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“Beyond mind-blowing,” she finished, her smile growing. “You are the best, most unselfish lover.”

“You almost fainted,” he reminded her. “And as your future husband, I’m warning you, don’t dare do that again. You frightened the hell out of me.”

Her grin grew wider. “I don’t know which startled me more. That you just proposed to me or that I actually frightened a vampire.”

His eyes glowed red and his fangs appeared.

Lara patted his cheek, “Darling, that doesn’t frighten me anymore. It just makes me hotter for you.”

He laughed, his face returning to normal and patted her face with the wet cloth again. “You’re insatiable.”

“Good, then we match.” Her smile faded some.

“A troubling thought?” he asked.

“I love you very much, Michael, all of you. And I would give my life for you if necessary.”

“No, I forbid it. Never say that again,” he ordered.

“But you would do it for me.”

“I can’t die as easily as you can. You will never put yourself in harm’s way for me,” he said sternly.

“I won’t debate that with you now.” She held up her hand when he went to argue. “What I wanted to say was that I don’t think I want to become a vampire, at least not yet. I like food too much.”

He scooped her up into his lap. “I don’t expect you to become like me. The choice is there if you want it, but it will always be your choice.”

She ran a finger over his perfectly sculpted cheekbone, “Though I don’t want to grow old too fast, so I guess we’ll have to make lots of babies.”

“I always hoped for a large family.”

“Being an only child, it’s always been a dream of mine.”

“Sweetheart, I’m going to make all your dreams come true.”

She smiled and whispered across his lips, “You already have.”

THE END