Just One Bite Volume 3 Read online

  Just One Bite

  Volume 3

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement of the copyright of this work.

  JUST ONE BITE

  Volume 3

  Copyright © 2010 Respective Authors

  Cover art by Amanda Kelsey

  All Romance eBooks, LLC

  Palm Harbor, Florida 34684

  www.allromanceebooks.com

  This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or business establishments, events, or locales is coincidental.

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever with out written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  First All Romance eBooks publication: November 2010

  Table of Contents

  1 My Sweet Immortal by Rachel Carrington

  12 Just Like in the Movies by Daryn Cross & LJ DeLeon

  22 First Date by Madeleine Drake

  33 Serendipity…or Something Like That by Jane Kent

  44 The Fortune Teller by Selena Kitt

  55 Wolf in the Night by Runere McLain

  66 Eternally Yours by Christine McKay

  77 Warrior’s Heart by Alicia Nordwell

  86 Complicated Cargo by Frances Pauli

  97 Midsummer Daisies by Molly Ringle

  108 Something Fishy by Angela Spencer

  119 Purr-fect Timing by Kari Thomas

  My Sweet Immortal

  by Rachel Carrington

  She should be dead. Yet, Bianca awoke lying face down atop the cold, cracked asphalt, blistering pain in between her shoulder blades.

  What the hell had happened? The last thing she remembered was chasing a murder suspect down the narrow alley. No, wait. The white, hot heat. She recalled that, too. And hadn’t there been a gunshot?

  Garbled voices came through a radio receiver she couldn’t see. She must have dropped it when she went down. Her partner, Noel, where was he? Had he been shot, too? He’d seen her go down…hadn’t he? Had he been killed?

  Bianca ordered herself not to cry while trying to force herself to roll over. But no part of her body would cooperate. God, was she paralyzed? Panic started to set in, and while her heart pounded so fast against her ribcage she thought it would seize at any moment, the pain began to ebb. Was this what it felt like to die then?

  “We need to get her out of here.”

  The deep, male voice startled her. She hadn’t heard footsteps. So where in the hell had the man behind that voice come from so fast?

  “Who’s there?” She couldn’t even turn her head to see whoever it was behind her.

  “Just take it easy. We’ll have you out of here in a minute.” The soothing tone edged its way into her mind, offering comfort she didn’t understand.

  “I’m a cop.” Not that her profession could threaten them in any way considering her present incapacitation.

  “And we’re not here to hurt you.” The tone had softened to a low rumble then gentle hands turned her over while strong arms slipped beneath her legs and back.

  Now cradled against a chest roughly the size of a small planet, Bianca gazed up into dappled gray eyes and shivered. “Are you taking me to the hospital?”

  “You don’t need a hospital.” Her savior smiled, and her heart rhythm changed to a stutter.

  “B-but I’ve been shot.” Why was she not at all interested in her wound now that she was in this man’s arms?

  “Are you in pain?” He hadn’t moved, just continued to hold her against his chest as though she were a down-filled pillow.

  Bianca opened her mouth to respond then closed it. What had happened to the pain? She’d been shot before, had spent ten days in the hospital two years ago because of it. This time was worse, much worse. Or, at least, it should be. A cop taking a shot to the back usually meant that some family member was getting a folded flag.

  “It’s okay. Don’t be scared.” He jostled her in his arms and began walking down the alleyway. “You’ll be safe soon.”

  “I need to call in, to let my partner know I’m okay.” A strange, euphoric feeling swept away the last of her voice, and she dropped her head to the strange man’s shoulder. She should be scared, at the very least, concerned. But she sensed no danger from him, only concern and protection. He held her as though he’d save her from whatever danger they might encounter.

  “We’re running out of time.” A different voice issued the warning.

  The words came at her through a black haze. Bianca wanted to respond, to demand some answers, but she couldn’t think anymore. Couldn’t see.

  *****

  “That was too damned close.” Julian lay Bianca down on the pile of blankets in front of the fireplace, easing her closer to the fire for warmth when all he really wanted to do was hold her.

  “We had to be sure.”

  Julian glared at his brother over his shoulder. “The seer’s visions have never been wrong. If we’d gotten there a few minutes later…” He didn’t finish the sentence, didn’t want to think about what might have happened.

  Jalen continued peeling an apple. “I know, and there are too few of us now.”

  “And now she joins us.” Julian looked back at the beautiful cop. The color had returned to her skin, and a brief glimpse of her injury had shown the wound almost healed. It wouldn’t be long before she’d wake up, and this time, she’d want answers.

  “You worried about how to tell her what she is?”

  “That and other things.” A soft whimper drew Julian’s gaze back to the woman. “She’s waking up. Go.”

  Though he got to his feet, Jalen hesitated. “You sure you want to do this alone?”

  “It’s my responsibility. She’s to be my mate. I must help her adjust to this world.” Julian glanced up at his brother. “Tell the others I’ll bring her as soon as possible.”

  “Try not to take too long. It’s not safe for her to stay here now.”

  Julian knew all too well the danger Bianca was in now. Still kneeling at her side, he brushed the hair away from her face, and was rewarded with a slight smile. “Open your eyes, my sweet. It’s time to see your new world.”

  Bianca made a sound of protest, but her eyelids fluttered in obedience. Blue eyes looked up at him, trying to focus. “Where am I?”

  No easy way. The mantra repeated itself in his brain, reminding him of his own entry into this world—a world where death had no meaning.

  “You’re safe.” They wouldn’t be here long enough for their location to matter. “Can you sit up?” Julian wrapped his arm around her shoulders and helped her to an upright position.

  Bianca drew in a shaky breath and nodded. “I-what happened? I remember being in the alley. Getting shot.” Her eyes widened. “I was shot. Why am I not in the hospital?”

  He wished he could erase the worry from her eyes. Instead, he added to it. “You were shot, Bianca, but you’re okay. The wound has healed.”

  Pushing away from him, Bianca tried to look at her back. “How is that possible? I was just shot. Wasn’t I?” She blew her bangs out of her eyes, reached up to touch her cheeks. “I remember the asphalt digging into my skin.” Her hands faltered, and she dropped them, her eyes begging Julian for answers. “What’s happened to me?”

  Julian curled his hands around her wrists and steadied his gaze on hers. “You’re not going to understand this, but you’ve change
d, Bianca.

  “Changed?” She tried to tug free, but he held fast. “What are you talking about?”

  He considered working up to the actual announcement, but they had to get moving…and soon. Better to plunge right in and just scare the shit out of her. “Your body healed itself because you’re an immortal.”

  Bianca blinked once. Twice. “Are you on drugs? Let go of me.” When he released her, she scrambled to her feet, looking over her shoulder. “Where’s my coat?”

  Julian stood to intercept her charge toward the door. “Bianca, listen to me. I know it’s easier to believe I’m crazy or medicated, but what I’m telling you is the truth.” He spun, strode to the kitchen table, and took the knife Jalen had left behind. When he returned to Bianca, he held it out to her. “Take it.”

  Though her gaze fell to the blade, she didn’t make a move. “Why?”

  “Because this is the only way I know to convince you I’m telling the truth.”

  “What do you want me to do with the knife?”

  “Stab me. Through the heart.”

  Bianca recoiled. “Are you insane? That will kill you!”

  “No, it won’t. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Just as you are, I’m an immortal. Last year, our seer got a vision that you were one of us. If my brother and I hadn’t gotten to you when we did, you might have been exposed.”

  Bianca swayed on her feet, and one of Julian’s hands clamped around her arm to hold her steady. “Exposed? This doesn’t make sense, and it’s not possible. You’re joking. That’s it, isn’t it? My partner put you up to this.”

  His watch chimed, a subtle reminder that time had grown even shorter. If Bianca wouldn’t stab him, there was only one other thing he could do. “Forgive me, my love.” Gripping the handle of the short blade, he brought it up and just as she gasped, he drove it into her heart.

  Her eyes went wide, her body tensing from the pain. With a grimace, Julian withdrew the knife, tossed it aside, and ripped open Bianca’s blouse. “Look, Bianca. Watch the wound. It’s already healing. You’re not dead. You’re not going to die. Ever.” Well, there were a couple of ways an immortal could be killed, but he’d save that information for later, once she’d had time to absorb the hardest part of the transition.

  Her head dipped, Bianca stared at the closing wound, watched it until her skin refreshed, smoothed without a blemish. Then she lifted her gaze. “What have I become?”

  “I’ve already told you. Now, that you know, we need to get going.”

  She shrank away from him. “Go where? How do I know you’re not taking me to some laboratory?”

  Julian’s exasperation climbed. “If I wanted to do that, I wouldn’t have waited until you were conscious. Besides that, you had the option to stab me first.”

  Her teeth worried her lower lip. “This is insane. I can’t be immortal.”

  “And yet, you just watched the wound close.”

  She glanced down at her torn blouse then back to his face, her eyes lighting up. “Do you realize what this means, how much good I can do now? I’m a cop who can’t die. Think of how many lives I can save, how many--”

  “Bianca.”

  “People I can protect.” She began to pace as she talked, her voice growing more animated with each syllable. “I mean, I know it’ll be difficult to explain, even more difficult for people to believe, but once they do, I’ll be--”

  “Bianca.” Julian sharpened his tone, made it louder.

  She stopped talking. “What?”

  “You can’t stay here, and you can’t reveal what you are.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because in doing so, you put us all at risk. Humans are afraid of that which they don’t understand, and they won’t understand a person who cannot die.”

  Seeming to consider his words, Bianca frowned. “Well, then, I’ll only tell a few people at first. My partner. Noel will understand.”

  Julian closed the gap between their bodies. “No, he won’t.” With a gentle touch, he cupped her cheek. “You have to come with me. Please. I don’t want to have to take you without your consent.”

  Bianca looked at him, her gaze moving up and down, perhaps sizing him up to see if she could take him. “I have a life here.”

  “Not anymore.” Julian held out his hand. “Let’s do this the easy way, Bianca.”

  With surprising calmness, she placed her hand in his, but just as Julian took a deep breath, she braced her feet, dipped, and flipped him neatly onto his back. His head smacked against the heavy wood floor, and, for a moment, he saw stars.

  Already out the door, Bianca stopped to look back inside. “I’ve never done anything in my life the easy way.”

  Julian considered going after her, but it would be pointless. Bianca wouldn’t go with him willingly until she saw what her difference would mean to those she knew and loved. And that was a lesson she’d have to learn the hard way.

  *****

  “My God, how is this possible?” All the color had drained from Noel’s face the moment he saw her standing outside her apartment building. “I saw you shot. You were lying face down on the pavement. My radio took a bullet.” He backed away from her as he talked. “I went back to the car to call for help. When I got back you were gone.”

  “It’s okay.” Bianca thought about turning around to show him the closed wound, but the look on her partner’s face told her he’d already seen too much. She’d expected some surprise, maybe even a little awe, but not Noel’s horror or the way he backed away from her.

  “What the hell has happened to you?” He stared at her shoulder, his mouth working.

  “I can explain.” She took two steps toward him, but he held up one hand.

  “No! Stay away from me. Something’s wrong. You had a huge hole in your back, Bianca. No one gets up and walks away from that.” He scrubbed both his hands over his face.

  Bianca frowned, her skin going cold. “I did, and if you’ll think for a moment, you’ll see what this means. The bad guys can’t hurt me now. For once, we really will have the upper hand.”

  He shook his head so violently, his teeth chattered. “No! This isn’t normal. Something bad has happened to you, Bianca, really bad.”

  Once again, she tried to walk toward him, kept her voice calm and soothing as she approached, but he wasn’t having any part of her attempts reassure him.

  “I said stay back. I don’t know if you’re dangerous, and I gotta think about my wife, my kids.”

  “Noel, I’m not dangerous. It’s still me.”

  “The hell it is.” Noel stumbled, righted himself, and raced toward the car so fast he didn’t see Julian’s approach. As he slammed into the massive frame, Julian grabbed him by the shoulders and said something to him Bianca couldn’t hear.

  With a puzzled look on his face, Noel climbed behind the wheel of the car and drove away, not once looking behind him.

  “What did you say to him?” Bianca’s throat clogged with tears.

  “I only took away the fear. I told you we couldn’t be exposed.”

  “So he doesn’t remember me?”

  Julian stroked his knuckles down her cheek. “He thinks you were killed in the line of duty. It’s best that way…for everyone.”

  A huge knot formed in the pit of her stomach. “How can it be the best for me?”

  “Think about it, Bianca. Remember your life as it’s always been. Hasn’t there been something missing…someone missing?”

  She considered his words, wanted to dismiss them. “You mean a man?”

  “I mean a bond with someone, a unity so strong nothing can tear it apart.”

  “Even if that were the case, and I’m not saying it is, what does that have to do with immortality?” She had to hold onto a bit of her pride.

  “You could not find that union with a mortal.” Humor filled his gray eyes. “Your heart would not allow it.” He held out his hand. “Are you ready to go with me now?”

  She looked at his palm an
d, without even touching it, felt the warmth. Her pulse accelerated. “What makes you think you know so much about my heart?”

  Julian didn’t lower his hand. “When an immortal’s mate is made whole, his heart becomes aware of it, and she becomes a part of him. They are connected heart and soul.” A smile flickered across his face. “And eventually, body.”

  For a moment, Bianca couldn’t say anything. Then she pushed the words out in a rush. “Are you trying to tell me we’re supposed to…you and I are…” She couldn’t finish the sentence, but the blood rush to her cheeks said far more than she could anyway.

  Julian chuckled and drew her closer to his side. “Yes. We are mated, but there is plenty of time for us now that you are whole.”

  “Is that what you call my death? Being made whole?”

  “For an immortal, that is the only way we can truly live.”

  His words offered a measure of comfort. “So this is it then? I just walk away?”

  He cupped her face, traced her lips with his thumb. “Yes, but you do not walk alone, Bianca.”

  A tear leaked down her cheek, and she reached up to take hold of his hand, needing the connection. “Will I ever get to come back here?”

  “No, your life here is over, but you will start a new life.”

  “My friends will forget about me then. I suppose that’s for the best.” She wondered who the department would give the flag to. She didn’t have any family, any connections really other than her partner. Her life had revolved around her work.

  Julian squeezed her hand. “They won’t forget; they’ll just move on. That’s what you have to do, what your destiny is, my sweet.”

  She took the strength he offered, looked back over her shoulder at the city she knew and loved. As she stood there, her palm touching his, a strange sense of calm filled her. And peace. She’d never had that before.

  “Are you ready?” The deep timbre of his voice was already doing strange things to her heart. This mating thing held promise.

  “So tell me more about this connection.” She allowed him to lead her away from the parking lot.