Vampire Mine - Kerrelyn Sparks [70]
She touched his arm. “I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged. “That night, Roman and Angus found us and asked if we wanted to keep on living and fighting for a just cause. We both said yes, no’ quite realizing what lay in store for us, but neither of us wanting to die.”
“Of course not.”
“Roman changed me, and Angus changed Ian. The puir lad was only fifteen.”
“He looks older now.”
Connor nodded. “Roman invented a drug that can keep a Vamp awake during the day, but it also ages him a year for each day. Ian took the drug so he could look older.”
“How interesting. And now he’s married, and they’re expecting their first child.” Marielle smiled. “I’m glad it worked out so well for him.”
“Aye.”
“Why did Phineas say you were in a mid-life crisis?”
He scoffed. “ ’Tis a ridiculous theory that a vampire will develop some . . . emotional issues after he’s lived half a millennium.”
She tilted her head, considering. “Five hundred years doesn’t seem long to me. But I would agree that you are overly burdened with remorse.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve lived with it for centuries. I’m used to it.”
“And who is Darcy Newhart?”
He winced. “A mistake.”
“She was on the fringe of your remorse, not well hidden.”
“Aye, I suppose that’s true. Things have worked out well for her, so I doona feel as bad as I once did.”
“What happened?”
“Gregori dragged me to a bar where mortal youngsters like to pretend they’re vampires. Darcy was a television reporter, doing a feature on the place, and when she tried to interview us as make-believe vampires, we thought it was great fun. But then she was attacked in the alley by some Malcontents, and by the time we found her, she was close to death.”
“How terrible.”
“I couldna bear to see her die like that, so I transformed her.” Connor sighed. “I thought I was giving her life, but I was actually taking her life away. She lost everything that was important to her. Her job, her family and friends.”
“She didn’t like being a vampire?”
“Nay. She hated me for changing her and no’ giving her any choice in the matter.”
Marielle nodded. “And that’s why you feel guilt and remorse. But you said everything worked out for her?”
“Aye. Roman discovered a way to make her mortal again, and now she’s happily married to another mortal. They have a wee bairn and another one on the way. She and Austin work for MacKay S and I, too.”
Marielle smiled. “That’s wonderful. I love happy endings.” She lounged back against the sofa. “Thank you for telling me. It wasn’t too painful, was it?”
“I may be traumatized for a few centuries.”
She scoffed. “I let you off easy. I know there’s a lot more you’re hiding in there.” She touched his chest.
He squeezed her hand, grateful that she wasn’t going to push any further. It was surprising, though, how easy she had been to talk to.
She scooted closer to him on the couch and leaned her head against his shoulder. When he glanced at her, his chin rubbed against her hair, so silky and soft. The scent of her shampoo filled his nostrils.
He looked away. “We should be careful no’ to get too close.”
“But I consider you a close friend, Connor. Surely two friends can embrace without it causing problems.” She wrapped an arm around his torso and rested her head on his chest.
He swallowed hard. “I suppose an occasional hug would be all right.” He extended his arm around her shoulders.
She snuggled closer. “I do like being able to touch you. For so long I couldn’t touch anyone without making them shrivel up and die.”
He certainly didn’t shrivel up when she touched him.
She skimmed her fingers along his jaw. “I like the way your whiskers feel. A little ticklish.”
A vision popped into his head of him tickling her bare breasts with his whiskers.
“Thank you for a wonderful evening.” She kissed his cheek.
“Lass.” He touched her face. “We shouldna kiss.”
“It was just a tiny one on your cheek.”
He pressed his lips against her brow. “Then we willna kiss . . . on the mouth.” He kissed her temple.
“That’s probably wise.” Her hand slipped around his neck.
He trailed