“With whom?”

“A friend.” Unable to stay this close to her and lie, Christine walked around her and went to the bedroom to sort through what she was going to wear.

“Who,” came the stern response.

This time Christine did sigh, her chest felt like an anvil was sitting on it. “He’s a man visiting the pack.” She gave the vaguest answer she could muster.

“The vampire?” her mother screeched.

“Yes, he is a vampire.”

Her mother rounded on her with a frown so deep it marred her lipsticked mouth. “How many times do I have to tell you, Christine? When will you learn that I know what’s best for you? If you just do what I say then you’ll be happy.”

Christine gave her mother a close-lipped smile. “Of course. I am happy by the way. I don’t need a mate to be happy.”

Her mother rolled her eyes. “Yes, but what of children and a husband? You don’t know what that kind of happiness feels like, so you don’t realize what you’re missing.” Christine sat on the bed. She’d heard this lecture a thousand times. It was old after the second time she heard it. Now it was just exhausting.

She felt bad for her mother, she really did. She’d lost her mate. Christine’s dad died in a fight with another lykaen when she was only four and her mother had never gotten over it. Her mother always said being with him was the only time she’d ever been happy. Seeing as she’d never seen her mother happy, it was probably true.

“And before you tell me you don’t need to marry an alpha, let me just remind you of what your father wanted. He wanted the best for you. He loved you so much, Christine. I want the best for you. Find an alpha, mate with him.”

Feeling the uncomfortable scorn of her mother’s eye, Christine looked away. “I tried it your way, mom. Even to my embarrassment. I pursued Vane and a number of other alphas. They don’t want me. Why don’t you leave it to rest?”

Her mother straightened, round cheeks flushing. “I will not disrespect my mate’s wishes for a disobedient brat who doesn’t see what’s good for her.”

“Mom, I think you need to go,” she said softly. She kept her eyes trained on the ground.

Her mother gasped. Then she heard the sound of heavy heels beating on the floor and the slam of the front door a minute later. Feeling the overwhelming need to cry, Christine curled up on the bed and stared at the white wall above her bedpost. She’d tried, she really had. Even with men she felt no attraction to whatsoever. And inside she knew she was still trying to please her mother. That’s why she was thirty and had never been mated or even in a real relationship.

Her love life consisted of dozens of dates, half of which were set up by her mother, with alphas from packs across the country. God, even one of them came from Europe. None of them had held her interest for more than a conversation or a quick roll in the hay.

She rarely ever thought about one question. Now she did.

How long could she go on trying to please her mother? The question scared her on a deep level because she knew the answer. She craved her mother’s, and maybe even her father’s, acceptance too much. She’d go on forever until one day she found an Alpha who’d mate with her.

Straightening from the bed, Christine finished dressing. She tried not to let her mother’s visit get to her but her movements were slow as she dressed. She didn’t know where the vampire planned to take her. Were there restaurants that served steak and blood? She laughed at the thought. If anyone knew of a place like that, it was probably him. He had a worldly aura to him.

An energy that said he’d been around for a very long time, and he probably had.

When the brisk knock came, she was dressed and ready to go. She may never find her mate and please her mother, but she liked to let herself enjoy little things—like passion. The way the vampire looked at her promised her a whole lot of that.

They hadn’t agreed on a time; hell, she hadn’t agreed to go, yet he arrived with perfect timing. Maybe it was a strange vampire sense.

She opened the door and had the distinct pleasure of watching his lips part and his pupils dilate. She leaned against the door and loved this feeling. The rush of excitement, the look of desire in a man’s eyes as they traced over her. It never ceased to make her giddy or grin like a fool.

“You’re perfect.” His accent was thicker than usual; it did something to her that she thoroughly planned to explore.

“Of course.”

He smiled at her and grabbed her hand. Before she knew it, he was pulling her close. She could have fought it but she was too curious to see what he was about. He pulled her against his chest and rested a hand lightly at her hip. The soft touch teased her better than if he’d gripped her. Her blood rushed, breathing growing heavy with anticipation.

“I had no idea you’d be wearing...this.”

Christine looked down at her outfit and laughed. She wore a flowing black dress that fell modestly enough to her thighs and her favorite heels—a pair of black strappy shoes that wrapped all the way up her calves. She loved them because the heel wasn’t so tall that she couldn’t walk in them and they were the sexiest shoes ever. They were meant to captivate and tease. Judging from the look on Dmetri’s face, they were doing their job well. Money well spent.

“I’m glad you approve. Let’s get out of here.”

She was eager to get away from the negative conversation she had with her mother that still lingered in the house. When she tried to pull away though, the hand on her hip tightened.

Christine looked up at the vampire and got lost in his eyes. Blue like clear water, his eyes were lovely and framed by silver lashes.

His lips came down on hers. Like the first kiss, this one was gentle, soft, barely tasting.

He pulled back before she could really get into it and nodded at her.

He led her to a black BMW parked outside and opened the passenger door for her. After he seated himself in the driver side she asked, “Where are we going?”

“Le Marquis.”

Her brows shot up and she whistled under her breath. “You spare no expense do you?” He smiled at her as he pulled away from the curb. “It’s not that bad when only one of us will be eating.”

Christine flushed as she recalled he didn’t eat...at least not food. Her body warmed the more she thought about it, of what it might be like if he fed from her. She’d heard the experience was sensual, almost orgasmic for both parties. The thought excited her and she bit her lip as she looked at his mouth, trying to spot the fangs she knew he had.

Her thoughts waned as they pulled up to a stop at the front gate. Dmetri rolled down his window to speak with Gerry.

“No one leaves. Your rules remember?” said Gerry.

Dmetri laughed. “My rules mean I get to break them. We’ll be back soon anyway, just getting something to eat.”

Gerry shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

Dmetri’s voice grew hard. “Open the gate now.”

The two stared hard at each other, as a violent energy whipped between them. Gerry must have seen something on the vampire’s face because he slowly nodded and motioned for the guards to open the gate. A moment later, they were on the road.

Christine sighed, loving the fluttery feeling of butterflies dancing in her stomach. She always got nervous on dates, and this one was no exception. Hell, this one was the worst. She was going out with a vampire. This night would definitely be going in her little black diary.

“These seats are amazing!” She writhed against the leather, loving the way she slid in the seat.

Dmetri gave her an unreadable look, but there was definitely heat in that look. She loved it.