Strains of Monster Mash drifted through the plush hotel. Cassie smiled to herself imagining accountant-types dancing at the Actuaries Halloween Ball. Oh well, at least they were having fun, she wished she was. Translating for Slavic toy makers who tended to resemble wizened elves and often engaged in shouting matches, wasn't on anyone’s list of fun activities. The toy makers could even wander over to ball without actually having to dress for the occasion.
The thought of the party-goers dressed as French maids and vampires caused Cassie to chuckle wistfully. Leaning down, she pulled off a toe-pinching shoe. Thinking of all the boring men she dated with disgust, she murmured, "What I wouldn't give for sexy vampire." Before she could pull off her other heel, a man appeared complete in black formal dress, he executed a formal bow and held out a white gloved hand.
Without any conscious thought, Cassie took his hand and tried to balance herself on her one remaining heel without much luck. Stumbling into a mysterious man’s arms was humiliating, well sort of, she rested her cheek on Mr. Yummy’s starched shirt before looking up into his piercing green eyes, his lips curved upward in a wicked smile. Six feet of delicious male, Halloween never looked better. Where did he come from? Before she could ask, he brought her hand up to his mouth gently kissed it.
"Who are you?" Cassie was surprised she was even able to form the words. Her body temperature was already at feverish. She felt like ripping off her wraparound dress, but that was a bit too forward.
"Sebastian, your vampire." His whiskey-rough voice lingered on each word.
"My vampire," Cassie gasped, but then she remembered the Actuaries Ball. "Oh you're one of those actuaries, I understand now." Taking a step back, she forgot she was balancing on one impractical stiletto heel. The sensation of falling stopped when two black-clad arms wrapped around her. Sebastian, her vampire, right, but wasn't he standing in front of her. Cassie canted her head backwards just to be sure. Perhaps there were several men dressed as Count Dracula ready to rescue her from ankle breaking shoes. The same penetrating green eyes, same rumpled black hair, and definitely the same sculpted lips smiling down at her, yep, it was her vampire.
"I'm the only one," he whispered into her hair.
"The only one what?" Cassie wondered aloud. It was difficult to think straight when all she wanted to do was stay, indefinitely, in the well-clad stranger’s arms. Better yet, it would be much better if his arms were bare, make that his chest too, wait a minute—what was she thinking.
Sebastian tightened his embrace, pulling Cassie closer, and nibbled on her neck before speaking against her skin.
"I'm the only vampire waiting to rescue you from terrible shoes. As for the bare arms and chest, it can be arranged."
"Did I say that out loud?" She asked, but didn't expect an answer.
