“Cyran?” She looked up noticing that his head hung low. He didn’t answer, his seatbelt being the only thing holding his body up. She released her seatbelt after a few failed attempts. Panic set in as the darkness made it harder for her to see as she reached over to Cyran, feeling his neck for a pulse. She sighed deeply, relieved. He had a pulse, strong and steady. She hastily searched for her phone, finding it lodged beneath the front passenger seat on the floor.

She reached for it just as the back passenger door was ripped off the hinges of the car. She screamed, trying to crawl backwards to the other side of the car as a figure grabbed her foot, dragging her out of the car. The cover of night kept her from seeing her assailant. She grabbed onto the seatbelt, in one last attempt of saving herself, as the hooded figure violently jerked her, snatching her from the car. She landed on the muddy hard ground. She rolled away, scrambling to get up. The figure grabbed her again, grunting as she kicked him in the abdomen. His grip loosened as she scrambled up the embankment, pulling on the grass and tree roots to help her get to the top.

“Everyone okay down there?” A deep male voice yelled out from the top of the hill.

“Help us!” She screamed frantically; she turned looking for her attacker, yet not seeing any trace of him.

“We’ve called the police!” another voice said.

“Thank you!” she yelled back. The attacker had disappeared into thin air. She made her way back to the car cautiously. She sent up a small prayer that Cyran was unharmed. She didn’t see anyone around the car as she quickened her pace to get to Cyran. She hadn’t realized how far she had gotten away from him. The distant sounds of sirens could be heard off in the distance. She rounded the car, noting that Cyran’s head was still hanging low, unmoving.

She jerked the driver door open, calling Cyran’s name again. He jerked his head up, when she shook him. He blinked his eyes a couple of times, trying to focus.

“Princess, are you okay?” he asked, unbuckling his seat belt and getting out of the car. He stumbled at first, refusing her help as he leaned back against the car.

“Yes, I’m okay,” she said wrapping her arms around herself.

“Are you sure?” His jaw tightened as he glanced at the mud and dirt covering her.

“I’m fine but we need to hurry and come up with a good story; the police are here.” She looked up at the top of the hill, seeing the flashing of red and blue lights.

* * *

“Since when do we investigate car accidents?” Sam complained as Cooper directed him to the accident.

“It’s just a favor. They only have one car that can go out right now. Something about a huge situation downtown and needing S.W.A.T. So I said we’ll stop by to see if our help is needed.” They pulled up behind the ambulance and squad car. A few other cars were parked along the side of the road near the embankment.

Sam let out a whistle as they walked towards the top of the hill where witnesses reported the car was pushed off the road and tumbled down the embankment. The guardrail was mangled where the car slammed into it. “If they are walking away from that, they sure are lucky,” Sam said before he jogged over to a few bystanders while Cooper was frozen in place. His attention was on the female sitting on a log at the top of the hill being checked over by a paramedic.

His heart skipped a beat as his eyes drank her in. Even through all of the mud and dirt, her hair plastered to her head and dirty scrubs, he recognized her. The woman from his fantasies, his dreams, was sitting fifty feet from him. She smiled softly at the paramedic who kneeled in front of her, wrapping a blanket around her. She glanced up and did a double take when she caught him staring at her. She looked away quickly, then turned back to look at him. Sadness clouded her eyes as she returned his stare.

His feet took off in her direction before he could even think about it. The paramedic stood to leave as he arrived at her side.

“Are you sure you don’t want us to take you to the hospital to get checked out?” the guy asked, scratching his head. “This was a nasty accident; you really should consider it.”

“I’m fine. Just shaken up a bit, but otherwise unharmed. Not a scratch on me. Thank you for checking me out,” she said with a heart-stopping smile. A sheepish grin spread across the paramedic’s face.

“Just doing my job, ma’am. Have a good evening,” he said, leaving them alone.

She looked up at him with her ice blue eyes that had been haunting his dreams for a week now. She stood up, wrapping the blanket around her tighter. She was so tiny and the look of vulnerability on her face made him want to wrap her in his arms and protect her from whatever put that look on her face.

“Hi,” she said softly, biting her bottom lip. The strong urge to grab her and replace her teeth with his on her plump lip was strong.

“Have we met before?” he asked, moving closer to her. “Don’t think I’m crazy, ma’am, but I have seen you in my dreams every night for the past week. I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind.” He pushed her hair behind her ear. She shivered at his touch. “Please tell me that I’m not crazy,” he whispered, trailing the back of his hand down her cheek.

“You’re not crazy,” she whispered as tears pooled in her eyes. His heart sped up even faster.

“Then why can’t I remember more than just your face?”

“It’s too dangerous for you to know me,” she said softly, closing her eyes and leaning into his hand. Her eyes popped open. “Get me out of here.” He nodded his head without hesitation, grabbing her hand and pulling her behind him. He had to be losing his mind, but he had the feeling that he knew her. He led her to Sam’s car, helping her into the backseat. She huddled down in the seat as he ran to grab Sam.

“Sam, we need to go!” he yelled, knowing that Sam was going to think he had lost his marbles. Sam took one look at Cooper and nodded his head, following him back to the car.

“What’s up?” Sam asked, getting in behind the wheel. He did a double take as he noticed the woman in the back seat. “What is she doing here?” he asked, starting the car and pulling off quickly.

“You recognize her?” Cooper asked, cursing himself for not thinking to ask her name.

“Yeah, this is the woman from the diner. The one—”

“My name is Nadira,” she said from the back, cutting Sam off.

“So where are we headed?” Sam asked looking at Cooper.

“You can drop her and me off at my place.”

* * *

Cooper cursed as he missed putting the key into the slot; his hands shook so badly. He couldn’t believe she was here. Her small hand covered his, as she looked up at him with her beautiful eyes and guided the key in the lock. She smiled softly as they unlock the door together.

He ushered her in his apartment, looking around, hoping it was not too messy. He was satisfied that he didn’t see any junk or clothes on his couches or tables in the living room. He had been working so many shifts these past few weeks that he just had not had time to clean. She walked into the apartment, pausing to take her shoes off as he shut and locked the door.

“Please make yourself comfortable,” he gestured to the couch. “Is there anything I can get you?”

“Any chance, I can get a shower and clean clothes?” She looked down at her current clothes.

“Yeah, I think I have something.” He led her to the bathroom in the hallway, grabbing towels for her out of the closet. He rustled in his guest room, finding a pair of sweats and a t-shirt that belonged to his sister.

“Are these your girlfriend’s clothes?” she asked quietly, eyeing the clothes.

“No, my sister’s,” he answered, sending up a prayer of thanks that it was truly his sister’s clothing and not his ex-girlfriend’s.

“Thanks,” she said with a smile, shutting the bathroom door quietly.

Cooper ran into his room, quickly stripping his clothes and jumping in his shower in the master bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, he walked out of his bedroom to find her sitting on the couch, with her legs curled up under her. His sister’s clothes were a little long on her but they would have to do. It was time to have a talk to find out why he constantly dreamed of her. He sat down on the opposite couch from her.

“So, I’m sure you have questions,” she started, drawing her hair up in a messy bun on top of her head, his eyes following her hands. Her thick hair begged to be touched and pulled while he pushed his cock in her wet opening from behind. His eyes widened at the thoughts racing around in his head. He shook his head slightly, trying to mentally beat down his erection straining against his sweatpants.

“I would like to know why is it that I have dreamed of you for the past week,” he asked, leaning forward.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she looked around the room.

“After the past twenty-four hours, with what I’ve seen, just try me,” he said.

“Well, we have met before. We met a couple of weeks ago at Lilly’s,” she paused. He nodded, remembering her there. If he tried to remember anything more than that, he would get a headache. “We’ve spoken on the phone and texted. We’ve also have been on a date.”

He could feel his eyebrows rise at this information. He didn’t remember any of this. “Are you sure?” he couldn’t help but ask. She nodded her head quickly.

“Check your phone,” she said, pointing to his cell phone. He shook his head.

“I believe you for some reason, but why can’t I remember any of this?”

She paused before answering, staring at him for a moment. He was unable to read her expression. “You’re not going to believe me.”

“Try me,” he said, meaning it. It couldn’t get any weirder than watching a dead body walk out of the coroner’s office. His views on the world had totally changed. If someone had told him before that dead people could come back to life, he would have personally escorted them to the nearest mental hospital.

“I erased your memory of me,” she said, biting her lip. She looked worried as if not knowing how he was going to respond.

“Why would you do that?” He knew it was weird not asking how she would do it, but right now, he wanted to know why she would do such a thing.

“The night we went on our date, you saw some things that you shouldn’t have seen. My brothers—” she stopped, giving a small laugh.

“Your brothers what?” He needed her to continue. This was getting weirder by the moment.

“My brothers wanted me to tell you what I am, so I did.” She looked directly at him. Sadness clouded her eyes as she stared at him. “You didn’t take it too well.”

“And what are you?” he whispered.

“A vampire,” she said proudly, with her chin tilted up. He slowly stood. She watched him wearily as he came to sit next to her. She turned to look at him. She looked human to him. She was not extremely pale. He grabbed her hand, holding it in his, noting her warmth. He reached up with his other hand, trailing it along her jawline down her neck feeling her steady pulse. Her ice blue eyes were the most beautiful ones he had ever seen. He could easily get lost in them.

“You don’t look like a vampire,” he said softly.

“What do vampires look like?” A soft wistful smile graced her lips.

“Well, for one, they are very pale, and you, ma’am, have a nice tan,” he said, holding her hand up to his face, before laying a kiss on her smooth skin. She laughed slightly.

“Okay,” she said.

“Two, vampires don’t have heartbeats,” he said, gently trailing his fingers along her neck, tracing her carotid artery. “You have a heartbeat.”

“Very observant of you, Detective Cooper.”

“Am I missing anything?” he paused as he reached up and pulled her hair out of the bun. Her hair fell softly around her face, flowing down her back. He slid his fingers through her thick silky hair. She closed her eyes briefly as a soft moan escaped her.

“Your eyes…” his voice trailed off as he gazed deeply into her changing eyes. He watched, fascinated as her irises morphed into a deep shade of blood red.

“Vampires… they have fangs,” she whispered, her hooded crimson eyes darkening.

He tightened his hold on her hair, pulling her head slightly back as he leaned in closer to her, their lips almost touching. “Do you?” he asked. “Do you have fangs, Nadira?”

Her eyes widened as his grip tightened in her hair. A desire to know if she had fangs filled him. Could she truly be a vampire? Her eyes changing color, was that real, or a trick of the light? At this moment in time, he didn’t care if she said that she could fly.

He wanted her.

It had been this little woman he had dreamed about, fantasized about, every day for the past week and she had his cock harder than steel. She leaned her head back into his hand as she smiled, showing off her dangerous little fangs. He reached up to touch them; they were smooth and extremely sharp. She inhaled suddenly as he trailed his finger from her incisors to her lower lip. He had been dying to taste it.

“If I kiss you now, will you bite me?” he asked softly, leaning in closer to her. She closed her eyes and he watched fascinated, as her fangs retracted into her gums. She blinked her eyes, staring at him, waiting to see what he would do.

He kissed her.