Free Star, Starland Vamp Series, Book 1 by Theresa Oliver Page B

on fire, and this vamp was going to kill him?
    “Oh, okay,” he said, understanding. “Here,” Zac said, pulling me into an alcove. “Here’s some Obsession. It should mask the scent.”
    “Thanks,” I said, taking the cologne and spraying it lightly on my neck and wrist. “Better?” I asked, handing the cologne back.
    Zac grinned his dazzling smile, and my heart leaped. My God, he was beautiful ! Could you imagine if he was a vamp? Vampires were always beautiful. But in Zac’s case, how could you improve upon perfection? I quickly brushed the thought aside, not wanting to wish vampirism on anyone. Zac ran a hand through his sun-bleached hair, pushing back my favorite lock of hair, revealing his deep azure eyes, then shifted his weight to one side. How did he do that? Mesmerize me so? “Much better,” he replied, flashing a breath-taking grin. “But I think we should eat alfresco today,” he laughed. 
    So Zac was cultured, too. Sweet. “Think I’d better go find some clothes to change into first.”
    “No,” he teased. “The scent’s already going away.” 
    I smiled. “Thank goodness.”
    He laughed, reaching for my hand. I pulled away, afraid he would notice the difference in our body temperature. My skin was not ice cold, but ran much cooler than a human’s, since my heart only beat three times a minute. It was enough to circulate the blood slowly and to metabolize it into food, but not enough to warm my body.
    Zac nodded, but his grin faded a bit, disappointed that I pulled my hand away. Just then two brawny students walked by. “Hey, Zac!” One of the boys yelled, his eyes scanning me approvingly. The other boy openly gawked as they passed, but said nothing. “Are you coming, or are you going to flirt all day?” the brawny boy yelled, giving me a wink over his shoulder, then disappeared down the hall.
    “Hey, sorry about that,” Zac apologized.
    I shrugged.
    “What class do you have now?”
    “Computer lab,” I said, smiling.
    “Well, I’ll see you later,” Zac answered with a smile. “I have gym, and I’d better hurry. See you at lunch!”  Zac smiled his dazzling half smile. I had to catch my breath. And I don’t need breath. “Now, before you say anything, there is a whole group of us that eat lunch together every day. I’ll introduce you.”
    “Are you sure your friends will like that?” I hedged. Really, I would love to sit with him and spend every waking moment with him, but I had to be realistic. I was a vampire and he wasn’t, after all. We came from two separate worlds.
    “They’re good people,” he said, reassuring. “No more argument. I’ll see you then.”
    And before I could say another word, he was gone. For a moment, I feared for his safety, watching him walk away. Fearful? Me? I haven’t feared anything in years. I brushed the thought away from my mind. Surely he would be safe for one class period, but a part of me wanted to follow him, to watch him secretly to ensure his safety. Listen to me! I was turning into a stalker.
    I headed toward the computer lab, finding it with ease, having memorized the room number on my schedule this morning.
    I filed in with the other students, but most gave me a wide berth. Humans usually felt an aversion to vampires, although some seek us out. The adrenaline junkies.  Most humans usually sensed that we were dangerous and stayed away, although they couldn’t explain why. But Zac was different. He seemed to make up his own mind about things.
    I sat down at the first available computer, prepared for a boring class, but thought that maybe I could instant message Rick to let him know what I found out. Suddenly, I smelled another vampire. I scanned the room until my eyes fell upon a beautiful heart shaped face, with lovely long blonde hair that fell just past her shoulders. Vampires were very beautiful creatures. Smiling, I walked over to her. I didn’t have to remind myself to be careful, for I didn’t know her cover here