Bound by Blood (Vampire Romance) by Tara Manderino Read Free Book Online

small smile.
    “Relax,” he told her. “It will be a little time before we get to my house.”
    This time of night, it took less time than normal. She had fallen into a gentle sleep and her head lolled against the back of the seat, exposing her face from the tumble of curls. He couldn’t help himself; he reached out and touched the curls where they lay against the headrest. She really was exquisite. But even as he thought it, he knew it was more than that. Over his years he had certainly seen his share of beautiful women. He didn’t know what it was, but it called him on a level he didn’t want to consider.
    He flicked her hair back, and let his gaze travel down the length of her – small and compact and certainly never the way he thought he liked his women. Katherine had been tall and slim, almost boyish. No one would ever mistake Lisa for a male.
    He slipped out of the car, careful not to close the door too loudly. Then came around to her side, opened her door and leaned in. She still had not wakened. Good. He unfastened her seatbelt, but didn’t immediately move away. Her scent surrounded him, pulled to him. He was going to have to get away soon, but not just yet. Instead, he leaned his head closer to hers as he straightened, turning his head fractionally, he stopped himself from burying his nose into the warmth of her neck, where her pulse beat, where her blood pounded. From the way it coursed through her veins now, the way he could hear it, he knew she was close to waking. He stepped back and rested one arm against the roof of the car. With the other, he gently touched her shoulder. He resisted the urge to run his hand down her arm.
    She awakened with a start and looked around, disoriented momentarily, but then seeming to quickly grasp her bearings.
    “I didn’t mean to completely zonk out like that,” she said as she stepped out of the car.
    He stepped back, allowing her the space to move, and closed the door behind her.
    As she looked about, he noted her taking in the neatly kept lawn, the house, not much smaller than the Morgans, yet vastly different.
    He never cared for overly ornate things. Quality, definitely, but he had always preferred to have only his favorite items around. Even as a mortal.
    Putting his hand on the back of her waist, he guided her across the driveway. He quickly punched in his code on the keyless entry and they were inside.
    He gave her a moment to acclimate herself while he turned on several lamps. The one in the foyer was on a timer, so was always on, but the rest of the house was dark. He led the way to the kitchen.
    “First, you need something warm,” he told her. All the while wondering if he even had fresh coffee about. He never had guests. At least not the kind that cared what he had in his kitchen.
    “I’m fine,” she told him. “I don’t want any caffeine anyway.”
    “Then have some wine, it will relax you.” He knew that was something he did have. Going to the refrigerator he knew it was just a matter of finding the right bottle. As he moved the unlabeled bottles aside, for the first time, he wondered if he had done the right thing in bringing her here. He pushed away the misgivings along with the bottles.
    Snagging a glass from the hanging rack near the kitchen island, he deftly uncorked the bottle and poured her a generous measure.
    “You’re not having any?” she asked, indicating that there was only one glass on the counter.
    “I’m on duty, remember.”
    ~*~
    She felt herself blush at that. Of course he was, why else would she be here. Men who looked like Alex – Detective Aguilar -- didn’t notice short, plump women, let alone nannies.
    “Are you sure it’s all right for me to be here? It won’t cause any problems with your wife, or girlfriend.”
    He gave her a slow smile. “Are you fishing, Lisa?” There was a hint of humor in his voice. “I’m not married. I have no significant other, no girlfriend. No one will mind.”
    She took a sip of her