Eternal Bonds

By Susan Hayes

Duncan Masterson has a secret. To keep it, he’s got a few simple rules. Stay away from sunlight, never drink from the unwilling, and never, ever get involved with mortals. It was working, until the night he finds a lovely co-worker dazed and bleeding from a vampire attack.

After decades as Duncan’s guardian, Jared Evans has shared almost everything with Duncan, even regular doses of Duncan’s blood to extend Jared’s life. The only thing they’ve never shared was a woman…until Tabitha.

Rocked by revelations and faced with temptations she never imagined, Tabitha Blacke is flung headlong into a world full of danger, monsters, and two men who want to claim to her for eternity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Publishing
• Release date: Jun 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094456287

Susan Hayes

USA Today Bestselling author and writer of award-winning Sci-Fi and Paranormal Romance Susan Hayes lives out on the Canadian west coast surrounded by open water, dear family, and good friends. She’s jumped out of perfectly good airplanes on purpose and accidentally swum with sharks on the Great Barrier Reef. If the world ends, she plans to survive as the spunky, comedic sidekick to the heroes of the new world, because she’s too damned short and out of shape to make it on her own for long. To contact her about her books or to arrange end of the world team-ups, you can email her at [e-mail] or find her at susanhayes.ca. If you'd prefer to stalk her from afar, you can sign up for her newsletter http://susanhayes.ca/susans-newsletter/

Book preview

1

Tabi knew better than to be out in the parking lot this late into the night shift without an escort, but the only security guard available had been Darryl, and she’d be in more danger of getting attacked by his wandering hands than anyone lurking around the lot at four in the morning.

She got three steps out the door before she realized she’d forgotten to change her shoes, but by then she was ankle deep in snow. Good job, she muttered to herself as the gray slush filled her flats and leeched the last warmth from her toes. As tempted as Tabi was to head back in and warm up, she’d never make it through her shift without something to eat, and she’d left her lunch in the car.

She trudged through the empty lot, watching the occasional snowflake swirl through the frozen night air. She had just started wondering how cold it needed to be for peanut butter to freeze when the hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she knew that she wasn’t alone any longer. She kept walking, fighting to keep her pace regular, but she couldn’t help hunching down into her jacket, as if the heavy wool could somehow protect her from whatever it was that had her instincts screaming at her to run. She fished her keys out of her pocket and tried to pick out the right one by feel alone as she made a discreet scan of the area near her car. She couldn’t see anything, but she knew that there was someone nearby, watching her.

She was only a few feet from her car when she caught the faint sound of snow crunching underfoot somewhere behind her. With her heart pounding, she threaded the keys between the fingers of her hand just as she’d been taught in some long ago self-defense course and turned, prepared to fight for her life, only to find the parking lot as empty as ever, with only snow-covered cars for as far as the eye could see. She looked around, bewildered, but there was no one in sight and not so much as a shadow out of place.

You’ve lost your ever-loving mind, she muttered to herself and turned back toward the car. That was when she finally saw him, and by then it was too late. Her screams never made it past the icy hand that clamped down over her mouth and her keys fell from nerveless fingers as she stared into a pair of soulless black eyes. Like a shark’s. Part of her observed idly as her entire body stilled and a sense of inevitability flowed into her mind. This wasn’t anything to be afraid of. It was all going to be all right, all she had to do was just let it happen—No! Tabi jerked her head away as she fought back, trying desperately to break free of the effect of those mesmerizing eyes.

She blinked and for a split second she could have sworn she saw a flicker of surprise, but then those twin pools of black burned into her mind and she felt herself falling into fathomless darkness. Inside her mind she clawed and screamed and fought, but Tabi could feel that it was futile, that her body had already surrendered and that somehow the fight was over before she had even begun.

It was the cold that she felt first, cold so bitter that it bordered on pain. Tabi moved her head just a little and tiny shards of crystalline fire burned and sizzled behind her eyes. Ow, she moaned and was almost surprised when she heard her own voice.

That’s a good sign, maybe I’m not dead after all.

Not feeling brave enough to risk opening her eyes just yet, Tabi did a slow, careful assessment of all her body parts and decided she seemed to be more or less in working order, though her neck was hurting like a son of a bitch. She was very cold, and her clothes were most definitely wet, but she was alive and that was not a bad start, all things considered. What the hell had happened to her attacker? One minute he was in her face and the next minute she was—Tabi realized she had no idea where she was. It was definitely time to open her eyes.

She cracked her eyes open and peeked around her, not sure what to expect. The area seemed empty. She lifted her head slightly and groaned as more stars bounced around her vision and filled her head with a hundred tiny sparks of pain. When the lights finally faded from her sight she sat up very slowly and quickly recognized where she was, flat on her ass, right beside her car. Why did her neck hurt so much? She reached up to check and pain shot through her the moment she touched her throat.

What the hell?

Tabi touched the area more gingerly this time, and her fingers came away glistening with blood. Her stomach churned and she took several quick, cleansing breaths. She knew it was crazy for her, a hospital admin assistant, to be queasy when it came to blood, but she was. Especially when that blood was her own.

Footsteps crunched through the slush and snow and Tabi hunkered down, inwardly mocking herself as she tried to scrunch her gangly five-foot-eleven-inch frame into a tiny ball. Every movement made her head hurt and waves of dizziness made it hard for her to think clearly, and Tabi knew she was losing body heat at an alarming rate. Please, be one of the good guys, she prayed silently. Right now she’d even welcome Darryl’s groping fingers if it meant being helped back into the hospital where it was warm and safe.

Ms. Blacke? Tabitha? A man’s voice called out her name and she felt a tingle that had nothing to do with the freezing temperature chase down her spine. Tabitha, where are you? There was only one man in the world who said her name with that delicious hint of Scottish brogue and Tabi breathed a sigh of relief. Dr. Duncan Masterson was a threat to her heart and her sanity, but he would never hurt her.

And here I am, bleeding in the snow with my shoes full of slush. Very sexy, Tabi.

I’m over here, Dr. Masterson. Tabi’s voice sounded unsteady even to her own ears, and she knew he’d have noticed. That man noticed everything. Well, almost everything. He seemed more or less oblivious to Tabi’s existence apart from the occasional polite conversation when he needed to schedule a procedure or track down missing paperwork. A shame, because the good doctor starred in every one of Tabi’s fantasies, and had since the day he’d started working at the hospital. You’re bleeding, cold, and wet, now is really not the time to lament your pathetic lack of a love life, she reminded herself as Dr Masterson stepped into the space between the cars.

Are you all right? He crouched down beside her, strong hands already reaching out to examine her bloody throat. Even in the sickly orange glow of the sodium lighting there was no denying Duncan Masterson was a handsome man. He had a leonine quality to his face that was enhanced by the straight blond hair that he always wore tied back and tucked under the collar of his white coat. Tabi had often imagined what that mane of blond would look like if he wore it loose, just as she had fantasized about what it would feel like to run her hands through it while they—whoa. She put a halt on one of her favorite daydreams and dragged herself back to the present.

Tabitha? I asked if you were all right. Did you hit your head?

Tabi managed to unglue her tongue from the roof of her mouth and form a few semi-coherent words. I—I fell.

Really? He lifted his gaze from her throat and Tabi’s breath caught as she found herself hopelessly lost in a pair of amber eyes. They were such an unusual shade, like dark honey or aged cognac, and there was something about the lighting that made them seem to glow.

Tell me what really happened, lass. His brogue seemed thicker now, and Tabi felt each word glide over her like a physical caress.

Someone attacked me. I tried to scream but his hand was over my mouth and he did this strange thing with his eyes and it made me want to stop fighting him. I tried to fight him off, but I couldn’t. Tabi was speaking, but she couldn’t remember actually making the decision to tell him anything. She certainly hadn’t planned on it. Apart from her neck she was fine, if cold and wet, and her car keys were right there on the ground so she hadn’t even been robbed. Her preliminary plan had been to claim she had been clumsy and fell, rather than have to deal with a police report and questions she’d rather not answer.

And he did this to you? Dr. Masterson lightly touched her neck but his eyes stayed firmly locked on hers.

I don’t know. I suppose so. I’m not even sure it was a man to be honest, Dr. Masterson. I didn’t see anything but a pair of black, horrible eyes.

Tell me about the eyes, Tabitha. Tell me everything you remember.

Tabi opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it with a snap as a suspicion bloomed in her mind. You’re doing it, too!

Doing what? Dr. Masterson’s voice was saying one thing, but his eyes widened in surprise as she resisted whatever it was he was doing to her.

That! It’s what the other one did! Only your eyes are golden and his were black like a shark’s. But you’re both doing the same thing and I want you to stop it! Tabi scrabbled backward, her hands plunging into the icy slush as she tried to put some distance between them. Until this second she’d always believed Dr. Duncan Masterson was a good man, but now she wasn’t so sure.

Incredible, he muttered and shook his head. You shouldn’t have been able to tell I was doing anything.

I am not sure what the hell is going on here, but I’m cold, wet, and bleeding, and if you’re done doing whatever you were doing, I’d like very much to get back inside and pretend this whole thing never happened.

You would, would you? Dr. Masterson grinned and Tabi’s breath caught as his slow smile revealed that he’d been hiding a pair of sinfully sexy dimples behind his normally serious expression. Her stomach dipped and swirled and her thighs clenched together in response to that revelation and she mentally revised her assessment of him from handsome to panty-meltingly hot.

This is so not the time for this. Get up and get back inside before anything else weird happens!

Yes. I’ll just tell them I slipped and fell and that’ll be the end of it. She was pleased to hear the steel was back in her voice. She started to get to her feet, but another wave of dizziness hit her and she sat back down again with a low moan of distress. And that’s what I’m going to do, just as soon as the Tilt-a-Whirl ride stops.

I don’t think so, he rumbled and before Tabi could muster up more than a surprised squawk Dr. Masterson had her in his arms and was lifting her up out of the snow.

You can’t carry me, I’m too heavy!

Never tell a man he can’t do something, Tabitha. It’s the surest way to make him try it, just to prove you wrong.

Doctor, please, put me down. I’m not even sure I trust you after you did whatever that was back there a minute ago, and I certainly don’t want to be seen being carried into the hospital looking like this.

Well then, you’re going to get your wish, or at least one of them. Duncan kept walking as he talked, cradling her to his chest.

What? Tabi felt a stab of panic and looked around her. This isn’t the way back to the hospital!

You said you didn’t want to be seen being carried into the hospital like this, so we’re not going back there.

I said I didn’t want to be carried into the hospital because I intended to walk, and I also said I didn’t trust you and I can assure you that this is certainly not helping your case any! Now put me the fuck down! Tabi snarled at him and started to thrash, but Duncan’s arms could have been carved from marble for the amount of impact her struggling had on him.

Did you just curse at me? He paused to look down at her, his sensuous mouth quirked up into a grin that set his dimples on display again. I didn’t know that word was even part of your vocabulary.

You’ve only met my work personality, doctor. I am very fucking capable of swearing, in multiple languages if I feel like it. Now put me down!

There was no mistaking the flare of heat that shimmered in Duncan’s eyes as he watched her struggle in the confines of his arms. I’m sorry, but I can’t. I know you don’t trust me, but you should. He lifted her higher in his arms so that they were eye to eye. I’ll never hurt you, Tabitha. You have my oath on it.

She had meant to say something cutting, or at the very least argumentative, but as Tabi stared into his golden eyes she couldn’t find the will to say anything at all. Instead she was drawn into the warmth and fire of his gaze, and the world faded away to nothing as she felt herself being wrapped in light and the promise of safety. Cocooned inside that golden shell, she finally stopped fighting and surrendered.

Duncan felt the woman in his arms go limp as he broke down the last walls of her resistance. Humans who could resist the charms of a vampire existed of course, but it had been more than three quarters of a century since he’d actually met one. To discover that the shy and lovely Tabitha Blacke had that particular talent was a surprise, and one that made things a great deal more difficult for him at the moment since it meant there was no way he could wipe her memory of the night’s events.

He settled Tabi’s bruised and shivering body closer to his chest and started heading for his car, aware that he needed to get her out of sight before they were spotted. He had to take a good look at the bite on her throat and assess what the intent of her attacker had been.

Whoever they were, they’d been hunting on his turf. That would usually indicate a vampire fledgling, arrogant and driven by appetites that bordered on the obscene. Fledglings rarely left a living victim though, which made Duncan wonder if this was the opening move in a larger game. Tabitha sighed and stirred, burrowing her face against the warmth of his body and Duncan felt his cock harden in response. He’d wanted to have her in his arms like this for a long time, and now that he finally had her, Duncan was not sure he’d ever be willing to let her go.

She had held his attention from the first time he’d seen her, quiet and solitary as she had made her way through the cafeteria lunch line up, her head down and her shoulders hunched in a vain attempt to disguise her height. He knew her habits, at least at work. He had learned

Reviews for Eternal Bonds

[Chloe Sathananthan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful book, loved the story line and the character development.

[Hanlie van Onselen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great story telling, I loved it, Wouldn’t mind a sequel.

[kendall · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have to say that this wasn't too bad. I kind of expected it to be corny, but it actually kept me pulled in. Stories like this have generally never interested me. I might have to check out others by this author.