Craig's Heart

Chapter Eleven

Craig stretched out on the bed with Evie in his arms. The ride home had passed in a blur of lust. Evie had twined her naked limbs around his. He’d buried his hot, hard cock deep within her. And blood, the giving and taking of the life-

giving liquid.

At times he wondered how he could accept it all so easily. Maybe it was because he’d grown up with the paranormal. Maybe it was because he’d been friends with Damek for years. Or maybe it was simply his personality.

He’d never spent much time complaining about what he didn’t have, instead making the best of what he did. Evie was much like him in that respect. At their core, they were both survivors.

They’d fallen into bed and made love until dawn sent them both to sleep.

Or at least it sent him to sleep. His last memory was of Evie looking down on him and smiling. She hadn’t seemed the least bit tired. Not like him.

He should have waited in the living room for Damek to return home, but his need for Evie was too great. They’d barely remembered to drink the blood as Damek had instructed. It was strange to realize that his lust for Evie outweighed the bloodlust.

He’d known when both Sonia and Damek had returned and when they’re retired to their bedroom for the day.

Having him and Evie there had to be cramping the other couple’s lifestyle, even though neither of them had done or said anything to suggest such a thing.

They should probably move out tonight or at least talk to Damek about the possibility. Craig didn’t want to do anything that might jeopardize Evie’s safety.

He ran his fingers over her bare arm, loving the smoothness of her skin. She was an enigma in many ways, even though he felt as though he knew her better than anyone else in her life ever had. He liked that about her. She had layers to peel back and explore.

“You seriously can’t be considering having sex again.” She pushed her dark hair out of her face, her voice sleepy and slightly disgruntled. “Because I may not walk for a week as it is.”

Craig grinned, knowing she was teasing him. Their new healing powers as vampires allowed them both to recover quickly. “That’s not what you were saying last night.”

She laughed and poked him in the stomach. “A gentleman wouldn’t remind me of that.”

“I never said I was a gentleman, now did I?”

Evie grinned. “I guess not.” She nestled against him. “What time is it?”

He didn’t even have to think about it.

“Five minutes past sunset.”

“We should get up.”

“Soon.” Craig wanted to stay like this as long as possible. When it was just him and Evie, life somehow made sense. “Tell me more about yourself?”

He felt her tense and modified his request. “About your art? How did you get started?”

The hand she’d rested on his stomach began to move, her fingers making circles on his skin. “I’ve always drawn, always doodled, ever since I was a kid. My favorite toy was crayons and paper. Maybe because they were cheap, I always seemed to have some.”

His heart ached as he imagined a much younger Evie quietly drawing.

Alone.

“One of my foster mothers gave me some colored pencils when I was about twelve and I became obsessed. I was lucky enough to attend a school with a good art program for a couple of years.

That really helped me develop. I discovered pastels, water colors, oils and acrylics. I scrounged supplies and worked whenever I could.”

Evie tilted her head back. “What about you? Tell me about your childhood? When did you discover your love of computers?”

Craig smiled down at her, captured her wayward hand and brought it to his mouth. He kissed her palm and held it over his heart. “I was always computer mad. We didn’t have much money when I was growing up. Mom worked two jobs constantly to put a roof over our heads.”

“You didn’t come from money?”

Craig could hear the surprise in her tone and realized there was a lot they didn’t know about one another.

“Far from it.” He let the memories take him back. “But that didn’t matter.

Mom was always smiling, always making the best out of things. She did janitorial work at several office buildings, and when she discovered some old computer equipment being thrown out she asked if she could have it. They said she could so she brought it home, figuring Quinn and Chrissten might be able to use it for school, but it was broken. I took everything apart and built one good system out of the parts.”

“That’s impressive.”

Craig shrugged. “Like you with art, it came naturally to me. She brought home more computer equipment and parts when she found them and I scoured the garbage bins in the richer neighborhoods for more. I enjoyed the challenge.”

“What happened to your mom?”

Evie’s soft question made his heart ache.

His mother had been still so young when she’d died.

“She got sick but didn’t go to the doctor. No time and crappy health insurance. By the time we figured out something was really wrong it was too late. The cancer had spread.”

“I’m so sorry.” Evie lifted herself up on one arm so she was looking down on him.

He shrugged. “Me too, but life isn’t always fair.” He touched her cheek, running the pad of his finger over it.

“You’d know that better than most. I never doubted that my mother loved me.

That’s more than a lot of people get.

Plus, I had Quinn and Chrissten. We pulled together and made things work.”

Evie could only wonder at that kind of closeness. Most of the people she’d known would have looked out for themselves at a time of crisis. It made her respect Quinn and Chrissten even more knowing they’d automatically taken care of their younger brother when their mother died. She could only imagine the kinds of bonds that living through such an event would forge.

She’d only had the most superficial of personal connections. Sure, she’d lived in a few decent foster homes, but they were always temporary and lasted only as long as the families got paid and the foster kids weren’t too much trouble.

“Were you ever close to any of your foster parents?” Craig’s soft question pulled her out of her thoughts.

“There was one woman, the one who gave me the colored pencils.” She’d never spoken about this to anyone. “The home was in a decent neighborhood and the school was the best I’d ever attended. There was always enough food and I had clean clothes. They came from the thrift store, but it was good quality.

She taught me how to look for labels and to shop at the thrift stores nearer the upscale neighborhoods.” Evie laughed.

“She used to say that only rich people threw out good stuff.”

Craig brushed his hand over her head and let it settle at her nape. “What happened?”

“I was there two years.” They’d been the best two years of her short life.

“I was beginning to think I was going to stay there, you know?” The dark memories still hurt after all these years.

“She found out she was pregnant. They were so happy. My foster father had never paid much attention to me, but that all changed. I was suddenly in the way.”

“Fuck.” There was such anger in Craig’s voice and it was all for her. It made it easier to finish telling her story.

“Yeah, you know what comes next.

They fought a lot and finally my foster mom came to me and told me I’d be moving. She’d been crying and felt bad, but she didn’t fight hard enough to keep me there. She gave me up just like everyone else in my life has.”

Craig pulled her down until their faces were only an inch apart. “I’ll never give you up.”

His promise sent a shiver of longing through her even as she struggled not to believe it. He said that now, but if it came down to a choice between her or his family, she didn’t hold out any hope of being the winner. That’s just the way life was.

Craig kissed her, moving his mouth softly against hers. She sighed and gave herself up to the passion that simmered constantly between them. She’d tried to hold herself back from him, but it was impossible. There was just too much passion, too much everything.

He understood her like no one else ever had. He talked to her as though her opinion mattered, made her feel important for the first time in her life.

That in itself was seductive. She knew they were on borrowed time, but she’d tossed caution to the wind. She didn’t expect to live for much longer and, for the first time in her life, she felt as though she belonged with someone.

Not that she’d ever admit it to him or anyone else. No, she’d protect her heart as best she could, but that didn’t mean she was going to deny herself the pleasure of being with him. If she was going to have the heartbreak when the time came for them to part, she reasoned she might as well enjoy all the good stuff.

He eased back and studied her.

“What is going on in that brain of yours?”

She shook her head. No way was she going there.

“We should get up and talk to Damek.” Because if they stayed in bed much longer, she knew they’d end up making love again. Not that she’d particularly mind. She loved Craig’s body, his broad shoulders, wide chest and six-pack abs. She loved his slightly callused hands on her skin and his hard, hot cock inside her.

But she was particularly vulnerable now because the memories from her past were so close to the surface. She needed to rebuild her walls, reinforce them as much as she could, before they made love again.

And it was making love. She’d had sex with a couple of guys before and there was no comparison between what they’d done and what happened when she and Craig came together.

Craig studied her for a long moment and then released her. “Whatever you want.” He sifted his fingers through her long hair, combing it carefully. “All I want is for you to be happy.”

And all she’d ever wanted was a man who would say these kinds of things to her and mean it. Too bad she’d turned the only one who ever had into a vampire. Not to mention the fact that both their lives were in danger until she killed the creature who’d made her.

Yeah, as always, her life sucked.

Although, for the first time in what seemed life forever, she had something good in her life, someone good.

Craig released her and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “We’ll talk more later.” There was a thread of steel beneath his words that sent a shiver down her spine. He might want to talk more later, but there was a limit to what she’d tell him. He already knew more about her than any other living soul.

He rolled out of bed and padded to the adjoining bathroom. Evie simply lay in bed and enjoyed the view of Craig’s naked butt. After about thirty seconds, she sighed and climbed out of bed and followed him.

Damek was waiting for them when they entered the living room a half hour later. Craig’s shower had taken a little longer than he’d planned, but he didn’t mind. Making love to Evie in the shower was becoming his favorite way to start the day. Or rather, night.

He only wished he knew what was on her mind. She seemed pensive. One moment she was right with him, the next she seemed a million miles away. Her revelations from her past weren’t much of a surprise. He’d known she’d been in foster care and had left as soon as she’d turned eighteen. She wouldn’t have done that if she’d been close to the family she’d been living with.

Like him, for good or bad, her past defined her. Craig knew she was a guarded person, a loner. But he wasn’t going to let her stay that way any longer.

It would take some time, but he knew he could convince her to trust him with her love. She already trusted him with her body, but that wasn’t enough. There was something special between them and he wasn’t about to lose it. He’d waited too long to find a woman like Evie—intelligent, giving, honorable and, best of all, she knew all about him and his family.

Evie was one in a million and worth fighting for.

He also knew she was still planning on sacrificing herself if need be. Knew she felt she had to face Vladimir Drake alone and kill him. Evie wasn’t used to anyone having her back, being on her side. But she’d learn or he’d die trying.

She was holding herself slightly away from him and Craig knew she was trying to put some emotional and physical distance between them. He wasn’t having it. He caught her hand and twined their fingers together.

Damek and Sonia were already seated on the sofa waiting for them.

Craig nodded to his hosts. “Good evening.”

Damek motioned to the glasses of blood on the coffee table. “Drink and we’ll talk.”

Craig seated Evie next to him, ignoring the dirty look she sent him. As long as she was sitting next to him she could look at him any way she wanted.

He almost grinned at the uncharacteristically possessive thought.

He’d certainly changed since he’d met Evie. Craig was beginning to understand his friend more and more with each passing day. Damek was certainly possessive when it came to Sonia.

Craig picked up one of the crystal glasses and started to hand it to Evie.

She ignored him and took the other one that was still on the table. He shrugged and sipped the ruby liquid. “Did you have a chance to check the properties?”

“Yes.” Damek absently ran his fingers up and down Sonia’s arm. “I checked all the ones you sent me. One was a possibility, but it was empty. The rest were a bust.”

Craig nodded. “I probably need another half hour on my computer and can send you everything else I’ve found.

I should have done it last night, but—” He broke off and lifted the glass, drinking deep. No need to rehash last night’s debacle.

“Have you checked your phone messages?” Sonia asked. The compassion in her voice soothed some of the ache in his heart. He still had friends. Good friends in her and Damek.

And his family.

“No.”

“You should.” Damek’s crisp words made Craig stop.

“What did you do?”

Damek scowled at him. “I did nothing other than talk to those stubborn wolves.”

Craig reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He’d automatically put it there when he’d dressed but hadn’t bother to check it for messages. There were half a dozen missed calls from Meredith and almost as many from his sister.

The ones from his sister were easy enough to figure out. She probably wanted to tell him what Damek had said.

The ones from Meredith weren’t quite as easy to figure out. “If they have to be blackmailed into talking to me, I’m not interested.”

Evie had been keeping her distance but was suddenly plastered alongside him, her hand resting on his leg. He could feel her tensing, ready to jump to his defense if necessary. He covered her hand with his, loving the sense of togetherness it gave him.

Damek raised one eyebrow. “Now why would you think they were blackmailed?”

Craig set his glass down on the table and pointed an accusing finger at his friend. “I know you. I know how you operate.”

Sonia laughed and playfully punched her husband in the side. “He’s got your number.”

“The abuse I take.” Damek caught her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed each of Sonia’s knuckles before turning back to Craig. “I didn’t blackmail them.

I didn’t have to. I simply pointed out a few truths to them. But you don’t have to take my word for it, talk to Meredith. Or your siblings for that matter. They were there.”

Damek rose. “I must leave for work.”

Craig jumped to his feet before his friend could leave the room. There was no expression on Damek’s face, but Craig knew his accusation had hurt his friend. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that.” Craig raked his fingers through his hair, frustrated with himself and with the situation they all found themselves tangled in.

“I’ve got a lot on my mind right now, but you’ve been nothing but kind and understanding. Hell, I probably wouldn’t be standing here if you hadn’t come to my aid. I don’t doubt that Vladimir would have found us by now if we were still roaming the streets, trying to survive. I owe you my life. Our lives.”

Damek swore in a language Craig didn’t know, but there was no doubt what was coming out of his friend’s mouth was profanity. Some words didn’t need translating. “You owe me nothing.

Nothing. You are my one true friend.”

Craig pulled Damek into his arms and hugged him. “And you’re my friend.

Now and always.” Damek returned his embrace and then pulled back.

The older vampire stared at him for a long moment, both of them sharing their thoughts before retreating behind their separate walls once again. Damek nodded and Craig knew he’d been forgiven.

Damek glanced at Evie and then back at his wife. “We must plan our next move.”