A Vampire for Christmas(64)

I’d argue my issues are bigger than yours,” he said, “but we both know that’s not necessarily true.”

Nothing needed to be said. Everything needed to be spoken. He would always be this way, dark of soul and heart. He had to do things now to survive that mortals could never fathom, not the good ones, anyway.

Can we work, Olivia? I don’t do the media and camera flashes and television interviews. I don’t even think I can follow you around on red carpets or stand in dressing rooms waiting for you to find me.”

I don’t want you to do that. I want you to be my normal.”

He smirked, and revealed a fang. “Normal?”

You know what I mean. Music is my life. It is where my heart belongs. I won’t ever stop doing what I’m doing. But you, Daniel, only you make my heart sing. I want to sway with you. I love you.”

I love you, too, God help us both.”

And remember I said I wanted a slow relationship? Well, we’ve plunged in and know what we’re dealing with—a pop star and a vampire. Now let’s learn about each other, inside. Take things slow.”

Like seeing each other only when you’re on vacation?”

Can you do that? I can’t. I do have a private life away from the stage. But I can’t promise we’ll never run into another photographer together.”

He got me so angry the way he acted as if it was his right to invade your privacy.”

That was a strange situation. Normally they find me when I’ve got my monster on and expect the flashing bulbs. This was private. I don’t know how he found this place, but they go to extreme measures sometimes.”

I can’t promise the need to protect you won’t make me smash in another photographer’s face, Olivia. It’s too strong. You mean too much to me.”

We’ll figure things out.” She tapped his lip and kissed the corner of his mouth right over the fang. “Monsters get to love—you can’t tell me otherwise.”

I won’t try to.”

Let’s go inside.

You go up. I’m going to peek around the corner and make sure ole snap-happy didn’t return.”

The coast was clear. Daniel felt vindicated having used his thrall to protect his woman. His woman.

Yes, he could get behind that one hundred percent. It wouldn’t be easy, but like she’d said, they’d figure things out.

Turning the corner, his heart jumped to his throat. At the sight of the nasty werewolf holding his woman, he charged. The wolf backed down the alleyway, clutching Olivia in front of him, a knife to her neck.

Let her go. It’s me you want,” Daniel tried cautiously. “You okay, Olivia?”

She nodded minutely, but the blade kept her from speaking.

I think I want to play with this one awhile,” the guy said on a growl. It was his favorite werewolf, Punch. “You had your chance, vampire.”

Seriously? Because I didn’t leap into your twisted death ring, now you’re going to punish me by hurting an innocent mortal?”

That sounds about right.”

You’re an idiot.” Daniel approached but sensed the wolf would pull the blade across Olivia’s neck out of spite, so he had to play this right. “You’ll get more enjoyment out of starving me and feeding me to another hungry vampire.”

Olivia’s eyes widened. So his life was dark and f*cked up. Did she really want him? Because if she did, he was ready, willing and able.

Let her go.” Daniel started backing down the sidewalk, hoping the wolf would see who was the better snatch. “And I swear you got me. Dude, you know you’re stronger than me. Come on. Catch me if you can.” He splayed out his arms in surrender.

With a hungry growl, the wolf shoved Olivia against the wall below the iron stairway and charged after him.

Daniel took off in a run, hoping to lure the wolf as far from Olivia as possible. “You don’t follow!” he called to her. “Go inside and lock your doors!”

Or the big bad wolf will eat you,” his pursuer said as he leaped and landed on Daniel’s back.

They went down in a snowbank plowed up at the edge of a small city garden lot. Daniel felt the icy scrape of the knife over his hand, but it didn’t feel as if the wolf wielded it. Instead, it must have fallen from his grip. He grasped the handle and groaned as the impact of a fist pummeled his gut.

The knife slid down the snowbank and the werewolf began to choke Daniel. He couldn’t go down now that he had the perfect reason to survive. An angel had looked into his soul and proclaimed it worthy of her love.