HerVampireLover by Anastasia Maltezos Read Free Book Online Page B

held her closer. “In time, you will.”
    Cat tensed. In time? He still thought she would stay with him. “Tobias, I can’t move to New York with you. I have a life in Maine. A home, a job.” His expression was tense.
    “Is there anyone special waiting for you?”
    “No.”
    “Family?”
    “No. I was orphaned at ten and lived with my grandmother. She died when I was twenty-one. I’ve been on my own ever since.”
    “You miss her.”
    She shrugged self-consciously. Her grandmother was someone she didn’t like talking about. “Things weren’t perfect when I lived with her. She wasn’t your average warm, loving grandmother.”
    “I see.”
    “I can’t complain. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have buried myself in books to get away from reality. When all the other kids were playing, reading and writing were my favorite pastimes. I entered a short story contest when I was seventeen and won. Soon after that, I wrote my first full length novel, got published, and the rest is history. Cat Luster was born. My real name is Catherine Lancaster.”
    He gave her a quizzical look. “What was your short story about?”
    She couldn’t look him in the eye. “A vampire love story.”
    “I see.”
    Cat tensed. “I may not read minds, but I know you think my subconscious with my past life made me write it.”
    His look was innocent enough, but Cat wasn’t buying it. “I never suggested it.”
    “No, but you thought it.”
    He sighed wearily. “Cat, at some point, you need to entertain the thought that there is some truth to what I believe.” There was a heavy pause. “Never mind. I found you after all this time. I can wait a bit longer for you to believe me.”
    Her laugh was strained. “You may have to wait forever.”
    “I’ll wait,” he replied, his tone firm. “At least come to my home for a visit. We can leave tomorrow morning. We’ll take your car and you can stay with me for a few days.”
    “I have to finish my book. My deadline’s next week.”
    “I have state of the art technology at home, an office overlooking Manhattan, and privacy. I’ll give you the time to work.”
    New York. Cat was tempted. She’d lived in Maine all her life and always wanted to visit the Big Apple . “I don’t know.”
    “Think of it as research. New York is filled with so much culture, people from all walks of life, and entertainment—you may find your inspiration for your next book.”
    Cat was more than tempted. She’d planned to stay at Mel’s cabin another week to complete her book. Why not complete it in New York? “I might take you up on that offer.”
    “It’s done, then. We leave in the morning.”
    “I said I might . I didn’t say, yes .”
    He rose, taking her hand as he helped her up. “Your heart is already set. I can feel it. Come, let’s go to bed. We’ll wake up at sunrise and leave. Besides, the Grangers will not let up and I need to be around you to protect you.
    Her light mood dimmed. “Thanks for reminding me.”
    He shot her a concerned look as he led her into the bedroom. “I’m sorry, Cat, but I cannot express enough how dangerous their clan is. They’ll think nothing of killing you while you’re a defenseless mortal.”
    She slipped into bed beside him and he gathered her into his arms. Her mind took another turn as she caught a glimpse of the full moon through the sheer drapes. “Your sleep schedule is all shot since you met me. You haven’t slept once during the day.”
    There was a glimmer of a smile on his lips. “I’ll fix that when I get home. At least the weather’s been overcast and the sun hasn’t affected me.”
    “Is it really that bad?”
    “It can be. The rash, the blisters, the peeling…it won’t kill me, but it can scar me for life. In my case, forever. Vampires cannot heal the effects of the sun.”
    She felt a rush of concern thinking about the sun disfiguring his beautiful face. “Maybe we should leave at sunset.”
    “Your BMW has tinted