She hesitated. He could be right. Women might be naturally attracted to vampires. She'd certainly felt an immediate attraction. It was to his credit if he was trying not to capitalize on it.
He stuffed his bloody tissues in a pocket of his jeans. "I pretended to prefer men, so I could keep myself free from temptation."
"And it worked?"
"Yes." He gave her an intense look. "Until now."
She gulped. Was he thinking about biting her? He had lost a little blood. "If you're hungry, there are some bottles in the cafeteria."
He tilted his head. "I like real food."
Did he mean fresh blood? "I thought you were resisting temptation."
He stepped toward her. "You're making it very hard for me."
She eased back. "Look, I know you're really gorgeous and all that, but I'm not going to let you bite me."
He halted with a jerk. Anger flashed in his eyes. "I would never bite you. There is nothing on earth that could make me bite you."
"What?" Suddenly, she felt strangely insulted. "Are you saying my blood isn't good enough for you?"
He blinked. "What?"
Dammit, it was her childhood all over again. She'd always feared her sister had abandoned her 'cause she wasn't good enough. Now she was being judged less than worthy by a hungry vampire.
She tossed the bloody tissue at him. "Suck on your own blood, Carlos!" She stormed past him.
"Wait." He grabbed her arm, but she wrenched herself free.
"Why are you so angry?" he demanded.
Tears crowded her vision. How could she tell him how much her heart had filled with hope and desire? "You don't think I'm good enough for you."
His eyes glistened with pain. "I never said that."
She lifted her chin. "You don't have to. I know when I'm being rejected." She turned on her heel to march off.
"Merda," he growled behind her.
She was suddenly whipped around and pulled hard against his body.
"Oof." She planted her palms against his solid chest. "What are - " She stopped when he seized her jaw with one hand.
He leaned forward, his amber eyes blazing into hers. "You have no idea how much I want you."
Her lips opened with a small gasp, and his mouth was instantly there. She stiffened, taken aback by the taste of blood and how quickly he'd pounced.
Then she realized his fingers were gently stroking her neck. His lips were softly moving against hers. He planned to lure her in with tenderness. And it was working.
His swollen bottom lip pressed gingerly against her. She suspected he was feeling more pain than pleasure, but it wasn't stopping him. She leaned into him, and with a low growl he deepened the kiss. The sound was so low and exotic, it reverberated through her bones, making her want to melt at his feet. Her heart pounded. Her hands smoothed up to his shoulders, then around his neck. Silky strands of his hair brushed against her forearms, sparking an electric spurt of tingles across her skin.
"Menina, Catalina," he whispered as he dusted her face with kisses.
She moaned and pressed herself against him. The hard ridge in his jeans was unmistakable. Heat sizzled through her and a desperate desire seized her. "Carlos."
He growled low in his throat once again, then planted his mouth on hers. The gentleness was gone, replaced by a hunger that made her squirm. She gasped against his mouth when he cupped her breast and squeezed.
He broke the kiss and leaned back. A stunned look crossed his face when he glanced down at his hand on her breast. He pulled his hand away and stepped back. "What am I doing?"
"I don't know," she gasped for air, "but you're doing it awfully well."
"I - I had no right to kiss you."
"I didn't object. I was actually participating. I thought you might have noticed."
"But we can't...we can't ever..." He dragged a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry."
Why was he apologizing? Granted, it was the hottest kiss she'd ever experienced, and he was practically a stranger, but it wasn't a disaster. "Don't worry about it. This sort of thing happens." Once every million years.
He shook his head, frowning. "I shouldn't have done it. Forgive me."
A frisson of alarm shot through her. Did he actually regret the kiss? Did he never intend to kiss her again? It didn't make sense. He'd clearly wanted her. He'd said so. The hard lump in his jeans said so.
He turned away, scowling at the ground. "I think you should return to the party. I'll follow in a few minutes."
She considered arguing with him but didn't think it would work at the moment. He was too upset with himself, too determined to push her away.
This wasn't going to be the end of this, she decided. She would visit Romatech regularly to see Shanna and her children. And she would try to see Coco and Raquel again, too. There was no way Carlos could avoid her. If the attraction between them was real, it would grow. He couldn't stop it.
"I'll see you later, then." She strode toward the cafeteria.
The noise inside was deafening. Children were chasing each other around tables. Balloons were popping. Adults were in small groups, talking. Every time Constantine opened a new present, a cheer erupted. Caitlyn eased through the crowd till she reached her sister.
Shanna grinned at her, then her smile faded as her eyes narrowed. "Are you all right?"
"I need to talk."
Shanna took her arm and led her into the kitchen. She poured a glass of water. "You look hot and flushed, which is odd since it's chilly outside."
Caitlyn sipped some water and set the glass on the stainless steel counter. "I'm seriously leaning toward accepting the job with Emma's security company."
Shanna's face lit up. "That would be wonderful! We would see each other all the time."
"Yes."
Shanna studied her sister's face close up. "You look like you've been kissing someone."
"Maybe because...I have been kissing someone."
Shanna gasped and stepped back. "My God, Caitlyn. You just got here. You're already - isn't that kind of quick?"
Caitlyn gave her an annoyed look. "Believe me, I don't usually throw myself at men the first time I see them. But these vampire guys...well, they're really attractive."
"Who was it?"
"Carlos."
Shanna's mouth dropped open.
Caitlyn reached for the glass to drink more water.
"Give me that." Shanna grabbed it and gulped down a few swallows. "You kissed Carlos?"
"Yes."
Shanna drank some more water. "Are you sure?"
Caitlyn snorted. "Yes. I did manage to learn his name before I jumped him. I have some scruples, you know."
Shanna set the empty glass on the counter. "I want you to stay away from him."
"What?"
Her sister gave her a stern look. "Don't get involved with him."
"How can you say that?" Caitlyn's temper flared. "Do you think I'm not good enough for a vampire? You've got a vampire. Why can't I have one?"
"Cait!" Shanna reached out to her. "Sweetie, he's not a vampire."
"What?"
"Carlos is not a vampire."
Caitlyn slumped against the counter. Her attraction to him wasn't caused by a supernatural allure? She could have sworn he was...special somehow. "He's a regular guy?"
"Not exactly." Shanna winced. "Some of the guys who work the day shift for MacKay Security and Investigation are...different. They're shape shifters."
Caitlyn stared at her sister. The rabbit hole had just reopened. She collapsed onto a stool. "Carlos is a...?"
"Shape shifter. They can change into animals."
Caitlyn gulped. "Like a werewolf?"
"Phil and some of the boys are werewolves," Shanna explained. "And of course, Howard Barr is a bear."
"A bear?" Caitlyn motioned toward the dining room. "There's a bear over there? Where?"
"There." Shanna pointed at Howard. "A were-bear."
Caitlyn touched her brow. "I'm losing my mind."
"I should have warned you." Shanna shook her head. "It just never occurred to me that you would..."
"Lock lips with the first man to cross my path?" Caitlyn asked dryly.
"You have to understand. We shouldn't anger Dad more than necessary. He's going to be pissed if you take the job with Emma. He's already furious that I'm married to a vampire. If he finds out that you're involved with a shape shifter - "