Powerful men are sexy.
Men fighting for control are sexy.
Dark and mysterious, yep, sexy again.
Now add fangs, super speed and centuries of practice, and you know why vampires consistently dominate paranormal romance shelves.
I’ve got a thing for the alpha male and for nipping at the neck, which means I’ve culled through hundreds of vampire books. And I have narrowed down my top six literary vampires any woman would be happy to take as a lover.
(Note: Spoilers lie ahead—as in, who hooks up with whom.)
1. Bones from Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series.
Why does he top the list? Two words: strategic bites.
Sex scenes featuring Bones and Cat are always steamy, but Chapter 32 of One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress #2) is forever seared in my mind. Cat gives Bones the go-ahead to put his centuries of practice—and knowledge from his former profession as a prostitute—in action, no holds barred. And the man goes all out. His bite causes euphoria, and throughout the night he keeps nipping at Cat in naughty places, leaving her body on fire. (Her moans actually cause the police to show up at the house. Not kidding.)
2. Rhage from J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
Rhage isn’t my favorite of Ward’s Brothers; that title belongs to Zsadist. But when it comes to which warrior comes out on top in the bedroom, I’m giving it up to Hollywood with good reason.
With Rhage you get the best of both worlds. While in Hollywood mode, you get caring and sweet lovemaking. When The Beast takes over, he has to be chained to the bed to keep from injuring you too badly. And, really, taming the beast is half the fun.
3. Ethan Sullivan from Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampires series.
As the leader of a house of vampires, Ethan is used to getting his way. Merit was never willing to just jump into his bed. She made him work for it.
So, when he and Merit finally admit their true feelings and he gets his chance at naked time with the Sentinel of Cadogan House, he’s willing to fight daylight to go another round. Add in the gorgeous factor—Chloe used David Beckham as her template for Ethan—and you wouldn’t be turning away the green-eyed vampire, either.
4. Eli Dupree from Elle Jasper’s Dark Ink Chronicles
We get plenty of chances to read about sex with Eli on the beach, in a tent and everywhere else in Everdark, the second Dark Ink book, but it’s the first novel, Afterlight, that puts him on this list.
Eli can read your mind, ladies. He’s guarding Riley, and while he’s in the corner of the room and she’s lying in bed, the two are able to share some very vivid dreams. The dream is so realistic both Eli and Riley feel like it’s real. He can get her off from the other side the room, people.
Also, for those who keep track of such things, there is nice sex in the rain, against a building, and on the stairs action in Afterlight.
5. Eric Northman from Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series
I’ve long been on Team Eric, even before I had the visual of Swedish deliciousness Alexander Skarsgard portraying the Viking vampire on True Blood.
I always remember scenes with Eric as more graphic than they were, because he equals uninhibited action. With 1,000 years of practice, he knows to take his time with Sookie and teach her the perks of him tapping veins in locales other than her neck. The first time he takes her femoral artery, you know things are going to heat up quickly. Eric offers the slow burn, and you’ll accept without need of glamour.
6. Jean Claude from Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series
There could be a lot of debate on this one. I could talk about the triumvirate and the sexuality therein. We could compare him with other vampires, shifters, etc. But instead I’ll just remind you of Anita and Jean Claude’s first time. Think back to the way he revered her body when she finally accepted him. Then, consider his appreciation for bath time fun. Now, would you say no to that?
I had to cut from my big list of vampire book boyfriends to give you the crème de la crème, but you don’t have to. Share the sexy and let me know which vampire lovers you would add to the list.
While Chelsea Mueller runs Vampire Book Club, she won’t turn down a sexy werewolf, demon or faerie. (Her husband often reminds her that she’s taken.)
