to gain her feet. Pain erupted in her ankle and Angelica collapsed, watching in helpless trepidation as he slowly stalked nearer. He seized her by her upper arms, and she whimpered at the pressure of his fingertips digging into her flesh. Those inhuman silver eyes locked onto hers, holding her spellbound.
âYou will pay a price for your clumsiness, I am afraid.â His sculpted lips parted to reveal gleaming sharp fangs.
A scream caught in her throat as he bent his head toward her. His hair caressed her cheek, smelling of wild spices.
As he sank his teeth into her neck, Angelicaâs last rational thought before she fainted was: My God, the duke really is a vampire! What a story that would makeâ¦
Six
The second the blood touched his tongue and the delicate perfume of lilacs infused his senses, Ian knew his victim was female. As her life and emotions began to flash through his mind, he realized that he held Angelica Winthrop in his arms. But he could not stop drinking, for his hunger was too strong. God , she was sweet!
Out of respect and to avoid getting too close to her, he shut his mind off from hers, only taking her blood and allowing her incredible passion for living to feed him along with her vitality. When he was sated, he released her and bit his finger, using his blood to heal the puncture wounds at her delicate throat and feeling like a monster for touching that pure ivory skin. He hoped she was uninjured from her fall.
Ian scooped her up and carried her to the sitting room, marveling at how light and perfect she felt in his arms. Angelicaâs cap fell off, letting the dark silken tresses tumble out to caress his chest. The scent of spring flowers wafted from her shining locks. After he lit a lamp and laid his delicate burden on the sofa, his fingers combed through that lovely hair as he felt for lumps. He frowned when he found a small one at the base of her skull.
After he unbuttoned her frayed frock coat, still perplexed as to why she was dressed like a man, he felt for broken bones. Unbidden, his hands lingered on her breasts through her coarse linen shirt before continuing his examination. He felt her buttocks and thighs through her trousers, and his own grew tight as he stiffened with arousal. Ian shook his head to clear it and ran his hands down her calves. When he touched her swelling ankle, she gasped in pain and bolted upright. As her gaze met his and widened with fright, Ian cursed under his breath. Heâd forgotten to erase her memory of him feeding on her.
***
Angelica fought to see past the white spots of agony pulsing up from her ankle. Her vision cleared, revealing the Duke of Burnrath poised above her. His silver eyes reflected the brilliant flame of the gas lamp, making him resemble an unholy specter. She opened her mouth to scream, but his hand clamped over her mouth. Her senses swam as his masculine scent enveloped her. She tried to struggle, but she was too weak from blood loss to manage more than a feeble squirm.
âPlease, do not scream, Angel,â he said in an unbelievably gentle tone. âI promise not to hurt you. Now, if I let you go, will you be calm and explain what you were doing in my home?â
She nodded, believing him for now. Perhaps it was the sincerity in his voice, or the fact that he called her such a sweet endearment as âAngel.â After all, she could always scream later.
He held up his other hand and fixed her with an intense stare. âI will know if you lie.â
She believed that, too. He released her and she sat up. Her head swam with dizziness, but she remained upright, clinging to the arm of the sofa for support.
âYou bit me!â she cried in frightened outrage. âYou drank my blood!â She placed a hand against her neck, her eyes widening when she realized there was no wound.
To her disbelief, he looked ashamed. That put her at ease more than anything.
âI thought you were a burglar.â He ran his
âYou will pay a price for your clumsiness, I am afraid.â His sculpted lips parted to reveal gleaming sharp fangs.
A scream caught in her throat as he bent his head toward her. His hair caressed her cheek, smelling of wild spices.
As he sank his teeth into her neck, Angelicaâs last rational thought before she fainted was: My God, the duke really is a vampire! What a story that would makeâ¦
Six
The second the blood touched his tongue and the delicate perfume of lilacs infused his senses, Ian knew his victim was female. As her life and emotions began to flash through his mind, he realized that he held Angelica Winthrop in his arms. But he could not stop drinking, for his hunger was too strong. God , she was sweet!
Out of respect and to avoid getting too close to her, he shut his mind off from hers, only taking her blood and allowing her incredible passion for living to feed him along with her vitality. When he was sated, he released her and bit his finger, using his blood to heal the puncture wounds at her delicate throat and feeling like a monster for touching that pure ivory skin. He hoped she was uninjured from her fall.
Ian scooped her up and carried her to the sitting room, marveling at how light and perfect she felt in his arms. Angelicaâs cap fell off, letting the dark silken tresses tumble out to caress his chest. The scent of spring flowers wafted from her shining locks. After he lit a lamp and laid his delicate burden on the sofa, his fingers combed through that lovely hair as he felt for lumps. He frowned when he found a small one at the base of her skull.
After he unbuttoned her frayed frock coat, still perplexed as to why she was dressed like a man, he felt for broken bones. Unbidden, his hands lingered on her breasts through her coarse linen shirt before continuing his examination. He felt her buttocks and thighs through her trousers, and his own grew tight as he stiffened with arousal. Ian shook his head to clear it and ran his hands down her calves. When he touched her swelling ankle, she gasped in pain and bolted upright. As her gaze met his and widened with fright, Ian cursed under his breath. Heâd forgotten to erase her memory of him feeding on her.
***
Angelica fought to see past the white spots of agony pulsing up from her ankle. Her vision cleared, revealing the Duke of Burnrath poised above her. His silver eyes reflected the brilliant flame of the gas lamp, making him resemble an unholy specter. She opened her mouth to scream, but his hand clamped over her mouth. Her senses swam as his masculine scent enveloped her. She tried to struggle, but she was too weak from blood loss to manage more than a feeble squirm.
âPlease, do not scream, Angel,â he said in an unbelievably gentle tone. âI promise not to hurt you. Now, if I let you go, will you be calm and explain what you were doing in my home?â
She nodded, believing him for now. Perhaps it was the sincerity in his voice, or the fact that he called her such a sweet endearment as âAngel.â After all, she could always scream later.
He held up his other hand and fixed her with an intense stare. âI will know if you lie.â
She believed that, too. He released her and she sat up. Her head swam with dizziness, but she remained upright, clinging to the arm of the sofa for support.
âYou bit me!â she cried in frightened outrage. âYou drank my blood!â She placed a hand against her neck, her eyes widening when she realized there was no wound.
To her disbelief, he looked ashamed. That put her at ease more than anything.
âI thought you were a burglar.â He ran his
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