Vampires Among Us [Vampires Among Us 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

the discomfort thing last night.”
    Erica frowned at him. “I am comfortable around you, it’s just…well, it’s just hard to refer to you as something that I have always related to bloodsucking demons. Your family acts nothing like that.”
    Kevin grimaced at her description of his kind. He picked up the hand nearest him and tucked it within his own. Starting a slow caress with his thumb, she slowly turned her hand, allowing him to seek out the scars on her wrists. As he came across them, he gently brushed over them with his finger. His touch was feather light, which had Erica feeling like putty in his hands immediately. Her stomach felt like butterflies were flying around, and she could hear her heartbeat throbbing against her chest.
    Kevin grinned over at her, knowing full well the effect he was having on her. “Trust me, if you were causing problems, I would have heard about it from one of my sisters by now. You may have noticed we all pretty much have our own living space. We live our own lives. We just choose to reside under the same roof. My family has been doing exactly what they usually do since you arrived. Remember, you were in pretty bad shape when you first arrived here. You’ve been here in this suite quite a bit of the time.” He paused and then continued, “I don’t want me taking my blood supply out of here to bother you, because it hasn’t been a problem for me. If it will make you feel better, I’ll return it to its rightful refrigerator” he finished, his grin still going strong on his gorgeous face.
    “Speaking of food,” Erica started as she reached down for her uneaten lunch, “I’m amazed there is even food in the refrigerator. And how did you get to be such a good cook when you can’t even eat anything?”
    “I went to the grocery store the first night you were here, and had Jennifer sit with you while I was out. As to how I know how to cook, Rosetta had a cookbook downstairs in the library.” He flashed a sly grin her way before continuing, “I am a diversified, modern vampire. I have many more talents hidden up my sleeves, you know,” he crowed.
    She tried for a change in subject. “I would have thought it bothered you to be around and smell food since you can’t eat it.”
    “No,” Kevin answered. “It doesn’t bother me. I may not need food to live on. However, are you aware that we can eat a very small amount of human food if needed? Most of the stuff you humans eat simply doesn’t have any taste. Since I don’t need it anyways, it’s kind of a waste. We only do it when we are around humans and need to blend in.” He thought for a moment, and then continued. “To me, eating human food is like eating cardboard. I do need blood, though, to keep up my strength.”
    “I didn’t realize you could eat any human food,” Erica stated, and then had a sudden, sharp memory of her first date with Shawn. He had taken her to a really nice, expensive restaurant, and had eaten a few bites, but then simply stated he wasn’t hungry. The waiter had been falling all over himself trying to make things right, even offering to bring him another dish. That was one of the reasons she had been so shocked to discover Shawn was a vampire on their wedding night. He had done a great job of keeping everything from her during their short courtship.
    “Very little,” Kevin replied. “And then you already know we can process alcohol.” She had an involuntary shudder go through her body, as old memories quickly came flooding to the surface.
    Erica pushed the old memories into the back of her head. “It is hard to imagine not ever eating.”
    Kevin smiled over to her. “For you, I guess it would be hard to imagine doing without food. I’ve watched humans eat for years, and I have yet to know anyone to enjoy their food like you do.” He lightly brushed her cheek with his finger again, happy when she didn’t pull away from him. “It’s quite sexy to watch you,” he finished with a grin on his gorgeous face, and knew he was treading on dangerous ground. He found himself curious to see how far he could go.
    Erica quickly pulled her hand out of his in an attempt to put some space between them as she lightly rested it on his chest. “Kevin, you are sending me signals that clearly state you are interested in more than a friendship. Am I correct?” she inquired quietly.
    He was unable to lie to her, but knew his next few words had to be chosen very carefully. “I find myself very