Harker’s Journey

By N.J. Walters

From the first moment Johanna Harker read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, her life changed forever. The book unleashed an obsession with vampires that was all the more compelling for the intensely erotic dreams that filled her nights. It wasn’t long before she was consumed with thoughts of the dark creature who returned to ravish her in her dreams again and again.

Abandoning any hope of finding a flesh-and-blood man who can fulfill her, Johanna resigns herself to pouring all her energies into her demanding job by day and her enthralling fantasies by night. But when her job takes her to the fabled Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania to meet her company’s largest client, she’s suddenly overcome by the thrilling sensual promise of the secretive and demanding Cristofor Dalakis, the very man who’s been haunting her dreams.

But Cristofor, the enigmatic and formidable patriarch of the Dalakis family, is harboring a dark family secret and makes it clear he will use his every skill to seduce and possess Johanna. And as Johanna realizes that her every fantasy may come true, she also makes the haunting discovery that it may come at a terrible price.

Praise for the Summersville Secrets Series by N. J. Walters:

“A fast-paced, fun, and sexy read, the characters and their chemistry are great with steamy sex scenes.” (Goodreads)

“Wicked good fun!” (NetGalley)

“Another fun and steamy read by NJ Walters.” (Goodreads)

About the Author:

N. J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks all vie for her attention. N.J. enjoys hearing from readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing
• Release date: Mar 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781946069207

N.J. Walters

N.J. has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it. You can find N.J. online at njwalters.com.    

Book preview

Cover

Harker’s Journey

From the first moment Johanna Harker read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, her life changed forever. The book unleashed an obsession with vampires that was all the more compelling for the intensely erotic dreams that filled her nights. It wasn’t long before she was consumed with thoughts of the dark creature who returned to ravish her in her dreams again and again.

Abandoning any hope of finding a flesh-and-blood man who can fulfill her, Johanna resigns herself to pouring all her energies into her demanding job by day and her enthralling fantasies by night. But when her job takes her to the fabled Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania to meet her company’s largest client, she’s suddenly overcome by the thrilling sensual promise of the secretive and demanding Cristofor Dalakis, the very man who’s been haunting her dreams.

But Cristofor, the enigmatic and formidable patriarch of the Dalakis family, is harboring a dark family secret and makes it clear he will use his every skill to seduce and possess Johanna. And as Johanna realizes that her every fantasy may come true, she also makes the haunting discovery that it may come at a terrible price.

Title Page

Copyright

Harker’s Journey

N. J. Walters

Copyright © 2005 by N. J. Walters.

Cover design and illustration by Dar Albert, Wicked Smart Designs.

Published by Beyond the Page at Smashwords

Beyond the Page Books

are published by

Beyond the Page Publishing

www.beyondthepagepub.com

ISBN: 978-1-946069-20-7

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

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Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Books by N. J. Walters

About the Author

Prologue

Johanna Harker’s life changed the moment her college roommate gave her a copy of the classic novel by Bram Stoker. It was the day before her nineteenth birthday.

Maybe you’re a bloodsucking vampire, her friend joked after giving her the early birthday present. I mean, didn’t one of the main characters have the last name Harker like you? Maybe you’re a relative?

Johanna ignored her friend’s teasing and immediately started reading the book, captivated by the story of the powerful and alluring Count Dracula. She read between classes the next day, devouring a page here and there, before finally settling in that night to finish the tale. It was late when she set the book down on her desk and climbed into bed.

Her roommate was spending the night with her boyfriend, leaving Johanna alone. Her college dorm room was shrouded in darkness, lit only by the ambient glow of the streetlamp that poured through the open window.

She thought about vampires. They weren’t real, but it was fascinating and downright scary to imagine what the world would be like if they truly did exist. Would they be evil? Would they be reclusive? Or would they just be misunderstood?

She absently rubbed at an ache in her chest before she closed her eyes and imagined the perfect vampire, one more in keeping with her romantic heart. He wouldn’t be evil or deceptive, but brave and heroic. He’d be tall and handsome, and like some dark avenging angel, he’d swoop into her life and change it completely.

The open blinds fluttered in the slight breeze. Johanna laughed at her flight of fancy, rolled over in bed and gazed out at the night. She knew the moon was full, but it wasn’t visible from her small dorm window.

One second she was alone, and the next, he was there, standing in the shadows at the end of the bed, just as she’d imagined him. A sense of wonder filled her, obliterating all thoughts of fear. Even though she knew she’d never set eyes on him before, it felt as though she’d been waiting for him her entire life.

He advanced toward her, his movements fluid and graceful. Striking and dangerous were the two words that popped into her head. He was dressed entirely in black, and his great height and massive shoulders almost immediately blocked out the light seeping in through the window. As if sensing her need to see him better, he turned slightly so she could make out his features.

Long dark hair swept back from his face and fell in a curtain of silk around his shoulders. His forehead was prominent, and his cheekbones were high. Quirked in a half smile, his lips were thin, yet surprisingly sensual. For a moment, his eyes seemed to glow an eerie red before fading to dark once again. As much as she strained, she could not make out their color.

Green. His deep, slightly accented voice answered her unasked question.

She felt his voice, for it seemed to vibrate deep inside her, causing her to yearn for something she’d never had before. What that craving was, she wasn’t sure, but she longed to hear him speak again.

Sit, please. Johanna scooted over to the center of her small bed and patted the duvet next to her.

A satisfied smile crossed his face as he sat on the edge of the mattress. He said nothing and remained still. Predator. The word flashed in her head, and a deep primal fear rose within her as her heart began to pound in her chest.

The stranger’s dark laughter filled the air, and one of his large hands covered her fluttering heart. The heat from his palm seared her chest. She wanted to move but was paralyzed by fear. His green-eyed gaze captured hers and she could not tear herself away from their terrible beauty. For a moment, she thought she was dead, and lamented the fact that there were so many things left in life that she wanted to do.

As the thought flashed through her mind, his face took on such a look of pain and sorrow that she would have done anything he’d asked of her at that moment, if it would alleviate his torment. She’d never seen such a look of anguish, and for a brief moment she knew she’d experienced the deep suffering of his very soul.

You are the one. His voice was laced with surprise and what sounded very much like hope. He sat back and pulled his hand away, holding it fisted in his lap. Johanna felt the loss keenly. It was almost as if he had taken her heart with him.

The one what? she whispered.

You are my heart and my soul, the beautiful spirit that I have sought through the dark days of my existence. I will protect you with my entire being for as long as you shall live and beyond, if you someday choose to join me. Spoken like a vow, the words brought tears to her eyes. The deep emotion in his voice left her shaken and unsure.

Slowly, as if he could sense her fear, he trailed a finger down her cheek, tenderly wiping away a tear. "I did not