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

but as slowly and gently as Kevin was doing this chore, Erica couldn’t help the strange tightness that clenched low in her belly. She allowed him to lay her arms out flat, in order for him to get a full view of the scars. The gauze bandage from her last encounter with Shawn was still on her right arm.
    Kevin studied her arms for a long time, his eyebrows drawing up into a deep frown. He very gently rubbed his finger across several of the deeper puncture marks. When he came across the bandage on the right arm, he gently removed the tape and gauze that had been thrown around it. Erica found herself holding her breath while he removed the bandage. He was a vampire, after all. Had the wound closed up enough that it wouldn’t bother him?
    “Have you ever had any problems with infections?” Kevin whispered, glancing up at Erica’s face.
    Catching her off guard, Erica tried to speak, but the only thing that came from her mouth was a squeak. She cleared her throat as she quickly glanced down at the wound. “No, not really. They are good and sore for the first few days, and I do try to keep the wounds clean and covered until they are healed.” The one Kevin seemed to be intently staring at was an angry red, and she realized that with everything else going on in her life, she had neglected to keep it clean and cared for.
    He started running his thumb very gently around the wound and examining it carefully. “This one looks like it is starting to get infected. Rosetta should have something we can put on it, and then we will rebandage it back up until it heals,” Kevin stated softly, while shaking his head and frowning. “So now I understand why you wear long sleeves so often. I have often wondered about that. We vamps do it because of the sunlight not being good for us, but I have often wondered what drove you to wear a long sleeve shirt in the middle of summer. I am so sorry you had to go through this,” Kevin stated as he continued lightly stroking her arms.
    Erica waited until she had direct eye contact with him before answering. “Yes well, unfortunately I was in over my head before I knew what hit me. Wearing long sleeve shirts is easier than trying to explain the scarring. People see my arms and are naturally curious. I can’t exactly tell them the truth!” Her words came out bitter and harsh, even to her own ears. Geez, she was turning into a cold bitch. She hadn’t meant for her words to come out so harsh sounding. Hanging her head in shame, she could feel tears stinging her eyes.
    “I understand,” Kevin replied gently, as he picked up her wrists and kissed the inside of both. “It pains me that you have seen only the very worst side of our kind, and when things like this happen, it gives all vampires a bad name. I do hope you will give me the opportunity to show you that most vampires are nothing like what you are used to.”
    Oh, he was a smooth talker. “Are you telling me you have never bitten anyone before?” Erica blurted out before she could stop herself.
    “Well, yes, I have. But I have never hurt anyone in the process, and it was only done in an emergency situation,” he answered her quickly.
    Erica thought about this for a moment. There certainly seemed to be two different factions of vampires. The ones like Shawn, who clearly didn’t care who they hurt or what damage they caused, and the ones like the O’Rourke family, who tried to blend in with everyone else and make the world a safer place.
    As she tried to sort out all the information her brain had absorbed, she peeked out the window and was surprised to see the sun starting to sink low on the horizon. The afternoon had seemed to disappear so quickly while she and Kevin talked. Where had time gone?

Chapter Seven
     
    As Kevin glanced down at his watch, he was surprised to see the afternoon was gone, and evening was fast approaching. “Will you join me downstairs in the family room?” he requested calmly of Erica.
    “Sure, why are we going to the family room?” she questioned curiously.
    “I want to introduce you to Davidrick. He should be here soon,” Kevin explained.
    “Oh, I forgot about that, sure,” Erica replied, as she followed him to the door of the apartment.
    A short time later, the doorbell rang. Kevin left Erica on the couch in the family room and went to answer the door.
    “Hello,” Davidrick greeted, as he walked in. It was impossible to miss the huge grin that was spread across his face.
    “It’s nice to