The Bite Before Christmas by Lynsay Sands, Jeaniene Frost

wasn’t fully through the turn yet. There were still changes to be made in his body and it would continue for several days or even weeks. During that time, he would need extra blood to sustain the changes . . . and adding to that burden wasn’t good. That was what Teddy had done by biting her. He’d taken her nanos into his body. Suddenly infusing himself with more of them had forced his own nanos to work extra hard to process them, using extra blood. In the meantime, until eradicated, the extra nanos had been using up blood as well. This wasn’t a good thing for any immortal, really, but it was very bad for a new turn still in the process.
    As for her, he’d definitely taken an unhealthy amount of blood from her if she’d needed three bags to even regain consciousness. She would have to explain these things to him so he didn’t do it again while they were alone. It wouldn’t have killed them, but it would have left them incapacitated until someone came along and found them. Fortunately, Bricker and Anders were still here to assist them this time, but—
    â€œHe’s coming around.”
    Katricia glanced to Anders at that announcement to see him removing the latest bag from Teddy’s mouth. Her gaze slid over Teddy’s face, noting that his eyelids were twitching as if his eyes were moving under them.
    â€œIt’s late. Nearly dawn. Is there anything you want before we retire?” Bricker asked, taking her empty bag from her when she removed it from her teeth.
    Katricia shook her head and forced her eyes away from Teddy to offer the two men a smile as they moved to the foot of the bed. “No. Thank you, though.”
    Bricker nodded and turned to lead the way to the door, saying, “We’ll leave the cooler here for now in case you need it again. We’ll check with you before we leave at sunset.”
    Katricia nodded, but her eyes had already returned to Teddy and she heard rather than saw the two men leave the room. The sound of the door closing was what brought Teddy’s eyes open. He peered at her blankly for a moment, and then glanced around the room with a moment’s confusion before relaxing.
    â€œFor a minute I forgot,” he admitted wryly, sitting up beside her.
    â€œForgot what?” Katricia asked uncertainly as he leaned to press a kiss to her shoulder.
    â€œThat I was dead,” he murmured, following his kiss up with a nip before moving his lips to her ear.
    â€œDead?” she asked, pulling back with surprise.
    â€œMmm,” he murmured, simply following to continue.
    â€œBut Teddy, you’re not dead,” Katricia said on a half-breathless laugh.
    â€œYes I am. And this is heaven,” he assured her, turning his head to claim her lips now.
    For a minute, Katricia simply couldn’t speak. It was hard to speak with two tongues in your mouth, but when his hands began to roam over her body, she forced herself to break their kiss and pull back. Her voice firm, she said, “Teddy, you’re not dead. This isn’t heaven. I— Why would you think this was heaven?” she interrupted herself to ask suddenly.
    â€œYou, me, and a bed? It’s heaven,” he argued, nibbling on her ear again.
    â€œYou, me, and a bed, and not you and Elvi?” she asked with surprise.
    Teddy pulled back to peer at her with amusement. “Do you see Elvi here? We didn’t have that kind of relationship. She was . . .” He paused for a moment, as if searching for the words, and then frowned, his gaze sliding to her as he said, “Hey, this is my version of heaven. How come you get to ruin it with talk?”
    â€œBecause it isn’t heaven,” Katricia said firmly. “Now finish what you were saying. What was Elvi to you?”
    He scowled at the question, his silver-gray eyes flashing with irritation, and then sighed and dropped back in the bed. “Fine. Elvi was . . . well she