Single White Vampire Read Online Free PDF Page A

sink.
    â€œI’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, I…” Shepaused when he held up a hand to halt her forward progress.
    â€œJust…” he began, then finished wearily; “What did you ask?”
    He couldn’t really listen to her answer. The sweet, tinny scent of blood seemed rich in the air, though he doubted Kate could smell it from where she was across the room. It was distracting, and even more distracting was the rushing sound of it all running out of the bag and down the sink. His dinner. His last bag.
    His mind was screaming NO! His body was cramping in protest. That being the case, Kate C. Leever’s words sounded like “Blah blah blah” as she moved toward his empty refrigerator and peered inside. Lucern didn’t bother to stop her this time. Apart from the blood from earlier, it was completely empty. However, he did try to concentrate on what she was saying, hoping that the sooner he dealt with her question, the sooner he could save his dinner. Try as he might, however, he was really only catching a word here and there.
    â€œBlah blah blah…haven’t eaten since breakfast. Blah blah blah…really don’t have anything here. Blah blah blah…shopping?”
    The last chorus of blahs ended on a high note, alerting Lucern to the fact that it had been a question. He wasn’t sure what the question was, but he could sense that a no would probably provoke an argument.
    â€œYes,” he blurted, hoping to be rid of the stubborn woman. Much to his relief, the answer pleased her and sent her back to the hall door.
    â€œBlah blah blah…pick my room.”
    He could almost taste the blood, its scent was so heavy in the air.
    â€œBlah blah…change into something more comfortable.”
    He was starving.
    â€œBlah blah be right back and we can go.”
    The door closed behind her, and Lucern whirled back to the sink. He moaned. The bag was almost completely drained. It was flat. Nearly. Feeling somewhat desperate, he picked it up, tipped it over his mouth and squeezed, trying to wring out the last few drops. He got exactly three before giving up and tossing the bag into the garbage with disgust. If there had been any question before, there wasn’t now. Without a doubt, Kate C. Leever was going to make his life a living hell until she left. He just knew it.
    And what the heck had he agreed to anyway?

Chapter Two
    â€œShopping!”
    Kate laughed at Lucern’s disgusted mutter as they entered the 24-hour grocery store. He’d been repeating it every few minutes since leaving the house. At first he’d said the word as if he couldn’t believe he’d agreed to go. Then, as they’d driven here in his BMW, that dismay had turned to disgust. You’d think the man had never gone food shopping before now! Of course, judging by how empty his cupboards were, Kate supposed he hadn’t. And when she’d commented on the lack of food in his home on the way out of the house, he’d muttered something about not having replaced his housekeeper yet. Kate presumed that meant he ate out a lot in the meantime.
    She hadn’t bothered to inquire as to what had become of his previous housekeeper. His personality was answer enough. No doubt the poor woman had quit. Kate herself would have, she knew.
    She led him to the rows of empty shopping carts. As she started to pull one out, Lucern grunted something that might have been “Allow me,” but could just as easily have been “Get the hell out of the way.” He then took over the chore,
    In Kate’s experience, men always preferred to do the driving—whether it was a car, a golf cart, or a shopping basket. She suspected it was a control issue, but either way it was handy; it meant she was free to fill the thing up.
    She began to make a mental list of what she should get as she led the way toward the dairy section. She would have to be sure she got lots