A Vampire for Christmas(44)
Lately, his romance mojo had been broken due to the fact that his bite usually accompanied a roll between the sheets. Sure, the fangs fascinated some chicks, but they thought them fake, and when they realized they were the real thing? Daniel hadn’t known some women could scream so piercingly. Way to make a man feel like a leper.
What could it hurt to have a quickie with the pretty girl, then disappear before the sun rose? And before the media set up their cameras.
Nothing. Wouldn’t hurt a single soul. And she was asking for it, so it wasn’t like his using her—and biting her—would be a surprise.
Slide over,” he said and opened the taxi door.
WHY NO LIMO?” Daniel asked as the cab rolled down the street. He spread his legs and sat back, hands between his thighs. Olivia loved that he got comfortable and wasn’t worried about sitting just so and having dark sunglasses on in case a camera flashed. She was through with celebrities and their egos. She hoped she’d never succumb to a blasé attitude, but doubted she’d avoid it completely.
She didn’t move her leg away from his and the heat of their connection tickled higher. Desire curled between her legs and she licked her lips in anticipation of another masterful kiss like he’d given her last night.
It’s easier to make an escape from all the fanfare in a cab. Usually I slip out of my gown and into something less glamorous—you’ve seen my unglamorous look—but the guy I was looking for took off so fast, I had to move quickly.”
You want me that bad, eh?” he said, a smirk curving his lips so appealingly, Olivia tilted against his body as if she were a magnet snapping to steel, bringing their faces close.
Anything wrong with that?”
Not that I can figure out. So you’re someone famous?”
She had needed for it to be out there—her monstrosity. Yet she hoped it would be the least important thing between the two of them. Because right now the only thing important was getting as close to Daniel’s skin as she possibly could. “That I am.”
I’ve never heard of you.”
That kills me. Though I will grant that I am a rising star. I’ve been on the scene two years. My last single hit the top ten Billboard chart. You haven’t heard ‘Daydream’ on the radio?”
Sorry. Don’t do much daydreaming lately, though I do listen to the radio.”
You’re probably into heavy metal and don’t listen to light pop stuff.”
Actually, I’m more of an oldies—Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.—fan. Christmas carols, eh?”
It is the holiday season. I’m officially on a month vacation, but I agreed to a couple quick appearances during the week leading up to and Christmas Eve. I love holiday songs. What about you?”
He shrugged, then offered as if an afterthought. “‘Little Drummer Boy’ used to be my favorite.”
Oh, I love that one! Ba rum pa pum pum. But why did it used to be your fave? Do you have a different one now?”
No, I’ve never done all that Christmas stuff. Celebrating Christmas implies you believe in all that religious ballyhoo. And monsters don’t do that belief.”
I see.” She tapped a finger on his mouth. “Just because you keep saying it, doesn’t make it so. I don’t see a monster sitting next to me.”
With a glance in the rearview mirror to verify the cabbie was humming to the tunes streaming through his ear-buds, Daniel then flashed her some fang.
They were pretty and sharp, but— “It’s going to take more than a little fang to scare me off.”
Yeah, why is that? What do you see in me that you can’t find in anyone else? So much so that you’re willing to risk the bite? Convince me you’re not a fang junkie.”
Fang junkie? Not her. But what did she see in him beyond his obvious physical appeal? Freckles and a sexy smile did not make for the ultimate boyfriend. Though the fact he’d not ripped into her throat last night, and had coyly played along with her and had come to see her tonight earned him major points in the romance department.
I’m not interested in you biting me.” But certainly the risk had been what initially attracted her. “I’m interested in the man who had no idea who I was last night, and who wanted to kiss me and make some skin-on-skin contact. Someone who doesn’t care if my next record tops the charts or if I can walk on stage in a sheer dress with strategically placed rhinestones.”
You have a dress like that?” He waggled his eyebrows.