Free The Vampire Shrink by Lynda Hilburn

had any cuts or bite marks.
    Did he drug her? He’s obviously playing into the vampire fantasy. Is he a manipulative slimeball or something even worse?
    â€œI thought we made an agreement that you’d hold off on any blood-drinking activities until we talked about it first. What if Bryce has some kind of illness? Is he worth dying for?”
    She scowled. “I think you’re making it a bigger deal than it is. I know I told you I’d wait, but we got so caught up in the moment. Bryce said that if I really loved him, I’d want to share everything with him. I know how that sounds, but at the time it made perfect sense. He just looked at me, and I knew it was the right thing to do. Besides, Bryce said if I do decide to become a vampire, any diseases that I might have would go away.”
    Shit. We’ve crossed the line now. I’m legally required to report harm to self or other, and even though Midnight isn’t a minor, she’s at risk. If I get the authorities involved in this, Midnight will never trust me again. But if I don’t …
    I locked eyes with her. “Would you be willing to give this some time? Will you promise me—I mean really promise me—that you won’t make any decisions about becoming a vampire or drinking more blood without talking to me first? It’s a very big deal.”
    I let the honest concern I felt show in my face, and I watched the suspicion in her eyes soften into possibility as she sensed my sincerity. I really didn’t want to bring in the police unless I absolutely had to, and I needed time to deepen our connection.
    She heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Well, if I have to.”
    Okay. I’ll take that. It’s better than nothing.
    I persuaded her to put off the decision for a couple of weeks, and we spent the rest of the session exploring some of her background. “Tell me more about your father,” I asked, and she did. The hour flew by.
    As she stood to leave she said, “I told some of the other kids about you, and a few of them might want to come and talk. Would that be okay?”
    â€œSure. That would be great.” I gathered some business cards from my desk and handed them to her. “Just ask them to call to schedule an appointment.”
    I walked her into the reception area, where she stopped with her hand on the doorknob and turned toward me again. “Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. I told Dev I was coming to see you that first time—that my parents were making me see a shrink—and he was very interested. Well, anyway, he was waiting for me at the Crypt that night, and he asked me lots of questions about you and our session. He asked me what you look like. I told him everything. He said he might drop in to meet you sometime, and that I should tell you.”
    Why does he care about how I look? I’m obviously too old for his taste.
    â€œIf he’d like to make an appointment, I’ll be happy to see him.”
    â€œIt would have to be at night.” She grinned mischievously.
    â€œThat’s perfectly fine—I do see clients in the evenings.” I didn’t add that it was one of my least favorite things to do and that I avoided it whenever possible. But if I was going to specialize in vampire wannabes, I guessed I’d have to get used to the nocturnal schedule.
    She left, and I went back into my office.

    I met with a few more clients that afternoon and early evening and had just kicked off my shoes when I heard the door to the reception area open. I quickly scanned my appointment book to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anyone. Finding I hadn’t, I put my shoes back on and opened my office door.
    Sitting in one of the chairs in the waiting room was the very same gorgeous, blond-haired, leather-clad man I’d seen outside my building and in Midnight’s drawing.
    My stomach lurched, and I think I gasped out loud.
    He stood when I opened the door, and it was a