Night’s Pleasure (Children of The Night #4)(40)
Author: Amanda Ashley

He waited on the porch while she opened the door. She was a few steps inside before she realized he hadn’t followed.

“What are you waiting for?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder.

“An invitation.”

“Well, come on in, sugar,” she purred, tossing her handbag and keys on a shabby green-and-gold sofa. “I’ve got something to show you.”

Rane grinned as his tongue brushed his fangs. “I’ve got something to show you, too.”

Chapter Twenty

He was coming for her. She could see his eyes glowing red in the darkness, feel his presence looming over her like the angel of death. He smiled. His fangs were long and very white in the darkness. She opened her mouth to scream, but the only sound that emerged was a pitiful whimper. He had been deceiving her all along, making her think she could trust him, comforting her the night her father died. Lies, all lies. He had waited only for this moment, when she was far from home, alone and at his mercy. Only, he wasn’t going to be merciful. His breath was like fire against her neck as he bent toward her, his red eyes blazing with an unholy light. Fear held her motionless. He was going to kill her, the way her mother had been killed, the way her father had been killed…

She had to scream. If she could only scream, he would go away.

“No! No!”

Savanah awoke to the sound of her own frantic cries ringing in her ears. Jackknifing to a sitting position, she glanced around the unfamiliar room, then placed a hand over her heart, hoping to calm the panic that roiled up inside her. Where was she? Where was he?

The thought had no sooner crossed her mind than Rane burst into the room. “Savanah? What’s wrong?”

Momentarily speechless, she stared up at the man outlined in the doorway. The frightening creature from her nightmare. She blinked and it was just Rane standing there, his brow furrowed with worry as he moved through the dark room toward her.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

She nodded, her heart still pounding in her ears as her gaze moved over him. He was shirtless and barefooted, his hair sleep-tousled. “I’m sorry. I had a bad dream.”

He sat on the edge of the bed and switched on the table lamp. “Better?”

She nodded, the last vestiges of her nightmare vanishing as welcome light filled the room. “What time is it?”

“A little after four.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up….”

“You didn’t.” Brushing a lock of hair from her forehead, he smiled reassuringly as his fingers caressed her cheek. “Everything’s all right. Go back to sleep. I won’t let the bogeyman get you.”

With a nod, she slid under the covers and closed her eyes. But what if he was the bogeyman?

Her nightmare seemed foolish in the morning. Sitting up in bed, Savanah stretched her arms over her head. A glance out the window showed the sun was up and shining brightly.

She wondered where Rane had gone. She had invited him to share the room with her, but maybe he preferred to take his rest alone.

Going into the bathroom, she washed her face and brushed her teeth and then, because she hadn’t done it the night before, she unpacked her suitcase. Even with all she had brought, her clothes took up very little room in the enormous closet. She considered unpacking Rane’s suitcase, and then decided against it, thinking he might not like her going through his things.

After slipping her mother’s Vampire-hunting kit under the bed, Savanah went downstairs. Coffee. She needed coffee—lots of it. And something to eat.

She peeked into the other bedrooms on her way to the kitchen. Both beds were empty. He wasn’t in the rec room, either.

Frowning, she wondered where Rane had gone. Not outside, surely. He had to be in Mara’s lair, she thought, since it was the only place she hadn’t looked.

After breakfast, Savanah showered and dressed. Being in a strange house, a Vampire’s house, made her feel decidedly uncomfortable. Without Rane to vouch for her, she had no idea how she’d explain her presence if the owner showed up.

With a shake of her head, she went out by the pool. It was a beautiful day, mild and clear. The patio was shaded by a white latticed cover that made pretty patterns on the cement. Birds sang in the trees, sunlight sparkled on the surface of the pool. She wished she had packed a bathing suit and then, looking around, decided she didn’t need one, since a high wooden fence surrounded the backyard. There was no other house for miles.

Feeling daring, she undressed and dove into the pool, yelping as her sun-warmed flesh hit the cool water.

After a few laps, the water didn’t feel so cold anymore. She swam for twenty minutes, enjoying the beauty around her, the feel of the water moving over her bare skin, the warmth of the sun’s light on her face. Poor Rane, to forever be denied such simple pleasures.

She floated for a few minutes, her eyes closed, her thoughts drifting toward Rane, as they did so often. Abruptly, she opened her eyes, unable to shake the feeling that someone was watching her. She glanced around, but there was no one in sight. The only other living thing in the vicinity was a bushy-tailed squirrel watching her from the branch of a tree that hung over the fence.

With a shiver of unease, Savanah climbed out of the pool, grabbed her clothes, and hurried into the house to dry off.

Later, feeling somewhat bored, she found Rane’s car keys and drove into town. The car was like the man, she thought. Smooth and sleek and a little bit dangerous.

Savanah eased off the gas as she turned onto the main street. She hadn’t been able to see much of the town when they stopped at the store last night; this afternoon, she noticed how quaint the buildings were. The streets were clean, lined with tall pines. A pretty park made a splash of green at the end of the town; several young women and children were frolicking in a pool located near the center of the park. A number of people were standing in line at the corner Cineplex. On the spur of the moment, Savanah decided to take in a movie. It was one she had been wanting to see, a remake of an old John Wayne flick, and she couldn’t think of a better way to forget her troubles than to lose herself in a good, old-fashioned, shoot-’em-up.

As it turned out, the movie wasn’t as good as she’d hoped, but then she wasn’t surprised. Remakes were rarely as good as the original. After leaving the theater, she stopped at a small café for a tuna salad sandwich and a chocolate shake, then browsed a couple of gift shops. At the Bon Ton Ladies Shoppe, she bought a green polka-dot sundress, a pair of white sandals, a bathing suit, and a beach towel. She added a hot pink T-shirt and a pair of jeans for good measure, and headed for home.