“Until I was thirteen. The same year I was turned into a vampire.”

I was well aware my voice had gone a little cold, but it was hard to discuss, even now, centuries later, without some resentment. I’d never asked to become what I was. And though I didn’t resent the life I led now, it still grated my conscience that I carried guilt, being forced to drink human blood when I was once a devout Hindu. I often wondered how ashamed my mother would’ve been if she’d known. If she’d lived to see me now.

“Anyway, it was very difficult for my mother when he died. For any woman during that time period, being a widow was a painful struggle.”

Isadora’s intense expression roamed over my face, her voice a soft caress when she said, “But at least she had you, Devraj.”

Yet again, my stomach clenched with some foreign emotion I wasn’t familiar with. I’d wanted and sated my hungers with many women over the ages. This craving felt different. I didn’t just want her body, or her blood, if I was to be completely honest with myself. Just being in her presence, soaking up her smiles and sweet company, was feeding a hunger I didn’t realize I had.

“Yes,” I finally agreed with a smile. “She did have me.”

“I imagine she was proud of you. You were a very dutiful son, I’ll bet.”

“Actually, I was.” Except for the blood-drinking I did behind her back.

The waiter came and dropped the check. I moved the conversation to their metaphysical shop and her role there to steer away from heavier topics while we waited for the waiter to bring my receipt. She rambled about her bookkeeping and inventory organization—yes, rambled, which was completely new for her in my presence. I realized that my shy girl only opened up like this for people she trusted. A fact that had warmth blooming in the center of my chest.

“Sounds as if you enjoy your work,” I said as we grabbed our grocery bags that we’d stored at the hostess counter then walked out of the restaurant toward her bicycle outside.

“I do. But I enjoy gardening most of all. Working in the greenhouse.”

“No customers or pesky sisters to bother you.”

She graced me with another of those brighter smiles she kept hidden and passed out like little gold coins. “Exactly. I like working alone.”

“I gathered that.”

We stopped beside her bicycle, and though I didn’t want to part ways, I also didn’t want her to know how desperate I was to spend the entire day in her company. One thing I’d come to understand about Isadora was that she was cautious. I needed another reason to spend time with her. Then it hit me.

“Ruben told me that Emma would likely need another treatment or two by you. I could give you a ride to the hospital whenever you need.”

She pulled her bike away from the wall, after unlocking her chain on the wheel, and stowed her bag of fruit in the basket. “I’m sure I can get Jules to take me,” she said, avoiding eye contact again.

I leaned my head down, trying to force her gaze up. “You mean, you don’t trust my driving? Is that what you’re saying?”

“No,” she said quickly. “It’s not that. I just.” She shrugged.

“You don’t enjoy my company?” I teased.

That pretty pink color flushed her cheeks again as she leveled me with those green eyes. “It’s not that either.”

“So you admit you do enjoy my company. Love it, in fact, right?”

She laughed. “You really are incorrigible.”

“So I’m told. Repeatedly. By a very pretty witch.”

Her eyes fell again as she straddled the bike. As if that didn’t put another painfully lovely image in my one-track mind. Enough. Time for me to go. I held out my hand to her.

“Thank you for having brunch with me, Isadora.”

She shook my hand, and I couldn’t help but hold it a moment longer than normal, brushing my thumb over her soft skin, her quick, thrumming pulse.

“I should be thanking you. I really enjoyed it.”

“My pleasure.” I released her hand and tucked both of mine in my pockets, forcing myself to take a step away. Still, I couldn’t help to add, “If you need anything at all. A ride to the hospital? A replacement for Big John? You can call me anytime.”

Her mouth fell open in surprise. I memorized that image before giving her a wink and sauntering back up the street to my car.

Chapter 14

~ISADORA~

I’d been laying on my bed, staring at the ceiling for I don’t know how long. I couldn’t get this morning’s brunch at Gris Gris out of my head. No. Not the food. The company. The man. The vampire. He’d invaded my headspace and wouldn’t leave, no matter how hard I tried to get rid of him.

I glanced over at my desk where Violet had set my DVD of Dilwala Deewana.

Sorry. Take that back. Where she’d propped it up with a hot pink sticky note she’d grabbed off my desk and written in her swirly script: This is NOT trash. Watch often. You’re welcome. -V

Unable to help myself, I closed my door and popped the DVD into the machine and turned on the TV on top of my dresser. Sitting back on my bed, I watched a little of the intro that was mostly about the beautiful heroine, then I fast-forwarded to Devraj. Before long, I was back at that point where I’d left off, where he took a moonlit dip. That’s when I realized my hand not holding the remote was ghosting across my belly in little circles.

Glancing at the door, I hopped up and locked it, then opened my nightstand. Yep, there was Big John, sitting proudly in my nest of BOBs. I went to grab him, but then stopped. Behind me, Devraj spoke with his hypnotic voice onscreen. When I looked back at the TV, the heroine had joined him in his moonlight swim, the song having ended. He was sensually holding her close, whispering sensual words in his silky smooth voice.

Give me one night, and I’ll prove it to you.

What would it be like to be the focus of all of that vampire’s attention? Biting my lip, I watched him embrace the woman onscreen and couldn’t deny the flair of jealousy burning up my skin.

Whether it was pretend or not, I was burning up with jealousy of a movie star or the relationship he might or might not have had with her offscreen. The thing was, it wasn’t just his beautiful body that had my stomach twisted into knots and my libido revving to go. He was compelling on so many levels, and I just couldn’t deny I honestly wanted to see what he could offer. For only one night, of course. What could be the harm?

I debated for all of two more minutes, then I shut my nightstand drawer, turned off the TV, threw a few extra things I thought we’d need into my purse, then headed downstairs before I lost my nerve. Someone was watching television in the living room.

When I popped my head in, it was Evie and her boyfriend Mateo curled up on the couch together, practically glued to each other. They were watching Avengers: End Game and Mateo was playing with her ponytail, his gaze on her, not the TV. They were disgustingly adorable, and so in love.

“Hey, Evie. I’m going to pop out for a while. Don’t wait up.”

“Headed to Tia’s?” she asked.

“Mmhmm,” I lied, turning for the front door before she asked for details.

I wasn’t a liar and just that teensy tiny one made my insides clench. But I sure as hell wasn’t telling her where I was really going.

“Make her drive you home,” she called. “It’ll be too late to ride back on your bike.”

“Okay!” I said as I opened the front door.

Crap. Now I had to take my bicycle to fake that I was headed to Tia’s. This little escapade had already turned into something bigger than I’d planned.

It was late afternoon, the sun casting a warm glow on the houses and landscape as I rode my bicycle down the driveway, onto the sidewalk, and up the driveway next door. He’d gotten his Lamborghini back. I decided to park my bicycle well under the open garage behind the car, just in case one of my sisters passed by for some reason.

I felt like I was sneaking around, because I guess I was.

Hiking my bag over my shoulder to cross my chest, I opened the wrought iron gate that led to his back door. At the center of his pretty brick courtyard, there was a trickling fountain that butted up against the white fence that separated our backyards. Summoning courage, I inhaled a deep breath and knocked on the door.

No answer. This could be a terrible mistake. What if he already had a woman in there? A blood host? A lover? Or both? And he was at this very minute kissing down her throat like he did that actress in the movie. What if they were going to town in his no-doubt luxurious bed, and I was standing here on his doorstep like an idiot?

Oh, hell.

I turned away right as the door swung open. Devraj stood there in his jeans, a T-shirt, and his bare feet, his long hair down around his shoulders. He had a kitchen towel in his hand and something smelled heavenly coming from his kitchen. His signature smile beamed as his warm brown eyes ate me up from top to bottom.

I didn’t even think to change, dammit! What kind of panties was I wearing? Did it really matter?

“This is a pleasant surprise.”

“Hi.” My voice had a little squeak to it, but there was no going back now. Lifting my chin, I plowed forward. “I’d like to take you up on your offer,” I said with as much confidence as I could manage. “On a one-night stand. Well, not a whole night. Just one time. Or one sitting really.” A sitting? This wasn’t a portrait painting. I glanced back at the darkening sky. “A one-evening stand, I suppose. I have till ten o’clock.” After that, Jules would be texting Tia, frantically worrying about me because I was always in bed by ten-thirty. Always. “If the offer still stands, of course.”

During my ridiculous word-vomit, I made myself hold still and not fidget while his smile slipped and his jaw slid open.

He blinked. And blinked again. Did I break him?

“Or maybe we can do it another night.”

As I turned to walk away, he grabbed my hand. “Come in. Are you hungry?”

I let him guide me down the short hall and through a very clean living room. There were no signs of moving boxes. He’d settled in quickly, but I guess that was normal for someone who traveled as much as he probably did. Though decorations were sparse, he had some unique and beautiful furnishings and décor. But I didn’t have time to soak it in before he pulled me into a well-lit kitchen.