A Vampire for Christmas - By Michele Hauf Page 0,47

his own confused sense of right and wrong. “Are you willing to take the risk?” he finally asked.

She nodded. Probably a wiser response would have been “What are the risks?” but right now all she desired was to slide her hands up Daniel’s rock-hard abs and push him down on her bed.

Risks, be damned.

How was that for a girl who normally had trouble making decisions without her mother’s approval?

OLIVIA LED DANIEL INSIDE the cozy second-floor apartment and flicked on the stove burner to boil water for tea. She couldn’t come down from a performance without chamomile tea. Though other things she had in mind to do—sexy, lustful, naughty things—might have the same effect, by no means would those things calm her.

She’d forgo calm for that option in a heartbeat.

The vampire stood by the door on the rug, looking around, hands shoved in his pockets. He looked too normal. Perhaps that was his most dangerous attribute. Must be easy for him to lure in an unsuspecting woman for a bite.

“Having second thoughts?” she asked. Should she be asking herself the same question?

No, she was far from unsuspecting. She was charging into this affair with eyes wide-open and a heart that wanted to learn, love and experience. And this time, she was dressed properly and had makeup on, thanks to a professional stylist.

“I’m just trying to figure you out.”

She ran her fingers along the rabbit fur edging the dress’s neckline. “That’s probably dangerous.”

“So no strings, no callbacks? Is that how tonight is going to work?”

“If that’s what you want.” She didn’t want to be pushy, but it did disappoint her he wasn’t planning for a repeat performance.

Hell, one step at a time, Olivia. You may regret this soon enough.

She strode through the living room, lifting her long, wavy hair to splay it out across the fur. Admittedly, she worked the dress because she sensed Daniel’s eyes take in her figure. Let the seduction begin. She knew what she wanted.

Yet he had become oddly reluctant since crossing her threshold, and that baffled her.

“Daniel, you should be right here.” She slid a palm up her stomach, her fingertips stroking the fur that topped her breasts with a soft come-on. She tried her best come-hither look. “What’s the problem?”

He stood before her in a blink, and she wasn’t sure if it had been vampire speed, or just a hungry man being given permission to take as he desired. He pressed a cool hand over her breast and leaned in. “No problem. Just want to be sure we had the rules down before diving in.”

“I hate rules.”

“I do, too. No man ever made his fortune by following the rules.”

“True, but now that you mention it, I do have one. No biting.”

“Impossible.” He ducked to nuzzle his nose against her neck, which pricked up her defenses, but also sent a surprising shock of desire skittering across the surface of her skin. “You don’t get to tell a vampire not to bite.”

“It’s not that I’m afraid of being bitten.”

“Then what?” He licked her neck, chasing those skitters with liquid, warm shivers through her entire body.

Olivia sighed and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him closer so she could feel the hard length of his erection against her hip. Oh, baby, she wanted some of that. But she was anything but reckless. Caution must be weaved into this delicious fantasy or it could become a nightmare.

Then why did you jump in the first place? For this to work you have to sink in all the way.

“I don’t want to…die. Or end up a vampire. Could you imagine the media frenzy over that?”

“Not going to happen.” He licked a trail along her jaw and to the lobe of her ear. “I wouldn’t make another monster if I was forced. And despite my former nickname of Killer when I was an investor on Wall Street, I’m not a real killer.”

She believed him. The conviction in his tone spoke of integrity and honor. Wall Street? Everything about Daniel felt right, and not at all monstrous.

Or maybe she was already lost in the fantasy of surrendering to this man’s dark and dangerous allure. It was a delicious fall, and she deserved the plunge.

She pulled open his shirt and melded her body against his, fitting her breasts to his warmth and measuring the steely tension in his abs with an inhale.

“Man, that feels so wrong in all the right ways,” he murmured.

His hands slid around her back and down to cup her derriere