Mating Fever by Crymsyn Hart Read Free Book Online Page B

loud cackle erupted from her lips. “You kill me. If only it were that easy. No. I’m a lamia. I prey on men and suck up their seed to keep me vibrant. That was one reason it never would’ve worked out between Keaton and me. But I do have a little bit of magic in me. My grandmother was a witch.”
    My mouth fell, but I closed it quickly. I nearly dropped the cup, but set it back on the table. I hadn’t figured she would be some other kind of supernatural creature, at least not another immortal. “So you’re like another kind of vampire?”
    “Yes, something like it. But you have no need to fear me. I do not prey on women and besides, I smelled the vampire all over you. It was unbecoming.”
    “If vampires don’t smell good to you then why were you with Keaton? Wouldn’t he have smelled, too?”
    She got up and wagged her finger at me. “That is true. I made do with it. Being with another vampire, is…” she trailed her hands over her breasts and gave me a smile. Her lips turned up into her cheeks larger than what a normal human could have done. Stephania’s eyes grew large and round as quarters. They reflected the light and then her features returned to normal. “I look far better when I’m in my true form, but I don’t want to scare you.”
    “I appreciate that.” I took a sip of my cooled tea and played with the teabag label and thought about everything she had told me. “So, what other creatures exist in the dark?”
    “Everything that humans have dreamed about or that have lurked in your nightmares. Only half of the creatures have been catalogued by humankind.” Stephania rose from her seat. “But you should get going. I have a date tonight, and I need to get ready.”
    I finished my tea and got up from the table. She opened her arms and drew me into a hug. I’d never know she was some supernatural creature from the hug and the hospitality she’d shown me. I think she was right. We could be friends. I’d just have to get to know her a little better.
    “Thanks. Umm...maybe we can have lunch or something. Catch a movie?”
    “How about going shopping on Sunday? I can help you pick out something for Keaton. You can totally catch him off guard.”
    I blushed. “Okay. I’ll call you.”
    “Sounds good. Oh, do yourself a favor and put a line of salt down at your bedroom door and window tonight. Any entrance to your room.”
    “Why?”
    “Just trust me. It’ll keep the evil at bay.” She shoved a container of salt into my arms.
    “Okay.” I clutched the salt, gathered my things, and then left.
    While I walked to the train station, her words tumbled through my mind. At least I wasn’t cursed, but she had also brought up the fact that I would be living a long life, but that could be something that wouldn’t happen. I could not accept Keaton’s offer and remain human. I couldn’t think about becoming a creature of the night. The darkness wasn’t appealing to me in that way. At least not yet.
    As I boarded the train, people getting on the Green Line Train heading to the Red Sox game swarmed me. Some of them were couples. I watched them discreetly. Their hands wound together on the pole. Smiling at one another. Their lips meeting in a welcoming kiss that turned nearly indecent with the touching and caressing of tongues. Envy wound around me and had me in its harsh claws.
    It would be nice to have such a loving relationship. Keaton offered one. But was I ready to accept that offer? Now that my head was on straight and I wasn’t lusting after the vampire or in pain, then I had to consider my options. My demons had to be reconciled.
    I rested my head against the pole and wobbled along with train. For three years I’d been alone. Friends had tried to set me up, but I’d always been unreceptive. Now I was ready. Maybe that was the reason things were coming back up. Or I was being forced to face my demons. Either way, I had to own up to the past. Stephania said what happened to Mark and the