New Orleans's Nobody — Mary Hughes

A malicious April Fools’ Day joke turns deadly for me, cook-in-training Mo Gaffney, when a dozen rogue vampires attack. I wield my knives in a defense that’s a fair imitation of the video game Asteroids.One vampire knows how to play.Broad shoulders. A flash of muscle. This huge sucker is devastating, and I’m not just talking about his fighting. Luckily the massive, turbocharged, excessively deadly vampire is on my side. He rescues me and walks me home.I tease him a bit before I realize he’s in Jacksonville for the big vampire conclave. He’s not just a master vampire—he’s a grandmaster. And get this. He wants to see me again.Nobody Mo has a date with a grandmaster vampire.Vampire Vignettes. Short. Scintillating. First, exciting meets between an apex master vampire and the human woman who lights his life for the first time in centuries. Each story features a vampire master of the city and the woman who charms (or fights or snarks) her way into his life.Special note to Biting Love fans—This isn't the Biting Love Universe. This is a short, first-meet story in a post-Unmasking universe. While there's sensual tension, it's meant for general audiences. There are vampires and snark, though. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!