"Ever waltzed before?"

She appeared stunned. "No."

"I'll teach you. Just follow my lead. This is a simple one."

"There's more than one type?"

"There are many."

"I didn't know that." She smiled though, relaxing in his hold and swaying with him.

He noticed a few of the vampires rising from their tables, taking partners, and coming out to join them on the dance floor. He looked down. Matty had also realized they were no longer alone. She stumbled when the couples began to waltz around them. He pulled her a little closer.

"What's the matter, la.s.s?"

"I was sure we'd be the only ones out here with this elevator music playing."

She amused him. "It's called orchestra music, and vampires love to dance. It brings back a lot of good memories for the older ones, and the younger ones love the romantic idea of it." He leaned down, lowering his voice. "Ever heard of vampire b.a.l.l.s?"

Her mouth parted in an "O" shape.

He chuckled. "We do love a good ball. We hold one here every New Year's Eve. I can't wait to bring you. I'll teach you the most popular dances and buy you a beautiful gown."

Her features softened as she peered up at him. "You're a romantic at heart, aren't you?"

"Just a bit." He spun her, loving the feel of her in his arms. "You bring it out in me, Matty."

Chapter Eight.

Matty was in love with Blaron. It was that simple. She'd had a fantastic time in the club dancing with him. It hadn't been anything like she'd expected. He'd taught her a few old fashioned dances and introduced her to some of his vampire friends. They'd been polite and likeable. He finally led her out of the club when more people arrived and the music turned to something more contemporary.

The kitchen staff was busy preparing food orders when they pa.s.sed through to reach the hidden bas.e.m.e.nt door. It was located next to a walk-in freezer, behind a false brick wall front. The first door at the bottom of the stairs, one they'd pa.s.sed earlier, led to the feeding room. It looked more like a cozy studio apartment, with a tiny kitchen and open living room s.p.a.ce with two couches and a coffee table.

"Surprised?"

She nodded.

He released her hand and pointed to a barstool at the counter that divided the kitchen from the couches. "Take a seat. We store the blood in the fridge here. Are you ready for this?"

"I think so." She climbed up onto the padded barstool, getting comfortable.

He paused by the refrigerator and tilted his head. "I want you to know all of me, Matty. Feeding is a requirement for me to survive. I do this every other day. I can go longer but I don't recommend it. I get a bit testy and my fangs won't easily retract when I'm feeling hunger. It's like suffering from your grumbling digestive system on an empty stomach."

She appreciated that he was being so open about things. "Go ahead. I'm ready." She braced for whatever would come next.

He turned and yanked open the fridge. Inside were bags of blood, several dozens of them. He took one out and closed the door, walking a few steps to the bar on the other side of her.

"Why are there so many of them?"

"We sell it to vampire customers at the bar, as well as what we drink. It's all stored here. My fangs act like tiny straws. Are you ready to see me feed?"

She hesitantly reached out. He held still as she pressed her fingertip to the side of the bag. "It's so cold." Her gaze held his as she lowered her hand.

"It tastes better warm. I won't lie. But the colder the better when drinking from a bag. The chill deadens the taste buds, you could say."

"I'm ready to watch this. Go ahead." She was curious.

He opened his mouth, allowing her to watch his fangs slide down. They appeared pretty sharp and long. His movements were slow as he lifted the bag with one hand over his head, using his other hand to support the bottom of it better. He winked, then bit into the bag as he lowered it to his mouth.

The blood just slowly drained out of the bag. None of it ran over his lips or onto his clothes. Less than a minute pa.s.sed before he folded the empty plastic, withdrawing his fangs from it. He licked both bloodstained tips clean, then closed his mouth, staring at her. More seconds pa.s.sed.

"Well?"

"That was okay. I mean, you're so neat about it."

That earned her a smile. "Good. I'm glad I didn't frighten you."

"So that's it?"

"That's it." He leaned over, opened a cupboard on the other side of the bar, and tossed the bag away. "This is what I'd do, then I'd allow you to feed from me if you agree to be mine forever, Matty. To be a vampire doesn't mean you have to harm anyone, or that you'll become a monster. We buy the blood from humans. No one is harmed or forced. You'll stop aging. The only drawback is avoiding the sun. You can still see it though. UV rays don't come through televisions. I have a video of sunrises I watch when I miss the beauty of it. It's almost like being there, only without the burning." He chuckled. "Be mine, Matty. Let me love you."

"You tempt me to say yes," she confessed.

He came around the bar and held out his hand. "Let's return to our room." Desire showed in his eyes and sounded in his husky tone. "I could convince you, la.s.s. Let me take you to our bed."

She slid off the seat and clasped his hand. "The more time I spend with you, the less I want to be without you."

"That's how I feel as well."

They returned to his apartment and he locked the door. She led the way to the bedroom and began to get undressed. She wanted Blaron. He stripped out of his boots, the socks, and then his clothes. His body took her breath away.

"How do you stay in such amazing shape?"

He glanced down his body, then wiggled his eyebrows. "I spar with my sword."

"Is that a euphemism for s.e.x?"

"No. I actually practice my sword skills with Lethal often. He wields a blade well and keeps working me into a sweat." He lunged at her, grabbed her, and swung her up into his arms.

It wasn't frightening. She laughed, loving how strong he was and how easily he lifted her. He tossed them both on the bed, turning in the air so she landed on top of him. She turned, splaying her hands on his chest, and stretched out over him. She loved how he felt under her, their skin touching.

"I'm a very hands-on lad," he rasped. He showed her by cupping her a.s.s with both of his hands, ma.s.saging her. He rolled them over, pinning her under him. "You're so incredibly s.e.xy, Matty. Do you know what you do to me?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck, playing with his hair. "I can feel. You're getting hard." She spread her legs apart to make room for his hips in the cradle of her thighs.

"Aye. You've got me wrapped around you, la.s.s."

"I think I'm the one wrapped around you." She bent her knees more, hooking her calves over the back of his a.s.s.

"It doesn't matter. We have each other, and I'm not letting you go. Say yes to me, Matty. Be my vampire wife."

She licked her lips, loving the way he watched her tongue slide over them, and the low groan he made. His c.o.c.k stiffened even more, pressed against her, trapped between their bodies.

"You said something about convincing me?" She smiled, teasing him. "Show me."

He lowered his head, kissing her with enough pa.s.sion to steal her ability to breathe right. He adjusted his body a little, slid his hand between them, and began to play with her c.l.i.t with his fingers. She moaned against his tongue, arching her body into his.

He played with her until she was almost ready to come, then eased off her c.l.i.t to reach for his shaft. He entered her slow and broke the kiss. They both made pleasured sounds as he sank into her, joining their bodies.

"Stay with me forever, Matty. Say yes."

It wasn't a hard decision to make. She never wanted to go back to her old life. Not when she could spend the rest with the s.e.xy man who wore a kilt. "Yes."

He kissed her again, the pa.s.sion between them igniting, and he slowly began to f.u.c.k her deeper. Matty moaned when he pulled his mouth away. Their gazes met.

"Drink from me, love." He brought his wrist to his mouth, bit down, and pressed it against her parted lips.

She thought she'd gag, but he began to f.u.c.k her hard and fast as his fangs sank into her neck. Pleasure and pain blurred as she drank. The taste of blood barely registered. It was just Blaron, the bliss his body gave hers, and the taste of him. She grew lightheaded as she came. The climax made her pull her mouth away from his wrist when she cried out his name.

Blaron's fangs left her skin and he licked her wound. He turned his head, met her gaze, and smiled while he licked his wrist closed.

"That's it, my love. Sleep. I'll clean us and we'll cuddle until we wake. I'm with you."

Matty closed her eyes, too tired to even speak.

Epilogue.

Matty woke when two strong arms lifted her. She was confused until she met Blaron's gorgeous eyes. The blue of them seemed more brilliant, more breathtaking, and he'd put her on his lap, straddling him, as he sat naked against the headboard on their bed. Memory returned and she stared at him as her hands gripped his bare shoulders.

"I survived? Am I dead?" She flushed at her words. "I mean, am I the living dead now?"

He grinned. "You are alive, but you're a vampire."

She hesitated, trying to see if she felt any different. She didn't. Disappointment hit. "I don't think it worked. I'm still just me."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Mmmm." He grinned. "This is going to feel really good. Just go with your instincts."

"What are you talking about?"

He released her hip and reached over to the side of the bed. She saw the small dagger in his hand and tensed. He grinned wider and pressed the tip against his neck.

"The things I'm willing to do for love...but you need to learn how to bring your fangs out. The scent of blood will trigger it. Just don't fight or think about what you're doing."

She watched in horrified fascination as he cut his skin. Blood welled and he tossed away the dagger, grabbing her hip again. The copper smell of it filled her nose, her eyes widened. Her gums tingled, nearly seemed to throb, and she opened her mouth to ask him what was happening to her.

"Whath-" She paused, her voice sounding funny, and she touched her mouth. Something sharp made her cry out and stare at her finger. Blood welled at the tip.

"Easy." He laughed. "They are sharp. Careful, or one of us will need to lick whatever you cut with them." He tilted his head. "Look at my neck, Matty love. I fed before I woke you. It's your turn."

Her gaze tore from her finger to his neck. Hunger rose, and she inched closer.

"Go with it, love."

She couldn't stop. She licked at his blood. The taste made her moan-and she bit into him.

The feel of her fangs piercing his skin created a jolt rushing throughout her body, and pure pleasure struck. She clutched at Blaron, moaning, pressing her b.r.e.a.s.t.s tightly to his skin, frantically rubbing against him, needing to come so badly it hurt.

"Yes," he groaned, his hands gliding down her sides to cup her a.s.s. "Ride me."

Desire burned through Matty. She wanted him to f.u.c.k her. She pulled her mouth away, remembered to lick at his skin, and stared into his eyes. She lifted her hips and wiggled them until his shaft aligned perfectly with her p.u.s.s.y. She sank down on him, her body sleek with need already, and cried out as she came just from the feel of him stretching her with his thick c.o.c.k. Her body quaked and Blaron groaned.

Their gazes met. "Bite me again and it will make us both come."

She hesitated. "I love you."

He smiled. "I love you too."

"This is kind of crazy. We barely know each other."

His hands caressed her skin. "We have forever to learn, and what is between us is already strong. We're meant to be together."

She moved on his shaft, moaning. "You're irresistible, in my defense."

"I can be persuasive when I'm after the thing I want most in the world, and that's you." He turned his head, offering his neck. "Take me, my brave, beautiful Matty. I'm yours."

The sincerity of his words made happy tears fill her eyes. He meant it. He didn't see her scars. He loved her, and had given her an eternal new life to share with him. She was s.e.xy, desirable and beautiful to him. Something inside her knew, as she brushed her lips over his neck, that they'd be happy together. They had forever to get it right...and any arguments in the future promised to be very, very pleasurable.