"I would have asked you that first night if I didn't think it would have scared you silly. Kimberly, I love you. There's never going to be anyone else for me. But I don't want to rush you. You've had a lot of change and adjustment in the past month. Don't stand there and think for one minute I don't want you. The minute you think you're ready, I'll have you standing under the moon so fast it will make your head spin. I was going to wait until Christmas day to do this, but I can't wait anymore."Derek pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket and handed it to me. My heart stopped dead and then started beating wildly as I looked at it in my palm."I bought it for you in Las Vegas. Open it," Derek whispered.My fingers shook as I reached for the lid and pulled the box open. Inside was an engagement ring. Three emerald cut diamonds set in platinum that sparkled and flashed under the kitchen lights; it took my breath away."I love you, Kimber. Marry me. Be my mate, my partner, my lover,
I looked around at the mound of documents and hoped (for the dozenth time today) that I could flee to the Bahamas. I grinned as I recalled my lunchtime phone talk with my closest buddy earlier in the day. I'd tell him if I went missing that afternoon to start searching on the white sand beaches of Nassau since I was sick to death of the audit at work and anxious about the full day of meetings I had booked for tomorrow. He'd laughed and reminded me that I had a week of vacation coming up as soon as the auditors left.I would have told him I loved him if I had known that was the final time I would ever see him. Oh, not anymore, not for a long time. But Samuel Nash was the most influential person in my life. He'd been my boyfriend for several years. When that didn't work, what bothered us the most was the prospect of losing our close relationship. Samuel and I made a pact that no matter how tough or distressing the issue was, we would work through it together. He'd been my best buddy sin
It was warm and dimly lit. Quiet. I could hear something beeping faintly in the background, but it was far away and didn't bother me. I went back to sleep.But I had the strangest dream. I was growling on my hands and knees in a hospital bed. The guy from the basement, the one who forced me to drink his blood, was present. He was assuring me not to worry because no one was going to harm me. He continued speaking to me in this calming, gentle tone, but I was furious. Why? What has gone wrong? But he advised me to sleep again, which seemed like a nice idea, so I cuddled up on the bed. My tail beat a few times on the bed before I fell asleep again.Wait. My tail?I pushed my eyes open again, perplexed. White walls, shady windows, a faint beeping, and a stench could only be described as a hospital. When I glanced down, I saw an IV in my left arm. My right arm seemed to be in a cast. I tried wriggling my butt in the bed, but nothing moved. Even yet, I couldn't detect a tail. Just a dream,
So I'm not a vampire after all. Derek kept his word. But I'm not human anymore. I'm a werewolf, apparently, but I'm not sure I believe it.A werewolf, indeed.The day began routinely enough. Dr. Scott came over and informed me that I'd done such a good job with my Jell-O and applesauce supper that he was promoting me to solid meals. And what about my broken arm? It's almost healed. He believes the cast will be removed tomorrow. He said I'd be allowed to shower later today since my knee was as good as new. I asked him how long I'd been in the hospital, and he skirted the topic once again. It enraged me to the point where I let out a serious-sounding roar. That was a little frightening.He removed the bandage from my neck. Dr. Scott hesitated when I asked for a mirror to see it."I'm not going to lie to you, Elizabeth. Right now, your neck looks awful. That man ripped you to shreds. You have many stitches that will fall out in a day or two. Just trust me when I say that the scar will di
My dreams that night were sweat-filled nightmares filled with wolves and the bastard vampire that attacked me. He repeatedly shoved me against the wall and taunted me. He laughed more the more I bled. The wolves circled, growled, and attacked at random. Derek loomed over me, earnestly telling me things that screamed at me. I had died. I used to be a werewolf. I used to be a vampire. I'd never be able to return. All of my friends and family are no longer with me. Throughout it all, I was engulfed in a vortex of agony that enveloped me. My monitors must have given me away because the nurse came in and injected me with something that put me under so deep that my nightmares couldn't reach me. Dr. Scott removed the cast from my arm in the morning, and I spent over an hour in the shower washing my skin and hair until I couldn't smell anything except soap. The only thing that remained hurting was my neck, so I washed it. I was shaky and trembling at the end of the shower, but I made it on
Dr. Scott kept his promise. A half-hour later, an orderly arrived with a wheelchair, and we were going. As the elevator doors closed and we descended to the below-ground laboratory, I felt a shiver go down my spine. Part of me worried whether I'd ever be able to come back up.The tests were not painful. An X-ray, a CAT scan, blood samples, and an MRI were all procedures I'd had before. When they returned me to my room and I crawled into bed, something inside of me calmed. I nearly sobbed with delight when Derek arrived a few hours later. He was holding a huge pizza with cheese and pepperoni! I grabbed a handful of his shirt and yanked him down for a loud, smacking kiss on the cheek as he placed it down on the bedside table."Sir, you've made my week. Thank you very much!"He laughed and made a courtly bow that, in his jeans and t-shirt, should have looked ridiculous, but he did it with grace. "I am just yours to command, whatever the Lady wants."I laughed and grabbed a lovely piece.
Dr. Scott gave me two gowns so I wouldn't flash anyone on the plane. He tried to hide his snicker of amusement, but I saw the look that passed between him and Derek. I ignored it, put my gowns on, and stomped off toward the main entrance.The driver didn't blink, but the pilot openly grinned at my attire. I sighed and settled in for the flight. It was a pretty snazzy little plane. Large, leather captain's chairs (that swiveled!) in elegant bone color, a small round cherry table bolted to the floor on one side, and plush navy blue carpeting set off the inlaid wood accents on the walls and the hand-blown glass light fixtures. I buckled in and thanked Derek for the blanket he tucked around me. I don't remember much after that until Derek shook me awake as we were getting ready to land."I called ahead. One of my pack will be waiting at my house with some clothes for you. We can go out shopping tomorrow if you like, but you seem pretty beat. Let's get you home and settle in for the day, o
I was only vaguely aware of being carried up the stairs and into my new room. I was warm and comfortable and safe, that was all I cared about. When I was put down on my feet, I protested and tried to snuggle back into that warmth."Kimber, can you just stand there for a second? I need to turn down the bed so I can put you in it."I mumbled a protest in a sleepy, childlike voice and leaned against Derek. He held me against him with one arm while turning down the bed with the other."Okay, into bed you go," and I scooped off my feet and slid into the sheets.I blinked up at him owlishly, "What'd you call me?"Derek grinned at me, "Kimber. Kimberly is a mouthful and Kim is too short. You seem like a Kimber to me, sort of unusual and elegant. Is that okay with you?"It was already too warm in the bed. I pulled the sweats off and tossed them on the floor, leaving me in my t-shirt and panties."S'okay. You're weird, but I like it. I'm going to sleep now." My words were slow and sleepy. Talk