Table Of ContentAspen Mountain Press
www.aspenmountainpress.com
Copyright ©2011 by Aspen Mountain Press First published in 2011, 2011
NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of
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CONTENTS
Del Fantasma: Toasted Almond
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
* * * *
Warning
* * * *
This e-book contains adult scenes and language. This story is meant for adults
only as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase.
Store your e-books carefully where they cannot be accessed by younger readers.
Del Fantasma: Toasted Almond
Dressed for far colder weather, Armand makes a strange spectacle in Del
Fantasma. Krakow cannot believe Cody sends the man over to his corner,
especially when he'd told the vampire he wanted to be alone. His disgruntlement
soon changes when he realizes there's something different about Armand. Has
Cody done the impossible and found someone Krakow can finally share
intimacy with?
Krakow has the answers to Armands lonely existence and a cure so Armand no
longer has to feel cold.
Del Fantasma
Toasted Almond
* * * *
Sharon Maria Bidwell
* * * *
Aspen Mountain Press
Del Fantasma: Toasted Almond
Copyright @ 2011 Sharon Maria Bidwell
This e-book is a work of fiction. While references may be made to actual places
or events, the Names, characters, incidents, and locations within are from the
authors imagination and are not a resemblance to actual living or dead persons,
businesses, or events. Any similarity is coincidental.
Aspen Mountain Press
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Aurora CO 80047-3543
www.AspenMountainPress.com
Published by Aspen Mountain Press, July, 2011
www.AspenMountainPress.com
This book is licensed to the original purchase only. Duplication or distribution
via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject
to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines and/or imprisonment. The e-
book cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this e-book can be
shared or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher.
ISBN: 978-1-60168-301-4
Released in the United States of America
Editor: Nikita Gordyn
Cover artist: Nikita Gordyn
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter One
The busy atmosphere inside the Del Fantasma did nothing to ease Armand's
fatigue; all it did was add yet another item to his list of annoying thingsa list that
he changed as often as there were hours in the day.
Trying to ignore the stares, smirks and associated whispers that his attire
attracted, he made his way to the bar. He'd grown used to the attention over the
years. It wasn't his fault if he felt the cold, any more than he could help it if the
woolen argyle knit that he'd picked up on his travels looked peculiar not only for
the time of year but for Southern California. Armand had notched up numerous
countries as well as a list of annoyances over the yearstoo many years. More
years than he cared to count. These days he hated looking in the mirror, his
unchanging appearance had actually begun to frighten him.
A familiar icy doubt chilled him throughout, despite his clothing. He'd always
felt the cold, but recently his discomfort seemed to be growing worse. The cold
tormented him both inside and out. As he finally reached the bar, it took all his
concentration not to shiver. Sometimes people thought he was sick or a potential
plague carrier if he weren't careful.
Scanning an array of different colored liquids in a myriad of bottles of such
varying shapes and sizes as the bar's patrons, Armand dithered over which drink
to order. Would the bar serve coffee if he asked? Steaming, piping hot black
coffee with a shot of brandy might just do the trick, but he knew even if he drank
it scalding, way past boiling point, it would warm him only for a short while. It
would also attract more attention if he asked for it that hot and drank it down
without any visible signs of pain or injury.
The bartender turned to him, holding up one finger, indicating he'd be only a
moment. Armand blinked. Despite the noise of the crowd, Armand sensed that
the man moved quietly, and he wouldn't have been able to hear the bartender
even if the room were silent. As the barkeep finished with a customer and
glidedyes, definitely glidedbehind the bar, Armand found himself staring into the
man's startling sea blue eyes. Despite the bartender's overall scruffy appearance,
Armand sensed an energy coming from himsomething...otherworldly.
Armand blinked, snapping out of his stupor. Had the man hypnotized him a
little? If the bartender were something otherand Armand had experienced
enough strange things in his years of travelling to know such things existedthen
he was the only one who seemed to have sensed something wrong. No one paid
any attention when the six foot tall, well-muscled guy behind the bar slid a tall
glass across. Ice filled a third of the glasssomething Armand shivered at the sight
of and positively didn't needand almost to the brim with dark, sparkling liquid.
Even as Armand stared at the glass, bubbles broke the surface of the drink,
popped and fizzed.
"I haven't ordered,” Armand said.
"This is what you need."
Armand wanted to laugh, but the sound would have emerged sounding rueful.
No one had any idea what he needed, least of all a bartender.
"Name's Cody Warren,” the bartender said. “I own this place and I always know
what people need. Drink this."
"I...what is that?” It looked like a drink that a woman would order. At least there
wasn't an umbrella in it.
"Toasted Almond."
"What?” Armand blinked.
"It's called a Toasted Almond."
"Oh.” For a moment there he'd thought the bartenderCodyhad said, toasted
Armand. “What's in it?"
"Disaronno, whisky and coke."
"Disarwhatno?” He couldn't be certain, but it looked as if an actual smile tugged
at Cody's lips.
"Disaronno. It's Amaretto, an Italian liquor. Try it."
Armand reached out, fingers settling around the glass with some hesitation. He
