he couldn’t quite decipher. It looked suspiciously like sorrow.
“Would you like another room?”
“I thought you’d never offer.” She laughed along with him.
Tugging her across the hallway, he took her into another empty room. This one was much more serene and neutrally decorated. These particular bedrooms were not all that big, but each did have a comfortable queen-sized bed and its own en-suite bathroom. The comforter had a white abstract pattern running through the light tan color. Slightly darker walls complemented it. There was a simple dresser in the corner, a reading lamp on the nightstand.
“Better?”
“Much. No sunglasses required.”
A genuine smile lit her up and he felt himself go hard. She must have noticed, her smile faded, desire clouding her eyes instead. Christ . He needed to get out of here before he did something supremely stupid, like take her up against the wall. Jesus, he wanted her . He wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to hold out; the bonding instinct was almost unbearable to resist. It screamed Mine, Mine, Mine . But if he pushed her, she would run.
He cleared his throat. “I’ll get some aspirin.” In the en-suite, he searched every last cupboard and drawer until he found a small bottle. He returned with two pills, along with a glass of water. She swallowed, setting the empty glass on the nightstand.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll just be right down the hall in case you need me. I’ll check on you in a couple of hours or so.”
“Yah, okay.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself, kitten? Because it’s truly no hardship for me to stay.” He willed her to say yes.
She laughed, shaking her head. He loved the sound.
“Nice try, Casanova.”
“Can’t blame a guy.” He closed the distance between them, running a finger down her bare arm. She shivered watching its path. He used the other to tip her chin toward him.
“Goodnight, Analise,” he whispered against her lips before tasting her one last time tonight. “Sweet dreams.” Without a look back, he turned and walked out the door. Before he couldn’t.
C hapter 12
Analise
She stood unmoving as he closed the door. Lips tingling. Goose bumps a reminder of where he’d touched her. What in the name of all that is holy was going on with her? When he’d asked if she’d wanted him to stay, her heart and body screamed yes, yes, yes ! But her stupid mouth ran autonomously, like it usually did, telling him to leave.
No, Analise, that’s a good thing . He’s a vampire. A God-like, sexy, devastatingly handsome, exotic, erotic vampire. Who drank blood…human blood. Who probably wanted her blood. But who clearly knew how to kiss. He’d probably had plenty of practice. That thought made her frown. Funny that. Thinking of him with other women upset her more than the blood sucking. She found that oddly intriguing.
He’d tried to hide it, but he was disgusted with her motel room. No, it wasn’t the Ritz, but he didn’t have to be a snob about it. Not everyone could afford limousines and chauffeurs. Not everyone could afford a pair of five hundred-dollar jeans. Not everyone could fill out a pair of jeans like he could either. She’d felt his arousal earlier, but actually seeing the colossal bulge in the front of his pants…whew. She needed a fan. Focus!
She took a good look around the room. A few knickknacks were scattered about and a flower painting hung over the bed, but it looked sterile, utilitarian. Still, a nice room for a shelter, she supposed. And probably one of the nicest rooms she’d ever stayed in. Pity party over, Analise . Damian didn’t explain, and she didn’t ask, but she wondered what type of women’s shelter this was exactly.
She had a sneaking suspicion she knew which “friend’s” house this was. This mansion belonged to Devon Fallinsworth. She felt it in her gut. And if Damian was watching Devon’s club and staying at Devon’s house, then maybe
“Would you like another room?”
“I thought you’d never offer.” She laughed along with him.
Tugging her across the hallway, he took her into another empty room. This one was much more serene and neutrally decorated. These particular bedrooms were not all that big, but each did have a comfortable queen-sized bed and its own en-suite bathroom. The comforter had a white abstract pattern running through the light tan color. Slightly darker walls complemented it. There was a simple dresser in the corner, a reading lamp on the nightstand.
“Better?”
“Much. No sunglasses required.”
A genuine smile lit her up and he felt himself go hard. She must have noticed, her smile faded, desire clouding her eyes instead. Christ . He needed to get out of here before he did something supremely stupid, like take her up against the wall. Jesus, he wanted her . He wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to hold out; the bonding instinct was almost unbearable to resist. It screamed Mine, Mine, Mine . But if he pushed her, she would run.
He cleared his throat. “I’ll get some aspirin.” In the en-suite, he searched every last cupboard and drawer until he found a small bottle. He returned with two pills, along with a glass of water. She swallowed, setting the empty glass on the nightstand.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll just be right down the hall in case you need me. I’ll check on you in a couple of hours or so.”
“Yah, okay.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself, kitten? Because it’s truly no hardship for me to stay.” He willed her to say yes.
She laughed, shaking her head. He loved the sound.
“Nice try, Casanova.”
“Can’t blame a guy.” He closed the distance between them, running a finger down her bare arm. She shivered watching its path. He used the other to tip her chin toward him.
“Goodnight, Analise,” he whispered against her lips before tasting her one last time tonight. “Sweet dreams.” Without a look back, he turned and walked out the door. Before he couldn’t.
C hapter 12
Analise
She stood unmoving as he closed the door. Lips tingling. Goose bumps a reminder of where he’d touched her. What in the name of all that is holy was going on with her? When he’d asked if she’d wanted him to stay, her heart and body screamed yes, yes, yes ! But her stupid mouth ran autonomously, like it usually did, telling him to leave.
No, Analise, that’s a good thing . He’s a vampire. A God-like, sexy, devastatingly handsome, exotic, erotic vampire. Who drank blood…human blood. Who probably wanted her blood. But who clearly knew how to kiss. He’d probably had plenty of practice. That thought made her frown. Funny that. Thinking of him with other women upset her more than the blood sucking. She found that oddly intriguing.
He’d tried to hide it, but he was disgusted with her motel room. No, it wasn’t the Ritz, but he didn’t have to be a snob about it. Not everyone could afford limousines and chauffeurs. Not everyone could afford a pair of five hundred-dollar jeans. Not everyone could fill out a pair of jeans like he could either. She’d felt his arousal earlier, but actually seeing the colossal bulge in the front of his pants…whew. She needed a fan. Focus!
She took a good look around the room. A few knickknacks were scattered about and a flower painting hung over the bed, but it looked sterile, utilitarian. Still, a nice room for a shelter, she supposed. And probably one of the nicest rooms she’d ever stayed in. Pity party over, Analise . Damian didn’t explain, and she didn’t ask, but she wondered what type of women’s shelter this was exactly.
She had a sneaking suspicion she knew which “friend’s” house this was. This mansion belonged to Devon Fallinsworth. She felt it in her gut. And if Damian was watching Devon’s club and staying at Devon’s house, then maybe
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