Darkness of Night

By Mandy Tinics

Kaylee's New Year's resolution is to not take life so seriously. Men are the last thing on her mind, but that changes when she meets a handsome stranger. He's not all he seems to be. Alec is a 253-year-old vampire, he has spent years not caring about anyone. That changes when Kaylee and Alec's world colide. It's forbidden for a human to know about vampires, but in the end will their love survive?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mandy Tinics
• Release date: Nov 17, 2010

Book preview

Darkness of Night

Mandy Tinics

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

Mandy Tinics on Smashwords

Darkness of Night

Copyright © 2010 Mandy Tinics

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All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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Darkness of Night

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with

another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person ou share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

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The characters depicted in this book are fictitious and any similarities to actual events, persons or locations are entirely coincidental

Darkness of Night

Copyright © by Mandy Tinics

All rights reserved.

This work may not be reproduced in any way without written permission from the author or Lyle Perez-Tinics, except for brief quotations in reviews.

Cover art by David Naughton-Shires

www.TheImageDesigns.com

People I want to thank for making this happen

I want to first thank my husband, Lyle for being so supportive even when I didn’t think I could do it and asking people to read it to tell me what they thought.

Also, I would like to thank the following people for taking the time to help:

Sheryl Sharp for editing

David Naughton-Shires for the book cover art

Furthermore, I would also like to thank all of

You who read my book and reviewed it.

I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I had writing it.

Introduction

By Cinsearae S.

Vampire romances are very prominent these days and definitely aren't going anywhere, as many lovers of these creatures of the night will attest. And we can add Mandy Tinics story, Darkness of Night to the list of the more prestigious ones worth reading.

Mandy writes with an intelligent and very entertaining voice, and I was very drawn into her characters, Kaylee and Alec, a human and vampire respectively. I think readers will be enticed by Alec's charms, as he appears to be what nearly every woman in this day and age longs for, and you'll adore Kaylee's down-to-earth personality. Suspenseful and romantic throughout, their relationship is sensual yet tense, and you'll want to delve deeper into their world from the very first chapter.

I commend Mandy Tinics on her debut novel, and would absolutely love to read more of her works.

Cinsearae S.

Author of The ABRAXAS Series and BOLEYN-Tudor Vampire

Editor Publisher of Dark Gothic Resurrected

Magazine

Prologue

Dearest Kaylee,

Forgive me for having to run like I did, unfortunately, I had prior engagements. I left for your own good because I do not want to take advantage or lose control with you. There are things that I cannot reveal about myself, but I want you to know that everything that you felt I felt, amplified. I cannot tell you why but trust me when I say that I have never felt anything like it in all my years. I am not what I seem and I do not want to bring you into my world. It is just better that we do not see each other. My apologies. Please do not hate me for this.

Forever yours,

Alec

I would love to forget about New Years, but I’ll start from the beginning… In the end it wasn’t so bad…

Chapter One

I can’t believe another year has gone by. 2010 is less than an hour away. I could hear Hit me with your Best Shot, playing somewhere in the background. What a perfect song to start off my new year. I wondered what this New Year was going to bring. Looking to the future preparing for the worst, hoping for the best. I sat in the corner staring around the room at all the strangers. The friend that invited me was playing hostess, so I was on my own tonight except for my date. I didn’t know many of the people here, but everyone seemed to be nice enough. People would smile when I made eye contact.

I looked around trying to spot my date but he seemed to have disappeared. I wasn’t too concerned with finding him as; I had decided to bring in the New Year with a casual fling. My New Year’s resolution was going to be not taking life too seriously all the time. I spent too much time worrying about tomorrow before today was even finished. I pulled my note pad out of my purse and wrote it down so I wouldn’t forget.

Jotting down what I was going to do tomorrow I scanned the room again. I loved watching people and their expressions; no two facial expressions were ever the same. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand on end as if someone was breathing on it. I looked around to find the source. As I turned to look behind me, my eyes were met with a breath-taking smile. I smiled unable to control myself; he was so handsome it knocked the wind out of me. There was an energy that drew me to this man like a magnet. Was this beauteous man really looking at me? I tried to tear my eyes away from him with no luck. At that moment my date popped into my vision and the spell was broken. I took in a sharp breath.

Hey you ok? You look like you just saw a ghost. He asked with concern.

I’m fine. Where did you disappear to? I asked trying not to let him hear or see my disappointment.

He shrugged.

Around? He said with a goofy look on his face. I shook my head and laughed. He was not the guy I was going home with tonight.

Ok I get it. You go have a good night and I’ll talk to ya. He smiled, kissed me on the cheek, and disappeared again. It was better this way, that way as soon as the ball dropped I could slip out the side and make my escape, I was over this party.

I had all but forgotten the beautiful stranger when someone walked up and asked me to dance. Without looking up I said No thanks. He took my hand and just as I was getting ready to pull away I looked up into the deepest blue eyes I have ever seen. My breath got caught in my chest.

May I please have this dance? He asked again. As if in a trance I rose letting him lead me to the dance floor. Taking me gently in his arms he led me across the floor twirling me as if I was as light as a feather. At the end of the song he dipped me lightly, kissed my cheek, and whispering into my ear, Thank you for this extraordinary dance. He gently pulled me up, leading me off the dance floor as I tried to catch my breath. No one had ever danced with me like that. Glancing around I could see many people gawking. My flesh grew hot, I didn’t like the attention.

Would you like something to drink? Maybe go outside and cool off? He asked. All I could do was nod. We walked over to the bar, he ordered me a White Russian with half and half and a glass of red wine for himself. How did he know what I was drinking? I never saw him by the bar; I would have remembered his face. Had he been watching me? My mind was still twirling.

I was so lost in thought that it took me by surprise when he spoke again Miss, here is your drink. Grabbing it he took my hand again leading me outside. When the cool night air touched my face it helped me regain my composure.

Oh I’m sorry, I’m Kaylee Lilac. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I said offering my hand to properly introduce myself.

He took my hand to his lips, looked into my eyes as he kissed it and then said, I am Alec Erasmus (E-ra-smus) and the pleasure is all mine. He said with a devilish grin. I was so stunned by the way he looked at me that I couldn’t think straight. He kissed my hand again and then released it. There was something about him that was alluring. He is very mysterious, uncommonly handsome, a gentleman, and he spoke almost as if he was from a different time. His voice was deep and I could hear an accent but I couldn’t pinpoint it. He wore his hair long but kept some tied up in a band on the back of his head to keep it from falling in his face. It was jet-black and looked as soft as velvet.

Snapping me back into reality I heard people in the house shouting TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE, HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!! Talk about time flying by. I had completely forgotten why I wanted to leave in the first place. I didn’t want this night to end. But all good things must come to an end I guess. As I stood up to walk back inside he grabbed my face with both hands and whispered, May I? I couldn’t speak. As he slowly pulled my face to his, there was a spark that went through both of us and it was the most passionate lascivious kiss that I have ever had, like I hadn’t been kissed till that moment. There was stirring in places that I had all but forgotten. Just then, he intertwined his fingers into my hair pulling my head back exposing my neck and throat. Starting at my ear and working his way down my neck he lightly brushed his lips against my skin sending shivers down my spine and making it impossible not to moan. Every time he made contact with my skin there was an electric shock that went through my body. Then all at once he released me and stepped back turning away. I was stunned and couldn’t speak.

Forgive me. I do not know what came over me, I have never lost control of myself like this before.

Shaking my head trying to clear it to find the words, Please don’t apologize. I was more than willing. I don’t normally get carried away either but there is something about you that I can’t resist or comprehend. That was the most amazing kiss I have ever experienced and I know you felt it too. Please just…

Please stop. He said taking my hands in his own. He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. I tried not to make eye contact and to pull away, but he caught my gaze and the fight was over. Looking into his eyes told me everything he was feeling without a word spoken. It was like I could see into his soul. There was an undeniable connection between us but I could feel him breaking away. I felt as if my heart was breaking.

I must go before it gets too late. Please forgive me. Alec said before he turned and walked away, just like that. His words felt like a kick in the gut. Why would he approach me if he had no intention to at the least spend the night with me? We shared something amazing and he just walks away? I didn’t say a word; I wasn’t going to let it get to me. I had already decided that this year my relationships were going to be casual and nothing serious because they weren’t worth the pain and heartache. Rather then go back into the party I decided to head home. I walked out to my car and found a note on the windshield. I grabbed it and got in the car turning the key in the ignition to warm it up. It was a cool crisp night and the sky was clear enough to see the stars. Happy New Year’s I said to myself taking in a deep breath and then opened the note. There on the page was very unique handwriting.

Dearest Kaylee,

Forgive me for having to run like I did, unfortunately, I had prior engagements. I left for your own good because I do not want to take advantage or lose control with you. There are things that I cannot reveal about myself, but I want you to know that everything that you felt I felt, amplified. I cannot tell you why but trust me when I say that I have never felt anything like it in all my years. I am not what I seem and I do not want to bring you into my world. It is just better that we do not see each other. My apologies. Please do not hate me for this.

Forever yours,

Alec

How could he be so cruel? If he felt the connection why would it be taking advantage of me? Here I thought losing control was what a good romance was all about. None of it makes any sense. He seemed like a gentleman, an incredibly handsome gentleman. I wasn’t looking for perfection but he came pretty close. Whatever, I don’t need him, I kept telling myself. I don’t need a gorgeous, tall, dark, and handsome man with beautiful eyes to be happy I am just perfect the way I am. Besides, he would just be a distraction and as a busy, struggling writer I didn’t need any more distractions.

I have two books going at the moment and tomorrow I had to be back to work on them so that I could get them published. They are both about vampires because I have always had a fascination with them. If they were real I would undoubtedly want to be in ones arms and if he wanted me forever I would be his for eternity. Romantic I know, but the whole idea about vampires is romantic. All the books that I’ve read about them have always been their sexuality that makes them irresistible. Everyone knows how unbelievably