On the run from her vindictive family, Natasha Desmond takes refuge at Kilburn Castle, reputed hunting grounds of a deadly vampireâand home to Garrett Kilburn, its sexy-as-sin owner. Though Garrett seems cold and remote at first, Natasha quickly learns that heâs red hot in the bedroom. He seems to know all her secret desires and brings her ecstasy like sheâs never known before.

But at night, Natasha is visited by another mysterious lover. A lover who leaves two tiny wounds on her neckâ¦

Highland Vampire
Suz deMello

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Chapter One

I had fled as fast and as far as I could. I could run no farther than to the edge of the world, here at the northwestern corner of Scotland.

The gloaming was deep upon the land when I found Kilburn Castle. Isnât that what Scots called it, the gloaming? That mysterious time between day and night, when blue dusk dims the sky and magical beings wander forth.

I let my little rented Vauxhall roll to a stop and considered the broody hulk of a castle high on a hill above the sea, silhouetted against the deepening night. The crash of the waves against the cliff was interrupted by a car roaring out of the fortressâs gate. It sped past me, almost clipping my bumper in its haste, and raced down the hill, its headlights switching on as it traversed a curve in the narrow road.

Darkness fell, and I shivered theatrically. A light winked on in a small stone gatehouse a few yards from me. It illuminated a sign written in neat script, thick black on white.

VACANCY.

That settled it. I got out of the car, shivered nontheatricallyâit was chillyâand walked toward the gatehouse, my boots crunching on the stony earth. I rapped on the glass-fronted door.

After a few seconds, it opened to reveal a pale-skinned man, a local from the look of him. Iâd noticed that everyone here wore a pallor indicative of little sunlight. His eyes, however, were the green of snapping turtles, and he had hair as dark as the other side of the moon. His beard was burgeoning.

He held a pipe, which on any other twenty-something male would look stupid and pretentious, but seemed natural in his hand.

He was sexy, and I was surprised Iâd noticed. I hadnât thought about sex since Auntie Jacqueline had collapsed and died, leaving me in this mess. But this manâs pale, well-cut lips, high cheekbones and masculine stubble shot my mind straight to deep kisses and hot sex.

âDo you have a bed for the night?â I asked. I tried not to scope out his body, but I noticed that he was fit, if slender, and clad in a dark sweater and jeans, like me.

âI do indeed.â His voice was rich, melodic, accented. âAnd who wants one, may I ask?â

I stuck out my right hand. âNatasha Desmond.â I didnât see the point of concealing my identity. I didnât have a fake passport, and all hoteliers asked for papers.

When he shook my hand, I noticed his grasp was firm, his fingers cool. He released me quickly. âWell, Natasha Desmond, are ye certain ye wish to stay at Castle Kilburn?â

âSure. Why not?â

A short pause. âYeâll be our only guest. Even the staff leaves after sundown.â

I remembered the car that had sped down the hill a few moments ago. âThatâs not safeâ¦What if I fall in the shower? What about dinner?â

âThereâs an emergency cord in the loo,â he said.

Like in institutions. Like in the kind of place my family had wanted to put me. Great.

The gatekeeper continued, âAnd thereâs food in the buttery.â

âTheâthe buttery?â

âThe pantry. A buttery was a storage area for liquor,â he explained. âWe donât make whiskey anymore, so we use the room for food stores.â

âOh. All right. I suppose.â I silently questioned the usefulness of Auntieâs billion-dollar bequest if it forced me to stay in a drafty castle with no staff and dubious food.

But I had gotten myself into the situation by randomly driving around the Highlands. I had no one to blame but the skinny blonde girl I saw in the mirror every day when I brushed my teeth. I certainly couldnât blame the gatekeeper.

âThe gateâs open,â he said. âIâll meet you at the front.â

Good heavens. There was a portcullis. I drove through quickly, mindful of the many films Iâd seen which featured portcullises (portculli?) trapping knights, or orcs, or whatever.

Whatever, it was creepy.

I drove into the castle courtyard and passed what looked like a fire pit. When I reached the massive front doors of the castle, he was already there. The gatekeeper. How had he done it?

There had to be a quicker way than driving through the huge front gate, I decided, and heâd taken it, along with the terrier that gamboled along in his wake.

I got out of the car and opened its back door for my suitcase. The gatekeeper got there firstâagainâand pulled it out. âJust the one bag?â he asked.

âYeah. Um, by the way, you areâ¦â

âGarrett Kilburn.â He turned and smiled at me. âWelcome to Castle Kilburn, Miss Desmond.â

âThis is your castle,â I said, surprised. I bent to pat the dog, who licked me enthusiastically.

âIndeed it is. Sort of,â he added under his breath.

âExcuse me?â I straightened, wiping my damp hand on my jeans.

âCome along through here.â He ushered me in through the carved wooden doors. Bound with massive dark metal bands, they were straight out of Robin Hood, or perhaps theyâd been used on the set of Lord of the Rings. But these were the real thing. âIâm awed,â I told Garrett. âThis place is magnificent. Iâm honored to stay here.â

He handed me a key. âLetâs see what ye say in the morning.â

I ate, bathed and went to bed, and by the time dawn rolled around was wondering if perhaps my family was right, and I was crazy.

Iâd become convinced that Castle Kilburn was haunted.

Oh, nothing dramatic had happened. No clanking chains, moans or screams in the night, but a pervasive sense of being watched. Unnerving, especially in the shower, though Iâd convinced myself by the time I climbed into bed that I was imagining things, dark visions born of my flight and my plight.

A luxurious canopied creation draped in ruby-red velvet, richly pillowed and comfy with very soft, well-worn linens, the bed itself was conducive to dreams of the most sensual sort. Maybe my fantasies were the result of meeting Garrett Kilburn, but as I lay in bed, my mind driftedâ¦

Was I awake or asleep?

Cool air washed over me, as though heâd torn away my sheet. I felt the scratchiness of his sweater on my breasts, his stubble on my throat.

I couldnât see himâit was dark within the red canopied bed, but I was sure it was Garrett. My lover smelled like the Highlands and pipe tobacco.

I pulled off the sweater, tugging to get it over his head, and ran my hands over his face, reading his features with my fingertips. We kissed, a sweet melding of mouths. Light fingernails scrabbled down my sides, and, moaning, I moistened with delighted anticipation.

One cool hand slid between my thighs while he cupped my breast with the other. I opened my legs, and he went for my pussy, separating the folds with his clever fingers, caressing my clit as he thrust his tongue in and out of my mouth.

I undulated, my body writhing against his, and stroked down his back, reaching for his firm ass. His flesh was hard with muscle, cool as though heâd been outdoors, dry. He pulled his lips from mine to nibble my neck, lick the spot heâd bitten, then traced my collarbone with his tongue. He stopped to rim my nipples, nuzzle my tits and rub his face on my belly. I liked the direction he was going, and moaned with approval and longing, running my fingers through his hair.

He used his body to part my legs, then slid lower so he could nibble on my thighs. He spread me open with firm palms and tasted me. A sultry heat flowed through my body, but I wanted more. I set my feet on his shoulders and pushed my hips forward so his tongue pressed against my clit.

He sucked hard and I let out a startled little shriek. He stopped eating me and gave a low laugh. A long, cool finger tested my wetness, my readiness. Another entered alongside, stretching me.

âYessssâ¦âI sighed.

Another flick to my clitoris and heat suffused my body, radiating in shuddering circles from my sex. I shook with need, crying out.

He withdrew his fingers, but his lips continued their exploration of my tingling pussy while his hands traveled lower, spreading the halves of my ass. A wet fingertip traveled the length of my crack, then entered me, eased in by my moisture. I squealed and jerked, but he wouldnât stop. I wriggled, impaled on that long, cool finger, as his tongue continued to stroke my clit, taking me higher and higher.

Waves of pleasure crashed through me. Moaning and thrashing, I came hard and long, with his finger up my ass to the second knuckle and his cool tongue and lips lapping at my pussy.

My shuddering sighs calmed, and his finger left me, moving slowly, drawing out the pleasure. His naked body slid up mine, and his scratchy stubble sent ripples swirling over my skin. He nuzzled and nipped at my neck as my orgasm faded into a gentler bliss, easing me into slumber.

I awoke at dawn, disconcerted by what had happened, and wondering how I could face Garrett. I pulled the hangings aside and got out of the cozy bed, shivering. The slate floor was chill on my bare feet as I dashed into the adjoining bathroom. Flicking on the light, I stared at my body, examining it for signs of Garrettâs intense loving.

But I saw nothing. No scratches on my breasts or thighs, which surprised me. I have sensitive skin and I expected to see beard burn from Garrettâs stubble.

But there was not a single mark on my body, save for two tiny wounds in my neck. Odd. And there was no sign of Garrett in the bright morning light. Instead, a cheerful maid directed me to the morning room, where I ate a hearty Scottish breakfast of oatmeal, thick whole-grain toast and eggs, all washed down by Scottish tea, served sweet with milk.

Well-fed for at least the next two days, I set off to find Garrett and arrange for another tryst. He was nowhere to be found, so I got into the Vauxhall and drove to the nearest village, Kilburn Vale.

Village was a grandiose term for one straggling, narrow street fronted by picturesque stone buildings: a pub, a gas stationâor, rather, a petrol station, with the prices in pounds per liter of fuelâand a Tesco grocery store. No Starbucks, and I longed for a double tall mocha. I filled the car and drove toward the Isle of Skye.

I returned to Kilburn Vale again at sunset, and stopped at the pub for a bite to eat and a drink before I went to the castle. I felt like socializing a little before going to bed, and didnât know if Garrett Kilburn would be at his post in the gatehouse.

The pub was warm and friendly, apparently the local gathering place. A well-worn but shining wooden bar dominated one side of the room, while a big stone hearth with a stove insert occupied the other. A small desk with a computer on it was tucked in the corner; the neighborhoodâs internet cafÃ©, I guessed. Garlands of braided flowers, chilies and garlic decorated the windows above lacy curtains. I bet they had hams and game hanging in the back.

I spotted a cozy seat near the stove and I tossed down my sweater to keep it before going to the bar. I ordered a Guinness, but before I could pay, a long-fingered, white hand dropped a five-pound note on the polished surface in front of me.

Garrett.

I gulped, drew a breath and managed to say, âHello. Itâs nice to see you.â

The memory of what weâd done the night before burned in my mind. My pussy tingled, moistened. I wanted more.

He smiled at me, and I remembered how those white teeth had savaged my neck and nibbled my breasts. My nipples tightened, rubbing against my bra in delicious anticipation.

âAnd how did you occupy your day, Natasha Desmond?â

âI went to the Isle of Skye, Garrett Kilburn.â

His grin stretched wider. âAh. A romantic, ye are.â His accent was pleasing.

âWhy?â

âOnly romantics and newlyweds visit Skye.â

âNot the merely curious?â

âPerhaps. Is that what brought you to the Highlands? Mere curiosity?â

I picked up my glass and drank a swallow or two while pondering my answer. âNo.â

âThen what?â

I went for it. âIâm a damsel in distress, a woman on the run.â

His brows lifted. âOn the run from what?â

âA wicked stepbrother who wants to steal the family fortune.â

âWhich happens to be yours.â His green eyes gleamed. âAre ye a wealthy heiress?â

âExactly.â

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