Page 13 of Sexual Appetites of Vampires

That made her eyes pop wide open.

“One of the misconceptions of vampires is that we exist solely on blood.”

“You don’t?” she asked surprised.

“It is our main source of nutrition, but through the years we have evolved, and we can now enjoy certain foods and drink.” He stood and leaned over her to slip her wine glass out of her hand and took a sip. “To my pleasure, wine is one of them.” He sat the glass aside and offered his hand to her. “Come, we’ll get something to eat.”

She eyed him suspiciously.

He stood and leaned down over her, bringing his face much too close to hers. “Or we can remain here and continue to discuss my sexual appetite.”

His lips started to pull back in a smile or was that a snarl? She didn’t wait to find out. She slipped out of the chair and squeezed past him, relieved that he didn’t stop her.

When there was a safe distance between them—though was there any safe distance from a vampire—she said, “I’m starving.” This time she rolled her eyes at her words.

“Never worry, Lara, I’ll see that all your hungers are more than satisfied.”

Lara froze, not sure if shivers were running through her or if cool fingers were stroking her flesh. When she thought she caught a hint of red in his eyes, she quickly fled the room.

CHAPTER 5

Lara stood in the foyer, bent over at the waist, catching her breath.

Keep your distance from him. Keep your distance from him.She repeated the silent litany over and over, whether it would do any good or not was another thing. Suggestive words, blatant or simple touches, faint kisses and those damn dark eyes tinted red sent her into a sexual frenzy capped with a hint of fear.

Dark and dangerous that’s what he was, and she had never been one to go for such a man. The type was trouble with a capital T.

She changed her litany.Keep your wits about you. Keep your wits about you.

A cool hand suddenly traveled up her back. She straightened in a flash and backed away from Michael. He was smiling, and she couldn’t help but think of the sly Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderful—the rabbit hole scenario again— though Michael’s smile was not as wide and was much more pleasing to the eye. Still, her situation seemed as surreal as Alice’s.

“Keeping your wits about you in any situation is wise, though in this one I would recommend the inevitable...surrender.” He turned away and headed toward the hallway to the far right.

“I told you to stay out of my thoughts,” she said, following him.

“And I told you to stop sending them to me.”

“How do I stop doing something that I don’t know I’m doing?”

“Ask,” he said without turning to face her.

They were in the kitchen before Lara could ask him and once there the room caught her by surprise. It was a modern kitchen with the backsplash a blend of white, black and grey tiles, sleek black cabinets, and high-end, stainless-steel appliances. What use did he have for a stove and two wall ovens or a microwave? And what about the fully stocked wine fridge beneath the island snack bar, unless it was stocked with his specific flavor?

“I see my kitchen surprises you,” he said, walking over to the fridge and opening it.

Her eyes widened at the fully stocked fridge, and she tilted her head at him questioningly.

“Appearances,” he said and stepped aside, “help yourself.”

She eagerly rifled through the fridge and whipped together a favorite of hers, a cheese sandwich. She also sliced an orange pepper and was about to sit on one of the steel stools beneath the snack bar when he snatched her plate from her hands.

“Follow me,” he said and walked out of the room, leaving Lara no choice but to follow.

She was glad she did. He took her to a small, cozy room right off the kitchen with four overstuffed chairs grouped around a square wooden coffee table that sat in front of a stone fireplace flanked by two windows. A bottle of red wine and two glasses sat on the table as did a large bowl of apples, oranges, and pears.

He nodded to one of the chairs closer to the roaring flames and waited until she sat, then placed her plate in front of her on the table and took the seat across from her. He poured them each a glass of wine and sat back in his chair, wine glass in hand.

“Have you always been interested in the unbelievable and strange?” he asked.

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