She felt his presence before he materialized in the room. For a moment, her breath caught in her throat. She told herself there was nothing to fear. He would never hurt her. But she sensed the turmoil within him, knew the war he was waging inside. And though she hated to admit it, she was afraid of him again.
His gaze swept over the papers and photographs spread out on the coffee table in front of her. And then his eyes, those dark, penetrating eyes, settled on her. He was a handsome man, tall and broad-shouldered, his hair long and inky black, his eyes like deep pools of ebony. A thin white scar ran from the outer edge of his left eye, down his cheek, and disappeared under his shirt collar.
“Kadie.” His voice was as deep and rich as black velvet.
Try as she might to hide it, he sensed her fear. She heard the pain that it caused him in the gruffness of his voice. “Rylan...”
He raked his fingers through his hair. He couldn’t go on like this. Vampires rarely fed on other vampires yet the temptation to drink from Kadie – to drink it all – was a constant torment. He craved the taste of her blood. It was warmer, sweeter, and far more satisfying than any other.
He groaned low in his throat. “Kadie, what am I going to do?”
“Have you heard anything from Izabela?”
“No.” He paced the floor in front of the hearth, trying to ignore the tantalizing scent of Kadie’s blood, the fragrance of her hair and skin, the concern in her beautiful brown eyes, the way her sweater clung to her breasts. He could take her bed and take it all....
With a vile oath, he vanished from the room.
Kadie felt herself slowly relax and hated herself for it. And then she burst into tears. How long could they go on like this? How long before his control shattered? Perhaps if she left Morgan Creek, it would help. But where would she go? No matter how far she went, he would always be able to find her.
It reminded her of a conversation they’d had early in their relationship. She had begged him to let her go home for a visit....
He’d taken her hands in his. “Before I take you home, there’s one thing you need to know.”
“What’s that?”
“Should you decide to make a run for it, I will always be able to find you. No matter where you go, I will be able to hunt you down.”
“Hunt me down? I don’t think I like the sound of that. It makes me feel like…”
“Prey?”
She had nodded.
“I’m a vampire, Kadie. A predator. Humans are what I prey on.”
“I know.” She looked at their joined hands. His so large and strong. Hers small, powerless in the grip of his. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because if you decide to take off during the day in hopes of escaping me, it won’t work. You’re mine,” he said, an odd note of regret in his voice. “And you’ll be mine for as long as it pleases me.”
She knew what Saintcrow had said then was still true now.
Just as she knew that if Rylan lost control and destroyed her, it would destroy him, as well.
~ * ~
Saintcrow paused, the woman in his arms momentarily forgotten as he sensed Kadie’s distress. He cursed softly. He had known for a long time that she was afraid of him again. Reading her thoughts tonight only confirmed it. The hell of it was, she was right to be afraid. How many nights had he fled their bed for fear of hurting her? Denying himself the pleasure of her body only added to the tension thrumming through him. He sworeagain. Hunger and desire were closely linked in their kind, one kind of hunger often awakening the other.
A breath of wind stirred the scent of his prey’s blood and he glanced down at the woman. He had bitten her a moment before. The bright red of her blood stained her neck. With a savage growl, he lowered his head to her throat and drank. Hot, fresh blood. There was nothing like it in all the world. He closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of it, the power of it.
Only when the woman moaned softly did sanity return. Lifting his head, he stared down at her. Her skin was too pale, her heartbeat too slow, her breathing erratic. Why not take it all? She was nearly dead now.
He was lowering his head to her throat again when he heard Kadie’s voice in his mind.
Rylan! No! Please, don’t!
Muttering an oath, he bit into his wrist, and spoke to the woman’s mind, commanding her to drink. She obeyed because she had no choice. Gradually, the color returned to her cheeks, her heartbeat grew stronger, her breathing more regular.
Capturing her confused gaze with his, he said, “You will forget this happened. You will forget me. Do you understand...?” He searched her mind for her name. “Lillian?”