RHYS STOOD THERE, WATCHING HER.
She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to hide herself. But she could tell from the smoldering glow of his eyes, he’d seen.
The burn of embarrassment mingled with the fire those intense eyes created inside her. She so wanted this man.
His gaze left her covered chest, and he held her eyes with his.
She shifted slightly under the hunger she saw there.
“Sorry,” he said, his voice huskier than usual. “I thought I heard you calling me.”
She stared at him. Well, her body had been calling him, but she didn’t think her voice had. “I…No.”
He nodded sharply. “Then I will leave you to your bath.”
They stared at each other for a moment longer; then Rhys bowed slightly and left, pulling the door shut behind him.
This was impossible. It had taken every bit of her rational mind to not invite him to join her in the tub. What was wrong with her? She’d always been so practical, so reserved. Now she was acting like a wanton.
Novels by Kathy Love
Fangs for the Memories
Fangs But No Fangs
I Only Have Fangs for You
My Sister Is a Werewolf
Getting What You Want
Wanting What You Get
Wanting Something More
FANGS FOR THE MEMORIES
KATHY LOVE
For Kristen
Acknowledgments
Time for my long list of thank yous…
I want to first thank my editor, Kate Duffy, who has once again taken a big chance on me. Thank you so much, Kate!
Thank you to the Tarts. I’ll do better next time. Really.
Thank you, Mom and Dad. You help me more than you will ever know.
Thank you, Bill and Mary Ellen.
Thank you, Teresa, Gary and Megan.
Special thanks to Lisa, Julie and Treena—for listening, plotting, sympathizing, and telling me to get this darn thing done.
And another special thanks to Cindy, Toni, Beth, Cat and Julie for lots of encouraging e-mails and chats.
And all my love to Emily and Todd. Especially to Em, you are a very patient two-year-old. Mommy loves you.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
Chapter 1
“Hey, baby, you lookin’ for a little holiday cheer?” Rhys paused on the sidewalk in front of a run-down bar and glanced over at two women leaning against the side of the building. They both smoked cigarettes, the smoke escaping their red lips, mingling with the steam of their breath in the icy night air. Their shabby winter coats were opened wide to reveal their thin bodies clad in skimpy, clinging dresses. One shivered, but still managed to shoot him a desperately inviting look.
And he thought he was having a shitty Christmas Eve.
“I’m looking for a drink,” he told them, gesturing to the bar’s door with a slight jerk of his head.
“Oh, come on, honey,” the one who had voiced the invitation coaxed, “I’ve got some mistletoe right here.” She threw down her cigarette, shoved away from the wall and waved a plastic sprig toward him.
It was imitation holly, but Rhys didn’t see much point in mentioning that fact. “Sorry, no.”
“Well, after you’ve had yer drink, gorgeous, I’ll be waitin’ for ya.” She smiled, reaching out to trail the fake greenery down the lapel of his coat.
Rhys didn’t respond and stepped past her to push open a windowless door sporting a tattered wreath. Before slipping into the smoky darkness of the bar, he stopped and looked back at the two prostitutes.
Even though they were young, if his senses were correct only in their late teens, they looked old, haggard. The reverse of him—with his youthful body and ancient existence.
On impulse, he reached into his pocket for his wallet.
The one closest to him watched his movement, the tip of her tongue running hungrily over the unnatural red of her lips. The one still against the wall stepped closer, her eyes also fastened to his movement, avarice burning in her dark eyes.
No, not the reverse, he realized. Not at all. They were truly just the same. Hunger ruling them, making them do things they never believed they would. The only difference was their bitterness was etched into their skin, where his was deceptively hidden, eating at his insides.
Rhys’s hand stilled for a moment, but then he did pull out his money. He supposed he deserved to pay for feeling sympathy for these two. It must be that it was the season. He wouldn’t let his hard-learned lessons slip his mind again.
He withdrew two bills. “Find a warm place to stay tonight.”
The one near him snatched the money from his hand. Her eyes widened as she noted the denomination. “Thanks, mister.” She immediately walked back to her coworker. “Come on, girlfriend. Let’s go party!”
The two clacked away on worn high heels. Now that their need was satisfied, Rhys was forgotten.
Again, just like his kind, he thought tiredly. Getting what they crave, then moving on.
He entered the bar, and the door slammed shut behind him. He was immediately enfolded in a hazy, surreal glow of blue and red neon. He slid onto a stool at the end of the bar and ordered a scotch, neat.
“You want to run a tab, mister?”
Rhys nodded and took a deep swallow of the fiery liquor. Setting the glass down, he twisted, his back to the bar, to survey the room. The small place was quite busy. On Christmas Eve, no less.
He twisted back to his drink,