Under a Vampire Moon (22 page)

“Exactly,” Christian said firmly.

Relief coursed through him, until she added, “So, it seems to me it might be best to get the nerve-wracking and awkward first time or twelve out of the way with someone I’m never likely to run into again.”

Christian gaped. He’d created a monster. Not that her wanting to explore her sexuality made her a monster, but she was supposed to want to explore it with him, dammit. Of course, that was impossible since she thought he was gay, he supposed.

Jesus, what had his family done to him? And what the hell was she doing discussing this with him anyway? She wasn’t comfortable wanting him, but was burbling on cheerfully about menopause and wet dreams and having a fling or
twelve
with some guy she hadn’t even yet met?

Obviously, she’d totally accepted him as gay. He’d completely replaced her buddy, Brent, who she’d once said she could discuss anything with. Again, what had his family done to him?

“Don’t you think?” Carolyn asked, drawing him from his increasingly agitated thoughts.

“No, I don’t,” he snapped.

“You don’t?” she asked, her shoulders drooping with disappointment, but then said, “Wait, what don’t you think? That I should move to another resort? Or that I should have a fling?”

“Either,” he growled. At least not with anyone but him, and then it wouldn’t be a fling. He wanted her for life.

“Well . . .” Carolyn sat back blinking, and then almost whined, “Why not?”

Christian frowned. He couldn’t tell her the truth, and without that he didn’t have a single good goddamned reason to give her. And then it came to him, and calm flooded him, his agitation leaving him as he said, “Carolyn, you obviously aren’t the type of woman to run around having flings.”

“But I can change. I want to be that kind of woman,” she said at once.

“What kind of woman exactly do you think that is?” he asked staying calm.

“Confident and sexy and comfortable in herself,” Carolyn said at once. “The kind of woman who has sex on a beach, or up against a door, or in the wading pool, or on the terrace rail under the moonlight.”

Yeah, that had been pretty hot, Christian thought with a little sigh of remembrance. The moonlight had shone down on her passion-filled face as he’d— Christian shook his head, and cleared his throat to say, “That’s passion, not confidence or being comfortable with oneself. And do you really think you’ll find that with some stranger you meet at a nightclub?”

“Well, why not? Even you manage to stir some passion in me and you’re gay,” she said grimly. “There must be loads of it in me somewhere. Surely a straight man could stir up even more?”

Christian ground his teeth, sure if she mentioned his supposedly being gay one more time, he’d—

“Pistachio-encrusted chicken breast for two.”

Christian glanced up at that announcement, and immediately sat back for the waiter to set down their dishes. Once the man had gone, he suggested, “Why don’t we shelve this conversation for right now and enjoy lunch?”

Carolyn didn’t protest, but her jaw was set as she picked up her fork and began to pick at her food. She was angry and disappointed by his lack of support, Christian realized, and was suddenly worried. So long as she was willing to talk to him about it, he would have some warning if the passion building between them, not to mention the sexual frustration, moved her to do something stupid . . . and he could prevent her doing something she’d regret. However, if she got so annoyed she wouldn’t share her thoughts and plans, he wouldn’t have that opportunity.

Christian considered the matter as they ate their main dish, and when the plates were taken away, said, “I’m sorry. You’re an adult, and know what you want. However, I just worry that you might rush headlong into something when going slow might be easier for you. I mean, you said yourself that you think the first time will be awkward and nerve wracking and I don’t think you’re considering that. It’s not likely you’re going to experience much passion in that state.”

She frowned, but was listening, and Christian continued, “I mean, you’re obviously comfortable with me . . . and knowing I’m not likely to try to push you into bed, you relax, which is probably why it allows your body to react as it does. And then in the dreams you’re in control,” sort of, he added to himself. “Your dream lover doesn’t do anything to make you uncomfortable or rush ahead to . . . er . . . completion without exciting you first.” At least he knew that was true. Carolyn was definitely with him every step of the way in the dreams, including orgasm . . . well, when they weren’t interrupted, he thought, and wondered if she was buying any of this tripe he was feeding her. It was hard to tell from her expression. “So, wouldn’t it be better for you to wait until you’re comfortable with someone and not rush out and pick up the first guy who looks your way in a bar?”

Carolyn sat back with a sigh. “I suppose.”

Christian almost melted into his seat his relief was so strong. But then he glanced to the side as their waiter appeared with their desserts. When the man left again, Carolyn and Christian arranged the plates in the middle of the table between them to share.

“So,” Carolyn said on a sigh as she scooped up a bite of apple strudel. “What are you going to do tomorrow while Bethany and I are on the cruise? If she’s feeling up to it,” she added, rolling her eyes.

Christian relaxed and smiled. She wasn’t angry anymore. That knowledge stirred a relief in him like none he’d ever experienced.

C
arolyn closed the villa door and turned to carry her bags to her room, but paused abruptly when she spotted Bethany at the top of the stairs in a bathing suit.

“You’re up,” she said with surprise. “And obviously feeling better.”

“Yes.” Bethany grinned, moving forward to help her with her bags. “I think it’s finally done.”

“Well, great,” Carolyn said with a smile. “Why don’t you go get dressed? It’s almost dinnertime. We could—”

“Oh no, I don’t want to push it and risk not being ready for tomorrow’s cruise,” Bethany said at once, leading the way to Carolyn’s room with half the bags. “Instead, I was thinking we could order room service and eat here, have a glass of wine by the pool, and maybe a swim under the stars. Relax for a bit. Then we could have an early night so we’re both well-rested for tomorrow’s cruise.”

“Oh,” Carolyn said with surprise, and bit her lip as she followed Bethany to set down the bags she carried.

“I’m so glad to be feeling better,” Bethany said as she sank onto the side of the bed. “I’ve been alone so long I think I’m ready to start climbing the walls.”

“Oh, of course you are,” Carolyn said, guilt immediately claiming her. Turning, she bent to hug her, saying, “Honey, I’m sorry, I should have stayed and kept you company. I—”

“Don’t be silly,” Bethany laughed. “You offered, but I just didn’t feel well enough for company. I mean, it’s not like we could have talked anyway while I was hanging over the toilet,” she pointed out with a grimace. “Still, I’m ready for company now . . . if you don’t mind a quiet night in?”

“No, of course I don’t mind,” Carolyn assured her. “That sounds lovely.”

“Good.” Bethany stood. “Then let’s go look at the room service menu and you can show me what you bought while we wait for dinner to show up.”

“You go ahead,” Carolyn said, moving toward the bathroom. “I’ll be right out.”

“Okay, but hurry,” Bethany said cheerfully. “I suspect it will take a while for dinner to get here.”

“I will.” Carolyn closed the bathroom door behind her. Pausing then, she heaved a sigh and withdrew her phone. She’d made plans to have dinner alone with Christian and then sit with Marguerite and Julius while the band played. She’d have to call and cancel. Carolyn felt bad about it, but what could she do? She’d come here with Bethany. Christian and the others were new friends. She owed her loyalty to Beth . . . whether she’d rather go out or not, she thought unhappily, as she called the main building and asked to be put through to Christian’s villa.

Carolyn paced the large bathroom as she waited for someone to pick up the phone, and felt an odd sense of relief when she recognized Gia’s voice saying hello.

“Hi, Gia. How are you?”

“Caro!” Gia greeted. “I’m good, but Christian’s in the shower. Do you want me to see if he’ll—”

“No, no, that’s okay,” Carolyn said quickly. “I’m afraid I was just calling to explain that Beth is feeling better.”

“Oh, that’s great,” Gia said cheerfully. “I’ll tell Christian when he gets out of the shower. He can call down and add another person to your reservation then.”

“Uh, well,” Carolyn dithered, but finally said, “Actually, no he doesn’t have to do that. Bethany wants a nice quiet evening in and an early night so we can rest up for the cruise tomorrow.”

There was a pause, and then Gia said, “I don’t understand, if she isn’t going to join you why—?”

“Well, that’s the thing. She’s feeling well enough that she wants company, so she suggested ordering in room service and relaxing here,” Carolyn said quietly.

“Ah,” Gia murmured. “So you’re canceling on Christian.”

Carolyn sighed as a wave of guilt assailed her, but said, “I’m afraid so.”

“So he won’t see you again until tomorrow night?” Gia asked.

“Uh, well . . .” Carolyn grimaced. “I’ll have to call you back on that. It kind of depends on Bethany. I mean I came with her and can’t just dump her to hang around with new friends. Especially when she’s been so ill.”

“Right,” Gia breathed. “Well, have a nice night. You’ll be missed.”

“Thank you,” Carolyn whispered and hung up. Letting her breath out slowly, she stared at herself silently in the bathroom mirror, wondering why she was suddenly so depressed.

C
hristian was whistling softly to himself as he walked into the kitchen to get a bag of blood. He’d grabbed two to take with him to the shower, but it had been another long day out in the heat with bits of sun here and there and he figured he needed a couple more before he left to collect Carolyn for dinner.

His whistling died slowly and his footsteps faltered halfway to the refrigerator when he spotted everyone standing around looking grim. Christian raised his eyebrows as his gaze slid over his parents and cousins. “What’s up?”

“Carolyn called,” Marguerite said quietly and something about her solemn tone made worry slip through him.

“What’s happened?” he asked sharply. “Is she all right?”

“Yes, she’s fine,” Marguerite said quickly, and then added reluctantly, “In fact, she called with good news . . . It seems Bethany’s feeling better.”

Christian’s eyes narrowed as the implications hit him one after another. His few days of having her to himself would be at an end. Either it would be he, Carolyn, and Bethany, or it would be Carolyn and Bethany and he would be out.

“I’m afraid it’s the latter,” Julius said, obviously reading his mind. “At least for tonight and tomorrow. She called to cancel dinner. Bethany feels better but wants them both to stay in, and have an early night in preparation for tomorrow’s sail . . . and Carolyn feels she has to do so.”

Christian cursed and turned to jerk the fridge door open.

“It’s all right, Christian, we can deal with this,” Marguerite assured him.

“How are you going to deal with it, Mother?” he asked sharply, retrieving a bag of blood. “Carolyn isn’t the sort to abandon a friend she’s on vacation with. She’s going to stay in tonight, then sail off tomorrow and— Christ,” he muttered, suddenly slamming the door closed and turning to them with alarm. “Bethany will encourage her to continue with that cockamamie plan of hers and sleep with the first guy who looks at her cross-eyed.”

“What?” Gia asked with surprise. “What plan?”

“Oh dear,” Marguerite murmured, her gaze focused on his head and pulling out the information without his needing to say it. “I hadn’t considered something like this coming up.”

Nobody asked what she was talking about. Everyone was now focused on his head, no doubt retrieving his memories of the entire lunch conversation. It was certainly there on the surface for them to find, he thought grimly.

“Oh, man,” Gia muttered.

Marguerite said, “It’s all right. We can handle both problems very easily.”

“How?” Christian asked grimly.

“Well, Bethany is a simple matter of distraction. We have one of the boys romance her a bit and keep her busy, freeing Carolyn to be with you,” Marguerite pointed out, smiling.

“I’ll do it,” Zanipolo offered at once. No one was terribly surprised. He was still into sex with mortals and something of a slut as Christian had said. But Marguerite shook her head.

“Thank you, Zanipolo, but I think Santo would be the better choice.”

“Me?” Santo asked with shock. “Why me?”

“You have that mysterious silent man thing going for you and all that masculine virility. It will definitely distract any woman.”

“I’m virile,” Zanipolo protested at once.

“Yes, dear,” Marguerite patted him soothingly. “I have another task for you.”

“What’s that?” he asked suddenly wary.

“You need to find an opportunity to kiss Carolyn.”