Immortal Obsession by Denise K. Rago

a very open-minded person. I am not above believing Ryan came into contact with someone or something … unusual.”
    “And the possibility of that does not frighten you?”
    “I’m not sure,” she confessed, shaking her head. “It sounds farfetched and crazy, but I think the man that attacked him was a vampire. I did a little research, and one of the ways to kill a vampire is through decapitation.”
    He chuckled halfheartedly.
    “You laugh, but my brother’s blood poured onto the pavement right before my eyes.” She stared off into space as if reliving that night. “This thing was covered in his blood…. I still lose sleep over it.”
    “Any self-respecting vampire would never allow that to happen.” Christian waved his hand dramatically, coming closer. “An immortal would have hypnotized him first. The effect is like being pulled into a dark chasm that has no return, and yet you go there willingly. If your brother had been a woman, the vampire would have kissed her gently with cold lips before sinking his fangs into her warm flesh. She would have no sense of her life being drained away by the beautiful specter until it was too late.”
    Amanda listened to his deep, soothing voice. The experience he described was terrifying, and yet so inviting and erotic that it made her blush, like her dream. She had no recollection of moving closer to him, but suddenly she was next to him, being pulled into his eyes. His leather coat rubbed against her stockings and she realized that she was wedged between the bar stool and his body.
    She froze, unable to break his gaze.
    “You speak as if you are—”
    “You need to leave now.” He whispered. “We have spoken long enough of such things.”
    The pull of his dark eyes made her feel dizzy and she grabbed his coat for balance. I can’t let him leave now. She searched his face for answers, yet found his eyes suddenly bottomless and cold. How could he be both inviting and perilous?
    “Please, Christian, I—”
    “I will not talk with you again, Ms. Perretti.”
    He was suddenly standing at the end of the bar.
    “Just tell me you were there that night. God damn it, be honest with me.”
    “I will not ask you again to leave!”
    She tried not to shake as she paused at the door, angry at being dismissed by the very man who intrigued her.
    “Fine, I’ll go. But this isn’t over between you and me. Not by a long shot.”
    The loud music slammed against her as she rushed back down the hallway, dodging people on the stairs. She hoped Bethany was still waiting for her at the bar yet dreaded having to meet up with her there. She wanted just to duck out into the cold night and go home.
    How could I have let this go so poorly?

    In the soft light of the side bar, Christian felt himself losing control over the young woman he was sworn to protect. He fought the pull of her beauty and his very nature, a nature born of power and lust filtered through the constant need for blood. He wanted to both shield her from harm and bury his fangs in her beautiful neck. He had fought hard to master control of his vampire nature, to be more than a parasite with a beautiful face who could take what he wanted with no rules or laws to govern him. It had been a hard fight that had cost him much, and here before him was the fruit of his self-restraint and his self-control. She is not afraid of me. She questions whether we are blood drinkers, intrigued by the idea of surrender.
    He had studied her face in the mirror, the tilt of her eyes, the curve of her lips and her high cheekbones framing thick wild hair. Her skin had a warm brown glow as if she had spent the day at the beach. Her hands were long and narrow and he noticed that she chewed her fingernails. She was quiet yet direct, feminine yet strong-willed. Her attire made his blood boil, embarrassed by the thoughts racing through his head. He thought she looked good next to him.
    If only it could have been different.
    Christian put his face in