He let out agroan, held her shoulders and pushed her away. “I… I can’t.”
Confused,Harper stared at the regret etched across his face. “What’s wrong,Damon? Is it the bloodlust?”
His jawtightened. “No. Yes. It doesn’t matter.”
She touched hisarm. He flinched.
“Leave it,Harper.”
“No, I won’t.Did I do something wrong?”
His featuressoftened once more as he cupped her face. “You could never doanything wrong.”
Shefrowned.
Damon expelleda deep sigh. He dropped his hand and looked away. “I can’t tell youhow sorry I am about what Conner did to you. It’s despicable.”
His suddenchange of subject suggested something was bothering him, but what?She went along with it, for now. “Me too, but onwards and upwards,as they say.”
“When I lefthere earlier, I went to his flat and told him exactly what alowlife he is. I made him shut the website down.”
“You did thatfor me?”
“I’d doanything for you.”
She smiled.“Thank you. Families, eh? They’re a pain in the backside sometimes,but they’re still family.”
“You got thatright.”
“If there’s onething I’ve learnt from this, it’s that I’m more determined thanever to make Magik Dates a success.”
He frowned.“You can’t use the name Magik Dates.”
“What do youmean?”
“Connerregistered the name, so no one else can use it.”
Her shoulderssank. “I want to say you’re kidding, but you’re not, are you?”
“No, butthere’s nothing to stop you from starting a new business under adifferent name. I’ve been thinking about it on my way over. It’llbe brilliant, I know it.”
His suddenenthusiasm was infectious. “I never liked the name anyway. Magicwith a K was because I was dating a Kevin at the time.”
“And was itmagical with this Kevin?”
She harrumphed.“That relationship went as well as one of my disastrous spells—Iaccidentally turned him into a cockroach.”
He winced. “I’dbetter be on my best behaviour then.”
“Forget Kevinthe cockroach—it was temporary, unfortunately. I need to come upwith a new name for my dating agency.”
“I’m sureyou’ll think of something.”
Harper twiddledwith her hair. Her fingers brushed against her neck, where Damon’sfangs had pierced her skin. The reddish mark with two darker spotson either side had almost faded now, but her skin still tingledevery time she recalled his bite. “I’ve got it!” She grinned. “It’sthe perfect name, and kind of apt too.”
“What?”
“LoveBites.”
His gazelingered on her neck, and she caught the look of regret thatflashed across his face again, but he hid it with a smile.
“Love Bites,Paranormal Dating Agency.” He nodded slowly. “You’re right, Harper.It works.”
“I’ll need aslogan. Something that tells people what we do. Something flirtyand fun, maybe a little corny. Got any ideas, since you’re so goodat that?”
“How about:Love Bites. The number one dating agency for supernaturals. Findthe magic in love.”
“Well, I don’tknow about the number one dating agency part—maybe one day—but Ilove it!” I love you. A million and one ideas bombarded hermind. “I’ll have to find another website designer.”
“I knowsomeone. She did the websites for my restaurants. She’strustworthy, unlike Conner.”
“Okay, butthose websites are for humans. I need someone who knows how to setup the magic veil too.”
“She does thatas well. She designed the websites for my other businesses,restaurants, nightclubs, etc., that cater especially for non-humantypes.”
“She soundsperfect.” More ideas buzzed around her head. “I’ll need to employsomeone to man the live chat feature, too. Zarya does thebookkeeping, and I know she’ll help with the live online stuff, butshe’s only here sometimes, and if I want to go international, itwill need to be manned around the clock.”
“International?I like your thinking. I might know someone there too. Jamie. She’sa lovely young woman, a human, but she knows of the supernaturalworld.”
“Go on.”
“Her father,Bill, was my business partner—I learnt everything I know from him.He was a dear friend too, but he died a while back, sadly.”
“I’msorry.”
“Thanks. I misshim a lot.” He paused. “Poor Jamie’s had a run of bad luck lately.I don’t know the details, but a new job might be what she’s lookingfor. I could give you her number?”
Harper knew athing or two about bad luck, but she had a feeling all that wasabout to change. “It wouldn’t hurt to ask, I suppose, but I can’tpay her much.”
“I can give yousome money to help with the start-up costs, if you want?”
“No, you’vealready helped enough, thanks,” she answered, her tone a tadsnappish.
“Hey, don’t flyoff your broom handle.” He pressed his lips. “Sorry,couldn’t help that one. It’ll be a business loan. You can pay meback when you get up and running if it will make you feel anybetter?”
She shook herhead. “No, if I’m going to do this, I want to do it on my own, withmy own money. I have some savings. I’ll make do with thatfirst.”
Damon smiled.“If you’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“I have a goodfeeling about this, Harper.”
“Me too. Do youknow what else I have a good feeling about?” She stroked her thumbalong his stubbly jaw and whispered, “Us.”
Damon’s gazeflitted to her mouth. “I want there to be an us with all my heart,but I have to tell you something first.” He looked away andsighed.
“What is it?”Her heart pounded. Nothing could change the way she felt about him,but he was clearly troubled.
“You took achance on me, Harper. You even braved my bite, but my bloodlust,it’s…” He shook his head.
The look ofshame on his face tugged at her heart.
“It’swhat?”
“Fledglingvamps aren’t supposed to experience the bloodlust, but I do.”
“Okay,” shesaid slowly, not sure where he was going with this.
“I can’t ask itof you. It’s a huge responsibility. If you say no, I’ll understand,and you’ll never have to see me again.”
Her eyeswidened. “Don’t you want to see me again?”
He faced her.“Of course I do, more than anything, but you control my bloodlust,Harper. If we have any kind of future together, Nerissa said youwill have to keep me in check, so to speak.”
“You spoke toyour maker about me?”
“Yes. She can’twait to meet the beautiful witch I fell in love with, but…” Heclosed his eyes and shook his head.
Her breathhitched.
Damon took amoment to compose himself and then opened his eyes. “I know it’s alot to ask. Too much,” he whispered. “You are my weakness and mystrength, my Kryptonite and my reason for existing. It has to beyour choice, Harper. Is there even the remotest possibility youmight
