A Vampire's Christmas Carol(5)

Until he’d stopped having a soul.

“Isn’t that her ring that you had in your pocket?” William craned to see the couple over Ben’s shoulder. “I mean, you were planning to marry the lovely Simone. That’s why you came to the park, right? You asked her to meet you here so that you could propose to her.”

He’d lost everything in that park. “Get me out of here.”

“Um…you know, I’m not sure you’re getting the point of this little activity.” Now William’s hand slammed down on Ben’s chest, right over his heart. “Maybe you need a more, up-close view of the past. Just watching isn’t enough. Let’s try experiencing it firsthand.” William’s tattoos started to swirl as the demon began to chant. Then he said, “I can only give you an hour, but I think it will be long enough. While you’re there, it will be just like you’re living things for the first time. You won’t even remember me.”

What. The. Fuck?

“So just enjoy your time with her. The end will be the same, no matter what you do. It’s still a memory, only one you’re living.”

Ben could smell the scent of his own burning flesh. The snow fell harder, and then the fire raged once more, seeming to surge right up from William’s hand.

Ben screamed as he was consumed. But it was her name that he screamed. Simone. The only woman he’d ever loved.

The woman he’d killed.

“Simone!”

***

Water slammed into his face. Ben blinked as steam rose around him. He shook his head and realized—

I’m in a shower.

Not just any shower, though. His hand flew out and yanked against the gleaming, gold faucet. He stumbled from the shower, his feet slipping a bit on the marble tile. This bathroom—it was in his New York penthouse.

He whirled around, his gaze flying to the left, to the right. My place.

“Ben, I’ve got a towel for you.”

He stiffened. That was Simone’s voice. He could smell her. That light, sweet scent of vanilla that had always clung to her.

Naked, dripping, he turned to face her. She stood in the doorway, a white towel held in her hands.

A dark wave of déjà vu swept over him. He felt as if he’d somehow lived this exact scene before. With her. And…something very bad had happened. The knowledge was there, but…clouded. Foggy.

“Ben?” Simone gazed up at him with worry clear on her face.

He backed up a step. “You should…stay away from me.” He wasn’t even sure why he gave her that warning.

Simone shook her head. Instead of getting away from him, she said, “I want to help you.” She crept forward until she stood right in front of him. Her right hand rose, and her soft palm settled against his chest. That one touch electrified him, and it sealed her fate.

“Please,” she whispered. “I want to help you.”





Chapter Three


Lust clawed through him. The need, the red-hot desire, seemed to burn Ben from the inside. He grabbed Simone, yanked her flush against him. His mouth locked on hers. He’d always tried to be so careful with her in the past. Played the gentleman because she mattered.

He wasn’t a gentleman any longer. Ben wasn’t even sure what he was. He just knew he needed Simone naked, and he had to be in her.

He carried her back to his bedroom. He ignored the glittering New York skyline. She was the only thing he could see. Desire pounded through him. His cock was so swollen that he hurt and—

His teeth were extending. Stretching in his mouth.

Ben dropped Simone on the bed and stepped back, horrified.

“Ben?” Simone sat up on the bed and pushed back the blonde hair that had tumbled forward. “What’s wrong?”

She was so gorgeous and sexy staring up at him. Looking at him with those wide, dark eyes.

I’m going to hurt her. He grabbed for the control that he’d always held so easily in the past. Only that control was broken. Shattered. “You need to leave.”

Simone sucked in a sharp breath. Pain flashed over her face. “I thought…you said you loved me.”

He did love her, and that was why she needed to get the f*ck away from him. “Something is different.” He turned away from her so that she wouldn’t see the fangs that were now fully extended.

Fangs. I’ve got fangs now. When in the hell had that happened?

The bed squeaked behind him. “Nothing is different for me.”

Her scent deepened. She’d risen from the bed. She was coming toward him. Ben squeezed his eyes shut.

“I love you,” Simone told him, “no matter what. I love you.”

“Please,” he’d never begged anyone before. “You should…go…” Because she was too much temptation for him.

Her fingers slid over his shoulder. He was still naked, and that one touch rocked all the way through him.

“I want to be with you,” Simone said softly. “Always.”

Those soft words tore away the last shreds of his control. Nothing could have stopped him in that moment.

Need erupted. A dark, consuming need that swept away the man he’d been. He whirled back toward her. They hit the bed together, and his hands flew out, ripping away her clothes.

Simone arched into his touch. She should have been shoving him away. She should have been horrified. Instead, she was caressing him. Making the need grow so much worse.