The Guardian's Keeper (The Guardian Trilogy, Book 1) (6 page)

“
No, Claire, we mustn’t.” Nikoli gently but firmly pushed her away, shaking his head.

“Don’t you want to kiss me?”
Claire instantly hated the high pitched tone her voice had suddenly taken on but couldn’t help herself. She was crushed at the rejection.

Nikoli ran his fingers through his hair in exasperation. How Claire longed to run her fingers through it, and h
e was still mere inches from her.

“
More than anything right now, okay? Yes, I want to kiss you-more than you understand.” Nikoli fell back into the chair again. “I have not been attracted to woman as I am you since before I was turned,” he admitted frankly. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since I saw you asleep at Ava’s. I wanted to kiss you when you woke up in the truck. It was all I could do not to kiss you when you ran out the front door into my arms, trying to escape again. I wanted to make Joyce disappear and kiss you like crazy when I held your hand in the kitchen and heard how your heart picked up its frantic pace at my touch.”

“
So why won’t you? I want you to kiss me, why won’t you?” Claire demanded.

“Claire,” Nikoli sighed, deflated. “
You heard Joyce- Keepers are inherently trusting and fond of their Guardians. What you’re feeling towards me is generations of Keeper’s blood pushing you to have a good relationship with me. As we’re both heterosexual and of the opposite sex, a ‘good’ relationship between us might be of a romantic type.”

“
What’s wrong with that? If you want me so much, why won’t you kiss me?” Claire’s eyes were alight with an angry flame.

“
Because, my Keeper, your desire for me is probably genetically based- because of your lineage and my history, I cannot trust you truly want me. It’s your genetics talking, and I won’t take advantage of that.” His eyes bore into hers. “No matter how much I’d like to,” he added softly.

“That’s
bullcrap,” Claire seethed at him.

Nikoli chuckled. “
There’s the part of you I adored instantly, Claire- you’re a fighter. You didn’t start screaming again in the truck when I told you I was a vampire, you all but rolled your eyes in disbelief at me. You didn’t pass out or jump up screaming when I cut myself at the table, you stayed put and watched me heal, never missing a beat. You’re strong willed, bull headed, and have thus far been up to every challenge I’ve thrown your way.”

Claire pouted prettily, know
ing it was a look on her most boys couldn’t resist. She wanted him, this mysterious creature of the night she originally thought would kill her who in reality saved her life. “It seems right now it’s you who’s playing the part of the fighter, Nikoli.”

Nikoli chuckled again. “
You do run me in circles, my Claire, and I think you enjoy doing it. Come, enough about kissing. I’ve resisted your charms all I can for now.” He stood up and stretched his arms up over his head sleepily, allowing Claire the briefest of glances at his rock hard abs as his shirt slid up. He grinned wickedly at her. “Two can play at that game, Claire. I may not have seduced a woman in over a century, but I have yet to forget the art of seduction.” With that Nikoli flashed her a sexy smile and left her alone in her room, closing the door softly behind him.

Claire threw a pillow at the closed door in frustration. Nikoli kidnapped her like something out of a nightmare, became Mr. Hot, Sweet and Concerned in the kitchen downstairs, brought her flowers,
and then wouldn’t even kiss her despite the current of attraction they felt between them. Who cared if it was because she was a Keeper? She wanted him, and she knew he wanted her too.

Claire suddenly became ashamed- her family had all been killed, she had to protect the Fang Of
Stavros to keep an uber-vampire from returning from the grave, and here she was sulking her new sexy vampire Guardian wouldn’t kiss her. She lay back on the bed, meaning to straighten out all of the competing thoughts swirling around in her head. She fell asleep almost instantly.

Chapter 7

Claire awoke to the smell of pancakes and coffee. As best she could judge from the light pouring into her room it was late afternoon or thereabouts. She took a deep breath, steadying herself against the rush of information that hit her all at once as she recalled the events of the night before. The bouque
t on the dresser caught her eye and she smiled to herself until embarrassment flooded through her. She had all but thrown herself at Nikoli and was turned down, flat out rejected by him. She loathed the thought of getting out of bed but knew she needed to find out what happened next, now that she knew she was a Keeper, with a Guardian of her own.

She padded barefoot down to the kitchen. To her both her relief and disappointment Nikoli wasn’t there. Joyce stood at her huge stovetop, flipping pancakes. She heard Claire and looked
up from her cooking.

“
Well there you are dear, I decided to let you sleep more after all, figured you needed it. Help yourself, please.” Joyce gestured to the freshly brewed coffee. “Tell me, Claire, what did you do to that boy?”

Claire almost dropped the
coffee pot. “I, uh, he….” Claire blushed redder than she thought possible.

Joyce winked at her. “
Relax, Claire, I’m teasing you. Though Nikoli is grumpier than a rattlesnake today.” She paused, waiting for Claire to meet her gaze. When she did Joyce continued. “I have never seen him so smitten.”

“Smitten?”
Claire responded shakily, sipping her coffee.

Joyce grinned. “
Yes, smitten- with you. In all the time I’ve known him Nikoli’s had to beat the ladies off with a stick. He can’t go into town without one young lady or another mooning over him. He does his best to ignore them, but eventually they hear through folks that he lives out here with me. Then the phone starts ringing off the hook, and some of the bolder ones have even dropped by uninvited, trying to catch his eye. They generally make complete asses out of themselves until poor Nikoli’s got no choice but to persuade them to forget him. He hates doing it,” she chuckled. “But if he didn’t we’d have a front yard full of girls waiting to catch a glimpse of him.”

“
He’s a hit with the girls?” Claire asked, finding her voice again.

“Oh honey,” Joyce giggled. “
Not just the girls. I’ve personally seen middle aged women batting their eyelashes at him when we go in to town. They should know better- he’s half their age! Well, as far as they know, anyways. Nikoli’s got a way with the ladies, whether he means to or not. But I have never seen him return the interest, til you.” Joyce put her spatula down placed a hand on each of Claire’s shoulders, becoming suddenly serious.

“
John had told me, when he was alive, that he had never known Nikoli to have romantic relationships, he always gently turned away the ladies chasing after his affections, persuading them if he had to. He told John there was no point to it, getting attached to someone who would age and die right before his eyes while he stayed young forever. He was never the type to use them and leave them, though I’m sure the girls would have been happy to take whatever attention they could get from him. He has always been polite, but never encouraged their attentions or returned their affection- until you, Claire.” With that Joyce went back to cooking the pancakes.

“
He thinks I only like him because he’s my Guardian!” Claire burst out, no longer feeling embarrassed but frustrated instead.

Joyc
e shook her head. “He’s a fool sometimes, that one. But I knew as soon as I saw him with you he had feelings for you. You thought we meant you harm and you acted accordingly, but he remained patient and calm with you.” She turned back to Claire once again. “I have never, ever seen Nikoli so much as glance at a girl before you showed up here. I almost fell out of my chair last night when he wiped your tears away. That one only shows his affections openly to those dearest to him.” Something out the window caught her eye. “Enough about Nikoli now, he’s coming back from the barn.”

Claire nodded, dumbfounded. She sank into her place at the table, sipping her coffee. Nikoli didn’t want all the girls that threw themselves at him?
How could he deny this thing between them then, if he wanted her half as much as she wanted him?

The
backdoor opened, creaking on its hinges. “The animals are fed and watered, Joyce,” Nikoli said. Claire tried to act nonchalant, casting him a nod in greeting, but inside her pulse was pounding in her ears.

“
Thanks Nikoli, you’re an angel.”

“Good morning, Claire.”
Nikoli eased himself into the seat directly across from her while giving her a pointed look. “I trust you slept well?” he smirked at her.

Claire almost spit her coffee out on the
table. What was he playing at? “Good morning, Nikoli,” she replied calmly. Two can play at this game indeed, my Guardian, she thought to herself. “I did sleep well indeed, though it might have been better.” She met his smirking stare with a sweet smile. Taking it up a notch she swept a bare foot up against Nikoli’s leg under the table, caressing his calf with the ball of her foot. “And you? How did you sleep?”

Nikoli bit his lower lip
sexily. His smirk turned into the small, tight smile Claire was beginning to know so well.

“
I slept well, Claire, thank you for your concern,” he replied cordially as under the table he caught her foot with his free hand, gave it a quick squeeze of warning, then guided it back to the floor, his eyes never leaving hers.

“I’m so glad to hear it,”
Claire purred at him, watching him intently. She rose from the table. “Joyce, is there a bathroom down here?”

“
Sure thing honey, right through the living room, you know the way.” Joyce waved her on with one hand, still flipping pancakes with the other.

Claire headed off to the bathroom, aw
are of Nikoli’s intense eyes upon her as she walked away. Once in the restroom she sat down on the closed toilet with a sigh, her head in her hands. Why did Nikoli have such a hold over her? And why did he beckon her to him with one hand while pushing her away with the other? His mixed signals were driving her nuts!

Claire sat like that a few minutes, breathing deeply, trying to regain her sel
f-control. He didn’t want her? Fine. She could turn it off too, ignore it like he did. She had too much self-respect to keep flirting with a man that invited her attentions only to cast them aside. Claire pulled herself together and rose to splash some water on her face at the sink. She patted her face dry with the towel and took one more deep breath as she steeled herself to remain calm and cool with Nikoli, no matter how she was drawn to him.

She left the bathroom to cross the living room back to the kitchen when she found
herself against the wall, Nikoli in front of her with an arm on either side of her, pinning her in place. He looked furious.

“We only have a moment,
” he growled at her. “Joyce went to collect eggs from the chickens. Now what are you playing at, that whole business under the table?” His eyes glittered dangerously.

Claire’s reso
lve to play it cool dissolved. “I’m sorry, I thought you were flirting with me,” she sputtered. “I was flirting back!”

Nikoli’s eyes bore into hers. “
Did you know Claire, that on top of being fast, and strong, vampires have heightened senses?”

Claire shook her head mutely.

“Every time your pulse increases when I’m near I can hear it. Every time we’re in proximity to each other I can feel your temperature increase, the sheer heat of you for me.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “I can smell when you’re aroused, Claire, even right now.” He dropped his arms, freeing Claire to move away from the wall, but she remained still. Nikoli spoke in his sexy quiet tone. “I don’t need to feel your skin against me, feel you caressing me, to know you’re attracted to me.” He rubbed his face with his hands in frustration. “I can hear it, I can feel it, I can smell it. It pulls me to you and I struggle to control myself.” Nikoli was becoming visibly agitated.

Claire stepped forward towards him, placing a hand
tenderly against his cheek to steady him, to re-assure him. She did it instinctually, without fear of his anger. She only wanted to comfort him, but unconsciously held her breath in anticipation of his reaction to her touch.

Nikoli leaned into her hand, closing his eyes briefly.

Claire exhaled, the tension draining from her.

“
You have awakened in me feelings that have lain dormant for almost 200 years, Claire,” he explained, relishing her gentle touch. He opened his eyes again. “I don’t know how to handle this. I want to scoop you up right now, carry you off to my room and ravish you til the end of times.”

Claire’s eyes w
idened in surprise.

“But,”
Nikoli sighed, his anger spent, as he removed Claire’s hand from his cheek, “I can’t. You’re a Keeper, I’m your Guardian. I can’t allow myself to become distracted from the task at hand, no matter how much I desire you.” He stroked her hair, tentatively. “So please, please Claire, don’t tease me like that. I can hardly remain composed in your presence as it is, you offering yourself to me is one offer I almost can’t refuse.” He dropped her hair, frowning. “And how did I sleep last night? I didn’t, Claire, I couldn’t as all I could hear was the beating of your heart across the hall, all I could smell was your scent lingering on me. Twice I found myself outside your door, ready to give you the kiss you requested. Make no mistake, Claire, I want you too, but I fight it with every waking moment. Please don’t continue to make it harder for me,” he pleaded.