Free Date with a Vampire by Raine English Page A

game?
    He held her closer, her eyes squeezed shut against his strong, muscular chest, then he tilted her chin up and pressed his mouth to hers. Melody’s eyes opened wide in horror. This kiss was different. Much different from the one she’d shared with Guy on the beach. And there was good reason for that. The man who held her was not Guy but Johnny Evans.
    She pressed her hands firmly against him and tried to push him away but was no match for his strength. His kiss deepened despite her protests. And to make matters worse, Guy stood poised at the top of the stairs. She wanted to cry out to him, “It’s not what you think,” but by the time she disentangled herself from Johnny, it was too late. Guy was gone.
    “What do you think you’re doing?” she cried.
    Johnny wore a confused look. “Consoling you? You seemed upset.”
    “I’d call it a little more than consoling.” What was it with these men? Why did they think they could kiss her whenever they pleased? Hadn’t they ever heard of asking first?
    “I’m sorry, Mel.”
    “—ody. My name is Melody.” She grabbed a cushion from the arm of the sofa and hugged it against her chest.
    “I was just trying to help, that’s all. I guess I got carried away. You’re a very attractive woman, Melody.”
    Johnny looked like a sad puppy that she’d just kicked to the curb. But she didn’t care. What concerned her was the image Guy must have of her. After attempting to save her life, not to mention being embarrassed in front of the other bachelors, he finds her locked in another man’s arms. Lord, what must he think of her? But what made her even more angry is why she cared so darn much what he thought. If she wanted to kiss every bachelor here, it was her business and no one else’s.
    She offered Johnny a weak smile. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I’m sorry. I guess I’m just hormonal.”
    He squeezed her hand. “Sure. I understand.”
    Melody watched Johnny leave the cabin. He was the kind of man she should be interested in. She had a lot more in common with a professor than she had with a count. Yet, her heart didn’t flutter when Johnny kissed her the way it did with Guy. Men! She was better off without them. Just let me get through Dream Girl, and then I can go home.
    — : : —
    Theo stared into the large silver goblet. Inside, the image of Melody’s lovely face faded into the thick red blood. He’d watched the events unfold in Fiji as a wizard would through his crystal ball and was pleased with what he’d seen.
    His brother’s humiliation after rescuing Melody from a dolphin had Theo dancing for joy. And then to have Guystof find Melody in the professor’s arms was brilliant. Theo couldn’t have devised a better plan himself. If that didn’t knock his brother down a peg or two, he didn’t know what would.
    He twirled around the room, his black cape billowing like wings. Theo stopped long enough to drink the entire contents of the goblet, wipe the blood from his mouth with his hand, then lick his fingers. It wouldn’t be long until Dragesa was his. He would rule the kingdom as never before. His father and his before that had been weak. They’d listened to their wives, taking care to spare a woman whenever possible. Well, he cared for women too. Cared that they heeded his desires. There wasn’t a city or town across the globe that didn’t hold a vampire or two that belonged to him. Soon, he could bring them all here, to Dragesa, so that they could service him whenever he pleased. The thought of those lovely, slender necks his for the piercing, made him quiver with desire.
    He’d keep a close watch on Melody. There was no way he was going to lose this battle. Theo slammed the goblet on the thick wooden table and didn’t hear the door open behind him. It wasn’t until Blakesley was beside him that he noticed the butler. The old man had been with the LeBreques for centuries but mainly served Guystof.
    “How many times have I told you