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

intrigued with you, Erica, and the more time I spend with you, the more I want to know about you. And yes, I would love to pursue a relationship, but I would never push you into something you are not ready for. I know you need time to get over your past.”
    Erica smiled a sad smile and shook her head. To say she had issues concerning men in general was the understatement of the day. She met his eyes and briefly placed her hand on top of his. “Look, Kevin, I like you. You are sweet, kind, and I would have to be blind not to notice your gorgeous looks. And bizarre enough, the idea of pursuing a relationship in the future doesn’t have me running for the hills.” Erica stopped there and shook her head, wondering exactly what on earth she was thinking trying to have a relationship with another vampire!
    “I’m not sure if I can handle another relationship. You will need to take it slow with me, and be patient, regardless. How about we take this slow, one day at a time, okay?
    Kevin was well aware of what those words had cost her. He very slowly turned his hand over so that he could enclose hers into his. “I understand, and I hope you know just how wonderful those words sound to me,” he softly replied. “I will never push you into anything you’re not ready for, and I will never hurt you. Just knowing that you are somewhat open to the idea of a relationship, when you are free,” he quickly added, “is enough for me.”
    “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?” Erica asked, a little shyly.
    “Not at all, I suspect you have a few hundred floating around in that head of yours,” Kevin replied with a grin.
    Erica rolled her eyes at him and then started her inquisition. “How long have you been a vampire?”
    “This year will be my forty-fifth year.” He sat back against the couch, looking as if he was beginning an interview.
    “How old were you when you were turned?”
    “Twenty-seven,” Kevin replied with an impish smile, waiting to see her reaction to this news.
    Erica’s jaw dropped open with a pop at his answer. “You’re seventy-two years old!” she exclaimed.
    “Yes, does that bother you?” he asked, still grinning madly.
    “No, of course not. I’ll admit however, that you’re the best looking seventy-two-year-old man I’ve ever seen!”
    At this statement, Kevin’s grin turned into a full-blown smile. “Ah darling, flattery like that will get you everywhere.” His teeth were perfectly snow white and straight, giving him the most gorgeous smile Erica had ever seen on a man. Erica realized that his skin was not extremely pale like she would automatically assume from a vampire. Shawn’s skin was very pale, almost sickly pale at times when he drank too much. Kevin’s skin coloring was a bit tan, though. Looking at his straight black hair, pearly white teeth, and tanned complexion, she wondered if he didn’t have a bit of Native American blood in him.
    Erica chose to ignore his comment. “You don’t look a day over twenty-seven. So, what is the changing into a bird all about? Are all of your family members just as gifted? Oh wait, is this something all vampires are able to do?” Although she had been married to Shawn, she would be the first to admit she knew very little about the lives of vampires. She wondered if she was bombarding him with all of her questions, but he just smiled patiently and continued answering.
    “Charles found me while on an assignment with the VCTF. He was out in the woods, and well, you know vampires smell differently than humans. Most humans are unaware of the difference. However, our kind can easily distinguish between the two. Charles caught a faint whiff of vampire, although it was mixed with something else. Since he was out chasing down a rogue to begin with, he decided to investigate. What he came across shocked him. The last thing I remember was that I was deer hunting. Then, when I awoke, I was surrounded by a pack of wolves. I am of Native American descent, and I had heard stories from childhood told by the elders that some animals had magical abilities, being able to change from human to animal at will. I wasn’t sure at first if these wolves were trying to accept me as one of theirs, or not. A few kept circling me, growling, while a couple of others stood guard next to me, as if they wouldn’t allow anything to happen. Charles seems to think that I was bitten by the rogue vampire in the area, and then somehow stumbled upon a group of