Her bag weighed heavily on her shoulder as she walked down the long country road. The

night air was cool and fresh, though the heat coming off the asphalt spoke of a hot day. Sighing,

Amaliya tilted her hat back on her head. She felt like she needed a list of cheesy vampire clichés

to start checking off. So far she had fangs, superhuman strength, and agility, and bloodlust to put

a nice big red checkmark next to. Standing still, the lights of her old home twinkled behind her.

She wondered if she could see the sun. The heat from its unyielding glare during the day had

made the road very warm beneath her feet. She bent down and laid a hand on the ground. Again,

tears sprang up, but she fought them back.

The sound of a car broke her reverie. She looked up to see headlights approaching. The

rumble of the motor spoke of an old sports car. When the ancient Mustang drew up next to her,

she let out a sigh of relief. Pete must have been hanging out with Damon and heard the

commotion at her Dad's place. Pete and she had gotten along pretty well all through their lives.

He was more Damon's friend than hers, but he had never treated her poorly. They had never

dated but had gone out with friends to shoot pool and drink beers back when Damon had yet to

fall under his step-grandmother's sway. After Damon had decided Amaliya was a whore for

sleeping with one of his friend's when she was seventeen, Pete had remained her friend.

“I heard it got bad,” Pete's rich voice said out of the darkness of the car.

Leaning down, she saw his pleasant features illuminated by the pale glow of the dashboard.

His black hair was a tangled mess of curls on his forehead, his blue eyes were warm and inviting,

and his goatee was neatly trimmed. He smelled of beer, barbecue, and aftershave.

“Doesn't it always?”

“They're really drunk this time. I heard the shotgun go off and Mae is telling everyone you're

possessed.”

“Great,” Amaliya sighed, averting her gaze, trying to look harmless.

“Mae's a toothless bitch.”

Amaliya laughed bitterly, then nodded. “Yeah. Without a doubt.”

Pete looked at her evenly. “You've been putting up with that shit a long time. You know, it's

okay to walk away, Amal.”

“I didn't have a choice but to walk away. I got tossed out. They didn't want me.”

“Yeah, but they don't get you. And they never will.”

“Truer words have never been spoken.” She sighed softly and shrugged. “I'll be okay. I'll find

a place where I am wanted.” She tried to sound lighthearted, but she knew her voice was thick

with emotion.

“You're wanted, Amal,” Pete assured her. “People do care about you. I know I do.”

She tucked her hair behind one ear and smiled at him. “You're always sweet to me.”

Pete looked a little embarrassed. He gave her a sheepish smile. “Need a ride somewhere?”

Amaliya leaned her elbow on the edge of the passenger window and looked at him for a long

time. He smelled of good things; it made her feel safe all at once. “Yeah,” she decided. “Yeah. I

can't stay here.”

“I can take you anywhere you want. I got nothing planned tonight, but going to bed.”

“That sounds good,” she decided. “Take me to the Dixie Motel.”

Pete nodded slowly, his lips pressed together, his eyes on her face. “You sure?”

“Yeah. I am very damn sure.” She was tired of walking. All she wanted to do was rest.

He looked startled for some reason, and said quickly, “Okay, sounds like a plan.”

Yanking the door open, Amaliya tossed her bag into the back seat and slid in. “I don't know

why I bothered coming home.”

“Home is home,” Pete answered. “For better or for worse. It's where you came from.”

“And what you're trying to escape,” Amaliya added.

“Some of us. I like my home. Did you know I'm building out on the acre my Daddy gave

me?”

“Really?”

“Yep. Three bedroom house and a big ol' porch,” Pete grinned. “I remember playing house

when we were kids. You always said a three bedroom house was a rich person's house.”

“I shared a room with two brothers.” She laughed. “Having a canopy bed and a Barbie Dream

House was rich folk stuff.”

Shifting gears, Pete pulled the rumbling Mustang back onto the road. The scene at her Dad's

house faded to the back of her mind. Her family didn't matter anymore; they didn't want her and

she didn't want them. She was on her own now and she knew it. It was okay. With the wind in

her hair and the roar of the engine filling her ears, she felt safe again.

“Yeah, well, your Daddy is doing much better now. I'm sorry he doesn't help you out more.

Or your brothers. I told Damon and Ray to give you a break. They don't know what all is going

on with you and they don't have a right to hold you back from your education. I know it’s always

been real important to you. It used to be all you talked about.”

“Well, it was a way of getting away from them,” she answered. She set her battered cowboy

hat on her lap before it could blow away.

“Yeah, I know,” Pete said.

And he did know. She had run to him and told him she had caught her cousin and her daddy

doing married folk stuff in the barn. It was Pete who told her not to tell anyone lest her momma

in the hospital found out. And Amaliya could not hurt her mother with the truth as she lay dying.

So she had kept silent.

“What about you? How are you doing since I left?”

“Got that job down at the refinery. Manager. My experience and those classes I took down at

the community college paid off. That's why I'm building my house.”

“That's good! Real good!” Amaliya grinned at him with a flash of white teeth. To her surprise,

he seemed a little dazzled by her and despite the darkness, she could see him blush.

“I like the black hair,” he said after a moment of silence. “It looks good. I remember you had

it like that when you got back from Austin.”

“Yeah, Dad threw a shitfit so I dyed it back to blond. But I figured I'm twenty-four and I can

do what I like since I don't live under his roof.”

“Liking school?”

Turning her head away from him, she slightly nodded. “Yeah, I liked school, but it’s been

rough lately.”

“Classes are a bitch. But I was never as smart as you. You were always making B's and I was

barely getting D's.” He laughed his rich, wonderful laugh. “You always were smart.”

“Not smart enough at times,” she answered softly.

The Dixie Motel sign flickered into view up ahead. Its bright pink and blue lights stood out

against the black relief of the trees towering over the road. The faux German-style hotel was lit

up with pale blue lights that blinked on and off as bugs buzzed around them. A large sign

announced the $39.95 per night rate and Amaliya inwardly grimaced as she thought of her small

cache of money.

“Pete, thanks for doing this,” she said. “For picking me up. You could have stayed back there

drinking.”

“I'd rather stay here with you,” he answered with a shy smile. The car rumbled to a stop. He

flipped off the headlights and turned off the car. “I think you're a good person, and you got a raw

deal. Besides, I kinda like your fiery Mexican streak that only comes out when you're pissed.”

She laughed and shook her head, her black hair falling around her face. “Sad that the only

Spanish I know are swear words.”

When he touched her shoulder, she turned to look at him. His kindness touched her, as did his

warm smile. She smiled back at him, and once more, he seemed stunned by her expression. He

did grin back though.

“I'll go get us a room,” he said and leaped out of the car.

“What?”

The door slammed shut just as she spoke. He jogged off toward the front office.

Blinking, she sat back in the bucket seat and furrowed her brow. “Oh, shit.” Reflecting back

on their conversation, she realized he had misunderstood her. She had inadvertently picked up

Pete. Covering her face with her hands, she let out a little laugh. “Oh, God.” Giggling, she ran a

hand through her hair and looked out toward the office. Pete's jolly little walk and wave made

her laugh once more.

Considering how gawdawful this night had started and kept going, she was surprised to feel

any levity at all. He made her feel real again. The nightmare at the college seemed like a dim

memory. The showdown with her father was a fading bad taste in her mouth.

Propping her feet up on the dashboard, she leaned back in the chair and forced herself to

relax. Okay, she was a vampire. A strong one at that. She could do things she never dreamed.

But she was still Amaliya Vezorak, from the city of Spooner deep in the wilds of East Texas.

Despite it all, she was still wearing her shitkickers, her beat-up jeans, and she was still wanting

her daddy to love her and her momma to be alive. Whatever had changed inside of her had not

taken that away.

Closing her eyes, she silently considered whether or not to sleep with Pete. She would have to

toss him out before the sun came up. She wasn't sure how that was all going to work yet. But she

felt good and alive at this moment despite everything, and she didn't want it to fade. A little sex

might do her good. Make her feel alive and wanted.

Realizing she wasn't breathing again, she put her hand on her chest to feel a very slow thud.

Frowning a little, she waited for the next beat and her brow furrowed even more as it seemed to

take far too long to come.

“Okay, I got the room, but it’s Mr. Rusk in the office, so I'll drive up as close as I can to the

room and you sneak in super fast.”

Amaliya laughed. “You're still afraid of our Sunday School teacher?”

“Yeah,” Pete answered and grinned. “Aren't you?”

“Actually, yeah. He was a scary old coot! But won't he think it’s weird you're staying here?”

“I told him that I'm tired of sleeping on an air mattress at my sister's house while the house is

being built,” Pete said with a wink.

“You're good at this,” she said with playfully-narrowed eyes.

“You have no idea,” he answered, kissing her lips.

She smiled against the kiss, pushing him back. “Let's go for it!”

With glee, they jumped out of the car and ran toward the rooms at the far end of the motel.

Amaliya almost overshot the room, but Pete grabbed her wrist and yanked her against him. He

swiped the card and shoved the door open with so much gusto he almost fell in. Tripping over

his feet, Amaliya stumbled into the hotel room and managed to land on the edge of the bed.

“You're such a dork,” she chided with a wicked smile.

“Yeah, yeah, I am,” he answered, and shut the door.

Again, she could have no idea of how alluring she was with her luminous blue-gray eyes,

flushed cheeks, and red lips. Her change had altered her in ways she could not know. Her skin

was very smooth and almost translucent. Her black hair looked silky against the rough fabric of

her tank top and it glistened like raven's feathers.

“Oh, wow,” Pete whispered.

“What?”

“You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this,” he breathed.

“What?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “What are you talking about?”

“I've had such a crush on you since we were kids.” Trembling a little, he drew near her.

Gentle, roughened fingers caressed her cheek. She leaned into him.

“No, you didn't.”

“Yes, I did. A terrible crush.” Sitting next to her, he traced the lines of her face with quivering

fingertips. His soft expression and strong body caused a little shiver in her own. Deep inside of

her, a great need was born.

“Do you still?” she asked, kissing his lips ever so gently.

“Yeah,” he breathed, kissing her deeply.

* * *

“God, yes,” she whispered into his hair, moaning as he pushed harder into her. She moved her

hips against his, grabbing his dark, curly hair, pulling his face against her neck. He was big and

heavy and wonderful.

The sound of their lovemaking filled her ears. She loved the sound of his gasps, his moans,

was enthralled by his gentle touch and brutal thrusts. She gasped and moaned with each

delightful thrust.

They were on their third bout of lovemaking on the torn-apart queen-sized bed. They had

fallen onto the floor at one point and managed to keep going. She now believed him when he

said he had wanted her all those years. He was like a man possessed and not able to get enough

of her.

“Oh, God,” he murmured against her collarbone, then dragged his mouth down to her right

breast.

With a wild little laugh, she arched up to him and gasped when he bit her hard, pierced nipple.

Dragging her off the bed, he pulled her close to him, her legs around his waist as he kissed her

hungrily. She teased him by pulling back from him and licking his lips.

“I'm building the house for you,” he whispered and managed to grab her hair and pull her

close to him.

“What?” She shivered as he licked up her neck, his tongue playing with one of her silver

earrings.

“I am building the house for you, waiting for you to come back,” Pete whispered. He turned

and pushed her against the wall, sliding his cock deeper into her. “Waiting for you to come back

and see it ain’t all bad out here.”

Biting her bottom lip, she dug her nails into his shoulders as she came closer to climax. Lost

in the moment, she urged him to shove harder, rocking him with her legs, and gasping as he

lightly bit her throat. Lost in the frenzy of the moment, she couldn't fully fathom his words as he

murmured them against her cheek. It wasn't until he collapsed against her, coming hard inside of

her cool body, that she realized he had been whispering that he loved her.

“Stay here,” he said, his voice a husky purr in her ear. “Something went bad at the school. I

know it. But stay here. I'll buy you a big ol' pink canopy.”

Her hands slid over his cheeks and stroked the softness of his goatee. Gazing into his eyes

through the darkness, she could see his need for her to say yes.

“I have a good job. The house will be done soon. We'll not deal with your family bullshit and

have a good life. Amal, I waited for a whole year for you to come back here and see that I can

give you a good life. I should have spoken up before you left, but I could see that if you didn't

go, you'd hate me forever.”

“This is so unexpected,” she said. “I never knew.”

“Everyone, but you knew,” he laughed and stroked her skin. “I almost drove down to see if

you would consider it when you got out of school. I don't care if you got piercings on your

nipples or the one down there. Your tattoos are pretty. I just want you here, Amal. And when I

saw you tonight, I knew I had to say something now or lose you forever.”

Cupping his face in her hands, she stared into his lovely eyes and wondered how she had

never seen it before. A hard and terrible pang of regret sliced through her.

Sensing that something was changing between them quickly, Pete kissed her lips, then her

forehead. Holding her tight, he whispered, “Say yes.”

“I can't.” Her voice was agony, tears sprang to her eyes. If only this had happened last

weekend, before the date from hell.

“Yes, you can.”

“No, I can't. I can't!” She tried to push him away.

“No, Amal! You can stay. Look at us! We're good together. Damn, that was the best sex I've

ever had. And you feel so good even if your skin is so cold and your body...your face...your

eyes...Amal, please.”

Trembling hard, she pushed at him again, but he held her close.

“I know that people are rough on you, but I think you're amazing,” he said firmly. “Look at

you! Look at us! We're perfect together.”

Before she realized what he was doing, he flipped the light on and pointed to the mirror over

the small vanity and sink.

She literally felt his heart stop as he gazed into the mirror where only his naked reflection

stared back. His gaze shot from the mirror to her face. Terrified, he pushed back from her,

pulling his flaccid cock from her body with a disheartening tug. Immediately, she felt empty and

alone. In silence, she watched his eyes flick back and forth between her and the mirror. He bolted

toward his clothes and the door.

“Pete!”

He almost fell over trying to get his jeans on while trying to fumble for his keys.

“Pete, please,” she whispered.

“No! No! This-” his gaze moved to the mirror and his sole reflection again. “This isn't real!”

“Don't go, please,” she said again.

Please tell me you love me and that the house is for me and we can pretend that we're happy.

“You're not real,” he said again, his eyes so wide he looked crazed.

In a flash, she was across the room and pinned him to the door. Amaliya was startled at how

the room had seemed to slide sharply toward her when she moved. She had Pete firmly in her

grip and she dismissed the weirdness of her movements. She concentrated her gaze on him.

“I need you to believe I'm real,” she said softly. “Please, believe that I'm real.”

He wouldn't even look at her. He just gazed at the mirror over her shoulder.

“Look at me,” Amaliya hissed. “Look at me and believe I'm real.”

He shook his head. The horror in his eyes was beyond anything she had ever seen and his

body was violently trembling.

“Look at me!” Her voice rose sharply and he struggled to get away from her. Holding him

easily to the door, she sobbed with desperate need. “Please. Please. Look at me.”

“No! No!”

With a growl of anger, she flung him toward the bed on which they had just spent two

glorious hours and leaped onto him. His eyes flashed even wider as she hissed in his face. The

throbbing in her teeth let her know her sharp little teeth were now visible. “I'm still me! I'm still

me!”

“Let me go! Let me go!” He was slobbering. Bits of saliva struck her face.

The dark need inside of her began to unfurl. She could feel it spreading through her like ice

water.

“Stop, please stop,” she sobbed, but he kept pushing at her. He was beyond fear now. He was

mad with terror.

He pushed at her desperately, trying to pry her off, but her naked body was stronger than his

now and she shoved him down. Not even speaking words anymore, his hands scrabbled at the

bed as he tried to twist away from her.

The terrible, wonderful power of her need filled her totally and her voice growled out, “Stop.”

He abruptly stopped grabbing at the mattress and lay still. Acting on pure instinct, she turned his

face toward her and hissed, “Sleep.”

She should have been surprised, but she wasn't when he closed his eyes and his body went

limp.

Sliding off, she sat trembling next to him. Her body was covered in his sweat and her blood

tears. Licking her lips, she pushed away the desire to dominate him and feed on him, sitting in

silence instead.

She didn't move for hours.