he’s so edgy about Christmas?” She
wanted to know details.
“His parents both died of yellow fever around Christmas,”
Ramon said.
“Yellow fever! When was that?” she asked.
“New Orleans, in 1815,” Ramon answered.
“Oh.” Larissa sat down in a wing-backed chair next to the
potbelly stove, absorbing the heat. “That’s awful. It’s hard to comprehend that
time span.”
“For a mortal, yes.”
Garrick returned with his arms full of firewood and placed
it in a metal stand by the stove. He stoked the fire, adding a couple more logs.
“Warming up?” he asked Larissa.
“Yes, thank you.”
The fireplace roared to life and he came over and pulled her
up off the chair and into his arms. He kissed her hard, deeply, passionately.
“I must talk to you about spells and marking. So you’ll understand what’s
involved.”
His arms held her close and she wouldn’t give up the chance
to learn something about this mysterious man and find out something of his
past. She might trust them more, but she doubted she’d change her mind. This
wasn’t for her. “I’m sorry to hear about your parents. Ramon told me. I’m sure
you have some good memories. Did you have any special Christmas traditions back
then?”
He shot a look at Ramon and the other vamp shrugged his
shoulders. Garrick then smiled and Larissa’s heart soared. She couldn’t be
having feelings for him. How could she grow accustomed to what he was?
“I do have some good memories of Christmas,” Garrick said. “My
mother had a beautiful voice. During the holiday, I remember we’d sing carols
in English and French and have a large meal and rum punch. I remember fresh
holly and ivy strung around the house and sprigs of mistletoe hung on the doors
and windows.”
“It sounds very festive. No Christmas trees?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“You should try to remember those holidays more than the
last one.” He released her to attend to the fire. She glanced at Ramon who was
pouring her a glass of red wine from a crystal decanter. He handed her the
glass.
She took a sip of the wine, the oaky dry taste lingering on
her tongue. Then Ramon kissed her, holding her face gently between his hands.
The most wonderful sensual pleasure surged through her, then doubt and guilt
slammed her back to reality. What would Garrick think? What would he think
considering they had a threesome the night before? This was new and confusing
to her. Everything was new and confusing.
“Mmm. Love the taste of wine on your lips,” Ramon said.
“Trust us. You have nothing to fear. We have the power to take you but we
won’t.”
She broke away from the kiss and Ramon moaned his
displeasure, but in a teasing way.
“Don’t stop,” Garrick said. “I was getting turned-on
watching you.”
Larissa laughed nervously and glanced at him. “Oh?” She
sighed, getting all worked up again. She stood and stared at the wall to catch
her breath. After all, she did want them again, but wasn’t ready to lie down
and spread her legs just yet. Was it her desire or their control over her?
Maybe not knowing if she was under their control was what unsettled her.
Slowly, she strolled along the wall, admiring the paintings,
all by the same artist. “This one is identical to the painting in my apartment.
The man standing in front of this house looks like Garrick. No, wait, it’s a
mirror image of my painting. Strange.”
“You’re right, it is the same,” Ramon stated.
“There’s something special about these paintings, isn’t
there?”
Garrick’s brows rose. He didn’t answer.
She glanced at Garrick and the dark, sensual look he gave
her sent a jolt of need to her core. What was it about the man? Since he first came
into her store while she was wearing the French gown, she had the urge to
undress for him. All she would need is one command from him. The spicy scent of
his body or whatever cologne he wore made her lightheaded.
Attempting to regain some control,
wanted to know details.
“His parents both died of yellow fever around Christmas,”
Ramon said.
“Yellow fever! When was that?” she asked.
“New Orleans, in 1815,” Ramon answered.
“Oh.” Larissa sat down in a wing-backed chair next to the
potbelly stove, absorbing the heat. “That’s awful. It’s hard to comprehend that
time span.”
“For a mortal, yes.”
Garrick returned with his arms full of firewood and placed
it in a metal stand by the stove. He stoked the fire, adding a couple more logs.
“Warming up?” he asked Larissa.
“Yes, thank you.”
The fireplace roared to life and he came over and pulled her
up off the chair and into his arms. He kissed her hard, deeply, passionately.
“I must talk to you about spells and marking. So you’ll understand what’s
involved.”
His arms held her close and she wouldn’t give up the chance
to learn something about this mysterious man and find out something of his
past. She might trust them more, but she doubted she’d change her mind. This
wasn’t for her. “I’m sorry to hear about your parents. Ramon told me. I’m sure
you have some good memories. Did you have any special Christmas traditions back
then?”
He shot a look at Ramon and the other vamp shrugged his
shoulders. Garrick then smiled and Larissa’s heart soared. She couldn’t be
having feelings for him. How could she grow accustomed to what he was?
“I do have some good memories of Christmas,” Garrick said. “My
mother had a beautiful voice. During the holiday, I remember we’d sing carols
in English and French and have a large meal and rum punch. I remember fresh
holly and ivy strung around the house and sprigs of mistletoe hung on the doors
and windows.”
“It sounds very festive. No Christmas trees?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“You should try to remember those holidays more than the
last one.” He released her to attend to the fire. She glanced at Ramon who was
pouring her a glass of red wine from a crystal decanter. He handed her the
glass.
She took a sip of the wine, the oaky dry taste lingering on
her tongue. Then Ramon kissed her, holding her face gently between his hands.
The most wonderful sensual pleasure surged through her, then doubt and guilt
slammed her back to reality. What would Garrick think? What would he think
considering they had a threesome the night before? This was new and confusing
to her. Everything was new and confusing.
“Mmm. Love the taste of wine on your lips,” Ramon said.
“Trust us. You have nothing to fear. We have the power to take you but we
won’t.”
She broke away from the kiss and Ramon moaned his
displeasure, but in a teasing way.
“Don’t stop,” Garrick said. “I was getting turned-on
watching you.”
Larissa laughed nervously and glanced at him. “Oh?” She
sighed, getting all worked up again. She stood and stared at the wall to catch
her breath. After all, she did want them again, but wasn’t ready to lie down
and spread her legs just yet. Was it her desire or their control over her?
Maybe not knowing if she was under their control was what unsettled her.
Slowly, she strolled along the wall, admiring the paintings,
all by the same artist. “This one is identical to the painting in my apartment.
The man standing in front of this house looks like Garrick. No, wait, it’s a
mirror image of my painting. Strange.”
“You’re right, it is the same,” Ramon stated.
“There’s something special about these paintings, isn’t
there?”
Garrick’s brows rose. He didn’t answer.
She glanced at Garrick and the dark, sensual look he gave
her sent a jolt of need to her core. What was it about the man? Since he first came
into her store while she was wearing the French gown, she had the urge to
undress for him. All she would need is one command from him. The spicy scent of
his body or whatever cologne he wore made her lightheaded.
Attempting to regain some control,
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