All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire (Love at Stake #5)

 

Forty-five minutes later, Toni was in her apartment, wolfing down Chinese food and giggling with Carlos over the advertisements in The Black Pages.

 

"Look at this one." He pointed. "Undead Body Armor. Protect your chest against those pesky wooden stakes."

 

She nearly choked on a noodle. "I still like the Fang File the best. Gotta keep those fangs sharp." Carlos chuckled. "You know what's good, menina? You're able to laugh at vampires now."

 

"Believe me, that awful attack still bothers me. I'm just getting better at not thinking about it." If she did think about it, she'd probably burst into tears. "I have a long history of learning to laugh at pain instead of cry."

 

He patted her arm. "You're doing fine. How long can you stay tonight? I'd like to do a recon of Dr. Proctor's house in Westchester. We need to know the layout in case we have to extract Sabrina."

 

"Excuse me?" Sometimes Carlos didn't exactly sound like an anthropology student.

 

"Never mind. I'll handle the uncle. You keep working on getting proof that these vampires exist." She sighed. They'd already decided that anyone reading The Black Pages would simply think it was a joke book. "I'm totally stumped. I mean, it sounds easy to get proof, but it's not. Even if I videotaped someone admitting he's a vampire, people would just think I had hired an actor." Carlos stared into space for a moment while he considered. "You need to catch them in the act. Get a recording of them vanishing or their fangs coming out. Go someplace where a lot of them are gathered, and they feel totally free to be themselves."

 

"A vampire hangout?"

 

"Exactly." He jumped up and headed to the kitchen window. "I've got something in my apartment you can use."

 

"A rope of garlic?" There was a loud knock on her door, and she jumped.

 

Carlos hesitated. "Are you expecting someone?"

 

"No." She rushed to the door and peered through the peephole. "Oh no!" Oh shoot! With his super hearing, he'd probably heard her.

 

"What's wrong?" Carlos reversed direction and headed back into the living room.

 

"Nothing." Damn! How had Ian discovered her address? Her employment application, of course.

 

He'd probably gone back to Romatech to get it. A second knock shook the door, and she scooted away from it.

 

"You want me to get it?" Carlos asked.

 

"No, I'll get it," she whispered. It's just...him."

 

"Him? The infamous him of no name?"

 

She lifted a finger to her mouth to shush Carlos up. No doubt Super Vamp was listening to them. Carlos's mouth curled up. "The him whose very mention causes your eyes to glaze over with a take-me-I'm-yours look?"

 

"That's not true!" Toni winced as she looked back at the door. She dashed over to Carlos and

 

hissed quietly, "Go back to your place now. Before I kill you."

 

"Are you kidding?" Carlos perched on the arm of the easy chair. "I wouldn't miss him for anything."

 

She swatted Carlos on the shoulder, but he didn't budge. It was no use. She leaned close so she could whisper. "Don't say a word about him being a Vamp. You're not supposed to know."

 

"My lips are sealed." Carlos's eyes twinkled. "Unless he has other plans."

 

She huffed. "Don't you dare make a move on him."

 

"Ah. Feeling a bit territorial, are we?"

 

She glared at Carlos's smirking face.

 

A third knock banged loudly.

 

"He's not getting any younger, love," Carlos murmured. "Let the poor man in."

 

"I am going to kill you." She gasped when she realized The Black Pages was sitting right there on the coffee table. She stuffed it under the easy chair's seat cushion, then rushed to the door.

 

Vanderkitty followed her. She flipped the lock and opened the door.

 

"About time." Ian marched in, his kilt swinging about his knees. His gaze flitted past Toni to rest on Carlos. With a lift of his chin, Ian regarded the other man sternly. "I doona believe we have met. Are ye Toni's date?"

 

Carlos remained sitting while he looked Ian over. "Nice kilt."

 

Van hissed at Ian, then jumped into Carlos's lap. "Good kitty." He slowly petted the cat.

 

Ian arched a brow. "Who are you and why are ye here?"

 

Toni stepped in front of him. "It's none of your business what I do when I'm off duty."

 

Ian lowered his voice. "Aye, but when ye're on duty, I'm no' in a verra talkative mood. Ye said

 

ye'd love to talk to me later. So I'm here. This is later."

 

"This is not a good time."

 

He glanced at their empty plates on the coffee table. "Ye're done with yer dinner, aye?" Carlos set Van in the easy chair, then approached with a hand extended. "I'm Carlos Panterra, Toni's next-door neighbor."

 

Ian shook his hand. "Ian MacPhie."

 

Carlos glanced from Toni to Ian and smiled. "I'll leave you two alone then."

 

"You don't need to go, Carlos." Toni gave him a pointed look.

 

"Menina, I have a little gift for you, remember? I'll be right back." He sauntered toward the kitchen.

 

Toni frowned at Ian. "I thought you had three dates tonight."

 

"No' real dates," Ian muttered. "I'm just meeting them at a nightclub." He lowered his voice, "For my kind."

 

"A nightclub?" Carlos asked with one foot on the windowsill. "You should take Toni. She loves music and dancing. Don't you, menina?"

 

She stared at Carlos, confused.

 

"It's no' a suitable place for her," Ian began.

 

"Too wild?" Carlos asked. "Don't worry. Toni loves to get wild. Don't you, love?" He winked. "I--I doona think she would like it," Ian insisted, and Toni realized he wasn't able to explain that this was a vampire nightclub.

 

"Toni just adores places with lots of action." Carlos gave her a pointed look, and it finally clicked. A vampire hangout! It might be the perfect place to get the proof she needed. "Oh yes! I would love to go."

 

Ian's eyes widened. "Ye would?"

 

"Of course." She gave him a dazzling smile. "You will take me, won't you?"

 

"But ye know what kind of people will be there," he whispered.

 

"I'd really like to go." Toni made sure that Carlos had disappeared through the kitchen window.

 

"I'm still a bit uncomfortable around vampires. But if I go with you to this club, it might help me get over it. I could see you all in a different light."

 

Ian nodded. "Connor told me how bad the attack was. I'm verra sorry."

 

"Oh." Did he really care? "I--I'm okay."

 

He looked genuinely concerned. "It happened only a few nights ago. Ye havena had time to recover."

 

"Well..." She smoothed a loose tendril of hair back from her brow.

 

"Connor said ye fought bravely. He was verra impressed."

 

She drew in a shaky breath. No, dammit, she wasn't over it. This whole conversation was getting on her nerves. And the bite marks on her chest and torso were starting to itch. "I don't know how I would have survived if Connor hadn't come along when he did."

 

"I understand now why ye hate mind control so much. Connor told me how they forced ye to take--"

 

"Please stop!" She didn't want the memories crashing over her right now.

 

"Toni." He touched her shoulder, and she flinched. "Och lass, I would never hurt you." She blinked, refusing to cry. This would never do. A stubborn, suspicious Ian she could handle, but a sweet, compassionate one? He was melting all her defenses.

 

She backed away and folded her arms across her bite-marked torso. "So how is the investigation going? Have you decided whether I'm trustworthy yet?"

 

"I still doona know yer full name. But yer refusal to talk to me is verra understandable after the way ye were attacked."

 

"True." Or maybe her refusal was a shield to keep her from feeling too attracted to this guy. Not that she would ever admit that.

 

"I'm still no' certain why ye dinna let Connor erase the memory. It is causing ye pain, lass."

 

She snorted. "If I had all my bad memories erased, there wouldn't be much left."

 

Ian frowned. "Surely that canna be so."

 

Toni thought back. No, there had been happy times. Sweet memories of her grandmother. Fun times with Sabrina. Moments of pride when she'd done well in school.

 

"My mother didn't want me." With a wince, she pressed a hand against her mouth. Damn. How had that slipped out?

 

Ian looked stunned. "How could that be?"

 

"I'm...illegitimate."

 

He shrugged one shoulder. "I dinna think that mattered in modern times."

 

"It didn't matter to my grandmother. She was happy to raise me. But my mom has always been embarrassed by her big mistake. Me." Toni waved a hand in dismissal. "It's not important. I don't know why I mentioned it."

 

"Because it causes ye pain. It's the pain we endure that makes us strong. Ye're verra brave no' to run from it."

 

Toni's gaze was drawn once more to Ian's, and she felt her pulse jump. Her skin tingled with awareness. Her lips went dry. Her mind grew fuzzy, and all she could think about was moving closer to him. When he stepped toward her, she wondered if he was feeling the same compulsion.

 

"I know the memory causes ye pain, but I'm verra glad ye kept it."

 

"You want me to suffer?"

 

"Nay. But if ye hadna kept yer memories, I would have never met you."

 

"Oh." Her brain grew even foggier, and she couldn't think of anything to say. She licked her lips, then noticed his gaze shifting to her mouth. Oh God.

 

"I'm back!" Carlos announced at the kitchen window.

 

Toni jerked back to her senses. Good grief, how long had she and Ian stared at each other? He moved back and folded his arms across his chest.

 

Carlos sauntered into the living room and gasped. "What are you doing, girl? You haven't changed clothes!"

 

"Excuse me?"

 

"You can't go to a nightclub like that." Carlos huffed. "Come on, let's get you ready." He grabbed her arm and dragged her toward her bedroom. "Make yourself comfortable, Ian. We'll just be a moment."

 

Ian looked confused. "Ye're...dressing her?"

 

"Don't worry. I'll make sure she looks fabulous." Carlos shoved her into the bedroom and shut the door. Then he rushed over to her closet. "You need to show some skin. How about this?" He pulled out a short denim skirt.

 

"I'll freeze my tail off."

 

"You're wearing it." Carlos tossed it on the bed, then returned to the closet. "You have to wear this vest. I just love it." He dropped the black leather vest on the bed.

 

"I'll need a shirt underneath."

 

"Must you?" Carlos groaned. "If you insist." He grabbed a sleeveless white turtleneck top. "Now you'll need some black boots, more makeup, and God forbid you wear that ponytail."

 

"You think this club will help?" she whispered.

 

"Yes, and I have something for you." Carlos pulled something small and metallic from his pants pocket. He attached it to her vest. "It'll send images back to me."

 

It looked like a spy camera. "Are you sure you're an anthropology student?"

 

He chuckled. "Some of the jungle tribes I've come across don't like the bigger cameras. They get very nervous when they see themselves shrunk down inside a little box. So I've learned it's better to record them this way."

 

"Oh." She supposed that made sense.

 

"You're all set." Carlos patted her shoulder. "Good luck."

 

Ian listened as he sat on the love seat, but whenever they whispered, he caught only a word or two. Something about nervous jungle tribes? What the hell was Carlos talking about? And why should he get to watch Toni dress? Just how close was he to Toni? The man had introduced himself as only a next-door neighbor.

 

A slight sound drew his attention. Carlos had exited Toni's room, closing the door with a click. He hunched over and shut his eyes, his brow furrowed. Ian opened his mouth to ask what was wrong when Carlos suddenly straightened.

 

He pressed a hand against his chest. "I swear by all that is holy, if I ever find another scrunchie in this apartment, I will hack it to pieces with a meat cleaver."

 

Ian wasn't sure what a scrunchie was, but it sounded ominous. "Is Toni all right?" "Yes. Thank God I was there to save her. You'll just love the outfit I picked out. And I gave her a new do."

 

A new what? Ian was confused.

 

"I insisted she wear more makeup." Carlos waved a hand to emphasize his words. "But she's such a natural beauty, she hardly needs any at all. Don't you just hate that?"

 

Were they speaking the same language? "She's verra pretty."

 

"She's a nice girl." Carlos's face grew grim. "I'll be very upset if you hurt her."

 

Now this he understood. "I would never harm her." Ian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "How long have ye known her?"

 

"Two years. She and Sabrina are like sisters to me."

 

"Who's Sabrina?"

 

"Oh dear, I left a quesadilla in the oven. See you later, Ian." Carlos dashed to the kitchen, scooted through the kitchen window, then shut it behind him.

 

There was something definitely odd about that man. His scent was off, and his behavior inconsistent. There was a click of stiletto heels against the wooden floor, and Ian's attention snapped back to the bedroom door.

 

"I'm ready," Toni announced.

 

He gulped. His brain quickly registered luscious red-painted lips, loose silken hair, a clingy knit top, a tiny skirt, trim golden thighs, and high-heeled black boots. He blinked. She was still there, still stunning.

 

She walked toward him, her hips swaying just enough to hypnotize. "Will this be okay for your club?"

 

"Aye," he croaked. Thank God the Horny Devils was mostly full of females. But even a female Vamp could be tempted by Toni. "Ye'd better stay close to me."

 

"How can I?" She leaned over the coffee table to gather her belongings, and her knit top molded tightly against her breasts. "Don't you have three dates?"

 

"Aye." Her bra must be too tight, for he could swear she was spilling out of it. "They're lovely handfuls."

 

She shrugged on her jacket. "So you think they're beautiful?"

 

His gaze dropped to her long, lean thighs. "Aye, slender and golden, kissed by the sun."

 

"They're tanned?" She looped her scarf around her neck. "How did they manage that? Hello?"

 

He dragged his eyes up to hers. "Yes?"

 

She gave him an annoyed look. "Let me give you a little dating advice. Look at a woman's face when you talk to her, not her skirt."

 

"Yer skirt invites a man's attention. I've seen handkerchiefs that were bigger."

 

She swung her handbag over her shoulder. "At least I wear underwear under my skirt."

 

"I hope they're nice since everyone is sure to see them."

 

Her eyes glinted with challenge. "Not everyone."

 

He smiled slowly. "We'll see about that."

 

With blushing cheeks, she turned toward the door. "Let's not keep your dates waiting."

 

Ian jumped up and hurried past her to open the door.

 

She stepped into the hall and dug the keys from her handbag. "Where is this club?"

 

"Hell's Kitchen."

 

"How appropriate." She locked the door. "Are you going to click your heels and magically poof us over there?"

 

"No, I'm driving." He escorted her toward the stairs. It would be faster if he teleported them straight to the club, but driving her there would give him more time to talk to her. "I have a car parked nearby."

 

She started down the stairs. "You know how to drive?"

 

"I've been driving since 1913."

 

"Good grief. I hope you traded in for a newer model."

 

He grinned. "Actually, I still have my first car, a 1913 Rolls-Royce. I've kept my favorites over the years--a '38 Bentley, a '59 Morgan, and a '69 MGB Roadster. My latest purchase is a 2005 Aston Martin."

 

She halted halfway down the stairs with a stunned look on her face. "You really do collect expensive cars? Don't tell me the other stuff in your profile is true."

 

"What other stuff?"

 

She continued down the stairs. "Stuff like your enchanted castle in the Highlands."

 

He chuckled. "I wouldna call it enchanted, unless ye're entranced by the notion of mildew." "Then you really do have a castle?"

 

"It's no' nearly as huge as Angus's castle. I would describe it as more of a large manor house." "Oh. How...cozy." With an irritated look, she crossed the foyer to the entrance door, her high- heeled boots clicking on the marble floor. "Since you didn't even write your profile, I'm sure all those sappy promises are false."

 

He reached the door first. "What promises?"

 

She snorted. "You still haven't read it, have you?"

 

"I've been busy returning hundreds of phone calls. And investigating you. What promises?" She shrugged like she didn't care. "There was one about remaining faithful to your wife forever. Like that could happen."

 

"It would happen."

 

She looked doubtful. "And then there was a promise to keep your shimmering, starlit princess in a state of orgasmic ecstasy forever." She rolled her eyes. "Like that could happen, too."

 

His mouth twitched. "I could certainly try. I do want my wife to feel well pleasured."

 

She bit her lip and looked away. "You really intend to get married then?"

 

"Yes." He opened the door, and a blast of cold air knocked her back a step.

 

She tugged her scarf up over her ears and mouth so her voice sounded muffled. "God, I'm gonna freeze my ass off."

 

And such a lovely ass. He stepped in front of her to block the wind. "This way. It's no' far." He led her down the street and glared at the men who passed them by and stared at Toni's exposed legs.

 

"How could someone in your situation take wedding vows seriously?" she mumbled from under her scarf. "You can't honestly claim that you'll stay faithful for centuries."

 

"Doona accuse me of dishonesty."

 

"I'm sorry, but some of the stuff in your profile doesn't make sense to me."

 

There was stuff about her that didn't make sense, either. And he still didn't know her full name. Ian fumbled in his sporran for the car keys. He'd driven one of Roman's cars here, a black Lexus.

 

"For instance," she continued, "you claim you want to lavish tons of money on your princess. If you're so rich, how come you're working as a security guard?"

 

"My specialty is investigation. I've broken into Langley twice, undetected."

 

"Sneaky rascal, aren't you?"

 

He grinned. "As for the money, I doona have nearly as much as Roman or Angus. They have billions." He punched a button on the keypad, then opened the car door. "I only have a few million."

 

She gave him a wry look. "You should be ashamed. What have you been doing all these centuries--goofing off?"

 

With a chuckle, he motioned to the open door. "Are ye no' cold?"

 

"I'm confused. Why work at all? Why not stay in Scotland and drive your fancy cars all night?" She hunched over to climb into the car.

 

"I did that for several decades, but it got old." He enjoyed the view as she separated her legs to get into the front seat. Her tiny skirt hitched up dangerously high. "I wanted more excitement in my life."

 

"I guess you're getting it." She frowned as she tugged at the hem of her skirt.

 

"Aye, that I am." He smiled as he shut her door. Then he circled the vehicle and slid behind the steering wheel.

 

He drove to the West Side Highway, then turned north, headed toward Hell's Kitchen. Whenever he glanced to the right, his gaze gravitated to her legs. Slim and muscular, they could squeeze a man tight around his waist. He inhaled sharply when she rubbed her hands up and down her thighs.

 

"Do you mind if I turn up the heat? It's a little chilly in here."

 

He held on to the steering wheel with a death grip. "It seems quite warm to me, but go ahead." "Thanks." She leaned toward the center of the car to fiddle with the temperature control.

 

Unfortunately, the air vents blew her sweet scent straight into his face. A wave of desire cascaded from his nostrils to his groin. Spending time alone with her had been a bad idea. Instead of getting answers, he was getting a hard-on. "What is yer full name, Toni?"

 

She waved a hand, dismissing his question. "I met Roman last Monday. He told me his wife, Shanna, is mortal, and that some other guy has a mortal wife, too."

 

"Jean-Luc, aye. I attended his wedding in September."

 

"If these other Vamps are marrying mortals, how come you're too prejudiced to even date them?"

 

"I'm no' prejudiced." His gaze drifted to the bare, golden skin of her luscious thighs. "I find some mortal women verra attractive." Dear Mother of God, she was crossing her legs.

 

"I just don't understand why you're refusing to date mortals."

 

"Because I want to be honest. With a Vamp, I wouldna have to lie about who or what I am. I want a relationship built on complete honesty."

 

She lowered her gaze to her hands clenched in her lap. "No...secrets, then?"

 

"Nay. And no judgments. A mortal would have trouble accepting my past, but another Vamp would understand and no' find fault with the things I had to do to survive."

 

She glanced at him sharply. "You mean using women for food and sex?"

 

He gritted his teeth. "That's exactly the sort of judgment I'm talking about. I admit I took blood when I needed it, but I have never forced myself on a woman."

 

"How can you be so sure? Didn't you use mind control?"

 

"I'm no' a rapist." He turned onto West Thirty-fourth. At least her accusations were doing a good job of squelching his lustful desires. "I willna blame ye for interrogating me since ye were attacked only a few nights ago. I'm sure ye canna help being touchy."

 

"I'm not touchy. I'm pissed."

 

"Doona mistake me for a Malcontent. When I enter a lady's mind, I can hear her thoughts, and I never stay where I'm no' welcome."

 

"You never controlled a woman's thoughts to make her succumb?"

 

"Nay. In my case, I used mind control to convince women I was older than I looked." "So you did trick them."

 

"My bloody face was the trick, Toni, and there was no escaping it. It made people think I was fifteen, when inside I was a fully grown man. I had to use more trickery to make women see me the way I wanted to be. I canna be proud of all that deceit. That's why it is so important now that I be honest. Another Vamp would understand that."

 

"You could be honest with a mortal."

 

"I could hardly approach a mortal and say, 'Hello, I'm a vampire. Would you like to go out with me?' I would have to lie to her at first, and I refuse to do that."

 

"There are plenty of women who would date you because you are a vampire."

 

He pulled to a stop at a red light and faced her. "I doona want to be loved because I'm Undead. No more than ye would want to be rejected for being mortal."

 

She looked away. "I--I've been too...harsh with you."

 

"Lass, ye have every reason to be suspicious. Ye were almost murdered a few nights ago. But those vampires who attacked you were probably cruel and vicious before they were transformed. Death doesna change a man's heart."

 

"Then you were a good man," she whispered.

 

All his desire came flooding back. "I try to be."

 

Her gaze met his. "What do you want more than anything?"

 

Right now, he felt like he could gaze into her green eyes for a century or two. They were amazing, the way they flared with anger, twinkled with humor, or softened with compassion. "I want to be loved, honestly and truly loved, for who I am. And I want to love a woman with all my heart for all my life. I want to ache for her mind, for her body, for her companionship."

 

Her eyes widened. "Oh."

 

The scent of her hot, rushing blood filled the car, and his nerve endings thrummed in response. He wondered if she had any idea what she was doing to him. Could she feel the waves of desire flowing off him?

 

Yes, he would swear she did. Her heart was pounding fast. Her breathing was erratic. He leaned closer.

 

"You--your eyes," she whispered.

 

He knew they were turning red, for his vision was now tinted pink. He slipped a hand around her neck.

 

She didn't pull away. Her gaze dropped to his mouth, and he couldn't resist any longer. He kissed her.