Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 237(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 237(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
“Follow me,” he said and walked out of the room, leaving Lara no choice but to follow.
She was glad she did. He took her to a small, cozy room right off the kitchen with four overstuffed chairs grouped around a square wooden coffee table that sat in front of a stone fireplace flanked by two windows. A bottle of red wine and two glasses sat on the table as did a large bowl of apples, oranges, and pears.
He nodded to one of the chairs closer to the roaring flames and waited until she sat, then placed her plate in front of her on the table and took the seat across from her. He poured them each a glass of wine and sat back in his chair, wine glass in hand.
“Have you always been interested in the unbelievable and strange?” he asked.
“Since I’ve been young, but what would you expect when raised in a cemetery?”
“Cemetery?”
“My mom died when I was young. I hardly remember her. Dad didn’t have any family left and he got along better with nature than people. With no people skills and limited talent, he didn’t have many job opportunities. After my mom died, a friend of hers got him a job as caretaker of an old, private cemetery. It came with a small house on the property, which worked out perfect, since he could take me along with him when he tended the grounds, until I was old enough to attend school.” She smiled. “I got to know most of the residents, as Dad called them, and I talked with them as if they were still alive. I’d even pat the headstones, as if comforting them. It may seem a strange upbringing to some or most people, but I wouldn’t have changed it for anything. My dad and our unique living conditions gave me the courage to explore areas that other people feared and led me to the most amazing and fun career.”
“Your dad sounds like an exceptional man.”
“He was,” she said with a sad smile. “He passed last year while doing what he loved, tending our garden.”
“But he left an amazing legacy...a fearless daughter.”
“I have my fearful moments,” Lara said and sipped at the delicious Pinot Noir.
“Tell me of such a moment.”
“I would prefer you answer a question of mine,” she said, not wanting him privy to any of her fears.
“You want to know how to stop what you don’t even know you’re doing.”
“I purposely didn’t think about that this time. How did you know?” she asked irritated.
“No mind reading this time. Simple deduction.”
“This time, but what of the other times? And how do I stop you?”
“Stop wanting me.”
“Excuse me,” she said, though felt a flush creep up to faintly stain her cheeks.
“You’re attracted to me as I am to you. Your body sparks to life around me and that spark lingers in you never seeming to go away. Mine is more of a fire for you than a spark, though once we make love, I would venture to guess that yours will burn as hotly as mine. With your thoughts lingering on such intimacy between us, it makes it easier for me to hear your thoughts. While you could try to stop thinking about me in that way, your body won’t and besides, you’re here to learn about my sexual appetites, so it really is an impossible task not to think of me in a sexual manner.”
Lara swallowed what was left of her wine, and possibly her sanity, and refilled her glass from the bottle on the table.
“Tell me why sex has been such a disappointment to you.”
She held on to her composure, though by a thread. “Tell me why sex with a vampire is always satisfying—wait, let me guess—you place a woman under your spell?”
“You watch too many vampire movies,” he admonished with a playful shake of his finger at her.
“I admit it,” she said with a grin. “Vampires, werewolves, zombies, any unearthly creature movie, and I’m right there to watch it.”
“Then you need to put aside all your preconceived notions when it comes to vampires. We don’t cast spells on unsuspecting women and bend them to our will.”
“But you can sense when a woman is attracted to you and use your acute senses to play on it.”
“So a vampire’s sex radar is more highly attuned than the average human male. That doesn’t make us predators. Our highly developed senses allow for more beneficial and satisfying sex for both parties. As you’ve learned yourself, I can sense your attraction to me, can feel what your body aches for, which also means I can sense if I’m satisfying you. Not every woman likes the same thing when it comes to sex. A vampire can modify each experience, making it unique and gratifying for his partner as well as himself.”