Putting a finger under her chin, he tilted her face up, his gaze meeting hers before he kissed her. Sara clutched at his shirt front when his tongue dipped inside to duel with hers. It lit a fire deep inside her that she felt clear down to her toes.
“Maybe you two should get a room.”
Sara’s eyes flew open at the sound of Overstreet’s voice.
Travis grimaced as the journalist climbed the stairs. “What’s up?”
“Nothing. I got bored and decided to take a walk.” He groaned softly as he eased his bulk down onto the top step.
“Can I get you something, Carl?” Sara asked. “Soda? A cup of coffee?”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“A little late for that, don’t you think?” Travis remarked irritably.
Sara sent Travis a quelling glance. “Carl?”
“Coffee would be great if it’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all,” Sara said. “It’ll just take a minute.”
Travis glared at Overstreet after Sara went inside. “What are you doing here?”
“I told you. I was bored. I can’t write all the time. I needed a break.”
“What are you working on? Your story left town with the vampires.”
“Yeah.” He huffed a sigh. “Do you think they’re gone for good?”
Travis shrugged. “Who knows? I can’t think of any reason for them to come back.”
“Unless they’re holed up somewhere nearby, just waiting for Ronan to move on.”
“He already did.”
“Oh? I didn’t know that. I guess there’s nothing to stop Bowman and the others from coming back and taking up where they left off then. Except you.”
“Me?” Travis snorted. “I’ve been a vampire less than a year. I’m no match for any of them.”
Overstreet rubbed his hand over his jaw. “I don’t know. You were turned by a master vampire. You’re probably a lot more powerful than you think.”
“Who’s more powerful?” Sara asked, stepping out onto the porch.
“Nobody,” Travis said.
She handed Carl a mug of hot coffee. “Two sugars, no cream, right?”
“Right, thanks.”
Sara resumed her place on the swing beside Travis. “Why are you both looking so glum? Is something going on?”
“No.” Travis sent a warning glance at Overstreet. “Everything’s fine.”
“Really? Why don’t I believe you?”
Travis blew out a sigh. “Big mouth here was wondering if I thought the vampires would come back to town now that Ronan’s gone.”
Sara’s eyes widened. “Do you think that’s possible?”
Overstreet shrugged. “Anything’s possible.”
“Where are you staying, now that there’s a doctor at the hospital?” Travis asked.
“I took a room over at the hotel. It’s not a bad place. It’s cheap. And they even have Wi-Fi.”
“Are you planning to stay for a while?” Sara asked.
“I haven’t decided. Not much point in it. Still, I might hang around for a few weeks. Nowhere else to go, nothing waiting for me when I get there.” Carl set his cup aside and slapped his hands on his knees. “Well, I’m off to bed. Sorry for the interruption, you two. Thanks for the coffee, Sara.”
“You’re welcome.”
Overstreet shambled down the stairs. He paused at the sidewalk and lifted his hand in a gesture of farewell and continued on down the street.
“He’s a lonely guy, isn’t he?” Sara remarked.
“Yeah.”
“Has he ever been married?”
“Beats me. The subject never came up.”
She leaned into him again, one hand on his thigh, content to sit and stare out into the night. Inevitably, her thoughts turned to Travis. And vampires. Sitting beside her, he seemed so normal, as if he was any other guy calling on a girl. But he wasn’t like other men. Was she making a mistake, spending so much time with him? It would be so easy to fall head-over-heels in love with him. He was soft-spoken, easy to get along with. Hard to believe he was a vampire. Or that he had once hunted and destroyed them. Did he ever regret that, now that he, himself, was a vampire? Did he feel like a monster?
“You’re awfully quiet,” Travis remarked. “Are you worrying about Bowman and the others coming back to town?”
“No. Well, yes, but that’s not what I was thinking about.”
“Want to share your thoughts with me?”
“I don’t know. I’m afraid they might make you uncomfortable. Or angry.”
“I could never be angry with you.”
“I was wondering … I mean, you’re a vampire now, but you used to be a hunter. Do you ever regret what you did?”
He took a deep breath, exhaled it in a long, slow sigh. “I try not to think about it too much. I viewed them as less than human. Not fit to live.” He shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe now I’m the monster. I mean, I feel different but still the same. Does that make any sense at all?”
“In a way.”
“What if they were all just regular guys before they were turned? I never bothered to find out if they’d been turned against their will, or if they wanted the change so they could murder indiscriminately. When I hunted them, all I saw were vampires and I destroyed them without a second thought.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “I haven’t killed anyone since I was turned. But what if a few years down the road I lose my sense of humanity? What if I start to see people as nothing more than a ready food supply?” He stared into the night and felt the darkness wrap around him as his hunger stirred to life. What if he started to think of Sara as prey? The possibility was like a stake in his gut.
“Travis?”
“You shouldn’t be with me,” he said, his voice thick with pain. “It isn’t safe.”
She looked at him, her eyes filled with concern. “I don’t believe that.”
He groaned low in his throat. “You don’t know what it’s like to be near you. Hear the beat of your heart, smell the blood flowing through your veins. It’s a constant temptation.” He surged to his feet. “What
