Kathy Love: I Only Have Fangs For You

Thank you to the Tarts! As always, your support is greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Julie, Chris, and Lisa for the last minute read-throughs, the brilliant advice, and just being there. You are the best!

Thanks, Mom and Dad for all your help with everything and your constant encouragement.

Thank you, Bill and Mary Ellen for all your help.

Thank you, Cindy, Guinness, and Nellie. You were wonderful entertainment to Emily and a great help to me.

Todd, I really needed you on this one, and you were there. Thank you and I love you.

And all my love to Emily.

"Has anyone ever told you that you have a beautiful neck?"

Sebastian pressed his lips to the neck in question. The bare skin just below the woman's earlobe was warm and wonderfully scented, and just like that, his fangs lengthened. But he repressed the hunger and smiled slightly as he felt the woman startle. She leapt away and spun to see who was taking such liberties. Her outraged expression dissolved into a slow, pleased grin.

"Sebastian," she breathed, unconsciously tilting her head so her silky blond locks fell back over her shoulder, exposing more of her lovely neck and collarbone. The tiny pulse at the base of her throat quickened, a rapid, delighted flutter under her tanned skin. Her eyes roamed over him with appreciation.

Sebastian grinned. He could always count on Hannah to be very welcoming. And he needed Hannah's sort of welcome tonight. After the week he'd had, he deserved a very, very welcoming Hannah.

He frowned slightly. Her name was Hannah, wasn't it? Or was it Anna?

Sure, they had spent a few nights together in the past, but really, there had been very little talking involved. And they had met here, in the nightclub, with the mobs of patrons and the loud, pulsating dance music-it was an easy mistake, right? Hannah. Anna. An honest mix-up.

In his mind, he suddenly saw his brothers' disapproving looks. Rhys with his censorious frown, and Christian with that condescending arch of his eyebrow.

Sebastian refocused on Hannah-well, probably Hannah. Her name didn't matter, not for what he had in mind. Although, he did catch himself studying her, estimating her age, even though he knew she was old enough to be here at the club. But after being called home from his vacation (if anyone could call time spent with his preachy brothers a vacation) because the cops had been tipped off that Carfax Abbey, his nightclub, was serving minors, he felt the need to be more cautious. Even though it was an utterly ridiculous accusation.

Of course, he couldn't very well tell the police that his club had never served a minor because the men carding at the door were actually preternatural creatures. And preternatural creatures were absolutely great at sniffing out underage partygoers. Minors always gave off a specific and strong vibe. Youth, nervousness, and excitement. Hard to miss and easy to turn away.

Fortunately, the police decided the accusation was unfounded without that information. With that problem solved, he was now ready to focus on more pleasurable things. He needed that. Between the NYPD, and his brothers, he needed some fun.

He also needed to reaffirm himself. To reaffirm that his existence was just fine the way it was, despite his brothers' opinions to the contrary. He was single, he was undead, and he was damned happy about both.

He grinned at Hannah.

"Hi there, Han… darling." Maybe it was better to avoid names, though.

Probably-Hannah's smile widened, her eyes narrowing with a predatory hunger that would put any vampire to shame. She stepped back to him, pressing her breasts against his arm as she leaned in to speak.

"Sebastian, I missed you."

He sighed at the sensation of her body against his. Oh yeah, Probably-Hannah was definitely the right place to start reaffirming. He didn't have that confused.

"Where have you been? I couldn't find you the last time I was here."

"You were looking for me? When?" he asked, making sure his voice dripped with disappointment.

"Last Saturday."

He could have guessed that. Probably-Hannah was one of his club's many regulars. Repeat mortal customers who his vampire patrons labeled "Fang Freaks." Mortals who returned to his nightclub over and over in hopes of hooking up with a preternatural being. Of course, the mortals didn't understand that was what kept them coming back, nor did they understand the source of their addiction. They just knew that what happened here didn't happen anywhere else.

Sebastian glanced over Probably-Hannah's shoulder to see a group of women watching him.

He smiled. They each responded with some form of invitation: a tempting smile, a coy bat of the lashes, an enticing shift of their bodies that readily said, "Here I am."

He breathed in deeply. Damn, it was good to be a vampire. And the owner of one of the most popular nightclubs in Manhattan. This is where he ruled, where he had control. And his possibilities were so open. But for tonight, he'd made his choice. He might not remember if she was Hannah or Anna, but Sebastian hadn't forgotten this woman's reaction to him or her taste on his tongue. His body responded, his fangs distending just a bit.

"Care to dance?" He motioned to the dance area, where muted red and purple lights glowed under the frosted flooring.

She nodded, twining her arms around his and falling into step beside him.

Carfax Abbey, a name taken from his favorite novel, Dracula (of course), was busy tonight. As he stepped into the throng of gyrating dancers, he was overwhelmed by the scent of mortals, warm and musky with a heady undertone of sweet rustiness. Mingling with that was the impression of other preternatural beings. Their presence made the air vibrate as if the molecules and atoms were agitated by their very existence. The sensation was as exciting as the humans' scents, but not quite as alluring.

He pulled the lovely blonde against him and began to move with the sultry beat of the music. Her arms came up to snake around his neck, her fingers toying with his hair. Her eyes locked with his as she followed his movements instinctively. Their bodies pressed tight together. A delicious friction.

"I love this song," she said, her lips grazing his ear as she spoke over the music. "I love how you dance."

He pulled her tighter, more interested in enjoying her body than her small talk. Which could explain the uncertainty on her name.

He dropped his nose to her hair, smelling the fruity perfume of her shampoo and the sweet scent thrumming just beneath the surface of her smooth skin. Maybe one more dance, then he would invite her to his apartment upstairs over the club.

Tonight he was edgy. His hunger barely contained. Sex and feeding were his two favorite pastimes, but this evening his body literally ached for both.

"Hannah, you found him."

Ha! He'd been right; it was Hannah.

He turned his head to see an auburn-haired beauty in a black-and-red brocade corset and a very tight, very small, black leather skirt. A pair of black boots came up over her knees.

Sebastian started to speak, but paused. He'd slept with her, too, hadn't he? What was her name? Alex? Alice? Elise? Damn.

"Yes, I did find him. See, Sebastian, you've been very, very missed."