Page 83 of Twilight Destiny

“What’s it like when you rest? Is it like mortal sleep?”

“No. Vampires don’t dream. There’s no sense of time passing.”

“So, you just close your eyes and you’re asleep? Or at rest, or whatever you call it?”

“Pretty much.”

“Is it like being … dead?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been dead, at least not in the way you mean. But even at rest, I’m aware of my surroundings.”

She thought that over for a moment. “So, if you were sleeping and I touched you, you’d know it?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ve always heard hunters try to kill vampires while they’re at rest because they’re vulnerable.”

“Fledglings are less aware of their surroundings in the beginning. Less likely to sense the presence of danger until it’s too late.”

“How long did it take before you could be awake during the day?”

“I don’t remember. The vampire who turned me was ancient, so it didn’t take as long as it takes most fledglings. All I remember is that it happened gradually.”

“But Saintcrow’s blood made it possible for Micah and Ethan to be awake during the day.”

Jake nodded. “Ancient blood.”

“Like yours?”

He nodded again. “Anything else?”

“No. It’s just all so fascinating. So unbelievable. Like a fairytale.”

“More like a nightmare,” Jake muttered.

Her gaze searched his. She had asked him before if he liked being a vampire. He’d said he wouldn’t be human again if he could, but she couldn’t helping wondering if that was really true.

“Rosa.” He caressed her name as he drew her gently into his embrace. “None of the past is important now. All that matters is that you’re here now, with me.” His hand massaged her nape as his lips moved over hers, evoking images of the two of them writhing in each other’s arms. He fell back on the sofa, drawing her down on top of him as his kisses grew longer, deeper.

She reveled in the taste of him, in the touch of his hands sliding seductively over her back, down her thighs, the whiskey-rough sound of his voice as he moaned her name. She stilled as his tongue stroked up and down the length of her neck.

With a low growl, he whispered, “One taste?”

Lost in the wonder of his kisses, she turned her head to the side, brushed the hair away from her neck, sighed as she basked in the warm, sensual pleasure of his bite.

Ignoring the urge to take more than he should, Jake lifted his head and rolled onto his side, carrying Rosa with him.

She smiled at him, her eyes hazy with desire, her lips swollen from his kisses. “Why did you stop?”

“If I hadn’t, you’d be a vampire when you woke up tomorrow,” he said, his fingers stroking her cheek. “And likely not a virgin anymore.”

She blinked at him, speechless. “Did you mesmerize me or something?”

“No.”

“I guess I should thank you for your self-restraint,” she murmured, suddenly embarrassed. And then she frowned, wondering how he’d managed to caress her, drink from her, and still keep a tight rein on his self-control.

Jake’s eyes narrowed as he read her thoughts. This was the first time he hadn’t been tempted to drink her dry. Sure, the urge had been there, but he had easily ignored it. Why? The only explanation he could think of was that he had tasted her often enough that it had somehow eased his desire to take it all.