Crescent Moon - By Lori Handeland Page 0,49

a small fortune. They were also full of great stuff.

"Crucifix, holy water, the Eucharist," I murmured.

All Christian items, which was fascinating considering the idea of night-flying, bloodsucking demons was not only pre-Christian but also a belief held around the world.

"How did they protect themselves B.C.?"

Sunlight, salt, and -

"Garlic."

Of course.

"A member of the lily family." I fingered the fleur-de-lis chain at my waist, feeling better about it already.

I continued to read, eating another peanut butter sandwich, drinking way too much coffee. I was hyped beyond belief and chattering to myself nonstop.

"Photos not a problem."

Which made sense. According to the photo shop kid, werewolves couldn't be photographed. But then, what had I seen in the swamp? Lord knew.

"However," I continued reading, "reflections are."

I considered the annoying lack of mirrors at Adam's cabin.

I didn't really believe the man I was sleeping with was a vampire, did I?

"No."

The sound of my own voice was getting on my nerves. But it was better than the sound of silence warring with the whirring confusion in my head.

I'd discovered how to kill them, how to slow them down; what I hadn't been able to find was -

"How do I know for certain I'm dealing with a vampire?"

A shadow at the corner of my vision made me gasp and spin in that direction so fast my neck cracked painfully. Adam leaned against the wall.

"You think I'm a vampire, cher?"
Chapter 21
I glanced at the door - still closed. Then the windows - broken but not open. How had he gotten in without my hearing him?

I wasn't sure I wanted to know. If he was a vampire, did I plan to put a stake through his heart? I was fresh out

"Well," he drawled. "Do you?"

While the appropriate response to that question would be Of course not! instead, I snapped, "How long have you been there?"

Adam shoved away from the wall and stalked toward me. His hair tangled when he shoved it out of his face; his bracelet caught the moonlight and sparkled. He wore a powder blue short-sleeved dress shirt, unbuttoned, and his chest rippled beneath a sheen of sweat that should have been unattractive but wasn't. Combined with the ragged jeans and bare feet... I wanted him so much I couldn't think straight

He stopped directly in front of me. I had a perfect view of his crotch, which didn't look half-bad, either.

Because I wanted to lean forward and pull down the bulging zipper with my teeth, I stood. On the way up, my breasts brushed his chest, and he hauled me against him.

"You think I'm a vampire, Diana?"

The question should have been foolish. We should both have been laughing. But we weren't.

His fingers bruised my skin. His erection pressed against my stomach. His blazing blue eyes seemed to pierce my brain.

"Are you?" I whispered.

"No."

The word came off his tongue sounding French. When he kissed me, there was a lot of French in that, too.

He tasted of hickory coffee - no, wait, that was me. Thick cream, heavy sugar - definitely him. I licked his teeth, wanting more of that taste, since I never dared drink my coffee anything but black.

With Adam I got all of the flavor and none of the calories. Only later did I realize, I'd also been checking those teeth for a razor-edged sharpness. I'm not sure what I would have done if I'd found some.

We were frantic again, pulling at each other's clothes. My top flew one way, my bra the other; his shirt slid from his shoulders and onto the floor. Why was it that every time we came near each other we couldn't seem to stop this from happening?

I was on fire, barely able to stand still, desperate for a release that I wasn't going to get from a kiss, when he backed me against the wall. How had he known I was weak in the knees?

I murmured my approval, lifting my arms around his neck as he ran his palms from the outside of my breasts to my hips.

He started, stilled, and stepped back, taking his hands and his mouth with him. I nearly fell on my face without his support

"What's this?" He unbuttoned my pants, and the fleur-de-lis chain spilled out.

Oops.

I studied his face, but, as usual, I couldn't get a read on him.

"I - uh - got it today."

His eyes lifted from their solemn contemplation of my jewelry. "Why?"

"Protection."

"From vampires?' Adam's lips curved. "There's no such thing, cher."

"Then why did I see Charlie in town?"

His lips flattened. "Dead Charlie?"

"Not