Eternal Hearts by Jennifer Turner

never forget. Someone who made her laugh, someone who made her feel wanted…someone who made her feel human, even though she wasn’t. And for that, he would always hold a special place in her heart, even if he walked out the door tomorrow and she never saw his gorgeous face again.
    She tangled her fingers into his soft hair as he broke his amazing kiss to bite at her lips. “Thank you, Drake.”
    He pulled back from her mouth slightly, his dark blue eyes filled with what she could only guess was a strange mixture of curiosity and wonderment. “For what?”
    “For staying with me when you didn’t have to.” She brushed her lips over his and lightly sucked at his bottom lip. “For just being here…”
    Drake stared deep into Toni’s beautiful eyes as their breath mingled. He couldn’t think of anywhere else he’d rather be at the moment. “Thank you for letting me.” The words had barely left his lips when the doorbell screamed through the room.
    He closed his eyes tight. “And that would be Robert.”
    Her entire body tensed. “Oh my God.” She repeated the phrase at least four more times as she wiggled free from his arms then jumped off the bed. “I have to get dressed.” Her eyes went wide as she looked him over. “ You definitely need to get dressed.”
    He caught his shirt when she plucked it from the floor and threw it at him. “But what if I don’t want to?”
    She wrenched her t-shirt over her head. “You have to,” she snapped when her head emerged. Her eyes darted over the room as her arms filled the sleeves. “The bed’s a mess. There are pillows everywhere. Do you know what it looks like we were doing in here?”
    He smiled at the rosy hue staining her cheeks. “It looks like we were doing what we’d probably still be doing if he hadn’t rung the damn bell.”
    If looks could kill, he’d be dead where he stood.
    When the doorbell chimed again, followed by a few sharp knocks, she raked the tangles from her hair in record time then went to work at smoothing her clothes.
    “I hate to break it to you,” he said as he slid his shirt on. “But no matter how straight your shirt is, you still look guilty.” He sat down on the edge of the bed and smiled at her. “Now, I happen to think you look rather cute with your face all flushed and your lips all swollen and pouty…but you still look guilty as all hell.”
    “Just wait till he leaves.” She stabbed a menacing finger in his direction. “We’ll see how cute you think I look then.”
    She stomped over to the door and pulled it open, revealing Robert, who held what looked to be a bottle of blood and an electric warmer. “I apologize if I interrupted anything, but I promised I would check in on you, and Christian also asked me to bring you this.” He inclined his head towards the blackened glass bottle. “If you’d allow me entrance, I’ll gladly set it up for you.”
    “Oh, okay,” she said, sounding somewhat confused. She pulled the door open and stepped off to the side so he could pass her.
    Drake offered nothing more than a smile when Robert gave a quizzical look to his position on the messy bed. He wasn’t about to say anything. He’d prefer the old man let his mind run wild with the possibilities.
    After Toni pushed the door closed, only a few seconds passed before she stood at Robert’s side, watching with fascination as he plugged the warmer into an outlet in the kitchen then set the bottle in it.
    “Why did you just put a bottle of wine in a warmer,” she asked. “Isn’t wine supposed to be cold?”
    The fatherly grin from earlier reformed on his face. “Actually, it depends on the age and particular type of vintage. However, this isn’t wine, my dear, this is blood. Christian felt it only fair, since he requested you remain in your room, that he provide you with a proper meal as well.”
    When her mouth fell open, Robert raised a hand as if to stop her course of thought. “I’ve been with Mr. Locke for several