Kerrelyn Sparks - How to Seduce a Vampire (Without Really Trying)

“We cannot be a couple!”

“We can!” He grabbed her by the shoulders. “I’m not giving up on you.”

A pained look crossed her face. “You have to. There is no future for us. Men are not allowed here.”

“Why not?”

“They’re not . . . necessary.”

“Bullshit. Every community needs some men.”

She broke his hold on her and stepped back. “Ours does not.”

He scoffed. “How do you build your houses?” He gestured toward the cabin. “Didn’t Frederic build this one?”

“He helped, but we know how to do it without a man. We built our own homes.”

“What about protection? A man can pro—”

“We can protect ourselves.”

Not against an army. But Zoltan didn’t want to remind her of the recent death of her sister. It would be too cruel. “Men have a lot of uses.”

She gave him a dubious look. “Really?”

“Of course. A man can . . . build a fire.”

She shrugged. “I can do that.”

“A man can provide food for his family.”

“I am an excellent hunter.”

“A man can till the soil and plow the field.”

“We have a donkey.”

He snorted. “You can’t replace a man with a donkey. They are stubborn creatures who won’t do as they’re told.”

Her brow arched. “And there’s a difference?”

He gritted his teeth.

The cat yawned. You stepped right into that one, moron.

Go chew on your fleas . Zoltan planted his hands on his hips. “A donkey doesn’t have hands. He can’t do repairs around the house. Or cook. Or clean.”

“I can do those things myself.”

“What about those ten climaxes you wanted? Are you going to do that yourself, too?”

She lifted her chin. “What makes you think I haven’t?”

Dammit . Zoltan searched his brain. “I know! What if you can’t open a jar? You’ll need a man for that!”

Pathetic, the cat muttered.

She shrugged. “Our jars do not have lids. We tie a piece of fabric around—”

“What if you need a hug? And don’t you dare mention that damned donkey!”

She laughed.

“There! You see. You need me around to make you laugh.”

“Actually, the donkey has made me laugh a few times.”

He scowled at her. “I refuse to compete with a donkey.”

“You don’t have to compete at all.” Her face grew sad. “I shouldn’t see you again.”

“I’m not giving up on you.” He stepped closer. “Who will listen to you in the middle of the night? Who will you share your secrets with?”

She gasped, her eyes widening. “Did you hear me?” She shook her head. “You couldn’t have. I was alone.”

“Hear what?”

“Nothing.” Her eyes filled with tears.

“You’re grieving for your sister, I understand that.”

She closed her eyes briefly. “You don’t understand how long we were together, or how long we will be apart.”

The first part of her sentence struck him as odd, since he assumed she’d been with her twin for only about twenty-two years. But facing the rest of her life alone was clearly causing her pain.

When a tear rolled down her cheek, he smoothed it away with his thumb. “I could be with you for a very long time. Trust me.” He kissed her cheek.

She trembled. “Men cannot be trusted.”

“I would never hurt you. Trust me.” He kissed her other cheek.

“Men cannot—”

He stopped her by planting his mouth on hers. She tensed at first, her hands splayed against his chest. But as he moved his lips gently and insistently, her fingers slowly dug into his jacket. He deepened the kiss, and with a moan, her mouth opened.

Yes. He explored her mouth, claiming it as his own. She would belong to him. This was no mistake. The arrow that had haunted him for almost eight hundred years had led him to her. She knew the answers he’d sought for so long. She’d touched his heart that had been cold for so long. Their fates were entwined, he could feel it in his bones. This was the woman he’d waited centuries for.

He scattered kisses across her face and down her neck. Her breaths grew quick and agitated. Her hands slipped up around his neck.

His groin hardened, and he debated how far he should go tonight. As much as he wanted to bed her, it didn’t seem fair to take her when she believed the act would result in pregnancy.

But he could pleasure her. Give her one of those climaxes she wanted. He slipped his hand to the front of her tunic and palmed a breast. The silk was so thin that he could feel her nipple hardening.

“Neona,” he whispered in her ear. “Let’s go back to the cabin.”

She leaned back, giving him a nervous look. “You’re in the mood now?”

“Yes.” He grasped her hips and pulled her tight against his erection.

She gasped. “You . . . you’re vibrating.”

“I am?” He glanced down, then realized the sat phone was buzzing in his pants pocket. Dammit . If he didn’t answer, would Howard send Mikhail looking for him?

“Just a minute.” He stepped back and retrieved the phone from the pocket. “Why the hell are you calling, Howard?”

“Good evening to you, too,” Howard grumbled. “Russell showed up here out of the blue and insists you talk to him. I tried to get him to tell me what the problem is, but he said it had to be you. Something about an arrow.”

Zoltan winced. He would have to go. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He hung up.

Neona eyed the phone curiously. “You were able to talk to someone far away?”

Had she never seen a phone? “Yes.” He dropped the phone into his pocket. “I’m afraid I have to go.”

She nodded and stepped back. “It’s for the best. I shouldn’t see—”

“Don’t say that.” He touched her shoulder. “I will return tomorrow night. Meet me at the cabin at midnight.”

She regarded him sadly. “Good-bye, Zoltan.” She turned and walked along the stream.

So long, loser . The cat trotted after her.

I will win her, cat. You can count on it . Zoltan watched her for a minute, then stepped behind some trees to teleport home.

Neona returned to the rock wall where the stream from Beyul-La jetted out in a waterfall. The rope ladder was there, but she realized she couldn’t go home, not when she was still dressed in her finest clothes. With a sigh, she started back to Frederic’s cabin, where she’d left her hunting clothes.

As she walked, she scanned the forest. Where had Zoltan gone to? The village? It was about fifteen miles away, with nothing but a footpath to show the way. Did he have a horse tethered in the next valley?

She shook her head. There was no point in thinking about him so much. Even if she did enjoy being in his arms. When he kissed her, she forgot all reason. Her heart swelled with such yearning that she could not hold him long enough. With an ache in her heart, she realized it had happened. She was falling for him. She wanted him.

But how could she ever have him?

She entered the cabin and let her gaze wander about the room. There was the embroidered banner he’d admired, the books he’d looked over, the gold box of chocolates he’d brought.

The tea had steeped too long, but she needed a strong drink. She drank as she tidied up the cabin, putting out the fire and hiding the gold box under some blankets in the wooden chest. She rinsed out the teapot and cup in the stream outside, then back in the cabin, she changed into her brown and green linen tunic and pants. She stashed her good clothes in her bag and swung it onto her back along with her quiver of arrows.

She grabbed her bow and headed back to the rock wall. Zhan joined her on the way.