Page 23 of Twilight Destiny

“Right.” Sitting up, she threw back the covers. “I’m coming home with you.”

“Oh, no, you’re not.”

“Rylan … ”

He covered her mouth with his hand. “I need you to stay here and make sure Micah and Sofia don’t come home early. Rosa’s only going to be in town another week or so.”

She shook off his hand. “I should … ”

He silenced her the best way he knew how. Tugging her back down on the mattress, he claimed her lips with his in a long, slow kiss that left her breathless and then he made love to her until the sun came up.

When she sank into the Dark Sleep, he pulled the covers over her, dressed, and returned to Morgan Creek.

The sooner he was rid of Paul Rhinehart, the sooner Kadie could come back home.

Chapter Ten

The next morning, Rosa decided to have breakfast at home. She told herself she was tired of eating out, but the truth was, after talking to Saintcrow last night, she was leery of going out alone. She hated to admit it, but Paul Rhinehart scared her. She had thought he was just a harmless reporter. Knowing he was a hunter changed everything. They were just as capable of meting out death and destruction as the vampires they hunted. What if Rhinehart kidnapped her in hopes of trapping Saintcrow? She had no paranormal powers, no supernatural strength, no way on earth to defend herself.

Pushing her fears to the back of her mind, she scrambled a couple of eggs, dropped two slices of bread into the toaster, and poured a tall glass of orange juice.

When everything was ready, she sat at the kitchen table, scanning the latest headlines on her phone while she ate. As always, the news was mostly bad—the endless debate over climate change, high taxes, inflation, ad nauseum. Somehow, none of it seemed important when there was a notorious hunter in town, and she liked a certain sexy vampire way too much.

Pushing her plate aside, she gazed out the window. She had been so certain she wanted to become a vampire when she came here, but now … Now she wasn’t so sure. Yes, they were capable of doing fantastic things that no human could do, but most humans went their whole life without being hunted. Yes, vampires lived a very, very long time, but did she really want to exist only after dark? Of course, Saintcrow and Kincaid could be awake during the day, and so could Micah and Ethan, thanks to some kind of blood exchange with Saintcrow. But new vampires had to live a long time to be able to abide the sun’s light. As for living hundreds of years … Saintcrow had told her vampires buried themselves in the earth when they grew weary of existing. He had been alive since the Crusades, something she couldn’t imagine. What had he done all those centuries before he came to Morgan Creek? Before he met Kadie?

She carried her dishes to the sink, rinsed them off, and loaded them into the dishwasher.

Now what? Where was Jake Kincaid when she needed him? She wouldn’t be worried about going into town or a movie if he went with her.

Going upstairs, she took a quick shower, pulled on a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved lavender sweater, combed her hair and brushed her teeth, then sat on the edge of the bed.

Whatwasshe going to do all day?

She drummed her fingers on the mattress, smiled when her phone rang and she saw Kincaid’s name. “Hi!”

“Are you busy?”

“I wish.”

He chuckled. “Want some company?”

“Desperately.”

“I’m at the front door.”

“I’ll be right there!” Happiness added wings to her feet and she flew down the stairs, her heart skipping a beat when she opened the door and saw him standing there looking as sexy as sin. “Come on in.”

He followed her into the living room. There was no sign of Saintcrow.

Sitting on the sofa, Rosa patted the cushion beside her, felt a thrill of excitement when his thigh brushed hers. He was so big, so blatantly male, everything female within her yearned toward him.

“What would you like to do today?” Kincaid asked. He knew what he wanted to do. Every instinct he possessed urged him to take her in his arms and make her his, taste her kisses, explore every delectable, feminine inch of her. Savor the warm nectar of her blood … damn!

“Can we talk for a while?”

Talk? That was the last thing on his mind. Reining in his desire, he said, “Sure. What about?”

“Do you like being a vampire?”