Page 25 of Sexual Appetites of Vampires

“So the more children she has the longer she lives?”

Michael laughed. “We’ve found that two children will usually give a human the same life span as a vampire, though my grandmother had six children and she’s definitely retaining her age better than my grandfather.”

Lara grinned. “I’d say it was the opposite for humans. The more children we have the faster we age, mostly from worry and anxiousness over being a good parent. I will admit, though, being an only child makes me want to have a bunch of kids. It was great having my father’s undivided attention, but there were times I missed having a sibling to share things with.”

“At least you missed the fights. My brothers and I were at one another’s throats at times.”

“Literally?” she asked with a laugh.

Michael laughed as well. “No, my father had bigger fangs than us and that kept us from going too far, though my sister suffered the most since we were always trying to keep her safe and protected. She wanted nothing to do with us and complained to my father endlessly. It did little good since vampires have this overpowering need to protect those they love.”

Family.She had none, no grandparents, no aunts or uncles, no one at all. She had few fears, but the big fear that had always lurked in her mind was losing her dad. Once he was gone, she’d have no one. She’d be alone, and now she was.

She shook the sadness away as best she could, not wanting Michael to sense it, and said, “What about the other part of my question?”

Michael moved forward in his chair and emptied the bottle of wine evenly in each of their glasses. He remained perched on the edge of the chair and after taking a sip of wine, he answered, “I would much rather show you what a bite can do.”

Damn if he didn’t send her sensual senses somersaulting. How could she think a bite from a vampire could be sexy? She was definitely losing her sanity. She was the one who disproved such nonsense and here she was sitting with a vampire who wanted to bite her neck.

Yup, she officially had lost her mind.

She popped up off the chair. “It’s been a long and,” —she searched for a fitting word— “crazy day. Time for bed.”

“Mine or yours?” Michael asked, standing.

She had to grin while she shook her head. “Mine and alone.”

“My bedroom door is always open to you.”

She opened her mouth, but words failed her.

“Why deny what your body aches for?” he asked in a much too softly alluring tone that she fought to ignore.

“One word—vampire. Make that two—crazy.”

“Then let yourself be crazy for tonight and the next few days. Enjoy what I can give you.”

Why not, she thought. Why not have great sex with him while stuck here in a snowstorm? When it was over, though, then what? Does she simply walk away, knowing she’d never have such great sex again? Or was it that she had already started to feel something for this man—vampire— and she just might want more?

“You’re nothing that I would expect a vampire to be,” she said.

“You sound as if you accuse me of a crime.”

“It would be so much easier if you were like the evil, bloodsucking creatures in the books.”

“Then I would simply put you under my spell, suck your blood, and make you one of us, and that is not what true vampires do. They do not take what is not offered.”

“So, if I told you that I wanted you to bite me...”

“I would make it memorable, and you would not regret it.”

It would be so easy to surrender to him, to share a moment in time that would leave her with...memories. But would memories be enough for her.

With sadness in her heart, she said, “I will see you in the morning.”

“Sleep well, Lara,” he said.

“And you.” She turned quickly. “You don’t sleep.”

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