Read Online The Vampire and the Vixen by Debra St. John - Free Book Online Page B

bit of fresh air?” The cadence of his voice fit the character he played.
    “I-I think that’s a good idea.” Anything to cool the fiery rush of sensation burning through her veins. Anything to stop the fantasies and bring her back to reality.
    He led her onto the balcony, but the chill night air did little to cool her heated flesh. The wall of blind-covered windows hid them from those inside. He stepped up behind her. When she turned, she caught their reflection in the glass.
    Her breath hitched. With him at her side, the book cover was complete. The Vampire and the Vixen .
    He fingered the curls draped over her shoulder. The back of his hand brushed the swell of her breast. Her heart stuttered. Her breath grew shallow. The spicy scent of his aftershave made her head spin.
    “Nights like these are magical, aren’t they?” The words were as soft as the velvety darkness below.
    She nodded. What other than magic could explain how she felt like she knew him, even though they’d never met before? As if their souls and bodies recognized one another, even if their minds didn’t. What else could explain her intense reaction to him?
    “Rafe. I…” She needed to get back inside before she did something stupid. She hated heroines who were too stupid to live. Kissing this stranger, which every instinct in her being clamored for her to do, put her right in that category. She stepped back.
    Warm hands on her shoulders stopped her. “Grown-ups hardly ever get to play dress up. To…pretend…to be someone else for a while. It’s nice, don’t you think?”
    “Rafe.”
    “Shh.” His silken whisper skittered over her. “Let’s just pretend for a little while longer.” He lowered his head and his lips found hers.
    Sweet heaven. His warmth enveloped her. Surrounded her. Urged her to yield to the tender brush of his masterful strokes. With a sigh she splayed her hands on his wide back beneath the cape and surrendered. Her lips parted and his mouth consumed hers. The taste of red wine, but richer, headier, lingered on his tongue. When she trembled, he pulled her closer, until the mounds of her breasts above the low neckline of her gown nestled against firm, hard muscle.
    His lips trailed along the underside of her jaw. A delicious shiver rippled down her spine. He inhaled. “You smell so damn good.” He placed a searing kiss on the pulse in her throat. The blood flowed faster through her veins. His soft moan vibrated against her flesh.
    His thumb brushed her breast through the satin of her bodice. The nipple tightened. A flash of white-hot desire burned into her womb, then drizzled lower. Her thighs parted to allow his leg to slip between hers. The wool of his pants was slightly rough against her bare skin.
    The muted chatter from the main ballroom grew louder when the door to the balcony opened for a brief moment. But it was enough. Enough to send a lick of sanity to her passion clouded brain.
    She wrenched her mouth from his. A tiny stab of loss pierced her when he allowed it. She ignored it. What was she doing?
    She raised a shaking hand to her swollen lips. “I-I have to go.” Without a backwards glance, if she looked into his passion-clouded eyes again she’d change her mind, she wrenched the door open and stumbled inside.
    The room buzzed with jumbled conversation. Michael Jackson’s Thriller reverberated through the speakers in the ceiling. They were back to monster music. Good.
    She took a few steadying breaths, then peeked over her shoulder to make sure Rafe hadn’t followed her back in. She placed a hand over her heart in an attempt to slow its frantic beating.
    “Oh good. You’re just in time for Arthur’s speech.”
    Kelsey turned and Tracy handed her a glass of wine. She took a gulp. The tart taste slid down her throat and settled in her stomach, but did little to calm the jitters there. “Thanks, I needed that.”
    “I saw you head out to the balcony with that sexy vampire.”
    “It, um, was a little