The Vampire and the Virgin by Kerrelyn Sparks Read Free Book Online Page B

was beautiful. “Maybe I should strip
    you to check for bugs.”
    Her cheeks turned a rosy pink. “Maybe you should leave.”
    He swallowed hard. What the hell was he doing? “I—I apologize. I wouldna strip you.” Tonight .
    She refused to look at him and motioned to the stairs.
    He trudged toward them. What a fool he was. Accusing her of working for Angus, insulting her.
    The stairwell loomed before him, dark and ominous. He hesitated, suddenly feeling like the stairs
    descended into the pits of hell itself. Could he return to a life filled with nothing but rage and revenge?
    No laughter. No flirtation. No Olivia.
    His heart sank with a heavy sense of loss. “I’m truly sorry, lass. I dinna mean to insult you.”
    He glanced at her and noted the tears in her eyes.
    “Doona be sad. ’Twas my fault for reacting so badly to yer job. I’m sure ye’re a verra fine psychologist. I just
    doona want to talk about certain…things. I see no point in opening old wounds.”
    She sighed. “I understand. But it doesn’t…change anything. You might as well go.”
    She looked so defeated, and he had no idea why. He hated to see her this way. “Why are ye so sad?”
    She rubbed her brow as if her head hurt. “Things never work out for me. They all go.”
    “Who?”
    “Men. Dates. I get my hopes up, then they learn the truth about me and hightail it away as fast as they can.”
    He studied her curiously. He’d thought he was the one with the dark secret. He inhaled deeply of her scent.
    Not a shape-shifter. Deliciously sweet as only a mortal could be. Blood Type A negative. “Ye’re verra clever and
    beautiful. I canna imagine why any man would leave you.”
    “That’s kind of you to say, but…” She took a deep breath and released it with a whoosh. “I’m an empath. I can
    sense people’s feelings. I even see them in color if the emotions are really strong.”
    He winced. “Ye know what I’m feeling?” He’d been fighting a major case of lust all evening.
    “It gets even worse,” she continued. “I can tell when people are lying, like a human lie detector. Comes in real
    handy in my line of work, but it’s the pits for personal relationships. The minute a guy lies to me, I tell him to hit
    the road.”
    Just like she was doing to him. Robby thought back over their conversation. He might have hedged a few
    times, but he’d actually told her more about himself than he’d originally intended. She’d been so easy to talk to.
    “I dinna lie to you, lass.”
    She bit her lip, frowning.
    “Since I’m no’ a liar, ye must want me to leave because ye think I’m crazy? I’m no’ crazy. Yer lie detecting skills
    should tell you I’m speaking the truth.”
    She shifted her weight. “I don’t think you’re crazy. You have some baggage, obviously, that you’re dealing with,
    but we all do.”
    “Then…we should be all right.”
    She gave him an incredulous look. “Doesn’t my gift disturb you? Guys are usually out the door right after I tell
    them. Some would be halfway to another island by now.”
    He shrugged one shoulder. “’Tis an odd ability, I grant ye that, but I—I’m no’ in a position to cast stones for
    being different.”
    She still looked stunned. “You’re okay with it?”
    “Aye. I’d like to see you again.”
    “I—I can’t. I’m sorry.”
    It hurt more than he expected. Dammit, why would she reject him? She didn’t know he was undead. She
    didn’t think he was crazy. He’d been honest, so she couldn’t have caught him in a lie. But if he kept seeing her,
    wouldn’t he have to lie at some point? And then she would know.
    Unless…A niggling suspicion crept into his thoughts. “What am I feeling now?”
    Her eyes widened. “I would say you’re…annoyed.”
    Not even close. His heart was aching at the thought of never seeing her again. He stepped toward her. “Ye’re
    no’ sensing me, are ye?”
    Her face paled. “I’d rather not talk about—”
    “Since ye