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from where he stood, preparing steaks on the black, flat top
stove. "Tani, you scared the shit out of all of us. And even if
you have doubts, you are alive. I saw you when he took you
from that house." Houston let his hands fall to his sides. "You
were going to die. I know that without a doubt."
He turned back to the stove, his voice subdued. "Believe
me, when I pictured you meeting someone, I wasn't
expecting this. But I have to believe he would do anything for
you because he has. So he's a vampire. Like Laney said, we'll
just make the whole family weird."
Titania rubbed the heels of her hands into her eyes. "But is
it worth it? I can't sing anymore. Tenorio is hunting me,
Brakka would like to skewer me. God, how do I find so much
trouble?" she moaned.
"You have a natural talent for it," Houston offered, smiling.
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She looked around her feet. "Where's that damn ball of
paper at?"
Laney put a light hand on Titania's arm. "But is it bad
enough to end everything? He loves you. I know if you go,
he'll go with you. I can feel his conviction to be with you
regardless. That is a pretty strong emotion if you ask me."
Titania crossed her arms and thunked her head onto them,
leaning over the bar. "That's just it. I'm a coward. I never
would have considered suicide before this, but that's what it
would be."
"Give it a chance," Laney offered sagely. "Looking at you,
no one would know."
Cara, do not forget to call your parents.
Thank you.
She slid from her seat. "Look, you guys eat. I have to call
Mom and try to explain the cancellation."
They both nodded, and she went down the hall to a room
that could have been called a den. She paused in the
doorway, surprised to see an up-to-date computer along with
a huge sound system in the corner. On opposing walls were
two tall bookcases filled to the ceiling with books.
She spotted the phone on the desk. She dialed and waited
pensively, sitting down in his chair. She sank into the plush
leather. The man wasn't kidding. He was spoiled. She sighed
in relief when the phone was answered after several heart
stopping seconds. Secretly, she realized she was frightened
no one would.
"Hi, Mom."
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"Titania!" She had to yank the phone from her ear. It was
a high, squealed shriek who could have only been her mother.
"Frank, get in here! It's Tani! Honey, where are you? What
happened? What happened to the tour? We've been so
worried." Her mother began to choke up.
"I know. I'm sorry. I haven't been well enough to call." Her
mother shrieked again. Oops, wrong thing to say. "Breathe,
Mom, and I'll tell you what I can." Her mother had always
been prone to drama.
She gave her a bland description of her abduction, leaving
out the problems she had with the shot overdose. "Diego is a
bodyguard I hired a few weeks ago, and he found me. I've
been recuperating outside of the media's reach at his house."
Somewhere during her explanation, she had heard her father
pick up the second phone.
"Why didn't he take you to a doctor?" was her father's
immediate demand.
"Because he didn't want to let the abduction get into the
news," she said slowly, hating to lie.
"Are you all right with him, alone?" her mother asked.
"I'm fine. In fact, Laney and Houston arrived this evening.
I think they'll be staying for a while."
"Thank heavens," her mother said. "Is he the one Houston
hinted at?"
"Yes, Mother." She palmed her forehead, leaning on an
elbow. Tears burned at her eyes. She managed a few more
minutes of questions and answers before they let her off the
phone. She burst into tears, the phone missing its cradle
when it slid from her fingers.
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by Diana Castilleja
"Cara." Strong arms lifted her, pulled her into his embrace.
"What is wrong?"
"I realized I can't tell them! I'm going to see them die,"
she wailed.
Diego stroked her back. "Honey, children succeed their
parents naturally. You have not lost them." He tucked her into
his shoulder, his arms wrapping around her. "It may be best
if you do not tell them everything. They may not, most likely,
understand."
She rubbed her cheek against the skin-warmed silk of his
shirt. "I know. I'm just feeling overwhelmed."
"You did remarkably well with Houston and Laney. I am
very proud of you." He rubbed his chin into her hair. "Time,
cara. That is all you need."
"I guess I need to accept this, then. There really is no
going back." Melancholy colored her voice.
"No, cara. I know you have lost many things. I hope to
show you just how much you have gained. In truth, you are a
miracle to me to have survived. When I brought you home,
all I had was hope you would live through the conversion. I
have never cursed another soul with this life, and I did not
know if being a woman would be an issue."
She sighed, closing her eyes, just letting him hold her. The
steady beat of his heart beneath her ear resounded through
her. This time when the hunger hit, she didn't fight it. She
studied it, examined the way her body reacted, the way her
body craved.
She found the scent of his skin when she took a deep
breath. She moved restlessly against him, hunger beating at
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her more insistently. He tilted her to his mouth, sipping
gently. Her arms lifted, caressed his broad shoulders,
threaded through the thick, loose curls of his hair.
A low, vibrating growl grew in his chest when she nipped
at heated skin. A hand weaved loosely into her hair,
encouraging her. She realized how sensual the act of sharing
was, how aroused she was, as was he.
She wanted this. She knew it, admitted it. When her
incisors lengthened, she didn't startle at the knowledge. She
could smell the strong scent of his blood and unbuttoned his
shirt. His chest quivered under her tentative fingers.
She stroked a warm, damp path across his chest, and his
hand fisted into her hair. "Cara." The growl was deeper,
hungrier, needing. Teeth scraped across the artery over his
heart, and he stiffened, a slow hiss escaping through a tight
jaw.
Lightning arced when she pierced through, the first rush of
life a euphoric, heady, spiced fire that raced through her [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]