Craig's Heart

Chapter Seven

Craig felt better than he had in quite some time. Evie was nestled next to him, her head pillowed on his shoulder. He’d taken her twice more before he’d felt sated enough to stop. He would have felt bad about it and worried about her being sore, but she’d been right there with him every step of the way, urging him on and using her hands and mouth to drive him out of his mind.

He ran his fingers over her arm and sighed. The dark seemed different now, not really dark at all. He could see everything clearly when he looked around the room. The rich fabric on the bed, the gleaming wood of the dresser.

And he could hear every sound Evie made when she moved or sighed.

For the first time since his life had been changed, he felt optimistic about his chances of not only surviving, but finding peace and happiness in his new life. Sure there were obstacles ahead, but he’d had those as a human, just different ones. And he was good at finding solutions to problems.

He knew that Evie was going to leave at some point. Or she was going to try. He wasn’t about to let that happen. If he thought she truly didn’t care about him that would be a different thing entirely. But he’d come to know her well in a short time and knew she’d leave him to protect him.

Every male instinct he possessed roared in displeasure at the wrongness of that. It might not be politically correct or very evolved of him, but it was his job to look after her, not the other way around.

He mentally shrugged. So sue me, he thought. But since the change, his primal instincts had deepened. And at the top of the list of things he needed to do was to protect Evie. Whether she wanted him to or not.

He could just imagine the argument they’d have about this subject if he broached it with her, which he didn’t plan too. He was too smart to do that.

He’d just go about his business, keeping her beside him. He’d love her so long and hard she wouldn’t want to run from him.

He smiled at the thought of putting all his efforts into that task.

She stirred and he eased her off his shoulder until her head was resting against the pillow. Her hair was still braided. It was a shame he hadn’t thought to loosen it. He longed to see that black, silky curtain of hair running over his skin and flowing over his pillow.

Yup, he better not let her see his thoughts. He was becoming quite possessive of his Evie. Craig concentrated on building a titanium reinforced wall in his mind. It snapped into place with a resounding slam. He couldn’t be sure, but he felt as though his thoughts might even be protected from Damek, at least for a while.

Maybe it was because he used his mind so much, understood his thought process and what he could do with it, that allowed him to do this. And maybe he was totally wrong. He’d have to test his inner walls before making any final analysis.

“Hey.” He kissed her sweet lips simply because they were there and he could.

Evie gave him a sleepy smile. “Hey, yourself. What time is it?”

He thought about it and without hesitation said, “Ten after four in the morning.”

“Really?”

He shrugged. “I think so. Feels right to me.” His watch was over on top of the dresser so he rolled out of bed and padded across the room to pick it up. He held up the timepiece so Evie could see it. “See, ten after four.”

“That’s incredible.” She hooked a loose piece of hair over her ear. “I knew it was late and dawn was getting closer, but I had no idea of the exact time.”

Craig shrugged, tossed the watch back down and went back to the bed.

“Probably just the way my mind works.

I’m sure you can do things I can’t.

Damek said that all vampires develop different skills and at different rates.”

He plumped up the pillows and leaned his back against the headboard.

“Tell me about yourself. Tell me about Evie Pelowski before all this happened.”

She shrugged. “Not much to tell.”

“Where were you born? Do you have any family?” He wanted to know everything.

She sighed and settled next to him, making sure the bedclothes were covering her. She brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. The posture was a defensive one.

“I was born in Boston. I grew up in a series of foster homes and left when I turned eighteen.” She rested her head on her knees. “You?”

Craig wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her. No one should have to feel so alone. He could hear the loneliness in Evie’s voice and wanted to reassure her that she’d always have a place with him. But he knew she’d see that as a sign of pity and it might make her run.

Instead, he told her about himself. “I was born in New York. My mom didn’t have the best of luck with men.”

“You mentioned that you and your siblings have different fathers.”

Craig propped one foot up on the bed, his knee tenting the sheet. He left his other leg stretched out. “Yeah. Quinn and Chrissten’s father was a werewolf.

Mom knew his secret but never let on.

He never knew and eventually left before she could tell him she was pregnant. They found him a few years ago and they’ve been slowly building a relationship.”

“That has to be awkward.” Evie’s eyes were half-closed and her hair was tousled, giving her a sleepy, sexy look.

Craig’s cock stirred yet again, shocking him. He’d always had a healthy sex drive, but nothing like this. He cleared his throat and tried to ignore his straining erection. “That’s an understatement. Anyway, Mom met another guy a few years later. He left when he found out she was pregnant.”

“I’m sorry.”

Craig reached out and rested his hand on her head, brushing her hair lightly. “It’s okay. Mom was great.

Always cheerful and happy, always making us feel special.” He missed her.

Her passing had left a hole in all their lives.

“She died when I was a teenager, but the three of us stuck together. At least until Chrissten was kidnapped.”

Evie sat up, her eyes widening.

“Kidnapped? By who?”

Craig reached for her and pulled her into his arms. “That’s a story for another day.” He settled her into his arms. “All that matters is we got her back. That’s how I met Damek.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. He couldn’t stop touching her. Evie was so very kissable. “Now it’s your turn. Tell me something about you. What brought you to Chicago?”

Evie settled her head against his shoulder. “Once I turned eighteen, I left my foster home. They couldn’t afford to keep me if the government wasn’t paying my room and board. I had some money saved from the part-time job I worked. I thought about New York, but for some reason I told the guy at the ticket booth to give me a ticket to Chicago.”

“Fate.” Craig pulled the elastic holder off the end of her braid and began to unwind the strands.

Evie shrugged. “Maybe. It doesn’t matter. The art scene here is vibrant and welcoming. I found a small hole-in-the-

wall apartment and worked at a coffee shop, painting in my spare time.

Eventually, I was selling enough to quit the day job and paint full-time.”

“Did you get a bigger place?”

Evie laughed and then sighed when he combed his fingers through her inky-

black hair. “No. I’m still living in the tiny place I landed in when I first moved here seven years ago. I guess I’d always wanted a permanent home. And my place might be small, but it’s home. Or it was home. Now I’m not sure I ever want to go back.”

Craig rubbed his hand over her head and down her back. “It will be okay.

We’ll get your things from your apartment.”

She gave a sad little laugh. “If there’s anything left. Vladimir struck me as the type who would destroy stuff.”

“I think it’s time to do a little research.” As much as he wanted to make love with Evie again, it was time to start thinking with his bigger head.

Neither of them would be safe until they dealt with the threat.

Craig deposited her onto the mattress and climbed out of bed. He raised his arms over his head and stretched. With each passing hour, he was starting to feel more like himself again, except a stronger, more-improved version. “Get dressed. We’ve got some work to do.”

“Dawn is coming soon,” Evie reminded him.

“We’ve got some time.” He pulled on his jeans. It still felt strange not to be wearing glasses, but he loved having better than perfect vision.

He watched as Evie quickly dragged on underwear, jeans and the blouse that Sonia had loaned her. Her hair was a curtain across her back. His cock jerked, but he ignored the insistent organ. They had work to do.

“Come on.” Craig held out his hand, smiling when Evie slipped her hand into his.

Damek stalked into Inhibitions, his mood foul. Byron was escorting out the last of the stragglers. It was past closing time. The bouncer glanced once at his boss and then looked away. Smart man, Byron. Damek was in no mood for idle chitchat.

He’d been busy since he’d left Craig and Evie at his place. He’d hated to leave Craig alone, but his young friend had quite a bit of self-control. More than he’d had when he was turned all those centuries ago.

Plus, there was an alarm on the apartment that would alert him if either Craig or Evie tried to leave. He had faith in his friend, but he hadn’t lived this long by being stupid or careless.

The stench of spilled liquor, desperate sex and pungent drugs permeated the space. Maybe it was time to close the nightclub and move on to something different. He’d owned Inhibitions for quite some time now and he never aged. Someone was bound to notice sooner or later and questions would be asked. He’d hate to let the place go, but there was always money to be made off of human vices, always another opportunity to be exploited. Not pretty, but true nonetheless.

Then he caught the lightest whiff of vanilla. Not perfume, but his wife’s soap. For the first time in hours, Damek smiled and made his way toward his office.

He pushed open the door and sighed, the anger draining from him at the sight of her curled up in his large hand-carved chair. She was reading from an old journal that belonged to a vampire hunter from the early nineteenth century. He was constantly on the lookout for such journals and purchased them when he found them. Sonia was fascinated with them and was piecing together the history of the vampire hunters. It seemed hunting paranormal creatures was often a family business, which was allowing Damek to build a database of people to watch.

She sensed his presence, lowered the book and smiled at him. His heart skipped a beat and he entered the office, shutting the door behind him. This woman was everything to him, and he would use every resource at his disposal to protect her.

His anger came roaring back and the walls undulated with his fury.

“Uh-oh. I know that look. What’s wrong?” Sonia tossed the book onto the desk and pushed out of the chair to go to him.

“Vampire hunters.” They’d had a few quiet years since he’d disposed of the last ones, the ones who’d almost killed Sonia.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and he held her close, never wanting to let her go. He’d come so close to losing her. “Tell me what you’ve found.”

“Either that idiot Vladimir Drake is killing indiscriminately or he’s creating new vampires that have no control or guidance. The police are finding bodies all over the city and are baffled. They’ve decided they must have some satanic cult in the city, draining bodies of blood.”

“Great. That’s all we need.”

His wife’s exasperation made him smile. She was more annoyed than frightened. “And of course, those reports have brought the vampire hunters to our fair city.”

Damek nodded. “They always show up when there are reports of unusual deaths.” His sigh ruffled his wife’s curls. He was tired of always having to fight. He wanted to live in peace. But as long as there were idiots like Drake and the bounty hunters, he had no choice.

She went to the desk, picked up the book she’d been reading and slid it into her tote. “Let’s go home and talk to Craig. We need to let him and Evie know what you’ve found out.”

She smiled at him and his love for her almost brought him to his knees. He would kill Drake and the bounty hunters if they threatened one hair on her precious head. She was everything to him.

“Damek?”

“We will go home.” He reached for her again, his cock stirring and his fangs dropping. “Soon.”

Sonia laughed as he lifted her against him. She wrapped her thighs around his hips and her arms around his neck.

“Soon,” she agreed.

Damek lowered his head and kissed his wife’s neck. He could scent her arousal, her need for him. He wanted her now and knew that need would never wane no matter how long they both lived.

Evie was fascinated as she watched Craig’s fingers dance across the keyboard. Data flew across the screen at lightning speed. “Are you actually reading any of that?”

“Of course.” He absently pushed his finger against his nose, stopped and laughed. “I keep thinking I have to push my glasses up.”

He went back to his work and she continued to watch him. They were both seated on the sofa, but Craig was perched on the edge while his fingers manipulated the keys. She was curled up next to him, watching.

Obviously, Craig was at home with computers. She could find her way around one, but he was way out of her league. He was a professional. She used it strictly for recreation. In fact, she didn’t even own a laptop. She had her cell phone, which she used for email, music, social media and surfing the web.

Or at least, she’d had one. She had no idea if it was still at her apartment or if Vladimir had taken it or destroyed it.

“What are you looking for?”

He never stopped moving his fingers. “I’m looking for any trace of Vladimir Drake or Richard Locke. I’m taking the search back a couple centuries because that’s how old you said he is. I could work better if I had several computers, but this is a start.” He glanced toward her and smiled. “Don’t worry, Evie. We’ll find him.”

And then what? She knew she had to kill him, but wasn’t sure how.

“How do I kill him once we find him?”

The front door opened and Damek and Sonia strolled in. Damek raised one imperious eyebrow, obviously having heard her last question. “You don’t kill him. I do.”

Evie jumped off the sofa and faced her scary host. “It’s my job. My right.”

Damek closed the door and helped his wife remove her sweater. “I admire your courage, but you cannot kill a two-

hundred-year-old vampire.”

Damek’s dismissive tone fired Evie’s anger. She was tired of overbearing vampires telling her what she could and couldn’t do. “How do I kill him?” she repeated. Craig rose to stand beside her, but she ignored him, her entire focus on Damek.

“Beheading works, but I’d recommend burning the body afterwards just in case. Some vampires can be destroyed by sunlight, but not all. A stake to the heart will kill a young vampire, but it will only slow down an old one.” Damek strode across the room and went behind the bar. He pulled several bags of blood out of the small refrigerator and opened them.

“Hey, I thought you said there was no more blood here.” Evie knew she’d heard him say that earlier.

Damek shrugged. “I lied. But it kept you from craving it, didn’t it?”

Truthfully, Craig had kept her so busy she hadn’t thought about it. Of course, they’d exchanged blood several times. It wasn’t the same as having fresh blood, but it had kept the bloodlust at bay. Now that she could smell fresh blood, she wanted it. Her fangs dropped and she licked her lips.

She lowered her head and struggled for control.

“Hey.” Craig lifted her chin and smiled at her. His eyes weren’t tinged red, nor were his fangs exposed. “It’s okay, Evie. You’re doing great.”

“You don’t seem to have any trouble resisting.” She was frustrated. Why did he have better control?

He leaned down until his lips were almost touching her ear. “That’s because I give myself something else to think about. Something more powerful than the bloodlust.” His tongue stroked the curve of her ear and suddenly she didn’t crave blood anymore, she craved Craig.

Damek cleared his throat. “I think you both should drink. As I said before, small amounts regularly at first will help you learn to control the bloodlust.” He handed both of them a half-filled glass and waited patiently while they drank.

Evie wanted to lick the glass but refrained. “So what you’re saying is that most of what we think we know about vampires is fiction.”

“Some, but not all.” He took the crystal glasses from them and went behind the bar to place them in a compact dishwasher. “There is a kernel of truth, but vampires are all different.

Some are stronger when made, some are weaker. All have improved senses and need blood to live, but we all have different abilities.

Craig put his arm around her and guided her toward the other sofa.

Knowing resistance was futile, she followed. She wanted Damek to keep talking. The more information she had, the better.

“I want you to try something,” Craig said to his friend. “Try to get past the barriers of my mind.

“I don’t wish to hurt you, and that will happen if you resist.” Damek’s distress at the thought of hurting Craig was very real. Something inside Evie relaxed. No matter what happened to her, Damek would make sure Craig was safe. That was all that truly mattered to her. They might not have known one another very long, but Craig had gotten under her skin and worked his way closer to her in that short time than anyone else ever had. They’d connected on a deep emotional level that frightened Evie even as she craved it.

“We’ll stop if that happens, but I want to test my limits,” Craig continued.

“I can’t find them and improve them if I don’t have a starting point.”

“You and your analytical mind.”

Damek’s gaze flickered to hers and then back to Craig. “We will start slow.”

Craig nodded. “I’m ready.”

Damek’s gaze narrowed and Evie could feel power building in the room.

The air grew thicker.

“Harder,” Craig demanded.

The glasses on the shelves behind the bar rattled. Neither man gave an inch. Evie’s eyes darted from one to the other. Both looked determined. One crystal goblet shattered. It was quickly followed by the one next to it and the next, until every glass exploded in a row.

Both women gasped and instinctively ducked, but neither man moved. Craig winced but didn’t back down.

“Stop,” Evie yelled. She pulled on Craig’s arm. “Stop this right now.” The walls were practically moving and the front door began to buckle under the pressure.

“Damek. Stop,” Sonia implored.

The pressure backed off immediately. Evie gave a fearful cry when she saw blood dripping from Craig’s nose. “What have you done?”

Evie yelled at Damek, not caring the other vampire could crush her like a bug.

“I thought he was your friend.” She lifted the tail of her blouse and used it to stem the flow of Craig’s blood. For once, the scent of it didn’t make her crave it. If anything, seeing Craig hurt curtailed her need for blood.

“He is.” Damek rose and came toward them. Evie wanted to jump in front of Craig to protect him but knew that was a stupid idea. Damek could easily move her if he wanted to.

The older vampire shoved the laptop to one side and sat on the coffee table in front of Craig. The two men stared at one another and then the corner of Damek’s mouth quirked up in a smile.

Craig’s answering smile made his entire face light up. Evie dropped back on the sofa and shook her head in disbelief.

Men were idiots. Evie now had tangible proof. Damek had almost fried Craig’s brain and now the two of them were smiling at one another. Evie glanced toward Sonia who seemed just as bemused as she was. Yup, women were obviously the smarter sex of the species.

“You did well, my friend,” Damek praised. “I only caught a glimpse of your thoughts at the very end. You have a very strong mind.”

“Good. I thought the walls I built would hold, but I couldn’t be sure.”

Craig suddenly raised his head. “Dawn in four minutes.”

Damek glanced at his watch, his smile growing. “Another talent?”

Craig laughed. “Yeah, I can tell time without a watch.”

“A useful skill.”

Evie had had enough. “Laugh all you want. I’m going to bed.” She’d had enough of idiot men—no, make that idiot male vampires—for one night. She stalked off toward the bedroom, but she could still hear the conversation behind her. She stripped off her clothing and climbed into bed, turning her back to the door.

“I’ve started some searches, but I’ll keep working tomorrow night. I’ll find something,” she heard Craig promise.

Then he said goodnight to their hosts.

Evie knew the moment he entered the room. The brush of fabric against skin as he removed his jeans sounded very loud.

She tensed when he climbed into bed next to her.

“Don’t be mad, Evie.” He ran his fingers over her bare shoulders. “I have to test my limits if I’m ever going to learn and grow.”

He was right. She knew he was right.

She’d done the same thing herself after she’d escaped from Vladimir, venturing out at dawn, retreating quickly when the light burned her skin. But this was different. “He could have seriously hurt you.”

Craig turned her over and pulled her into his arms. “No, he would have stopped long before it got to that point.

Besides, I kept him out.”

She could hear the pride in his voice and didn’t know whether to praise him or yell at him. She did neither, and two seconds later, Craig went still in the bed, his breathing all but stopped. The sun was up and he was in a deep sleep, his heartbeat almost nonexistent.

Evie looked around the room and fiddled with the covers. She wasn’t tired, but there was nothing else to do.

She sat up and studied Craig’s still form.

He was asleep and she wasn’t. A slow smile crossed her face. She hadn’t realized not every vampire could stay awake during the day. This was something she could do that he couldn’t.

Now she didn’t feel quite so inadequate. If she could figure out a way to go outside during the day she might have a huge advantage over the creature who’d made her. Maybe she should try going out on a cloudy day. She’d only tried it once and during full sunlight.

Maybe if she was wearing a hat, coat and sunglasses, she could be outside on a dull day.

She’d have to talk to Damek about that and find out how common this ability of hers was. She hoped it was rare.

Craig looked handsome lying there with his hair tousled. Even relaxed, the muscles of his arms and torso were hard.

She touched them, running her fingers over his biceps. Her breasts began to tingle so she stopped. No point in torturing herself when there was nothing Craig could do about it.

Evie settled against Craig and pulled his arm around her. She’d try to sleep.

That would help the time pass faster.

Vladimir Drake lay in his bed in the basement of the Victorian mansion he owned here in the city. The room was in the basement, but it certainly didn’t feel as though it was. It was sumptuous with its king-sized bed and damask curtains.

All the furniture was antique, the art on the wall were all one-of-a-kind masterpieces and worth a fortune. His sheets were Egyptian cotton and his bathrobe was silk.

Dawn had arrived.

Vladimir prided himself on being able to remain awake a full minute past dawn. He was strong. Stronger than all other vampires. He’d never met one older than himself. He was king of the vampires.

The room he slept in was perfectly safe. The walls were reinforced with steel with the best locks money could buy on the door. Upstairs, two of his minions would watch over him, making sure no one entered his home uninvited.

They would give their lives for him.

He’d seen to that with a little brain manipulation.

Humans were weak. He was strong.

Like cattle, they were here to serve him, to feed him.

He’d wanted a queen by his side.

Evie. He’d chosen her to be his consort.

But he could see now that was a mistake.

He was better off alone. Women were nothing but trouble.

Yes, she was a mistake. One he’d have to take care of before he moved on.

As soon as he was finished in Chicago, he’d spend some time on his estate in Cornwall. He hadn’t been home to England in a long time.

Unable to hold off sleep any longer, Vladimir closed his eyes.