A Vampire's Saving Embrace

  “Don’t fret so, love,” he murmured, his thumb tracing lazy circles on the inside of the wrist that he still held. “It is nothing that I have not already seen, and I swear to you, even as difficult as it was - I was a perfect gentleman.”

  Abby gulped back her humiliation and looked at him, desperation in her eyes. “How did you…” she choked out - having so many questions floating around in her head. “How did you know I was in the park? Were you following me?”

  “As I said, Abby, I have all types of talents.” His vague answers were ruffling her feathers a bit, but she needed to know one thing - more than anything else.

  “Did you see,” she stopped - not wanting him to think she was insane. Holy Hell - what did it matter anyway, she thought cynically. Her knight in shining armor was most likely just an incredibly gorgeous man with a super-hero complex. For all she knew, he was wearing blue tights with a huge S emblazoned across his chest underneath his clothes!

  “Did you see that…that man’s face change?” she blurted out – her face turning crimson and she squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep, shaky breath. She knew it sounded insane - but she also knew what she saw. Well - might as well get the look of sympathy over with, she thought bitterly. She knew what had to be going through his mind – oh, the poor girl, her traumatic experience has sent her over the edge and now she is a certifiable nut-case. Seeing monsters at every turn! Time to call in the men with the white coats and the nets! But when she finally got up the nerve and looked up into his face, she saw nothing in his eyes but a grim sadness.

  “Abby, there are many things in this world that would surprise you to know are in existence,” he replied evenly, his eyes locking with hers. “But now is not the time to discuss them,” he stood and took a step back from the bed. “You need to rest. Sleep, my pet, you are safe here.” With that he turned and left the bedroom.

  Abby sighed and glanced around the room curiously. It was certainly a man’s room, with its dark walls lined with bookcases filled to the brim, and expensive furnishings in deep rich woods. There was a large marble fireplace across the huge expanse of space which was framed by two very large leather chairs that looked incredibly inviting, and she could easily picture herself curled up in one, sitting beside a roaring fire – just quietly reading.

  She wondered if this were Desmond’s room and silently kicked herself for even thinking the thought. Holy Hell, what had she gotten herself into?

  She sighed again and closed her eyes, realizing that just being near him was draining in so many ways. His nearness caused her body to tingle in ways that she would much rather forget. “Desmond,” she quietly whispered. My God, even his name was sexy. She pushed thoughts of him from her mind and let herself drift off.

  When Abby woke a few hours later, she found Desmond sitting in one of the chairs by the fireplace - watching her intently. “How are you feeling?” he asked- standing and walking over to the bed – and she was taken by the grace in which the man moved. Hells bells! The man seemed to glide as he walked!

  “I…I’m…” she stuttered, not knowing exactly how she felt. Having him standing next to the bed staring down at her like he was had her heart doing flip-flops in her chest. Never before in all her pitiful life had she felt so instantly drawn to someone as she was to this man. “I’m fine,” she said finally - trying desperately not to let his intense gaze do what it was doing to her. She needed answers – not distractions. And this man was definitely a distraction. A gorgeous, sexy, breath-stealing distraction.

  “That’s a lovely ring,” he said, sitting down on the bed beside her.

  Abby glanced down at the ring on her right hand and smiled sadly. It was an intricate white gold dolphin that wrapped around her finger and was set with a small stone held in place by the creatures head and tail. “It was my mothers,” she whispered. “She wore it all the time. It’s actually all that I have left of her.”

  “What happened to her?” he asked gently, his eyes studying her face intently as she spoke.

  “She died in a car accident when I was seventeen.” She looked back down at the ring on her finger, not wanting to have to deal with his close scrutiny of her or what it did to her body. “It’s strange, really. She had taken it off and left it on our kitchen table that morning almost as if she knew she wasn’t coming back. It was the first time that I could remember her ever not wearing it.” She sighed softly, a sad, wistful smile on her face.

  “And your father?”

  Abby shrugged, “I never knew my father. He died before I was born.” Desmond’s finger traced the line of her jaw. “I’m sorry, Abby.” He stated simply, and somehow she knew that he meant it.

  Why she was even telling him all of this, she didn’t know – but it just seemed…right. She felt completely at ease with him – safe and protected, and she grudgingly admitted that the feeling was nice. It had been a very long time since she felt this way, if ever – she thought with a start.

  Desmond watched the play of emotion on her face with rapt interest. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever come across in all his years, and just being near her caused his body to want things it hadn’t wanted in a very long time. A warmth spread through his body when she looked up at him with those emerald green eyes of hers that was completely foreign to him. It was almost like being punched in the chest.

  He tried to push back those thoughts and concentrate on getting as much of what she knew out of her. Now was definitely not the time to let himself become distracted by her full, perfect lips or her beautiful heart - shaped face. Or those emerald green depths that any man would give his soul to get lost in. He was certain that the next few moments were going to be difficult enough for her – and he needed to tread lightly - he reminded himself with a mental shake.

  “Desmond?” she said softly - pulling him from his thoughts.

  “Yes, my pet?”

  Abby tried to ignore his endearment and took a deep breath. The time had come for answers. No more lollygagging around. “You said before that there are things in existence that would surprise me.”

  “Yes.”

  “What did you mean?”

  “Abby,” he said, taking her tiny hands gently in his and she couldn’t help but feel the current of awareness that ran through her at his touch. “You asked me if I had seen that…that vermin’s face change.” She nodded - her eyes studying his, hoping to detect any sign of his not believing her – but all she saw was the crystal blue of those incredible depths staring back at her with sincerity. “Abby, that creature that attacked you was a demon.”

  “Excuse me?” she breathed, knowing that there was no way that she could have heard him correctly.

  “A demon, Abby,” he repeated softly, his gaze searching hers.

  Abby shook her head – her body tensing slightly at his words. Oh, Lord! He was the crazy one! She thought, her heart twisting slightly. She should have guessed it. There was no way on earth someone so seemingly perfect didn’t have any flaws. His just happened to be that he was certifiably insane. Completely off his rocker! There were no such things as demons! “There aren’t…” she hesitated, “there just can’t be…”

  “There are, my pet. Just as there are…other things.”

  “What are you talking about?” She asked, feeling as if she were losing her mind right along with him.

  Desmond smiled sadly, wanting nothing more at that moment than to take her in his arms and protect her from what he was about to say. “There are many supernatural beings in the world Abby. More than you could ever imagine.”

  “What, like witches and wizards?” she scoffed - although this would be one hell of an explanation as to why she had seen that man’s face change. And at least it would mean that she wasn’t nuts.

  Desmond nodded, “And werewolves and…” He stopped, seemingly finding the words difficult. “And Fey and Vampires.”

  “And I was attacked by a demon because?” she asked, her tone wary, her eyes narrowing slightly. br />
  “Because you are half Fey,” he replied evenly – as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and her mouth dropped open in shock- her eyes wide and disbelieving.

  “Fey? Like in fairy?” she breathed. “You are telling me that I’m a fairy?” She was in complete shock - this guy was nuts! Crap! Just her luck. She sure as hell knew how to pick them – she thought with disgust. Although – if truth be told – she didn’t pick him at all.

  Desmond cupped her chin in his hand, that soul-stealing grin touching his lips – but she noticed what seemed to be a flicker of sadness cross his features. “Fey,” he gently corrected. “They don’t particularly care for the term fairy, and you are only half – on your father’s side.”

  “Holy Hell,” she murmured, shaking her head. “How do you even know this? Are you a fair…I mean, a fey too?” She quickly corrected herself – not wanting to offend him if he were.

  Abby again saw something flash in his eyes before he stood and walked over to the fire, keeping his back to her. “I could smell it in your blood when that bastard cut you – but I had my suspicions before that.” He turned, and the pain she saw in his eyes caused her heart to skip a beat. “Abby, I am a vampire.”

  Abby swallowed the lump in her throat and took a deep, shaky breath - her head spinning. This was impossible! She almost burst out laughing, but the expression on his face stopped her cold. He was completely serious. And her gut was telling her that he was not lying to her.

  Could such things as Vampire’s, Fey and demons really exist? There was just no way. She studied him a moment, searching for any indication that this was all just one huge joke, but his expression was somber, almost apologetic and utterly sincere. No! She silently screamed. This just can’t be! These were things from fairytales and horror novels. Not real!

  Yet, there was a tiny voice in the back of her mind taunting her that she had always felt different from everyone else growing up. She never quite seemed to fit in. Why not a supernatural explanation? Her mother had had tons of books on the subject. There had to be a reason for them and being in love with a Fey would constitute one hell of a reason. Her mother had spent years with her head buried in those books as if she were looking for something. And as for the topic of her father – that had always been a subject strictly off limits with her. On the rare occasions that Abby had pressed the issue, her mother would immediately burst into tears and hide away in her bedroom for days, crying that it wasn’t fair that the man she loved had been taken from her.

  “Well,” she finally replied - much more calmly than she actually felt, “at least you’re not a demon.” She graced him with a slight grin. “Because I have to tell you - from what I’ve experienced of them so far-they really suck ass.”

  Desmond laughed in spite of himself - at a complete loss. He had just told this woman about a supernatural world where every child’s nightmare lived, and she was making light of it. “Abby, I would never hurt you. My only wish is to…” he trailed off, not wanting her to think him some sort of crazed stalker - but from the moment he had walked into that seedy place where she worked, and had seen her behind the bar, his thoughts had been consumed by her – and then when he had smelled the distinctive sulfur scent of a demon, his blood had boiled. “My only wish is to protect you.”

  “Why?” she blurted out, her eyes wide. “Are Vampires expected to protect Feys or something? Is that how it works? Is that why you kept coming into Echo’s? And why didn’t you ever say anything to me?”

  “Damn, little one,” he said, sitting back down beside her and studying her face. “You ask a lot of questions.”

  “Yeah, so I have been told on numerous occasions,” she replied in exasperation – still trying desperately to grasp everything she was being told. “But can you really blame me? I mean, you just told me that things I never could have believed ever existed –do,” she said breathlessly, shaking her head slightly.

  “I promise to answer all of your questions in due time,” he said softly. “But enough for now - you need to feed.”

  “Feed?” she squeaked, her eyes widening even more. “Do I have to start sucking the dew from flowers or something? Because if that’s the case, I have got to tell you – I am definitely a meat kind of girl.”

  Desmond broke out laughing, a deep rich laughter that caused Abby to shiver. “No, my pet, you do not. But you do need to eat something. The poison from the demons blade had you out for almost two days.”

  “Holy Hell!” she burst out. “Are you serious?”

  Desmond nodded and reluctantly stood. “Luckily your fey blood will help you to heal faster than normal, but you still need to keep up your strength. Rest for a bit and I will bring you something.”

  “Do vampires eat, like, people food?” she asked and again Desmond’s rich laughter filled the room.

  “No, my pet, we don’t. But I had asked my brother Marcus to go shopping - for when you awoke. I will return shortly.” With that he gracefully disappeared through the door.

  Abby stretched slightly and pulled herself up to rest against the headboard. Her hand tentatively went to her neck where the thick bandage was. Even the slightest pressure sent a twinge of pain through her body.

  Yikes, she thought miserably, she had almost been sliced and diced. She shivered at the thought. If it hadn’t been for Desmond…Oh dear Lord Abby, she chastised herself – stop it! You cannot be attracted to a vampire for cripes sake! A blood drinking, night-stalking, albeit gorgeous – vampire! But even as the thought raced around in her head, she knew that she was only lying to herself – to say she was merely just attracted to the dark, handsome Mr. LaGrange was a huge understatement. She was experiencing feelings that were totally unexpected – and she desperately needed to rein them in. That is, she thought with a groan – if she could. This man had her head spinning in a thousand different directions – and none of them were good. Crap! The man probably slept in a coffin for God’s sake! She shook the thought from her mind and closed her eyes, trying to keep her thoughts off of him. “Yeah, easier said than done,” she muttered under her breath.

  Abby was staring at the fire when Desmond came through the door carrying a tray. As soon as the smell of the food reached her - her stomach growled hungrily.

  “I knew you would be hungry,” Desmond chuckled, that damn, infuriating, breath-stealing grin on his lips.

  Abby blushed to the roots of her hair at her stomachs noisy betrayal. “I…I am - thank you,” she stammered – completely mortified.

  Desmond set the tray down and placed a piece of errant hair behind her ear. “Is there anything else you would like?” He asked, and Abby’s blush only deepened. “My pet?” he questioned at her obvious embarrassment – his eyebrow quirking up so damn seductively.

  “Would it be asking too much if I could bathe or shower?” she whispered, picking up a piece of toast and delicately biting off the corner. “I’m sure I must reek to high heaven by now.” Again the room was filled with his laughter and Abby found herself thinking that she would never tire of hearing it, or of seeing that grin of his. She shook off the thought, knowing she had no business even toying with such ideas.

  She was Abigail Montgomery, devout self-appointed hermit and the fact that she felt so at ease with him around was disturbing, to say the least – not to mention how completely compelling the man was .He was walking, talking sex on a stick and it scared the hell out of her. She had spent her entire life protecting herself from getting romantically involved with any man, and that was not about to change now. Eric had been proof positive that she was better off alone.

  “Actually,” he said, leaning down and placing his lips ever so lightly against her neck. He inhaled deeply and Abby shivered from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. Good Lord! “You smell of vanilla and lavender, with perhaps a hint of honey. It’s quite nice.”

  “Wow,” she choked out, her heart racing triple time. “I’ve always read that Vampires were supposed to have a heightene
d sense of smell or something. Yours must really be on the fritz.” Desmond laughed against her neck, which only caused her to shiver again. Damn, but this man was dangerous, she thought irritably. What he was doing to her body should be illegal!

  “My sense of smell is just fine,” he stated adamantly as he stood back up. “In fact, I am certain that what you have heard is only one of the very few things that is correct. All of my senses are heightened.”

  Oh great, Abby thought crossly. That means he can probably hear my heart beating around in my chest like a boy crazy teen-aged cheerleader. Cripes! Could this get any worse? “How about sunlight and crosses?” she asked, desperately trying to keep her thoughts away from how delectable he was.

  “I can go out in the sun for very short periods, if any longer than a few moments my skin will burn and I will weaken – but it would take some time to kill me. And as for crosses…” He opened the top button of the shirt he wore and held up the tiny gold cross that hung around his neck, “just stories – although silver does have an adverse effect on me - pretty much the same as the sun.”

  “So I guess that means you don’t sleep in a coffin either?” she asked, as calmly as possible and he smiled - his eyes scanning up and down her body in a slow, thorough appraisal and she felt herself growing warm.

  “No, I don’t. I sleep in a bed.” His smile widened and he chuckled deep in his chest – his eyes gleaming dangerously. “In fact, I usually sleep in this bed.”

  Abby gulped at the realization that she was in fact laying in his bed – her cheeks turning red as a picture of the two of them intertwined on it filled her mind. Shit! “I’m sorry,” she stammered, trying desperately to push the image away. “I don’t want to kick you out of your….room.” She finished quietly.

  “There is no need to apologize,” he replied, his finger stroking her cheek gently. “There are many more bedrooms in the house if I need one. Now eat, my pet, and I will start your bath.”