sweet fragrance of Stu overwhelmed him, and he slumped into the brick-hard chest.
A rush of heat surged up his neck as he realized how close Stu held him. He smelled so pure and fresh. Twisting a strand of his hair, he tried not to think about the hard bulge pressed into the crease of his ass.
Too late for that; his dick stiffened.
Because of Stu Hamilton.
“Let me go,” he said between gritted teeth, though he really wanted to turn around in Stu's arms, kiss the hell out of that sensuous mouth, and bite into that succulent neck.
“Right, I forgot. You don't like to be touched.” Stu shoved him away.
Aric scowled, tugging the hem of his shirt. “Were you following me back there?”
“No way.”
“Someone was.”
Stu crossed his arms, his stance defiant. “Don't flatter yourself.”
“Why are you on campus, then? Shouldn't you be partying or something?”
“I could ask the same of you.” Stu's expression soured. “You can be a real ass, you know that?”
Aric frowned at the harsh statement. He grabbed his backpack and slipped it on his shoulder. “I was working in the lab.”
“I did see a shadow creeping behind you. It slipped behind the Old Main Building. Could have been my imagination, though. The streetlights cast weird shadows sometimes.”
It wasn't Stu's imagination; Aric's internal alarm was firing off a cacophony of bells. And it wasn't human—the repulsive odor; the faint, almost-inaudible steps; the feeling of someone's eyes leaving a trail of flames up his spine…
The vampire had found him.
Aric swallowed the lump in his throat, glad for the cloak of darkness hiding the fear that must have been flashing bright as neon across his face. Maybe he'd go to the coffee shop not too far away. He'd hang out there long enough for his heart to slow down, his head to clear, and for the fucking sun to rise.
“Well, thanks for the rescue, but I better be going.” He started to walk in the direction he'd come from.
Stu stopped him with a strong grip on his forearm. “Where are you going?”
“I'm hungry,” he said, lying. “Thought I'd get something to eat.”
“I'll come with you.”
Just great
. But the truth of it was, he was glad for the companionship. Sure, he wanted to get away from Stu—far away. But on the other hand, the eerie footsteps had frightened him. Having someone with him as tall, strong, and buff as this dude might prevent the vampire from attacking him.
“Is IHOP okay?” Aric asked but didn't wait for the answer.
They walked in silence, and once inside the coffee shop, they sat in a booth by the window facing the parking lot. Aric scanned the restaurant, relieved to see the diners all looked normal—ASU students, bleary-eyed and drinking copious amounts of coffee. He would be able to recognize the vampire by his odd amber eyes and the sliver of a scar near his brow, the unforgettable face forever seared into his brain.
No one like that here
. Aric relaxed. But not for long.
A group of coeds shouted across the room for Stu's attention, high-pitched voices squealing in delight. A slender blonde got up from her seat and approached them. She leaned her hip against their table, her short skirt riding up her thighs slightly as she laid her hand on Stu's shoulder. Golden hair skimmed the top of her shoulders. A creamy complexion and a smile that lit up the room set her apart from her friends.
“Hey, Stu, why weren't you at Jason's?” As she asked, she glanced at Aric, then dismissed him with a flick of her eyelashes.
“I've been at the library most of the night.”
“It was no fun without you.” As she trailed her hand up his arm, she turned her head and really looked at Aric, this time her eyes more thoughtful. “Who's your friend?”
“Oh, my bad.
Amy, meet…uh… You know”—Stu tilted his head toward Aric—“I don't know your name.”
“Aric Christian.”
“Haven't seen you around before,” Amy remarked.
“I don't attend parties.” Aric knew this sounded arrogant, but he didn't hang out at parties, and he certainly didn't hang out with jocks and their girlfriends. And lately he didn't hang out with anyone. So why was he sitting across from this particular jock on a Friday night?
Amy kept a steady gaze on him. “Then maybe you should get out more.”
More irritating than the long-legged blonde was Stu, who suppressed a laugh.
Amy slid next to Aric in the booth, their thighs touching. He frowned, staring down at her short, short skirt riding higher up her thighs. She tugged at his braid, catching his attention.
“It's not fair that you have such wonderful, thick hair.”
Trapped, he scooted farther toward the window. Stu leaned forward, weaving his fingers together, resting his elbows on the table. An impish glint lit his eyes. “Aric doesn't like people to touch him. Not even pretty girls like you.”
“Aren't you interested in girls?” Her voice held a lilting tease as her hand inched near Aric's thigh.
She was an attractive girl. Maybe he'd be tempted if he were straight. But he wasn't. Having had enough of their teasing, he gave Amy a beatific smile, the one that broke many a heart, or so he was told. The sudden intake of Amy's breath told him it worked. He'd caught her off guard, and Stu's eyes widened, uncertainty clouding over those baby blues. He'd rendered both of them speechless. Served them right. He wasn't completely without charm.
“Sorry, I'm not into you.” He patted Amy's hand for effect.
Her eyes grew round and soft. “Are you sure?” she asked, her fingers stroking his braid. “I find you very…exotic.”
“I'm gay, and Stu's more my type; but really, I'm not into him any more than I'm into you.”
“Ouch,” she replied with a chuckle, retreating to the far end of the seat.
Stu lifted his hand in a quick wave, a friendly dismissal. “Amy, it was nice to see you again. Say hi to the girls.” Then he turned all his attention to Aric, ignoring her pout. She slid from the booth and trotted back to her table, her sleek hair swinging in tandem with her swaying hips.
“Why did you send her away?” Aric demanded. “Now she'll think you wanted to spend time alone with me.”
“You already told her I'm not your type, so chill.”
How could he when the weight of Stu's gaze was melting his insides? He felt like a specimen being examined under a microscope, but he was determined to stay on even ground with this jock.
“You could have gone with her. I'm perfectly capable of eating by myself.”
“I'm sure you're quite capable.”
“She's cute enough. Why don't you go out with her? She's obviously interested.” He picked up the saltshaker and turned it around in his hand. The sudden stab of jealousy bothered him. He didn't want to like Stu or be attracted to him in any way.
“She's a nuisance, and you're as good an excuse as any.”
Did this mean Stu would rather spend time with him, or was he merely being used as a defensive strategy?
Stu moved forward slightly. Aric leaned back, finding his closeness rather uncomfortable. Stu was giving off weird vibes. Not exactly like he was interested, but what was with his insistence on spending time with Aric instead of with his friends? It made Aric nervous. The last thing he needed was someone finding out about his
problem.
Aric slammed down the saltshaker and slumped back in his seat. Stu ignored his crossed arms and sudden fierce expression, keeping his attention locked on to him. “Who do you think was following you?” he asked, his gaze serious.
Aric glared at him, chewing his lower lip. Seconds ticked by. Stu let the silence prevail. Aric picked up his napkin and crushed it into his lap. “I don't know,” he said finally. “But I felt someone behind me…or some
thing
.”
“I did see a creepy shadow slip away, and there was a weird odor.”
Aric's stomach somersaulted. So Stu smelled it too. The vampire
had
found him. He clutched the napkin, squeezing it into a ball. He rose halfway from his seat, his gaze darting across the room. Any moment now the creature might come through the door. He had to get out of here, back to the lab or his home. Out in public, he felt exposed.
“I'm not feeling so well. I better go.”
Stu grabbed Aric's wrist. “You look too pale. When's the last time you ate? Are you hypoglycemic or something?”
“It's nothing. I feel a little queasy; that's all.” Dizziness came over Aric and forced him back into his seat. So much for escaping; he didn't know if his legs would hold him. He leaned his head against the backrest. His stomach did feel out of sorts. Maybe it
would
be better if he ate something first. He reached inside his backpack, pulled out a hard leather case, and took out a pair of wire-rimmed glasses. He clutched them in his hand, not putting them on.
“I'll order you some toast. That's always good for an upset stomach,” Stu said.
“Fucking Christ, you sound like a mother hen. I'm fine. I just need some sleep.”
At that moment his stomach growled, and Stu laughed—an honest and heartfelt sound. Aric's carefully built-up wall began to crack. He wanted more than anything to hear that laugh again…and be the cause of it. He inwardly groaned at his stupidity.