All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire(54)

 

"Ye know my past transgressions," Ian continued. "Do ye really think a man like me deserves to be loved?"

 

He didn't feel deserving? Toni's eyes welled with tears. When she'd first met Ian, she'd thought they were totally different, but now she realized they were very much alike.

 

He'd touched on the last of her morning affirmations, and the one she found the hardest to believe. I am worthy to be loved. How could she ever be worthy? She'd always let down those who counted on her. And poor Ian. He didn't feel worthy, either. Her heart ached for him.

 

"Ye doona need to answer." Ian stood and walked away. "The look on yer face tells me how ye feel."

 

"But you do!" The words tumbled from her mouth. "You do deserve to be loved."

 

He turned toward her, a surprised look on his face.

 

She blinked back her tears. "Don't you dare give up, Ian." She dashed to the door.

 

"Toni," he whispered her name softly, so softly she wasn't sure she'd heard it.

 

She paused at the door and glanced back. A flood of longing rushed through her.

 

He stepped toward her, and she gasped.

 

His eyes were bright red.

 

She stumbled from the room and shut the door. Dear God. What was she doing? She was falling for a vampire.

 

Ian opened the aluminum blinds and peered down from the fifth-floor office. With his superior vision, he was able to count twenty-two women on the sidewalk, all bundled up against the cold and carrying posters. One was wearing a tiara that sparkled in the nearby streetlamp.

 

A sleek black Jaguar came to a stop in front of the townhouse, and the women wandered over to check it out. Then a slash of light spilled onto the sidewalk from the townhouse. The women squealed and rushed toward the front door. Just as Ian wondered if he would have to fend off a home invasion, the slash of light disappeared.

 

The driver jumped out of the Jaguar. Carlos. He extracted someone from the bunch of excited women and led her back to his car. Toni.

 

With a twinge of annoyance, Ian realized Carlos had rescued her from the mob. The Jaguar sped down the road. What was she up to now? With a greater jab of annoyance, he realized she preferred spending her free time with Carlos.

 

Or did she just feel safer with a mortal who was supposedly gay? Ian was fairly sure that her rushed exit from the office had meant she was aware of his attraction to her. But she'd also gasped when she'd noticed his eyes. Did his Undead nature frighten her? Probably so. After surviving a vicious vampire attack, why would she welcome the advances of another vampire?

 

But when he'd kissed her, she hadn't pushed him away. Perhaps there was hope after all. He closed his eyes, picturing her in her tiny skirt. He would stroke her golden thighs, then slide his hand under her skirt to feel the sweet curve of her hip and bottom, and the tender, moist flesh between her legs.

 

With a sharp breath, he cleared his mind. What a fool he was. Intellectually, he knew a female Vamp presented the most suitable mate for him. Yet here he was, lusting for a mortal. And even worse, the one mortal who was off limits.

 

She totally intrigued him—physically, emotionally, and intellectually. She was such an interesting mixture of determination and self-doubt, emotional strength and hidden wounds. She reminded him of himself.

 

And what were her hidden motives for being here? What made an intelligent woman with a bright future guard the Undead and risk losing her memory when she left? He had to know. Last night while she'd slept, he'd teleported into her bedroom and slipped a tracking device into her handbag. He would know exactly where she and Carlos were going.

 

He wandered back into the bedroom to shower and change clothes. After taking care of the women on the sidewalk, he teleported to the parking lot at Romatech Industries.

 

Connor showed no reaction when Ian marched into the security office. He simply turned off the television.

 

Dougal and Phineas gave Ian sympathetic looks before focusing on their shoes. Bloody hell. He hated pity even more than humiliation.

 

"We'd better make the rounds." Dougal headed out the door. "Come on, Phineas."

 

Phineas paused halfway out the door. "Man, that Corky bitch was wack. You want me to set her straight?"

 

"Nay." Ian smiled halfheartedly. "But I appreciate the thought."

 

"Anytime, bro." Phineas raised a fist and punched the air. "I got your back." He closed the door as he left.

 

Connor sat behind his desk and quietly studied Ian.

 

"Have a go." Ian folded his arms across his chest. "I reckon ye're wanting to rant at me."

 

"I reckon ye've endured enough humiliation for one night."