Craig's Heart (11 page)

Craig licked at her neck and she knew she had to stop drinking from him. But it was so hard to make herself stop. With a cry, she retracted her fangs from his skin. Blood dripped from his wrist and she quickly bent to lick at the wound, ashamed of her lack of control.

Evie lowered her head. Craig pulled out of her in one smooth stroke. Then he lifted her into his arms. Her braid got caught between them and she pulled it out of the way so it lay across her chest.

“Look at me.”

There was compulsion as well as command in Craig’s voice. She didn’t think he even knew he was using it. She could easily resist the compulsion, but didn’t. His eyes were once again vivid blue. Not the blue she’d seen when they first met, but the one that seemed to be illuminated by an inner light. They were mesmerizing.

“Thank you.”

Evie swallowed hard and nodded.

“We’ve got a lot to figure out, but we can do it together.” Craig carried her down the hallway to their room.
Their room.
When had she started thinking of it as that?

He set her down beside the bed and put his hands on her shoulders so she was facing him.

“I should have had more control.” There, she’d said it. It shamed her that he’d been able to release her first, hadn’t been so caught up in the bloodlust. But was it really bloodlust? It felt different somehow.

“You have more than enough control, Evie. Give yourself a break. You’re only human.”

Evie laughed. She couldn’t help herself. Craig paused as though just realizing what he’d said and then he began to grin. “Okay, maybe not quite human anymore, but you know what I mean.”

She did. And somehow that made it easier to accept her shortcomings.

“You heard Damek. Most vampires don’t have as much control as either of us. I think we’re doing just fine. And sticking together will only help us strengthen that. You help me and I help you. Together.”

Evie knew their togetherness couldn’t last. She had a vampire to kill and he had a family that would never forget what she’d done. Still, she couldn’t resist imagining what it could be like, what it must be like to feel a part of a couple or a family.

“Evie?”

She nodded. “Together.” At least for now. She strengthened the walls in her mind, the ones she’d built to help keep the vampire out of her thoughts. She had no idea if Craig could read her thoughts. She couldn’t read his, not yet. His emotions, yes, but not his thoughts.

Evie was under no misconception that she could keep Damek out of her thoughts. He was simply too powerful. But that wouldn’t matter. The older vampire wanted what was best for Craig and that included keeping him safe. She didn’t think he’d stop her from leaving when the time came for her to hunt her maker.

Craig pulled down the covers on the bed. “Climb in.”

As Evie crawled between the covers, it hit her that she didn’t feel the least bit awkward about being naked around Craig. It felt normal. Natural.

“I’ll be right back. I don’t know how long Damek and Sonia will be gone, but the last thing they need to see when they come home is our clothing strewn around their living room.”

Evie felt a blushing heat rise up her cheeks. She yanked the covers over her head and imagined what Damek and his wife would think about that. Even though their clothes would be gone, there was no way Damek wouldn’t know they’d had sex out there. If nothing else, he’d be able to smell it with his vampire super senses.

Locked in her cocoon of covers, Evie realized her skin smelled like Craig, like sex. Her pussy began to throb.

She tossed back the covers and flapped them in the air and quickly realized her mistake. Now the entire room reeked of sex.

Craig strode back in and tossed their clothing onto the chair. He kicked the door shut and started toward the bed, coming to a halt, like he’d hit a wall. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were tinged red. His cock went from semi-erect to totally erect.

He prowled toward the bed and slid in next to her. His gaze never left hers as he reached for her once again.

Chapter Seven

Craig felt better than he had in quite some time. Evie was nestled next to him, her head pillowed on his shoulder. He’d taken her twice more before he’d felt sated enough to stop. He would have felt bad about it and worried about her being sore, but she’d been right there with him every step of the way, urging him on and using her hands and mouth to drive him out of his mind.

He ran his fingers over her arm and sighed. The dark seemed different now, not really dark at all. He could see everything clearly when he looked around the room. The rich fabric on the bed, the gleaming wood of the dresser. And he could hear every sound Evie made when she moved or sighed.

For the first time since his life had been changed, he felt optimistic about his chances of not only surviving, but finding peace and happiness in his new life. Sure there were obstacles ahead, but he’d had those as a human, just different ones. And he was good at finding solutions to problems.

He knew that Evie was going to leave at some point. Or she was going to try. He wasn’t about to let that happen. If he thought she truly didn’t care about him that would be a different thing entirely. But he’d come to know her well in a short time and knew she’d leave him to protect him.

Every male instinct he possessed roared in displeasure at the wrongness of that. It might not be politically correct or very evolved of him, but it was his job to look after her, not the other way around.

He mentally shrugged.
So sue me
, he thought. But since the change, his primal instincts had deepened. And at the top of the list of things he needed to do was to protect Evie. Whether she wanted him to or not.

He could just imagine the argument they’d have about this subject if he broached it with her, which he didn’t plan too. He was too smart to do that. He’d just go about his business, keeping her beside him. He’d love her so long and hard she wouldn’t want to run from him.

He smiled at the thought of putting all his efforts into that task.

She stirred and he eased her off his shoulder until her head was resting against the pillow. Her hair was still braided. It was a shame he hadn’t thought to loosen it. He longed to see that black, silky curtain of hair running over his skin and flowing over his pillow.

Yup, he better not let her see his thoughts. He was becoming quite possessive of his Evie. Craig concentrated on building a titanium reinforced wall in his mind. It snapped into place with a resounding slam. He couldn’t be sure, but he felt as though his thoughts might even be protected from Damek, at least for a while.

Maybe it was because he used his mind so much, understood his thought process and what he could do with it, that allowed him to do this. And maybe he was totally wrong. He’d have to test his inner walls before making any final analysis.

“Hey.” He kissed her sweet lips simply because they were there and he could.

Evie gave him a sleepy smile. “Hey, yourself. What time is it?”

He thought about it and without hesitation said, “Ten after four in the morning.”

“Really?”

He shrugged. “I think so. Feels right to me.” His watch was over on top of the dresser so he rolled out of bed and padded across the room to pick it up. He held up the timepiece so Evie could see it. “See, ten after four.”

“That’s incredible.” She hooked a loose piece of hair over her ear. “I knew it was late and dawn was getting closer, but I had no idea of the exact time.”

Craig shrugged, tossed the watch back down and went back to the bed. “Probably just the way my mind works. I’m sure you can do things I can’t. Damek said that all vampires develop different skills and at different rates.”

He plumped up the pillows and leaned his back against the headboard. “Tell me about yourself. Tell me about Evie Pelowski before all this happened.”

She shrugged. “Not much to tell.”

“Where were you born? Do you have any family?” He wanted to know everything.

She sighed and settled next to him, making sure the bedclothes were covering her. She brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. The posture was a defensive one.

“I was born in Boston. I grew up in a series of foster homes and left when I turned eighteen.” She rested her head on her knees. “You?”

Craig wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her. No one should have to feel so alone. He could hear the loneliness in Evie’s voice and wanted to reassure her that she’d always have a place with him. But he knew she’d see that as a sign of pity and it might make her run.

Instead, he told her about himself. “I was born in New York. My mom didn’t have the best of luck with men.”

“You mentioned that you and your siblings have different fathers.”

Craig propped one foot up on the bed, his knee tenting the sheet. He left his other leg stretched out. “Yeah. Quinn and Chrissten’s father was a werewolf. Mom knew his secret but never let on. He never knew and eventually left before she could tell him she was pregnant. They found him a few years ago and they’ve been slowly building a relationship.”

“That has to be awkward.” Evie’s eyes were half-closed and her hair was tousled, giving her a sleepy, sexy look.

Craig’s cock stirred yet again, shocking him. He’d always had a healthy sex drive, but nothing like this. He cleared his throat and tried to ignore his straining erection. “That’s an understatement. Anyway, Mom met another guy a few years later. He left when he found out she was pregnant.”

“I’m sorry.”

Craig reached out and rested his hand on her head, brushing her hair lightly. “It’s okay. Mom was great. Always cheerful and happy, always making us feel special.” He missed her. Her passing had left a hole in all their lives.

“She died when I was a teenager, but the three of us stuck together. At least until Chrissten was kidnapped.”

Evie sat up, her eyes widening. “Kidnapped? By who?”

Craig reached for her and pulled her into his arms. “That’s a story for another day.” He settled her into his arms. “All that matters is we got her back. That’s how I met Damek.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. He couldn’t stop touching her. Evie was so very kissable. “Now it’s your turn. Tell me something about you. What brought you to Chicago?”

Evie settled her head against his shoulder. “Once I turned eighteen, I left my foster home. They couldn’t afford to keep me if the government wasn’t paying my room and board. I had some money saved from the part-time job I worked. I thought about New York, but for some reason I told the guy at the ticket booth to give me a ticket to Chicago.”

“Fate.” Craig pulled the elastic holder off the end of her braid and began to unwind the strands.

Evie shrugged. “Maybe. It doesn’t matter. The art scene here is vibrant and welcoming. I found a small hole-in-the-wall apartment and worked at a coffee shop, painting in my spare time. Eventually, I was selling enough to quit the day job and paint full-time.”

“Did you get a bigger place?”

Evie laughed and then sighed when he combed his fingers through her inky-black hair. “No. I’m still living in the tiny place I landed in when I first moved here seven years ago. I guess I’d always wanted a permanent home. And my place might be small, but it’s home. Or it was home. Now I’m not sure I ever want to go back.”

Craig rubbed his hand over her head and down her back. “It will be okay. We’ll get your things from your apartment.”

She gave a sad little laugh. “If there’s anything left. Vladimir struck me as the type who would destroy stuff.”

“I think it’s time to do a little research.” As much as he wanted to make love with Evie again, it was time to start thinking with his bigger head. Neither of them would be safe until they dealt with the threat.

Craig deposited her onto the mattress and climbed out of bed. He raised his arms over his head and stretched. With each passing hour, he was starting to feel more like himself again, except a stronger, more-improved version. “Get dressed. We’ve got some work to do.”

“Dawn is coming soon,” Evie reminded him.

“We’ve got some time.” He pulled on his jeans. It still felt strange not to be wearing glasses, but he loved having better than perfect vision.

He watched as Evie quickly dragged on underwear, jeans and the blouse that Sonia had loaned her. Her hair was a curtain across her back. His cock jerked, but he ignored the insistent organ. They had work to do.

“Come on.” Craig held out his hand, smiling when Evie slipped her hand into his.

Damek stalked into Inhibitions, his mood foul. Byron was escorting out the last of the stragglers. It was past closing time. The bouncer glanced once at his boss and then looked away. Smart man, Byron. Damek was in no mood for idle chitchat.

He’d been busy since he’d left Craig and Evie at his place. He’d hated to leave Craig alone, but his young friend had quite a bit of self-control. More than he’d had when he was turned all those centuries ago.

Plus, there was an alarm on the apartment that would alert him if either Craig or Evie tried to leave. He had faith in his friend, but he hadn’t lived this long by being stupid or careless.