The Vampire’s Kiss(8)
Author: Cynthia Eden

Her breath panted out, hard and fast, and her heart pounded furiously against her breast.

«It’s all right,” a man’s voice whispered from the darkness beside the bed. “You’re safe.»

Savannah froze. She knew that voice. “William?” She strained to see him in the shadows.

He stepped forward, and the moonlight from the open window spilled across his rough features.

She looked blankly around the unfamiliar room. “Where are we?” She shook her head, struggling to remember how she’d gotten to this place and into this bed.

«My home.” His unnerving stare was locked upon her.

Savannah pushed back the bedcovers and hurriedly stood. Her body swayed. At once, William reached to steady her.

His hands wrapped around her arms. “Careful. Don’t move too quickly.»

Her body heated at his touch, and she looked away from him, glancing around the room. Trying to find something else, anything else, to focus upon.

Moonlight spilled through the windows and lit the room. She saw that the furniture was antique, heavy cherry wood. A large four poster bed was the center piece of the room. A silken white canopy clung to the top of the bed. A vanity table and mirror were located near the far wall. The mirror gleamed brightly. A silver brush and matching comb sat on the table’s surface. Both looked as if they had never been used.

«How did I get here?” she asked curiously. “The last thing I remember was being in the alley…” Her brow furrowed as she struggled to remember those last few moments.

He seemed to stiffen. “I brought you here, after—»

«You bit me,” she whispered, her hand rising to touch her throat. “I remember that you bit me! You took my blood.” She raced toward the vanity mirror. She sat down heavily upon the cushioned chair and strained to see her neck in the mirror. Where was it? There … two small marks, tiny circles, upon her throat.

He walked up behind her, and she glanced at him, stunned. “I can see you,” she murmured.

A dark brow lifted.

«In the mirror. I can see you.»

He smiled. “Of course you can. Why wouldn’t you be able to see me?»

«But … the legend says…»

He shook his dark head and bent to inspect her small wounds. “Forget the legend. Only half of it is true.” He frowned. “I’m sorry for hurting you.»

Surprised, she stared at him.

His jaw clenched. “Despite what you think, I really don’t enjoy hurting people.»

She felt a hot blush hit her cheeks. He wasn’t what she’d expected. In reality, she’d expected to be disgusted by him. Repulsed. After all, he was a killer, a vampire.

But when he’d touched her in the alley, she hadn’t felt repulsed. She’d felt … desire.

When he’d kissed her, when he’d touched her, a fire had burned deep within her body. Despite all reason, she’d wanted him. She hadn’t cared about where they were or who might see them. She hadn’t cared about the dirt on the walls or the garbage on the ground. William was all she’d thought about.

And that knowledge shamed her to the depths of her being.

She had a promise to keep. She couldn’t forget her vow, not for a moment.

«You’ve given me the first bite,” she murmured, turning to face him, locking her gaze upon his. “Will you give me the other two?” She knew it took three bites to convert a human. Three bites and then a mixing of the blood.

«No.” His voice was clipped. He moved away from her, heading toward the open balcony doors.

Savannah followed on his heels. “What do you mean, ‘no?’” You have to!»

He stepped slowly onto the balcony, tilting his head back and staring up at the brilliant full moon. “I don’t have to do anything.” A warning.

A shiver skated up Savannah’s spine at the steel laced in his tone. But she refused to back down. “Why did you give me the first bite if you didn’t intend to transform me?” Her hands clenched into angry fists.

He turned to face her, and the moonlight seemed to shine in the depths of his eyes. “I wanted to taste you,” he whispered, his voice a sensual purr. “I had to taste you.»

She swallowed. She hadn’t been expecting that answer.

Her surprise must have shown because a mask of anger swept across his face. “I can feel, Savannah. I can want, I can need, just like any man.»

«But you’re not a man,” she blurted. He was more. So much more.

«Yet I have a man’s needs.” His eyes drifted slowly down her body, lingering on the rounded curves of her br**sts and hips. “A man’s desires.»

Heat pooled low in her belly. Her breath hitched.

He stepped toward her and lifted his hand to gently cup her cheek. “I want, just like any other man.” His jaw clenched. “And I have found that I want you, very badly.»

«So that’s why you bit me,” she concluded softly, her voice husky and quiet in the dying night. “Because you wanted me.” The idea left her shaken.

William’s hand dropped from her face. She suddenly felt very cold without his touch.

He walked to the edge of the balcony and stared down at the mountainside. “My wants, my needs, can be deadly.»

«Not to me,” she rushed to reassure him.

He glanced back over his shoulder. “Especially to you. And I am not willing to take the chance that I might put you in danger. I want you to leave at first light.»

She moved to stand beside him. “I’m not leaving.»

«You must!” He snarled, turning on her like a cornered animal. “If you stay, I’ll take you. I need you like I’ve never needed anyone else in all my years of existence. I hunger for you. For your blood. For your body. For your very life.»

Savannah lifted her chin. “I’m not afraid of you. Or of what you might do to me.” She didn’t have room in her heart for fear.

«I’ll kill you,” he said, his voice a tortured whisper. “I kill everyone who gets close to me.»

«Then transform me. If you are so worried about me, then change me! Make me immortal!»

His face was a haggard mask. “You want me to condemn you to a life of darkness? Of endless hunger and death? Of loneliness? Because if you become like me, that is what you will get.»

She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. It was time to lay her cards on the table. There was no choice. It was time for the truth. “And if I don’t become like you, I’ll die.»

William froze. “What?” His eyes flashed fire.

«You heard me.” Her words trembled faintly. “I’ll die.” She shook her head. “Why do you think I came to you? Why do you think I spent all of that time researching you? I’m dying, William. And your kiss is the only thing that can help me.»