Kerrelyn Sparks: Sexiest Vampire Alive

Belinda’s eyes twinkled. “An angel came to see me.”

Oh God, her mom was hallucinating. “It’s probably the medication.”

“The angel told me everything would be all right, and then, your Gregori came.”

“He’s not my Gregori, Mom. I don’t want to ever see him again.”

“But he saw you, dear. He told me he loved you and would do anything for you. And he gave me some of his blood.”

“ What? ” Abigail’s heart lurched.

Belinda touched the bandage on her arm. “I feel so much better.”

Abigail ripped off the bandage and saw the puncture mark on her mother’s arm. “When did this happen?”

“When the angel gave me a transfusion from Gregori. He was such a handsome man. The angel, not Gregori. Although Gregori is quite handsome, too.”

“Gregori was here?”

“Yes. With an angel. He told me his name is Buniel.”

Abigail shook her head. She didn’t know what to make of this, but one thing was for sure, her mother was looking a hundred percent better. “We’ll have to run some tests.”

“Later.” Belinda waved a dismissive hand. “What’s important now is that you find your Gregori before the sun rises. He loves you very much.”

“Mom—”

“And he left this for you.” Belinda pulled a package out from under her blanket. “It’s small. I think it might be an engagement ring.”

“Oh my God.” This was proof that Gregori had really been here. Her name was scrawled on the package in his handwriting.

“Well, open it! I want to see if it’s a ring.”

“Mom, are you saying you would approve of me and Gregori?”

“Sweetie, he saved your life. I know that he’s . . . different, but he’s a good man. He gave us his word that he would protect you on your trip, and he nearly died to keep his word. You don’t let a man like that get away.”

“He—he messed with my mind.”

Belinda snorted. “All men mess with our minds, one way or another. But Gregori is a good man. Even the angel said we should trust him. Will you please open the package?”

“Oh, right.” She ripped open one end and pulled out the contents. Underneath a layer of thermal wrap, she found a vial of blood. It was labeled “Gregori Holstein.”

Belinda wrinkled her nose. “He gave you blood? That’s not very romantic.”

Tears came to her eyes. “Oh, it is. It means he trusts me.”

“Well, you’d better hurry up and meet him.”

Abigail blinked away her tears. “Yes, Mother. Thank you.”

She dropped the vial of blood inside her handbag and retrieved her cell phone. After a moment’s hesitation, she punched in the number for Angus.

“Miss Tucker?” he answered. “What can I do for you?”

“Could you possibly teleport me to Romatech?”

In one minute she was standing by the side entrance to Romatech. Angus swiped his card, then opened the door for her.

“Thank you.” She walked inside.

“Any time, lass.” He walked beside her, his kilt swishing around his knees. “I gather Plan C worked.”

“Excuse me?”

He chuckled. “Go easy on the lad. He’s been lost without you.” He opened the door to the security office and went inside.

She took out her phone and sent Gregori a text message. I would like to pick up my plants. I’ll meet you in the foyer at Romatech.

A message came instantly back. When?

She grinned and texted back. About ten seconds.

She stepped into the foyer, and in about five seconds, Gregori zoomed in at vampire speed.

He halted abruptly. “Hello.”

“Hello.” She bit her lip to keep from laughing. He looked so darned nervous. “I came to get my plants.”

“Of course. This way.”

She walked beside him down a hall.

“How have you been?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Busy.”

He nodded and slanted a look her way. “How is your mother?”

“Not bad. She seems a bit better.”

“Oh.” He frowned. “That’s good.” He opened a door. “Your plants are in here.”

She walked in and looked around. “What a beautiful lab.”

“It’s yours.”

“What?” She spun to face him.

“It’s yours, if you want it. Roman wants to hire you. And you can work on whatever you like.”

“Like this?” She removed his vial of blood from her handbag.

“Yes.” He shifted his weight. “But that is yours to keep, no matter where you work. I trust you.”

She set the vial and her handbag down on a table. “I know what you did for my mother. I want to thank you. I can’t thank you enough, actually. And I understand that you have a duty to protect your kind. It was wrong of me to judge you when you were trying to do the right thing.”

“Then you forgive me?”

She smiled and nodded. “Yes. Can you forgive me?”

He lunged forward and pulled her into his arms. “Oh, Abby, I love you.”

She laughed and hugged him tight. “I love you, too.”

“Thank God.” He kissed her brow. “I have something hard in my pants.”

She snorted. “Your phone?”

“No.” He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a large golden disc. “It’s a medal of honor. Angus gave it to me.”

“Oh, it’s beautiful.” She took the disc and examined it. “Congratulations.”

“There was a big ceremony to thank me for saving the Vamps. And Roman named me his heir apparent. That means I’ll be the next Coven Master for the East Coast.”

“That’s wonderful! You must be thrilled.”

He shoved a hand through his hair. “Actually, it doesn’t mean much to me if I can’t share it with you. I want to be with you, Abby.”

“You do?” She set the medal down on the table.

“Yes. And I’ll make you happy. You’ll see. You can have all the freedom you want. You can work at your old job or here with me. And if you want to live close by, we can buy a house.”

“Are you asking me to live with you?”

He stepped back. “Well. Actually, the thing is . . .” He pulled a stress ball from his pocket and squeezed it. “I know how much you value your freedom, but I thought we might have a . . . uh, more binding commitment.”

She bit her lip to keep from grinning. “More binding?”

“Yes.” He tightened his fist around the stress ball. “Not that I intend to imprison you in any way. I realize a commitment to a vampire could last a really long time, and I don’t want you to feel trapped—”

“Are you asking me to marry you?”

The ball exploded in his hand. “Oh God, yes.” He tossed the ball on the floor and fell to his knees. “Marry me, Abigail.”

She fell to her knees and cradled his face in her hands. “I will.”

He grinned. “You’ll marry me?”

She laughed. “Yes!”

He levitated them both up onto their feet. “You’ll have children with me?”

“Yes.”

“And sex on the ceiling?”

She laughed again. “Yes.”

“And you’ll dance disco with me?”

She feigned a frown. “Now you’re pushing it.”

He laughed and hugged her tight. “I love you, Scholar. Falling for you was the smartest thing I’ve ever done.”

“I love you, too.” She nestled her cheek against his chest. Marry a vampire? It was the craziest thing she’d ever do.

Or maybe not. She glanced up at the ceiling. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

He chuckled. “I’ll lock the door.”

There would be no sexiest vampire alive without the sexiest husband alive. I am forever grateful to my husband, Don, for deftly demonstrating how a man can be serious, yet funny. Strong, yet charming. My thanks to my children, who are always encouraging, and my best friends/critique partners, who are extremely wise and know exactly when to give me a hug or a needed kick in the rear.