True to his word, Adam is nowhere to be seen when I wake. Other than my pillow smelling like him, I'm almost convinced it was all an elaborate dream. Even the bloody towel is missing.

In the space of one night, the world I thought I knew was unraveling. I need answers, and Adam's not here to give them to me. So I'll do what I always do when I need information—hit the Google search.

Moving through the rooms, I catch Adam's scent here and there. This detail is as comforting as it is disturbing. Any of this shouldn't comfort me. I've learned that my childhood fears are real and monsters walk among us—one slept on my couch last night.

With coffee in hand, I sit down at my desk and open my laptop to educate myself about vampires. My Internet searches are almost comical, and I still can't believe I'm trying to do serious research on such an improbable topic. Well, it was improbable twenty-four hours ago.

***

Several hours later I've learned there is a surprising amount of folklore and legend surrounding vampires. Obviously, there are some grains of truth woven into these stories. I will never listen to these tales the same way again. Even ghost stories will take on new meaning, and demand more of my respect.

I'm curious how vampires have been able to stay hidden behind legends and myths for so long. In many ways the evidence has been right under our noses. I find it intriguing that stories involving vampires appear in almost all geographic areas and cultures.

The macabre attraction to the mystique of vampires is slightly appalling. After an hour I found a chat room specifically for connecting human donors to possible vampires. I'm not sure if it's legit, but there seems to be a great deal of back-and-forth communication for something that is make believe or role play.

Before last night I wouldn't have given these sites a second thought. I might have even found them hilarious. Now, I'm not so sure. Many of the legends talk about the need for blood and issues with the sun, as well as turning into bats or other animals.

I wonder if Adam turns into something.

Some articles talk about the ability to fly. One of the older beliefs says that vampires may not enter your home without permission. That's a bit of false advertising I can lay to rest.

I have a long list of questions for Adam when I see him again. I'm dying to talk to someone about this new knowledge I've discovered, but could that knowledge put them in danger? Could it be dangerous for Adam as well? I don't know why I should care about his safety but I'll keep his secret for now.

Adam claims he's trying to protect me. I don't know if I trust him or not. He hasn't hurt me, and he's had plenty of opportunity. Maybe he's the type who likes to play with his food. People are easy to read; vampires not so much.

When I finally close my laptop, I have a pounding headache. I have so many more questions than when I started. How many vampires are there? Why are there vampires? Are there others like Adam and this Zachariah? Are they demons, dead or fallen angels? All these theories are relevant on the internet with heated discussions on the subjects.

I'm wondering if I should cancel my date with Gabe. What are the chances of being attacked by a supernatural creature in a public place? None really. All the women who've been murdered have been alone. It could be safer to go on a date. I deliberate on this subject for about five seconds.

I'm keeping my date with Gabe. I've been dreaming about this for months.

***

I return home after having a pedicure and shopping for something nice to wear tomorrow evening. A little normalcy to my day has helped clear my head a bit. I haven't been this excited for a date in years. That's actually rather pathetic, and another reason to go. I need this.

I munch on some leftover pizza and sip a glass of wine while watching the sunset from my patio. Few things beat an Arizona sunset for beauty. I'm feeling rather relaxed staring into the brilliant variations of red, blue, orange, and purple smears across the desert sky.

Once the colors start to fade, I head for my room and a shower. Wilbur curls up on my bed, so I give him a little scratch along his jaw before heading into the bathroom.

With my hair in a towel, and wearing a t-shirt and panties, I head out of the bedroom in search of my new novel. I can't remember where I left it. I'm searching my gym bag when my front door buzzes. Oh, crap! Who can that be?

I dash into my room and grab my robe, putting it on as I head to the door. I look through the spy-hole and see Eric standing in the hall. Great! I look like a drowned rat. Not the way anyone wants to look when you see an old flame. I open the door and give him a cautious smile.

He looks nervous. "Hey, I hope this isn't a bad time. I was hoping we could talk."

"No, it's fine...I didn't expect to see you. Come in." I open the door wider and step back.

I follow him into the living room and motion for him to take a seat while I offer him some wine. I pour us each a glass and join him in the living room. We both sip our wine in awkward silence.

I'm the first to speak. "Jessica seems nice." I take another sip. I should slow down. He looks even more uncomfortable, and I'm wondering why he's here.

"She's all right. That's actually why I'm here. I wanted to tell you I was sorry about the other night." He looks miserable now.

"You have every right to invite whomever you want to have drinks with us. I don't have a problem with Jessica, Eric." Did I look jealous that night?

"I had a problem with her, Sam. Once you joined us I realized that I wished Jessica wasn't there," he says while moving to sit next to me on the couch. Now he's looking at me expectantly.

Oh no. I don't know what to say. I didn't like seeing him with Jessica, if I'm being honest, but I don't see myself with Eric either. I still have feelings for him, but I decided a year ago that I loved him as a friend and nothing more. He deserves more.

"Eric, I felt a little uncomfortable the other night, but that's because I hadn't seen you with anyone else, and it was a little awkward, that's all. It'll get easier for both of us. We can handle a few weird moments," I say, smiling, as I lean back against the couch.

What he does next surprises both of us. He leans over and kisses me gently, lingering at my lips for a few seconds. He pulls back a little, and I can tell by the look on his face that he didn't plan for that to happen. I'm not able to speak because I'm still processing that he kissed me.

Old habits make me want to reach my arms around his neck and kiss him back, but that would be wrong, and we don't need to go down this road again.

"Sam, I—" he says before we're interrupted by someone clearing their throat. We both fly off the couch and look toward the sound.

Adam is standing in the doorway to my bedroom with nothing but jeans on. If that wasn't bad enough he's holding a towel to his wet hair as if he were walking out of the shower...my shower.

"Am I interrupting something?" he asks while using the towel to dry his hair. He looks at me with a challenge and that wicked gleam in his eyes. I look at Eric because I don't even know what to say. I can only imagine how this looks. I'm in a robe, fresh from the shower, and now this.

I'm going to stake that vampire myself!

"What are you doing?" I ask, glaring at him with my hands on my hips. Eric's mouth is hanging open, and he looks at Adam like he has three heads. He turns his gaze to me with a hurt, betrayed look that makes my chest constrict.

Before I can say anything, he says, "You could have told me you were busy. I'm sorry to have bothered you." He walks past Adam and toward the front door.

"Wait, Eric!" I yell, moving after him. He ignores me and slams the door shut. I stop and stare after him, but don't follow. I stare at the empty entry hall for a few moments, seething.

I spin around quickly, ready to let Adam have the full brunt of my fury. He's standing there waiting for me, having tossed the towel aside. He looks like the devil himself, with his eyes glowing and his hair wet. He's sex incarnate, but I don't even care. I see only red.

I fly at him with a fist to his face. I don't see him move, but my punch doesn't connect and my fist is suspended in front of his face. Just as fast, I try to slap him with my other hand, and now he has both my arms trapped in the air. I'm sure that my face is red with fury.

"What do you think you're doing?" I growl at him.

He still hasn't released my arms.

"Defending myself," he says calmly. His demeanor is infuriating but his eyes tell me another story.

"You did that on purpose! Why?" I ask.

"Why did you kiss him?" he counters.

His eyes are still doing their preternatural glowing thing they do.

"I didn't kiss him! He kissed me, and why is this any of your damn business who kisses me?" I'm practically yelling at him.

My anger fills the room. My fury seems to affect Adam in an entirely different way.

In the blink of an eye he has me against the wall with my arms trapped over my head. It occurs to me that I'm no longer touching the ground. I wondered why we were eye to eye.

His body is crushed against mine, and our noses are almost touching. I already know there is no use struggling against him. I hang there and glare daggers at him.

He turns his head to the side and says softly against my cheek, "You didn't stop him. Are you in need of being kissed, Samantha?" He pulls his head back so that we are eye to eye again.

Some of the angry wind has left my sails, but I'm still mad. Other emotions are clouding my mind at the moment.

"Let me go, Adam." My voice sounds empty and cold. "And stop manhandling me, Vampire."

I don't think he liked the way I said that last part. Good. He slowly lowers me down until my feet touch the floor.

I push away from him and grab my phone off the counter to call Eric. I enter his number, but it goes to his voice mail. Great! He may never talk to me again. I'm not sure what to tell him even if he did answer.

"Why are you here, Adam?"

"Obviously, you're in need of being protected," he says. He takes a seat in one of the chairs, making himself comfortable. He still has no shirt, and it's all I can do not to ogle him.

"You can't stay here again. And why don't you use the front door like a normal person? Stop coming into my house uninvited!" I toss the phone on the couch, pick up my wine, and finish it off. "That was a mean thing to do. Eric is a dear friend, and you made him feel like crap." I sink into the sofa cushions and hug a pillow to me.

"I'm not one to share, Samantha." He's looking at me in that broody serious way again. I do not get him.

"Share what? I don't belong to you or anyone else," I say losing my cool all over again. "Have you always been this deranged?"

He looks pissed off now. I may have hit a chord with him. "I believe you are seriously in need of being kissed. Someone needs to kiss you thoroughly and completely. It would go a long way toward removing that stick from your ass," he says with measured control in his voice.

Yes, I'd say he is now pissed. Good. So am I.

"I'm not sure what part of the universe you hail from, but in my part of the world you don't insert yourself in people's lives without being invited! In my world you don't assume every female wants to have sex with you! In my world you—" He is on me that fast.

I'm pressed into the back of the sofa, and he's in my face yet again.

"Your universe is getting smaller by the hour. Open your eyes and look around, Samantha. I'm the only thing standing between you and an extremely...unpleasant...death," he growls each word.

And just like that, he's gone. Curtains blowing in the wind from his exit.

His last words leave me breathless and maybe even a little nervous. Maybe I pushed too hard. Feeling guilty, I walk over to the balcony and look at the street below. If he's out there, I don't see him.

I walk back in and lock the doors, for all the good it will do. Deciding to tackle one problem at a time, I pick up my phone and leave Eric a message telling him how sorry I am, and that the situation wasn't what it appeared. My excuse sounds lame, even to me. If he ever speaks to me again, I'll still need to tell him that I don't plan to repeat the past with him. I'm not looking forward to either conversation.

What am I going to do with Adam? I know I'm attracted to him, and that thought alone bugs the hell out me. I don't know him. He's not even human, for crying out loud!

I'm not even sure he didn't make up this other murdering vampire to cover up his own actions. I know nothing about him except that he is a vampire or an alien who fancies himself one.

One thought continues to gnaw at my brain. Adam could have killed me a hundred times already. On one hand, he's pushy, arrogant, overbearing, domineering, and excessively sexual in nature.

He's the most seductive thing on two legs that I've ever seen, and looking at him makes me want to melt into a puddle. That only complicates things all the more.

He's haunting my dreams, hanging out in my condo, and messing up my life. He moves like a high-speed train about to derail, and I'm standing too close.

And on the other hand, he could be trying to save my life. There is that.