Gabriel closed his eyes and imagined what it would be like to feel Maya’s love, to know she cared for him. He knew he was torturing himself by daydreaming like this, but he couldn’t let go, not when it filled his heart with warmth and pride. It was all a dream: to call a woman like Maya his own, to love her day and night, to live with her, share a home, to laugh together.

It was fate that had brought them together, and while he was reluctant to believe in fate, he wanted to believe that they were meant to meet, because he’d realized one thing: he was falling in love with a woman too beautiful, yet perfect for him in every way.

A soft knock at the front door made him snap his head around. Who would be coming to a vampire’s home during daylight? It had to be a human. Gabriel stood and walked to the door. He sniffed. Or a witch.

He looked through the spy hole and knew it was Miss LeBlanc, the witch who’d only a short while ago leveled a crossbow at him. It appeared that this time she was unarmed.

“You gonna open the door, vampire, or shall I leave?” she said through the door.

How could she tell he was watching her?

“I’ll unlock it. Then count to three and come in. I’ll be in the first room to your left.”

Gabriel flipped the lock and stepped back into the living room, closing the door behind him, so the light from outside wouldn’t penetrate into the darkened room. Not only were the front windows made of a special tinted glass, light drapes covered them and while they didn’t shut out all light, it was dark enough to be safe for a vampire.

A moment later, he heard the door open. When she joined him in the living room, he pointed toward the sofa. She looked less imposing today, unarmed as she was. Dressed in a business suit, she could have fooled anybody that she was some ordinary human. If he had to guess, he would have put her age at mid-thirties. She was attractive and to his surprise, a smile curled around her mouth.

“This is definitely a first.” She looked around the room. “So, this is how you guys live.”

“The house belongs to my boss. And, no, we don’t live in caves or sleep in coffins.”

“Pleasantries aside, I believe you know why I’m here.”

He nodded. “You’ll help me with my problem.”

“You said you would give me anything I wanted.”

Gabriel cringed. He’d said it, and he would keep his word. Now the question was, what did she want? “So I did.”

“Drake mentioned your gift.”

“Figured he couldn’t keep that little piece of information to himself. What happened to patient-doctor confidentiality?”

She gave a little snort. “I’m not here to talk about Drake and his ethics.” She paused. “Or lack thereof.”

“Fair enough. What can I do for you?” As if he didn’t already know.

“The use of your gift. One time only.”

He nodded and hoped whatever she would do with the memories he extracted from her victim wouldn’t cause pain to anybody.

“Good, then we’re in agreement. Now, to your problem. Tell me what’s so important that you want to deal with the likes of my kind.” She leaned forward on the sofa and looked at him expectantly.

Gabriel swallowed hard. This would be embarrassing.

***

Maya threw the bedcovers off. The place was stifling hot. Her red silk nightgown clung to her damp skin. Tiny rivulets of sweat formed, starting on her throat and running down between her breasts.

She knew it was the fever, but she’d hoped as a vampire she wouldn’t be ill anymore. Hadn’t Gabriel told her that vampires didn’t get sick? Yet the fever was gripping her again, and this time it was worse than it had ever been. Her skin was hot to the touch, her insides were burning already, and it had only started an hour ago. She’d felt it creeping up on her during the conversation with Ricky and Gabriel and had hoped it would stop. But it hadn’t.

She had to do something about it, had to cool her body down so she wouldn’t burn up. With shaking legs she stumbled out of bed. Every step she took ached and contributed to the heat in her body as if adding fuel to the fire. Her head spun as she tried to focus on the bathroom door. A cold shower—she had to take a cold shower.

Another step and another brought her closer to the bathroom, but her instinct told her it wouldn’t work. Deep down she knew what her body needed and craved. She’d always known, but never wanted to admit it.

The fevers made her crave a man’s touch. Ever since the fevers had begun when she was thirteen, all she’d been able to think of was having a man touch her, kiss her, fuck her. She’d never given into it, and always made it through her pain. The doctors hadn’t been able to explain it and written it off to some exotic virus she might have picked up somewhere—like malaria. Yet, she’d never been anywhere, and blood tests had come back negative.