The Vampire's Mail Order Bride

“How’s your head?”

“My head?” He looked puzzled. “Why?”

She laughed. “You got hit with a beer bottle.”

He ran a hand through his hair, sending a few pieces of glass flying. “Hard vampire head. No damage done.”

A squad car careened into the parking lot, and a deputy jumped out. “Bar fight?” he asked Sheriff Merrow.

“Something like that. There are two more perps by the wall where the light is out.” Sheriff Merrow hauled his semi-conscious thug to the car, threw him over the trunk and started patting him down. He pulled out a handgun. “Bet you don’t have a permit for this, do you?”

Before the thug could answer, the sheriff shoved him in the squad car and shut the door. He held up the gun. “I’m going to need you two to come down to the station and make a statement.”

Hugh nodded and put his arm around Delaney. “We’ll be right there.”

An hour and a half later, they were finally home. Hugh considered the evening a success. Delaney was no longer in immediate danger, and the arrest of Rastinelli’s men would send a message. He hoped. He wasn’t so foolish to think that this was one and done, but it would take at least a day for Rastinelli to get more men down here, unless they were willing to fly, which meant a record of the trip and no easy way to bring firearms.

The upside was Delaney seemed at peace again, which made Hugh happy.

Stanhill greeted them as they walked in. “How did it go?”

Hugh gave him the recap.

“Bleedin’ amateurs.” Stanhill nodded at Delaney. “You all right then?”

She tucked a strand of hair behind one ear. “I am. Hugh took care of them like that.” She snapped her fingers. “Although…I’m kind of hungry.”

“We never did eat dinner.” So much for taking care of her every need. He looked at Stanhill. “What have we got?”

“Bits and bobs.” Stanhill shrugged. “What do you feel like, miss?”

She put her hand on her stomach. “Thai food, but I don’t suppose you have that in Nocturne Falls.”

“Ah, but we do.” Stanhill raised a finger. “Follow me.”

Into the kitchen they went, where Stanhill produced a paper menu from one of the kitchen drawers. “Open until eleven p.m., so you have half an hour to order. They don’t deliver, but I’ll run into town and pick it up.”

“Thank you!” Delaney let out a little squeal of delight. “I want all of it.” She laughed. “Gimme a sec, and I’ll narrow it down.” She pored over the menu. “Hugh, what are you getting? You must be starved.”

“I am, but my needs right now are a little…different.”

She looked up from the menu, her brows furrowed. “What do you mean?” Her mouth rounded. “Oh.”

He nodded, knowing then that she understood he needed to feed. He’d held off for a few days—actually, he hadn’t given it much thought he’d been so preoccupied with her—but especially now after the exertion of power during the fight, he needed blood. “I’ll just slip downstairs and—”

“I want to go with you.” She straightened, a very determined look in her eye.

Stanhill made a small noise in the back of his throat. “Miss, I don’t think—”

“We said no more secrets.” She kept her eyes on Hugh. Almost challenging him.

“Delaney, this isn’t a secret I’m keeping from you. It’s just not something I share with anyone.”

She crossed her arms. “So I’m just anyone?”

“I didn’t say that.”

She looked at Stanhill. “Shrimp pad thai, spicy, and an order of spring rolls.”

“Very good,” he answered. He snatched keys off a hook by the door and zipped out. Undoubtedly, Hugh would have to tell Stanhill what was about to happen when he returned. Hugh knew his rook too well to think he’d let this one lie.

Hugh rolled his shoulders. “Sweetheart, what you’re asking is—”

She strode toward him, resolve shining in her eyes like a flame. “What I’m asking is to be included in one more part of your life. You wanted me to believe you’re a vampire, and I do. You wanted me to stay, and I’ve agreed to that too. If we’re taking a chance on this relationship and looking toward the future, then this is just one more thing you can share with me to help me understand your world.”

He couldn’t really say no to that. “It’s a very intimate act.”

She slipped her arms around his neck and gently nipped his jaw, the scrape of her teeth sending a jolt of pleasure spiraling through him. She kept her mouth against his skin as she spoke. “I can’t imagine it’s more intimate than some of the things we’ve already done.”

He closed his eyes and groaned softly, powerless to keep his hands from sliding down her rib cage to rest on the crest of her hips. He almost forgot what they were talking about. “No, I suppose not.”

She pressed into him, her breath a warm caress that was followed by her tongue. “Then share this with me. Please. I really want to understand your life and what it’s like to be you.”

“A lot of women faint at the sight of blood.” A weak argument, but all he could come up with against the onslaught of her affections.

She leaned back, canted her head and tightened her mouth into a firm line. “I’m not most women.”