Enigma, Maine, Bundle 1 Read online

  Table of Contents

  A VAMPIRE’S LOVING BITE

  PROLOGUE

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  A GUARDIAN'S LOVING CLAIM

  PROLOGUE

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  A PIRATE'S LOVING KISS

  PROLOGUE

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  EPILOGUE

  A SOLDIER'S CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  A VAMPIRE’S LOVING BITE

  Enigma, Maine Series

  Book 1

  Iris Abbott

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.

  A VAMPIRE’S LOVING BITE

  Copyright © 2011 by Iris Abbott

  First E-book publication: September 2011

  Cover design by Iris Abbott

  Photos and illustrations courtesy of bigstockphoto.com

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters in this book are fictitious and exist only in the imagination of the author. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  Dear Reader,

  Halloween Candy! Treat yourself to a tasty morsel reminiscent of the holiday. A VAMPIRE’S LOVING BITE is short sweet and addictive just like the real thing! It’s Halloween candy for the romantic in all of us.

  Welcome to Enigma, Maine where sometimes things are exactly as they seem no matter how strange that might be! You're invited to the Halloween event of the year! A VAMPIRE'S LOVING BITE is part one of the Mated Souls Trilogy. Julie Banks and her two sister witches have cast a mated souls spell to help them find Mr. Right. Who would have thought that Mr. Right would turn out to also be a vampire!

  Now Julie is bound by blood and magic to the mysterious Alessandro Russo and to make things worse, a vampire hunter is breathing down their necks! Readers beware, lots of hot loving with a dash of spooky fun and just a pinch of unsettling danger!

  Enjoy and thank you for reading,

  Iris Abbott

  IRIS ABBOTT has always enjoyed reading. She especially enjoys romances. So it was no surprise she would eventually pursue a career as a romance writer. She grew up in North Carolina and has also lived in California and Georgia. She travels extensively throughout the United States and enjoys sharing the ambiance of some of her favorite places through her stories.

  When she’s not writing emotion packed romances with a happily-ever-after ending, this former high school science teacher is traveling with her husband, taking photos of any animal she can find, watching the birds in her backyard, or taking care of two very spoiled and demanding cats. She loves to hear from readers and fans. She can be reached at [email protected]. Also please check out her website irisabbott.com and the Facebook page for Iris Abbott (author).

  Books by Iris Abbott

  A VERY VEGAS CHRISTMAS

  Montgomery Family and Friends Series

  A MONTGOMERY HOMECOMING

  AUBREY’S SONG

  A MONTGOMERY MARRIAGE

  CAROLINE’S SEDUCTION

  EVAN’S SURRENDER

  LAURA’S STORM

  FAITH’S SHERIFF

  Enigma, Maine Series

  A VAMPIRE’S LOVING BITE

  A GUARDIAN’S LOVING CLAIM

  A PIRATE’S LOVING KISS

  A SOLDIER’S CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING

  LITTLE RED VALENTINE

  OCEAN’S LOVING EMBRACE

  A GUARDIAN’S LOVING CARESS

  A WOLF’S LOVING VALENTINE

  EAGLE’S EMBRACE

  MAGIC’S EMBRACE

  HUNTER’S EMBRACE

  VAMPIRE’S EMBRACE

  GUARDIAN'S EMBRACE

  Rancher’s Bend Bride and Groom Series

  ACCIDENTAL BRIDE AND GROOM

  SECOND CHANCE BRIDE AND GROOM

  EXPECTANT BRIDE AND GROOM

  SURPRISE BRIDE AND GROOM

  Island Medical Series

  LOVE CURES ALL

  ISLAND CHRISTMAS

  Metal Cowboys Series

  COPPER

  MERCURY

  STEEL

  CHROME

  GOLD

  IRON

  TITANIUM

  Warm Hearts Series

  GIVE ME HEART

  GIVE ME LOVE

  GIVE ME SHELTER

  Shades of Red Series

  CERISE

  POPPY

  PROLOGUE

  Julie Banks, Selena Hunt, and Brittany Sheldon met in the flowered meadow on the night of the full moon. It was almost three weeks before Halloween. Julie looked at her sister witches. She was pushing thirty, and as the oldest, she took the lead.

  “Does everyone have their pouch of gold dust,” she asked with a shaky voice. At the other’s nods of confirmation, she blew out a deep and nervous breath. “Okay, it’s now or never. Are you ready? Three of us performing this spell together should make it even stronger.”

  The three women closed in so that they were standing in a tight circle. They crossed their middle and index fingers together on both hands before joining hands with each other to create an unbroken circle. Three clear, robust voices chanted into the crisp night air.

  “A sprinkle of gold dust we entrust for an overwhelming lust. We conceive of and have dreamed of a love from above. May our hearts be touched by the darts of Cupid so that we recognize a love from which we shall never depart. We feel it in our soul, and it is our very goal. We cannot wait. We ask of fate, please send us each our given mate! And mated souls shall be our role from Halloween until the time that death takes its final toll.”

  The women all blinked three times and then raised their arms to embrace the elements of the universe and the magic it holds. A cloud slithered across the full moon and covered them with darkness. “It’s done,” Julie said to her companions. “Now we wait until Halloween to see what the universe and fate have in store for us.”

  ONE

  Julie Banks brushed her long black hair until it shined. Then she tossed it over her shoulder and gave a saucy look at the mirror. She laughed at the reflection shining back at her. She’d bought the short and tight black witch’s dress from the costume shop as a lark. She just hoped that Selena and Brittany didn’t hurt themselves from laughing too hard.

  The doorbell chimed, and she gave one last look in the mirror before going to answer the door. Julie took one look at her sister witches and giggled. “Really?” she arched a brow at her two best friends. “Not only are the three of us all dressed as witches, but we have on the same dress. Unbelievable! The only thing different is the boots.”

  “Well,” Brittany jumped into the conversation feet first as she was known to do. “We are witches, and you know what they say.” She winked. “Great minds think alike.”

  That sent all three women into gales of laughter.

  “You look gorgeous by the way.” Brittany arched a brow. “And you thought to get a prop. I love the lighted pumpkin.”

  Julie shrugged. It was a last-minute idea to add the Halloween prop.

  Syn, the stray black cat that Julie found hanging around her front door a few days earlier, came running when he heard the noise. Julie reached down, picked him up, and gave him a big hug. “You hold down
the fort, Syn. The girls and I are up for one hot night tonight.”

  The cat looked at her with big yellow eyes. He meowed as if in agreement. The other two women gave the animal a pet behind the ears. He purred unusually loud when Selena scratched him under the chin.

  Julie put him down and followed her friends outside, locking the door behind her. “I swear that cat loves you more than me,” she pouted at Selena. “And I’m the one that rescued him from the rain and took him into my home.”

  Selena moved aside the neckline of her costume to show off the tiny scar where her shoulder and neck met. “Right! Have you forgotten that your cat bit me and it scarred?” She let out a huff of indignation. “It’s the only scar I have too, because I’ve been able to heal everything else, but nothing works on this stupid bite mark. Even my magic came up short!”

  Julie and Brittany frowned at each other. “I didn’t realize it left a scar,” Brittany lightly touched it with a finger and jumped back in confusion when it burned her. “Ouch,” she glared at Selena. “You just burned me!”

  Selena gave her friend an affronted look. “No, I didn’t! Stop playing pranks and let’s get to the party. I can’t wait to see what happens tonight. I have been jittery all day, and that usually means something big is about to go down.”

  All three women nodded their agreement.

  “You’re right.” Julie started moving toward the black sports car parked at the curb. “Let’s get this show on the road. I can’t wait to see what magic and the universe have in store for us tonight.”

  ****

  Julie admired the large wrought iron gate that slowly clanged open after Selena announced their names into the gate’s security system. “How’d you find out about this party anyway?” she heard Brittany ask. Julie unconsciously shrugged her shoulder, even though it was dark, and her friends couldn’t see the movement. “I found the invitation lying in the foyer of my apartment the night we cast the mated souls spell. I took it as a sign that this is where we’re supposed to be tonight.”

  Selena frowned. “Isn’t that the same night Syn showed up on your doorstep? Something’s not right with that cat. I just haven’t figured it out yet.

  Julie puckered her forehead. “You know you’re right. I never thought about the two events being connected before. It was probably a coincidence that Syn showed up in front of my apartment that night.” She gave a nonchalant shrug and turned her attention back to the castle that loomed at the end of the long driveway.

  “I wouldn’t be willing to wager my spell book on that,” Selena emphatically stated.

  Julie parked the car and tossed her keys to the tuxedo-wearing valet who greeted them. “Wow look at this place. It’s like a medieval castle. I had no idea that anything like this existed around here.”

  She sucked in a breath and stopped dead in her tracks when she got her first close up look at their destination. She’d been dreaming about this house since she was a teenager. Who knew it really existed and was in Enigma all along? “It’s absolutely gorgeous,” Julie said in awe as she started moving forward again.

  “I don’t know. It looks kind of spooky to me,” Selena whispered so only her friends could hear.

  Brittany laughed. “That’s rich coming from a spellcasting card carrying witch.”

  All three women giggled as they entered the huge front door.

  “What are you afraid of anyway vampires and werewolves?” Julie wanted to know. That sent all three women into gales of laughter that was soon drowned out by the noise from the party.

  They were immediately surrounded by the sounds of throbbing music and chatting people. All three women jumped when the heavy door clanged shut behind them.

  A chill worked its way down her spine. Julie tried to shake it off. She was there with her friends after all. They were witches and more than capable of looking out for themselves. Still, she couldn’t shake the odd feeling that settled in the pit of her stomach and refused to budge.

  She started to say something to her friends, but she looked around and realized she was alone. She frantically glanced around in time to see Brittany being pulled onto the dance floor by a handsome, rakish pirate of old. He even wore an eyepatch. Another furtive glance revealed that Selena was cornered by a gorgeous man with thick short cropped black hair.

  She raised a brow at his costume. He was wearing nothing but a pair of sexy black briefs. The man sported black cat ears and a long black tail. The most stunning part of his costume, however, was a pair of glowing yellow eyes that Julie decided had to be special contacts. She suppressed a giggle. It seemed Selena had a thing going on with bossy black cats!

  Julie assured herself with one more glance that her friends appeared to be in capable hands. She turned her attention away from Selena and Brittany and focused on her surroundings. She took in the throng of people milling about.

  Some of the costumes were elaborate, such as the jolly old man dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, suspenders, and a red Santa hat. He even had white hair and a beard. Julie smiled at the image. He was the perfect Caribbean Santa Claus.

  He was deep in conversation with a tall, athletic female warrior dressed in ancient Greek robes. Her costume featured a very convincing looking shield and spear. The Santa looked at Julie as if he sensed curious eyes turned his way. She could have sworn she saw a merry twinkle in his eyes before he winked and turned his attention back to the woman he was talking to.

  Some of the costumes were sexy and downright decadent like the pirate and cat with her friends. Julie suppressed a sigh. It hadn’t taken any time at all for her friends to be claimed by hot men. Meanwhile, she was standing alone waiting for something to happen.

  A sudden flash of movement out of the corner of her eye caught Julie’s attention. She looked at the top of the winding staircase. Something deep inside compelled her to walk to the base of the stairs. She strained her eyes until they adjusted to the darkness. Her breath caught in her throat when she was finally able to make out the perfect male specimen looking down on her.

  Even in the shadows, she could tell he was gorgeous. He was dressed in medieval clothes with heavy makeup. He matched the castle she thought as she took another step forward. It was almost as if a mystical force was guiding her to the man above.

  TWO

  Alessandro Russo surveyed the main level of his centuries-old home. Most of the time the old castle stayed hidden from the eyes of most with the help of magic and mind suggestions, but Halloween was different. Every decade or so, he held a large party, so he could mix and mingle with others of his kind, supernatural beings that were more than ordinary humans.

  His eyes came to rest on a stunning woman with sleek black hair as dark as midnight. She was at the bottom of the stairs just out of his reach. He looked down into a pair of deep green eyes so dark they rivaled the rich moss from the woodlands of his childhood. Her glossy hair fell well below her shoulders. Her body was showcased in a tight black witch’s gown. He grinned at the alluring image she made.

  He’d also be willing to bet some of his accumulated wealth from the past four centuries that her costume was based in reality instead of fiction. She had that special ethereal glow around her that vampires usually associated with witches. He glided down the stairs until he was right in front of her.

  She gasped, probably from his sudden and silent appearance.

  He stretched a welcoming arm toward her. She took a step backward then stopped. She stood before him and waited for him to make the first move.

  Alessandro reached out for the woman’s hand and drew it to his lips. He placed a kiss on the back of her hand while his thumb rhythmically caressed her wrist. He could hear the escalation of her beating heart and smell the sweet intoxicating smell of her blood as it rushed through her veins. Before he could stop himself his tongue flicked out and licked her wrist.

  She yanked her hand away from him and placed both hands behind her back and out of his reach, at least for the time being. “Who are you?” s
he managed to choke out between increasing breaths of air.

  He bowed a formal bow. “Allow me to introduce myself. “I am Count Alessandro Russo, the owner of this castle and your delighted host for the evening.”

  Blood rushed to her cheeks turning them bright red.

  ****

  He was the host, and here she’d been having all kinds of scary thoughts. His raven black hair and ice-blue eyes were a startling combination. The word vampire crossed her mind more than once. But everyone knew that vampires were only a figment of the imagination, right?

  She felt some of her inner balance reestablish itself. She took a deep breath and willed her feet to back up a couple of steps. The growing space between them restored her self-confidence and bravery. She flashed Alessandro a flirtatious smile and linked arms with him. “You must be new to town.” I’d definitely remember seeing you around she silently added.

  Alessandro tightened his hold on her as he began walking toward the dance floor. “Actually my family’s lived in Maine for almost two centuries. We belong to a very tight and closed social set. I was amazed to see a guest I’ve never met before.”

  Julie stumbled and came to an abrupt halt. A dull pain started in her temples, but it disappeared as fast as it had begun. “Oh, my friends and I aren’t gatecrashers or anything if that’s what you’re thinking.” She put her hands on her hips and stared at him. Her indignation was evident.

  She fumbled through her small clutch bag. Julie extracted an envelope and held it out for him to see. “I have an invitation. I’m not sure where it came from, but I do have it.”

  Julie suddenly realized she’d said too much and stopped talking. It was too late, however. She’d really snagged the host's attention now.

  Alessandro raised a brow as he stared at the invitation. “It definitely looks authentic. What I want to know is how it got into your hands.” He leaned against a nearby wall letting her know that he was comfortable, and no one was leaving until he had an answer.