Vampires Need Not…Apply? (Accidentally Yours #4)(47)
Author: Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Ixtab held her breath for several moments before she finally gathered the will to tell the next part of the story; he looked like Francisco.

She took a deep breath. “This is why—”

“I get it,” he interrupted. “You’ve got a history. A painful one. And you still love this man. So let me ease your suffering from believing you need to put me out of my misery and let me down easily. I’m not interested in you.”

Ouch. “You’re not?”

“No.” His gaze was cool and sure. “The other night was nothing more than a fulfillment of an obligation for your silly immortal groveling ritual.”

Double ouch. He’d only made a move on her because he felt he had to and not because he wanted to? It was exactly what she’d been afraid of.

Ixtab mentally crumbled underneath her veil. “I see,” she muttered.

He cleared his throat. “And though I’m very sorry for what you’ve been through, for your loss, you’re not the only one who has a past filled with painful secrets.”

“Such as?”

“If that were any of your damned business, I would have told you by now.”

Reason number nine–somethingorother that vampires are icky: they can be so damned cold for no apparent reason.

Ugh! Well, she’d had just about enough of that. “Mr. Icky Vampire, may I remind you that you’re speaking to a deity. And while I realize your brain may be running at half steam because you’ve yet to feed and that you’re angry about the little name slipup, if you speak to me like that again, I will punish you.”

Antonio stepped in and closed the space between them. “Be my guest,” he snarled.

H-h-he’s daring me? Me? “Don’t say I didn’t warn you…” Ixtab reached out, intending to give him a little taste of something she liked to call… an Ixtab spanking: a hint of chili pepper. In his nether region. After all, what was the use of being the goddess of natural seasoning if you couldn’t deploy the power of the chili pepper on command?

But as she reached, Antonio caught her hand. He stared down at her, fuming. Several angry moments passed, him studying her. Her studying him.

“What’s really under that veil, Ixtab?” he whispered. “What are you afraid of?”

“Why are you really so angry at me?”

“You first,” he growled.

Gods, he was gorgeous. The way his upper lip with that pronounced dip in the middle twitched when he was mad. The way those deep green eyes flickered to black as he lost control. The way the pulse in his neck visibly strummed away. She loved seeing him so full of… life.

What an odd thought. Vampires weren’t full of life. Antonio is.

“I’m not afraid. I’m a goddess. I fear nothing.” Except perhaps losing you…

“Really, now?” A resentful laugh bubbled from his lips. “Prove it. Take it off.”

Could she let him see her? Yes, she’d already determined that she wanted him to look into her eyes and truly see who she was on the inside. She wanted to know if he was her mate, because standing before him, she now knew she wanted him with every spark of her immortal light.

“Remove it yourself,” she said, lifting her chin.

He didn’t hesitate for a moment to grab for the lace. But just as he began to tug, he stopped. His face turned pale.

“What are you waiting for?” she said.

He didn’t respond.

“Are you afraid you’ll hate what you see?”

He dropped his hand and stepped back. “I need to go and see my father.” He turned toward the door.

“Wait.”

He stopped in the doorway, but didn’t turn around. She watched him take several breaths. “I’m not afraid,” he said, “that I’ll hate what I see—it’s the opposite. And right now, I cannot afford any distractions. Too much is at stake.”

Ixtab’s pulse quickened with his admission. He considered her a temptation? She felt the rush of hope gushing through her veins.

Yes! Disco dance!

And the feeling in her chest was a sure sign that her heart had finally healed. Dare she even believe the Universe cared about someone like her, that she, too, deserved to be happy and have love?

An odd tension filled the air, and she sensed the dark thoughts spinning over his head like a tornado of despair. What was he afraid of?

She walked over and placed her hand on his back. Gods, she couldn’t get enough of this, of touching him. “Why? Why are you really afraid to see me?”

Finally, he let out a sigh. “You should know that one of the reasons I’m working on the tablet is because the woman I am destined to be with is on the other side of that portal. And while I admit I feel a certain… attraction for you, I know it isn’t real. You are not her.” He walked away, leaving Ixtab there to digest those words all alone.

Chapter Veintitrés

Antonio’s words felt like a hard kick to Ixtab’s gut. Woman? On the other side? Why hadn’t he ever mentioned this? You dramawhore, Universe! How could you?

Antonio couldn’t possibly be destined for another female. Could he? It didn’t seem right. Not when the connection between them felt so powerful, like the Universe herself had forged it with the strength from her very own heart.

Ixtab couldn’t decide if she felt angry or heartbroken. Or both. Both! Vampires Are Icky reason number ten: because they’re like tumbleweeds; they’ll roll on top of anything!

Ixtab walked over to Antonio’s neatly made bed and sat down. Her heart sagged. None of this made any sense. How had the woman gotten there? How had he met her? How did he know that this woman was destined to be his? Why would the Universe bring Antonio into her life only to give him to another?

Dammit! She couldn’t accept this. How could she have lost him already? Had she been wrong about her feelings?

Yes! Because you’re an idiot! A complete idiot! Of course, he doesn’t want you. You. Are. Not. Destined. To. Ever. Love. The Universe hates you. She always has, and she always will.

“You’re not my brother’s usual type. Although it’s hard to tell with that outfit you’re wearing,” said a deep voice.

Ixtab turned her head and instantly felt the room swirl in such a way that indicated her humanlike body might go into shock—ironically, the same thing happened the last time she was in Spain. But that was because she’d stupidly tried to assist a large crowd of people hell-bent on killing themselves. Unfortunately, the bulls had already been set free. Who knew the beasts loved black lace?