She washed him from head to foot. He was a gorgeous hunk of man, his hair long and thick and black, his arms and legs well-muscled his belly hard and flat, his chest sculpted and perfect.
He washed her in return, then swung her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom.
Kneeling, he lowered her to the floor, his eyes glowing a faint red as he straddled her hips, then bent down and claimed her lips with his.
They had made love many times through the years but tonight was different. He was rough though he didn’t hurt her, then tender, showering her with kisses as he caressed and arousedher. When he took her, it was as if he was claiming her for the first time all over again, branding her his.
They were both sated and breathing heavily when an oath was torn from his lips. Rearing back, he fought the urge to drink from her.... And lost.
Kadie tensed as his fangs sank into her throat. A tremor went through him and she knew he was fighting the impulse to take it all. Her first instinct was to fight, but she knew him, knew that resisting could be fatal. Instead, she went limp, whispering that she loved him, would always love him.
He froze, his restless gaze seeking hers.
And then he was gone.
Chapter Four
Saintcrow fled Morgan Creek. Transporting into the desert a few miles away, he ran naked through the night, heedless of where he went, his mind closed to everything but the feel of the wind in his face, the scents of cactus and earth, of scat and the decaying corpse of a wild dog. He ran for miles, never tiring. Ran until the lights of a small town came into view. He slowed, then stopped. And swore under his breath. He couldn’t very well go hunting sans clothing. And then, dissolving into mist, he grinned.
A thought took him into the heart of the town. It was late. Most of the businesses were closed. He scanned the shops until he found one that sold menswear and slipped inside. He sifted through shirts and jeans until he found something he liked, dressed quickly, and slipped out again.
Regaining his own form, he strolled down the sidewalk. Though most of the businesses were closed, the bars remained open. He passed one and then another. The sound of soft jazz drew him into a saloon at the end of the block. Stepping inside, he paused to glance around. The crowd was small, mostly middle-aged men and women and a few elderly couples.
He strode to the bar and ordered a glass ofpinot noir. He spoke to the man’s mind, telling him the drink had been paid for, then turned and watched the crowd. A few couples were dancing, a few were making out in the booths in the back, most were just enjoying the music.
He was on his second drink when a young woman with fiery red hair and gray eyes sashayed toward him.
“Care to dance?” she asked. “Or maybe buy me a drink?”
“Either one,” he said, with a shrug.
Holding out her hand, she said, “Let’s dance. First.”
Taking her hand, he led her onto the dance floor and drew her into his arms. She smelled of woman, of shampoo and perfume. And lust. She gazed up at him, her eyes hot. With a faint smile, he captured her gaze with his, lowered his head to her throat, and bit her. Her blood was hot on his tongue. A little voice in the back of his mind urged him to take it all. Remember what it was like in the old days?the seductive voice whispered.The ecstasy of drinking until you were sated?
Fighting the temptation to take it all, he pictured Kadie in his mind. She would be horrified if she knew what he was thinking. Lifting his head, he took several deep breaths, and released the woman from his thrall. After escorting her back to the bar, he bought her a gin and tonic.
“I’m Melinda,” she said.
“Saintcrow.”
She smiled a sultry smile. “Do you come here often?”
“No.”
“Too bad.”
He grunted softly. “Are you a working girl?”
She batted her eyelashes at him. “Sometimes. For the right man.” Never taking her gaze from his, she sipped her drink and licked her lips. “I think you might be the right man tonight.”
She was lovely, he thought, her breasts high and full, her hips nicely rounded. But instead of admiring her feminine attributes, Saintcrow found himself wondering how many times she had used that line.
Draining his glass, he set it on the bar top. “Unfortunately,” he drawled. “You’renotthe right woman.” With a shake of his head, he left her standing there, mouth agape with surprise and disappointment.
Outside, he took a deep breath. He didn’t know how to handle the unrest he was feeling, but one thing he knew for sure. It would take more than a high-class whore to fix it.
Kadie was in bed, asleep, when he returned to Morgan Creek. He stood gazing down at her for a long while, remembering the years they had shared. She loved him unconditionally. The least he could do was leave her before he lost control of whatever demon was driving him to violence. Pain slashed through him at the thought of never seeing her again, never holding her close. He loved her beyond reason, wasn’t sure he could survive a life without her in it. And yet he wasn’t sure he was strong enough to control the wildness inside him.