Crystal Jordan - Big Girls Dont Die  

Dedication

For Desi, who made the sweet suite inspiration for this story possible. For Eden Bradley, who picked up her phone just when I needed her and is an excellent shoulder to cry on when youre stranded on the shoulder of the road. For Emily and Nicole, who invented the uterine homing device. For crazy nights, crazier tow truck drivers, truth thats stranger than fiction and falling down the rabbit hole.

Chapter One

That damn evil hellcat.

I was in the shower just as my day began, right at the crack of sunset, when a huge crash sounded through my teensy bathroom. I jerked back the curtain to see what the hell was going on, when Beelzebub streaked across the floor and tackled the overflowing trashcan, which spewed the contents everywhere. And still, he attacked the trash. Shit. A cold rush of dread made my stomach do back flips. Somehow, I knew hed cornered a rodent. In my bathroom. With me trapped, sopping wet and starkass naked in the bathtub. This was a hell of a way to start Valentines Day.

So. I had to deal with the whole mouse situation, not the least of which because he was about to slaughter the thing on my landlords cream-colored carpet. And who carpets a rental in cream? I hopped out of the tub and into the scattered trash. Wads of things I didnt even want to think about were stuck to the bottoms of my wet feet.

Since I couldnt kill it, I had to get rid of it. What did I do to deserve this? I caught sight of myself in the floor to ceiling mirror and tried to ignore the fact that all I could see reflected back at me were my wide blue eyes. What I couldnt see was the rest of me, the pale skin, the mile long legs and too-generous hips and thighs. The dripping black hair that was sleeked to my scalp. The pointy fangs. None of it, because I was a walking spawn of Satan.

I tossed Beelzebub into the living room, grabbed the tallest glass from my kitchen and played tag with the stupid mouse until I finally scooped it up and slammed a plastic dish over the top. No need to let it try and escape, right? Right.

Then I realized I was still buck-naked, and I had to toss the mouse out into the yard. After I set the glass on my dresser, I snatched my nightshirt off the dirty clothes pile and pulled it over my head. With my Winnie-the-Pooh nighty stuck to my wet skin and the mouse in a glass, I jerked the door open and launched my uninvited guestright into the broad, scrumptious chest of my worst nightmare.

Andre St. James, the man responsible for turning me into the undead. His large dark-skinned hand snapped out and caught the tail of the mouse. When he brought it up to his eye level, the hairy little guy squeaked in mad terror, prey before a predator. I could relate. Id had those pale celery-green eyes trained on me enough times to know that I melted into an orgasmic puddle within a few seconds. He dropped the mouse that, like a smart little rodent, ran like hell. Unlike me, who stayed where I was with my mouth agape.

Cynthiana. The way he said my name, with an emphasis on the first syllable, made it sound like something naughty and sinful. His Noo Awlins accent made everything sound naughty. The man could read a phonebook, and Id get turned on.

Heat flooded my body, and my nipples tightened. His gaze zoomed right in on the pointed tips. I swallowed.

Dont panic, girl! Hes a bad, bad man who turned you without asking pretty please first. Even if he was gorgeous and had skin like yummy milk chocolate. Even though he tasted just as good as he looked. Delicious in every possible way. Mmm-hmm. Wait, what was I thinking? Bad, bad man. Remember? Shit.

Yes, Satan? I propped my forearm on the doorjamb and cocked a hip. My other hand kept a death grip on the doorknob. Right now, it was the only thing keeping me from flinging myself at him and begging him to shake me all night long.

His full lips quirked, and I swayed toward him. Invite me in.

No. The word escaped as a sigh.

His long finger lifted to stroke my elbow, the only part of me that stuck out of the doorway. Hot flashes rippled out from the touch, and I wanted to rip my nighty off and run around with my panties on my head. If I had any on. Which I didnt.

Invite me to come inside.

Come inside me. The words fell out of my mouth before I knew what I meant to say. Warmth rushed up my cheeks. Oh, shit on a stick. I had not just said that. I had not.

As you wish, cherie. A full-blown smile spread over his face. Damn, it made his already gorgeous features justperfect. My stomach executed a slow flip. He stepped over the threshold and shut the front door behind him.

I put up a hand and scrambled back. Wait. Wait, wait, wait. Thats not what I meant.

Ive always considered you a woman of your word. He kept coming toward me. Stalked me. One step forward for him and two steps back for me. I couldnt let him touch me again. The night would start out with a bang. Literally. That would be a huge mistake. Id done that before and look where it got me. One-way ticket to Fangville.

My back hit the door to the bedroom. His green eyes promised wicked pleasure, and I already knew he could deliver. Heat flashed through me, and I pressed my thighs together. My breath panted out. Wetness flooded my core. God help me. I squeezed my eyes closed, but I could smell him. His musky scent mixed with his expensive cologne and curled into my nose. It intoxicated. Ive never wanted anyone the way I want him. It just wasnt fair. Why him? Why the undead?

Dont come near me.

He ignored me. Each second brought him closer and closer until his heat enfolded me. With each of his hands braced on the doorframe, he penned me in. How am I to come inside you then, cherie?

My head tilted back, my throat exposed. His gaze caressed my neck, my breasts and my hard nipples. The clingy wetness of my nightgown cupped my sex and thighs. Want twisted through me, my muscles tight with anticipation. Possessive, he looked at all of me. I should have been pissed that hed barge in on my life after months of staying away. Even if Id told him in no uncertain terms to do so. When hed turned me, hed ripped my life apart. I didnt have to play nice about it. But all I felt right now was the need to be sexed hard. And that pissed me off.

Why the hell are you here anyway?

Im here for you. Simple. Bald. And so freaking wrong.

I dont want

Dont you? His gaze flicked to the less than subtle jut of my nipples again.

Damn it. Totally betrayed by my own horny body. My muscles shrieked for me to arch into his chest, press myself to him. He was right there. I wanted to touch him, wanted him to touch me. Stroke me. Fuck me.

No. I bitch-slapped my hormones into submission. To play with this man was dangerous

He dipped his head to graze my neck with his soft lips. I shivered at the contact of his skin on mine, all thought fizzling away. My eyes half-closed as erotic memories flashed in my mind. Memories of us together. My head tipped to the side, and I gave him full access to my neck. Because I wanted. Damn the man. Oh, wait. He was damned already.

The doorknob rattled as he twisted it, and the solid surface behind me disappeared. I fell back, but his arms snapped around me, and I was plastered against his chest. Yes. Even the thin cloth of my nighty was too much to separate my skin from his. Naked. That was the ticket.

I bucked against him, the urge to be closer too strong. Andre, I need

Oui, cherie. His hands cupped my ass, lifted me against him, and I wrapped my legs tight around his waist. The hard length of his erection rubbed between my legs as he carried me toward the bed. Every step sent sensations screaming through me, as his hips ground against mine. My empty sex clenched hard. God, I wanted him inside me.