A New Year's Bite

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Page No 2 The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or vi a any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Pl ease purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents eithe r are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resem blance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coi ncidental. A New Year's Bite Copyright 2003 Lydia Parks ISBN: 1-55410039-9 Cover art and design by Jane Sommers All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utili zation of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mecha nical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books, a division of Zumaya Publications, 2003 Look for us online at: www.zumayapublications.com www.Extasybooks.com Page No 3 A New Year's Bite 1 The Visit athan stretched off the heavy sleep of daylight as he lay in his bed, enjoying satin against his skin. Darkness surrounded him with satisfying safety and unspeakable loneliness. Fighting the latter, he reminded himself that winter solstice was only a day away. Long nights meant plenty of time to enjoy— N

Nathan jumped at the sudden sound from above. He rolled out of bed and st ood in the middle of the basement room, his head turned to focus on the noise. Footsteps on the porch sto pped, then started again. When they stopped the second time, he knew the owner of those footsteps stood at his front door. There was a long pause preceding the doorbell. A hesitant visitor. At superhuman speed , Nathan washed and brushed, donned casual clothing, and hurried upstairs. He stopped inside the door and listened. His visitor was a woman with a strong, steady heartbeat. She fidgeted as she wait ed, perhaps surveying the quiet neighborhood. Nathan leaned against the smooth wood, inhaled deeply, and smiled. Page No 4 Lydia Parks 2 He opened the door. "Detective Terra. What a pleasant surprise." It truly was both. The young woman who stood on his doorstep hadn't changed much since their fi rst meeting. She wore her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail that curle d around her shoulders. Her lean frame looked good in the long coat and dark blue pants suit, and a blue silk shirt set off he r sapphire eyes. Low heel s brought her height up to at least five nine. "Hey." She smiled. "I prob ably shouldn't have just, you know, stopped by an d all. I mean, without calling or anything. If this isn't a good time—" Nathan stepped back, opening the door wider, and motioned with a sweep of his arm. "Please, my dear, come in. This is a perfect time." Terra walked in, shedding her coat. She draped it over one of the loveseats as she crossed the living room. "Did I wake you?" "Not at all." Nathan followed his guest into the dining room and pulled out a chair for her. "I had grown to believe you wished to sever our acquaintance. I'm quite pleased to see that I was mistaken." Terra sat and crossed her legs . "I love it when you talk like that." Nathan started to take a seat across the table, but the devil gnawed at his i

n sides, suggesting he move closer. Terra's sweet scent filled his head with thoughts of seduction and fulfillment, and her heartbeat drowned out all othe r sound. In less than the blink of an eye, he could be at her side, holding her in his arms, sinking his fangs into her velvety Page No 5 A New Year's Bite 3 flesh, piercing the pounding vein that drew his gaze to the exposed side of h er neck. She would not resist him. She wouldn't have time, even if she were so inclin ed. Nathan thought back to the first night he'd spent with Terra, when they'd m et at a party and ended up in the middle of an orgy. The woman's taste was every bit as sweet as her scent, and he'd enjoyed sex with her tremendously , in spite of the effect her blood had had on him. The night had ended with him suffering from a perfect vision of right and wrong— something more tha n just a little annoying for a vampire. The memory of sharing an orgasm with Terra caused Nathan's fangs to desce nd in a sudden rush. "Excuse me," he muttered. Fighting his inner fiend, he curled his hands into fists as he mechanically turned and marched into the kitchen. Nathan's hands shook with urgency. He pulled a cold plastic bag from the refri gerator, bit into it, closed his eyes, and sucked it dry. Nourishment—as unfulfilling as it was—q uieted the beast. He tossed the empty bag into the trash. The second bag he opened with his teeth and squeezed into a glass, which he carried back to the dining room. "May I get you something? Tea, perhaps?" "Do you have any of the Cokes left?" He raised one eyebrow. "You certainly don't think that I consumed them, do you?" She shrugged. "No, I guess not." Leaving his glass on the ta ble, he hurried back to Page No 6 Lydia Parks 4

the kitchen and returned with a can and a glass of ice. She'd brought the col as wi th her once when she realized he had little to offer human guests by th e way of refreshment. Apparently, she wasn't overly fond of hot tea. "Thanks." Terra filled her glass with fizzing liquid. Nathan watched her as he sipped. This woman was the only human alive wh o knew his true identity—a fact that still made him a bi t uncomfortable. Yet, he'd seen no sign that s he'd be trayed his confidence, and he enjoyed her visits. In exchange for in troducing him to modern cinema in the form of rented disks and tapes, he'd g iven her chess lessons. And, at her insistence, he'd told her stories of his past. She'd grilled him on women of earlier times and marveled at the diffe rences between them and herself. He'd found her interest and co mments both amusing and endearing. "I've missed your company," he said. Her eyes jumped to his and she smiled. "Me, too. Work's been a bitch lately. " "Really?" She sighed. "Yeah. I've got a new partner. He doesn't believe women should be allowed out of the house." "That must be difficult for you." "That's putting it mildly." She drank deeply, then returned the glass to the t able with a thump. "He's such an asshole. I nearly shot him last night, just to shut him up." "I don't suppose that would be wise." Terra laughed. "No." Page No 7 A New Year's Bite 5 Nathan noted the lines and dark circles that had appeared under her eyes si nce he'd seen the woman two months earlier. Surely it took more than an ann oying partner to produce such signs of fatigue. "There's more?" She nodded and then glanced around as if expecting witnesses to their conve rsation to appear in his dining room. She lowered her voice. "Looks like we have a serial killer running around loose. We call him the Slasher." "Really?" Terra nodded. "He likes 'em young and homeless." "He?" "Yeah. We're not sure if he rapes them before or after he stabs them. Whiche

ver, they're not pretty by the time we find them." Th e note of disgust in her voice was impossible to miss. "Not very pleasant for you." "A lot worse for them. At least I'm still alive." "Indeed." In three hundred years, he'd found it impossible to make mortals understand that there were many things more unpleasant than death. "We have three victims so far and no leads. The whole precinct's on overtim e." "Ah, so that's why you look tired, my dear." "I look tired?" "Quite." "Great." She sighed again. "Mom will make a mountain out of that." Nathan finished his drink. "You plan to see your family for the holidays?" Page No 8 Lydia Parks 6 "Yeah, I've got no choice. Dad informed me that I'm expected for their big New Year's bash. At least I'm spared Christmas because I have to work." "I thought you enjoyed seeing your family." Terra drank before answering. "I used to." She avoided his eyes when she answered— something not usual for her. "And now there's a problem?" he prompted. "Yeah, more or less. My parents heard about Sam." "Sam?" "The guy I'm seeing." "Ah, a new beau." She glared at Nathan. "And is their knowledge of this new beau a problem?" "You could say that." "In what way?" Using both hands, she tu rned her glass slowly. "Well, he's a nice guy, really nice. Really dedicated. He's the principal at one of the biggest public high schools in town. My pare nts expect me to bring him to their party." "You don't want him to attend the party?" "Good Lord, no." "Why not?" "We just started seeing each other, and it's bad enough that I'm a cop. If I te

ll him my father's one of the biggest criminal defense attorneys in the city and that I want to take h im home to meet my parents, he'll probably head for the Mason-Dixon line fas ter than a terrified jackrabbit." Her quaint expressions often made him smile. Page No 9 A New Year's Bite 7 "You think that's funny?" "No, indeed." He frowned as earnestly as possible. "I see your dilemma." She took a deep breath and huffed it out. "I either scare off the best guy I've me t in ages, or start a fight with my parents. They'll never let me live it d own. And all my cousins will be there this year, including Sheila." "Sheila?" "Yeah, Miss Perfect Homemaker. She's the one they shove in my face all th e time. 'Why can't you be more like your cousin Sheila?' I can't stand her. And she's not at all what they t hink. She told me once that she's had a dozen affairs and her poor chump of a husband doesn't know. I wish I could tell them the truth." "But of course you won't," he said, "because it would require you to betray a confidence." Terra slumped in her chair, propped one elbow on the table, and rested her l eft cheek on her fist. It was easy to read her face, and Nathan wondered wha t else troubled her. "There's more," he said. This time it wasn't a question. Her blue eyes snapped to his again and she frowned. "No, there isn't." Nathan leaned back in his chair with his hands flat on the table. "My pet, I know you better than anyone on the face of the earth. There is more." She suddenly straightened. "What if there is? Maybe it's none of your damn ed business." He couldn't resist the challenge. "Is it your latest case? Or your new partn er? Your family? Your new Page No 10 Lydia Parks 8 beau—"

Her heart rate jumped. "Ah, it's the young man." Her frown deepened. "He's not that young. He's thirty-three." Nathan sighed. "Youth is a relative thing, I'm afraid." Her frown faded as she looked across the table at him, and a wry grin tugged at the edges of her tender mouth. "Yeah, I guess it is." "What's wrong with . . . Sam, is it?" "Nothing's wrong. He's perfect. He's incredibly polite and nice, and he's t all and good-looking. He brings flowers whenever he picks me up, and he hol ds doors for me. When he talks about his work, he's passionate. He really c ares about children, and people in general. He's perfect." "You're repeating yourself." She didn't respond. Nathan rose and walked slowly around the table. "Let me see if I have all th e facts. He's a gentleman, and an attractive one at th at. Is he saddled with ex- wives?" "No." "Kids?" "None." "Money problems?" She shrugged. "He's not rich, but he makes a good living." He stopped directly behind her, amused by her attempt to look relaxed. Holdi ng the back of her chair, he leaned over to speak softly near her ear. "Have you Page No 11 A New Year's Bite 9 two been intimate?" She swallowed hard. "Yeah, sure." A hint of lavender clung to her soft hair, and Nathan remembered how feathery the ends felt against his lips. "And did yo u find the experience . . . sati sfying?" She swallowed again. Ah, he'd hit the proverbial nail. After filling his nostrils wi th her scent once more, Nathan straightened and continued his path around the table. "So, what do yo u plan to do about this problem?" "Do? What the hell can I do?" "Discuss it with him?"

Terra pounded both fists onto the table. "What am I supposed to do, say, 'S am, you're wonderful, but you're a rotten lover'?" "Rotten?" She shrugged, trying to shield her acute disappointment from him, but he saw it in her eyes. He should probably be sorry that he gave her a taste of the sexual pleasure only possible with a vampire. All mortal men would pale in comparison. Somehow, he just couldn't regret their encounter. But he could help her. "There is another way." "For what?" "Do you plan to spend an evening with your young man anytime soon?" "Tomorrow. Why?" "Your place or his?" "He's picking me up at my apartment and we're going to a movie. Why?" Page No 12 Lydia Parks 10 Nathan returned to his chair. "Tell him that your plans have changed, and in vite me to join you." "For what?" He smiled. Terra's eyes widened, then she blushed as she cleared her throat. "Nathan." "If you'd prefer to settle for rotten, it's your choice." "What exactly do you have planned?" He arched one eyebrow. "Don't you trust me?" "Of course." She swallowed hard. "He won't, you know, remember anything, will he?" "Only the important parts." Terra studied the tabletop for a long moment, then met Nathan's gaze. "Seve n-thirty?" Nathan reached into the cabinet behind his chair, withdrew the chessboard, an d placed it on the table between them. "Prepare a g ood meal for the two of y ou, preferably red meat. Have a little wine. I'll be there at nine." Page No 13 A New Year's Bite 11 The Lesson

erra pulled on the third pa ir of pants in five minutes and studied her reflection. At least these didn't make her ass look enormous, but they were also skin-tight. Could she look sexy for ten minutes while trying to get out of them? T "No way," she said, answering her own question aloud. Giving up, she went back to her original choice of plain black skirt, not too short, white pullover and pumps. Not too formal, but not too familiar. The last thing in the world she want ed to do was give away the evening's plans. Not th at she knew exactly what those plans were, but she had her suspicions. The doorbell made her jump. "This better be the take-out," she said, as she ran to the door. Fortunately, it was. Terra paid the deliveryman and hurried the beef wi th Chinese vegetables, Mandarin beef, Kung Pao beef , and egg drop soup to waiting bowls. She hadn't to ld Nathan that the fatal flaw in his plan was that she didn't cook. At least, not anything that could be considered a good meal. The second time the doorbell rang, her heart rate Page No 14 Lydia Parks 12 jumped, and she began to regret giving in to Nathan's suggestion. Maybe S am had simply been nervous when they'd shared a bed, or maybe she just ne eded to tell him what she wanted. How the hell was she suppo sed to do that? She wasn't even sure what Natha n had done to send such delicious waves of ecstasy rolling through her. Who was she kidding? Sex hadn't gotten any better with Sam after three tries . She wasn't sure she could even pretend to enjoy it again. And she really wanted to enjoy making love with Sam. She could easily ima gine spending a lifetime with the man. After tossing the takeout containers into the trash and wiping her hands, Terr a hurried to the front door. Sam stood in the hallway wearing blue jeans, a blue sweater, and a smile. H e held a coat over one

arm, a bottle of wine out as if it were an offering, and a handful of daisies. " Hi." "Hi." Terra stepped back and accepted the wine, the flowers, and a quick kis s on the lips as Sam walked in. He stopped in the middle of the living room and turned his brown-eyed gaz e on her. God, the man was gorgeous. "You didn't have to bring anything," she said, glancing at the wine. It was pr obably a lot better than the stuff she'd bought; as a cop, she usually drank beer with the guys. Most o f the time, she preferred not to drink at all. Tonight, however, called for several glasses of Page No 15 A New Year's Bite 13 wine. How could she have even considered having Nathan and Sam in the same room? "Something smells really good," Sam said. Terra nodded toward the kitchen. "I hope it tastes all right." "I'm sure it will." Sam hung his coat in a hook by the door and followed her. Deep breaths, Terra reminded herself. It was ridiculous to be so nervou s. She'd seen Nathan in action and had no doubt he 'd be able to make Sam forg et. She also knew Nathan could improve her love life. Still— "This was a great idea," Sam said. "You don't mind skipping the movie?" Terra carried two bowls to the table. Sam followed with the other two. "Not at all. I'd much rather spend time alo ne with you." Terra sat. "Um, actually, a friend is dropping by after dinner." Sam looked surprised and a little hurt. "Oh?" "Yes, but he'll only be here for a little while." "Oh." Sam took the chair across from her. Terra spooned up Mandarin beef and handed the bowl to Sam. "He's just a frien d I'd like you to meet. He's . . . well, different." "Okay. If he's a friend of yours, I'm sure I'll like him." What had she gotten herself into? *** Nathan stood outside the door, listening for several Page No 16

Lydia Parks 14 moments. Terra and her date spoke of their respective jobs, although in gener al terms. He noted the lack of emotion in Terra's voice as she explained that there were no solid leads in the serial killer case. Nathan rang the bell and waited for Terra to answer. She opened the door and looked at him with something approaching panic. "Dear Terra," he said, touching her arm, "how wonderful to see you." Enjoyi ng watching her try to appear relaxed, he kissed th e side of her head. "How long has it been?" "Not that long," she said. "Yes, I suppose you're right." He swung his cloak off and draped it over a c hair. "And this must be Sam." He approached the young man with extended hand. Sam was, indeed, good looking. Dark hair softened his brown eyes, and his s lender nose, full lips, and high cheekbones were classically attractive. He was also a good two inches taller than Nathan, and sported a well-muscled frame. "Hi." Sam accepted the handshake. "Pleased to meet you, Nathan. Terra tells me you two met during her first case as a detective." "Indeed." Nathan took a seat in the chair beside the sofa where Sam and Terra se ttled together. "It was quite a case, wasn't it?" Terra cleared her throat. "Yeah." "Are you also in law enforcement?" Sam asked. Nathan settled back, watching Terra try not to squirm. "Not precisely. More o f a consultant, I believe." Page No 17 A New Year's Bite 15 "I see." Sam smiled and spread his arm protectively across the back of the s ofa behind Terra. Good. He was interested enough to stick around. Nathan had no desire to w aste his efforts on someone who would disappear in a week. Focusing on the young man's forehead, Nathan pushed forward thoughts of t rust and calm. "You care about Terra, don't you, Sam?" Terra jumped to her feet. "Jesus, Nathan, do you have to—" "Yes." Sam held Nathan's gaze with a steady calm.

Terra stared, her mouth open. "Do you wish to make her happy?" "Yes." "Good." Nathan nodded to Terra. "Please, my dear, relax." She took a deep breath, huffed it out, and crossed her arms. "Tell me, Sam, do you enjoy sex?" Terra visibly paled. "Yes," Sam said, his voice calm. "Do you want Terra to enjoy sex, too?" Sam nodded. "Excellent." Nathan ran his hands down his thighs and rose. "My pet, would yo u prefer we retire to the bedroom, or is the living room more to your li king?" Terra leaned over and waved her hand in front of Sam's unflinching eyes. "I s he okay?" "Of course." Nathan stepped to Terra's side. "You don't really think I'd hurt him, do you?" She straightened and studied Nathan through narrowed eyes. "What exactly are we doing?" Page No 18 Lydia Parks 16 "Giving your boyfriend lessons, my sweet." "Great." She ran her fingers through her hair. "Screwing one-oh-one." "Quite." Nathan glanced back at the young man sitting on the sofa and croo ked a finger. "Come, Sam. I think we'll be more comfortable in the bedroom ." "Oh, shit," Terra muttered. "I can't believe I'm doing this." *** Terra felt completely exposed sitting on the edge of the bed in her bra and pa nties. The look of hunger in Nathan's eyes didn't help. "Maybe this wasn't such a great—" "Remove your clothes, Sam," Nathan said. Sam obediently undressed, dropping his clothes to the floor. He stood in the middle of the room with his hands at his sides, naked, staring blankly at the wall. Nathan continued to st udy Terra, and she fought the urge to cover herself, a lthough he'd seen her in less. "Now," Nathan said, "let's get started, shall we?"

Terra gulped at the lump in her throat. "I feel kind of stupid sitting here." "My dear," he said, "you are a beautiful woman. You shouldn't feel any less. " Nathan's deep, sexy voice sent a shiver through Terra as she suddenly recal led his touch. Although it had been nearly a year since she'd experienced i t, the memory had filled many of her waking and sleeping hours since. Page No 19 A New Year's Bite 17 Holding her in his gaze, Nathan unbuttoned his red silk shirt as he spoke. "A ll right, Sam, I want you to pay attention. You will remember my instructions , feel what I feel, taste what I taste. Sit down on the bed and watch." Natha n's shirt fell to the floor, followed by his boots and pants. "Great. I'm sitting in my bedroom with two naked men," Terra said to no one. "I guess I should be flattered." "One man and a vampire," Nathan said. When he grinned, Terra caught a gli mpse of fangs. "Oh, yeah." Nathan stepped closer to the bed. "You with me, Sam?" "Yes." Sam's voice was still flat. Terra had forgotten how good Nathan's body looked. Pale skin covered lean, sensuous muscles that rippled like those of a tiger. His movements were g raceful and effortless, and his male organ was large enough to draw her at tention even before he was aroused. Her body responded with stray tingles and twitches. "Enjoy the sight of her first, Sam. The way her hair falls across her shoulde rs, th e flat lines of her belly, the curve of her breasts. Imagine her long legs wrapped around you, locking your body to hers. Gaze into her blue eyes, Sa m, eyes as deep as the ocean." Nathan knelt in front of her and ran his hands up the outside of her legs to her thighs, then over her hips and along her sides. He eased the straps of he r bra down over her shoulders. "Linger on her breasts, Page No 20 Lydia Parks 18 Sam. They are indeed magnificent." He pulled the fabric down to expose her to his view. "Full, round breasts, milky skin, heated. Small, dark aureol

es pucker under your gaze. See how the nipples harden." He rubbed her nipp les with his thumbs. Nerve endings crackled. Terra took a deep breath, pushing her breasts toward him, surprised by the intensity of the pleasure already. The heat that washed through her wasn't all caused by pleasure, however. H ow was she supposed to do this? Sam sat less than three feet away, watchin g as if he were watching an egg frying. How could she survive such embarrassment? She reached out and pushed against Nathan's chest, a little surprised by hi s cool skin. "Look, this is a mistake. I can't—" "Kiss her now, Sam. Taste her." And Nathan did kiss her, covering her mouth with his, running the tip of his tongue across her lips. A groan from his chest vibrated through her hands, and the tingle in her body focused at the base of her belly. "Hmm, I'd forgotten just how good you taste," he whispered against her lips. "Nathan—" "Terra, I promise this will work. All you have to do is enjoy it." He kissed h er again. "I know I will." His kiss was unbelievably seductive. He eased her mouth open and explored, sliding his tongue around hers, stroking it, drawing it to his mouth. God, how was she supposed to resist him? He knew exactly how to turn her on. Page No 21 A New Year's Bite 19 Giving in, Terra closed he r eyes and drew on his tongue as she slid her hands up to his shoulders. She'd try her best to forget their audience; she'd been able to do it before. Nathan took his mouth away and trailed kisses down the side of her neck. "B etter," he whispered. Then he straightened in front of her, smiling. "Kiss her until she softens un der you, Sam, and kisses you back." When he reached around her, Terra's bra snapped loose. Nathan tossed it asi de. "She's quite beautiful, don't you agree, Sam?" "Yes." Terra glanced over and found Sam watching, now aroused.

"See what you do to both of us," Nathan said softly. He took her hand, wrap ped it on his swollen shaft, and covered it with his own. As he hardened, s o did Sam. "This is too weird," she said. Nathan kissed her briefly. "When she touches you, Sam, you'll want to charg e ahead and take her, but don't, or you'll miss the best part." He pushed T erra slowly to her back with his mouth on hers, and towered over her on his hands and knees. "Stay with me, Sam. Smell her scent and taste her excitem ent." And then he started down her body, caressing her with his mouth and hands, stopping to taste every bit of her. His tongue on her nipples nearly drove her wild and caused her back to arch. Terra pushed her fingers into Nathan's hair. "Oh, God, that's good." Page No 22 Lydia Parks 20 He groaned as he covered her right breast with his mouth and sucked. Terra's hand fisted in his hair and she drew a breath in through her teeth. Nathan paid equal attention to her left breast, and Terra moaned. She spread her legs around his body and lifted herself into him, suddenly aware of the wetness between her thighs. In spite of her attempt to stop him, Nathan moved out of her grip, traveling down her body slowly, nipping and kissing and licking her skin. Every inch of her sizzled with pleasure. When he slid her panties off of her, Terra started to tremble. She couldn't h elp it—he was driving her nuts. He nipped her inner thigh and she raised her feet to the edge of the bed. "Take your time here, Sam. Don't stop until she fills your mouth with her ju ic es. There's nothing more intoxicating." His breath fanned the flames of h er desire as he spoke. Terra gripped the bedspread in both fists and closed her eyes. Nathan did, in fact, take his time, running his tongue around her inner lips an d sliding it slowly over her clitoris. "Oh, my God," she said, her voice raspy. As he continued to tease her and hint at entering her, Terra felt as if her ent ire being focused in on her swelling clit. Heat built, forc ing her to open wider to him. Desire lifted her buttocks off the bed. The promise of release had her shaking all over

Page No 23 A New Year's Bite 21 now. "Oh, fuck," she heard herself whisper. The backs of her thighs burned wi th need that stretched all the way to her aching tits. Nathan's mouth covered her cunt now and he sucked hard as his tongue mo ved up and down. He had complete control. Merciless control. She cried out as she came. The pounding release shot through her, driving her wild, lifting her into th e charged air. Again and again, pleasure crackled through her muscles and ne rves, and took up all the space around her. Her hips shot higher with each u nbelievable surge. Finally she fell back to the bed, her soul singed, her body spent. Nathan's mouth was thankfully still against her pounding muscles as she wor ked to catch her breath. When he took his mouth away, she felt oddly abandoned in spite of his ha nd s on the undersides of her thighs. "Oh, yes," Nathan said, "nectar like no other." His seductive voice wrapped aro und her as he crawled up onto the bed. Terra had no idea why she felt the need for more, but she did. As Nathan a pproached, she turned her head to bare her neck to him. He drew her face back to his with one finger under her chin. "Not yet, my s weet ." He briefly kissed her mouth as he lowered his body slowly onto hers , wedging his rock-hard penis between her thighs. Terra ran her hands over his smooth back, relishing the feel of muscles tigh tening under her palms. Page No 24 Lydia Parks 22 "Now, Sam," he said, "it's time to mount her, but we do it with finesse." Th e head of Nathan's cock nudged against Terra's swollen vaginal lips. She tried to lift herself into him, craving the feel of him inside her, but he ro se with her. "Don't let her take over ye t, Sam, or she'll draw you out too soon." He gri nned at Terra. "We want her to reach at least one more climax before we give in, don't we, my dear?" Terra gasped as Nathan suddenly pushed his cock partway in. As large as the o

rgan was, it slid easily, stretching her. "Such a sweet, wet cunt," Nathan whispered. Terra clung to his body, needing more, opening herself to him. Nathan withdrew and pushed deeper, a little at a time, until his rigid shaft was completely buried. He dropped his head to hers momentarily, then raised himself to look down at her. His eyes seemed to glow from under heavy lids. "Yes," he hissed. "Now we st art into a slow, easy fuck." As he withdrew and pushed, Terra's juices thickened around his cock, and her body moved to thrust against him. The tension and excitement built again as he nipped at her lips and kissed her, leading her in heavenly undulations. Her desire gr ew into unbelievable need and their rhythm quickened. Terra wrapped one leg around Nathan's, drawing him closer, desperate for more. Her need was suddenly too deep, too intense, too frantic. Her fingers curled i nto fists against his back as Page No 25 A New Year's Bite 23 every muscle tightened. "Oh, yes, now, I…I can't…oh—" As her world exploded, he buried his cock in her and moved to her need. Hi s wet shaft rubbed against her pulsing clit. She rode the waves, sliding over each crest and rolling through the troughs, wishing they'd go on and on. He held her down against her thrusts skyward, whispering in her ear, "Yes, my pet, give me more. More." And she did, until the last sweet, erotic wave washed over her and the sea c almed. Her heart pounded. Nathan kissed her mouth, then turned his head. "Close your eyes now, Sam, and keep yourself busy." He pushed against her remn ant pulses. "This is f or me," he whispered. He reached down and pulled her left leg up beside him as he lowered his mou th to her ear. "Surrender to me, Terra. You know what I need." Without concern, Terra turned her head. Nathan's cock grew even larger as he moved his mouth to the side of her neck . His tongue flicked over her skin as if tasting her, preparing for a meal. He withdrew and thrust hard into her as his teeth pierced her flesh. She gasped.

Pain. Searing pain faded like running watercolors into indescribable joy and her bo dy melted into perfect ecstasy. He drew her into him as he filled her with h is Page No 26 Lydia Parks 24 seed. Page No 27 A New Year's Bite 25 The Truth athan lay at Terra's side and held her in his arms, his cock buried in her heated cunt, his face pressed into her hair. Her dreams swam in his brain, highlighted by her fears and joys and concerns and wants. Everything that was Terra, he knew. N At least this time he'd been prepared for her moral values. The first time, they'd taken him by surprise. What did surprise him was how much she'd matured since he'd last tasted her blood. Part of it was the case she was working on. She'd seen what she thought was the worst man could do. Some of the change had been caused by recent problems she'd faced with her family. He understood now why Terra didn't want to take Sam to the party, and he felt her hurt when her parents voiced disappointment in her life choices. Nathan moved so that he could look at her face. Terra's eyes were closed, and she took deep breaths through her mouth. When he brushed her hair from her cheek, she smiled. The woman had a sturdy constitution, no doubt about it. Most people he drank from lost consciousness. Page No 28

Lydia Parks 26 "How's Sam?" she whispered. Nathan rolled over to look, bringing Terra with him. She opened her eyes and la ughed, then rested her head on his shoulder. Sam sat beside them, his eyes closed, his hand— dripping with semen—hold ing his spent cock. Nathan smiled. He'd held Sam with him up until the end, leaving the young man to his own devices so that he would have the final moment to himself . No point in confusing Sam—he wouldn't understand why they were piercing Terra's neck. Now there was just one thing left to do, and his mission would be complete. Sam had to participate. Nathan kissed Terra and enjoyed a few more selfish moments holding her be fore he eased his grip. "Ready?" She drew back and looked at him. "For what?" "For one last round." Terra huffed a laugh. "You've got to be kidding." "Oh, no." He brushed a stran d of blonde hair from her forehead. "The last f uck is desperately slow and enjoyable." She frowned. "But you just…I mean, I thought you only, you know, did it o nce." Nathan smiled. "No, my pe t, I don't mean me. I mean us." Terra glanced over at Sam. "Both of you?" "In a manner of speaking." He held her on top of him and moved to the midd le of the bed as he reconnected with his student. "Are you there, Sam?" "Yes." Page No 29 A New Year's Bite 27 "Good." He kissed Terra's mouth and then raised her up to her hands and k nees above him. "Move closer, Sam. Lay beside us." "Nathan—" He pressed one finger to her lips and smiled, then lifted her and placed her on Sam's thighs. "Touch her, Sam. Run your hands up her body and feel her s mooth, heated flesh. Caress her full breasts, and then hold her slender wais t." The man did as instructed.

Nathan sat beside Terra and pushed his own renewed interest into Sam's brai n. "Pull her up onto you now, and feel her heat on your hardening cock." From his vantage point, Nathan watched the man's cock rising against Terra' s pubic hair. He glanced at Terra to find her eyes closed and her mouth ope n. Nathan moved around behind Terra, straddling Sam's legs, and ran his hand s over Terra's warm shoulders. He nipped the spots just above her shoulder blades where nerve en dings bunched and felt her react, then he re ached around for her breasts an d licked the side of her neck. Her salty skin tasted of fulfillment and excitement, and courage in the face of uncertainty. A lov ely taste. Her smooth nipples puckered again under his touch. Using only his thoughts now, he drew Sam's hands up to replace his own on her breasts, and he reached lower, until he felt her heated juices. Swollen, velvet lips, sticky. Terra moved back and forth against his touch, her breath coming out in short , stuttered gasps. Her juices dripped from his fingers to Sam's hardened sha ft. Page No 30 Lydia Parks 28 Nathan glanced over Terra's shoulder at the man lying beneath her. Sam's wide chest reddened where blood pumped through bunching muscles, and his biceps bulged as he pu lled Terra and pushed her back. "Now, Sam," he whispered. Sam raised Terra and entered her slowly, and Nathan felt the joy of a ho t, h ard shaft entering a waiting cunt as if the pleasure were his own. His own cock stiffened in respon se, rubbing against Terra's buttocks. "Easy, Sam." Nathan summoned Sam's hand down and covered it with his own until he was sure the man understood just how to rub her clit. Terra groaned at every long, slow stroke, and she arched her back to meet th e next. Nathan's fangs dropped again—a reaction he hadn't expected after feasting s o recently on Terra's blood. He needed to move away from her neck, or he might be tempted to pa rtake again. A second drink could be dangerous, even for one so strong. Reluctantly, he slid around beside the couple until he could see both of them . Sam continued pushing Terra back and drawing her forward, effecting long, steady strokes. With each

withdrawal, his cock, lined with bulging veins, glistened in the lamplight. Nathan stroked his own hard shaft, still wet, wishing for human release, and leaned forward to lick Terra's breasts. She thrust them into his mouth. She was close. He could taste her excitement. As he sucked harder, she raise d her head, her groans Page No 31 A New Year's Bite 29 growing into eager grunts. "Oh…yes…oh—" Pushing deeper and closing his eyes, Nathan lost himself in Sam's head, feeli ng the tight heat of Terra's pulsing vaginal muscles. He was Sam, his seed bo iling at the base of hi s cock, swelling, craving release. He held her waist as she cried out in orgasmic delight, and he pumped, hard, deep, thrusting against her as she pushed back onto him, savoring the feel of her gripping cunt milking the seed from his cock. He buried himself in her with the last eruption. She stilled against him. Nathan pulled his thoughts back, surprised to find Terra's hand wrapped ar ound his cock and drenched. He watched the couple frozen in bliss, their chests rising and falling rapidly. He listened to their pounding hearts, the beats in sync now. The smell of sex and sweat filled the room , and he felt a hint of jealous longing. Terra turned her head to look at him, her eyebrows raised. "I didn't think y ou could—" He looked down at his lost erection as she withdrew her hand. "Nor did I." Then he leaned over to kiss her overheated lips. Nathan ran the back of his fingers down Terra's shaking arm. "Relax, Sam." Sam complied. He dropped his arms to his sides and closed his eyes, still br eathing hard. Terra eased herself off of Sam and stretched out on the bed, facing Nathan. "That was wonderful." "Quite so." "What'll happen now?" she asked. Page No 32 Lydia Parks

30 "I'll explain to Sam that the two of you were the only ones participating in t onight's coupling, then I'll suggest he take a nap. When he wakes up next to y ou, he'll think he's the reason for the smile on your precious lips." Terra grinned at Nathan, and then she sat up beside him. "What about the n ext time Sam and I are, you know, together?" Nathan stroked the top of her thigh. "Unless I miss my guess, he'll know wha t to do." Terra looked at Nathan as she fingered the small red marks on her neck. "T here'll always be something missing, won't there? I mean, with mortal men. " "Yes, my pet, but you'll also have something you'll never have with me." "What?" "Love." She studied his eyes intently. He shoved her bare should er with his own. "And body heat." She laughed. "You've got a point." Nathan wasted little time preparing Sam, getting dressed, and leaving Terra to her beau. The night was still young when he stepped out onto the sidewalk in fr ont of Terra's apartment building. His appetites sated and the beast quiet, Nathan stopped to enjoy the scent of night air. Decaying leaves and drying flowers floated down on the north wind. Smiling to himself , he strolled down the small side street toward the inner city. Winter had always been his favorite time of year, Page No 33 A New Year's Bite 31 even when he was a boy, long before his conversion to creature of the night . He missed the heavy snows of Boston. Perhaps it was time to consider a ho me farther north. Atlanta rarely offered more than a few ice storms. Inhaling deeply again, Nathan staggered a step and stopped. What was this? It was the unmistakable scent of fresh blood. Not the blood of prey pierced by an arrow in the woods, but human blood in large quantities. If not for his recent encounter with Ter ra, his fangs would have dropped instantly. As it was, he felt them start to lengthen. After glancing around, he crossed the street, picked up the scent, and follo

wed it . Three blocks later, the smell overwhelmed him nearly to the point o f swooning. Yes, it was close now. Nathan turned down a dark alley and stopped. Less than a dozen feet away, a young woman's body lay in a pool of blood that glistened in the distant stre etlights. Pressing himself into the shadows, Nathan listened. He heard no rushing foot steps or speeding vehicles, just the usual sounds of the city at night. He l ooked around once more. This must be the work of Terra's serial killer, the one for which there were no leads. But someone knew who the beast was, and she lay just ahead. Quietly, Nathan crossed the alley and knelt beside the young woman's mutil ated body. He caught a whiff of semen and it disg usted him. Even when the Page No 34 Lydia Parks 32 devil ruled his actions, he could never find such a case anything but nauseat ing. Assured that he was alone with the young woman, Nathan touched her forehea d, still warm from life, and drew his fingers across her bloodstained lips . Then he raised his fingers to his own mouth. It wouldn't take more than a drop to know— The power of the vision knocked him backwards to the ground. Horror, terror, unimaginable fear gripped him by the throat as he watched t he man attack. The hideous ugliness, the deformity. Nathan felt the cold blade pierce his own skin and h is life escaping to the ground. Screams gurgled in his throat and died. And it was over. Nathan dropped his head back to the cold brick wall and huffed as the vision faded. He released the terror and held on to the one thing he needed—a clear picture of the killer's face. "Don't move!" Nathan opened his eyes to find a police officer standing at the opening to the alley, his feet apart and his gun drawn. The man's anticipation permeated the still air. "I'm not the one you seek ," Nathan said, pushing himself to his feet. "Dammit, I said, don't move! I swear, I'll pop you right here, you sick bastar d. You don't deserve to live." Nathan pushed his thoughts forward, staring at the young officer. "My dear sir, I don't think you—"

He fell back against the wall, surprised by the force Page No 35 A New Year's Bite 33 of the bullet as it struck his chest. Nathan looked down at the hole in his sh irt. Had this foolish human really shot him? "I told you not to move!" The shot was more painful than Nathan expected, and anger swelled in him in a rush. The beast arose, claiming its right to revenge. He charged forward, knocking the policeman to the ground in a movement fa ster than the mortal could comprehend. With fangs bared, Nathan pulled th e man up by the collar. "Call for backup!" Nathan glanced at the two men running toward him, both in uniform with w eapons in hand. Covering the burning hole in his chest, Nathan dropped his potential victim a nd leapt to the top of the closest building. He stopped to listen. The largest of the running officers skidded to a stop. "What the fuck was tha t?" "Where did he go?" The second man stopped beside the first. The officer who'd shot Nathan rolled to his side and sat up, his eyes wide. H e didn't say a word. Certain that his escape was unseen, Nathan turned and trotted noiselessly ac ross the roof, leaping from one building to the next until he'd put a good half mile between himself and the crime scene. He then hopped to the ground and st arted for home at a fa st walk. A small stream of blood ran down the front of his shirt. He wrapped himself in his cape and ignored the annoying sting. Page No 36 Lydia Parks 34 *** Terra frowned and rolled to her side. Why was she awake? The phone answered her question by ringing again. She snatched the cordles s receiver from the set. "Yeah?" "Terra, it's TJ." She cringed at the voice of her new partner. "Yeah."

"Captain told me to call you. We've got a lead." "Really?" The news brought her fully to consciousness. She threw the cover s aside and sat up. "When?" "He got another girl last night, but one of the uniforms clipped him before h e got away." "Someone saw him?" "Oh, yeah, and he's even sicker than we thought." "How?" "Captain says to get your cute little ass down here, pronto." No doubt the captain had said nothing of the kind. Before she could answer wi th the 'fuck off' that was on the tip of her tongue, th e phone clicked in h er ear. She held it out and glared. "Asshole." "Terra?" She glanced back at Sam, who rolled to his side and ran his fingers down he r bare back. His warm, tender touch felt wonderful. "Everything okay?" She leaned over and quickly kissed his lips, then crawled backwards out of be d. "I've got to run to the Page No 37 A New Year's Bite 35 office. We've got a break on the Slasher case." "What time is it?" She glanced at the clock. "Three-fifteen." Sam propped his head on his hand and watched her get dressed. "Was it my i magination, or was last night fantastic?" Terra smiled. "It wasn't your imagination." He smiled back. She grabbed her weapon and keys from the dresser. "Listen, if I'm not back by the time you have to leave, I'll call you tonight." He nodded. "Good luck." "Thanks." Terra lingered for a moment, enjoying the light of lust in Sam' s eyes, then turned and hurried from her apartment. If she didn't get there soon, TJ would leave her behind and take all the credit for the case she'd sweated over—the case that had haunted her dreams, not his. With the light on her da sh flashing, Terra raced through the empty streets to the station. Inside, the place buzzed. Cops swarmed around one desk in the bullpen wher

e Tony Barelli sat, leaning back in his chair, one foot propped on his des k. He was a street cop, three years on the force, and someone Terra only k new because he'd screwed at least half the women working for the city. Everyone called him Big Tony, but she'd never had any desire to find out if he deserved the nickname. As far as she was concerned, he was just an overgrown punk with a trigger finger as ready for action as his pecker. He'd shot three perps sinc e the academy. Page No 38 Lydia Parks 36 "Did you hear? Tony shot the guy." Terra turned to Cindy Cotts. "What guy?" "The Slasher." "A forty-five in the chest," Tony said, basking in the glow. Several other cops nodded and someone slapped his shoulder appreciatively. Terra stopped at the edge of his desk. "A forty-five in the chest? Where's th e corpse?" Tony's smile slipped a notc h. "Well, he got away, but I'm sure he'll turn u p somewhere." "He got away? With a forty-five slug in his chest?" Tony glanced around and shrugged. "Hey, he's some kind of freak or something," Officer Dennison said. "I saw him." "Yeah," another man said from the back of the group. "A freak." "What do you mean?" Tony shrugged again. "Whe n I got there, this guy was sitting by the victim, licking the blood from his fingers. He's one sick bastard." Danny Webster, the precinct artist, shoved his way into the crowd and held up a page for Tony to see. Tony took it and nodded. "Yeah, that's him." When he turned the paper for a group viewing, Terra gulped and took a step backwards. The face belonged to Nathan. TJ snatched the drawing. "We'll get this circulated. He can't get far." *** Page No 39

A New Year's Bite 37 Nathan sat at the dining room table, finishing off the fifth pint of O-positi ve. Hunger still gnawed at his insides, in spite of the fa ct that he'd consu med a week's worth of nourishment. He glanced down at the wound in his chest, surprised it hadn't yet completely closed. The poli ceman's revolver had ripped a massive hole all the way through him. He coul dn't remember the last time he'd been so badly injured. No, that wasn't true. He actually remembered it quite well, now that he th ought about it. How long had it been, two hundred years? More? Sweet little Nina, his dark-haired beauty, his gypsy rose. She was a sly one , and quite delicious. Who would have guessed such a dark heart resided in o ne so beautiful? Lost in the memory of her dancing by firelight, her rounded body undulating suggestively, Nathan didn't notice Terra's approach until she rang the bell. He eased to his feet, crossed the room, and opened the front door. "Nathan—" Terra rushed in and stopped in front of him. "Oh, shit." She gent ly touched the circle of healing flesh in the center of his bare chest. He closed his eyes at the heat of her touch and grabbed her wrist to move it away. "Be careful, my dear. I'm not at my best." She frowned up at him, her eyes dark with concern. Nathan released her and returned to his seat. He emptied what was left in his glass and tried not to notice how good Terra smelled. Page No 40 Lydia Parks 38 "Nathan, I just came from the station. They all think you're the Slasher." "How quaint, the Slasher. Not quite my style." "I know, but they don't. What happened?" She sat in the chair across from h im. He watched the small vein in her neck rise and fall ever so slightly with eac h beat of her heart, and the devil urged him forward. Fighting the beast, he averted his gaze to his glass. "I found the young woma n's body shortly after I left you. She was quite dead when I arrived." "Great. We have an APB ou t with your face on it. It's all over town by now.

" Nathan turned his glass slowly, enjoying the way light reflected in the dark blue. "Then, I suppose you must find the real killer." "Oh, yeah, why didn't I think of that?" He glanced up and found her looking at him with one eyebrow raised. "Do you wish to know what he looks like?" She didn't answer, but just stared. "He has blonde hair, is five-ten, more or less, and has a large scar over half h is face." "What kind of scar?" "An old one. One that reaches to his very soul. He's missing one eye, as well as the fingers from his left hand. He hates the fact that women recoil from him in disgust, so he must m ake them suffer. I believe he was in some kind of acci dent when he was very young." "Do you know how old he is?" "Perhaps twenty, twenty-one. His voice suggests Page No 41 A New Year's Bite 39 he's from a rural part of the state." "You heard him?" Nathan shrugged. "In a manner of speaking." "Wait, I don't—" "My dear, it's getting late." He rose slowly from his chair. "I'll draw his face for you. Will that help?" "Sure, but—" "Please, Terra, you must leave." His hands shook as he curled them into fists at his side. Her blood offered healing life to him, and the devil whispered take her now. "How will I get the drawing from you?" "I'll leave it in my mailbox before I retire for the day. Can you pick it up af ter dawn?" She nodded, then walked to the door. With her hand on the knob, she turned back. "Isn't there something I can do to help?" He smiled at her concern. "Nothing that you would survive, my pet." She swallowed hard and nodded. "I'll check on you tomorrow." And then she was gone. Relieved by the absence of temptation, Nathan walked into the kitchen an d re

filled his glass. He'd have to return to the hospital the following evening t o restock. *** Terra stopped in front of Nathan's house, trotted to the door, and withdrew a fold ed piece of paper from the mailbox. In spite o f her mental preparation, she Page No 42 Lydia Parks 40 cringed when she studied the drawing. The man's face was badly disfigured. Why hadn't he had plastic surgery? No one had to look like this these days. Maybe he was indigent. Ma ybe he'd been in a car accident when he was a ch ild and his parents hadn't been able to afford medica l care. There were lo ts of people without insurance who wouldn't accept charity. Still, this was bad. No wonder the man was messed up. Once she was over the horror, Terra noticed how well Nathan drew. The pict ure was done in pencil, and looked very three-dimensional. She supposed he'd had plenty of time to practice over the years. Tucking the drawing into her coat pocket, Terra trotted back to her car. She 'd have to do some research. Somewhere, there must be records of a child in an accident this bad. She glanced at her watch. Eight twenty-five. TJ was so busy running around wi th Nathan's portrait he wouldn't even notice she was gone. She needed to call her mom about the stupid party, but she could do that dur ing lunch. First, to the newspaper archives. Page No 43 A New Year's Bite 41 The Capture erhaps it was the injury that caused the dreams; Nathan couldn't be sure . Sometimes the dreams came for no reason at all. P He stood in the shadows against a gum tree, watching the campfire where several men from town

and various members of the gypsy troop sat. Holding her skirts above her knees, Nina danced slowly to the strange music her brothers produced on foreign instruments, her hips swaying like a soft breeze. Her full lips curled into a sedu ctive smile and her black eyes reflected the firelight as she turned in circles. She'd danced this way every night for a month as Nathan watched from the woods. Most of the men had female companions fawning over them or sitting in their laps. One man—the tallest of the group, an d the one who appeared to have the most money—sat alone, taking Nina in with his hungry gaze. When the dance ended, he rose and followed her around the back of a wagon. Nathan slipped through the woods to the far side of the camp where he could see her again. She whispered to her gentleman friend as she held the front of his shirt an d led him to a blanket Page No 44 Lydia Parks 42 stretched out beside a smaller fire. A young boy who had been tending the fire moved noiselessly away when they arrived. Nina untied the front of her blouse. She slid the garment over her shoulders and the swell of her breasts to reveal large, d ark nipples. Then she began to undress the man bef ore her. His eyes remained glued to her breasts as she worked. For the most part, she spoke in a language Nathan couldn't understand. Hun garian, perhaps. The meaning of her words, however, was clear to both himself and the man stand ing before her. When she spoke English, Nathan heard her plainly. "What is your name, sir?" "Jeremy Milton." "Ah, Jeremy Milton, you are a powerful man." Jeremy didn't answer, but licked his lips as Nina circled his bare chest with her palms. She opened the man's breeches, slid both hands inside, and held her botto m lip between her teeth, suggesting she liked what she felt. "Oh, so big and

powerful, no?" Jeremy grinned. "Let me see all of you, Jeremy." He didn't object when sh e pushed his breeches to the ground. His cock stoo d straight out, not quite as impressive as Nina had suggested, but large en ough. She wrapped her hands around it and pulled, guiding him forward a ste p. The small boy tiptoed up behind Jeremy, grabbed his pants, and disappeared . Page No 45 A New Year's Bite 43 But Jeremy didn't notice. He watched Nina as she dropped to her knees and t ook the head of his erection into her mouth, licking and sucking and making soft sounds of plea sure. As she did, Jeremy closed his eyes and groaned. Nathan leaned against an elm and dropped his hand to the front of his trous ers where his own erection grew. Nina held Jeremy's hips and drew his cock into her mouth, taking nearly all of him, and Jeremy's knees began to shake. After several strokes with her lips, she withdrew and let him drop to the ground in front of her. Jeremy grabbed Nina by the waist and pushed her down to the blanket, then g athered her skirts and shoved them up to reveal her bare thighs. Nina raised her knees and Nathan saw the dark hair covering the sweet flesh b etween her legs. If he were in Jeremy's place, he'd take the time to apprecia te the sight and smell and taste of her. Jeremy crawled over her on his hands and knees, pointed his shaft at her c unt, and, with no care as to who the woman was under him, fucked her. Nina didn't try to stop him. In fact, she raised herself into his strokes, her h ands by her sides. Nathan slid down to sit at the base of the tree, his cock now in his hand as he watched the animal-like union. Jeremy's buttocks tightened and relaxed as he thrust the length of his er ec tion into the woman with enthusiasm. Firelight danced across their bodies. Nathan stroked his harden ing cock and his fangs Page No 46 Lydia Parks 44

descended. He ran his tongue slowly over the length of the enlarged incisors . Nina turned her head in Nathan's direction and he saw the total lack of emot ion on her face as the man above her grunted, quickening his pace. She cared not if Jeremy enjoyed the experience, and certainly wasn't enjoying it hers elf. Nathan's erection wilted. Jeremy's body stiffened as he came. He pumped a half dozen times and then he stopped. Huffing and puffing, he withdrew and sat back, wiping his face with the back of his hand. The young boy returned Jeremy's breeches without the man knowing it, and wi th emptied pockets, no doubt. Jeremy dressed and wandered back to the main campfire where another tankar d of ale waited, unaware that a small boy delivered a handful of his coins to the woman Jeremy had just used. Nina proffered one of the coins to the boy, patted him on the head, and droppe d the rest into a hidden pocket in the front of her skirt. Nathan smiled. "You deserve better," he whispered. Nina stopped and looked up to where Nathan sat. He knew she couldn't see him, but would have sworn she did. Her lips curved seductively before she ambled back to the campfire. Much later that night, Nathan waited at the smoking embers of the dying fir e. He listened to sounds of men and women sleeping, and he listened to one stir. Page No 47 A New Year's Bite 45 The wagon squeaked as Nina stepped out into the night wearing a long whit e gown. She stopped for a moment, then walked slowly to where Nathan stoo d, watching. Moonlight glistened in her coal-black hair and eyes, and danced across her smooth skin. Her scent rose around her, cal ling to him, and he could see that she wore no other garments. Nathan touched her shoulders, pushing the gown aside to reveal her tender fle sh to the night air and his fingers. She made no atte mpt to stop him as he continued, urging the garme nt to the ground. In the moonlight, her naked body was perfect, unbelievable, as if made for t he night. Her breasts were full and firm, and her rounded hips promised earthly delights meant for gods. He stood before her, touching all of her, enjoying her warmth and sil

kiness. She didn't speak, but untied his cape. It fell to the ground behind him. Then sh e released the buttons of his shirt, and it, too, was removed. When she sta rted on his trousers, he stopped her. "Not yet," he whispered. She looked up into his ey es, a hint of confusion showing for a moment, but s he quickly hid it. "Don't move," he said. She stood still as he circled her, touching and tasting her skin. As his atten tion grew more ardent, she began to shiver. On his knees before her, he drew her left breast into his mouth and sucked hard. She murmured and her hands rested on his shoulders, scorching throu gh him. He moved to the other side and did the same, Page No 48 Lydia Parks 46 thrilling to the saltiness of her skin. Her body moved forward slightly, and her nipples hardened into points again st his tongue. Nathan slid his hands up the backs of her legs and held her buttocks. Slowl y, he moved down her body with his mouth, enjoying her quivering flesh. She 'd washed away the smells of Jeremy and the campfire, and her skin held a h int of lavender. As he sat back on a log, he held her up in spite of her sh aking knees, and he drew her to his mouth. She moaned and pushed her fingers into his hair. Her taste was thick and earthy, causing his cock to harden uncomfortably in h is trousers when he parted her lips with his tongue, searching for her enlarg ed clitoris. He found it and flicked it back and forth, and heard her gasp. It wasn't long before her body began to quiver. Her hands fisting in his hai r, she pressed her sweet cunt to his mouth and flooded it with her juices as her pulses grabbed his tongue. Had he been a mere mortal, he would have come at that blessed moment. But he was not, so he wait ed for her release to be completed before lowering her into his lap. She held his shoulders and stared into his eyes for a long moment, then slid her hands down the front of his body. With practiced ea se, she freed his e rection from his trousers and w rapped her heated hands around the shaft. Nathan tried to hide his fangs as the pleasure washed over him. He pulled N ina forward, raised her

up, and lowered her onto his waiting cock. Her hot juices made the entry swi ft, although she was tighter Page No 49 A New Year's Bite 47 than he'd guessed. She dr ew his body closer as she shuddered. "Wrap your legs around me," he said. She hesitated for a moment, as if considering the impending loss of control. He pressed his lips to her chest and held her as she complied, locking her fe et together at the small of his back. Enjoying the feel of her growing excitement, Nathan raised and lowered Nin a on his cock, burying himself completely with every stroke. She swelled and tightened around him, and dug her fingernails into his shoulders. When she came a second time, he covered her mouth with his, swallowing he r cries. Her juices coated both of them, and he r body shook as she rode out the waves. Before she lost the mome nt completely, Nathan enveloped her in his arms. H e pierced the flesh above her breast and drew out he r pulsing nectar as he released his seed, completing the union, taking her into him and reeling from her strength. Sweet joy, he rose to the greatest he ights as he came, holding her writhing body to his. As the shared orgasm slo wed, he was struck first by the taste of cruelty and bitterness in her blood, and then by her amazement at ac tually enjoying sex, and finally by a searing pai n in the middle of his back. Nathan gasped and jumped to his feet. For several long minutes he waited in the dark, trying to understand. Understanding came slowly, awakening with the night. He stood in his bedro om, shaking like a leaf. Page No 50 Lydia Parks 48 The past. It always felt so real when it came to call, to haunt him with his mi stakes. So many damnable mistakes. Nathan shook off the sweet nightmare and made his way to the shower. *** Timothy Trump.

It had taken Terra all day to uncover his story, but she'd finally pieced it together. He'd been three when his mother had driven their car head-on into a pickup truck. His mother and the driver of the truck had been killed, and li ttle Timmy was tossed through the windshield like a rag doll. He hadn't been in a car seat, which wasn't all that unusual in the hills of north Georgia. His injuries were serious enough that he hadn't been expected to live, but ul timately, he'd survived. His father had fallen into a drunken stupor and, just before he died, turned the disfigured boy over to his paternal grandparents, who had in turn died wh ile Timmy was a teenager. This left the boy alone in a backwoods orphanage wh ere he was told it was God's will that he face life as a monster. A monster was exactly what he'd become. Terra stood against the brick wall, watching the street and waiting. Her thirt y-eight rested reassuringly in the small of her back. All of the murders had occurred within a six block radius of one of the olde st hotel districts in town—a place where rooms could be rented by the hour o r the Page No 51 A New Year's Bite 49 month. She hadn't yet discovered which room Timothy Trump occupied, bu t she was sure it was one of the ones she could see from where she stood. "Hey, baby, you lookin' for a party?" Terra glared at the man who hung out the window of a tan Chevy. "Get lost. " "Ow, mama, that ain't no way to talk." Terra took a step toward the car and lowered her voice. "I'm a cop. You wan t to party at my place?" The man visibly paled, drew himself back into his car, and sped away. Terra returned to her post. People passing by were junkies, hookers, dealers, and God-only-knows-what -else, and they all eyed Terra suspiciously. Some were ugly and dirty, so me were hideous, but not one was Timothy Trump. "What are you doing?" Terra jumped and spun toward the voice, reaching instinctively for her hand gun. "Jesus." "Not quite." Nathan smiled and leaned back on the wall. Terra glanced around to see if anyone was watching. "What are you doing h

ere?" "The same thing you are, I suspect." "That's great, except if an yone sees you, this place will be swarming with c ops." Nathan nodded. "I suppose you're right. Maybe I'll move to a less conspicu ous spot. Have you found our boy?" "I know his name, and I know he's around here somewhere. I can smell him. " "Really?" Page No 52 Lydia Parks 50 She glanced at Nathan. "It's a figure of speech." "Indeed. And does anyone else know you're out here as bait for a serial kille r?" Terra shrugged and looked down the street. "You do, now." "True." She sighed. "Look, if you don't split, he'll never show. He's certainly not looking for women with male companions." "As you wish, my pet. But please be careful." Terra nodded, touched by Nathan's concern. She glanced over to tell him so and found him already gone. She looked around, but saw no sign of him. Still, she was fairly sure he hadn 't gone far. That knowledge made her feel a hundred percent better. Nathan would be amused if he knew she thought of him as her guardian ange l. *** Nathan crouched near the edge of the old hotel roof, watching Terra. He had n't moved a muscle in over an hour. Patience wasn't hard to come by when fa cing eternal life. Terra, however, fidgeted. She was a woman in a hurry to live, and she hated w aiting. He'd noticed this tendency and explained that she must learn to sit s till in order to play chess. She pushed off from the wall, looked both ways down the sidewalk as she mad e a slow circle, then settled back to her position against the damp bricks. Page No 53

A New Year's Bite 51 He could smell their musty scent from his perch. Sometime close to midnight, Terra's fidgeting grew worse. She was obviousl y about to give up, which wouldn't have bothered Nathan at all. He'd much rather be forced to relocate than watch her get hurt, but he also knew how much she needed to catch the Slasher; he'd tasted the need in her blood. For her sake, he hoped the monster made his appearance soon. Several people had drawn Nathan's attention as they approached Terra, but none so much as the man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and dark glasses. He advanced quickly, but stopped twenty yards away and watched her. "The bishop approaches, my queen," Nathan whispered. As if she'd heard him, Terra looked around, then stiffened as she, too, sp o tted the man. She purposely looked away, but Nathan knew she had tuned i n the hooded man's movements. The man started forward agai n, one step at a time as if he were strolling i n a slow-moving parade. Nathan inched closer to the edge, ready to leap. He must wait for the right mome nt, or the trap would be sprung prematurely and all would be lost. When the man was less than ten feet from Terra, she rolled around the corner and disappeared into the dark alley. "No, my sweet, not there." He couldn't see her from where he waited. The hooded man followed. Nathan picked out an empty spot and dropped Page No 54 Lydia Parks 52 soundlessly to the ground, then he moved with superhuman speed across the bu sy street, stopping in the spot Terra had just left. Her warmth and scent st ill clung to the wall. He leaned around the corn er to see the man raise his arm, a knife glistening in the streetlight. Nathan charged forward in time to stop the swing. "What—" The man struggled to turn around, but was unable to move. Nathan held him by the wrist. Terra stepped out from behind the man, her weapon in her hand. "Nathan, I had him." He raised one eyebrow. "Sorry, my dear, I wasn't certain." She sighed heavily. "Have him drop the knife, will you?" Nathan pinched the man's wrist and the knife clanged to the ground. Terra pulled a plastic bag from her pocket, turned it inside out, and lifted the

knife with it. She then sealed the weapon inside, an d looked up at Nathan. "Since you're here alre ady, can you hang onto him for a minute? I need to call this in." "Of course." Terra trotted from the alley. Nathan turned the man around and studied him. With the hood up and glasses i n place, it wasn't easy to see his disfigurement. In fact, he could have pas sed for any person on the street , until the glasses slipped partway down hi s crooked nose. "You know," Nathan said , "the world is full of unattractive people. It doesn 't excuse what you've Page No 55 A New Year's Bite 53 done." "Fuck you," the man said, hurling the words like a stone. Nathan shook his head. "I believe you'll have a chance to consider your actio ns in prison, if I'm not mistaken." The man lashed out with his feet, trying to kick Nathan in the groin. Nathan clamped down on the man's wrist until the bones neared the breaking point. His prisoner stilled with a whimper. Nathan drew him closer. "You're lucky the police are here," he whispered. " Otherwise, I would rid the world of you myself." Terra trotted back around the corner, huffing to catch her breath. "Thanks," she said, as she clamped handcuffs around the man's wrists. "Timothy Trump, you're under arrest. You have the right to remain silent." Nathan released Trump and stepped away. Terra glanced back at him. "Thanks." He bowed slightly, then turned and left the alley. At the corner, he waited until police cars appeared with flashing lights and screaming sirens, and then he headed toward the hospital. His supplies were running low again, and he didn't want to get caught in th e holiday rush at the emergency room. *** "Congratulations, Detective Ryan."

Page No 56 Lydia Parks 54 Terra accepted Captain Vetter's handshake. "Thank you." The captain frowned out at the informal crowd. "And where was your partn er when you made the arrest?" Terra looked innocently around and caught sight of TJ ducking into the lock er room. "I'm not sure, sir. We were working on different leads." "I see." The captain cleared his throat and turned toward his office. "Tell yo ur partner I want to see him when he gets back." "Yes, sir." After the captain's door closed, her fellow detectives rushed up to congratula te her. Terra's face warmed at all the attention, but she felt great about what she'd done. Of cou rse, it might have ended differently if Nathan hadn't been around. She shook hands and thanked everyone. As they returned to their jobs, sh e eased her way toward the door, grabbing every copy of Nathan's portrait she could find on the way out and stuffing them into her pockets. Outside, she slipped in to her car and hurried across town. The sun was pushing at the horizon when she rang Nathan's bell. She wasn't sure he'd answer, but he did, taking refuge behind the door as she entered. "Ah, Detective Terra," he sa id, "come in. It is, as always, a pleasure." "I didn't wake you?" "Not yet." He yawned, covering his mouth. "Pardon me." Page No 57 A New Year's Bite 55 "Look, I'm sorry to stop by so late, but I wanted to thank you." "Did you now?" He eased into a chair at the table. "Yes. I couldn't have done it without you." Nathan dipped his head. "Always at your service, my dear." She smiled and leaned forward on the back of a chair. "Won't you have a seat?" He covered another yawn. "No, I can't stay. I'm going away with Sam for the weekend, and I still have to pack." "Ah, yes, the dear beau. How is Sam?" "Okay, I guess. We haven't really been alone since, well, you know."

"The lessons?" Terra nodded, heat filling her cheeks again. Nathan grinned. "I hope all goes well." "Thanks." "And will he be escorting you to your parents' party?" Terra huffed. "No way. Now there's really too much to lose." "Yes, I suppose there is." "I'm going alone. Mom will just have to handle it." Nathan yawned again. "I better split," Terra said. He rose and followed her to the door. Before she opened it, sh e turned and kissed his cheek. Nathan smiled. "Have a lovely weekend, my pet." Page No 58 Lydia Parks 56 The Taste " saw you in the paper. We're all so proud of you." "OI Terra smiled at her favorite uncle. "Thanks." h, good Lord, Jim, don't encourage her." Terra's mother shook her head in disgust. "I'm the only woman in Atlanta with a daughter who runs around chasing dangerous criminal s, when she should be working on attracting a husband. At this rate, she'll scare off every man worth having." "Mom, please." Terra glanced around at the room full of relatives and friends, all furtively watching the exchange. "How am I ever going to be a grandmother if my only daughter won't cooperate?" Terra sighed and drank another large gulp of punch. There wasn't nearly enough rum in it to make spending New Year's Eve with her parents bearable. There wasn't enough rum in all of Atlanta. "Terra, go easy on that stuff," her mother said, thankfully with a little less volume. "You know how much I detest drunkards." Gritting her teeth, Terra didn't answer, but waited

for her mother to focus on some other unsuspecting Page No 59 A New Year's Bite 57 partygoer. Terra was sneaking past the front door on her way to the basement where sh e hoped to shoot a game of pool when the doorbell ran g. Glancing around, she realized her mother had missed the signal. "Great." She opened the door with a fake smile plastered on her face, and nearly fell over. "Nathan?" "My dear, how lovely to see you." "What are you doing here?" He pouted playfully. "Aren't you going to invite me in?" "Oh, yeah, sure." She stepped back to make way. "And I suggest you kiss me," he whispered. "I'm here as your date." "You are?" Nathan drew her into his arms and planted a kiss on her that would have curl ed her toes at any other time. The room noticeably quieted. "Darling," he said, "I just couldn't wait to see you. Forgive my eagerness." Terra's face burned as she wriggled out of his grip. "Great," she whispered . "You've made a scene. Now what?" "I have a plan or two I wish to discuss with you. Is there some place we can talk?" She stepped back and sp oke loudly enough for general consumption. "Here, let me have your cloak. The coat room's this way." She motioned for him to follow with a nod and led the way down the hall to the front guest room that held at least a hundred coats. Page No 60 Lydia Parks 58 Nathan closed the door quietly behind them. "Okay, what gives?" He grinned his conniving little grin as he swept his gaze over her from head to toe. "Basic black looks marvelous on you." She straightened her skirt. He had a way of making her uncomfortable, eve

n when she knew he wasn't trying to. It was something about the level of intimacy they'd shared. Natha n knew her deepest, darkest secrets, and it sometimes made her nervous. "So why are you here?" He sat on the edge of the bed. "I saw your picture in the paper today, which was quite attractive, by the way, and was pleased to know that you received a citation. Congratulations." "Thanks." He smiled. "I also remembered your misgivings about attending this party al one. You are alone, aren't you?" She nodded. "Ah, well, I'm here to offer my services." "How?" Nathan held one finger against his lips as if considering the question, the n rose beside her. "What kind of husband do your parents want for you? One that is rich? Adoring? Powerful?" She shrugged. "I suppose all of the above." "Hmm. Then here's what I propose. I'll be your rich suitor for the evening, a ttending to your every need." "In exchange for what?" He raised one eyebrow. "Can't one friend help another without a price attac hed?" He took her hand Page No 61 A New Year's Bite 59 and raised it to his cool lips. "I guess." He smiled. "And then there's the little matter of cousin Sheila." Terra's eyes must have opened too wide, judging by the look of amusement on Nathan's face. "In my time, we often exch anged presents on the eve of a new year, somethin g to help those we cared about start the year in bette r standing. My prese nt to you," he said, "is the chance to start this year without Sheila as an example of perceived achievements. You're much too good for that." She couldn't help but smile at the thought. "You won't hurt her, will you?" "My dear, you wound me." Nathan covered his heart. "And what am I supposed to give you?" He turned her hand over, planted a kiss in her palm, then released it. "The re is not much that would improve my standing, other than your continued fr iendship."

The sincerity of his words touched her. How many people could claim a vamp ire as a close personal friend? Terra nodded. "All right, you're on." He motioned toward the door with upturned palm. "Lead on, my pet." As they crossed the living room, Terra slid her arm into Nathan's, feeling bot h silly and a little giddy. Everyone stared. It wasn't difficult to understand why; Nathan was nothing if not good-looking. His mannerisms were a little old-fashioned and Page No 62 Lydia Parks 60 amazingly charming, and he moved with a grace that couldn't be matched by mere mortals. His neatly clipped dark hair and his green eyes looked regal when mixed with pale skin and chiseled features. "My mother," Terra said, "Mary Ryan. Mom, this is Nathan Cotton." Her mother's jaw nearly hit the floor, but she recovered quickly. "Mr. Cott on, how nice to meet you. You're here with my daughter?" Could she have sounded any more shocked? "Yes, indeed," Nathan said, wrapping his arm around Terra's waist playfully. "Your daughter is a rare find. Such exquisite beauty in one so strong- willed . I was smitten the first time I saw her." "Oh? And where was that?" Terra glanced up at Nathan. Would he mention that they'd met in the middle of a vampire sex party? "We met at a social gathering." Terra pursed her lips to keep from laughing. "How wonderful." Her mother smiled politely. The grilling wasn't over yet . "And what do you do, Mr. Cotton?" "Please," he said, leaning forward, "call me Nathan. I'm an investment brok er, working mostly overseas. I do hope Terra doesn't tire of traveling to Paris with me." "Paris?" Nathan squeezed Terra's waist. "I'm trying to persuade her to accompany m e next month. With the most honorable intentions, of course." "Oh, yes." Her mother giggled like a schoolgirl. "Of course." She glanced a round to be sure everyone was Page No 63

A New Year's Bite 61 sufficiently impressed. "Nathan, let me get you some punch and hors d'oeuvr es. The crab cakes are divine." He raised one hand defensively. "No, thank you kindly. I've recently taken m y evening meal. I couldn't hold another drop. Er, bite." "Well, then, let me introduce you to—" "We're fine, Mom." Terra tugged at Nathan's arm. "We'll mingle, I promise. " "All right." She reluctantly let them escape. Terra pulled Nathan down so she could whisper, "You're good." "Indeed." *** Nathan had to admit, he was having more fun than he'd expected. The party wa sn't a grand gala affair, but it was well attended, pr obably by some of the socially elite of Atlanta. He'd met several judges and state politicians, as well as a few television personalities. He pretended to recognize them, but t elevision didn't really hold much interest for him. Terra got into the swing of the charade. When they finally encountered She ila, Terra wrapped her arm around Nathan as she introduced him. "Quite charmed," Nathan purred, bending over the woman's hand to plant a k iss. Sheila blushed, and her brown eyes glistened with interest. "Nathan, is it? I 'm so happy to meet you. Funny that Terra hasn't mentioned you before." "Nathan likes his privacy, don't you, dear?" Terra leaned against him as she spoke. Page No 64 Lydia Parks 62 "Yes, my pet, I do. Especi ally when I'm sharing it with you." The bit of jealousy that washed through Sheila's body didn't go unnoticed by Nathan. He could smell it. "And you're so good at sharing," he continued, his voice a deep whisper. Color rose in Terra's cheek s and she beamed up at him. Sheila muttered something about needing punch and left. "That was wonderful," Terra said. Nathan pulled her close. "Would you like for her to recount her sins in fro

nt of the group? Or maybe remove her clothes?" "You can make her do that?" He glanced across the room to where Sheila filled a cup and pretended not t o look back at them. "Unless I miss my guess, your cousin doesn't have anything close to the strength of wi ll that you do, my dear." "Let me think about it." "As you wish." They both looked out at the raised voice. "How can you be so damned stupid ? I said I wanted stuffed mushrooms, not these fried things." A man in a dark suit stood across the room, holding a fried strip between his thumb and forefinger. The woman co wering before him made Nathan bli nk. Dark hair fell across dark shoulders, exposed by the strapless black dress th at hugged her incredible figure. She glanced around sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Page No 65 A New Year's Bite 63 Stan. I didn't realize—" "Oh, please, I can't stand it when you whine. Just do what I say for once, w ill you?" Shaking his head, Stan dropped the offending piece of food into th e plate the woman held and turned his back on her. The woman looked around again, and froze when her gaze met Nathan's. She was the spitting image of Nina. Her eyes widened in surprise, just as Nina's had so long ago… *** Nina stood before him naked, staring. "See? I told you he's not human," a voice said from behind him. Nathan tried to turn toward the voice, but was held fast. He looked down at the wooden spear protruding from his chest and growled. "What is he then?" Nina's hand covered the holes above her breast as Natha n's seed ran down her lovely thighs. "He is a devil, like those of the old country, the walking dead." "But he's not dead." An old woman moved around to where he could see her. Wrinkles covered he r face and neck, and a white braid of hair lay ov er her shoulder and hung down to her large waist . She wore the same wild

assortment of clothes he'd s e e n o n o t h e r s i n t h e group, marked by br ight colors and a black leather belt. "He'll be dead when the sun rises." Page No 66 Lydia Parks 64 Nina frowned. "Must we keep him like this all that time?" "Yes." The old woman took a step closer and sniffed, then backed away. "It is the only way to be sure." She motioned with her head. "Nina, go to bed n ow. Victor will help me." "But, Grandmother—" "Go." Nathan tried to catch Nina's eye before she hurried away, but pain made it impossible for him to concentrate. How could anything be so agonizing? The pain magnified tenfold and he cried out as he was lifted into the air. The old woman and a young man carried him like skewered game to a buc kboard away from the covered wagons and tied him to one of the wheels so that he stood facing ea st with the lance wedged between the spokes. The ol d woman cursed him and spit on the ground at his feet, then the two of them left him alone. Blood ran in rivulets down his body, but he knew such injuries wouldn't resu lt in his demise. It was the approach of sunrise that worried him. After a while, he became accustomed to the pain and was able to think more clearly. He craned his neck to see the bonds that held his wrists behind his back. Normally, such p ieces of twine would be useless against him, but he was weakened to less than mortal strength by the unexpected attack. He needed help. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the small amount of Nina's blood left i n his body. Long before Page No 67 A New Year's Bite 65 he was able to call her to him, however, she appeared in the moonlight. "Are you truly a devil?" she whispered. "Yes." "Then I should leave you thus."

He smiled at her, in spite of his suffering. How simple her world was. Even her language, which he understood after taking her, was simplistic. She stepped closer, reached up, and pressed her palm to his cheek. Nathan closed his eyes at the wonderful warmth. The devil had indeed taken over, and he listened to the rapid beat of her hear t. His incisors extended until they pressed against his bottom jaw. He no longer had control, and would tak e every last drop from her if given the chance. "Untie me," he whispered. She did as he asked. Steeling himself against what he knew would be sheer agony, he used the rop es to lash the spear onto the wheel, then charged forward. As molten metal on flesh, extracting the wooden lance sent waves of searin g pain through him and he dropped to the ground on all fours, cursing every living thing under his breat h. "Will you live?" Nina crouched beside him, her hand on his shoulder, her w hite gown gathered around her thighs. Her scent wound itself into his brain, pulling him forward. "Perhaps." She did not resist as he drew her to him and kissed her, stripping the thin ga rment from her and tossing it Page No 68 Lydia Parks 66 aside. She did not resist as he lay her on the ground and entered her body as a man , fast and furiously, unable to restrain himself any more than a mortal woul d have. And she did not resist as he took her life, giving her one last burst of pleas ure before the darkness… *** "Nathan?" Mentally shaking himself, he glanced at Terra. "Are you okay?" she asked. He nodded, and returned his gaze to the young woman across the room. "Wh o is she?" "The one who just got scolded?" "Yes." "That's Christina, also known as Mrs. Stanley Windell, wife of the great de

fender of justice and all around jackass. He's the one who wanted mushrooms ." "Indeed." "You're drooling." Nathan frowned at the woman by his side. Terra laughed quietly. "What's the deal?" "She reminds me of someone I once knew." "Ah. I suppose you get that now and then." "Yes." They stood quietly and watched as Christina surveyed the closest table of fo od. Finally locating stuffed mushrooms, she loaded the small plate. "I don't suppose there's something you can do to Page No 69 A New Year's Bite 67 help her?" Nathan looked at Terra again. "Help her?" "She needs a backbone. If I were her, I'd have shot that son of a bitch a long ti me ago. At least she could tell him to take a hike or something." He considered the irony. How much like Nina this one looked. His intention, so many years ago, had been to show Nina that not all men were inconsiderate beast s, and he 'd been staked for his e f f o r t s . I n t h e l o n g r u n , h e 'dprovenonlythatthe beast controlled him, too. Dear Nina. Her blood had saved him, and in the end it hadn't held nearly as m uch cruelty as he'd first thought. Maybe he was being given a second chance. Unfortunately, he didn't believe in such things. "I may be able to help her," he said. "And have a little fun in the process?" He smiled. "Perhaps." Terra withdrew her arm from around his waist. "I better go check on dear ol' Dad, see what he's up to. Do me a favor and don't make a scene, all right?" "Yes, my pet." He kissed th e top of her head, then watched her leave. Before Christina could reach her husband, Nathan leaned close to her ear. " Let him get his own mushrooms." She spun around, dropping the plate. Nathan caught it and returned it to her hand.

"Who…are you?" "Nathan Cotton," he said, bowing. "At your service." Page No 70 Lydia Parks 68 "For what?" "For whatever you desire." He leaned closer, inhaling her lovely scent. Warm roses and a hint of lilac. "I don't know what you mean." Her dark eyes widened as she stared at him. Nathan pushed his thoughts into her just long enough to calm her nerves. "I won't hurt you," he whispered. Finally, she nodded. "I find you incredibly attractive, Christina." "How…how do you know my name?" "I made inquiries. And I wish to know a great deal more about you." She didn't respond other than to stare. He eased the plate from he r hand and placed it on the table. "This is my first visit to this house. Perhaps you can show me around." She nodded again, and headed across the crowded room toward a hallway. Nathan followed, concentrating on the smooth skin of her back caressed by d ark ringlets that swayed as she walked. His body reacted as any man's would, and by the time they reac hed the hallway, his erection had grown to an annoying state. Christina glanced over her shoulder and continued, leading him into a bedr oom where a single lamp burned. Nathan locked the door behind them. She stood in the middle of the room, every inch of her a feast for his eyes. "You, my dear, are quite beautiful." Page No 71 A New Year's Bite 69 She swallowed hard. Nathan moved forward unt il he stood directly in front of her. "Why do you let your husband treat you badly?" She shrugged and dropped her gaze to the floor. "He's my husband."

"I do not believe he de serves such a glorious creature for a wife." His words drew her gaze back to his. Nathan lightly touched her warm shoulder, tracing a line across her dark skin . "Is he thoughtful in bed?" She stared, her heart rate rising rapidly. Finally, she whispered, "No." "I thought not." He ran his fingers up the side of her neck, enjoying the wa y her pulse pounded under his fingertips. "Have you ever had a thoughtful lover?" She shook her head. "I've never had anyone but Stan." He considered the idea of such amazing beauty wasted on a dolt like Stanley Windell. "That's more than just a shame." He ease d his fingers into her h air and drew her mouth to his. Her lips were warm but tight, and she trembled. Nathan didn't rush he r. This one was worth working for. He kissed her lips tenderly, over and over, until they began to give way. Her hands came up to his chest, hot, teas ing as she flattened her palms against him. Carefully, he eased her lips apart and explored her sweet mouth, unconquered territory, circling her velvety tongue with his ow n. She responded to this , Page No 72 Lydia Parks 70 opening her mouth more to him. Still she trembled and he pulled her up to her toes, wrapping one arm around her slender waist. She slid her arms around hi s neck and tilted her head to his kiss. With his free hand, he eased the front of her dress down to expose her breast s. She shook, but didn't stop him, and pushed her fingers into his hair. He caressed her left breast, enjoying the fullness and heat of it, thrilling t o the nipple tightening against his palm, and nearly fell over when she leaned forward and pressed her whole body to his. Nathan took his mouth away from hers as his fangs dropped at the pleasure of her belly against his hardened cock. He closed his eyes and worked to suppress the beast, whispering now to take her quickly. She's yours. Do with her as you will. Leave me alone, he argued. His mission was to introd uce this lovely young woman to pleasures she didn 't yet know. If he

happened to enjoy himself along the way, so much the better. He was not here to feed the devil to which he'd lost his soul centuries ago. She murmured softly against his neck and his knees nearly buckled. Her wo rds sounded foreign and mysterious. Nathan lifted Christina fr om the floor and carried her to the bed where he placed her on her back. He needed control of the situation, something he was having unusual difficulty maintaining. Page No 73 A New Year's Bite 71 She stared up at him, her eyelids heavy with lust, but her eyes sparkling with a tinge of fear. "What are you—?" He drew his fingers up the insides of her thighs as he leaned over her, hold ing his weight on one arm, and dropped his mouth to her neck. Her pulse rose and fell quickly against his lips, and the pounding of her heart drew out t he devil's voice. Yes, now. The beast raged inside him, straining to be free. No, not yet. Christina's head went back and her eyes closed as his hand rose under her sk irt and dipped into the waistband of her pantyhose. Soft, silky hair filled his palm and he pressed tw o fingers into her, slowly, gently. Surprisingly, her hot juices were already thick enough to coat his fingers. He rested the tips of his fangs against her skin just below her ear. It would be so easy now. Drink from her. Her hand rubbed against the front of his pants and he gasped. Nathan drew his mouth away from his tempting morsel before the devil won . He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and pulled her hand to his chest. "Careful, my dear, you don 't want to rush this." "My husband," she whispered. "He'll be looking for me." "Ah, true. We must move along." Nathan slipped off her shoes, removed her panties and panty hose with one s weep of his hand, then knelt on the floor and drew her long, muscular legs over his shoulders. Christina tried to sit up. "Nathan—" Page No 74

Lydia Parks 72 He smiled at the sound of his name and pushed her legs apart. She trembled again, which only fueled his desire. He must be careful with his fangs, for the taste of her blood would definitely give the devil the contro l it craved. Nathan used his to ngue to part her lips and explore her hot cun t. He f licked her swelling clit and held her thighs when she jumped. Her fingers curled into fists on the bedspread. Reaching into the depths of her, he lapped at her thick juices, thrilling to he r taste. She was pure, delicious, and ready. For a moment, sounds from outside invaded the room. "Have you seen my w ife?" "No, sir." "Dammit, where'd she get to now?" Christina's thighs tightene d at the voices, and she tried again to raise hersel f to her elbows. Nathan opened her legs wider and closed his mouth over her cunt. She drew a sharp breath and fell back. No time to waste. Sucking, he stroked her clit with his tongue, urging it into a hard nub, flicking it without mercy. She raised her hips and drew a ragged breath as the climax neared. Listening to her heartbeat, he increased his rhythm to match it. She raised her hips higher, pressing her swelling lips to his mouth. She cried out softly as the orgasm tore through her. Her juices filled his mouth and he drank deeper, Page No 75 A New Year's Bite 73 pulling out the last drop as her cunt pulsed hard against his lips. As quickly as he'd drawn it out, he was surprised by how powerful her orgasm was. Stilling against her, he waited for the last of it. Her hips fell to the bed and she panted. Had he been human, he would have come with her. As it was, his pants strai ned almost to bursting over his erection. Nathan moved his mouth to the tender inside of her thighs, drawing tiny red l ines in her flesh. One taste. Just a small one. The devil lied. He wanted much more than a small taste. No.

Nathan stood and drew her up in front of him. Christina looked up with wide eyes as she wobbled. He held her in place until he was sure she could stand. Then he kissed the s ide of her neck and backed away. "Don't forget your shoes." "My pantyhose." "Leave them. Your husband will not notice." He leaned over to whisper in he r ear. "I want to know that your sweet cunt is bare for me tonight, my dear . I want you to think of me as your juices ease down your thighs." He straightened and caught her by the shoulders as she stumbled forward. "Nathan, I…uh, I've never done that before." "Done what, my sweet?" "You know, had one of those." Page No 76 Lydia Parks 74 He frowned. "An orgasm?" She nodded. Nathan smiled. "Well, then, we must produce more before the night's over." She gulped, and nodded ever so slightly. He waited until she'd stepped into her shoes and straightened her dress, the n urged her toward the door. "Go. I'll follow in a moment." Christina glanced back, her expression a combination of excitement, fulfill ment, and confusion. When she was gone, Nathan gathered her underclothes and shoved them und er the bed. Then he stood with his back pressed against the door as he willed control over his body. Why had he been so close to the edge with this mortal? The devil had neve r seemed so determined to dominate an encounter with a woman. Not since Nina. Of course, that was di fferent. That had been necessary for survival. Perhaps the memory was stronger than he realized. The demon inside him was tied too closely to that memory, and Christina was amazingly like his dark gypsy. If he were wise, he'd keep his distance from Christina and leave the gathering as soon as possible. "There you are." Nathan turned his head to listen to the exchange in the hallway between Chr istina and her asinine husband. "Where were you?" Windell said.

"I…I went to the bathroom." "No you didn't. I just checked there." Page No 77 A New Year's Bite 75 "Um, a different bathroom. One upstairs." "Why on earth would you…oh, never mind. Brush your hair. There are prospecti ve clients out there you damn well better start trying to impress. If you wa nt to keep your little ski chalet in Colorado, that is." Nathan closed his eyes as he listened to both sets of footsteps fade. Sudden ly, the beast inside him was more interested in draining Windell. Maybe that was his own wish, not the beast's. Page No 78 Lydia Parks 76 The Bite athan rejoined the party in the basement where the younger crowd gathered. Terra waved from across the room several times and he waved back, enjoying his role as smitten boyfriend. Ducking when necessary, he managed to avoid chitchat that lasted more than a moment or two. He detested small talk at parties; the topics of conversation hadn't changed much in three hundred years. N Christina watched him discreetly. "How are things going?" Terra asked, stopping at his side with a drink in each hand. "Quite well. Unless, of course, you plan to make me drink one of those." Nathan wrinkled his nose. "Don't worry. This one's for Mom. The one with the double shot's for me." He smiled and watched he r hurry from the room, enjoying her long, confident strides. With a sigh, he returned his attention to Christina, only to find her husband standing alone. Nathan skirted the crowd and eased through an open door to the backyard, where night cooled the air

and potted herbs sweetened it. The setting reminded him of the gypsy camp, an d a chill of memory ran Page No 79 A New Year's Bite 77 through him. It didn't take long to locate Christina. He knew her scent now, and used it to track her to a wooden bench at the far edge of the yard. Rose bushes, now without blooms, ringed most of the seating area. Her dark eyes glistened in the moonlight as he sat beside her. "Are you, by chance, waiting for me?" "Of course not." She stiffened. "I was just getting some air." "I see." He rose and started away. "Wait. Where are you going?" Nathan turned to find the young woman on her feet and directly behind him. "I didn't want to prevent you from getting some air." Her pout caused him to smile. "You are amazingly beautiful, my dear," he said softly. Christina glanced around. "I'm not." "You are. See?" He took her hand and pressed it to the front of his pants whe re his raging hard-on waited to attend to her. Her eyes widened. "Interested?" She gulped. "I…um—" "Indeed." When he leaned forward a little, she raised her face toward him. A subtle but telling movement. Nathan turned and led her to a spot not far from the back door where a larg e elm darkened the shadows. Behind his black clothing, they wouldn't be see n. And perhaps the hint of danger would keep the beast at bay. Page No 80 Lydia Parks 78 He pulled Christina into his arms as he fell back to the wall. Her mouth ope ned to him instantly, drawing on his tongue as her warm hands ran up his che st. Yes, she was very interested. The devil reawakened much too quickly and Nathan drew his mouth from her

s. It wouldn't do to leave a body behind at Terra's party, and he truly didn't want to hurt Christin a. Wrapping her in his arms, he whispered in her ear. "I plan to make you squi rm, my dear. It will be up to you to keep quiet, lest we be discovered. Do you think you can manage?" She nodded against his chest. "Good." He withdrew her hands and, holding her wrists, turned her so that she stood with her back to him. He kissed the warm flesh of her shoulder and neck, try ing his best not to notice her singing heartbeat. She leaned back against him and inhaled sharply as he pressed his erection a gainst her buttocks. The beast was not the on ly one who wanted her. The memory of her powerful cream filling his mouth caused a growl to rise in Nathan's chest. Yes, he wanted to feel her heat surrounding him and enjoy her hot juices coating his cock as he drove her to the edge of restraint. Nathan turned her to face the wall, placing her hands against the brick and holding them there as he continued to kiss and nip her flesh. Her skin was young and tight, but it held a hint of something ancient—an animal need s he produced in men who ventured close, one she probably knew nothing abou t. Page No 81 A New Year's Bite 79 It was the same need that Nina had put to good use. When two male partygoers approached within ten feet of them, Nathan rested h is lips on the side of Christina's neck and held perfectly still. He felt he r pulse through the back of her hands and under his mouth. She, too, tried to stand still, but she trembled slightly, perhaps with anticipat ion. The men walked on, lookin g for a place to smoke. When they were out of s ight, Nathan continued. He ran his hands down her arms, past the sides of her breasts, and slowly al on g the curves of her waist and hips until he'd reached her buttocks. They quivered under his palms. Holding her in place with his mouth on her shoulder, he inched her skirt up until bare flesh heated his hands. Yes, she was lovely...and wonderfully tem pting. "Nathan, what if someone finds us?" Her voice was a hoarse whisper.

"Hush, my dear, or they will." She whimpered as he raise d her off her feet and rubbed his covered erecti on between her buttocks. Even through the material, her heat pushed him cl ose to the edge of his own control—something he couldn't afford to lose co mpletely. With one arm around her wa ist, he freed his cock and pressed the head agai nst her hot, wet cunt, and he dropped his forehead to her shoulder as he wo rked on gathering his wits. Christina wriggled against his hold, making soft sounds of desire. Page No 82 Lydia Parks 80 Nathan put his mouth to her ear and spoke just loudly enough for her to hear. "Hold still, my sweet, or we will both regret it." She stopped moving. After a few moments, with the beast back in its corner, Nathan drew her clo ser and entered her slowly, a little at a time, sighing to the sensuous joy of her heated cunt s wallowing him, squeezing him, drenching him. "Yes," he whispered. "Perfect." She moaned softly. Deeper he pushed, holding her firmly, until at last he filled her completely. With his cock buried, he kissed her shoulder again, tasting the pleasure in her skin. He reached around her and traced their union with his fingers, then withdrew j ust a bit to find her clitoris, swollen and wet. Pressing his face into her scented hair, he caressed her with his fingers, rubbi ng her juices in circles around her silken clit until it stood stiff and erect. Then he stroked it carefully. She took short, stuttered breaths as her body reacted and her muscles tighte ned around him. "That's it," he whispered. "Give yourself over to the pleasure." As he spoke, he felt the first spasm of her climax. She straightened her arms and pushed against the wall, trying to grind out the waves on his cock, but he held her close where he could feel everything, thrilling to the pulses. Sweet, lovely release. "Yes," he whispered. "Give it all to me." Page No 83

A New Year's Bite 81 On and on she went, gasping to keep from crying out. The nectar of her life's force, sweetened by orgasm, called to Nathan in a sir en's voice. It would be easy to take her here in the shadows, to pierce her fl esh in the right spot to fill his mouth and release the seed that swelled in h im now. Easy, and delicious. Wonderful, sweet release. He opened his mouth and rested it on the crest of her shoulder as her pulses continued, lessening now, slowing. He drew back his lips. His bite would take her to the next level of pleasure—one she couldn't begin to imagine. It would be so— "Damn her. Where did she run off to now?" Nathan froze with his fangs poised, then closed his mouth. He couldn't risk her crying out with her husband less than a half dozen paces away. And with the beast in control, Nathan would be as vulnerable as he had been so long ago. Christina panted quietly, her arms stiff against the wall and shaking, delay ed pulses running through her muscles. Her hot juices dripped from between t hem as they remained still. "I can't believe this shit." Windell, unseeing, stomped past them. Nathan waited for a mome nt, then eased his cock from Christina, regretting the loss. The beast was close to the surface now, demanding a meal. If he fed in this s tate, it would be too likely that his victim would not re cover. At the very least, Page No 84 Lydia Parks 82 she'd pass out, and he'd ha ve to find somewhere to stash her until she awok e. Not an easy thing in such a crowd. Nathan turned Christina' s head and gently kissed her lips. "Very nice, my s weet. Never forget just how amazing a woman you are." He nudged the thoug ht into her head, just enough to be certain she believed it. Nathan gathered himself together, zipping up and arranging his coat to hide the effect of her, then backed away, careful to keep his mouth closed over

his fangs. Christina turned and leaned back to the wall as she watched him. Her eyes sti ll glistened, and her lips curved into a smile. Nathan hurried to the back of the garden, considering how best to make his e scape. He felt weakened by unfulfilled desire, and needed to get back home where several p ints waited. Certainly they held no promise of joy, but they would restore his strength. Suddenly he was assaulted by the sound of a hundred heartbeats and he stag gered. "Damn," he muttered. He was worse off than he'd realized. Spotting a gate, he turned and started toward it, but froze at the sound of hi s name. "Nathan." Terra hurried across the yard. "Here you are. I thought you'd de serted me. Mom started asking—" He stiffened as she approached, her heartbeat singing more sweetly than the r est. If she took one Page No 85 A New Year's Bite 83 step closer— "Nathan, what's wrong?" She grabbed his arm and the heat from her touc h s hot though him like lightning. "I'm hungry." The statement came out as a snarl, and Terra's eyebrows shot up. "Whoa, this isn't good." "No, it isn't. I need to leave. Now." Terra glanced around. "What you need is to feed." She tugged on his sleeve . "Come on." The surprise took the edge off his hunger, and he frowned at her. "Terra, m y dear, what are you doing?" *** Once she had Nathan in the bathroom and the door locked behind them, Terra felt considerably better. In the year she'd known him, sh e'd never seen him look quite as dangerous as he had moments ago. Not even the night he'd been shot by Tony. His eyes had actually glowed in the d arkne ss of the yard, and the tips of his fangs had dented his bottom lip. "And what do you propose to do now?" he asked, standing close and leaning closer.

"Whatever I need to." "Oh?" Without touching her, he put his mouth close to her ear. "And what w ould that include?" Terra grabbed the edge of the sink behind her to steady herself and tried her best not to give away the terror rising in her chest at the realization that s he'd just locked herself in a room with a hungry vampire. She reminded herself that this was Nathan, a man Page No 86 Lydia Parks 84 who knew her better than anyone else ever would. Correction—a vampire who knew her better than anyone else ever would. Trying to slow her pounding heart, she tilted her head and offered him her neck. The air in the room vibrated with a low, rumbling growl as he lowered his mouth to her. Terra closed her eyes, preparing herself for the moment of pain. But nothin g happened. When she opened her eyes again, she found Nathan standing across the smal l room, frowning at her. "Isn't this what you want?" she asked. "No. It's what I need." "So? Drink up." She swallowed hard against her dry throat. He huffed. "My dear, you have no idea what you're saying. If I pierced your ne ck right now, I'd aim for your jugular, you would die, and I would only r egret it later." She stiffened. "You've do ne it before. What's different about now?" "I have," he glanced around the empty room, "enjoyed a little too much tem ptation tonight, and with a woman who reminds me of another in my life." "Oh. So you've been scr ewing around, and now you're hungry." He raised one eyebrow. "Crude, but true." "Great." She couldn't let him out of the bathroom in the condition he was in. Everyone would know something drastic was wron g. No matter what, she couldn't let him be expos ed for what he was, not Page No 87 A New Year's Bite 85

when it would be her fault. She'd promised him that a long time ago, and she didn't break her promises. Terra reached back and unzipped her dress, then lowered it to expose her brea sts. "Nathan, I trust you to be careful." He stared at her, first into her eyes, and then lower as he started slowly forw ard. "Let us both pray that your trust is not misplaced." In his condition, she expected him to simply get it over with, but, instead, h e stood and looked at her, caressing her with his gaze. Then he leaned close to her bare shoulder and in haled. When she first met Nathan , he'd mesmerized her somehow—invaded her brai n. Since then, he'd refrained from anything like that. He said it was an invasion he reserved fo r emergencies. As a sense of calm settled over her like a warm blanket, she realized he must be doing it a gain. "Nathan," she said, her tongue oddly thick, "you're…in my… head." "Yes, my sweet." His voice was a hiss at her ear. Without touching her with hi s hands, he trailed his cool lips across the top of her shoulder, using the ve ry tip of his tongue to taste her. It wasn't just calm she felt now, but a primal urge growing in her belly—an an imal need to mate. Her own throat constricted with a strange growl. Nathan opened his mouth on her shoulder and pressed the tips of his fangs ag ainst her skin. Terra closed her eyes, wanting the moment. Waiting. His left hand circled her waist and slid up to her Page No 88 Lydia Parks 86 breast, both chilling and heating her skin with his touch. She covered his hand with hers, pinning it to her aching tit. He squeezed her breast, and then rubbed the hardened nipple with his palm, groaning as he did so and drawing his mouth away from her. Terra grabbed the front of his shirt. He buried his face in her hair as he walked backwards and drew her with him . This time, his growl sounded more like a purr—from a very large cat. When he sat on the closed lid of the toilet, he moved his hands lower and pul

led her close enough to lick her breasts. His velvety tongue drew deep, eroti c circles around her nipples, first on one side, and then on the other, while his hands traveled the small of her back, over her buttocks, and down her th ighs. She quivered under his touch, wanting more, needing more. "God, Nathan, you feel good," she whispered. As his hands circled around her thighs, he reached inside her panties, and her knees began to shake. His fingers moved slowly, carefully toward her va gina, now wet with desire. Terra pushed her hand into Nathan's hair. He dragged his mouth slowly across her chest, making red lines with his in ci sors, not quite breaking the skin. "Take these off or I'll tear them from you," he said, tugging on her panties. His voice was a hoarse whisper. She removed her panties as he watched, hunger Page No 89 A New Year's Bite 87 etched into his face, his grin bordering on cruelty. Her entire body trembled just enough to be annoying. Nathan took her by the waist and pulled her back to him. Terra drew in a sharp breath as his mouth closed around her left breast. He sucked and licked, and sucked again before moving to the right side. His fangs dented her skin, hinting at bliss unlike any she'd yet known. "You're making me crazy," she whispered. Although he didn't answer, she felt his lips curve into a smile. Then he pulled her closer until her pubic hair pressed against his chest, and he drew her down, slowly lower. She suddenly realized he had her poised over his erection. W hen had he opened his pants? Her question faded as the head of his cock eased into her. She gripped his shoulders and whimpered, trying to drive herself onto him, but he held her as if she were weightless. He waited as she writhed, watching her, his eyes glowing again. He opened h is mouth to reveal his fangs, then drew her down in one movement, stretching her around him, unti l he was sheathed. Terra cried out as quietly as she could. He felt even larger than before, and heat shot through her in response. Then he held her tightly and moved his mouth to her shoulder, and she cradl

ed him to her. "It's time," he whispered. "Yes," she whispered back. Her body shook all over Page No 90 Lydia Parks 88 at the promise of pleasure. But he didn't bite her. Instead, he kissed the line of her shoulder and licked it as he pulled her closer and pushed her back, rocking her on his stiff cock. She shuddered against him, clinging to him. Her muscles tightened and she felt her juices coating him. Damn, he knew how to drive her nuts. The edge of the cliff was close, but just out of reach as he kept her there, cr uelly teasing her, knowing just how far to push. She wanted to come. "Nathan, please," she said. "Take me now." "You are mine," he said, his voice low and dangerous. Her skin tingled where his mouth opened against it, and he groaned as he pu shed his fangs into her flesh. The pain was strange this time, not so sharp, but more of a pressure—a pres sure that sparked pleasure in lower nerve endings. She opened her legs and impaled herself on him, wa nting nothing but Nathan. Her buttocks tightened into white-hot knots. And then he closed hi s mouth and drew on her, and every nerve in her body seemed to explode at once. Muffling her cries against his shoulder, Terra rode the ripping spasms, driv ing herself onto him again and again, her hands fisted in the back of his jacket. As if from electric sho ck, her body moved in sharp, erratic motions, unwilling to stop, searching for more to fill the need. She lost the ground. Holding him, spearing herself onto his pumping Page No 91 A New Year's Bite 89 cock, Terra rose into the en velop of sensual pleasure, all else melting into

no thingness. The universe imploded with bliss, focusing every sensation int o one point of unbelievable carnal delight. She wasn't sure when he withdrew his fangs, but at long last she returned, holding Nathan and gasping against him. And he hugged her with his face against her breast. His mental hold had disappeared. Their bodies continued to move to their shared rhythm for a long time as t he world swam. Terra opened her eyes, but felt a little ill and closed them again. "Are you all right, my pet?" Nathan asked. "Think so. Feel light-headed." "Damn," he muttered. Terra smiled and stroked the back of his head. "I'm still alive, though, right? " "Hmm, yes, I hear your heart beating. You have a wonderfully strong heartb eat." "Do I?" "Oh yes." She smiled again as she co nsidered how odd their conversations were. "You know," he said, his voice quieter, "someone was listening at the door." Terra sat up, her eyes wide now. "Who?" He grinned at her. "I don' t know, but I think they got an earful." "Oh, great." He held her waist and ease d her to her feet. "I will go out first and have a look around. You stay for Page No 92 Lydia Parks 90 awhile, then join me. Will that suffice to cover our tracks?" Terra nodded. "Always the gentleman." Nathan rose to his feet an d closed his pants. "I do my best." Then he leaned down and kissed her tenderly on the lips, stroking her cheek with his fingertips. "Thank you, my dear." She smiled. "Hey, you saved my butt in the alley the other night. I guess thi s is my New Year's gift." His grin grew. "Indeed." And then he slipped out, closing the door behind him. Terra looked in the mirror at the small red holes in her shoulder, closing as she watched. He'd placed

them so that her dress covered what was left. A thoughtful vampire, she mused. Then she sighed as a st ray pulse ran through her body. Nathan had certainly helped Sam's performance, but he was right—it'd never be quite as exciting as it was with him. *** Feeling greatly refreshed, and a bit of regret at having taken advantage of Terra, Nathan returned to the basement room and stood against a wall where he could watch the crowd. He was fairly certain the person listening at th e door had only heard what sounded like a human coupling. He'd feel better if he were certain. Page No 93 A New Year's Bite 91 Across the room, Christin a walked in from the garden with her toad of a hus band right behind her. Using his preternatural hearing, Nathan listened in o n their tense, whispered conversation. "I'm getting sick of looking all over the place for you, dammit," Stanley W indell said. "You stay by my side where you belong." Christina spun to face him. "Where I belong? What am I, a piece of jewelry? Or a golden retriever?" Windell's face reddened and he grabbed her arm. "What's gotten into you? Yo u've never acted like this before. You better watch out or you'll be out on the street." She jerked her arm free. "That sounds like an excellent idea. I'll take a ta xi. By the time you get to the house, I'll be gone." "What?" His voice was loud enough to attract attention now. "Just where do you think you're going?" "Wherever I want to. I'm a human being with brains. And I'm attractive, too. I don't have to put up with a husband who treats me like you do." As she turned to walk toward the door, she spotted Nathan. He raised his hands and made a clapping gesture, and she nodded, then cont inued away. Her husband stood staring after her, his mouth open to resemble a codfish. "What did I miss?" Terra stopped at Nathan's side and looped her arm throug h his. "A wonderful scene, my dear. Young Christina now understands a little of h er own value."

Page No 94 Lydia Parks 92 "Cool." "Indeed." Nathan cocked his head at another conversation across the room. "Oh, come on, Dave, it'll only take a minute." Sheila glanced around before returning her attention to her husband. "I promise you'll have fun." "I'm having fun now," Dave said, gesturing toward the group of men watchin g their exchange. "We're arguing about which car is the best ever built. I think—" "Dave, come on. You'd rather talk cars than have sex with me?" Dave lowered his voice. "Where would we…do it?" "In the bathroom." "The bathroom? That sounds uncomfortable. Why don't we just wait until w e get home?" Sheila huffed and folded her arms. "You have no imagination." "I know, dear. Listen, have you called the babysitter? I'm still a little worrie d about Josh." "Oh, go talk cars with your buddies." She turned and started across the room , stopping only long enough to throw a glare Terra's way. "What's going on?" Terra whispered. "I think Sheila is the eavesdropper. She just tried to interest her husband in a round, but he prefers to talk cars. She is…upset." Terra covered her mouth to muffle her laughter. Nathan glanced down at her. "Are you certain Sheila shouldn't admit her sin s in public?" Terra shook her head, her eyes glistening with Page No 95 A New Year's Bite 93 amusement. "I don't think so. I doubt she'll spend much time gloating anymo re." Nathan shrugged. "As you wish." He understood Terra's feelings—all too well . Soon, her annoying sense of justice would wear off and he'd go back to hi s world that lacked most of the regret, indignation, pride, and sympathy he felt at the moment.

Terra looked up at him. "Thanks for tonight. For all of it." He grinned. "You are more than welcome. And I thank you, also." Everyone started counting backwards and Nathan frowned. "What's this?" "It's almost midnight," Terra yelled over the din. "And?" "And you have to kiss me at midnight. A New Year's kiss. It's good luck." "If you insist." He smile d and then leaned over, ready to kiss her soundly. Good luck had brought Terra to him. He could always use more. Page No 96 About the Author ydia Parks grew up in New Orleans, the city of sin and vampires. Although she left her hometown years ago, she carries an appreciation of the dark side of life. Lydia lives in the Southwest US where she works a regular day job, and she spends the evenings and weekends writing erotica. Her husband sometimes reads over her shoulder; he has learned not to comment on the vampires. L