A Vampire for Christmas - By Michele Hauf Page 0,31
grazed her neck and she shivered. Then, without waiting a moment longer, he locked onto her vein and bit.
“Oh,” she gasped, as his teeth sank into her flesh. He hesitated and she stroked his hair. “I’m fine, Trace. It’s…it’s really kind of nice.” When she spoke, her voice was more like a purr, a vibration against his lips.
Sealing his lips over her vein, he closed his eyes and let her blood fill his mouth. Oh, God, it was indeed sweet on the back of his tongue, sweeter than any he’d tasted before. He could hardly believe that this beautiful woman so freely gave herself to him. Even after all he’d done. When he swallowed, her warmth traveled down his throat and he felt it rejuvenating his body.
There had to be another way, he thought as his mouth filled again. And if there wasn’t…if the Council balked…well… He just wouldn’t give her up, he decided. He loved her too much to let that happen. Instantly, it felt as if a million pounds had been lifted from his heart. The dilemma he’d grappled with the past few weeks—the past year—gone. She meant more to him than the seat on the Council.
CHAPTER NINE
CHARLOTTE SLIPPED HER FEET into the strappy heels and took one last look in the mirror. She certainly wasn’t used to seeing herself like this. With her hair up, her makeup done professionally and this beautiful dress, she felt as if she were ready to walk down the red carpet at a movie premiere. All she needed was a handsome man to escort her. She had just such a man in mind.
She’d put the finishing touches on the last few decorations this morning and the caterers had arrived at noon. The party was now someone else’s responsibility until it was time to dismantle everything again. She thought about Trace—how he respected her, cared about her ideas, really listened to her, laughed with her—and she realized it wasn’t the tangible stuff that she’d miss. It was Trace. She could be in a cabin in the middle of nowhere—far from the city lights, the gourmet meals, the elegant trappings—but if Trace were with her, she’d have everything she needed. That is, if she could remember him.
The past few nights with him had been amazing. After he’d first taken her blood, he’d done so every time they’d made love since. She loved the anticipation of his warm lips at her neck. The sharp sting followed by the endorphins flooding her system. She’d teased him that at this rate, she’d have to start taking iron supplements. But he only took a few sips each time before he withdrew and sealed the marks. She touched her neck now. A little tender, but it was the good kind of hurt.
She didn’t want to think that soon this would all be over.
Earlier, Vik had brought in her hairdresser and nail person and the two of them spent all afternoon getting ready. The estate had a small salon on the lower level, complete with shampoo bowls, massage chairs and several nail stations.
Vik had said it was much more fun having a lady friend to get ready with. Hearing that had warmed Charlotte’s heart and made it hard to refuse. It was something her own grandmother would’ve said to her. Charlotte sensed that it had been a long time since Vik had had much female company.
After her hair and nails were done, Charlotte had returned to their quarters to finish getting dressed. Expecting to slip into the cocktail dress she’d brought from home, she was stunned to find a new outfit laid out on the bed. She skimmed her hand over the sequined fabric that clung to her hips and twirled a circle in front of the full-length mirror.
How in the world had he guessed her size correctly? The dress hugged her curves as if it were custom-made. It was simple in the front, with long sleeves that came down over the tops of her hands and a hemline kissing her toes, and the back had a beautiful drape to it. She had to admit, Trace had excellent taste in haute couture.
The shoes were perfect, too, even though her feet were probably going to be killing her in about an hour. Four-inch heels, and they showed off her new pedicure, including the tiny crystals on her toes.
She was so focused on not stepping on the hem of her dress as she exited the room that she didn’t notice Trace until