Frost Burn (The Fire and Ice Series, Book 1) (24 page)

She almost tripped over her feet when she turned toward him. “You’ve never been on a date before?” she blurted in disbelief.

He laughed as he settled her onto the blanket. “Not
technically
. Most of the time I spent with my exes had little to do with dating.”

The bluntness of his words left her momentarily speechless, or perhaps it wasn’t the bluntness, but the unexpected burst of jealousy that tore through her and shook her frame. The idea of him with another woman made her want to claw someone’s eyes out. “I don’t want to know,” she muttered.

“There are far better things to talk about.” He poured her a glass of champagne and handed it to her. “Besides that’s more like tenth date talk so we can discuss it then.”

“You think there will be a tenth date?” she inquired as she sipped at her champagne.

His eyes pinned her to the spot. “I
know
there will be.” The heat his gaze aroused in her caused her toes to curl. She had to look away from him in order to gather her scattered thoughts. Staring across the rooftop, she focused on the endless stars dancing in the night sky. The moon lit the sand, causing it to shimmer like a lake in the darkness. “I’m hoping this will lead to many firsts for us.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter,” she scolded.

“When it comes to you, it’s almost always in the gutter, Dewdrop.”

She couldn’t stop the faint blush sliding up her neck and into her cheeks. “Why have you been so quiet lately then?”

“I’m an ass ninety-nine percent of the time, but even I know when to back off and allow someone to grieve.”

“I don’t agree with the first part of that statement, but thank you,” she murmured.

“You would have a month ago.”

“You’re right.”

He placed a kiss on her forehead. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”

An ache began in the area of her heart as she leaned into him. “They’re going to come for me.”

“And we’ll be ready for them.”

“I can’t take anymore death, everyone I care about dies. I don’t want to lose you too.”

He drank down the rest of his champagne and refilled his glass. “I’m more difficult to kill than a cockroach on steroids and a thousand times faster. You won’t lose me.”

“You can’t know that.”

“Yes, I can. No one will get to you, or anyone else, while I’m here. And I have
no
intention of going anywhere, ever.”

The promise within his words caused her to gulp as she swirled the liquid in her glass. She finished it off and handed it back to him to refill for her. “What did Seanix mean by a vampire, not born of vampire blood? I was born from a vampire so wouldn’t that technically mean I was born of vampire blood.”

“No. You weren’t entirely human, but you were born more human than vampire. When you made the change, vampire blood didn’t turn you, not in the way it has
always
turned someone. Face it Dewdrop, you’re something special.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“Oh, believe me, it’s a very good thing.” The way he purred the words caused her body to tense and her lips to tingle with the urge to kiss him. “Now, enough of the depressing talk. This is our first date, and I intend to try and take advantage of you.”

A burst of laughter escaped her. “I never thought it possible, but I missed this about you.”

“Do you want me to go and get the lotion?”

“That sounds more like a hundredth date kind of thing,” she teased.

“Guess we’re going to have at least three dates a day then.” He placed his glass down and held his arms out to her. “Come here.”

She went eagerly to him. He enfolded her within his powerful embrace when she curled up against his chest. Serenity slid through her as she stared out at the town and desert. The monsters who had been hiding amongst their community and killing innocents were dead, but there were still bigger dangers out there. Coming for her.

Maybe she should feel fear about what was out there, but she found it impossible to do so in his arms. This kind of a relationship was the last thing she’d ever wanted in her life, but as his lips nuzzled her temple and her heart swelled, she came to realize she was falling in love with this man. The words were on the tip of her tongue to utter, she found herself unable to speak them. Still raw from Angie’s death, she couldn’t expose herself in such a way right now. If he didn’t say it back her already bruised heart would be trampled.

“Quinn,” he murmured against her ear.

“Hmm?”

“I’m not going to let anything hurt you. I’ll do everything it takes to keep you safe.”

She rested her hand upon his cheek when she turned toward him. This small bit of peace wouldn’t last, not for them, but for now the town was safe and they had each other. It was more than she’d ever hoped for in her shattered life.

“I know.”

***

Julian searched her striking eyes. He didn’t think she completely understood what he was saying to her, but she would. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to keep her out of danger. He’d promised himself two years ago he’d never allow the monster within to take control of him again, but he would joyfully give in to his evil nature once more in order to keep her alive. He was fully prepared to do so; he just hoped everyone else was prepared for it when the time came. If anyone could handle it, Quinn could.

She wasn’t malicious, but she understood sometimes they had to do things they didn’t want to; she’d proven that when she’d put Seanix out of his misery. She may not completely approve of it, but she accepted his more malevolent nature; she’d shown that when she hadn’t turned away from him after watching him take such pleasure in killing Drew. He had to make sure he didn’t go so far as to push her away in the end, but he would do that too if it meant keeping her on this earth.

Until then, he was going to enjoy every peaceful minute he could get with this woman. They wouldn’t get too many more quiet moments together. Brushing back a strand of her chocolate hair, he cupped her cheek and pulled her closer to him. He was beginning to suspect she may mean far more to him than he’d ever realized, but he wasn’t ready to delve into the possibility of her being his mate, not yet.

Her eyes closed as he tilted her head back and kissed her until she was limp in his arms and his control was beginning to unravel. He’d like nothing more than to lay her down on the blanket and lose himself in her. She was still shaken from Angie’s death, and he knew she wasn’t ready for it. Reluctantly, he broke off the kiss, pulled her into his lap and cradled her within his arms. They didn’t speak as they watched the stars and listened to the sounds of the night.

The candles had burned out, dawn was approaching when her eyes drifted closed, and she fell asleep still curled within his arms. He stared down at the lashes brushing against her cheeks and the scars marring her porcelain skin.
Hard fought battle wounds
, he thought as he brushed his fingers over them.

“I love you Quinn,” he murmured.

It didn’t matter that she didn’t hear him, what mattered was he’d finally admitted it to himself. What mattered was he’d meant the words and that this woman could be
his
. For the first time in his lengthy life he was in love with someone he could give his heart to, and who was actually capable of loving him back. No matter how hard she tried to hide it, he knew she cared for him too. He didn’t need his ability to know that, all he needed was the knowledge that with everything she knew about him, and had witnessed, she still trusted him enough to kiss him, touch him and to have fallen asleep right now.

His fingers paused on her lips. He bent his head to kiss her again before rising fluidly to his feet. Walking over to the stairs, he carried her inside as the sun’s rays started to rise on a new day. One he hoped remained peaceful, but he knew with each new day the threat against her loomed ever closer. When that day came, he would be standing beside this woman, and he would be prepared for it.

Look for Book 2 in the Fire & Ice Series coming soon!

If you haven’t read it yet, you can also get more of Julian in The Kindred Series.

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My name is not really Erica Stevens, it is a pen name that I chose in memory of two amazing friends lost too soon, I do however live in Mass with my wonderful husband and our puppy Loki. I have a large and crazy family that I fit in well with. I am thankful every day for the love and laughter they have brought to my life. I have always loved to write and am an avid reader.