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LENGTH: Short Story
SENSUALITY: Carnal

Cover art (c) Kat Richards
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Rating: Contains explicit sex and graphic language.

"Four Stars! Vampire's Kiss was a wonderfully enthralling read. The characters and their very steamy sensual relationship kept me turning the pages. Ms. Nour is a very creative author and that creativity is exemplified in this book. I am anxious to see if Ms. Nour continues with this series so I can get another delicious glimpse of the sensual vampire Armand. If you, like me enjoy reading a good vampire story with a twist, then this book is for you. You will not be disappointed." Dianne Nogueras for eCataRomance Reviews

"Four and 1/2 Ribbons! This is one hot, sexy vampire romance! It's a must read for any paranormal lover!.... WOW! This is a fantastic love story! I really enjoyed Violet finding her dream lover in real life. Myra Nour has a great imagination and writing talent, and I'm so glad to have discovered her wonderful story telling! If you love a yummy vampire, then don't miss out on this one! Some of my favorite stories include vampires, and RIVER OF DREAMS definitely hit the spot." BJ Deese for Romance Junkies

"A VAMPIRE'S KISS is a heated sexual encounter between a man and woman that will leave you breathless. Violet is a normal woman with needs, it's just that she wants the fantasy too. She wants the vampire's kiss, to feel his fangs prick her skin. The dream experience is so sensual and beautiful. Then she's got Adrian to contend with. A man who wears his sex appeal like a cloak and fires the blood flowing through her veins." Sinclair Reid for Romance Reviews Today

"The author has done a great job of infusing the “vampire” lore within her story. River of Dreams : A Vampire's Kis s is an enjoyable tale with a very satisfying conclusion." Susan T. for Fallen Angel Reviews

River of Dreams:

A VAMPIRE’S KISS

By

Myra Nour

© copyright July 2004, Mary Nour

Cover art by Kat Richards, © copyright July 2004

New Concepts Publishing

5202 Humphreys Rd.

Lake Park, GA 31636

www.newconceptspublishing.com

Chapter One

Violet didn’t know how she let Jane talk her into this crazy idea. Traveling in a tiny, wooden canoe down a muddy river in the Amazon. All because Jane’s cousin knew a girl who knew a big secret.

The River Goddess--waker of dreams. The whole idea was insane. She must have been really bored with her life to go along with this scheme. Whatever lay beneath her acceptance, she had also been looking forward to it. As she stared at the verdant jungle growth and listened to the calls of exotic animals, Violet questioned her decision, as she had many times while en route to South America.

Sure, when she had been cloistered in a cozy hotel in Manaus, Brazil, it had been dreamy. The food was delicious, and the setting breathtakingly beautiful. Even the trip to the large metropolis had been easy--a slow ride on a large ship. Manaus had a large port, which made getting to the interior relatively smooth. Although, once she left with a small native guide down the Amazon River, civilization had fallen quickly behind. And her sense of safety and comfort were completely shot.

What was I thinking? She didn’t know the guide. Although he acted respectful and confident, his stolid silence made her nervous. It didn’t help that he was the contact she was told to get in touch with. He spoke broken English, but spent most of his time scanning the jungle overgrowing the bank, and guiding the tiny craft past uprooted tree branches floating in the dark water.

Violet sighed. Maybe she was being too harsh. Caio seemed to be doing what he was hired to do--take her to a sacred, secret location--to the River Goddess.

But was that where they were headed? He could sell her into slavery for all she knew, or as dinner to a cannibalistic tribe. Violet shivered in the sweltering heat. Her imagination was going wild, but she couldn’t help it.

It was not the smartest decision for a woman to be traveling alone with a native to some unknown destination. Maybe that was part of the reason for her impulsive decision. Violet’s life was ordered. She was a career woman, her business and home life organized. Pigeon holed.

The riskiest thing she’d ever done was in college, when she attended a frat party with a friend and got drunk. Whoopee. No wonder Jane said she led a boring life.

When her friend had broached this secretive adventure, maybe she was ready for something different. Her fantasy life was rich and often bizarre. But what she wanted from the River Goddess seemed just as nutty as her being here now.

She didn’t know how many hours Caio paddled the boat efficiently along, for she snoozed off a few times. Violet also lost track of how many tributaries he turned down. How he could know where they were, she didn’t have a clue, but he acted like he knew the way quite well. Finally, by early afternoon, he grunted they had arrived.

As Caio nosed the canoe onto a small, cleared embankment, a troupe of monkeys screamed overhead, displeased with their presence. Violet gasped when she spied a large snake draped over a branch.

"Python, no bother," Caio commented.

He picked up a small pack from the canoe. "You go one hundred yards that way." He pointed down river.

"By myself." Her voice screeched and the monkeys reacted with chattering screams.

"River Goddess must be seen alone."

That’s right, she’d forgotten the instructions. Her heart plummeted to her stomach. As much as Caio had made her edgy, the thought of going alone made her queasy.

Giving him a last glance, Violet pushed the canoe off and stepped in carefully. The pulse in her neck beat wildly as she watched the bank recede further and further away. It was as if the land were creeping backward from the tiny boat.

Actually, a slight current tugged the craft toward the middle. Taking the paddle, Violet directed it where Caio had pointed. If she hadn’t already had experience with canoes, Violet didn’t think she could have kept the small craft upright. It had horrible balance, at least compared to the larger canoes she was used to.

Violet realized he hadn’t even told her exactly what she was looking for. There was supposed to be a statue. But where? And would she see it, with the jungle closing in all directions, around her?

With a shudder her eyes flitted around the muddy water as she paddled. Was this part of the river filled with crocs? They’d seen quite a few on the way here. She just better not lose her balance and fall in. The water was infested with all kind of nasty critters. Leeches came to mind, then piranha. Oh lord, what did I get myself into?

Chapter Two

Luckily, before panic could grip her completely in its clutches, she spotted a recessed area in the tangling growth ahead. Pointing the canoe toward the bank, she examined the place.

A three-sided square was hollowed out between the vines, the fourth side being the open space facing the river. Irregularly shaped beige stones made into a fence seemed to hold back the creepers and bushes.

Violet shook her head at herself. Someone had to keep the jungle plants from overtaking what she would call a shrine. In the center of the square, a weathered statue sat atop a tall, rectangular block of stone serving as a pedestal.

Paddling closer, she ran her eyes over the figure. It was a small statue of only two feet in height, and seemed unimpressive at first. The statue was rough looking. Its face was so worn the features were indistinguishable. It was a woman, draped in a robe, her arms held wide. A mane of hair flowed down the stone garment--the only reason Violet knew it was a woman. Well, and the fact that it was supposed to be the River Goddess.

She had thought it a simple carving made by the natives, but wondered about that upon closer viewing. There were fine lines in its formation, something you’d expect from a good artisan. But the harsh conditions had left the stone figure in poor shape. One thing for sure, it was very old.

Stopping the boat some dozen feet from shore, as she’d been instructed, Violet stared at the statue. She felt completely stupid. What had she been thinking when she made the decision to come? She did have the chance to withdraw from the whole thing when she made the contact in Manaus with a large man dressed in a business suit. He had given her detailed instructions and told her where to meet Caio. Of course, not without payment.

Pity hit her system like a shock wave and the boat rocked as she half-turned to look behind her. Violet glanced all around, as if for the source. Her insides quivered. She never felt sorry for herself--she was too busy. Was the Goddess sorry for her? She snorted in disgust. What a bizarre thought! She must be coming down with jungle fever. Yes, that was it, or maybe she was just tired. The heat took some getting used to.

Remembering why she’d decided to come, Violet latched onto that thought. Adventure and a chance to experience something few people did in their lifetime. The opportunity to live out a fantasy. That’s what the River Goddess legend promised--to fulfill the petitioner’s fantasy.

If her friends knew about her fantasy, they would think she was weird. Not that her female friends probably hadn’t dreamed similar ones, but she doubted they really wanted their fantasy to be reality.

Violet had grown up on science fiction and horror movies. Those genres were mainly the books she read too. But her favorite stories were about vampires. As she matured, handsome vampires had slipped into her lustful dreams. Her fantasy was to be kissed by a vampire in a romantic setting, and for them to make wild, passionate love. She smiled inside. Always the romantic, she had to call a vampire bite a vampire kiss.

She did not want to become a vampire. An eternity of killing people didn’t appeal to her. Besides, she loved sunlight and everything that went with it. And, she didn’t believe vampires were real, but did wish her fantasy would become reality. She wanted a one-time encounter that would rock her ordered world. Just thinking about a sexy vampire nipping her neck made her lower lips throb.

Violet shook free of her thoughts. She had been willing to believe in all this when faced by the challenge back home. But now she doubted everything, including her sanity. She must calm down if this was going to work.

Placing her hands in a relaxed position on her knees, she meditated. It worked. Her body and mind came together in a mellow flow. It was a good thing Jane had made her learn and practice this ancient art with her before starting on this venture. Jane knew her. She probably guessed Violet would be stricken with panic and question her reasoning when she neared the River Goddess. The legend said if you faced the Goddess full of doubt, she would not gift her promise.

By the time she had calmed her breathing and lowered her heart rate, Violet was ready for the next step. Out loud, she chanted, "I believe" over and over.

In a self-induced trance, she removed her grandmother’s ring from her hand and held it toward the Goddess. She repeated a carefully rehearsed speech, a description of the fantasy she desired.

Afterward, she turned her hand, letting the ring slip into the brown water. She blinked, coming out of her meditative state. Staring at the small ripple where the ring had hit, she trembled.

That ring had been her last link with her beloved grandmother. It was her favorite gift anyone had ever given her. The ring’s price wasn’t much, since it was a simple silver band with a small ruby embedded into the metal. But it was priceless in sentimental value. That’s what the River Goddess demanded in exchange for her gift--an offering that held special significance to the petitioner.

A shiver ran down her spine as she gazed at the statue. Was it her imagination, or did the small form seem to glow?

Feeling a little awkward and unsure, Violet started paddling back. She’d been instructed to make her wish and throw the River Goddess’ gift into the water, then leave. How would she know if it worked?

When you meet a vampire, silly. She shook her head at herself. As she neared the spot where Caio stood, the whole ritual seemed more and more preposterous.