He seemed a little taken aback and then he laughed and, taking her hands in his, he said, “I too. And earlier this evening, for the first time since I became a creature of the night, I did not feed, although I could easily have done so. I did not even think of it. Perhaps some of my humanity remains.” His gaze grew darker. “And perhaps not, for I wish to feed now.”
Her hand went to her throat again. The flames of desire lapped at her belly. She found herself wanting nothing but the man or vampire or whatever he was. She wanted him to make love to her, and she wanted him to drink from her again.
But there was one other thing she wanted just as badly.
“I am most awfully hungry,” she said shamelessly. “For food.”
He laughed heartily. “Mrs. Timmons has sworn she will cook for me any time I would like a meal. Day or night.” He strode to the corner and pulled a thick red cord. Eliza thought she could hear a bell tinkling somewhere beneath her. “I have tipped the man at the desk very well. He will fetch her.”
“I’d better hide before she gets here. I don’t want anyone…”
He put his finger to her lips. “Don’t worry, my darling. I shall make sure she doesn’t remember seeing you. Remember, it’s easy with mortals—excluding yourself. Now, that gown of yours does button very high. Perhaps you’d be more comfortable if we opened it enough to reveal your lovely neck.” He undid the top three buttons. “But what happened to you? There is mud and—”
“Never mind,” she said. “I’ll tell you later.” Much later. “In the meantime I would be even more comfortable if it were not so tight across my chest.” She undid the next three. By the time Mrs. Timmons arrived to inquire as to what was needed, the gown was unbuttoned to its hem.
When she returned several hours later with a fine chicken dinner, Eliza and Daniel, both carnally sated, were more than ready to eat.
Miss Susan smiled broadly as she watched Mr. Hastings lift Miss Eliza onto the seat of the buggy as though she weighed nothing at all. She waved her lace handkerchief as they headed off to the railhead where they’d catch a rattler to Kansas City. They sure did make a handsome couple. She sighed and dabbed at her eyes. She’d miss the only woman in town who’d been friendly to her. She watched until they were so far away she couldn’t make them out.
Then she turned and surveyed the house. Two men were hammering away at the new roof. Seth was setting the hitching post back up. Mr. Hastings had arranged all that and paid for it too. He told her he and Miss Eliza wanted everything in good shape for her, Miss Susan, when she began her new life in her own house. She shook her head. She still couldn’t believe it. Her own place. And twenty-six head of cattle.
Her daddy had been a small rancher before he lost it all to drink, so she knew all about ranching around here. Now she could put that knowledge to work. As for her old profession, she could pick and choose her customers if she wanted any at all. She smiled at Seth who happened to be looking her way as he so often did. Maybe she would just get married and be respectable.
Way back in sixth grade, Juliet Chastain wrote a tragic tale of two kittens, and ever since that day she's had a yen to tell stories. During her years as a fashion photographer, she satisfied that yen by creating eye-opening picture stories with great-looking models and beautiful clothes. Now that she's put down her camera, she indulges herself by writing short, steamy romances with models—er, hunky heroes—every one of them ready to fulfill his lady’s deepest desires.
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Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Vampire Cowboy
ISBN 9781419943645
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Vampire Cowboy Copyright © 2013 Juliet Chastain
Edited by Elizabeth London
Cover design and photography by Syneca
Model: John
Electronic book publication June 2013
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