Stranded With An Alien Vampire

"Why the heck is someone parked in front of my rental cabin when I'm the only one staying here for the next week?" I mutter, shoving my car into park.

And turn off the engine.

This can't be good.

A brand new, boxy, olive-green Mercedes Benz G-Class SUV is parked in the primary space next to the cabin. The kind of car I'll never be able to afford in this lifetime, or the next.

Meanwhile, I sit in the oldest Toyota 4Runner known to mankind because it's paid for, has all new tires and still works great. Every penny in my account is needed for the skyrocketing rent on my tiny apartment, because the ski town in Montana where I live and work is lately overwhelmed with filthy rich people looking for vacation homes, causing a lack of affordable housing for normies like me.

I'm not bitter about it though…okay, maybe a little. Just a teeny, tiny bit.

I pause, pout my lips and tap on the steering wheel as I gaze at that gorgeous luxury vehicle.

Who is this person?

All I want is a week's quiet vacay, alone, in this expansive, beautiful setting, away from my stressful job, which includes socializing nonstop at a fancy ski resort.

This rental - a simple one-bedroom cabin far off the main roads, stands by itself next to a frosty meadow with no one else nearby for miles. Alone time in my "cave" is supposed to fill up my inner introvert well. No sounds through thin apartments walls, no one wanting anything from me because they can't even get a hold of me (because I'll soon turn off my phone).

I live in one of the most beautiful locations in the world, but don't get out enough to see it—because I mainly spend my time happily ensuring guests have the luxurious ski vacation of their dreams. Amazing service for our guests at the five-star restaurant where I work, is my prime objective, but it's now time for a restful paid vacay. Away from those busy resorts in our town, alongside all the luxury shopping and the world-class skiing.

The annual Montana Winter Special Olympics are to be held again a few months from now and everyone is hell bent on getting ready for the "show." It's completely nutty this time of year and I've managed to sneak away for a bit of quiet to recharge and return with a genuine smile.

I've been looking forward to this mental health self-care for months.

Finishing that blanket for a coworker's new baby, while cozied next to a crackling stone fireplace, with views of snowy meadows and epic mountaintops outside, sounds fabulous. I can read a few romance novels by my favorite authors. Maybe I can even get in a bit of snowshoeing on my favorite trail.

It's going to be lovely, and I've barely made it here prior to the rare, freezing storm front that's about to slam into this area in the next two hours. It's all over the news and we've all been warned to lock up and take shelter because the temperature is going to suddenly dip dangerously low.

I've stayed here before, so I know the exact layout of the cabin and what to bring. This cabin has all the creature comforts, but due to this freak storm, I brought more supplies than normal.

Through my car window I confirm there isn't anyone for me to easily flag down. There's only the cabin and our SUVs visible. What the heck is going on? A heavy feeling tightens my chest because now I'm worried my vacation is going to be a bust.

Dammit.

I glance up at the clouds again. This person parked in front of my cozy rental cabin needs to make sure they're gone quick and sheltered too. The skies are darkening, and the air is already more frigid than usual. The mountains in the distance have grown shadowy. Maybe this storm is landing faster than originally forecasted? If this stranger doesn't leave in the next few minutes, I might end up stranded with this person overnight.

Oh shit.

And what if it's not just one person who drove that car here, but maybe there were two or three other guests included? Hell, no. There could be a whole group of them trying to squeeze themselves into that one-room cabin.

I open the car door and pull out my cell phone, ready to call property management to check if I've been accidentally double-booked—they can get to the bottom of this—but there's no reception, probably due to the storm front. "Great." I pace behind my car. "This is the worst timing."

There's a crunch in the gravel and I turn to see a large, mysterious man striding around the side of the cabin.

My jaw drops open.

He"s very tall and slender yet obviously muscular and wears black leather clothes from head to toe. Thick, dark hair brushes against the top of his wide shoulders. His light skin is almost too pale—a startling contrast with his flashing black eyes and dark clothes. As he strides forward, I can see under his open, thigh-length black leather jacket he wears a white t shirt, showing off his tight stomach and pecs. It's tucked into black leather pants with a black belt and silver buckle. Heavy boots crunch across the light dusting of snow that's already on the ground.

Leather is not my scene, but it looks good on him. A cross between motorcycle club and The Matrix. Without black sunglasses. He"s basically the most unusual-looking—as well as the most gorgeous man—I've ever seen in my entire life. And that's saying a lot considering all the attention-seeking "fashionable" celebrities I run into at the restaurant. I can't keep my eyes off him.

He catches sight of me and looks startled. Then marches straight for me and stops to frown at me, my car and then at the sky, which shows evidence of the turbulent weather and the storm that"s about to drop on us. "Who are you and why are you here?" he demands with a luscious deep voice.

The space between my thighs instantly heats. And my mouth doesn't seem to work at the moment, which is unusual.

"Female, did you hear me? I'm about to go inside and ride out this storm. You need to leave, immediately, for your own safety, so you can shelter elsewhere."

Female?Who talks like that? This sexy guy is certainly not from these parts. I shake my head and clear my throat. "Uh, no, you need to leave immediately," I firmly reply, finally waking from my trance and getting back my mojo. This whole situation is time sensitive, therefore this handsome guy and his fancy car have to go, right away. "I don't know why you're visiting this site, but I'm parked here because I'm about to unload my luggage and groceries and move into this cabin for the week. I've booked and paid for this location for the next seven days, so you need to get into your fancy SUV and leave immediately, before the storm arrives."

His brow furrows. "No, I'm booked here for this entire week."

Oh hell. This is exactly what I suspected. "That isn't right, this cabin is mine," I insist. "There must be a mistake."

Suddenly he's so close I blink with confusion, not understanding how it all happened so fast. There was at least a car length of distance between us and now he's right in front of me. I manage to stand my ground though and lift my chin, despite a wall of good-smelling leather and muscle mere inches away. Butterflies have taken flight in my stomach. Jeez, he's even more handsome up close, with the wind blowing that glorious hair back from his proud features and off his wide shoulders. His nostrils flare, as if he's scenting me or something. Good thing I took a shower this morning and even went for a spritz of perfume.

He glances over my shoulder, towards the main road. "Is your mate about to arrive?"

I blink at more of his strange word choice, then answer, "No." Sadness pinches at my chest as images of long-gone childhood extended family vacations in larger cabins float through my mind. Nowadays, it's only me. "I"m the only one left who... I don't have a husband or boyfriend arriving with me. I'm vacationing alone." And then I wince, because that wasn't smart, admitting to this stranger that I'm all alone out here. But for some reason I feel safe around "leather guy."

He tips his chin and meets my gaze. "Good. That makes it easier for you to leave. Your information is incorrect. I am staying here alone this week, and you are not. Get in your vehicle and leave this area immediately and return from whence you came."

I let out a heavy exhale. "No. No. I might've arrived after you, but I planned this vacation a year ago, right after the last time I stayed. And it's not so easy for me to leave. The only way back home is a two-hour drive, directly into the storm. When did you book this cabin?"

He frowns. "Two diurnals ago."

"Diurnals? Does that mean days? You booked this cabin two days ago? See, I"ve had it booked longer. This cabin is mine for the week. You're the one who must go."

The wind picks up and then I'm shivering despite my heavy coat, layers of clothes and practical snow boots. The mysterious leather guy pulls out some kind of super fancy glass tablet, taps at the screen and frowns.

"There's no cell service right now," I confirm.

"I don"t know if you"re telling the truth about this rental."

"Well, I don"t know if you"re telling the truth either," I grumble in response, pulling out thick gloves and tugging them on because it's getting cold fast. "I already tried to call the property manager to get to the bottom of this, but there's no way to reach them." I zip my coat closed and pull over the hood. "Look, I'm telling you the truth. The rental company must've accidentally given you this week too, without realizing they'd already long ago given it to me. This is terrible and I feel bad for you, but you really must go, right now. Drive ahead of the storm, straight over to the rental company office in town and tell them the problem. I bet they can get you into something else, or at least find you a hotel room to shelter in. But the main worry is you need to leave immediately, because if you don"t leave right this second, you"re going to be stuck here at least overnight, which would be terrible for the both of us."

He nods in agreement. "There has been a mistake, but the solution is not for me to leave. I have already moved in and perused the perimeter. This domicile is perfect for my needs because I require isolation. You are the one who must leave and shelter in town. Hurry, go now," he growls, pointing at my car.

My eyes widen because it sounds like a literal animal growl.

He lets out a deep sigh. "I apologize, I did not mean to scare you, but I must keep you safe, from me." He runs strong fingers through his inky black hair. "I cannot be in populous areas; I need to be isolated for the next week. When I say you need to leave so I can stay here alone, I am serious. I would gladly pay for your lodging in the nearby town."

Oh hell, he sounds sincere. The man is offering to pay for my hotel, just so he can instantly have this cabin to himself? Who does that? Maybe I should be the one to leave.

And then nature makes the decision for the both of us.

Freezing wind hits hard, sharp and fast. It was cold before, but quickly turns unbearable. I gasp at the sudden drop in temperature. An ominous dark cloud now begins to hover overhead.

He looks up. "That was fast. We were supposed to have much more time."

"Yeah, it happens like that sometimes out here that"s why it's on the news and we're ordered to shelter in place because it"s a dangerous flash freeze and we're…"

And then both of us can clearly see what looks like a wall of black storm bearing down on us fast.

"Oh my gawd," I gasp.

"Run, female!" he shouts.

And then we"re both sprinting for the front door.