Born in Twilight: Twilight Vows by MAGGIE SHAYNE

closer, scanning his face. “Enough of all this,” he said softly. “Jameson, tell us about the beast that attacked you. Who was he? Can you describe him?”
    â€œYes,” Roland put in. “We can’t let him go on—”
    â€œNot him,” Jameson said, getting to his feet and turning to face them. “Her.” He saw the frowns on their faces as he went on. “And we don’t have to hunt her down. She surrendered herself to a DPI operative right before my eyes. Turned herself over, without batting an eye. I think she bought what he was selling, about them being able to make her human again.”
    â€œMy God!” Tamara got to her feet. “Who was she, Jameson? Did you know her? Had you ever seen her before?”
    He shook his head slowly. “I think the agent might have known who she was, but I was barely conscious. I kind of came around when he told her to come with him, to let him help her.”
    â€œIt’s better he found her than I,” Rhiannon said.
    â€œShe was mad, I think,” Jameson went on. “Filthy, her clothes tattered. She seemed very young…and I’m certain she was on the brink of starvation. I heard her crying, so I went to her. I thought I’d bring her to you, and you could help her.”
    â€œAnd we would have, of course,” Tamara told him.
    â€œIf I ever see her again, I’ll wring her pretty neck.” Jameson thought of how fragile she’d seemed…just before she sank her fangs into his throat. And then he thought a little further, and had to avert his face from the others.
    She’d taken him someplace he’d never been. Shocked him at that first piercing of his flesh, but then…
    Jesus, why hadn’t any of them told him what it was like? Was it normal to react that way? He’d never been so turned on in his life as he’d been when she’d held him hard against her, and worked his throat with her mouth and her teeth. And he’d wanted it. Wanted her. And for a few minutes, he’d figured it would be all right. That she’d only take enough to keep her alive, and then she’d stop.
    But she hadn’t stopped. The bitch had tried to kill him. And he’d been hard for her right up until he’d collapsed at her feet.
    Jesus. “I’ll kill her,” he whispered. “Vengeance is a wasted emotion, Jameson,” Tamara told him.
    Â * * *
    â€œShe tried to kill me.”
    â€œPerhaps she didn’t know better.”
    â€œOr,” Rhiannon put in, “perhaps she simply lost control of herself. It’s been known to happen…in certain circumstances.”
    Jameson looked up quickly, wondering if they’d all been privy to his every thought just now. But Rhiannon was looking at Roland as if he were a juicy steak, and he thought he detected a glint in Roland’s eye, as well. Jameson decided not to say any more about his erotic attack. He tried not to think any more about it, either, but that was far harder than it should have been.
    Time to change the subject. “Look, if DPI goons are out rounding up vampires for another group of experiments, maybe it’s time you guys get the hell out of the city.”
    â€œExactly,” Roland said. “But don’t forget, my friend, you’re a vampire now, too.”
    Jameson frowned. Damn.
    â€œEven should you decide to go ahead with your plans to learn what they wanted you for this last time they took you, Jameson, you have to agree, it would be better to wait. You need time to get used to your new nature. To learn to control it. To test the limits of your strength, your endurance.”
    He had a point there. Damn him.
    Roland smiled, no doubt having heard that thought, too. “There is much you need to learn about being a vampire, Jameson.”
    â€œHell, Roland, I know more about being a vampire than you think. I’ve been around you most of my