Page 29

Rafe shook his head. Vampire blood. It was so simple. All this time he’d been using his own blood to heal the puncture wounds of the humans he fed on, but he’d never thought that the same principle could apply to himself. Hell, aside from his maker, he’d never even fed on another vampire, not caring for the idea of such intimacy. And after he was burned, he never considered it because of his ugliness.

A derisive laugh escaped his lips as he leaned against the door. Neither had anyone else of his kind.

At the sound of his laughter, his prisoner stirred. A hot jolt of lust speared him at the sound of rustling sheets. If only he were up there on that bed with her.

“Rafe?” Cassandra’s voice, velvety from sleep, further inflamed his desire.

Avoiding the delectable sight of her tousled hair and slumberous eyes, Rafe concentrated on getting to his feet. “It is me, Querida. I’m going to hunt. I’ll send a servant up with your breakfast and return in time to help you dress. You must attend a meeting with me later tonight.”

“I propose an alternative course of action,” she replied, all drowsiness fleeing from her face. Her russet brows drew together in willful determination.

Disappointment crept through him at her all-too-familiar analytical tone. He was now speaking with the scientist, not the woman. Somehow that did nothing to quell his lust.

Fixing her with a stern gaze that would make anyone else cringe, Rafe replied in a low and silken tone, “And what would that alternative be?”

“Help me dress now and take me with you.” Rising from the bed like a queen, Cassandra looked so cool and undaunted that he nearly missed the blush in her cheeks and the faint tremor in her voice. “I want to watch you, ah…take sustenance.”

“No.” Revulsion curdled in his gut at the thought of Cassandra watching him prey upon a human like the monster he was.

Her lush lower lip pouted. “Why not?”

His fist clenched at his side as he fabricated an excuse. “It would be dangerous…and unseemly to bring a mortal woman to my usual hunting grounds.”

“That is entirely illogical.” Her auburn curls danced in the lamplight as she shook her head. “For one thing, you are capable of protecting me. For another, if the possibility still remains that I am to be transformed into a vampire, should I not learn how to feed myself?”

He bit off a curse. Again, her reasoning trounced his. Her scent filled his awareness, beckoning his blood thirst with intoxicating temptation.

Rafe ran his tongue along his fangs. “Because, damn it, if I do not leave now, I’m going to lose control of my hunger and make you my sustenance, Countess.”

Cassandra’s eyes widened, yet still she did not flinch. “The need is that intense, then?”

He nodded and bared his fangs further to reinforce his point.

“Perhaps you could drink from me.” Her blush intensified, crimson on alabaster. “At least enough to, ah, tide you over.”

Rafe couldn’t stop his ravenous gaze from caressing her ripe form, maddeningly shrouded beneath the folds of her voluminous nightgown. The smooth column of her neck was bare, flooding him with memories of its satin heat against his lips. His cock hardened.

Her offer was too enticing to resist. Of their own volition, his feet carried him closer. “Just a taste.”

Cassandra shivered, inciting his predatory instincts. He seized her arms, reveling in the warmth of her skin. For a long moment, Rafe was content to merely stare at her, drowning in the deep, sea-green pools of her eyes, admiring the sculpted perfection of her features and the decadent curve of her mouth.

Though he should feel guilt for holding such a treasure in his monstrous grasp, he couldn’t manage more than a wisp of contrition. She felt too damned good.

And she tasted even better. As Rafe slowly plunged his fangs into her flesh, he couldn’t hold back a groan of pleasure at her sweetness. A soft, provocative sound escaped Cassandra’s lips as her body melted against his. The feel of her firm, round breasts pressed to his chest brought forth another dangerous wave of desire.

With painful reluctance, Rafe withdrew his fangs, not yet willing to relinquish her. Prolonging this moment as long as possible, he licked her puncture wounds, savoring every last flowing drop of her blood and Cassandra’s hot, panting breath against his ear. Her hand tangled in his hair, sending delicious shivers down his spine. Unable to resist, Rafe ground his hardness against her as his tongue strayed from her wound to explore the delectable curve of her neck.

“Rafe…” Cassandra moaned. “Please…”

Her soft, imploring voice slammed into his awareness like a hammer on an anvil. Was she begging for him to continue or to stop? Either was proof that the moment had become dangerous. If he didn’t stop now, he would ravage her, despite his promise to the contrary.

Rafe broke away before her seductive fire could burn him any further. “Procure a gown,” he said through clenched teeth. “And a scarf as well, to cover your wound.”

She blinked up at him in confusion and put a shaking hand to her neck. “Why will you not heal it this time?”

“Tonight I must present you to my people and explain this…situation. It would be best if they saw visible evidence of my claim on you.”

Is that your only reason? his sardonic inner voice taunted. As he took in the vision of her flushed cheeks, rosy lips, and still heaving breasts, Rafe closed his eyes to blot out temptation. What sane man wouldn’t want to claim this woman in every way?