Keepers of the Flame (Trilogy Bundle) - By Melissa F. Hart Page 0,18

I was far too preoccupied to question it.

***

My heart was beating rapidly as his mouth came closer. I knew he was going to kiss me and I wanted him to with everything in me. I sighed softly and closed my eyes just as his lips touched mine. The kiss was sweet and gentle, but I felt his passion simmering beneath the surface. Passion for me, Luanne Kylor. It was a heady feeling and I allowed myself get lost in it.

He pulled away gently and I finally opened my eyes. I gazed into his eyes and the expression in them made me catch my breath.

“We need to get back to the house,” he said softly.

I nodded and the warm feeling returned when he took my hand. This time there was no teleporting and we took our time moving through the night skies toward my grandmother's home. Reliving my first kiss, I knew that as horrible as my life had been, it was finally going to get better.

TO BE CONTINUED IN BOOK TWO: The Stone Keeper - Book 2

The Stone Keeper

Chapter One

Hi, my name is Luanne Kylor and I'm a freshman at one of the colleges in California. I live with my grandmother, Katrina. And I'm a vampire. I know you probably weren't expecting to hear that. Well, not many people know, not even my best friend, Claire.

You see, I'm not like any vampires you know. Nothing like what you watch on TV, either. I belong to a race of vampires known as the Pereneans, or the Born vampires. We were not made or created. No one bit me on the neck or anything like that. I was born a vampire. We've come a long way as vampires and have gone through what you might call evolution. Sunlight still bothers us but not enough to do any serious harm, unless you count sunburn. And that thing about killing us with the stake? That is so eighteenth century. Even the silver bullet thing doesn't work anymore. Like I said, we've evolved.

Last year was a hard year for me. A lot of stuff went down in my life. First, I got attacked and almost lost my life, but that's a different story altogether. Second, I met Dylan. Now that is a story worth telling, or it would be, if there were any story to tell.

Dylan is a Vampire Protector and he belongs to the order of protectors. He was assigned as my bodyguard...ehm, yeah, you heard right. That is not unconnected to the almost-lost-my-life story. Anyway, we got close and when things finally calmed down, we shared this wonderful kiss. I still have dreams about that kiss. Sigh. But that was what? Eight months ago, and is Dylan my boyfriend? Heck no. After that night when I finally had my first kiss with the only guy I'd ever wanted to share a kiss with, I haven't seen him again. No, you heard me right. He went off into the night and I've seen neither hide nor hair of him.

I'd love to say that I never heard of him again but that won't be true. He does keep in touch. I get the odd message from him now and then and each month he calls once, without fail. But I wanted more than that from him. Oh well, after waiting so long I've finally decided that I'm done with waiting. I'll be turning eighteen in five months and I've never had a boyfriend. Just think about it for a second. Yeah, I know, it's pathetic. I'm not boy crazy or anything and I'm not even into fashion and all that stuff. But I've never had a boyfriend before. I had to repeat it so that it can sink in.

Which is why I'm in my room right now, in front of my full length mirror, trying on several outfits. Yeah, I finally decided to go out on a date. No more waiting for Dylan. He doesn't want me? Fine. Do you know how many guys on campus are dying to go out with me? Hundreds! Literally thousands! Okay, so maybe I've exaggerated a little bit. Still, I gaze at my reflection in the mirror and yes, I have no problem with that, even though I'm a vampire.

I don't look bad. I'm not too tall, that's true, but I'll blame that on my grandmother. I took her petite frame. I have really long blonde hair, it's almost to my waist and I've been seriously considering cutting it.